Chapter 26: Our New Home

While the inspection teams were busy at work, the renovation manager handed Tang Xiaoman a long list.

“A large shipment of appliances has arrived from the mall. They’ve all been stacked in the warehouse—this is the inventory.”

“Also, spare explosion-proof glass, backup waterproof electric fencing, extra solar panels, and corrosion-resistant paint have all been stored there as well.”

Tang Xiaoman took the list and gave it a quick scan. It matched the appliances she’d stocked up on that morning—large freezers and the like—along with a substantial amount of backup construction materials. All of it had already been included in the renovation costs.

By then, the water quality inspectors had collected their samples. The detailed analysis would have to be done at the lab, with results available the next day.

After seeing off the water testing team, the indoor air quality test produced preliminary results.

“The initial air quality readings meet safety standards, but the full analysis will be ready tomorrow,” the technician reported.

Tang Xiaoman sent them off as well. The explosion-proof glass passed inspection without surprise.

Next came the testing of the exterior walls—insulation, reinforced thickness, and blast resistance. Everything held up.

The renovation manager quietly wiped sweat from his brow.

Good thing he hadn’t cut any corners.

This client was not someone you could fool.

—

Tang Xiaoman personally led several inspectors to check every section of the high-voltage waterproof electric fencing, the solar panels, the surveillance systems, the rooftop terrace, and the reinforced steel plating used to seal the windows.

The inspectors clicked their tongues in amazement. “This is practically a doomsday bunker.”

Tang Xiaoman smiled faintly. That was exactly what she was going for.

By three in the afternoon, the last of the workers had left, and the villa finally fell quiet.

Fubao ran wildly across the spacious courtyard, tongue hanging out in excitement.

Tang Xiaoman patted its head. “Fubao, calm down. This is going to be our new home from now on.”

Fubao’s eyes sparkled.

A brand-new territory!

Tang Xiaoman had it guard the yard while she went into the warehouse, storing all the newly delivered appliances into her space.

The club’s first floor already had backup appliances stored, more than enough for now.

She then took another tour through the villa’s interior. Everything matched the blueprint in the contract. The furniture and appliances were fully equipped—nothing to complain about.

The two connected villas had three floors in total. Between the second and third floors, there were over twenty rooms. The entire first floor had been converted into storage.

On the west side of the courtyard, five large warehouses had been built, providing ample storage space.

These were meant for heavy supplies—diesel, gasoline, gas tanks—as well as the twenty large freezers, which would be packed with food. Most large items would be stored on the first floor to avoid any risk of structural overload.

Tang Xiaoman’s space was limited; it was only for her personal reserves. Her teammates would have to store their own supplies.

She entered the central master bedroom on the second floor—her future living quarters.

The luxurious bedroom spanned over a hundred square meters, complete with a private bathroom, a full bathing area, and even a European-style fireplace. All the furniture and appliances were exactly as she had specified, down to the brands.

Although the villa had a complete underfloor heating system, she had still insisted on installing a large standalone fireplace.

Because she was afraid of the cold.

During the polar night, there would be no sunlight for half a year.

Just thinking about that bone-deep, damp cold made her shiver instinctively.

No. She needed the fireplace.

The second floor had seven rooms in total. She took the largest one. The slightly smaller one next to it was assigned to Zhou Yichen as his private quarters. The remaining five rooms were for the ten bodyguards. The dog would sleep on the first floor.

Aside from Zhou Yichen, she planned to keep at most ten people.

In the apocalypse, resources would be scarce. The team size had to be controlled. Too many people meant she couldn’t sustain them—and it would attract unwanted attention.

If you wanted to survive long-term in that world, you couldn’t be too weak—but you couldn’t be too strong either.

Too weak, and you’d be wiped out.

Too strong, and you’d draw the gaze of powerful factions.

Unless you were the strongest of all, you’d eventually become cannon fodder.

She remembered clearly how things worked in her previous life—bases devouring one another in a ruthless food chain.

Small bases could vanish overnight, swallowed whole without a trace.

To survive, you had to conserve your strength. Stay low-profile. Avoid becoming a target for the larger factions.

Tang Xiaoman defined herself and her group as a small, mobile team—able to move between bases, becoming a resource others would want to recruit, rather than building one of their own.

Establishing a personal base was too difficult. Too visible. Without overwhelming strength, it was just asking to be devoured.

Why was she so cautious?

Because anyone who had lived through the apocalypse and seen the scale and power of military bases would understand—private bases were nothing but ants trying to stop a chariot.

Military bases possessed high-end weaponry and advanced transport that private groups could never hope to match.

Even ordinary government-run bases were full of hidden talent and rare resources.

Tang Xiaoman only had an advantage because of her spatial ability—it made stockpiling easier.

But that alone?

Nowhere near enough to justify the arrogance of building her own base.

When ambition outpaced capability, the result was destruction.

—

By evening, the temperature hadn’t dropped with the setting sun.

If anything, it had grown worse—reaching a terrifying forty-five degrees Celsius.

The meteorological bureau issued dozens of extreme heat warnings in succession, officially announcing work stoppages and school closures. Citizens were urged to stay indoors to avoid heatstroke.

Tang Xiaoman’s pickup truck had been running the whole time, keeping the interior relatively cool.

She drove back to the club with Fubao.

Inside, the central air conditioning was already at full power, yet the air still felt heavy and stifling.

Even so, Zhou Yichen and the team had completed their training for the day. Now they were eating chilled watermelon.

On the TV, news footage showed overcrowded hospitals and ambulances rushing through the streets.

More and more people were collapsing from heatstroke and being rushed in for emergency care.

Fortunately, the bodyguards were physically strong. Combined with air conditioning and cold watermelon, none of them had succumbed to the heat.

When Tang Xiaoman returned and saw everyone present, she raised an eyebrow. “No one left?”

The nine who had been called out that morning immediately stiffened, casting pleading looks toward Zhou Yichen.

He answered for them. “They’ve all promised to cut ties with their previous affiliations. It won’t happen again.”

Tang Xiaoman wiped the sweat from her forehead, thinking how much better the ventilation system at Tianlai Estate was.

They needed to move in as soon as possible.

“Get a good rest tonight. The evaluation is at eight tomorrow morning.”

Then she added to Zhou Yichen, “The air-cooling units I bought can be put to use now. And start making ice in the freezers.”

Zhou Yichen immediately ordered two men to bring out a pair of large freezers, unbox them, and plug them in.

All twenty air-cooling units were turned on, but at first, they only blew hot air.

It wasn’t until large chunks of ice were added that coolness finally began to spread through the room.

Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.

“Miss Tang really has foresight!”

They hadn’t understood before why she’d suddenly bought so many freezers and cooling units.

Now they did.

Their boss clearly had inside information about the coming heatwave.

Their respect for her deepened.

A boss with both money and connections—they needed to hold onto that golden lifeline.

Tang Xiaoman had two air-cooling units moved into the captain’s office, adding plenty of ice.

Everyone assumed she was going in to talk with Captain Zhou.

Instead, she beckoned to 01.

“01, come in with me.”