Chapter 13: 300 Yuan for a Pack of Instant Noodles

The rescue team had finally arrived.

After several days, the water level had reached nine meters, flooding up to the third floor. Once the rescue team finished searching for and saving those trapped outside, they began evacuating residents from the lower floors. People living on the second to fourth floors of the complex were moved to high-rise hotels and office buildings.

Just as the young rescue worker was about to leave with the evacuees, he was surrounded by other residents coming down from upstairs.

“Young man, when is this rain going to stop? It’s not going to flood my place, is it?”

“I saw online that it’s raining heavily all over the world. Is this the end of days? Do you have any official news?”

“Can you bring us some food? We’re almost out at home.”

“Send some to my place first. My kid needs fresh milk every day.”

“And mine too. My elderly parents don’t eat rice. Can you bring us some whole grains?”

“What’s it like out there, really? Do you have any spare kayaks? Can you give us a few?”

The crowd grew more and more agitated, voices overlapping.

The young man’s eyes were red. “I really don’t know. The rain started so suddenly. Even our office was flooded.”

“My wife was swept away by the water. We still haven’t found her…”

“We’ve been out rescuing people every day. Haven’t slept in days.”

The crowd fell silent. Seizing the moment, the young man quickly led the lower-floor residents away.

A tense, oppressive atmosphere spread through the building.

…

Two more days passed, and the rain still hadn’t stopped. The water rose above the fourth floor, reaching the fifth.

The second wave of rescue teams never arrived.

Residents on the fifth floor, like those on the second floor before them, began asking for shelter in the building’s group chat.

But this time, no one was willing to take them in.

Everyone’s food supplies were running low.

“All I have left is rice. Any neighbors willing to trade some vegetables?”

“At least you have rice. I’ve only got two eggs left. I’d be grateful if anyone could spare some instant noodles.”

Someone quickly replied, “I have instant noodles. I can sell them to you. 300 yuan a pack.”

Immediately, people started to protest. “You’re selling something that costs 3 yuan for 300?!”

“Neighbors are supposed to help each other. How can you be so greedy?”

“Yeah, how can you jack up the prices like that? You don’t really think it’s the end of the world, do you? The rain will stop eventually.”

Many criticized him.

At that moment, Fat Uncle from 1302 downstairs suddenly posted:

“If they don’t want it, I do. However many packs you have, I’ll buy them all.”

His message caused an uproar.

“Brother, are you crazy?”

The neighbor across from 1302—the buzz-cut guy An Nan had seen before—also chimed in:

“Didn’t you just butcher half a pig a few days ago? We heard you chopping all night. Why are you paying so much for instant noodles?”

“Rich and willful! If anyone has extra noodles, rice, whatever, I’ll buy it all at a high price.”

An Nan looked at the messages and couldn’t help but sigh.

This wasn’t willfulness—it was a clear sign he’d sensed the crisis.

1302 was a shrewd one. In her previous life, he’d also reacted quickly and hoarded a lot of food.

But he was a schemer, always stirring up trouble between others so he could profit from the chaos.

This kind of smiling tiger, manipulating things from the shadows, was even scarier than the thugs.

While people in the group were still busy accusing them of price gouging, 1302 had already gone downstairs to pick up the instant noodles.

The seller was smug: What a windfall! A few packs of noodles for several thousand yuan!

Little did they know, they’d regret this moment deeply in the future.

But none of this had anything to do with An Nan.

At that moment, she was busy putting privacy film on her windows and replacing her curtains with blackout ones.

The power was about to go out. She had a generator and wouldn’t be affected, but she still wanted to prevent people in the building opposite from peeking in.

With the windows covered, no one could see what was happening inside her home.

Next, she mixed cement and sand into a simple concrete and sealed off all the drains in her apartment.

This would prevent floodwater and foul smells from backing up.

After the heavy rain would come extreme heat, bringing a plague of snakes, bugs, rats, and ants. Without the drains sealed, they’d crawl right into her home.

Once she’d eliminated all these hidden dangers, she turned her attention to the little villa inside her space.

Although it had water, electricity, and gas, it didn’t have any pots, pans, or utensils.

An Nan decided to tidy it up, so that if she ever needed to cook or take shelter there, she wouldn’t have to clean up first.

Just as she was about to step into the villa, she caught sight of Fugui gnawing on a bone out of the corner of her eye.

She scooped him up and brought him into the space with her.

The environment changed in an instant, and Fugui was stunned.

Once he was sure it was safe, he sniffed around, inspecting every corner.

An Nan used her mind to bring in all sorts of household items from outside the villa: sofas, beds, dining tables and chairs, a fridge, a washing machine…

They were taking up space outside anyway, so she moved them all into the villa.

She even had a bit of fun decorating one of the upstairs rooms like a boss’s office.

She liked that “boss” aesthetic.

So all the calligraphy, antiques, tea tables, and tea sets that didn’t need refrigeration were arranged inside.

She paid special attention to the bathroom.

It would be the place she used most often in the future.

With the drains outside blocked, showering would be inconvenient. But in the villa, she could use the facilities for an hour each day.

If she didn’t use up the hour during the day, she’d come in before midnight to shower and use up the remaining time.

Not a second wasted.

As soon as she finished tidying up, she and the dog were kicked out of the space.

…How did an hour go by so fast?

Fugui, still exploring his new home, was suddenly ejected and landed on his back, legs in the air.

He scrambled to his feet, realizing he was back in their old home.

“Woof woof~ woof woof woof?”

Sister Nan! What happened? Where’s my villa?

An Nan picked him up, laughing. “Woof what? Silly dog.”

…

Just like that, another two days passed peacefully. Suddenly, a message spread online:

The Little Notebook Country had been completely submerged by seawater.

Before anyone could celebrate, Kimchi Country and Beautiful Country also fell into chaos.

Even though China had always been united—helping each other in times of trouble—this time, every region was in crisis, and no one could spare any help.

The entire Blue Planet was shrouded in endless rain.

In just over a week, every city had turned into a vast ocean.

People’s food supplies were running out. Desperate, they kept dialing for help, but even the phones were now underwater.

That day, the resilient power grid finally gave out.

With a “pop,” all the lights went out.

The internet cut off instantly.

“Ooooo—”

The air raid sirens suddenly blared, like the city’s final wail.

Then, silence. Building after building became isolated islands in the rippling water.

An Nan looked out the window and lowered her gaze.

It had begun—the new era of the apocalypse.

From now on, the Blue Planet would enter its most chaotic age."