Nadia scanned the ground, noticing scattered rabbit droppings. Colby was always ravenous, valuing survival resources even more than she did—he wouldn't let anything go to waste, not even wild rabbits. Rabbits certainly knew how to cover their tracks. Nadia started searching the area, and soon enough, she found a hidden burrow. Quickly, she plugged the entrance with mud. Moments later, a flash of gray wriggled out of the blocked hole, darting off to the side. But Colby was swift as lightning. He tore after it, snapping his jaws around its neck and slamming it hard against the ground. After a few more tussles, the gray rabbit went limp. Colby proudly trotted back to her, his prize in tow—meat. After giving him a few approving pats, he turned back to the hole, digging deeper. This time, he unearthed an even larger gray rabbit. Colby wasn't finished. With renewed enthusiasm, he kept digging. Out came three more medium-sized rabbits, an entire family bundled together. Unlike domestic rabbits, wild ones held no value for breeding. And with Colby by her side, Nadia was hardly short on meat. She didn't hesitate, swiftly dispatching them and storing them safely away in her space. On the way back, she deliberately took a detour past a nearby construction site, collecting building materials that other apartment complexes had stacked up, then stashing it all away in her hidden storage. The items vanished, and Colby's eyes went wide in shock. "Woof!" Nadia gave him a comforting rub on his head. "Don't worry, I know a bit of magic."As they made their way back to the apartment complex, dusk began to settle. The usual pairs of eyes tracked her return, but seeing her with only a modest bundle of firewood seemed to put them at ease. After all, the folks on the eighteenth floor couldn't get lucky every single time. As soon as she reached her floor, Caleb hurried out to meet her. "What took you so long? Levi and I were about to head out to find you." Nadia let out a weary sigh. "I searched everywhere. Forget dog food; I couldn't even find a moldy slice of bread." Levi shook his head, his voice tinged with worry. "This whole area's been picked clean. It's getting harder to find anything. I heard looters hit some nearby buildings. Even if we're staying put, we need to keep our guard up." With a few more words exchanged, Nadia slipped inside, peeled off her raincoat, and changed into dry clothes. She made her way to the balcony, where a small garden of greens she had been nurturing awaited.The plants had flourished under the nutrient solution she'd given them, though their leaves remained a bit pale—not as vibrant as those grown under the sun. Yet, for the constant gray skies, they were thriving better than she'd hoped. Too much meat didn't sit well with her stomach, so she also gathered up mushroom kits, teeming with fresh oyster and yellow elm mushrooms, and took everything over to Unit 1803. The sight of her harvest left the others speechless. Not only were there fresh greens, but the mushrooms had also sprouted plump and ready. "Nadia, you should be on one of those survival challenge shows," they marveled. She shrugged, brushing it off. "Just lucky, really. I happened to grab a box of mushroom kits when I moved, and, well, I didn't expect them to actually grow." "There's nothing you can't figure out, huh?" "With you around, we're definitely not going to starve."The atmosphere was warm and inviting as everyone busied themselves in the kitchen, their movements fluid and full of purpose. Not long after, Harrison and Lily arrived, ready to pitch in, bringing along ten eggs and half a pound of noodles to contribute. "Nadia, it's so much better with you around," Jasmine said with a laugh. "When you're gone, the place feels so quiet. But the moment you come back, it's alive again." The mood was light and harmonious, and Nadia couldn't help but smile. "Just wait," she said, her voice filled with playful confidence. "Tonight, I'm going to show you all a thing or two." With that, she took charge, leading her team of helpers as they scrambled to prepare the meal. Caleb was busy chopping spare ribs, Levi rinsing lean cuts of meat, and Jasmine picking fresh greens from the counter. Meanwhile, Lily clutched onto a mushroom log with all her might, not willing to let it go. "Miss, I want to grow mushrooms too!" she said, her tone a mixture of determination and excitement. The little girl's persistence was both adorable and endearing. Nadia smiled warmly and nodded. "Alright, tomorrow I'll give you a log of your own, but you'll have to take good care of it." Lily's gaze instinctively shifted to Harrison, as if looking for his approval. "Harry?" she asked in a soft voice. Harrison, seeing the eagerness in her eyes, gave a gentle nod. "Remember to thank your sister," he said, his tone full of warmth. Lily's face lit up, and without hesitation, she threw herself into Nadia's arms. "Thank you, Miss! Now I can grow mushrooms too!" Nadia ruffled her hair affectionately. "Take good care of them," she said, her voice filled with encouragement. As the preparations continued, Levi nearly sliced his finger while attempting to cut the meat. Nadia quickly took over, skillfully slicing the meat thin and marinating it with a touch of oil, starch, and sauce. She then sautéed the hot pot base in a pan before pouring it into a divided pot to simmer. One side held the fiery, spicy broth, while the other contained a gentler, more delicate mushroom soup base, to which she added scallion roots and a few rehydrated porcini mushrooms. The living room of Unit 1803 was large and airy, and with the doors and windows shut, the rich, mouthwatering aroma of the hot pot soon filled the space, making everyone's stomachs rumble in anticipation. As the pot came to a boil, the room buzzed with excitement. They gathered around the table, their faces beaming with delight. The scent alone was enough to make them salivate. The ribs went into the pot first, followed by the marinated meat, which only needed a minute to cook to perfection—tender, juicy, and full of flavor. "This is pure bliss!" Caleb exclaimed, his voice full of enthusiasm, though he scalded his tongue in his haste to dig in. "The meat is so tender and delicious!" The others eagerly joined in, each person grabbing their chopsticks and diving into the feast. Since Lily couldn't handle the heat, Harrison carefully selected non-spicy items for her, ensuring she didn't miss out on the meal.Jasmine, always quick with a tease, looked at Lily and asked, "Lily, do you think Nadia's cooking is better than Harry's?" Lily, ever the sweet one, glanced up at Harrison before offering a smile that could melt anyone's heart. "Your cooking is tasty, too," she said, her voice soft and sincere. Anyone who knew them, however, would agree that Harrison's culinary skills were far from matching his good looks. In fact, he was likely outdone by Levi, who was notorious for depending on others when it came to food. Caleb suddenly looked around, a thought crossing his mind. "Where's Colby?" he asked, looking around. Nadia, between bites, casually replied, "At home." "Call him over! He's part of our crew now, too," Jasmine insisted, her affection for the little dog clear in her voice. "Colby's incredible. He hears every little sound from the floor below—almost like he has super hearing." Colby was a ball of energy, always on the move. Not even Levi, and certainly not Caleb, could keep up with him. "With Colby watching over the house, we'll finally get a proper night's sleep," Nadia added with a smile, knowing how much everyone appreciated the dog's protective nature. Lily's eyes lit up at the mention of Colby, and the group agreed unanimously that he should join them. Nadia, touched by the warmth of their words, nodded. "Alright." She opened the door, and Colby trotted in, proudly carrying his bowl. Lily, unable to resist, slipped him a piece of her rib, which he gobbled up in an instant. Since the little ones couldn't handle the heat, they stuck to the milder mushroom broth, which was both savory and sweet. The others, though, dove into the spicier side of the pot, their faces lighting up with each delicious bite. Caleb, always one for celebration, popped open a few cans of beer. "Come on, we're eating well tonight—let's make a toast!" Everyone grabbed a can, Lily sipping on Sprite, while Colby happily lapped up his broth. "Woof!" he barked, wagging his tail. Levi, enjoying his beer, leaned back with a sigh. "If it weren't for the flood downstairs, who would even think it's the end of the world with a meal like this?" Caleb, ever the optimist, raised his can high. "Look ahead. As long as we stick together, every day can be this good." Once the meat was finished, they added seaweed and winter melon to the pot. The winter melon, which Nadia had brought, was a lasting treat. Even after months, it still tasted as fresh as ever. The yellow oyster mushrooms, fresh and tender, added an earthy richness to the broth, leaving a delicate aftertaste with each bite. The greens, lightly blanched, were a refreshing contrast, tender and full of flavor. Since the typhoon, none of them had tasted fresh vegetables. Now, eating them felt like a luxury, a feast that felt almost indulgent, as though their bodies were finally being nourished after a long period of deprivation."If it weren't for Nadia, I'd have forgotten what vegetables even taste like," Caleb said with a grin, savoring every bite. Jasmine nodded in agreement. "The nutrient solution we brought back is great. It helps vegetables grow quickly, so we won't run out of greens anytime soon." The news was a relief, lifting everyone's spirits. Vegetables, once a luxury, now felt like an irreplaceable treasure, and eating them seemed to invigorate everyone, filling them with energy and hope. As they continued to eat, chatting between mouthfuls, they finally tossed a few handfuls of noodles into the pot, their bellies growing pleasantly full. Despite the abundance of supplies, Caleb's constant reminders had kept everyone mindful of their consumption. They'd been eating only until they were about seventy percent full, mainly relying on porridge and noodles, reluctant to even cook rice. But tonight, they indulged, filling up completely—it was a satisfaction like no other. It felt almost surreal, like a dream. They wondered, for a fleeting moment, if when they awoke, the flood would be gone, and they'd find themselves back in the familiar world they once knew. Was there really an apocalypse? Every night, they dreamed of the world before, but whether asleep or awake, they were still surrounded by water. Yet tonight, as they savored their meal, they were able to release the tension that had been building inside them. It cleared their minds and strengthened their resolve. They knew that someday, this disaster would pass. And when it did, the good life they once knew would return.