Without hesitation, Nadia blocked his number. Not even a minute passed before her phone rang with an unfamiliar number. She didn't need to guess—she knew it was one of Wayne's classmates or friends. Determined not to be taken for a fool again, she resolved to give nothing away, not even a single grain of food. She turned off her phone and noticed Lily asleep on the sofa, curled up in a ball, even her dreams filled with anxiety. She checked her temperature—it had dropped to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Knowing not to flaunt her resources, especially with Lily around, Nadia couldn't continue making delicious meals. She ate her cold tomato and egg pasta, savoring the simple dish as if it were a gourmet feast. The balcony had an escape window, but the rest of the windows were covered with frosted stickers, letting light in but keeping prying eyes out. Nadia brought out planting pots and soil, cutting several pounds of potatoes with sprout eyes into chunks. She coated the cut surfaces with ash and planted them in the pots. She planted around 20 pots, then stashed them on the balcony in her domain. Next, she planted garlic, coriander, lettuce, and other kinds of greens and herbs. Using hanging hooks, she suspended some of the pots from the iron railings. With care and attention, she could achieve a steady supply of fresh vegetables. Before she could wash her hands, she heard a loud banging on the door. "Nadia! Nadia!" The voice was unfamiliar. It must be one of Wayne's classmates. They must be starving, she thought with a smirk. "Nadia, you're always cooking. Can you spare some food for us?" "We'll pay you double, no, five times the price!" "Just accept our friend requests and we'll transfer the money right now." "We're all friends here. Do you really have to be so heartless?" Their voices grew more desperate and hostile, muffled through the two steel doors. Someone even kicked the door in frustration. Nadia grabbed a kitchen knife and flung the door open, brandishing the blade. "Who kicked it?!" Three guys stood there, looking momentarily relieved. They all knew Nadia had a thing for Wayne. No way she'd let her crush go hungry, right? They had polished off all their snacks last night and had gone without breakfast and lunch. All they had left were a few beers, and drinking on an empty stomach was making things worse. Wayne had always said Nadia was weird, hoarding food like some paranoid old lady. They used to laugh at her behind her back. Now, irony of ironies, they were begging her for help. Before they could say anything, Nadia swung the kitchen knife, forcing them to leap back in fear. "Nadia, are you nuts?" one of them yelled, fuming. Nadia blocked the doorway, her expression icy. "Get lost. I don't have the time for entitled brats like you." The trio's faces twisted in astonishment and anger. "What the hell is your problem, Nadia?" "If I'm not your mom, why should I feed you?" she snapped, brandishing the knife. "Kick my door again, and I'll slice you up for stew." Having survived three years in an apocalypse, she had fought, killed, and seen the darkest sides of humanity. The raw fury in her eyes made the trio's skin crawl. "We're all friends here. We even offered to pay," one stammered."Even if I had food, I'd feed it to the dogs before giving it to you," Nadia retorted. "You think I don't know how you talk about me behind my back? If you despise me so much, then why come crawling for help? Can't handle a little hunger?" The trio turned red with shame, trembling with rage. "Tell Wayne to stop asking me for food while cuddling the school babe. Playing the high and mighty while mooching off others? Pathetic," Nadia continued. "Try messing with me again, and I’ll post everything on the school forum and the community group. Let's see how he likes that." "Y-you'll regret this!" The trio were still trying to hold onto their pride, but seeing Nadia wielding the knife like a madwoman, they backed down. "We'll see about that!" they muttered, slinking away. Without a word, Nadia slammed the knife into the wall. The sharp sound made the trio bolt in fear. She knew they wouldn't dare come back anytime soon. Shutting the door, she turned to see Lily, who had been startled awake. Tears welled in the girl's eyes, and she trembled on the sofa, too scared to cry. This poor kid has been through the wringer, thought Nadia. She tossed the knife back into the kitchen and softened her tone. "Lily, don't be scared. Those were bad people, and I made them go away." She checked the girl's forehead; thankfully, the fever had gone down. Hearing Lily's stomach growl, she asked, "Are you hungry?" Lily nodded but then hesitated. "What about Harry?" Nadia glanced at the door to Unit 1801. The young man still wasn't back. Making an excuse, she went into the kitchen and brought out a bowl of cereal from her domain. Lily devoured the food, casting anxious glances at Nadia, as if expecting her to get angry any moment. So sensitive, Nadia thought, likely from a troubled home.She gently patted the girl's head and handed her a lollipop. "Thank you, miss." Lily curled up quietly on the sofa, the picture of obedience. Nadia scrolled through her phone and saw Wayne's latest plea for help in the group chat. Wayne, with his dashing, handsome looks, was quite the popular figure at school. He had a knack for pretending to be well-liked, and with so many students renting in the neighborhood, it didn't take long for a pretty girl to respond. The message read, 'I've got some bread and a pot. You can come by if you need.' Nadia tapped on the girl's profile. She lived on the 12th floor, a cute accounting major who was another one of Wayne's admirers. One willing to give, one willing to take—nothing new there. What the girl probably didn't realize was that Wayne wouldn't show up alone. He would bring a whole swarm of hungry people with him. Like locusts, they would leave nothing behind. Nadia had seen the girl bringing groceries home before, so she likely had some food stored. If she was smart, she would wise up after a couple of mooched meals and cut her losses. Inspired, Nadia posted in the group chat about being hungry too. Predictably, no one responded. She then offered to trade 20 bucks for some instant noodles or bread. Still, silence. Outside, the typhoon raged with ferocity. The old windows of the neighboring building shattered, letting the howling wind flood inside, and the street was becoming a rising sea of water. It was indeed a once-in-a-century typhoon. The usual chatter in the group chat had vanished, replaced by an uneasy silence. With Lily sleeping again, Nadia covered her with a blanket to keep her warm. Suddenly, persistent knocking shattered the quiet. "Lily!"Recognizing it was from the young man, Nadia cautiously opened the door. Drenched and clad in a raincoat, the young man held up the note she had taped to the door. "Is Lily here?" Nadia nodded. "She had a fever and was crying so hard she almost choked. I gave her some medicine, and the fever's down. Just keep giving her the meds and she should be fine." The young man, both anxious and surprised, asked, "Are you a doctor?" "Just know a bit," Nadia replied. As the young man stepped inside and felt Lily's forehead, Nadia thought he was about to take her away. Instead, he said, "Sorry to bother you. I'm Harrison Youngblood, just moved in last night. My place is empty, and with the typhoon, it might be a while before it stops. I need to go get some supplies. Can Lily stay here for a while? I'll come back to pick her up tonight." Nadia was taken aback. "Are you sure it's safe to go out with a typhoon this severe?"