Chapter 31: Chaos erupts at the Lin family's house; I'm at home eating barbecue and watching the show.
Eerie, dark red lightning twisted across the night sky.
The blinding blood-red light filtered through the bulletproof glass, casting a somewhat sinister quality onto the cold sneer on Lin Xingwan's face.
The Apocalypse had finally rung its death knell, counting down the final moments.
She set down her empty wine glass, stepped barefoot onto the carpet, and walked unhurriedly to the massive central console.
Her slender fingers tapped lightly on the virtual keyboard a few times.
"Beep—"
The holographic projection screen switched instantly.
The view shifted to the Lin family's old residence.
This was something she had taken the opportunity to have hidden micro-cameras installed around the Lin family's old residence before she bought The Fortress in the Western Suburbs.
It was just so she would have some entertainment to pass the time when The Apocalypse arrived.
"The show is starting."
Lin Xingwan curled her lips and pressed the call button on the table.
"Chef Li, bring up the top-quality Wagyu beef prepared for tonight, and slice two plates of pork belly."
"Also, set up the Korean barbecue grill on my coffee table."
On the other end of the intercom, Chef Li readily agreed.
Less than ten minutes later.
The sizzling sound of roasting meat, accompanied by the rich aroma of rendered fat, filled the master bedroom.
Lin Xingwan, wearing a silk nightgown, sat cross-legged on the sofa.
She picked up a piece of M9 Wagyu beef, grilled until golden and crispy, dipped it into the secret dry seasoning, wrapped it in a fresh lettuce leaf, and popped it into her mouth.
The meat juices burst in her mouth, creating an exquisite taste.
Meanwhile, on the screen, the Lin family's old residence was a hellish nightmare.
"Bang! Crash!"
The Lin family's million-dollar carved door was smashed to pieces by a few vicious-looking debt collectors wielding sledgehammers.
"Chairman Lin Jianguo! You old turtle, get out here and pay up!"
"You think you can skip out on your debts just because your company went bankrupt? If you don't hand over the villa's property deed today, I'll take one of your legs!"
The thugs, brandishing baseball bats, stormed into the living room with arrogant aggression.
Various precious antique vases were smashed to smithereens.
"Stop smashing! Stop!"
Chairman Lin Jianguo ran down from the second floor, his hair disheveled.
His clothes were torn, his glasses were missing, and he looked like a quail that had had its tail stepped on.
"Gentlemen, please give me two more days. I really don't have any money on me..."
"No money?"
The lead thug kicked him, sending Chairman Lin Jianguo sprawling onto the coffee table.
"If you have no money, pay with your life!"
Just as the scene below descended into complete chaos.
A sneaky figure suddenly darted past the staircase on the second floor.
It was the wicked stepmother, Zhao Xuelan.
She was carrying a bulging Hermès bag on her back and clutching a jewelry box in her hand.
She was hunching over, preparing to sneak out the back door amidst the chaos.
But that old man, Chairman Lin Jianguo, though bankrupt, wasn't blind.
"Zhao Xuelan! You bitch, where do you think you're going!"
Seeing the bag in her hand, Chairman Lin Jianguo pounced like a mad dog.
"That's the family's last bit of cash and gold bars! You dare try to run off with the money!"
He grabbed Zhao Xuelan by the hair and yanked her hard to the ground.
"Ouch! Let go! You useless piece of trash!"
Zhao Xuelan screamed in pain; the jewelry box in her hand fell to the floor, scattering jade bracelets everywhere.
"Chairman Lin Jianguo, you bastard, the company is bankrupt, do you want me to starve with you?"
"Let me tell you, this money is the compensation I deserve for my youth!"
The two of them were like two starving wild dogs.
They were brawling in the living room, surrounded by broken glass.
Chairman Lin Jianguo straddled Zhao Xuelan, slapping her repeatedly.
"Slap! Slap! Slap!"
The loud slapping sounds were clearly audible through the monitor.
"I killed my first wife to marry you back then, and now you dare to cheat on me and run off with the money!"
Zhao Xuelan didn't show any weakness either.
Her sharp fingernails scratched several bloody gashes directly onto Chairman Lin Jianguo's face.
The debt collectors below were stunned.
This damn high-society drama was more exciting than a movie.
"Fight! Keep fighting! Nobody is leaving this door today!" the gang leader said, enjoying the show.
Lin Xingwan watched this scene from in front of the screen.
She unhurriedly flipped the meat, making the pork belly sizzle.
"Is that all the combat power you have?"
She shook her head in disdain.
"Even a dogfight is being executed with no skill at all."
Meanwhile, in the corner of the frame.
The green tea stepsister, Lin Chuchu, was huddled behind the sofa.
She was trembling with fear, her exquisite makeup ruined by tears, looking like a painter's palette.
She gripped her phone tightly, the screen showing she was frantically dialing Gu Zichen's number.
"Beep... beep... Sorry, the number you are calling is currently busy."
No matter how many times she called, it was ruthlessly hung up.
Lin Chuchu clutched her head in despair, crying until her voice was hoarse.
"Brother Zichen... please pick up, save me..."
Seeing this, Lin Xingwan let out a cold sneer.
That freeloader Gu Zichen had already had his manhood crippled by her with a single kick.
He was probably lying in the hospital right now, weeping over his severed member.
How could he have any spare time to care about this bankrupt white lotus?
This farce lasted for a full half hour.
Until the police arrived after receiving a report from the neighbors.
The debt collectors left, cursing and swearing.
Chairman Lin Jianguo and Zhao Xuelan were taken away for questioning, leaving Lin Chuchu slumped alone in the messy living room.
Like a wandering ghost abandoned by the whole world.
"Boring."
Lin Xingwan turned off the surveillance screen.
The Lin family, which had been high and mighty in her past life, had already completely fallen apart before The Apocalypse had officially descended.
She swallowed the last piece of juicy Wagyu beef and wiped her mouth with satisfaction.
Just after eating and drinking to her fill, a faint sense of drowsiness washed over her.
Lin Xingwan leaned back on the sofa and rubbed her temples, but her brows knitted slightly.
She had been frantically hoarding supplies in her space for the past few days, consuming a massive amount of Mental Power.
Although there were mountains of fresh meat and vegetables in her space.
But in The Apocalypse, where extreme heat and extreme cold alternated, she couldn't possibly start a fire and cook every time she got hungry, could she?
What if she encountered extreme circumstances?
It would be difficult to even boil water, let alone grill fresh Wagyu.
"No."
Lin Xingwan immediately sat up straight, a gleam of insight flashing in her eyes.
"I haven't hoarded enough cooked food, and eating self-heating meals gets old after a while."
If she wanted to truly live a life of luxury in The Apocalypse, where she could "have clothes brought to her and food served to her mouth."
She needed to hoard some other things.
She picked up the phone on the table and checked the time: 3:00 AM.
This time was perfect.
Lin Xingwan dialed the number of the black-market agent, Lao Zhou.
On the other end of the line, Lao Zhou was clearly fast asleep, his voice groggy.
"Hello... Boss Lin? It's so late, what instructions do you have..."
"Lao Zhou, contact the ten top-tier private kitchens and Michelin-starred restaurants in the city for me."
Lin Xingwan's tone was unquestionable.
"Tell them I'm booking all their signature dishes for the next month."
Lao Zhou woke up instantly and almost rolled off the bed.
"Private kitchen food?! Boss Lin, that food won't keep! It will spoil in one night!"
"That's not your concern."
Lin Xingwan's lips curled into a mysterious arc.
"You just need to tell them that money is no object. But I have one requirement."