Chapter 138


    The iceyer melted under the sun''s exposure in an astonishing speed. The surface was smooth


    with no grip, making it impossible for the people in the water to climb back up.


    Two individuals, quick on their feet, darted towards the building, but their pace was no match for the


    speed of the cracking ice. They slipped, fell, and were immediately swallowed by the icy waters


    below.


    A year of disasters had pushed their bodies to the brink. Already severely weakened, they were


    unable to resist the bone-chilling water that filled their mouths and nostrils. They fell and rose in the


    water, but never managed to climb back up.


    Ste''s walkie-talkie rang, drawing her back to the present.


    "Ste, the heatwave ising earlier than expected."


    A chill ran down her spine at the thought. "Do you feel like the sunlight is too ring?"


    Jasper was knocking at the door. "Yes, and the temperature is rising too quickly."


    Once the door was opened, their eyes met.


    Many had died of heat in their previous lives. Now that the heatwave was arriving earlier, the


    consequences would be even worse.


    Remembering the sauna-like weather she had experienced before, Ste felt a shiver run down her


    spine. Given a choice, she would rather face the freezing weather. At least they could snuggle


    under the nkets then.


    Seeing her serious expression, Jasper reassured her. "We''ve prepared for this. We''ll pull through."


    Yes, they would pull through.


    She had survived before when she was alone, without food or water. Now, not only did she have


    Arcadia and Cooper, she also had a boyfriend, and some friends. Her situation was far better than


    before.


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    After breakfast, they discussed the matter of harvesting the potatoes.


    They had the growth stimnts, but the heatwave had arrived early and the potatoes weren''t fully


    grown yet.


    They dug up a pot and found that the potatoes were smaller than the previous batch and their taste


    was even more bitter. If they were to harvest them now, not only would the yield be significantly


    reduced, the immature potatoes would also be harder to preserve.


    Jasper asked, "Should we harvest them?"


    The potatoes on the balcony, exposed to the sun, had wilted under the rising temperatures.


    Ste thought for a moment. "Let''s not harvest them for now. I''ll put them in Arcadia''s Garden and


    see if they''ll grow some more."


    And so, the dozens of pots of potatoes were all taken into Arcadia and neatly arranged in the


    garden.


    "Jasper, I feel hot."


    Ever since she woke up, Rosie had changed her clothes three times. Even in a dress, she was still


    sweaty.


    The ice had just melted and the water was still cold, but being on the top floor, the concrete roof had


    been baked to a blinding white.


    The temperature read 39 degrees Celsius, but the ground temperature had already reached 72


    degrees. Even in the living room, they could feel the heat seeping down from the ceiling.


    That was the biggest downside to living on the top floor. Without air conditioning, it was already


    unbearably hot usually, let alone during a heatwave.


    Not only was Rosie feeling hot; even Cooper couldn''t bear it.


    The usually lively and energetic dog was now crouched quietly, panting with his tongue sticking out.


    Ste entered the master bedroom of 1801, taking out the power bank and the portable fan, and


    made sure to add some ice inside.


    She wanted to turn on the air conditioner, but the noise from the external unit was too loud.


    On the 18th floor, there were already quite a few water tanks. If the air conditioner was turned on, it


    would undoubtedly signal to all survivors that the 18th floor had both water and electricitye


    and grab it.


    There was no rush. They would wait and see.


    The moment the fan was turned on, it was immediately imed by Cooper and Rosie. The cold air


    blowing from the fan made Rosie cheer with joy. "Wow, it''s so cool."


    Ste, wearing a thermo-regted suit, didn''t feel particrly hot. However, she was a bit worried at


    the moment. "I want to go out for a while."


    Cody and the others had been gone for several days, but they hadn''t returned. Could something


    have happened?


    Jasper asked, "You want to go pick up Cody and the others?"


    Ste nodded. "There are fewer people outside now, so it''s rtively safer."


    "Let''s wait a bit longer. A lot of areas still have ice. If the intable boat gets punctured halfway, it''ll


    be more dangerous."


    Jasper analyzed the situation for her. "Perhaps they''re also waiting for the ice to melt beforeing


    back. If we miss them, it''ll be more troublesome."


    He had a point, so Ste decided to wait a little longer.


    After lunch, she took a nap and used arge ice cube to cool down. With the fan and air conditioner


    blowing, the hot air gradually cooled down.


    When she woke up in the afternoon, the sun was still scorching hot, showing no signs of


    weakening. It seemed to bepensating for the past year of its absence, relentlessly baking the


    steel and concrete that stood above the water.


    Ste went to the balcony to check the temperature when a hot gust of wind greeted her. It was 43


    degrees. The water was shimmering under the sunlight. The ice hadpletely melted.


    Dressed in her thermal suit with a sun-protectiveyer over it, and donning a hat and mask, Ste


    sent Cooper to apartment 1801.


    Jasper was worried. "You stay home. I''ll go get them."


    Ste was adamant. "No need, I can handle it."


    If the people in 1803 weren''t her friends, would he go? She appreciated his concern, but she didn''t


    want to rely on him for everything and ultimately be over-dependent. Besides, she was


    wearing a thermal suit and wouldn''t get a heatstroke.


    Seeing her insistence, Jasper didn''t push further. "Be careful."


    Carrying the heavy intable boat, Ste went down to the 7th floor.


    The 7th floor was noticeably cooler, but the indescribable smell assaulted the nostrils. On the water


    surface, there were various garbage bags floating everywhere. It was nauseating to look at them for


    too long.


    Ste put on two masks, ced the inted boat on the water, and skillfully began to row. The roar


    of the engine attracted the attention of the survivors in the apartment.


    It was the people from the 18th floor again.


    Their rubber boats had hardened and burst when inted. Why was hers intact?


    Envy and resentment filled them, but everyone knew that the people on the 18th floor were tough.


    They could swear at them in their hearts, but no one dared to confront them.


    The heat was intense, but the water absorbed a lot of it, it was just the smell that was unbearable.


    Ste was right. Along the way, there were hardly any intable boats or rubber rafts to be seen.


    Firstly, many had been damaged by the freeze. Secondly, most survivors were huddled at home to


    combat the cold. Little did they know that overnight, the weather shifted to an extremely hot mode.


    Unless necessary, no one would willingly go out.


    However, there were still people trapped by the floodwaters, desperately waving and calling out to


    Ste for help. She ignored them and zoomed past.


    Avoiding the garbage and bodies in the water, Ste sped off towards her destination. It took her


    about half an hour to reach the security patrol station where Cody and his group were.


    To her surprise, a crowd was gathered at the entrance, all of them waving at the sight of the


    intable boat. Ste kept her cool and stopped about thirty meters away.


    There were dozens of people crowded at the entrance, some security patrol officers and some


    survivors who happened to be nearby. They were all moring for help.


    "We''re trapped here. Could you give us a lift?"


    They were stranded by the floodwaters. The city council would send rescue teams, but they didn''t


    know when that would be.


    If Ste were to take pity on them and give them a lift, whether she or the intable boat could


    safely make it back home was worth questioning.


    Seeing her unfazed, a sense of difort permeated the crowd. "What''s her deal? What''s the


    harm in giving us a lift? It''s not like we are going to do anything to her."


    Some, however, were more polite in their approach. "I''ve got half a pound of grain, how about you


    give me a ride home in exchange?"


    "I''ll give a full pound."


    "I''ll give two."


    "Miss, pick me, pick me. You don''t have a boyfriend, do you? My brother''s quite the catch. I can


    introduce you."


    The cacophony was incessant, irritating Ste to no end. She reached into her bag and pulled out a


    crossbow.


    "Wow, she''s armed, so fierce."


    "No wonder she''s so aloof, she''s got some tricks up her sleeve."