Apocalypse Star House Hoarding

Chapter 83

Half an hour later, Yu Feng and Fan Qi sat at the dining table, watching as their daughter “magically” produced their breakfast on the table: a bowl of beef noodle soup, a serving of congee with preserved egg and lean pork, and a bowl of bone broth wontons.

Even after seeing the Star House appear where their bathroom once was, witnessing stacks of supplies in it, and hearing Yu Xi’s explanations about crossing into apocalyptic worlds to complete missions, earn Star Coins, and upgrade the Star House to protect her family, they still struggled with these concepts. Since they couldn’t hear the system’s voice, see the Star House mall, or understand the power of Star House items, their understanding was hazy.

So they listened quietly, trying to keep calm, comparing it in their minds to scenes from alien movies. Accepting the Star House as an alien technology made it somewhat easier to digest. But now, as steaming dishes appeared one after another on the table, their calm composure began to crack.

—“Honey, I think our daughter’s turned into some kind of celestial being…”

—“Shut up…”

—“I didn’t say anything; I was signaling you with my eyes!”

—“No eye signals either! We don’t want her thinking we can’t handle this.”

But Yu Xi paid no mind to their subtle exchange. Now that her secret was out, she was in a great mood. Her parents had reacted better than expected. They hadn’t fainted like Yu Qi’s parents in the meteorite world, nor did they dismissively avoid the subject like her mom in the zombie world. Instead, they listened attentively, accepted the situation, and remained remarkably calm.

From now on, she wouldn’t need to hide her actions or pretend to carry supplies manually. She could enjoy her stash of ice cream and snacks freely. Best of all, she could finally share her two hundred packs of crayfish with her parents while watching TV dramas and the news!

The more she thought about it, the happier she became. She started bringing out more food: a jianbing guozi, two sticks of youtiao, three tea eggs, a plate of crab dumplings, a serving of dry-fried beef noodles, three fresh orange juices, a ham and egg sandwich, three lattes, and a box of cherries… Fan Qi: …

In the blink of an eye, the table was filled.

“That’s enough for now,” Fan Qi said, grabbing her daughter’s hand. “Sit down; Mom has some questions.”

Yu Xi immediately complied and sat down obediently.

“According to you, you registered us as Star House travelers last month, right? You could have told us about this back then, couldn’t you?”

Yu Xi nodded, looking innocent.

“So why didn’t you tell us sooner?”

“I didn’t want you to worry. I didn’t know when the apocalypse might come.”

Fan Qi gazed at her daughter’s soft, fair face. It was hard to believe that she had ventured into so many apocalyptic worlds without them knowing. She gently stroked her face, then held her hand tightly. “I’m not blaming you for not telling us earlier. I’m just sad for you. I know you didn’t want us to worry, but thinking about all the life-or-death situations you went through without us knowing… it breaks my heart.”

Yu Xi squeezed her mother’s hand. “Honestly, it wasn’t that bad. Most of the time, I was just collecting supplies and enjoying food and drink…”

Fan Qi: …

Yu Xi could feel the slight tension in her mother’s expression, so she quickly relented, cuddling up to her mother and pouting, “Mom, I was wrong. I should have told you earlier. I’ve been under a lot of pressure lately, not sleeping or eating well. Please don’t be mad…”

Fan Qi sighed, her slight frustration fading away. “Well, I haven’t seen you eating any less. Yesterday, your father and I didn’t have much appetite—did you finish off the spicy chicken and duck wings by yourself?”

“…Not all of it. I put the roast duck, braised beef, and cold dishes into the Star House storage for later,” she replied, pulling out the braised food briefly before storing it back.

“Is there still room in the storage?” Yu Feng suddenly asked.

“Large furniture won’t fit, but smaller items will. There’s still plenty of space on the food shelves.”

“Good, it’s nice to have extra room,” he nodded approvingly.

Fan Qi understood: “So, you’re suggesting we cook all the food at home in advance?”

“Yes. Time stands still in my warehouse, so cooking everything now will make it easier to eat later. The Star House doesn’t even have a kitchen, and if the outside situation worsens to the point where we have to stay inside, cooking would be very inconvenient. While things are still functioning, with water and electricity, we should get as much done as we can.”

Yu Feng also had a lot of questions. He had initially thought the disaster would pass quickly, but hearing his daughter use the word “apocalypse” made him realize that this wasn’t temporary. Peace was ending, society would inevitably collapse, and humanity’s future was uncertain.

Since neither Fan Qi nor Yu Feng had much of an appetite, they asked Yu Xi to put most of the breakfast back. After quickly finishing what they could, Fan Qi and Yu Feng began washing vegetables and preparing cooked food, while Yu Xi decided to go downstairs to retrieve the supplies she had left in the car yesterday and store them in the Star House.

“You’re going down alone?” Fan Qi watched her daughter put on her shoes, feeling uneasy.

“Mom, I’ve taken three pills that enhance my physical strength. My strength and speed are four times that of an average person now, and regular sharp objects can’t even cut me.” She pulled out a dagger, demonstrating the resilience of her skin. “Look! Don’t I seem like a superhero?”

She moved too fast for Fan Qi to stop her, and Fan Qi, shocked by the sight of her daughter slicing at her own arm, gave her a firm pat on the back. “Don’t be reckless. Just telling me is enough. Next time, I’ll believe anything you say without needing a demonstration!”

After sending off her “superhero” daughter, Fan Qi closed the door and returned to the kitchen, where she found Yu Feng standing there, lost in thought as he looked at his phone.

Years of marriage allowed Fan Qi to read his mind quickly. “Are you thinking about calling your father?”

Yu Feng looked back at her.

Fan Qi’s expression turned serious as she continued, “Let me be clear. I understand your desire to take care of your family, but you cannot mention a word about the Star House or the large supplies we have. Only the closest family members will care for each other unconditionally in this world. For now, order is intact, but if anyone leaks information about the Star House for personal gain, have you considered what could happen? Anything involving our daughter’s safety must be discussed with me first. If I don’t agree, you’re not allowed to do it.”

For Fan Qi, her daughter was paramount—no one else mattered as much, not even Yu Feng. If the worst came to the worst, she would sacrifice herself or even Yu Feng to protect their daughter.

The words were harsh, but for their daughter’s sake, she had to say them.

Yu Feng gave a bitter smile. “What do you think? You love our daughter, but don’t I love her too?”

“It’s different.” Fan Qi smiled slightly. “A mother’s and father’s emotions are never the same; it’s instinctual, part of our nature.”

Otherwise, why would there be so many sayings and songs from ancient times?

Like “Only mothers are good in this world; children without mothers are like grass” or “Better a begging mother than a high-ranking father” and “With a stepmother comes a stepfather…”

These phrases had stood the test of time for a reason.

Yu Feng sighed, moving closer to his wife and gently patting her shoulder. “Don’t worry. When it comes to our daughter’s safety, I wouldn’t do anything rash, no matter how concerned I am. The Star House secret will stay between us, no one else.”

“Don’t share the supplies either. She trusts us fully, not hiding anything from us, and we can’t betray that trust. Those supplies—she risked her life to obtain them. Without my permission, you’re not allowed to use them for charity!” Fan Qi said, noticing him about to speak. “We’ll assess the situation together and make decisions accordingly. Just because you’re her father doesn’t mean you can make decisions on your own.”

Yu Feng opened his mouth but found that everything he wanted to say had already been covered by Fan Qi.

He shook his head with a smile. No wonder he’d spent a whole year pursuing her; even now, she was as strong-willed as ever. Back then, she’d been passionate about dance, with her own dreams, uninterested in relationships or marriage. If she hadn’t been sidelined by an injury, giving him a chance, he might never have won her over.

And yet, this independent woman, once her daughter was born, doted on her to no end. When their daughter was a newborn, Fan Qi couldn’t bear to leave her side for even half a step; her world revolved around their child, with no room for him in her eyes or heart.

Yu Feng sighed internally. He’d always been the lowest-ranking member of their household…

Luckily, their daughter had turned out well, despite all the pampering. She was obedient, intelligent, beautiful, and especially capable. He couldn’t help but wonder how he himself would have handled such things if he’d faced them at her age; he doubted he would have managed as well as she did. Just as Fan Qi had said, their daughter’s determination and grit were what kept the Star House stocked with supplies—her success was hard-earned.

Though Yu Xi hadn’t gone into detail about the apocalyptic tasks, anything labeled “apocalypse” wouldn’t be easy. She had even completed an early mission to ensure they could access the Star House sooner.

Yu Feng nodded. “Understood. I’ll keep everything you said in mind. I’ll call my father and check how things are there. The government’s still functioning for now, so things shouldn’t be too dire just yet.”

Unbeknownst to Yu Xi, while she was heading downstairs, her mother had already had a serious “battle” with her father to protect her.

Apart from retrieving the supplies, Yu Xi also wanted to survey the situation around the complex. Last night, she’d deliberately asked Yu Feng to park the car in a dim corner of the garage. She pretended to grab something from the driver’s seat while quickly storing all the items in the back seat and trunk in the Star House.

Taking the elevator from the garage, she headed straight to the lobby. The area was more crowded than expected, filled with residents who had come down to gather information. Yu Xi spotted the couple who lived next door. They were speaking to the security guards, explaining how some egrets had targeted their window. After the last migratory bird incident, they had installed new glass, even opting for bulletproof glass. But strangely, the egrets—though not much larger than normal—had spent over half an hour pecking at the glass that morning, eventually cracking the outer layer.

The birds had left for now, but the couple feared they might return, so they were asking if they could move down to the eighth or seventh floor.

Floors ten and below consisted of standard single-level units, some of which were owned by investors who rented them out, so there were likely empty apartments available. It was up to the property management to decide if they’d let them move temporarily.

Yu Xi also saw the elderly couple from the floor below hers. Their children had long since moved away for school and work, even getting married and having children in other cities. With the situation outside, though they had spoken to their children on the phone, they remained anxious and had come down hoping to gather more information among the crowd.

The security guards were surrounded, and they didn’t know much more than the residents. They had been on the night shift, and the next shift was supposed to take over at 8 a.m., but it was already 8:30, and the replacements hadn’t arrived. They’d tried calling the management office, but couldn’t get through, leaving them feeling uneasy.

The lobby doors had been locked. After the tornado incident, all the doors and glass had been replaced with reinforced bulletproof glass. Fearing that giant insects or strange animals might enter, they had locked the lobby doors, as well as those leading to the e-bike parking garage, first thing in the morning.

Some residents who wanted to go outside were now causing a fuss over the locked doors. Three or four of them grabbed a guard, angrily demanding to know what right he had to lock them in and insisting that he open the doors immediately. But a larger group was stopping them, arguing that opening the doors was unsafe and they didn’t want to risk everyone else’s lives.

As the argument escalated, Yu Xi calmly interjected, “There’s no need to argue. The underground parking gate hasn’t been lowered. If you really want to go outside, you can take the elevator down to the garage and exit from there.”

The arguing residents: …

As they released the guard, Yu Xi stepped forward to ask about the situation in the community. She inquired if, besides the property management, they had been able to contact the security teams from nearby buildings or the neighborhood management office to receive any instructions.

This was a high-end complex with few buildings but plenty of recreational areas, including two landscaped zones, a basketball court, a swimming pool, an internal mini-market, and a leisure area with table games. Besides the closed-off small park, there were still several community amenities.

The property management building was located above the changing rooms next to the pool. In terms of residential towers, there were three high-rise buildings like theirs in the southeast area, arranged with staggered placements to allow for natural light and better views. The southwest section had a small cluster of connected villas, around ten or so, while most other facilities were concentrated in the northern area.

The complex had two main gates, one to the north and one to the east, both fitted with tall iron gates about three to four meters high, complete with guard stations and facial recognition and license plate scanning systems. Only residents and authorized vehicles could enter, with tight security protocols in place. The perimeter wall wasn’t particularly high, at just over two meters, constructed from steel fencing. Inside, the height was around 2.4 meters, while the outside measured closer to 2.7 meters.

The fencing also included an electric barrier. If someone—or something non-human—tried to climb over, they’d receive an electric shock as a warning, and an alert would be sent to the security system. In theory, unless there were mutations within the complex, it remained relatively safer compared to the outside.

Yu Xi remembered the small garden that had been closed off after a mass fainting incident due to excessive oxygen levels, so she didn’t hold out much hope for “relative safety” inside the complex. Still, if it was only dealing with moths, cockroaches, and mosquitoes, it wouldn’t be too bad. From her observation earlier, the mutated plants seemed even trickier than the animals.

She believed social order wouldn’t collapse immediately. People were simply shocked and slow to respond, and fire and military personnel weren’t yet equipped for this kind of situation. But if the government realized the severity, they would likely mobilize heavy weaponry to handle most issues. This current level wasn’t yet an apocalypse, and she felt that things hadn’t reached their worst.

When Yu Xi returned home, she found only Yu Feng in the kitchen.

“Where’s Mom?”

Yu Feng gestured toward the Star House. “She said we have plenty of supplies at home, but they aren’t safe if something were to break in. So she’s moving the more durable items into the Star House.”

Suspecting something, Yu Xi immediately went into the Star House. But it was already too late—Fan Qi had already come across a box filled with sparkling jewelry. The box was half a meter wide, and she had completely filled it up with effort.

Fan Qi was stunned, holding a handful of diamond rings. She had never imagined a day where she’d be able to grab a handful of diamonds. “Did you rob a bank?”

“Mom, I salvaged those from the ruins in the zombie world. I’ve already handed over a portion, but there were just so many…”

“And this?” Fan Qi moved past several boxes to a pair of large crates about a meter deep, filled with various firearms and ammunition, including heavy weapons like rocket launchers, shotguns, and grenade launchers.

Yu Xi: …

“Mom, you’re amazing. I hid this so well, and you still found it!”

“Enough with the compliments. Now I understand why you kept dragging your father and me to the shooting range!”

Back then, she had joked about how they could only pretend to shoot with water guns. It turned out her daughter had a plan all along and had even stockpiled a small arsenal. “If you want to keep it hidden, put it in that part of the warehouse we can’t see. Move out some of the more durable supplies. With all these weapons lying around, I might be able to sleep, but your father wouldn’t.”

There was one more thought Fan Qi didn’t voice. If Yu Feng found out about all these lethal weapons, what if things deteriorated outside and, on a whim, he decided to help others nearby?

One or two people might be saved, but what about ten or eight? Yu Xi was their only daughter, and each month she had to risk her life in apocalyptic worlds. These weapons were for her survival; she didn’t want to come home from a deadly mission only to become a savior here too. She just wanted this home to be a place where she could rest.

Even if she wanted to save others, that should be her choice. So it was best to keep these weapons out of Yu Feng’s sight.

Yu Xi assumed that Fan Qi simply didn’t want to sleep near so many weapons, so she took out the emergency gear she had retrieved from the car, then stowed all the weapon crates back in the Star House storage. There was still some space left, but she needed to reserve it for emergencies.

With her there, Fan Qi didn’t need to handle the moving herself. Yu Xi could use the Star House as a shuttle, storing away whatever Fan Qi had packed to be saved. In addition to food, there were various household items, clothes, photos, bedding—anything non-perishable was packed and stacked neatly.

Fan Qi soon noticed the spacious bathroom in the Star House, so she decided to use that space as well, moving in the washing machine, dryer, storage shelves, and all their hygiene and skincare supplies.

Once she learned that the Star House was temperature-controlled, oxygen-stable, and self-cleaning, Fan Qi’s organization spree went into overdrive. She hung curtains in the Star House, placed a tall, open bookcase in the left corner by the window to hold books, notebooks, power banks, chargers, water cups, and other daily items. She spread a small rug near the window, set a low rectangular table on it, and added a few cushions, creating a cozy relaxation area with good natural light and a view of the outside.

On the other side, she placed a small round wooden table with three folding chairs. The open shelf here held items like tissues, bowls, drinks, tea, and snacks so that Fan Qi and Yu Feng wouldn’t have to ask Yu Xi to fetch something every time they needed it.

Space was tight, and even putting down two mattresses would reduce the room considerably. Yu Xi also needed her privacy, so Fan Qi remembered that she had several unused small tents. She asked her to bring out two of them.

These tents opened automatically upon setting down, with one measuring a meter wide and the other 1.5 meters. Each came with a mat and blanket, allowing them to sleep separately without disturbing one another.

Finally, Fan Qi took a thick curtain and hung it over the black door that opened only when Yu Xi traveled to other worlds. Even though they knew the Star House was their safety, it was better not to see that door constantly.

[…]

As Fan Qi was hanging the curtain, Yu Xi sensed the Star House system’s hesitation. Smiling, she gently ran her hand along the wall as if to reassure it.

Lunch was prepared solely by Yu Feng: fried rice, served with the roast duck and braised food they had bought yesterday. The family ate while watching the news.

Every major channel had interrupted its usual programming to broadcast live reports, expert analyses of mutated plants and animals, and continuous advisories on handling the crisis. Messages scrolled across the screen, urging citizens to stay indoors and, if encountering mutated flora or fauna, to remain calm, assess their surroundings, seek safe locations, and call the emergency disaster response hotline when possible.

The emergency disaster response hotline had just been introduced, operating 24/7. Rescue teams, consisting of firefighters, police, and occasionally insect experts, zoologists, and medical personnel, were available. The system would automatically dispatch the closest team to the reported incident.

Additionally, experts announced that the highest number of mutations was occurring among insects, reptiles, and birds, though the cause was still under investigation. These animals mostly retained their original behaviors, meaning that non-aggressive animals would generally not attack unless provoked.

The news also introduced a nationwide number for reporting any strange mutations in humans, urging anyone who experienced changes to call immediately. Specialists would be sent to investigate and provide care as necessary.

Plants posed a different challenge due to their varied and unpredictable mutations. Fortunately, the number of mutated plants was still limited.

Authorities are urging people to prioritize their personal safety and evacuate quickly if they encounter powerful mutated plants near their homes, rather than risking their lives to protect belongings. Various locations, like hotels, stadiums, and conference centers with minimal vegetation, are being converted into temporary shelters with food and water supplies for those whose residences have been heavily damaged by plants.

The news also reported that most of the regions experiencing plant and animal mutations are in temperate and cold zones, with fewer cases in tropical areas. People currently in tropical zones are advised to stay put instead of rushing back out of concern for their families, as the government will strive to assist every citizen.

This disaster is likely the most widespread in human history. Still, the public is encouraged to trust in the nation’s strength, as the government will make every effort to overcome these challenges together with its people.

…

After lunch, Fan Qi went upstairs to continue meticulously organizing and packing items. Yu Xi finished washing the dishes and noticed Yu Feng on the couch, staring at his phone with a slight frown, so she walked over.

“Dad, go ahead and call them if you’re worried. It’s better to check in.” She knew who he was concerned about. “Honestly, I can’t let just anyone into the Star House, and right now, no one besides you and Mom can know about it. But if things aren’t looking good where Grandpa lives, we could talk to security about temporarily relocating him and his family to one of the empty rental apartments below the tenth floor. This way, we could be close by to help while keeping things discreet.”

She knew what was weighing on Yu Feng’s mind. Being an only child was different from having multiple siblings. Back in Yu Feng’s time, many families struggled financially and showed favoritism among their children. Yu Feng was the eldest in his family but only had one daughter, while his father, the elder Mr. Yu, held traditional beliefs about lineage. Naturally, he was more affectionate towards Yu Hai’s son, Yu Yingming.

But Yu Feng’s father was still her grandfather, and although she would keep certain secrets, she was willing to share some supplies and assistance if necessary.

Looking at his daughter, Yu Feng felt his heart soften. She was so thoughtful and mature.

Suppressing the emotion in his eyes, he called the elder Mr. Yu. His brother Yu Hai picked up, and Yu Feng could hear the sounds of a TV news report and others talking as they ate in the background. When Yu Feng inquired about their situation, Yu Hai said that their area was quite fortunate, with no mutated plants or animals nearby—just the occasional large insect or bird flying over from elsewhere. But as long as they didn’t approach, there was no danger.

Moreover, their house had been reinforced after the tornado incident, and even during the migratory bird disturbance, none of the birds managed to break in. If not for hearing about these issues from other residents, they wouldn’t have known about the dangers outside. Most of their information had come from the news. Yu Yingming and Yu Meiming had also researched online, learning that certain areas of S City, including their neighborhood, were known as “safe zones” without any threats from plants or animals.

Yu Hai hesitated, then asked if Yu Feng, Fan Qi, and Yu Xi would like to temporarily stay with them since he knew that Yu Feng’s neighborhood had been affected by oxygen surges and giant insects, and that a nearby poplar tree had mutated, creating a restricted area.

Just as Yu Hai made the offer, a loud, brash female voice came from his end, scolding Yu Hai for dragging out the call and reminding him of how expensive the renovations were after the tornado. She complained that the house was too small for five people and had no storage for extra food, and that, with everyone else being of little help, she was exhausted from cooking three meals for five people daily.

Yu Feng recognized the voice of Yu Hai’s wife, Yang Huizhen, and it was obvious that her words were directed at him rather than Yu Hai.

As expected, after a moment, Yu Hai backtracked, mumbling an apology and suggesting that Yu Feng take some time to think about it, as they were facing some difficulties themselves and it might not be ideal.

Yu Feng understood that this was a way of politely saying they weren’t welcome to stay. Not that he had intended to move in with them anyway—especially now, with the Star House at their disposal, his family was as safe as they could be.

He ended the call with a few reminders for Yu Hai to take good care of their father, then looked over at his daughter.

Yu Xi was sitting on the floor cracking large walnuts (not the kind you crack with your hands) since the coffee table had been moved into the Star House by Fan Qi. She’d set the bowl of walnuts on the floor, sitting cross-legged on the rug as she worked.

With her strength, Yu Xi could easily crack the tough walnuts with just a light pinch between her fingers. Her task for the afternoon was to shell this entire large bowl of walnuts—assigned by Fan Qi. Her mother was quite ruthless; it was like she was treating her as an automatic walnut-cracking machine.

She had overheard Yu Feng’s phone conversation, including Yang Huizhen’s loud comments from the other end. But she wasn’t bothered by it. Since they weren’t her immediate family, it was only natural they wouldn’t want them moving in during such times. Frankly, she also wouldn’t want relatives coming to stay at their home now. So she just pretended not to hear and focused on cracking her walnuts.

Yu Feng watched his daughter steadily cracking walnut after walnut. Seeing her so absorbed, his lingering worries gradually faded away. Setting down his phone, he asked, “What do you want for dinner? Dad will cook it for you.”

Yu Xi: …

What kind of question was that? Other than fried rice, was there anything else he could make?

The three of them spent the next two days comfortably at home. While they were relaxed, other residents in the building were starting to feel restless.

The building’s security guards had contacted the guards in other buildings the previous morning, exchanging updates and mutually deciding to avoid venturing out for now. The sealed-off garden in the complex was like a ticking time bomb—they couldn’t predict when giant insects or other mutated animals or plants might suddenly appear.

With no replacements coming for their shift, the guards took turns resting and keeping a close watch on the building’s situation. The property management office was located in a building some distance away, and they hadn’t been able to reach anyone there, adding to their anxiety.

By that afternoon, the guards gathered to discuss whether someone should go out and check on the property management building at least.

Yesterday, a few particularly brave residents had taken the elevator to the underground garage and ventured out. The garage entrance faced a different direction, close to the complex’s small supermarket. They had gone out to stock up on supplies, fully armed with insecticide and wrapped up tightly.

All of them returned safely with several large bags of supplies, reporting that they hadn’t encountered any issues outside. A lone staff member was on duty at the supermarket, who had already locked the doors after watching the news but came to unlock them upon hearing the knocking, allowing the residents to shop and pay.

Their successful outing and safe return had stirred up the emotions of other residents. Despite stocking up after the giant insect incident, everyone now felt they could never have too much.

With food deliveries suspended and the risks of shopping outside the complex too high, the small on-site supermarket had become crucial. However, it wasn’t large, and the stock was limited. Without new deliveries, it was only a matter of time before everything would be sold out.

People were beginning to weigh the need to venture out for more supplies against the safety of staying indoors.

Finally, one of the guards spoke up. “Alright, let’s make a list of households interested in going out. We’ll form a team since we want to check on the property management building anyway.”