Apocalypse: After Being Reborn, I Stocked Up on All Supplies

Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Mutual Consent

Yesterday, Zhang Qiming had gone to the property surveillance room and obtained footage of Jiang Yan being cornered by He Chunmei and others, including the recognition that Jiang Yan was the internet celebrity rumored to be worth three billion, an orphan with both a car and a house.

This was all thanks to Zhang Qiqi who had asked for his help.

Before this, he only knew that the resident of 3201 was named Jiang Yan.

But he thought it was just a coincidence of names.

Like Zhang Qiqi, he didn’t believe the Jiang Yan he knew would live in such an ordinary neighborhood.

“Director Zhang!” Zhang Qiqi barely glanced up and saw his figure, her charming, rosy face breaking into a smile as she crisply called out.

She had sent Zhang Qiming a few messages earlier and even called him, but he hadn’t responded.

Plus, having other plans in mind, she had slowly moved from the seventh floor to the twenty-eighth.

Her calves were still weak despite having rested for quite a while. @@novelbin@@

It was fortunate she had been working out for years and had some stamina.

Otherwise, an ordinary person would have collapsed halfway up.

Zhang Qiqi’s shout of “Director” really struck a chord with Zhang Qiming.

Normally, the homeowners’ association was a place for dealing with trivial matters.

But now, the situation was special. He and the property management were the first point of contact with the authorities, managing the daily needs of over a thousand people in the community—the power he held was significant.

No longer could he afford to overlook minor matters as trivial.

Thinking this, Zhang Qiming glanced at her coldly, his tone resembling that of a veteran cadre,

“Qiqi, I remember you live on the seventh floor, don’t you? How did you end up here? You must be quite fit!”

The reason he hadn’t responded to Zhang Qiqi’s messages in time was that, after learning of Jiang Yan’s real identity, he had his own thoughts.

Comparing Zhang Qiqi and Jiang Yan, he was obviously more biased towards Jiang Yan.

He remembered the news from a few days ago about the founder of a well-known brand in a certain country, also a billionaire, who had transferred all his estates to their family gardener.

It sounded very bizarre.

The real reason behind it was that the two of them had established an extraordinary deep connection during the mask-wearing period.

Now, with the ongoing global high temperatures, the difficult situations were even worse than during the mask-wearing period.

It was widely known that Jiang Yan’s father died early, and now she was all alone.

Such a young lady, psychologically speaking, would prefer or rely more on mature men.

Although he was divorced and much older than her, he understood women’s hearts better.

There’s a saying, “In cold weather you see firm pine and cypress; in hardships, you see real affection.”

If he could repeatedly lend her a hand during these times of high temperature and seize the opportunity to capture her heart,

His later life could be worry-free from then on.

Although this sounded a bit like a fool’s dream, sometimes dreams do come true unexpectedly.

Even if thinking back, even if he couldn’t charm her completely, just making her acquaintance was no bad thing.

As Zhang Qiming pondered, his heart filled with delight.

“Brother Zhang, what’s making you so happy?” Zhang Qiqi saw him grinning foolishly and couldn’t help but ask curiously.

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Zhang Qiming scratched his head, then realized that Zhang Qiqi was still waiting at his doorstep, “Speaking of which, how did you come up here?”

Zhang Qiqi smiled coquettishly, “I sent you messages and called, but you never responded, so I had to come visit in person. Brother Zhang, don’t you see how sincere I am?”

“Really?” Zhang Qiming’s gaze swept over her, his Adam’s apple unconsciously rolling as his voice dropped several tones, and became huskier.

Zhang Qiqi’s red lips parted slightly, and she didn’t forget to gently tap him, “Of course!”

The weather was very hot.

Zhang Qiming suddenly felt even hotter.

A bold idea flashed through his mind when he saw her graceful figure and pleasing smile, “Boom” it appeared clearly.

Extreme temperatures can lead to dizziness and hypokalemia, and are especially likely to induce myocardial infarction.

If you were to engage in vigorous exercise at this time, it would be akin to flirting crazily with death.

But after today, there would be no more such opportunities.

There’s a saying, “To die beneath the peony flowers, even as a ghost you’d be romantic.”

He had been single for so long, he was certainly no exception.

Also, telling her who she had offended wouldn’t really affect his plans.

It might even serve as a warning not to pursue matters further, almost like indirectly helping Jiang Yan.

If she understood his hints and something happened between them, it would be known only to Heaven, Earth, her, and him.

Thinking this, Zhang Qiming swallowed, opening the door while murmuring softly,

“Qiqi, you must be tired from climbing the stairs, and no one’s home; how about coming in for a rest and a drink of water? The information and copies of the video you asked me to check—got them—will send them to you after organizing?”

These words were quite straightforward.

Zhang Qiqi’s child was nearly six, and as a seasoned player in romance, she undoubtedly understood the implications.

While many consoled themselves that the hot weather would soon pass, most understood that the apocalypse had arrived.

Its approach was ferocious and unstoppable.

Since it was the apocalypse, lowering of moral standards, scarcity, and bartering of resources would inevitably become the norm.

In normal times, Zhang Qiming, a middle-aged man of his stature, would be scoffed at by her without a second glance.

But it was not normal times anymore.

Especially since Zhang Qiming, as the head of the homeowners’ association, controlled some resources.

Simply put, even his calls for homeowners to do something carried far more persuasion than others.

As a single mother with her son, she needed some support.

As for resources, she was a resource in herself.

However, she didn’t immediately agree to Zhang Qiming’s suggestion.

Though as adults, their involvement would be consensual and not concern morality or legality,

She couldn’t appear too eager.

Playing hard to get? She might rate herself second, but no one else would dare claim to be first:

“Thank you for your kind offer, Brother Zhang. I won’t come in today. Didn’t the property management say that tonight all homeowners will have to move to the underground garage and pick up supplies themselves? As a single mother, I don’t have anyone to help, so I need to head down early to prepare.”

After finishing her explanation, she sighed helplessly.

Sure enough, her pitiable appearance struck Zhang Qiming’s heart in a second:

“Cough, that’s not an issue! I’m free anyway, and we’re both surnamed Zhang, practically relatives! I’ll take care of you and your son.”

Hearing this, Zhang Qiqi smiled coquettishly at last, “Then, it’s settled—I’ll go into your apartment and ask Brother Zhang for a drink of water.”

She couldn’t help but cringe inwardly as she spoke those words.

Two minutes later, Zhang Qiqi walked out with her face flushed and looking visibly exhausted.

It wasn’t that Zhang Qiming was incompetent, but the temperature was simply too high.

They had almost gambled away their very lives.