8: Experience the joys of being a "rich woman".

But there are benefits; each house is far enough apart to effectively protect privacy, and with these bodyguards and security personnel, the community's defense would be stronger in the early stages of the Apocalypse.

Ai Yue decided to look at the other two places before deciding.

The second villa area was a new community with a low occupancy rate. Ai Yue passed on it immediately. A low occupancy rate meant that during the Apocalypse, homeless vagrants could easily climb over the walls and move in. There would be all sorts of people, and the safety hazards were too great.

The third location was halfway up the tallest mountain in the city. It was a villa area built with a huge investment against the mountain, called Green Water Courtyard. Its main theme was harmony between man and nature. The distance between houses was even further than the first villa area they saw. The occupancy rate was eighty percent. Most importantly, homeowners could customize their houses however they liked, as long as they didn't dig up the foundation.

The one they were looking at, Villa No. 45, was near the mountain peak. It was available for both rent and sale. Renting required a minimum three-year lease, while the selling price was thirty-five million.

Ai Yue took one look and felt it was very suitable for them to make a home during the Apocalypse. The terrain was high, so it wouldn't be flooded during heavy rainstorms. Another benefit was that the nearby population wasn't very dense.

The family of three followed the Real Estate Agent into the lush courtyard. The villa came with an eighty-square-meter small yard in the front and back, which could be renovated according to their wishes.

There was nothing special about the interior, but the rooftop on the third floor had been converted into a glass sunroom by the previous owner. It was very spacious, and Li Shilan liked it very much.

Ai Yue and the two others exchanged glances, understanding each other's thoughts. Ai Guosheng made the final decision right then and there to rent the place.

The Real Estate Agent was very excited to close this deal and didn't dare delay for a moment, taking Ai Guosheng to complete all the procedures. It cost five hundred thousand to rent for three years.

With the house secured, it was time to build their fortress. Ai Yue found the most professional renovation team in the city.

They tore down all the original outer walls and used stone for the foundation. They built a wall one meter wide and three meters high using cement mortar and solid bricks. Ai Guosheng didn't think it was safe enough, so he had people install an electric fence on top of the wall.

Every door was replaced with a military-grade explosion-proof door, and all windows were replaced with bulletproof and explosion-proof ones. Not only that, but fearing acid rain would corrode the house, Ai Yue spent a fortune to cover the entire house with bulletproof and explosion-proof glass, adding two layers of thermal insulation cotton on the outside.

The installers were stunned by Miss Ai's extravagance and asked, "Miss Ai, is World War III starting? Do you have some inside information?"

Ai Yue knew her behavior was somewhat shocking, but she wasn't afraid. After all, it was still a peaceful era; no one would have malicious intent, they would just think she was crazy.

"What World War? You're quite the joker. Our family is just timid and afraid someone might break in in the middle of the night," Li Shilan said jokingly.

"But this is a bit exaggerated, isn't it?"

"It's for peace of mind."

The construction team had seen all sorts of strange employers and were somewhat used to it. They shook their heads and continued working. Anyway, they couldn't understand the thoughts of these rich people.

The entire construction took about half a month. During this time, the family wasn't idle either, checking for gaps and filling them.

Ai Yue and Ai Guosheng went to the suburbs to collect the pre-ordered beef, mutton, and pork into the space trip by trip. The supplies Ai Yue bought online also arrived one after another and were all taken into the space by Ai Yue under the cover of night.

She swept up everything she could online, such as electric blankets for extreme cold, thick cotton quilts, stoves, honeycomb coal, space heaters, and multi-fuel stoves. Ai Yue also went to a coal sales point and loaded ten tons of coal.

She bought ten pairs each of fleece-lined, thick, waterproof, and non-slip snow boots like those worn by Russians in the north, and three pairs of indoor cotton shoes each.

She got thirty pieces each of long, medium, and short down jackets for everyone. Military coats, gloves, scarves, masks, hats, thick cashmere socks, goggles, heat packs, hot water bottles, thermos cups, etc.—these couldn't be missing either.

Thirty pairs of Northeast thick cotton pants, self-heating thermal pants, and down pants for each person.

Also, brown sugar ginger date tea. In cold weather, a cup would definitely warm the heart. She stockpiled plenty since the price was affordable.

Li Shilan wanted to see the beautiful and bustling world again. Ai Yue decided to spend the remaining time shopping and stockpiling with her mother. In a while, it would be a thrilling journey for survival, and there wouldn't be such a leisurely life anymore.

Looking at the bustling restaurants and snack shops on both sides of the street, watching couples chasing and playing, laughing and joking, seeing children chasing each other and playing while adults shouted "Slow down, slow down" behind them with worried faces—the noisy clamor filled the entire city with the atmosphere of mundane life.

But all of this would completely cease to exist in twenty days.

For a moment, Ai Yue's eyes grew moist. She felt an impulse to do something for this society.

Although her hellish days in her previous life were mostly caused by people, and she had originally decided not to care about anyone else this time but her own small family, she had also received help from many people who remained kind during the Apocalypse. Otherwise, she wouldn't have survived for ten years.

There were still good people in this society. Even in the environment of the Apocalypse, some people always maintained their humanity and kindness. There were also soldiers ready to sacrifice themselves for the people at any time. Such people should not die in vain in an unprepared natural disaster.

Ai Yue stood on the street, looking at the faces passing by, experiencing an intense mental struggle.

After a long while, she decided to tell everything she knew to the Ministry of National Defense. (Why not tell the local government? Because they had too much on their plates, and she feared they wouldn't take it seriously.) This would give them time to prepare for the arrival of the Apocalypse.

Once Ai Yue made her decision, she no longer hesitated. She found a stationery store, wanting to buy a pen and a notebook to write a letter.

However, she thought that in the Apocalypse, pens and notebooks would also be scarce resources, so she waved her hand and bought out all the notebooks and pens, putting them in the car.

The boss's wife was stunned. Ai Yue gave a reasonable explanation, saying she was going to donate them to mountain areas. The boss's wife thought to herself that these rich second-generation kids really knew how to play. Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy wholesale from the factory than here?

When paying, Ai Yue also realized this, but the arrow was already on the string and had to be fired. Suddenly, her heart ached even more.

Throughout the process, Ai Yue clutched her chest, her face stiff, and her hand trembling as she paid eighty thousand.

After paying and returning to the car, Li Shilan was extremely amused seeing Ai Yue's distressed look over the money.

"Alright, even though it's a bit expensive, it doesn't matter. It's currently within our means. There's also news about the escape pod you wanted most. There's a Technology Auction in City A in seven days, and the escape pod you need will be there. There are quite a few good things. We're more willing to let go of money than others; if there's something we like, we can get it by throwing money at it," Li Shilan said, wiping away tears of laughter.

"Yeah, Mom, your words really hit the spot! Mom, I've decided to tell the country about the Apocalypse. I really can't bear to see so many kind people die in the natural disaster just like that."

Li Shilan tucked a strand of hair behind Ai Yue's ear. "Child, you've grown up. Go do what you think is right! No matter what happens, Mom and Dad are behind you."

Ai Yue's nose felt sour, and she lowered her head to bury it in Li Shilan's embrace. This decision might bring trouble to her family, yet they still agreed. This is what parents are!

Ai Yue picked up a pen and paper and wrote two pages eloquently, put them in an envelope, and called a delivery guy for help, asking him to pick up the package from a small water shop nearby.

Ai Yue disguised herself so people wouldn't recognize her at a glance. She got out of the car and left the envelope at the water shop, asking the owner to give it to the delivery guy.

After finishing this, Ai Yue felt a wave of relief and returned to the car happily.

"Let's go, Mom, let's go shopping." Ai Yue waved her hand to store the pens and notebooks from the car into the space, then got out and took Li Shilan's arm, walking toward the mall.

Walking into a sportswear store, she waved her hand and told the clerk to pack up all the clothes and shoes suitable for the three of them. Seeing Ai Yue's big move, the store manager hurriedly bowed and served her personally.

Ai Yue finally experienced the joy of a "rich woman" from TV. This feeling of buying out a store was too great. Since there were too many items, Ai Yue had them pack everything and send it directly to the villa.

Arriving at an underwear specialty store, the manager was already waiting at the door to welcome them. It seemed the news of a rich woman buying out the mall had already spread to everyone.

Ai Yue knew this store had good quality, so she didn't look through them one by one. She directly gave their three sizes and took everything that fit.

When such a stroke of luck truly befell the underwear store manager, she became as excited as if she'd been injected with chicken blood and started busying herself.

Similarly, she had them pack the underwear and panties and send them to the villa.