Chapter 46: Too Ugly, I Don’t Want Her

As soon as Zhao Ping’an saw her coming out, he eagerly rushed over to greet her.

He took the two boxes from An Nan’s hands and scratched his head a little sheepishly.

“Idol, why did you bring me so much stuff?”

An Nan was speechless. Was this kid being sarcastic?

But Zhao Ping’an weighed the boxes in his hands and added, “How about you wait a sec—I should go home and bring you something else. Trading just a piece of cloth for all this food, it feels like I’m taking advantage of you.”

An Nan: …

Realizing he wasn’t being sarcastic, An Nan stopped him. “No need, really. This is fine!”

Zhao Ping’an looked at her, thinking: My idol is such a good person!

“Idol, next time I run out of snacks at home, can I bring you something else to trade?”

Hearing him call her “idol” over and over, An Nan got goosebumps.

“I’m probably younger than you. Just call me An Nan.”

“Okay, Idol.”

…

Zhao Ping’an carried the boxes, said goodbye, and started heading home.

An Nan called after him, “Hey, aren’t you going to check what’s inside?”

Zhao Ping’an grinned openly. “No need! As long as it’s snacks, my mom will love it. It’s not like you’d stuff a bunch of rocks in here, right? I trust my idol’s character, haha!”

Watching his retreating figure, An Nan couldn’t help but feel this kid was missing a screw.

How to put it? He was just so relentlessly optimistic. No matter the situation, he could always smile so brightly.

Sometimes, even she couldn’t help but be infected by his cheerfulness.

…

Zhao Ping’an carried the two boxes up to the top floor.

His mother, Hu Cui Lan, took the boxes from him and asked, “You traded a rag for all this food?”

She couldn’t help but think: That girl on the 14th floor, sure she’s tough, but maybe not too bright? Someone gives her a piece of cloth, and she hands over all her good food?

Zhao Ping’an replied, “What do you know! My idol is generous and kind-hearted! Besides, that’s not just any rag—it’s high-tech, new material!”

“I don’t care if it’s high-tech or low-tech. As long as it gets us good food, it’s good tech.”

Hu Cui Lan said this as she grabbed scissors to open the boxes.

“Oh my god! So much good stuff?!”

She tore open a pack of spicy sticks and started munching happily. “Not to nag, but you stocked up on all that dry food—how come you didn’t think to hoard some snacks like spicy sticks?”

“My dearest mother, have you ever seen a single doomsday movie where the main character hoards a warehouse full of spicy sticks?”

Zhao Ping’an said helplessly, “Having dry food is already a blessing! There are people out there who can’t even get expired bread.”

Hu Cui Lan kept eating spicy sticks as she pulled out a self-heating hotpot from the box.

“So how come An Nan has them? Enough talking, we’re having hotpot today! My mouth’s about to go bland from all this plain food…”

At the mention of An Nan, Zhao Ping’an didn’t argue. He had to admit, his idol was way better prepared than he was.

Hu Cui Lan twisted open two bottles of mineral water and poured them into the hotpot.

“You know, you really should’ve stocked up on some hotpot base. That stuff tastes way better than compressed biscuits! After we finish this, I’ll save the soup base—we can cook noodles in it next time.”

Zhao Ping’an nodded. “Okay, I’ll make the noodles.”

He looked at his mom, thinking how things had changed. She used to refuse even leftovers; now she wouldn’t even throw out soup.

He sighed.

This apocalypse was nothing like he’d imagined.

He’d started hoarding supplies because that little island nation kept stirring up trouble—provoking everyone, dumping nuclear wastewater, all sorts of nonsense.

Sharing a planet with people like that, it was hard to feel safe.

So he’d prepared for all kinds of doomsday scenarios—mutant zombies, natural disasters, you name it.

Back when he was stockpiling, he’d even dreamed that if the world really did end one day, he’d be all set, living in his own doomsday fortress. How cool would that be?

But now, he realized that the ordinary, peaceful world he once took for granted was the most precious thing of all.

Too bad there’s no turning back time. That little island nation might be gone for good, but the survivors left behind were now facing challenges like never before.

…

Meanwhile, Bai Wenbin went to the 13th floor to borrow a kayak from Sun Peng.

When he opened the door, Sun Peng didn’t even recognize him.

With his swollen face, Bai Wenbin had to explain for ages before Sun Peng realized who he was.

Worried he’d never get his kayak back, Sun Peng lied and said Wang Xiaoyu had already taken it out.

But to keep up his image as the building rep, he agreed to lend Bai Wenbin his bathtub instead—for the price of two boxes of biscuits.

Bai Wenbin didn’t even have two boxes of biscuits left, so he had to put it on credit.

With his new “vehicle,” he and Qian Ying’er hurried over to Building 12 and knocked on Brother Wang’s door.

Hearing the knock, Brother Wang opened the door excitedly, only to find two strangers.

“And you are…?”

“It’s me! Bai Wenbin!”

Brother Wang looked at his swollen face, unable to connect him with the delicate-looking Bai Wenbin he remembered.

Bai Wenbin quickly pointed to Qian Ying’er. “My cousin, Qian Ying’er! Brother Wang, don’t you remember?”

Brother Wang frowned at them.

“What happened to you two? And where’s that beautiful girl you mentioned?”

Bai Wenbin forced a flattering smile. “Brother Wang, the beauty’s not here today. How about we make do for now?”

As he spoke, he nudged Qian Ying’er forward.

Qian Ying’er stumbled from the push and fell right into Brother Wang’s arms.

Startled, she burst into loud sobs.

Brother Wang was shocked to see her swollen, pig-like face, crying and smearing snot all over herself.

Is this woman… all there?

He quickly pushed Qian Ying’er away. “What’s wrong with her?!”

Bai Wenbin awkwardly pulled her back. “Behave! Stop crying!”

Then he turned to explain, embarrassed, “My cousin hit her head and, uh, she’s a bit slow now…”

Brother Wang looked at Qian Ying’er in disgust. “Go, go, get out of here! She’s way too ugly—I don’t want her! Next time, just bring that beautiful girl you mentioned.”

With that, he slammed the door in their faces.

Bai Wenbin’s face turned pale, then flushed, but he couldn’t say anything. He just grabbed Qian Ying’er’s arm and scolded her, “You better behave!”

Then he dragged her off to try other apartments.

But after going through the whole building, no one was willing to trade with them.

Every time someone opened the door, all they saw was a woman with a swollen, unrecognizable face, grinning foolishly with snot bubbles:

“Hehehe! Hi there, handsome!”"