Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Extreme Cold, I Watch the Outside World Unfold with a Smile

The Ice Age had begun. In the southern city of Tianhai, large snowflakes were falling heavily. The internet was abuzz with discussions; some were complaining, while others were feeling fortunate. However, none of them knew that this snowfall and sudden drop in temperature were not temporary but would continue and worsen, eventually bringing a disaster no one could bear. At this moment, Zhang Yi was lying comfortably on his couch at home, enjoying the 30-plus-degree warmth of his secure shelter while sipping a cold Budweiser beer. He was feeling incredibly relaxed. Suddenly, Zhang Yi's phone rang. He picked it up and saw that the messages were from various chat groups—his former classmates, hobbyist groups, and the neighborhood group chat. "Oh my god, why did it suddenly start snowing so heavily? The weather forecast didn't mention anything!" "I woke up freezing in the middle of the night and had to quickly turn on the air conditioning." "Don't even get me started—our AC's heating is terrible. It's been on for ages, but it's getting colder and colder." "No idea how long this cold snap is going to last, and I haven't even bought my winter clothes yet!" Everyone was talking, expressing their thoughts. Zhang Yi could sense that most people were not too concerned about the sudden cold snap; some were even a bit excited. Zhang Yi knew that this excitement wouldn't last. He yawned, uninterested in reading more, and decided to head back to his warm bed. He covered himself with a cozy velvet blanket and quickly fell asleep. His bed was exceptionally comfortable—high-end furniture he'd taken from the Walmart warehouse. The mattress, in particular, was worth 3 million, reportedly the same model used by a famous actress. Outside, snowflakes continued to fall heavily, and the wind howled. Inside, the fireplace crackled warmly, creating a pleasant and cozy atmosphere. In this comfort, Zhang Yi soon drifted into dreamland. ... The next morning, Zhang Yi was awakened by the ringing of his phone. He opened his eyes and saw that it was a call from the "white lotus," Fang Yuqing. Being woken up from a good dream naturally made Zhang Yi a bit irritated. He picked up the phone and grumbled, "Hey, why are you calling me so early?" Hearing Zhang Yi's cold tone, Fang Yuqing paused for a moment but quickly said, "Zhang Yi, it's so cold outside today! Did you stock up on supplies because you knew about this cold snap in advance?" Her voice trembled slightly, as if she was trying hard to endure something. Hearing this, a mocking smile crept across Zhang Yi's lips. Of course, this "white lotus" wouldn't call him unless she needed something. Casually, he replied, "I heard it from a friend, but I didn't expect the cold to hit this hard." He threw off his blanket, feeling a bit sweaty from the high temperature inside. Zhang Yi slipped on his slippers and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The familiar scene outside made his eyes narrow in focus. The snow outside had already buried the entire city. He could no longer see the streets or the bushes by the roadside. All he could make out were the outlines of the city's buildings. In some places, the snow had already piled up, nearly covering the first floors of houses. And yet, the snow kept falling, with no sign of stopping. Large flakes drifted endlessly toward the ground. On the other end of the call, Fang Yuqing continued, "No wonder you stocked up on so much stuff. Zhang Yi, you really should've told me about this sooner." Zhang Yi frowned. He couldn't believe she had the nerve to complain to him now. Without saying another word, he hung up and tossed his phone aside. Afterward, he went to the bathroom and took a long, comfortable hot shower. Then, he retrieved a premium A5 wagyu steak from his pocket dimension. For breakfast, he prepared steak with a side of Italian pasta. As he ate, Zhang Yi turned on the TV. The power hadn't gone out yet due to the initial cold wave, so the television was still functioning. But even if the electricity were cut off, Zhang Yi had plenty of backup generators and fuel to last him for hundreds of years. After turning on the TV, he switched to the morning news channel. Although he knew what was happening outside, as a reborn person, watching the world's developments had become a form of entertainment for him. On the news, both anchors were wearing thick down jackets. It was unusual since places like TV stations always had the best heating systems, not to mention priority electricity. But if even the news anchors were bundling up in down jackets, it meant that the cold had reached a point where central heating could no longer keep up. The female anchor, struggling to maintain a calm tone, said into the camera, "Last night, a severe cold front swept across the globe, causing dramatic temperature drops worldwide. The temperature has dropped by 70 to 100 degrees Celsius in many regions." "The cause of this cold front is currently under investigation by meteorological departments." "In the coming days, please take precautions to stay warm and avoid frostbite." "If it's not necessary, try to stay indoors." "The authorities are working to address the situation, so please do not panic." "Refrain from spreading rumors or hoarding supplies. The snowstorm will pass soon." Zhang Yi sneered at the news. When the Ice Age hits, survival will depend on oneself. If you foolishly wait for help while doing nothing, you'll end up being one of the first to die. The temperature displayed in the corner of the screen showed that outside, in Tianhai City, it was now -65°C (-85°F)! Just yesterday, the city's high had been 15°C (59°F). This meant that the temperature had dropped by 80°C overnight! Zhang Yi shrugged. This kind of drastic temperature drop was just as it had been in his previous life. But now, dressed in pajamas, sipping red wine, and enjoying his steak and pasta, Zhang Yi felt none of the outside world's cold. His 8-million-yuan secure shelter was worth every penny. With its impeccable insulation, the indoor temperature barely fluctuated. Just then, Zhang Yi's phone rang again. Curiously, he wanted to see what his neighbors, who had previously mocked him, were now saying. The first message was from Fang Yuqing. "Zhang Yi, why did you hang up on me?!" "The snow is so heavy outside, I can't go out. You bought so much food—could you lend me some? I'll pay you back once the snowstorm is over." Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, a smirk of contempt forming on his lips. Of course, the "white lotus" Fang Yuqing was smart enough to realize that with snow this heavy, food would soon become incredibly valuable. She didn't want to risk going out in temperatures of -65°C, so she was trying to get food from Zhang Yi. But Zhang Yi knew that this ice age disaster would last a long time and wouldn't end soon. And besides, there was no way he would give Fang Yuqing even a morsel of food! In his past life, he had been foolish enough to give this "white lotus" a large portion of his supplies. In the end, she had not only betrayed him but had even tried to boil his ribs into soup after his death! A woman like her deserved nothing but scorn. Zhang Yi now wanted nothing more than to toy with her and watch her meet a miserable end. With a mischievous smile, he typed out a reply to Fang Yuqing. "You should've said something sooner. I've almost eaten everything I stocked up. Look, I just had steak for breakfast!" He attached a selfie of himself in his pajamas, holding his glass of red wine next to the steak, and sent it to Fang Yuqing.