The water relentlessly filled the domain, and Nadia continued up. Residents from the first floor, seeking refuge, crowded onto the already occupied second, third, and fourth floors, causing tension with the original occupants. Despite the inconvenience, everyone understood the desperate situation and kept their complaints to themselves. However, as time wore on, frustration began to simmer. Littering became a problem, and the residents from the first floor started knocking on doors to use bathrooms. With no running water to flush toilets, the residents decided to collect water on their balconies. They were reluctant to answer their doors. So, the first-floor residents carried out their business in the corridors. Once the corridors started smelling, they moved to the higher floors to seek refuge. They weren't going to be the only one who suffered. These actions created conflict. Arguments echoed through the stairwell with increasing frequency. The once harmonious group chat transformed into a breeding ground for hostility, a stark contrast to the peaceful atmosphere before the typhoon. Nadia's phone buzzed incessantly. Wayne wasn't giving up and kept requesting to follow her on Instagram. After Nadia blocked him on Instagram, he texted her instead. Even Maya joined in the digital barrage. The latest message read, "Nadia, please listen to my explanation. Maya and I are just friends." Food supplies on the 12th floor were probably dwindling, motivating Wayne's relentless pursuit. He seemed confident in his own stockpiles, and if the stairwell door wasn't locked, he would have barged up long ago. Scrolling through the group chat, Nadia stumbled upon a desperate plea from a girl on the 12th floor. She offered to barter—goods or money in exchange for help. Electricity and water were out, and rescue efforts were nonexistent. The only advice from authorities was to stay put. Subsequent attempts to contact them proved futile.The weather forecast predicted the typhoon's retreat in four to five days. However, on the fifth day, the wind intensified instead of weakening. Windows shattered in several neighboring units, chaos erupting in the houses. A heart-wrenching message appeared in the group chat—an elderly resident had suffered a heart attack and fallen to the ground. Trapped by the flood and unable to contact emergency services, the frantic family pleaded, "Does anyone have heart medication? We're out! Cardio Reliever Pills works too. Help! Please save my dad!" Their cries were desperate amidst their helplessness. Nadia had the medication they needed, but the victim was in Building 15, tragically far from her reach. Moreover, the message had been sent an hour ago. From her balcony, Nadia witnessed an object bobbing in the water below. Using her telescope, she saw that it was a lifeless body. According to the group chat, it was a resident from Building 3. Driven by hunger after a couple of days without food, the man took a risk and ventured out to look for food. However, before he even swam out of his neighborhood, he was struck down by a bolt of lightning while wading through the water. Did this happen in the past? Nadia couldn't answer that question. Her phone had long since died, and hunger gnawed at her. She could only drink the rainwater to sustain herself. Looking at the world that she no longer recognized, a profound sadness settled in her heart. But when she turned around, a flicker of hope emerged. Tiny green shoots sprouted from a pot of soil. The seeds she had planted had germinated, revealing delicate green sprouts. This unexpected glimpse of life lifted Nadia's spirits. Crouching down, she petted the rabbit, who was eating in the cage, and noticed that it seemed heavier. Upon closer inspection, she felt a firm, swollen belly. It was pregnant. The rabbit must have been pregnant when she bought it. It was just that it didn't show at that time. With a gestation period of 30 days for rabbits, it seemed likely the rabbit would give birth soon after the typhoon passed. A wave of joy washed over Nadia. She rewarded it with two carrots. Nadia had indulged in Bolognese spaghetti and orange juice during lunch while engrossed in a TV drama. She felt relaxed, and the chaos outside seemed miles away. Just as she was about to nap after washing dishes, three long knocks followed by a short one sounded at her door. It was Lily downstairs. Recovered from her cold, she appeared more energetic, her hair haphazardly styled in a messy bun. It was obviously 1801's work. Lily shyly offered Nadia a bright red apple, her smile genuine. "Nadia, this is for you." "Thank you," Nadia declined gently, "but you should keep it for yourself. Don't let others see you with it, or they will take it from you." Such innocence, she thought, would be coveted by the ruthless beasts after the apocalypse. Lily, her shyness fading away, insisted on giving Nadia the bright red apple she was holding up. "I won't share it with anyone else, just you. We have plenty at home." Nadia was rendered speechless. She couldn't help but wonder about the environment 1801 created that fostered such a kind and trusting child. "Promise not to tell anyone except you," Lily promised, covering her mouth. With a helpless smile, Nadia accepted the apple and offered her two milk candies in return. Her phone buzzed with a message from Jasmine. "Nadia, the first floor is more than half flooded. If it reaches the second floor, can Levi and I stay with you for a while?" Jasmine, a national champion in college Sanda and Levi's girlfriend, attended the Sports University. Nadia, Levi, and Caleb were all orphans who shared a close bond growing up. Even though Levi and Caleb's health were bad, they still bullied Nadia. But after being beaten up, they didn't dare to do that anymore.Seeking solace from a lack of love, Caleb only dated those older than him. Levi also lacked a sense of security. With his delicate appearance, he had attracted girls since childhood. But it was Jasmine's boyish looks that captured his heart. He felt safe when she slept in his arms. Jasmine cherished Levi immensely, treating him like a precious treasure for fear of losing him. The four of them occasionally gathered, maintaining a relatively good relationship. In their previous life, Levi's phone had died, so this time, she kept it charged in anticipation of Jasmine's message. "Jasmine, the landlord's belongings took up one room, and I can't move them. However, 1803 is empty. You and Levi can move in there, but you need to hurry. If the second floor floods, someone else might take it first," Nadia texted. A short wait later, the reply came back, "Okay, keep an eye out for me." With the typhoon raging, heavy rain pouring, and occasional bursts of thunder and lightning, venturing outside was a calculated risk. Jasmine's optimistic nature led her to believe the flooding wouldn't reach the second floor, prompting her to ask in advance. Though the water had indeed reached the second floor, Nadia couldn't reveal that information. After all, the apartment was currently vacant. During lunch, 1801 came looking for Lily. To everyone's surprise, Lily refused to leave. "No. My brother's cooking gave me a stomachache." Harrison, looking slightly embarrassed, mumbled, "I followed the recipe today." Lily, clearly traumatized, countered, "You said the same thing yesterday. Nadia's cooking is delicious." Nadia, now the one feeling flustered, asked, "What's so delicious about my spaghetti?" Harrison didn't let her have her way. "Lily."His handsome features, normally exuding an air of aloofness, appeared even more intimidating when his expression darkened. Lily was instantly scared and followed Harrison out obediently with her head bowed. Pausing at the doorway, Harrison turned back to Nadia. "Nadia, the hallway garbage hasn't been collected by the property management. Shall we discuss it?" The overflowing garbage bin had been a source of growing unpleasantness for days, even with the lid closed. Nadia had been contemplating how to handle it, but 1801 beat her to it. Public areas were a non-negotiation zone, and the two quickly agreed to tackle the garbage situation together. Each household would be responsible for disposing of their own waste from now on, eliminating the issue of overflowing hallway bins. With property management completely non-functional, residents on higher floors resorted to throwing their garbage down the garbage chute. Nadia was agreeable to this, of course. She held her nose and followed suit, tossing down bags of trash. She mentioned the possibility of Jasmine moving into 1801. While 1801 didn't object, there were only two keys available. The real concern wasn't the number of keys, but Jasmine's ability to fight. In the harsh reality of the apocalypse, she had helped Nadia out. She even shared a generous 2 pounds of spaghetti on one occasion. Such selfless acts in a desperate situation spoke volumes about her character. Jasmine's fate remained a mystery after they lost contact. Even if there wasn't a shortage of food, it was nearly impossible to survive the dangerous post-apocalyptic world alone, especially for those who lived alone and seemed weak. They would be targeted by those in hunger immediately. Even the strongest weren't invincible. Nadia wouldn't mind some company. Jasmine was someone she felt indebted to, someone she wanted to find and help. But at the same time, she would be cautious. Back in her apartment, Nadia showered and changed into fresh clothes. For days, she had been whipping up heavy meals, enough to last for months. Now, she craved something lighter, like salad, porridge, and chicken soup—anything to break the monotony of heavy flavors. The typhoon raged on, the heavy rain lessening slightly. But the floodwaters continued their relentless rise.