The long table in the meeting hall was filled again.
It was their second formal gathering, and unlike the first time—when caution, distance, and probing eyes had dominated the atmosphere—this meeting felt different. There was ease now. Familiarity. A quiet confidence born from a month of shared work, sleepless nights, and watching impossible amounts of money turn into tangible security.
Gu Mian stood at the head of the table, arms folded loosely, eyes sweeping across the faces before her.
"Alright," she said calmly, lips curving. "This is our second gathering. Bai Ying is the only one absent—he's still outside the country. I'll send his task later."
She paused, then added casually, as if discussing groceries, "In the past two weeks, your boss has earned a few billion yuan."
The room exploded.
"Oh yeah!" "Whoooo—!" "Yeeeaah!" "Money's in the house!"
Laughter, whistles, table-knocking—everyone reacted differently, but the energy surged like a released pressure valve.
Gu Mian raised a hand. "Too bad," she sighed dramatically, "I might be poor again by the end of this meeting."
For a second there was silence—then the entire room burst out laughing again.
"Hahaha—boss, you're cruel!" "If you're poor, what are we?" "I've never seen someone complain about spending billions!"
The warmth was real. No forced flattery. No fear. Just a team that had begun to believe—in her and in the future she was building.
"I've prepared bank cards for everyone," Gu Mian continued once the noise settled. "Those who already have one—I'll transfer more when we're done."
She turned slightly. "Xu Qian, you'll come with me to D City. We'll stay there for five months. You'll move back and forth to C City transporting ores. We leave next week."
Xu Qian nodded without hesitation.
Gu Mian's gaze shifted. "So—who here knows how to modify vehicles?"
A man at the far end raised his hand immediately.
"I do," Bun San said. "Back when I was a mercenary, I worked mainly as a mechanic."
Gu Mian smiled. "Of course you did. Bun San, you really are versatile."
She leaned forward. "I want military jeeps modified into full four-wheel off-road vehicles."
Bun San's expression turned serious. "Military-grade vehicles are already bulletproof and structurally reinforced. Turning them into complete off-road systems while keeping those qualities will cost a lot."
"I just told you I have money to burn," Gu Mian replied lightly. "By New Year, I want them completed."
"How many?"
"Twenty."
She paused, then added, "And can RVs be turned into bulletproof four-wheelers?"
"Yes," Bun San said slowly. "But that's essentially rebuilding them from the ground up. More expensive than military vehicles."
"No problem. You'll form a team—ten people. I want fifteen large RVs, the biggest available. And two food trucks."
She slid a card across the table. "600 million yuan. If you need more, ask."
Bun San took the card with both hands. "Understood, boss."
Gu Mian turned next. "Wei Xuming. Can you get weapons? Real ones."
Xuming didn't flinch. "Yes. I have a connection."
"Good. Guns of every size, as many as possible. 300 million yuan for the purchase. Another 50 million for ammunition—bullets only, excluding what comes with the guns. Arrange safe transport to Qin Yao."
Xuming nodded. "I'll need at least a month."
"Fine. After that, I want pharmaceutical drugs. Legal ones. Pharmacy-grade. Spend 30 million yuan, no more. Store them separately from the weapons."
"Understood."
She looked toward Qin Yao. "A'Yao. Generators—small to large. Four of each type."
Qin Yao laughed. "Busy as always, boss."
"I know," Gu Mian said softly. "Your tasks will last until May next year. Solar panels too—300 million yuan worth. Total budget: 500 to 700 million yuan."
"No problem."
"Mu Xia," Gu Mian continued, "sign an eight-month contract with clothing factories. Weekly supply. High-quality fabric only. Practical clothes—wilderness-ready. Every size, both genders. Budget: 400 million yuan. Store everything in A'Yao's warehouse."
"I'll handle it."
"Qing Ruofu," she said, turning, "snacks and instant food. Long expiration dates. Every brand. 300 million yuan. And I want a comprehensive Hua Country cuisine recipe collection."
Ruofu blinked. "That's… a lot."
"Spend it all."
Ruofu smiled. "Then I will."
"Huo Xu. Buy a failing animal farm. Expand it. Hire workers for six months, pay generously. Buy animals. Buy three years' worth of feed. Budget: 500 million yuan. By February, I'll take over."
"Yes, boss."
"Hao Yun. Packaged meat, canned food, beverages, wine. Cakes—weekly delivery, 100 boxes per week for three months. Store everything in ice warehouses. Budget: 300 million yuan, plus 15 million extra."
He whistled softly. "Understood."
"Xiao Yao. Bottled water. Fill three warehouses, overflowing if possible. 200 million yuan. Deadline: January."
Finally, she glanced back at Bun San. "Another 400 million yuan. Buy excavators and heavy machinery. I want one excavator within three months."
Bun San grinned. "No problem."
Gu Mian exhaled. "You can help each other. Anyone done early helps Qin Yao. I'm done talking. My throat hurts."
She waved a hand. "Good night."
"Good night, boss."
After the Meeting
They didn't leave immediately.
Someone opened a drink. Another pulled up a chair. The tension of assignments melted into conversation.
"She doesn't act like a boss," Hao Yun said quietly. "More like… someone planning to survive the end of the world."
Wei Xuming nodded. "She knows exactly what she wants. No waste. No hesitation."
"And she listens," Qing Ruofu added. "That's rare."
Bun San leaned back. "You know what gets me? She spends billions—but still counts every detail."
"Down-to-earth," Qin Yao said. "That's why I trust her."
There was silence for a moment.
Then someone said softly, "If the apocalypse really comes… we'll live."
No one argued.
After returning to her room, Gu Mian finally allowed herself to relax.
Everything was falling into place.
The only remaining resource was fish—and she'd need excavators for that. Ponds had to be dug.
By the weekend, she would retrieve the first library. After that—straight to D City.
D City
D City was jade incarnate.
Mines surrounded it. Markets thrived. Even the air felt dense with wealth.
Gu Mian moved through jade gambling houses like a storm—spending billions per day, buying, auctioning, reinvesting. Xu Qian transported crates weekly. Every month, she returned to C City to deposit everything into her space.
By the third month, her name spread.
They called her Gold Empress.
Not for jade—but for the halo of wealth that followed her.
Her mental strength surged. Jade no longer dissolved in her space—it purified, shrank, formed networks around the spring. The spring's spiritual density increased tenfold.
She signed six-month contracts with three mines. Three trucks per mine. Ten new jade cutters hired.
C City's warehouses overflowed.
And Gu Mian smiled.
Soon.
Everything would be hers.