Apocalypse Star House Hoarding

Chapter 90

When Yu Feng and Yu Xi had just finished setting up their new place and were about to add bedding, towels, and kitchenware, Yu Hai called to say he wouldn’t be moving in after all.

This time, Yu Feng couldn’t hold back his anger. He asked Yu Hai what he really meant. They had already prepared a place for him; why did he keep changing his mind?

Yu Hai didn’t offer much explanation. Instead, he directly asked if several people had died in their complex before, if the toxic butterfly reported in official notices was from their area, and if someone had recently died during the chaos at the community’s supermarket.

When Yu Feng confirmed, Yu Hai became angry too. He demanded to know why Yu Feng hadn’t mentioned these dangers. Was he afraid they wouldn’t come if he did?

At the time, Yu Feng hadn’t thought much about it, but now, in retrospect, he remembered the high oxygen levels in their small garden that had attracted giant insects from the beginning. Then came the mutated plants and animals, and the people who had been poisoned by butterflies and buried in the soil by wisteria vines as fertilizer were truly unfortunate. Add to that the giant rats, and it was indeed far more dangerous than Yu Hai’s area.

If their hesitation was due to these concerns, Yu Feng realized he’d been too hasty in his reaction. Just as he was about to adjust his tone and reassure Yu Hai that their complex was safe now, Yu Hai suddenly asked, “Big brother, why do you want me to bring all our food supplies over? We only have two damaged walls here, and we’ll be able to move back once they’re fixed. Even if we come over, it’s temporary—there’s no need to bring everything. Are you low on food and hoping we’ll bring ours to support your family?”

“I’m worried you don’t have enough food, that’s why I want you to stay with us!” Yu Feng almost laughed from frustration.

“Worried about us? Really? Big brother, I’ll be honest with you; we still have plenty of food. We don’t need your ‘support’,” Yu Hai replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

This set Yu Feng off again, and the two ended up arguing over the phone. Eventually, Yu Feng, unwilling to continue arguing, told them not to worry about coming. He just asked where they were so he could pick up their father himself.

However, on the other end, Yang Huizhen had already arranged for her grandson Yu Yingming to persuade their father. When their father answered the phone, he insisted on staying with his grandson, adding that he didn’t have many years left and didn’t want to be dragged around. He even told Yu Feng to stop fighting with Yu Hai, as he was being filial enough. Besides, he’d never stayed in a three-star hotel before, and thanks to Yu Meiming’s cleverness, he was finally enjoying it. He went on to praise Yu Yingming’s filial and thoughtful nature… In the end, the plan for their father and Yu Hai’s family to move in fell through once again.

Watching Yu Feng’s heavy steps as he came upstairs, Yu Xi stepped forward and patted his back. This time, Yu Feng was genuinely hurt by his father’s and Yu Hai’s attitude, and he remained silent for the rest of the day. He knew that not all children would be equally favored. With so many children, it was inevitable that their hearts would lean one way or another, but the difference here was too much.

Was it because Yu Xi was a girl and not a boy?

If you really thought about it, Yu Xi was actually the most outstanding of the four grandchildren.

Yu Feng was gloomy all day. But by evening, as he saw his wife and daughter calling him to dinner, his pent-up frustration dissipated. Yes, his true family was right here with him. There was no need to keep getting angry over these things and risk hurting his health, as the only ones who would feel hurt would be those who truly cared about him.

As for his father and Yu Hai, they had their own ideas. Forcing goodwill wasn’t worth it; it was pointless to insist on helping when the other person wasn’t willing to accept it.

To have his sincerity met with suspicion that he was after his brother’s resources—well, it was just too frustrating.

They were all adults now, each with their own choices and fates. If he couldn’t control it, then he might as well let it go.

The earthquake in S City wasn’t too big or too small; it had damaged some unstable buildings and delayed the reopening of various stores.

In the city, while some areas were severely affected by the earthquake, others were less impacted, and eventually, a few small stores reopened. The goods displayed were limited, and prices were high since these were independently run shops. In the current situation, even if people complained about price hikes, no one would handle it—after all, if you didn’t buy, someone else would, and if the store owner got angry and closed up, then no one could buy anything.

Everyone adopted a “pay to avoid trouble” mindset, listening for news about available supplies, shopping wherever possible, or ordering items online for both food and daily necessities. Due to the issue with the wolves on the outskirts, many rescue teams in the city had been sent out to protect transport vehicles delivering supplies. Now, online stores in each city and town only shipped locally, as long-distance transport was fraught with challenges, and few drivers were willing to make those trips.

Fortunately, the first batch of supply trucks, escorted by rescue teams, safely arrived in the city. Although the variety of goods was limited, the quantities were sufficient. Shelves that had been cleared out were restocked, and stores reopened, though purchases were still limited, and prices had risen. However, prices at the large supermarkets were still cheaper than those in small independent shops.

As more shops, wholesale markets, and small supermarkets reopened, some restaurants also resumed operations. Delivery drivers and couriers reappeared on the streets, and a few determined companies even began calling employees back to work.

Seizing the opportunity as things outside seemed to improve, Yu Xi and her family of three went to the supermarket across the street. They weren’t short on supplies, but even with the combined stock from Star House and the Star House storage, it wouldn’t last forever. They needed to continue stockpiling as much as possible; they could reduce their activity space in Star House to allocate more room for supplies, and they could even use the restroom area for storage. It was clean inside, with enough wall space for stacking items.

Additionally, Fan Qi and Yu Feng knew that Yu Xi had a camper van with a large, currently empty interior. Earlier, when most people in the complex were out shopping, they had gone to the property management office to turn off a few security cameras in the underground garage. Wearing masks and goggles, they followed their daughter into the garage via the car ramp.

Though the rescue team had cleared the area, no one dared go down there after the giant rat incident. Even residents who still had cars in the garage preferred to arrange carpools with neighbors or pay extra for express citywide delivery rather than retrieve their vehicles.

Yu Xi saw this as a great practice opportunity for Fan Qi and Yu Feng, so she had them wear protective gear and gave them two Star Tools: the “Air Hair Dryer” and the “High-Temperature Perfume,” letting them choose.

Yu Feng: …

Looking at the two pink, delicate items, Yu Feng hesitated at first. In the end, he left the more powerful “High-Temperature Perfume” to Fan Qi and took the “Air Hair Dryer” herself.

To be cautious, as soon as they entered the parking lot, Yu Xi unplugged a few camera wires. Then she let her parents lead the way to their parking spot while she guarded from behind.

There were indeed creatures in the underground parking lot, including a now-common giant moth perched on the windshield of a car, its dusty gray appearance extremely unsightly. Since the three walked on the opposite side without getting too close, the moth didn’t fly toward them and remained motionless.

Since the giant moth remained motionless and posed no threat, Yu Feng and Fan Qi didn’t attempt to kill it. They quickly passed by and arrived at their parking spot.

Yu Xi inspected their jeep to ensure it was free from any strange substances or toxic powder. She didn’t plan to store it in the transport space for now, as there was only room for one more vehicle, and with her mission nearing completion, she wanted to reserve that spot for a vehicle from the post-apocalyptic world. They would drive this jeep to the open area in front of the building, making it easier for any future trips.

After confirming that no one else was in the parking lot, Yu Xi took out their camper van. She climbed in, filled all the cabinets, fridge, and cupboards with supplies, then stood outside and began loading other stored items directly inside. These included less frequently used items: bedding, clothes, a few boxes of red wine, several boxes of laundry detergent and sanitary products, backup tents, sleeping bags, camping tools, some instant noodles, and drinks. Every space was filled, except for the driver’s area.

To make room for supplies in the camper, she adjusted the inventory in Star House and the Star House storage, temporarily moving frequently used and perishable items to Star House. This reorganization completed, Yu Xi stored the camper again, freeing up even more space in her Star House storage for additional supplies.

The family then got into the jeep, parked it in front of the building, packed away their Star Tools, and pulled out three foldable handcarts to walk to the supermarket across the street. With purchase limits in place, each of them could still buy their allotted amount. They weren’t picky—whether dried fruit, sunflower seeds, instant milk tea, or chips, they grabbed whatever they could.

The three of them pushed four shopping carts, placing the foldable handcarts inside, and began picking up items. Everyday essentials were also limited, mainly paper goods and cleaning products, though pots, dishes, and similar items weren’t restricted.

Fan Qi and Yu Feng went all out, determined to spend as much of their savings as they could before society’s order collapsed. They picked up various items: knife sets, a dual-purpose hotpot and grill, an air fryer, a coffee maker, a soy milk machine, a juicer, a pasta maker, an oven, a microwave, a washing machine, the latest smartphones, and tablets—objects embodying human ingenuity from peacetime. Fan Qi directed Yu Feng on what to grab, assured by Yu Xi’s statement that Star House could be upgraded with more space in the future, allowing these items to be used.

Small items that could fit into the carts were collected, and larger ones were arranged for home delivery. Extra charges were fine as long as they could be delivered. Apart from the large items for delivery, the four carts were filled with fresh foods, drinks, dry goods, household items, and hardware, packed to the brim. They also bought several packaging boxes, taking the time to organize and classify everything, finally packing ten large boxes.

Yu Xi loaded the boxes onto the foldable handcarts: five for herself, two for Fan Qi, and three for Yu Feng. They secured everything with the carts’ straps and pushed them home. After bringing the boxes up from the elevator, Yu Xi immediately stored them in Star House storage. She then entered Star House to put the temporarily stored perishable foods back into the main storage.

Due to Fan Qi’s extra payment for rush delivery, the large items they ordered arrived that evening. Yu Xi stored them in the Star House bathroom, where the wall provided ample space due to the wet-dry separation.

Conditions in S City seemed to be improving. In just two days, the atmosphere in the neighborhood had changed completely. Those most anxious were the people who had been involved in the supermarket brawl. When Xu Yan reported it to the police again, ambulances and police cars showed up at the scene.

The small supermarket had surveillance cameras both outside and inside, so the residents who had taken supplies that day couldn’t deny it. Each one was questioned and had their personal information recorded. With limited police resources in S City, they couldn’t take everyone in, so the questioned residents remained in the community. However, all the supermarket surveillance footage was taken back, and officials stated they would quickly investigate and hold those involved accountable, requiring all involved residents to stay in S City and prohibiting them from leaving.

The residents involved were both anxious and upset, and they began resenting Xu Yan for repeatedly reporting the incident. As society began returning to normal, most people were relieved. Online comparisons showed that not all cities were recovering as quickly. Many cities remained overrun with mutated plants and animals, trapping citizens in their homes, struggling daily with casualties and constant fear.

Seeing these posts, residents of S City would leave comments below, boasting about their city’s effective management and swift, forceful measures taken by rescue teams to clear out mutated flora and fauna. Other city residents were envious, with some even expressing a desire to risk coming to S City.

Yet, no one knew that this calm was only the quiet before the storm.

On the morning of the fourth day after the earthquake, it began raining in S City and surrounding areas. The rainfall gradually intensified, turning into a downpour that lasted for two full days. Curious residents tested the rainwater’s pH, and researchers collected samples to analyze, finding it remarkably clean. With S City’s excellent drainage system, no water pooled despite the heavy rain.

Aside from the rain confining most people indoors again, there seemed to be no immediate issues. Yet, an inexplicable sense of unease loomed over everyone.

Yu Xi also felt a sense of unease, but hers had a clear source. She noticed that the rain was washing away all remnants of burnt mutant plant ash and the yellow powder used to inhibit plant regrowth from every corner of S City. However, she trusted that whatever she noticed, the authorities had likely observed as well. If any precautionary or response measures were necessary, she believed the authorities would be far more prepared than an individual like herself.

At midnight on January 6, she received her new world mission in Star House.

Fifth Post-Apocalyptic World:

Difficulty Level: Medium-LowWorld Type: Natural Disaster, Type: Acid RainWorld Time: 18 hours before acid rainWorld Identity: Second-year college studentWorld Mission:Survive for three months. (Completion reward: 60 star coins)Randomized tasks (optional, star coin rewards depend on task selection)Mission Failure: Death.

Yu Xi: …

The second mission seemed rather capricious.

Note: The randomized task feature includes several small tasks of varying difficulties. The host may choose to accept or decline. If accepted, the task must be completed. If declined, a new task will refresh. The host has up to three refusals before a failed task is registered.

Yu Xi: …

System Note: Most randomized tasks are simple; it is recommended that the host actively participates. Not every post-apocalyptic world will have such task options.

“Alright, I understand.”

She still trusted the Star House system, but as she glanced at the words “acid rain,” she let out a quiet hiss. Acid rain serious enough to create an apocalypse likely meant either a very high level of acidity or frequent rain. Given the medium-low difficulty, it probably wasn’t as dangerous as the meteorite or zombie apocalypses.

She therefore guessed the issue was more likely with rain frequency, as highly acidic rain would corrode buildings, making it impossible to survive for three months, which wouldn’t align with a medium-low difficulty level.

System: …

Sensing the system’s unspoken reaction, she chuckled. “What, am I getting smarter?”

System: …

This time, the system was closer to speechlessness.

Yu Xi recalled her stored supplies. Thankfully, she had stockpiled quite a few airtight chemical protective suits, along with some respirators and oxygen tanks. However, the limited number of oxygen tanks concerned her, as she worried that the acidic gases from the rain could harm her trachea and lungs.

As she opened the Star House Mall and considered going out the next day to gather more oxygen tanks, she noticed new items available:

“Moisture-Breath Face Mask”

Duration: 24 hoursDisposable item with absorption function; forms a protective film over the face upon application, allowing normal breathing while blocking all toxic gases and substances.Price: 8 star coins.Yu Xi: …

This was essentially a face oxygen mask, but one that lasted for a full 24 hours! Although it cost 8 star coins, it was a lifesaver in an acid rain apocalypse.

“System, you’re being a bit too generous here…” she thought, smiling and even changing her nickname for it. This new tool was clearly beneficial, showing that the Star House system wanted her to survive.

But why? Could it be related to the other system tower?

As she pondered, she quickly bought two masks. They arrived in semi-transparent bags, revealing the mask design—a sleek, silver-gray half-face covering resembling a protective mask rather than the three-hole type she had imagined. At least with this, people wouldn’t think she was the “eccentric who insists on face masks even in an apocalypse.”

On January 6, during the day, she planned to first call and schedule an appointment with the hardware store. Her idea was to coat both the inside and outside of her umbrellas with a thin layer of copper. Copper, resistant to acids, would prevent corrosion since all acids contain hydrogen ions, and metals below hydrogen on the reactivity scale, like copper, do not react with acids. Gold, silver, and titanium also met this criterion, but she couldn’t exactly afford to line her umbrellas with gold and silver, making copper the best choice.

However, at dawn, when she woke up in her tent, she was stunned by the view outside her window. Overnight, everything had grown. From her vantage point, she could see the city submerged in a sea of green.

The rain had stopped, and the sky was a clear, fairytale blue, sparkling with purity. The plants, previously reduced to ash, had sprung back to life. Trees were taller and lusher, with vines climbing up the walls of buildings, draping balconies on the second and third floors in greenery and flowers. Many homes below the third floor had their windows covered by interwoven green vines, making it impossible to open them.

This time, unlike before, the plants were mostly still. They had grown silently in the darkness, taking over much of the space between buildings in a single night, before the arrival of the sun.

The nearby roads were submerged beneath towering plants, and Yu Xi couldn’t tell whether the plants had overtaken her city or if her city had somehow traveled through time to a primeval jungle overnight.