As soon as the subject came up, the entire group remembered that incident. Yes, what exactly was that oath back then?
[Wang Chao]: "@Zhang Lingling, don't you dare say you didn't trick us. Now your oath has come true. Pay me back my 60 virtual coins!"
[Datou]:"@Zhang Lingling, stop playing dead. Back then, your words sounded so convincing. What do you have to say now?"
As expected, Zhang Lingling pretended to be dead silent. But when someone threatened to go find her in the shelter, she immediately spoke up:
[Zhang Lingling]: "This flood is a natural disaster, I'm innocent. And my house might be underwater, but it hasn't collapsed. My oath only counts if my house collapses next year!"
[Nima Sang]:"Ha. And who knows which 'house' you meant?"
[Zhang Lingling]: "Of course it's where I was living at that time. As long as the oath comes true, I'll refund everyone's virtual coins, alright? Doesn't that show my sincerity?"
She thought smugly "My home must be the safest place. How could it collapse? And what are the odds that this year we get a flood, and next year there's an earthquake, and that earthquake just happens to hit my house? Impossible."
[Mu Xiaoxuan]:"Fine, I've got a screenshot. People like you, who scam classmates on purpose, won't have a good ending."
[Zhang Lingling]: "I walk with integrity, sit with dignity, and fear no slander." She made sure to sound imposing.
Once again, Zhang Lingling wriggled out of it. Jing Shu sneered quietly in the group. This was exactly what "they who does evil will destroy themselves" meant.
Soon the chat shifted to the real issue of the day: where each family had been assigned to live.
The worst option was the old district of Xishan. Dirty, cramped, and rundown, no one wanted it. The most desirable was the development district, filled with new buildings, wide spaces, and few people.
[Mu Xiaoxuan]:"Our family has two apartments in the city, so we were assigned to the largest community in the development district, Xiangjiao Community. I heard they even have a villa area there. It used to be considered remote, but now it's hard to get in. Not only is the area big, but the houses are new."
[Yao Zixin]:"You mean Xiangjiao Community? My family was assigned there too. But now they say three families will have to share one home. Before we move in officially, we can apply to swap so we can live with relatives or friends."
Jing Shu covered her face. This was exactly why she'd avoided mentioning the community's name. Because everyone kept mispronouncing it as "Xiangjiao" (Banana), its elegance instantly transformed into something rustic and tacky. Now, everyone called it "Banana Community."
(Reiya's Note: The joke here is a play on homophones. The community's intended name, "湘娇" (Xiāngjiāo), uses characters for the Xiang River (湘) and "charming" (娇). However, it sounds identical to the word for "banana" (香蕉, xiāngjiāo). The characters are different, but the pronunciation is the same, leading to the elegant name being twisted into something silly and memorable.)
[Xie Zihao]:"We pulled some strings and managed to get a middle-floor apartment in Banana Community all to ourselves. But from now on, we'll have to pay monthly virtual coins."
[Shi Lei]: "My family only had one apartment. We were placed in an independent garage in Banana Community. Sigh, the three of us crammed into 10 square meters. I just hope the floodwaters recede soon so we can go home."
"We were given only a 6-square-meter basement. Damp and cold at night. I can't stand it."
"Anyone living in Banana Community? Give us some tips about the best spots."
[Yao Zixin]:"@Jing Shu lives in Banana Community."
[Shi Lei]:"Jing Shu is lucky. Locals don't seem to have outsiders assigned into their homes. Looks like a lot of our classmates are in Banana Community. We should all meet up once things settle."
Crowded? That was an understatement. It would be packed to bursting.
"I envy you. My family was assigned to a condemned house in Xishan's old district. With this rain, who knows if it'll collapse? They say it doesn't even have windows."
A tally in the group showed more than a dozen of Jing Shu's high school classmates were placed in Banana Community, most of the rest nearby. Only a few unlucky ones were sent to the old district or the northern outer ring. Everyone started planning a small exchange fair—but the problem was where to host it.
"We need a place that doesn't leak. Best if it's inside Banana Community."
[Su Mali]:"Oh my, another exchange fair? Perfect, my family has a house in Banana Community too. Make sure to invite me."
[Datou]: "Look at that, a hidden rich girl. Where's your place in Banana Community?"
[Su Mali]:"In a villa. You're all welcome to come over."
"Wow, amazing! Respect!"
"+1"
"+2"
"+10086"
[Zhang Lingling]: "I propose we hold the exchange fair at Su Mali's villa. Plenty of space, and she won't have to run around."
"Good idea."
"Agreed!"
[Su Mali]:"Alright. Last time I didn't get to host properly. This time, everyone can just bring your things to my house to trade. I'll even host a meal for everyone."
Her words made many classmates swallow hard. Su Mali really was wealthy. In the apocalypse, inviting someone to dinner was like handing them a wad of cash before the world ended.
"Perfect. Once everyone settles in, let's get it going."
What was originally planned as a small gathering of a dozen people now looked like nearly the whole class would attend. That was the pull of a single meal.
[Su Mali]:"@Jing Shu, are you there? Where's your home in Banana Community? I want to find you. It's something important."
Heaven knew, if not for the flood, those lunatics would already have stormed off to Jing Shu's house.
"My house is right next to yours!" Jing Shu rolled her eyes. She didn't want to reply. She'd vowed to avoid this Mary-Sue-like saintess, but somehow in this life she kept being dragged closer. Remembering some of the things Su Mali had gone through in the previous life made Jing Shu shiver. No way. Too dangerous.
[Su Mali]:"@Jing Shu, make sure you come to the exchange fair too. I'll wait for you!"
[Classmate A]: "@Su Mali, need anything? I'll find it for you."
[Classmate B]:"@Su Mali, what are you hoping to trade this time?"
The enthusiasm toward Su Mali surged. To them, she was a soft-hearted, gullible cash cow.
After all, last time Jing Shu had traded a few herbs and walked away with Su Mali's luxury car worth hundreds of thousands. Everyone else wanted their share this time.
Compared to the excitement and scheming in the classmates' chat, the mood in Building 5 was grim.
That morning, after Wu You'ai finished her survey, she discovered a major problem: many people's homes had been bought with loans. That meant they had only two choices—accept outsiders being moved into their houses, or pay monthly virtual coins to cover their mortgages.
"Ten virtual coins every month, it's killing us!"
"What else can we do? I heard each apartment might get three or four civil servants assigned."
"You should be grateful. Some houses have more than a dozen people shoved in."
Jing Shu's villa had also been bought with a loan, meaning her family owed twenty virtual coins a month. But for her family, that was pocket change, hardly worth worrying about.
In the morning, the talk was all about mortgage payments. By afternoon, the government released new job categories and announced mass recruitment.