"Hey, since you’re busy, I won’t bother you. Let’s chat next time we get a chance. It was great meeting you, my name is River Larkin!"

After that message, the person on the other end of WeChat left her alone.

Stella Sterling picked up her phone, glanced at it, and then set it aside.

It was a little after three in the afternoon. Stella Sterling took out her phone to watch a show. Before long, she heard a commotion from within the residential complex. Looking out the window, she saw the dozen or so people who had left at noon returning. They weren’t carrying much, and the expressions on their faces were grim.

The snow in the complex had now piled up almost to the second floor. No one could get out using the old paths anymore; the only way was to climb out a second-story window. After the group returned, a crowd gathered in the second-floor hallway, and Stella Sterling went out to see what was happening.

Most of those who went out were middle-aged men—the pillars of their families. In weather like this, it was the men who went out, while wives and children stayed home to look after things. Among the dozen or so people, however, there was also a young couple who looked like newlyweds, holding their things and huddling close to each other.

In addition, there was a woman in her thirties. The moment she came in, a five or six-year-old boy threw himself into her arms. "Mom!"

"Didn’t I tell you to wait for me at home? Why did you come out?"

The woman’s tone was scolding, but she held the boy tightly and didn’t let go. She glanced at the crowd without saying much. "Excuse me, make way—"

She pulled her child toward the elevators, but in her haste, she bumped into someone. The boy stumbled back two steps before being caught by another person.

"Are you okay?" the woman asked frantically. The boy shook his head. "I’m okay, Mom. Don’t worry!"

Then the boy looked at the person in front of him. "I’m sorry, miss. Thank you, miss!"

Stella Sterling let him go, took two steps back, and gave a slight nod. "Be more careful next time."

The woman pulled her child along, apologized to Stella Sterling, and hurried into the elevator.

Stella Sterling didn’t give the little incident another thought. She stood in the crowd, watching the people waiting by the elevators surround the group that had just returned. They weren’t trying to rob them, however; they were just asking for news about the outside.

The people who had gone out all looked grim. One of them, a shorter man, spoke up. "With this much snow, no cars can get through outside. All the shops are closed, even the small convenience stores nearby. Only the big supermarket farther away is open, but it’s packed with people. There’s almost nothing left to buy!"

"Everyone is panic buying right now. The supermarket is trying to restock urgently."

The man who was speaking looked miserable. ’We braved that blizzard and nearly froze to death, but we didn’t get much out of it. We were hoping to buy enough to last us a while so we could just stay home and wait for the snow to stop.’

But with only this little, it clearly wouldn’t last long.

Hearing this news, a wave of panic washed over the crowd. "Are that many people hoarding supplies? If we go out now, we won’t be able to buy anything, will we? If I’d known, I would’ve gone out earlier too!"

They hadn’t been too worried before, but hearing that so many people outside were hoarding supplies, they started to panic, filled with regret.

"Hmph. There are always idiots like that. At the slightest sign of trouble, they start frantically hoarding things, creating problems for the country. It’s because of people like them that the market is in chaos."

Someone scoffed, but in the next breath, they subconsciously asked, "So... is the supermarket still going to be open tomorrow?"

Everyone looked worriedly at the group that had gone out. This was what they really cared about.

"The supermarket issued a statement saying they won’t close," the shorter man answered again. "But there are a lot of apocalypse rumors going around, so everyone’s grabbing food. You probably won’t be able to buy much!"

Hearing this, everyone silently breathed a sigh of relief. ’As long as it’s open, that’s what matters.’ Each of them began planning in their minds to head out early tomorrow. No matter what, they had to go hoard some supplies.

"Isn’t anyone from the authorities doing anything about this malicious hoarding?"

A man in a suit and glasses pushed his spectacles up his nose, his brow furrowed.

Stella Sterling recognized him. He was a lawyer from a firm in Mirefall. The Sterling Group had worked with his firm before, and she had even met him once.

’In his eyes, though, I’m just a minor employee. He wouldn’t recognize me.’

"Ah, it’s Attorney Miller!" the shorter man said with an enthusiastic smile, answering even more eagerly. "Of course they’re doing something, but it’s no use! There are too many people to manage. The authorities sent people to the supermarket to order them to stay open and provide for the public’s daily needs. The government will also provide support and told everyone not to panic and to purchase necessities rationally!"

"But not many people are staying rational. Everyone’s just thinking about hoarding more for themselves. A lot of people who went late couldn’t buy a thing. We were actually pretty lucky!"

Hearing this, everyone fell silent. Only the person who had been critical earlier continued to curse, "A bunch of brainless idiots, hurting everyone including themselves!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

Someone chimed in in agreement, but most remained silent, their eyes flickering as they said nothing.

Stella Sterling stood in the crowd. ’What that person said makes sense,’ she thought, ’but in times like these, who wouldn’t want to buy more if they could?’

’Leaving aside how unnatural this snowstorm is and the panic that some disaster is coming, just look at the inconvenience it’s causing. With this much snow and the freezing cold, nobody wants to keep going out. Wanting to buy a lot in one trip is just human nature.’

’Those people who went out only couldn’t get more because they couldn’t fight for it. Otherwise, you think they wouldn’t have wanted to buy more to bring back?’

’The ones who are silent are probably making the same plans in their heads!’

Having gotten a sense of the situation, Stella Sterling didn’t bother listening to the rest.

’The government will definitely step in to manage this,’ she knew, ’but as long as the snow keeps falling like this, there’s nothing anyone can do—’

"Young lady, what floor do you live on? I don’t think I’ve seen you before!" an older woman said, trying to chat with Stella Sterling in the elevator.

Stella Sterling glanced at her but didn’t answer.

The woman pressed on, "Usually only rich people live here. Do you live with your family, or are you by yourself? How come you didn’t go out to buy anything today?"

Stella Sterling looked at her and sneered. "What’s this, ma’am, an interrogation?"

"You young brat! I’m just showing some concern. We all live in the same building. What’s wrong with neighbors looking out for each other a little!"

"Then, ma’am, how many people are in your family? What floor do you live on? Do you have a lot of food at home? Would you mind lending me some?"

The woman’s expression changed instantly. She was so angry she couldn’t speak, just glared furiously at Stella Sterling.