9: Chapter 9 Community Cadres Visit Door-to-Door

The next day, after a full night of "in-depth treatment."

Song Yang walked down from the second-floor bedroom, feeling refreshed.

In the dining room, Zhang Xinmei and Zhang Yu were already seated at the table.

Zhang Xinmei had changed into cream-colored loungewear, her long hair casually swept up; she was less seductive than last night, exuding more of a languid, domestic vibe.

Her complexion was radiant, and there was a hint of post-satisfaction charm in her eyes and expression.

Zhang Yu was wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans, her hair tied in a ponytail, looking neat and capable.

"You're awake? Come have breakfast."

Zhang Xinmei looked up and gave Song Yang a meaningful smile.

"Xiao Yu told me," Zhang Xinmei said, taking a light sip of her coffee, "that you seem to be hoarding supplies lately? Rice, flour, oil, drinking water, and all sorts of canned goods... What, is Big Boss Song planning a career change to open a supermarket?"

Zhang Yu also stopped drinking her milk and looked up at Song Yang; she was clearly curious about this as well.

Song Yang didn't answer Zhang Xinmei's question but instead asked one of his own.

"Let me ask you both a question: Do you believe the world will end?"

"The end of the world?"

Zhang Xinmei laughed softly as if she had heard something hilarious and set down her coffee cup.

"Song Yang, have you been watching too many sci-fi movies? The apocalypse? That's something that only happens in movies and novels; how could it possibly happen in the real world?"

Zhang Yu also frowned. "Yeah, most of those doomsday theories are just alarmist talk lacking any scientific basis."

"Modern society has stable order and strong response capabilities; even if something big happens, we can still handle it."

Song Yang looked at them and shook his head.

"No, you're thinking too simply."

"The true apocalypse isn't just special effects from a movie. Once it arrives, the existing order, technology, weapons—everything humanity takes pride in—will become incredibly fragile."

"I have a premonition, a very strong one. In twelve days, the sun will go out."

"What?"

Zhang Xinmei almost thought she had misheard. She forgot to put down her coffee cup and stared at Song Yang in disbelief.

"The sun going out? You're joking, right?"

Zhang Yu's brow furrowed even deeper. Her education made her instinctively reject such a claim.

"That's impossible. The sun's lifespan is billions of years; that's the most scientific conclusion in astronomy. What are you basing this 'going out' on?"

"I can't explain it. All you need to know is that the world will be plunged into eternal darkness and extreme cold. All order will slowly collapse, and chaos and violence will become the norm."

"I'm hoarding those supplies—rice, flour, oil, water, canned goods, medicine, fuel, everything I can think of—to prepare for that day. To survive."

The smile vanished from Zhang Xinmei's face, replaced by an expression mixed with worry and a sense of absurdity.

She set down her coffee cup and leaned forward slightly.

"Song Yang, have you been under too much pressure lately? Or have you seen something strange? The sun going out... it sounds like something straight out of a fairy tale."

Zhang Yu's reaction was more direct.

"The prophecy you're talking about has no scientific basis. Spreading such talk could cause unnecessary panic. We should believe in science and facts."

Song Yang didn't argue, simply meeting their gazes calmly.

"Believe it or not, it's up to you."

He picked up the milk in front of him and took a sip.

"There are still twelve days. When the time comes, everything will be clear. But I still want to remind you to prepare early."

After finishing breakfast, Song Yang hurried back to his residential complex.

The sounds of drilling and clanking echoed from the room, and dust filled the hallway.

The engineering team had arrived. Several workers in blue overalls were busy carefully installing thick bulletproof glass into the window frames.

The foreman pointed to the materials stacked in the corner of the living room, covered with tarpaulin.

"As per your request, the next step is wall reinforcement with embedded reinforced steel plates. And this door, we'll have to replace it with a custom alloy security door. This is a big job with lots of noise and dust. Maybe you should find another place to stay for a few days?"

Song Yang nodded; this was also part of his plan.

"Alright, I understand. Thanks for your hard work."

He handed the foreman a pack of cigarettes. "For the guys to smoke."

The foreman didn't stand on ceremony, took them, and distributed them to the other workers.

Just then, there was a knock at the door: "Thump, thump, thump."

The door opened to reveal a man and a woman standing outside.

The man wore a crisp, ironed white shirt with neatly buttoned cuffs. His hair was perfectly combed, and he wore a pair of glasses.

Song Yang recognized him instantly. This man was Old Madam Lin's son, Wang Mang, who was a cadre in the community.

Although he looked refined on the surface, he had actually done quite a lot of bad things.

Standing beside Wang Mang was a well-maintained young woman with a full chest—his wife.

Wang Mang's gaze swept over the busy workers and the piled materials before finally landing on Song Yang.

"Song Yang, right?"

"Did you kick my mother's dog to death yesterday?"

"I kicked it. Is there a problem?"

Song Yang admitted it bluntly.

Wang Mang seemed a bit surprised by his honesty. "Fine. Since you've admitted it, this will be easy to handle."

"My mother is elderly and was badly startled; her mental state is very poor right now. Plus, that poodle was raised for years; there was an emotional bond."

"For the sake of being Neighbors, I won't ask for too much. Five thousand for the dog, and ten thousand for my mother's mental distress. Fifteen thousand total. I'm not asking for a penny more. Pay up, and we'll call it even."

The woman beside him curled her lip, seemingly thinking the amount was too low, but she didn't speak.

Song Yang burst out laughing.

"Fifteen thousand? Is she even worth that much?"

The calm expression on Wang Mang's face vanished. His brow furrowed, and his tone hardened.

"What did you say?"

"I said, I'm not paying."

Song Yang repeated, "That dog wasn't on a leash, and I acted in self-defense. If you're not satisfied, you can sue me in court. I'll pay whatever the court orders."

"Sue me?"

Wang Mang acted as if he'd heard a huge joke, a sinister glint appearing in his eyes.

"Listen here, Song. Do you think I'm joking with you?"

"Let me tell you, in this residential complex, my word carries weight."

"I suggest you don't do this the hard way. Why ruin neighborly relations and make things difficult for yourself over such a small amount of money?"

The foreman and workers nearby quietly stopped their work to glance toward the door.

"Dumbass!"

Song Yang said flatly before slamming the door shut.

"Bang!"

Wang Mang didn't react in time, and his face had a close encounter with the door panel.

Blood trickled from his nose. Feeling the pain, Wang Mang flew into a rage.

"Song Yang! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"You've got some nerve! You dare insult me? You dare slam the door in my face?"

"Just you wait! I'm telling you, one day, I'll have you kneeling on the ground begging me!"

Wang Mang was used to lording it over the complex. Relying on his position as a community cadre, who wouldn't show him some respect?

To be cursed at by a young man today and have the door shut in his face—how could he stomach such an insult?

Inside the room.

Song Yang leaned against the door, listening to Wang Mang's frantic cursing outside, and just wanted to laugh.

Cursing at him was the least of it.

This kind of fool, who only knew how to bully others and was completely oblivious to the impending disaster, would be among the first trash to be eliminated in the apocalypse.

Entangling himself with such a person would only be a waste of time.

There were only twelve days left until the end of the world; he had to be ready.