Due to the water pipes being frozen, water usage in the neighborhood became a major problem.
To get drinking water, one had to brave the ultra-low temperatures of over minus seventy degrees outside and go downstairs to collect snow.
However, once the snow was collected, how to melt it became another big issue.
The indoor temperature was also around minus fifty to sixty degrees, making the ice as hard as cement.
Some residents, desperate with thirst, tried to lick the snow with their tongues, only to have their tongues stick to the ice, freezing them badly.
During these days, Zhang Yi noticed through surveillance cameras that the people under Chen Zhenghao's command were coming around every day to spy.
Clearly, they thought Zhang Yi would eventually go out to collect water and planned to take the opportunity to eliminate him.
However, despite several days passing, they still hadn't seen Zhang Yi leave his room.
They could never imagine how abundant Zhang Yi's supplies were in his house.
As long as he wished, he could live comfortably in that room without worrying about food or drink until he died!
"Is Chen Zhenghao still alive? He sure can endure," Zhang Yi muttered to himself.
Chen Zhenghao had been shot in the calf, and without proper treatment, his leg was sure to be ruined.
Not to mention, with the infection, his life was in serious jeopardy.
Add in the extreme cold, where any injury could trigger a high fever, and him surviving was nothing short of a miracle!
"Could it be that the temperature is too low for the virus to survive, and that's why he's still alive?" Zhang Yi wasn't very knowledgeable about medicine, so he couldn't figure out why Chen Zhenghao was still living.
But he didn't really care; whether people lived or died outside didn't affect him much.
Chen Zhenghao's death was only a matter of time.
The next morning, after waking up, Zhang Yi sleepily grabbed his phone.
Checking the messages in the chat group and seeing the outside situation on the forum had become his biggest source of entertainment.
In this apocalyptic world, watching others suffer in the extreme cold, while he enjoyed a life like heaven, brought him great satisfaction.
The contrast was so stark, it relieved his inner boredom and occasional loneliness.
Compared to those freezing and starving to death, or struggling at death's door, Zhang Yi felt extremely lucky!
He opened his phone, and unexpectedly, the first messages he saw were from Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining.
Fang Yuqing: "Zhang Yi, I'm sorry. I was probably too cold yesterday, so my mood was bad. I shouldn't have snapped at you."
"You were right. I was too naive in the past, and I didn't realize who really cared for me."
"Now I finally understand that the person who cares the most about me is you. I actually like you a lot too."
"Can you forgive me? Let's live together in peace from now on!"
"I want to be your woman. You're living alone, don't you feel lonely?"
"I can satisfy many of your needs, hehe, you know what I mean!"
Zhang Yi couldn't help but feel a bit of amusement.
Fang Yuqing, who had always acted aloof and cold, finally let go of her dignity and pride in the face of disaster.
Even after Zhang Yi had cruelly mocked her, she had no choice but to abandon her pride and beg him.
"Tsk tsk tsk."
Zhang Yi shook his head. He realized how foolish he had been in his previous life.
If he had known she was that kind of woman, he wouldn't have hesitated to take action sooner.
Fang Yuqing was just like those women who, though they could be satisfied for just 800, would demand 880,000 in dowry.
She was cheap as hell but still pretending to be pure!
Zhang Yi replied, "While even rotten pears can quench thirst, I'm not desperate enough to settle for that."
He was a man with ancestral skills to rely on.
If worse came to worst, he had plenty of high-end items in his alternate space to use!
They were premium products, fully realistic, developed by the Sakura Country, with heating and voice functions.
Sigh, not that Zhang Yi wanted them, but Walmart's warehouse had such a complete inventory.
After closing Fang Yuqing's chat, Zhang Yi opened Lin Caining's messages.
This woman was even bolder than Fang Yuqing.
She probably knew she wasn't as beautiful as Fang Yuqing and couldn't compete, so she went all out, sending several revealing selfies.
Compared to Fang Yuqing, she was more open, and if this were to get out, it would completely ruin her reputation.
Zhang Yi quickly replied, "You're way too dark."
Then he stopped replying.
He knew that after seeing the comforts of his home, these two women would do anything to get into his house.
Now they were abandoning all their dignity to beg him; in the future, they'd stop at nothing.
But what could he do about it?
Zhang Yi had spent a lot of money to turn his home into a fortress, prepared for any possible situation.
After receiving Zhang Yi's responses, Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining were furious, cursing loudly.
They had already abandoned all dignity and were begging Zhang Yi in a low voice.
Especially Lin Caining, who sent photos from every angle and pose she could think of.
Zhang Yi had actually said she was too dark!
Such a huge humiliation!
Well, even though Zhang Yi's comment had some truth to it, the dark spots on certain areas were irreversible! What could she do about it?
The two of them grew more and more resentful.
Their lives now were like hell—having to endure hunger and extreme cold.
Zhang Yi's home was their last hope!
Fang Yuqing gritted her teeth, and a vicious gleam appeared in her eyes.
"If it comes to it, we'll just break into his house!"
"I must live in his house; I can't stand being hungry and cold anymore!"
"If worse comes to worst, we'll kill Zhang Yi!"
As long as she could live in Zhang Yi's house, she'd be willing to do anything now!
Though, she was still a woman.
If she ran to his house to smash his door, she wouldn't be able to beat him.
With that thought in mind, Fang Yuqing's eyes turned cold as she looked next door.
She and Lin Caining had already fallen out—what was once a plastic sisterhood had completely broken apart.
But now, Fang Yuqing needed help.
So, she went next door and said to Lin Caining, "That damn Zhang Yi, he's letting us starve and freeze to death without letting us into his house."
"We can't just sit back and wait for death!"
"That place is way too good for him. Let's figure out how to steal it from him!"
Lin Caining's eyes lit up as she heard Fang Yuqing's suggestion.
If begging Zhang Yi didn't work, then they'd have to find a way to trick him, or even steal his house!
"Okay, I agree with you!"
"Why should that scum Zhang Yi be allowed to live in such a good house!"
"He should be kicked out, frozen to death, or eaten by wild dogs!"
"Living in his house is what we truly deserve!"