Chapter 24: Scorching Heat

The moment Tang Xiaoman stepped outside with Fubao, the blazing sun hit her so hard it made her dizzy.

It was barely past seven in the morning, yet a massive, glaring sun already hung in the sky. The temperature was hotter than a typical noon.

A faint haze shimmered in the air, as if steam were rising. The ground felt like a giant griddle set over open flames—hot enough to fry pancakes at any moment.

Fubao whimpered, lifting its paws one after another to ease the burning pain.

Tang Xiaoman hurriedly opened the car door and ushered it inside.

She cranked the air conditioning to maximum. After more than ten minutes, the temperature inside finally dropped.

It was rush hour, and the sudden heat wave caught everyone off guard, sparking a chorus of complaints.

“This is insane! It was fine while I was eating at home, and the second I stepped out, it’s like fire’s raining from the sky!”

“The sun’s this strong this early—what’s it going to be like at noon?!”

“The forecast didn’t say anything about extreme heat today—why is it so hot?!”

…

Pedestrians scattered in disarray, unable to withstand the abrupt heat. Some dove into their cars, others rushed into nearby buildings.

Before long, the streets were empty of foot traffic, leaving only moving vehicles behind.

Soon after, car radios began broadcasting a heatwave warning, advising work stoppages and school closures to prevent heatstroke.

Tang Xiaoman remembered that in her previous life, the heatwave had been followed by torrential rains, typhoons, and flash floods.

But why had the heat come early?

The heatwave was the prelude to the apocalypse—and it had arrived a full half month ahead of schedule.

Even with the air conditioning blasting cold air, sweat still gathered in her palms.

Her heart pounded. Even her eyelids twitched.

With memories of her past life, she knew something had gone wrong.

If the heatwave had come early, would the storms, typhoons, and floods also arrive sooner?

Tang Xiaoman bit her lip, deciding to accelerate her plans—to race against time.

She picked up her phone and dialed the renovation project manager.

“I’m the owner of Villa No. 98 at Tianlai Estate. Has the renovation been completed?”

The manager sounded surprised. “According to the contract, we’re scheduled to finish tomorrow.”

“Can you complete it today? As long as quality isn’t compromised, I’m willing to pay extra for early completion.”

Money talked.

The manager’s tone instantly turned polite. “Well… it’s a bit difficult, but we can make it happen! I’ll send more workers over and aim to finish before noon!”

After hanging up, Tang Xiaoman wasted no time. She contacted several building material inspection agencies, as well as specialized institutions for testing explosion-proof glass ratings and bulletproof standards, along with a water quality testing center.

Normally, all of these required advance appointments.

But she added an extra 100,000 yuan to each order.

Principles melted away. Every one of them agreed to conduct inspections at the designated location at 1:30 PM.

With that settled, Tang Xiaoman drove straight to the electronics mall.

She still needed to stock up on more appliances for her storage space.

—

The sudden heatwave disrupted countless lives and routines.

For those without freedom—like Gu Heng—it was even worse.

Inside the detention center, Gu Heng was on the verge of passing out from the heat. When he demanded to be moved to a room with stronger air conditioning, he was refused, and he erupted into curses.

The guard had already taken a dislike to him. Irritated by the heat as well, he simply switched off the surveillance cameras—and the air conditioning.

Gu Heng was already overheating. Without AC, he couldn’t last.

Soon he was gasping like a fish out of water, mouth wide open.

His head throbbed. In agony, he staggered into the bathroom, turning on the faucet in an attempt to cool down.

But the water that came out was hot.

The world spun.

He collapsed stiffly onto the steaming bathroom floor…

—

Tang Xiaoman drove into the mall’s underground parking lot. After getting out, she didn’t turn off the engine.

It was too hot—the AC couldn’t be shut off.

The underground lot was cooler than outside, but still stifling enough to make sweat pour.

Fortunately, the elevator had air conditioning, offering some relief.

She rode up to the appliance section and bought ten large freezers, five medical refrigerators with backup batteries, twenty car fridges, and twenty air-cooling units.

Leaving the delivery address as Villa No. 98 at Tianlai Estate, she returned to her car with Fubao.

After leaving the mall, she headed to an outdoor water sports equipment store.

The sun blazed overhead, the asphalt nearly smoking.

Worried about Fubao burning its paws, Tang Xiaoman pulled a large backpack out of her storage space.

Fubao climbed inside, and she carried it into the shop.

The owner brought out a fresh shipment—twenty gas masks and twenty hazmat suits. Tang Xiaoman paid and took them immediately.

Through the rearview mirror, she caught sight of several shadowy figures trailing her.

She let out a cold laugh. “Even in this heat, they’re still tailing me. Talk about dedication.”

With Fubao guarding her, she didn’t bother with these small fry. She had more important things to do.

Next stop: the bank—to buy gold bars.

—

Hospital. ICU ward.

After four hours of emergency treatment, Gu Heng, who had suffered heatstroke, finally clawed his way back from death.

Old Madam Gu clutched her grandson, tears streaming down her face as she wailed, “My poor boy, you’ve suffered so much! It’s all that damned Tang Xiaoman’s fault—she’s ruined you!”

Su Rou stood nearby, delicate and tearful, dabbing at her eyes. “What my sister did this time was too much. Targeting me was one thing, targeting Su Ke was one thing, even sending Shu Jia to prison—I could accept all that. But I never imagined she’d be so heartless as to try to take Ah Heng’s life.”

Old Madam Gu stiffened, her crying abruptly stopping.

Wiping her tears, realization dawned. “Could it be Tang Xiaoman bribed the guards—deliberately trying to kill Ah Heng?!”

How vicious!

Su Cheng and Liu Yaqin stood nearby, one furious, the other uncomfortable.

“That wretched girl actually dared to try and murder Ah Heng—she should be eliminated!” Su Cheng wished he’d never had such a daughter.

Liu Yaqin sighed. “I never thought Xiaoman would become this cruel. First targeting A-Ke, then A-Rou, and now even attacking her own fiancé… she’s becoming more and more extreme.”

Su Cheng turned to Gu Heng and declared, “That lunatic can’t be kept around. Whatever you want done, just say the word—I’ll support you unconditionally.”

Gu Heng had barely survived; his body was still weak.

He never imagined he’d nearly lose his life because of Tang Xiaoman.

At first, when she stopped cooperating, he thought she was just throwing a tantrum to get his attention.

He had underestimated her—and paid the price.

When he realized Tang Xiaoman had completely slipped beyond his control, he decided to teach her a lesson she’d never forget.

His plan had been simple.

First, break off the engagement. Then have her kidnapped, violated, and secretly imprisoned—reduced to a backup blood bank and organ source for Su Rou.

But before she died, he would quietly register their marriage.

Because only as her legal husband could he secure full inheritance rights to the Tang Corporation for the Su family.

That inheritance should belong to Su Rou.

Tang Xiaoman didn’t deserve it.

But he hadn’t expected her to be so difficult.

Two separate teams he sent had failed.

He himself had been arrested—again.

And today’s heatwave had nearly killed him.

If not for the Gu family’s powerful connections, he would already be dead from heatstroke.

The thought left him shaken.

Now, he no longer dared to underestimate Tang Xiaoman in the slightest.

“Get me Tang Xiaoman’s new number,” Gu Heng said hoarsely. “I want to talk to her.”