Though no one witnessed Liu Tiantian's final fate, the outcome was painfully predictable — a girl who falls into the clutches of a gang like Chen Zhenghao's rarely escapes unscathed. If she survived at all, without resources she would merely wait to starve. The incident served as a brutal wake-up call for the other residents: if things continued as they were, none of them could expect to live long.
That afternoon Zhang Yi found himself added to a new chat group. He snorted inwardly — in unstable times people grew suspicious and fragmented into little cliques as if a smaller group meant greater safety. This one had only six or seven members: Zhou Peng, Fang Yuqing, Lin Caining and a handful of neighbors. Zhang Yi frowned, wondering what they wanted.
Someone spoke first. Fang Yuqing tagged him: "@Zhang Yi, it's too dangerous out there. Chen Zhenghao will target us sooner or later. We must unite." Zhang Yi replied coolly: "I'm fine. I live comfortably on my own." Lin Caining chimed in: "That's not the point. You're alone; Chen Zhenghao has five or six men and a gun! You aren't safe either." Zhang Yi smiled without humor: "Why don't you ask Chen Zhenghao who broke his leg? He hasn't dared come after me—apparently he knows I'm not easy pickings."
"So what do you want?" Zhang Yi asked bluntly. Fang Yuqing hurried to answer: "Living apart is too dangerous. We've decided to move in together — then we can resist Chen Zhenghao." Zhang Yi laughed. "Now you're not afraid of his gun? If numbers mattered, the whole building could stomp him flat. You're all cowards looking for comfort."
Sun Zhichao, a white-collar worker in the group, tried a practical tack: "More people make it risky for him. We can barricade the door. We just need a solid stronghold." Fang Yuqing added: "Zhang Yi, your place has a balcony and a sturdy door — perfect for holding out. Join us!" It was obvious she'd already advertised his home's advantages — the insulation, the secure door, the food stash. Zhang Yi's mouth curled. "I don't need it. I live fine alone. Find your own place." Trust, in the apocalypse, was a luxury he no longer afforded.
The group bristled at his refusal. Sun Zhichao argued: "We're all in danger — you can't be selfish! Only together can we survive!" Wang Min pleaded: "We chose your apartment for the balcony to collect snow water. We're not freeloading — we'll protect you!" Zhang Yi's response was barely concealed mockery: "Protect me??????" (the row of question marks dripping with sarcasm).
Fang Yuqing, knowing how little Zhang Yi liked her, tried moral pressure, certain he should be magnanimous despite their history. Lin Caining piled on: "We're begging for help. Let us in and you'll save seven or eight lives! Can you watch us die?" Hardened by his past life, Zhang Yi didn't budge. Most of these people had taken advantage of him before. "Survival depends on ability," he declared. "You're worthless to me — why should I protect you?" Then he quit the group.
Later, chewing a bag of chips by the window, Zhang Yi watched a person fall from the eighteenth floor, disappearing into seven meters of snow. At minus seventy degrees, survival was impossible. He realized the rest of the city was becoming the same kind of hell: people fighting over dwindling resources, civility dissolving fast. He resolved to be even more vigilant. In this doomsday, anything could happen — and he intended to be ready.