After finishing up with Chu Yian, the three community workers went to knock on the door across the hall.
Lu Qingyuan hadn't been able to leave by car earlier, so he was still here.
It looked like he had just washed his face—his bangs were damp, with water droplets clinging to his sharp, straight nose. His expression was cool, remote. The top button of his silky black shirt was fastened all the way up, giving off an aura of aloof sophistication.
Even the middle-aged woman handling the registration was taken aback, her voice instinctively softening.
"Young man, we need to take down your information."
Lu Qingyuan glanced briefly at Chu Yian before taking the registration form from the woman.
Seeing his indifferent demeanor, Chu Yian quickly closed her own door.
No point forcing warmth on someone who gives you the cold shoulder, she thought.
After all, he didn't remember her—and he was just an NPC in a game.
As she shut the door, she heard him speak at last:
"How will essential supplies be handled during the lockdown? Is there a distribution channel?"
"There's a purchasing agent," the woman said quickly, pulling out her phone.
"Once you join the WeChat group, a designated contact will help with that…"
So the community had a supply system in place.
Back in her apartment, Chu Yian followed the woman's instructions and opened the WeChat group she'd just joined.
Sure enough, someone had already posted details: who to contact for what, and how they'd arrange drop-offs—no extra delivery charge.
She immediately messaged the designated buyer.
[Hello, could you help me purchase some disinfectant?]
[Sure. Hypochlorous acid disinfectant is still available—5 liters for 150 yuan.]
[I'll take five.]
[Sorry, limit is two per household.]
[Alright, I'll take two then.]
She paid quickly.
[When will it arrive?]
[Tomorrow morning.]
That worked.
Just as she finished the conversation, another ambulance arrived at the community gates.
A group in hazmat suits rushed in again. This time, they removed a woman from a building across the way. Her family followed, also placed under quarantine.
Ambulance sirens didn't stop all day.
Her own complex saw three or four separate emergency responses, creating a wave of panic among the residents.
Thankfully, by afternoon, a delivery vehicle dropped off some of the pre-ordered groceries, and that calmed people down a bit.
Day 5 of the Game
Chu Yian was woken by shouting downstairs.
"He's a patient! My dad needs a doctor! Why the hell won't you let us out?!"
"The hospital's not responding—what, we're just supposed to sit here and die?"
"Are you even human?!"
The argument downstairs escalated, almost turning into a physical altercation.
Meanwhile, the WeChat group had exploded with messages.
[Hospitals are overwhelmed. They're not accepting any more patients—everyone has to stay home and isolate.]
[I heard this illness is basically untreatable. If you get it, you're done.]
[It's not just hard to treat—it's that no one's recovered yet. Zero recoveries. My wife's a nurse. She went to the hospital yesterday and hasn't come home. She told me even the top doctors can't figure out how to cure it. I've begged her to come back, but she won't.]
[I heard a bunch of people have already died at the hospital.]
[How did things get this bad in just one day? I asked the agent to buy a few items—everything's more expensive now, and you can't even get masks or medicine…]
The outbreak had clearly escalated.
Chu Yian received a private message from the buyer.
[Sorry, the disinfectant's sold out.]
[I've refunded your payment. Please check your account.]
Sold out overnight?
She frowned, then tried again:
[Are you really out of stock? I really need a bottle. Can you please help me find someone willing to spare one?]
[I'm willing to pay more.]
[Alright. I'll ask around.]
About ten minutes later:
[Found someone who's willing to part with one. But it's expensive—500 yuan for 5 liters. Still want it?]
That was ten times the normal price—usually only 50 yuan.
But Chu Yian didn't hesitate.
Who knew how much worse things would get later?
They arranged to meet around noon.
The seller arrived early, around eleven. He was a young man in his twenties, short, tanned, wearing a mask and carrying a jug of disinfectant.
When she came out to meet him, his eyes lit up.
"You ordered the disinfectant, right, miss?"
"Yeah."
She nodded, reaching for the jug.
"Thanks."
Just as she was about to shut the door, the man put out his hand to stop her.
His eyes tried to peer into the apartment.
"You live alone, don't you?"
Chu Yian's brows drew together.
She lived alone in real life too, and even in a secure building, she'd had her fair share of creeps.
"What business is it of yours who I live with?"
Her voice went cold. She stared at him warily, already regretting not having him leave the jug outside so she could grab it later.
"Come on, I'm just looking out for you."
The man grinned and tried to grab her—handy and inappropriate.
Just then, the door across the hall opened with a click.
Lu Qingyuan stood in the doorway, eyes fixed on the man.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Tall, cool, and commanding—just under 1.9 meters of bone-structure intimidation.
The man, who'd clearly thought Chu Yian was vulnerable and alone, froze, then turned and ran off without another word.
Chu Yian let out a breath.
"Thanks… Teacher Lu."
"How do you know my name?"
Lu Qingyuan looked at her, his eyes still distant and slightly suspicious.
Right. What was she going to say—
"We ran from a zombie horde together in another world"?
She didn't answer. And he didn't press.
"It's a dangerous time," he said. "Don't open your door for just anyone."
With that, he closed his door again.
Chu Yian did the same.
After that tense moment, she locked both her doors carefully.
It was already noon.
She opened the fridge: a braised goose, some eggs, and fresh greens.
Perfect for a simple goose noodle bowl.
She gathered the ingredients and got to work in the kitchen.
While cooking, she remembered something—Lu Qingyuan had asked about supplies yesterday, and she hadn't seen him receive any deliveries.
Maybe he didn't stock up at all.
On impulse, she threw in an extra handful of noodles.
Once everything was cooked, she added pork lard, salt, MSG, soy sauce to the bowl, topped it with the noodles, blanched greens, thick slices of braised goose, and a crispy fried egg.
A perfect homemade bowl of braised goose noodles.