Apocalypse: Resources consumed by women will be returned ten thousandfold.

--Translated by likesnovel--

Zhou Tianhao wasn't sitting idle either.

He immediately posted a message in the community group chat.

> "To help everyone get through this difficult time together,"

>

> "I propose setting up a free trading market."

>

> "Anyone can exchange goods voluntarily."

>

> "The Blood Mist hasn't reached Floor 21 yet."

>

> "So I suggest opening the market once per day at 14:00."

>

> "The location will be the corridor area above Floor 21."

The moment the message was sent,

the group chat instantly became lively.

"I agree! I agree!"

"I have 3 bottles of Moutai. Looking for 10 packs of instant noodles per bottle. Anyone interested?"

"How about 2 packs?"

"That's basically robbery! Do you know how much a bottle of Moutai costs?"

"And what's money worth now? Keep your liquor and drink it yourself!"

"I have 1 pack of Oreos. Anyone got sausages? I'm craving meat so badly I'm going crazy."

"I'm jealous of people who still have meat. I've been eating braised eggs for 3 straight days."

"I have Zhonghua cigarettes. Looking to trade for 1 box of Norfloxacin. I ate spoiled food yesterday and now I have terrible diarrhea!"

"I have medicine, but I don't want cigarettes. Food only."

"Brother, please help me!"

"I have medicine too, but I'm in a different building. I don't dare deliver it. Can you come get it yourself?"

"I got bitten by a giant ant yesterday. The wound is already producing pus. Somebody help me!"

Messages poured into the chat endlessly.

...

Zhou Tianhao looked at the phone screen

and revealed a satisfied smile.

Now he knew exactly who still had food supplies.

If the day ever came when he needed to rob someone,

he would know where to start.

Of course,

many people were still hiding their stockpiles.

But that didn't matter.

As long as he identified enough targets,

it would be sufficient.

Zhou Tianhao also firmly believed

that the government would never abandon its citizens forever.

Right now,

they were probably busy rescuing important people.

Once those priorities were handled,

ordinary citizens like them would eventually be rescued as well.

And if the guy posting as **"Free Food and Shelter"** showed up at the trading market...

he would seize the opportunity and capture him immediately.

...

On Jiang Fan's side,

he saw Zhou Tianhao's message as well.

"A trading market, huh..."

"Maybe I can find some interesting new supplies there."

Although the system could duplicate resources for him,

it could only replicate things he already possessed.

If the variety of supplies was too limited,

even an enormous quantity would eventually become boring.

While he was thinking,

he suddenly noticed something.

The yellow glow surrounding Zhou Tianhao's body

instantly turned into a deep crimson red.

Jiang Fan narrowed his eyes

and revealed a cold smile.

"Hm..."

"So you're planning to come after me."

Other people might not know what the black lychee was.

But Zhou Tianhao definitely knew.

In that case...

you can die.

...

Floor 21.

Apartment 2104.

Hu Lili hadn't eaten anything all day.

She lay weakly on her bed,

staring blankly at the ceiling.

The Blood Mist had already risen to Floor 21.

Its height was about **0.5 meters**,

almost level with the edge of her bed.

The entire room looked like a horror stage swallowed by crimson fog.

"What the hell is happening..."

Hu Lili's eyes were red.

She felt like crying at any moment.

She was a beautiful livestreamer

with a monthly income of around **20,000–30,000 yuan**.

For a university student,

that was more than enough to live comfortably.

Before the apocalypse,

her life had been carefree and luxurious.

But now...

everything had fallen apart.

Her stomach growled once again.

The hunger twisted her insides,

forcing her to curl up into a ball.

It took several minutes before the pain eased.

"No!"

"I have to find a solution!"

Hu Lili thought of the account called

**"Free Food and Shelter."**

Although she didn't want to exchange her body for food,

she had no other choice.

She was still young.

She didn't want to starve to death alone in this apartment.

Hu Lili opened the community chat

and saw the announcement about the trading market.

"A trading market..."

"But I don't have anything to trade."

She continued scrolling upward.

Then she saw the post looking for black lychees.

"Black lychees?"

Hu Lili froze.

Then she turned toward the window.

The outside wall was densely covered in vines.

Beneath one of the leaves

hung a strange black fruit.

It looked remarkably similar to a lychee.

Its dark color resembled a drop of black ink.

The fruit happened to be hanging directly outside her window.

It had been growing there for **2 days** already.

But she hadn't paid much attention to it before.

However,

Jiang Fan's purchase request suddenly made her curious.

Carefully opening the window,

Hu Lili reached out and plucked the fruit.

The moment it landed in her hand,

a strange fragrance drifted into her nose.

For an instant,

she felt an overwhelming urge to bite into it.

But she didn't dare.

Over the past several days,

plants all over the world had been mutating.

All kinds of bizarre fruits were appearing everywhere.

Who knew whether this thing was poisonous?

Hu Lili searched online,

but found nothing.

If she hadn't been starving to the point of collapse,

she might have kept it for further study.

Unfortunately,

what she needed now was food.

So she picked up her phone,

took a photo of the black fruit,

and sent a private message to the account named **"Free Food and Shelter."**

Her heart filled with anticipation.

"I wonder how many meals this can get me..."

Not long afterward,

the message was sent.

**Building C, Apartment 2104**

**[I'm Not Really a Fox]**

> "I have 1 black lychee."

>

> [Image Attached]

Jiang Fan's eyes lit up instantly.

It really existed!

And it was that little fox streamer girl, too!

Should he just storm over and take it by force?

He thought about it for a moment before shaking his head.

Forget it.

If she got angry and ate it herself...

Or threw it away...

The loss would be enormous.

There was no need to take that risk.

Getting the Fruit of Insight first was the priority.

**[Free Food and Shelter]**

> "3 packs of instant noodles."

Hu Lili's eyes widened in delight.

She could trade it for **3 packs**?

**[Building C, Room 2104 - I'm Not Really a Fox]**

> "Can I ask what this fruit is used for?"

**[Free Food and Shelter]**

> "None of your business."

>

> "Deal or no deal?"

Hu Lili looked at the black lychee in her hand.

She still felt hesitant.

**[Building C, Room 2104 - I'm Not Really a Fox]**

> "Then I won't trade it."

Jiang Fan chuckled.

Was this girl trying to threaten him?

Fine.

Since she wanted to play...

**[Free Food and Shelter]**

> "Suit yourself."

>

> "Think it over and contact me again."

>

> "But let me warn you."

>

> "I'm only buying today."

>

> "After today, I'm not interested."

Hu Lili froze.

Why did it sound like he didn't care that much about getting it?

**[Building C, Room 2104 - I'm Not Really a Fox]**

> "Why?"

Jiang Fan deliberately tried to pressure her into making a quick decision.

**[Free Food and Shelter]**

> "This fruit spoils very quickly after being picked."

>

> "If it goes bad, I won't take it."

Hu Lili was stunned.

"Huh?"

She suddenly felt that the other party wasn't joking.

Fresh produce barely lasted anymore.

Most fruits and vegetables spoiled in an incredibly short time.

Although she was curious about what the black lychee actually did...

The hunger twisting her stomach gave her no room to think.

**[Building C, Room 2104 - I'm Not Really a Fox]**

> "10 packs of noodles."

A faint smile appeared on Jiang Fan's face.

Trying to negotiate with him?

Even if she managed to raise the price...

As long as he got the fruit, she wouldn't be able to escape him in the end.

**[Free Food and Shelter]**

> "5 packs."

>

> "Take it or leave it."

Hu Lili hesitated for a long time.

Finally, she gritted her teeth.

**[Building C, Room 2104 - I'm Not Really a Fox]**

> "Deal."

Jiang Fan laughed inwardly.

The **3rd Fruit of Insight** was practically within reach.

**[Free Food and Shelter]**

> "I'll come to your room for the exchange."

"No!"

Hu Lili rejected the idea almost instantly.

Based on his previous messages...

She was convinced this guy was definitely a pervert.

In a world as chaotic as this one, she didn't dare meet a strange man alone.

**[Building C, Room 2104 - I'm Not Really a Fox]**

> "Let's trade at the marketplace."

>

> "With so many people around, you wouldn't dare try anything."

At least for now...

Most survivors still retained habits from the old society.

Some traces of law, order, and morality still remained.

Hu Lili believed that if enough people were present...

He wouldn't dare force her.

Jiang Fan, however, didn't care.

He had already planned to check out the trading market anyway.

Besides...

If he really decided to take something by force...

What difference would a crowd make?

His lips curled into a cold smile.

**[Free Food and Shelter]**

> "Fine."

>

> "I'll contact you later."

---

After that, Jiang Fan returned to Tang Xuerou's apartment.

He took a hot shower to wash away the dust and cement powder accumulated from smashing walls all morning.

The two women were already awake.

When they discovered Jiang Fan was gone earlier...

They had been extremely uneasy.

In the apocalypse...

A house without a strong man felt dangerously insecure.

The moment they saw him return...

Both of them subconsciously breathed sighs of relief.

Jiang Fan took out the steaks and premium black pork he had collected.

Then he asked:

"Which one of you knows how to cook steak and braised pork?"

Tang Xuerou immediately looked embarrassed.

She was the daughter of a high-ranking official and also a university student.

Cooking was practically a foreign concept to her.

Xu Mengqian glanced at Tang Xuerou proudly.

Then she raised her hand slightly.

"I can."

"And I'm pretty good at it."

"Oh?"

Jiang Fan raised an eyebrow in surprise.

After obtaining his personal storage space, he had stored all the supplies from his apartment inside it.

Rice.

Flour.

Cooking oil.

Salt.

Soy sauce.

Vinegar.

Fresh vegetables.

Tomatoes.

Cauliflower.

Eggs.

These had originally been stocked by his former female roommate.

Since Jiang Fan wasn't good at cooking, he had rarely touched any of them.

Now that he knew Xu Mengqian could cook...

It was finally time to put them to use.

"Good."

"Show me what you've got."

At that moment, a series of system notifications rang out.

**【Ding!】**

**【Xu Mengqian used 1 tomato.】**

**【Return received: 300 tomatoes.】**

**【Stored in personal space.】**

**【Ding!】**

**【Xu Mengqian used 2 eggs.】**

**【Return received: 600 eggs.】**

**【Stored in personal space.】**

**【Ding!】**

**【Xu Mengqian used 500 grams of M9-grade sirloin steak.】**

**【Return received: 150,000 grams (150 kg) of M9-grade sirloin steak.】**

**【Stored in personal space.】**

...

The smile on Jiang Fan's face grew even wider.

It seemed that from now on...

He would never have to worry about running out of good food again.