The End of the Wild Life

The interior designer called—they arranged to meet at a coffee shop at ten tomorrow morning.

The psychologist's private number—they would take Ming Rong over at seven tomorrow evening.

There was no helping it; all the appointments during working hours were already booked solid.

Then came the person in charge of the mobile home. After a brief conversation on the phone, a string of messages appeared on Ming Jiu's WeChat.

They were all photos and videos sent by the manager. In the videos, her laundry room was nearly finished. The kitchen was still empty and undergoing plumbing and electrical work.

But the manager had already contacted the kitchenware supplier, and the manufacturer would handle installation as well. Ming Jiu glanced at the quoted budget. It was fairly reasonable.

The car shipping company called—her car could be delivered to the designated parking spot in the residential complex tomorrow.

A new WeChat message popped up. It was from Sister Bai.

The tenant in 602 would be moving out the day after tomorrow.

Ming Jiu breathed a sigh of relief. Everything was going smoothly, and she would not need to rent an extra parking space in the complex. For the next two days, she could leave the rental car in the hotel parking lot. Once the tenant in 602 moved out, she would have another underground parking space.

Putting down her phone, Ming Jiu raised a hand and pinched the bridge of her nose. Ming Rong hurried over and shoved a tablet into her arms.

On the tablet was a chart Ming Rong had made herself using a planner app. Everything the house needed was clear at a glance.

Ming Jiu said, "I transferred two hundred thousand to you as a spending fund. Have you ordered everything you like?"

Ming Rong's eyes lit up. She reached over with one finger and swiped across the screen, switching the planner app to a shopping app.

Ming Jiu took one look. Over ninety-nine pending deliveries. As expected of her little sister—what efficiency!

When she opened the pending deliveries, most of them were little trinkets Ming Rong liked. She had also bought a huge pile of comics and novels, along with quite a few seasonings and dried ingredients.

Ming Rong thrust her phone in front of her sister. Her notes app read: [I want to fill up our big fridge and all the kitchen cabinets!]

Ming Jiu proudly gave her little sister a thumbs-up.

Ming Rong continued typing on her phone: [I have another wish list. I think I need to discuss it with you first, Sis.]

"Whatever you want, I'll make it happen."

Ming Rong: [I want to raise a kitten. I also want to adopt instead of buy.]

Ming Jiu said, "Of course! Are there any stray cats in the complex?"

The temperature had dropped terribly this winter. She had noticed quite a few foam-box cat shelters put out in the landscaped areas by kindhearted residents, but every shelter was spotless, without a single kitten inside.

Ming Rong shook her head. She had not seen any cats downstairs either.

Ming Jiu said, "Then we can look for an animal rescue center and adopt one from there."

Both she and Ming Rong loved small animals, but their mother was somewhat allergic to cat and dog fur, so they had never kept pets at home.

Neither of them had minded. It would not be too late to get pets after they moved out and lived independently.

Ming Rong's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. She sat beside Ming Jiu, leaned against her sister, opened the shopping app, and began picking out pet supplies.

Ming Jiu fell into thought—pets.

A pet would be good, but her ideal pet was not a cat. It was a dog.

A well-tempered, well-trained dog would be highly useful in the apocalypse—for companionship, danger warnings, protection, and more.

More importantly, as long as they made it through the first three years, the mutation outbreak would begin, and the vast majority of animals and plants would mutate.

In her previous life, Ming Jiu had seen many such cases in the base. Owners who never abandoned their pets during the three years of disasters found that, once the mutation tide erupted, their adorable little companions became powerful weapons that in turn supported their owners.

It was a guaranteed profitable investment, just like the villa she had bought.

She had food to spare. She definitely had to get one!

"Xiao Rong, how about we get a puppy too?"

Ming Rong abruptly looked up, her eyes shining.

Ming Jiu could not help reaching out to stroke Ming Rong's soft flyaway hair. It seemed they had reached an agreement.

Ming Rong lowered her head and typed: [Sis, we'll have both cats and dogs!]

[We won't be wild people with no cats or dogs anymore!]

"That's right." Ming Jiu could not help laughing. "The wild life is over!"

There was still some time before their delivery arrived. Ming Rong continued shopping for pet supplies online while Ming Jiu began researching what breed of dog to get.

Though there was not really much to research. Adopting a kitten was Ming Rong's wish, while Ming Jiu had long planned what kind of dog she wanted once she lived independently.

She liked short-legged Corgis, as well as native Tu Song Dogs.

Considering the situation over the next few years, Ming Jiu temporarily ruled out the cute little short-legged dogs. The larger Tu Song Dogs, with their strong adaptability to the environment, were clearly more suitable.

[System Sis, help me check where I can buy Tu Song Dogs in City B and the cities around it. I want reputable kennels.]

[Received.]

In less than two minutes, the system provided a list of several kennels. Without exception, none were in City B—not even in City L.

She would have to travel a long way to pick up the dog she wanted, and they were not even puppies. The youngest Tu Song Dogs at those kennels were already six months old.

The system reminded her: [Host, Tu Song Dogs are a prohibited breed in City B.]

[Besides those kennels, I also found a dog market.]

The system brought up a map, where a red dot and a green dot blinked.

Ming Jiu recognized the red dot at once. It was the abandoned factory building she had rented.

The green dot was not far from the red one, only a little over ten kilometers away. It marked a main street in a village town.

[This street is a dog market. It has all kinds of pets. The host can go try her luck first.]

[System Sis, you really are amazing. There's nothing you can't do!]

The system ignored Ming Jiu's flattery. Ming Jiu had already opened her phone's map app, searched for the exact location, and saved it. She would stop by for a look when she went to collect her deliveries.

If that did not work out, she could only travel farther away.

Their food delivery arrived. Ming Jiu and Ming Rong ate dinner at the new dining table in their home and settled their plans for the next day while they ate.

Ming Rong volunteered to stay in the new house and wait for the cleaners. Ming Jiu did not refuse. She immediately opened a delivery app and ordered a pet camera, which could arrive in twenty minutes.

That way, she could always check her phone to see what her sister was doing and make sure she was safe.

After dinner, the camera arrived as well. Ming Jiu downloaded the dedicated app, placed the camera on a high cabinet, changed the password and fingerprints for the new door lock, and set the two air purifiers to run continuously. Only then did she leave with Ming Rong and return to the hotel.

The elevator stopped on the twenty-fourth floor, but there was no one outside. Ming Jiu was just about to press the close-door button—

"Wait, wait!"

Ming Jiu moved her finger up and held down the open-door button. Stepping halfway out, she glanced down the corridor and happened to see a tall young man emerge from 2404.

"Thanks."

The man quickly entered the elevator. He wore a mask, and Ming Jiu only gave him a brief look—he had a high nose bridge and rather nice eyes, and looked no older than his early twenties.

"No problem."

After that, the elevator went straight down to the first floor. Neither side spoke again. Ming Jiu's gaze swept over the man's clothes. They were all designer brands, yet understated. He had quite good taste.

Ming Jiu recalled what the old lady downstairs had said—2402 housed a family of three, all teachers; 2403 belonged to a newlywed couple from out of town, both office workers. Then this man must be the new owner or tenant of 2404, the one who was always moving things at night and making noise.

When the elevator doors opened, Ming Jiu took Ming Rong's hand and walked behind the young man. He was quite gentlemanly, holding open the building entrance for them. Ming Jiu nodded in thanks, then saw the two medium-sized trucks parked downstairs.

The truck compartments were open, revealing neatly stacked, unmarked cardboard boxes inside.

As Ming Jiu and Ming Rong reached the corner, the young man happened to be speaking to the truck driver. It appeared that both trucks were filled with his belongings.

Ming Jiu could not help turning to look at the tightly packed, neatly stacked cardboard boxes inside the trucks. They did not look like furniture, but if they were all luggage, that was a little too excessive.