Chapter 15: Someone Is Picking the Lock

At this point, the entire neighborhood had lost power and internet—and now even the water was cut off.

Many people had run out of food and supplies, so they had no choice but to swim out in search of resources.

An Nan looked out the window and saw people jumping into the water like dumplings being dropped into a pot.

But this wasn’t a swimming pool. The water was now over 15 meters deep, and the floating debris and hidden currents made it extremely dangerous.

Many people were injured by the debris soon after entering the water, and faced the risk of infection from the filthy water.

Still, in order not to starve to death, people kept jumping in, one after another.

It had only been a day, and there were already bodies floating in the water.

An Nan was bathing Fugui at home when she suddenly heard screams from outside her window.

She pulled back the curtains and saw a corpse being carried along by the current, bobbing up and down with the waves.

Most people here had grown up in peaceful times. Even though they’d been trapped by the heavy rain for days, they’d never seen a dead body before. Panic spread quickly, and many were terrified.

An Nan shook her head. “This is just the beginning. Soon, seeing dead bodies will be as common as eating.”

People would gradually get used to it, becoming cold and numb.

Even now, with corpses floating in the water, some people still risked their lives to swim out for supplies.

Those who couldn’t swim used large basins or bathtubs as makeshift boats.

Of course, there were also people who didn’t dare go into the water, but wanted to freeload off others’ efforts.

Old Lady Liu from 701 went door to door, knocking:

“Dear neighbors, do you have any food? This old woman hasn’t eaten in two days!”

No one answered.

“How can you all be so heartless? My two children are wasting away from hunger!”

“Oh, my poor children!”

No matter how much she cried and wailed, no one opened their door.

Someone, finally fed up, shouted through the door:

“What children? You mean those two grown men in their thirties?”

“They’re big and strong—why can’t they go out and find food themselves? Why should we risk our lives to get supplies and then share them with you?”

Old Lady Liu glared, eyes wide. “How old they are is none of your business! No matter how old, they’re still my babies!”

“The water’s so deep—what if something happens to my boys?”

She cursed for a long time, but seeing no one would respond, she muttered to herself and went home.

“These young people nowadays, not a single one respects their elders or cares for children!”

……

That night.

Two men quietly slipped out of the apartment on the seventh floor.

They were Old Lady Liu’s sons.

The two sneaked out of their home and crept up to the fourteenth floor.

There was a beautiful woman living on the fourteenth floor—they’d noticed her long ago.

Unfortunately, they’d never had a chance to talk to her.

Earlier, they’d heard from the siblings on the eighth floor that this girl lived alone and had plenty of food stored up.

The brothers exchanged a look: If they could sneak into her place, not only would their food problem be solved, but maybe they could…

Heh heh heh. The two shared a sly grin.

Residents living on the fifth and sixth floors saw them sneaking upstairs and immediately guessed they were up to no good.

But they didn’t care.

None of these neighbors had let them stay in their homes—they were all selfish.

If they got robbed, they deserved it!

It’d be even better if a fight broke out—let the dogs bite each other. That would make them feel better.

The Liu brothers carried a bag of lock-picking tools up to the fourteenth floor.

They’d always been up to shady business, and were experts at picking locks. The first stainless steel door to the hallway was opened in no time.

But inside, there was another armored door.

…What’s going on? Why did this girl install extra doors?

They had no choice but to keep working.

This armored door was much harder to pick, but the younger Liu brother had worked as a professional locksmith before. Although it took several times more effort than the first door, he managed to get it open.

The two exchanged a grin—finally, they could get in!

But when they reached the door to apartment 1402, their smiles vanished.

She’d even replaced the standard steel security door with an explosion-proof armored door?

Gritting their teeth, they tried to encourage themselves: Good things take effort! Let’s do this!

So they kept at it, spending over an hour and using all their strength before finally picking the lock.

They pulled open the door, lecherous grins just forming on their faces—only to find another door behind it!

……

“Bro, I’m exhausted. Should we just try another place? It’s like she’s playing Russian nesting dolls with these doors!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. We’ve already gotten through three doors—if we give up now, all that effort was for nothing!”

The younger Liu wiped his sweat. He had to admit, after all the time and energy they’d spent, it would be a shame to give up.

So they kept going.

Damn, why did it feel like they were being gaslit by a door?

Stupid door!

“Bro, we’ve been at this for so long—what if the girl wakes up?”

“So what if she does? The two of us grown men can’t handle one little girl?”

“True.”

The brothers kept working, their hands shaking from exhaustion, but finally managed to pick the lock.

The younger Liu happily opened the door—only to come face to face with a pair of eyes staring straight at them.

“Ah—!” He jumped, letting out a scream.

“What the hell are you screaming for!” The older Liu slapped him and looked inside.

There stood the pretty girl from the fourteenth floor, dressed in pink bunny pajamas, calmly watching them from the doorway.

At her feet was a little white dog, chubby as a piglet, baring its teeth in a mock-ferocious way.

The two looked like harmless little cuties.

The older Liu pulled a knife from his pocket:

“Little girl, don’t make a sound. Be good and let us in.”

An Nan looked at them without a hint of fear, and pulled out a triangular bayonet from behind her.

She’d been practicing combat skills these past few days, itching for someone to spar with—and now, two idiots had delivered themselves to her door.

Seeing her not only unafraid but armed, the older Liu’s face twisted with malice.

“Little girl, let me tell you—when you’re faced with real strength, weapons will only get you hurt. As a woman, you dare to challenge a man—”

Before he could finish, An Nan yanked him over and stabbed him in the stomach.

“Look down on women, do you?”

She sneered and stabbed him again, blood gushing out.

Fugui, at her feet, looked up at her with starry eyes: Sister Nan, you’re awesome!

Seeing his owner so fierce, Fugui happily ran behind her.

Better stay back—don’t want to get blood on my beautiful white fur.

The older Liu’s face went from disbelief to rage.

One hand clutching his stomach, the other swinging his knife, he lunged at An Nan.

She sidestepped easily, then grabbed him and stabbed him several more times.

Each time she pulled out the blade, blood streamed down the groove.

After ten stabs, An Nan finally let go.

The older Liu’s eyes widened in shock as he collapsed, dead within moments.

The younger Liu was already in shock.

He’d always been a coward—petty theft was one thing, but violence was another matter entirely.

Seeing his brother killed so quickly, he was terrified, collapsing to the floor.

“Y-y-you… don’t come any closer!”

“H-h-help… help!”

He looked up at the woman approaching him.

She was still wearing her cute bunny pajamas, but her face was expressionless as she held the cold bayonet.

Her clothes were splattered with his brother’s blood, the blade stained bright red.

Drops of blood dripped onto the floor—drip, drip.

The sight was so terrifying, he couldn’t help but wet his pants.

An Nan walked slowly toward him, pointing the bayonet at him. “Put the doors back the way you found them.”"