Chapter 90
Katie refused at first, andter she showed her gratitude with a pound of kudzu powder to each
household in the end.
Meanwhile, Mikey gave a homemade “bike” to the residents of the 18th floor. The bike, equipped
with a heating device at the back, could generate heat when pedaled with gusto, warming up the
room while providing a means of exercise.
“I’m still looking for parts,” Mikey said, pushing his sses up his nose with a schrly smile.
“Soon, I should be able to convert it into a charging device.”
The 18th floor was pretty warm, so Ste declined the offer. “All right, we thank you. Once you can
modify it to a charging device, we’ll take it,” Ste said.
After Ste left, Katie felt so embarrassed. “You know, I think our neighbors are quite selfish. They
hide in their homes even though they’re there. I suspect trouble ising. Be careful when you’re
around them and try to minimize contact,” she warned.
Those gangsters had failed in their mission to collect food that day. It was certain that they wouldn’t
take it lying down and the retaliation wasing.
The folks on the 18th floor were capable, but they weren’t the kind to just give away their resources.
They hadn’t said anything today, but what about next time?
If they really got pissed off, they could just wait until the 17th floor was torn apart before stepping in.
However, Katie was reluctant to criticize her neighbors outright. After all, who wasn’t afraid of
death?
They were scared. Wasn’t the 18th floor scared too? Sometimes, selfishness could be a death
warrant.
That day, the building was a mix of joy and sorrow.
Drew’s Family had been robbed. The survivors, who had been oppressed for so long, showed no
mercy to Drew’s family.
Those who had managed to grab supplies ran off, while those who hadn’t vented their frustrations
on Drew’s family by beating them and stealing their clothes.
The slowpokes on the 16th floor didn’t get anything and even had to deal with the bodies from the
two floors above. Fed up, they decided to install a door at the stairway exit.
When Ste returned to the 18th floor, Ang was waiting for her in the hallway. Pulling her into the
room, Ang asked, “Ste, how did you know their guns were fake?”
“I’m no expert. I wouldn’t have dared to go out there if Jasper hadn’t given me the go-ahead,” Ste
replied honestly.
Ang sensed something was off. “But he was standing at the back and didn’t say a word. How did
you twomunicate?”
Ste was taken aback by the question. After a moment, she replied, “We live on the same floor.
We’ve been through life and death together. Can’t you see that?”
Three pairs of eyes stared at Ste. Their faces were full of implications.
“You are something,” Ang said bluntly. “I share a room with Lukas, but I still can’t figure out what
he’s thinking. Are you a mind reader?”
Lukas, who was named, pledged his loyalty immediately. “Honey, you’re the only one in my eyes
and in my heart!”
Cody, the only single one, groaned in silence. He had done nothing wrong, but he was repeatedly
attacked by their PDAs!
Ste sensed Ang’s hidden meaning. “What do you mean?”
Lukas, who was Ste’s childhood friend, didn’t hold back. “How far have you and Jasper gone?”
Ste wasn’t naive, but she had seen the selfishness and greed of human nature in the face of the
apocalypse. She had never considered falling in love in such circumstances. Even the thought of
getting close to someone was off-putting.
She could be friends with Lukas and Cody and fight alongside them, but she wouldn’t live with
them.
That was her safety zone. Not just physically, but mentally as well.
So Ste was confused. “Did you misunderstand something?”
She had Arcadia, but she didn’t possess any superhuman powers defying thews of nature. She
didn’t even know how long she could live in this world.
Moreover, the most frightening thing in this post-apocalyptic world wasn''t a natural disaster; it’s the
unpredictable human heart.
Hadn''t Hector’s lessons been enough? How could she possibly believe in love again?
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Sensing her genuine confusion, Lukas was dumbfounded. "Jasper''s feelings for you were so
obvious, how did you not see it?"
"What was so obvious?"
Lukas facepalmed, "If he was not interested in you, why did he help you train the dog?"
"I also taught Rosie how to read."
"Among all of us, why did he only teach you to grapple?"
Ste stared at him and Cody, "Do you guys have that talent?"
Lukas and Cody, whock the talent, remained silent.
"When you slipped on the rooftop, he burst through the door to help you."
Ste sat quietly.
"On that extremely cold night, he almost broke your door down to bring you a mink coat and a
charcoal heater. We, on the other hand, received nothing!"
Ste still held her silence.
"When you two were out gathering firewood, he took a blow with a brick to protect you. Then you
tended to his wounds and made breakfast for him."
Ste remained quiet. The questions were too direct, forcing her to remain silent and ponder.
"Have you ever seen him care so much for anyone else? It would be weird if there''s nothing going
on between you two."
Lukas was experienced and boasted while hugging Ang, "Honey, the moment I saw you, I
couldn''t fit any other woman in my heart."
Regardless, the three of them were convinced that Ste and Jasper were more than just friends. A
single nce was enough for them to understand each other. If it wasn’t love, what could it be?
Ste reflected on herself and finally spoke. “I don’t know if he feels that way about me, but I
certainly don’t feel that way about him.”
She admitted that if there was no apocalypse, she would definitely fall for a man like Jasper - good-
looking and capable. She might even pursue him. But now, all she wanted to do was to survive.
Lukas wondered, “Is it because of Hector that you don’t trust men anymore? Ste, you should find
someone. Look at me. If I don’t have Ang, my life would be meaningless.”
Ste shook her head. “We are different.”
Everyone had their own ambitions. Lukas was born to be adies’ man. If there was no Ang,
there would be another woman in his life!
However, the situation was clear. Apparently, Jasper was interested in Ste, but Ste was not.
“Are you sure you won’t consider him?” Lukas asked sincerely. “He''s a bit cold, but he’s capable
and responsible. Other women are dying for him.”
Ste was certain that she had no such feelings for him. Even if she did, she wouldn’t be with him.
She couldn’t afford the price of having her secret exposed.
Who knew if there was an end to this post-apocalyptic world? Countless stout-hearted individuals
were corrupted. Their hearts were tainted after round after round of devastating natural cmities.
Who could assert that their hearts would never change? Even Ste, herself, couldn’t guarantee
such a thing. How then, could she expect it of others?