17: Accounting

Ai Yue scrolled through the online reports and found that a large number of deaths had already occurred in many places, mostly involving elderly people who had gone out for early morning exercise.

When the temperature rose abruptly, those seniors failed to find shade in time and passed away from sudden illnesses under the scorching heat.

Others had only stayed outdoors for ten minutes before large patches of erythema appeared on their exposed skin, which eventually became swollen and ulcerated after some time.

Seeing how severe it was, those who hadn't gone out stayed home, while those already out scrambled to find shade.

In an instant, the entire city seemed to have its mute button pressed, falling into a dead silence.

People without cooling equipment at home began to show symptoms of fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

Ai Yue's family was well-prepared; every room was equipped with air conditioning, and they were enjoying cold drinks quite comfortably.

Those without air conditioning suffered; even electric fans were useless, as they only blew hot air.

With nothing to do, Ai Yue scrolled through her old apartment's owner group chat. The group had exploded, with messages constantly flooding the screen.

2nd Floor, Li Ran: [Looks like I had foresight. When the temperature felt off a few days ago, I hoarded a ton of supplies. Take a look at my little warehouse, here's a picture!]

12th Floor, Wang Ziqiu: [My god, you hoarded a whole room of food? I don't respect anyone but you! (Prostrating emoji)]

4th Floor, Hou Fan: [So much? You can't eat it all anyway, share some with me. I didn't hoard anything at all (crying, crying)]

5th Floor, Ma Sijia: [Anyone want to form a team to 'raid' the supermarket and hoard like crazy?]

[Me!]

[+1]

[+2]

...16th Floor, Su Yan: [Posting a photo. Luckily my grandma has a habit of hoarding; we have enough food to last our family a month. I don't have to go out and sweat like you guys, so happy!]

24th Floor, Li Meng Meng: [@2nd Floor Li Ran, kind neighbor, do you have any Huoxiang Zhengqi Liquid? I'm looking to buy two bottles at a high price. I can't take it anymore, I'm so dizzy. Thank you so much!]

2nd Floor, Li Ran: [What high price? Just come down and get them, I'll give you two for free @24th Floor Li Meng Meng.]

15th Floor, 1402 'nudged' 2nd Floor Li Ran: [Brother, you're righteous!]

...Ai Yue watched the people showing off their photos speechlessly. They were simply afraid they wouldn't die fast enough.

In a few days, they would regret it until their faces turned blue.

Bored, Ai Yue muted her constantly pinging phone and ignored it.

Ai Yue went up to the third floor and watched her parents busy in the sunroom. She felt very gratified; in this life, her parents would never again have to sit helplessly in a room like a steamer, filled with anxiety as they did in her past life.

The glass of the entire sunroom was covered with one-way reflective film, and with two air conditioners installed, the temperature was very pleasant. Coupled with the plants Li Shilan had placed, a faint floral fragrance drifted through the fresh air, making it very comfortable to stay in.

Ai Yue stretched, found an open space to set up a rocking chair, took a glass of watermelon juice with ice cubes from her space, and lay back, rocking contentedly.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was evening. The sun set, and the temperature finally dropped slightly to around 40 degrees Celsius. People who had been cooped up all day finally emerged from their homes and flocked to the markets for a shopping spree.

Ai Yue stepped out of the house. Looking at the trees outside, which hadn't even had time to grow leaves before being scorched by the blistering sun all day, they looked even more withered.

Her eyes were cold, carrying a hint of bloodlust, as she drove the hummer toward the apartment where Han Xiao and Liu Shuang lived.

Having been reborn for so many days, she had suppressed her hatred for Han Xiao and Liu Shuang, waiting for this very day.

She could have waited a bit longer, as the best time to settle accounts would be when social order collapsed, but she couldn't wait a moment longer.

The bloodthirsty instincts honed in the Apocalypse were stirring at this moment, impatient to be bathed in blood.

While controlling her excitement, Ai Yue drove the car rapidly.

Soon, she arrived at the high-end apartment. Many people were gathered by the small garden outside, heatedly discussing this mysterious high temperature. No one noticed Ai Yue passing by them.

Ai Yue took the stairs and smoothly reached the third floor. Standing before Han Xiao's door, she pulled a small hairpin from her pocket, straightened it, inserted it into the keyhole, and with a gentle turn, the door opened with a 'click'.

She slipped inside and found no one home. Ai Yue looked around; it seemed the two of them lived very harmoniously, the place decorated warmly like a real home.

Just then, the sound of voices came from the doorway. Unsure of the situation, Ai Yue hid in the wardrobe.

“Darling, it’s just too hot. Let’s install an air conditioner in the bedroom, otherwise sleeping at night is pure torture. Besides, you wouldn't have the heart to make me move to the living room, would you?” Liu Shuang said in a drawn-out, coquettish voice.

Hearing Liu Shuang's flirtatious tone, Han Xiao felt half his body go numb. He pulled Liu Shuang into his arms, took a bite of her lips, and said:

“My sweetheart, how could I bear to let you suffer? Our expenses have been quite high lately, and renting this apartment cost a lot. I’ve even taken out a bunch of loans from platforms; I’m really out of money. I’ll install it for you when I get my salary next month, okay?”

“Hmph, you had money when you were with that woman Ai Yue, but you have none with me? Do you only love her and not me?”

“Oh, heaven knows, how could I like her? It’s impossible. If she hadn’t pestered me so shamelessly back then and paid for my food and housing, how could I have agreed to be with her?”

“But I never touched her; I’ve stayed pure for you. Baby, you’re the only one in my heart!” Han Xiao pointed to the sky and swore solemnly.

“Hmph, who knows!” Liu Shuang pouted her cherry lips bashfully and deliberately rubbed her whole body against Han Xiao's private area.

Han Xiao's body trembled. He quickly grabbed Liu Shuang's small hand and kissed it. “Shuangshuang, you have to believe me. Otherwise, why would I have slandered her in my university group? Now everyone is calling her shameless. She doesn't even dare to step out of the house and is probably crying somewhere right now. Doesn't that prove it?”

“I was just joking with you, why did you take it seriously, hehe...” Hearing that Ai Yue was doing so poorly, Liu Shuang covered her mouth and giggled, finally becoming truly happy.

“Darling, since Ai Yue is so devotedly in love with you, why don't you go borrow some more money from her? That way we'll have money for the air conditioner and can pay off the platform debts.” Liu Shuang calculated with a shrewd look.

Ai Yue was so angry she laughed. How could there be such shameless people in this world? It was as if a pile of trash had turned into human form; otherwise, why would Ai Yue want to sort her like garbage so badly?

She was in no mood to listen to any more of their nonsense and pushed open the wardrobe door. “You two really are a pair of lowlifes; even your thoughts are the same. I really can't figure out which sewer you two bugs crawled out of. It's disgusting.”

“Why are you in my house?!” Liu Shuang shrieked.

The moment Han Xiao saw Ai Yue, his body involuntarily shuddered. This was the psychological shadow left from when Ai Yue had beaten him.

“Why am I here? To settle the score, of course! Today, we are going to properly settle the accounts of both our past and present lives.”