CLANG—!

A deafening crash suddenly exploded outside. It was impossible to tell if a roadside billboard had been torn down or an outdoor air conditioning unit had been ripped away by the gale-force winds and sent smashing to the ground. The dull thud of impact penetrated the thick walls, making one’s heart sink.

It was immediately followed by a bloodcurdling scream from just outside the hospital room door, shattering the brief, deathly silence. "AHHH—!!"

The voice was filled with despair and terror, as if its owner were trapped in their worst nightmare. A chill ran down Sue Lawrence’s spine.

The once-quiet hallway instantly erupted into chaos. The sounds of commotion, gasps of shock, and cries of fear mingled into a noisy, jumbled mess.

Sue Lawrence’s expression was grim. She walked slowly to the door and carefully pushed it open just a crack to peek outside.

Figures scurried about in the hallway, panic written on every face. A tide of hushed whispers, laced with uncontrollable trembling, washed over her.

"This is just freaky! How did it suddenly get so dark?"

"Dark is the least of it! I just checked the thermometer—it’s already below minus four degrees Fahrenheit outside! It was fine just a moment ago, how could the weather change so fast?"

"My God! That wind is terrifying! An AC unit from an upper floor got blown off and I think it hit someone on the street..."

"The wind is unnaturally strong. It just knocked over some guy on the street. A person could get blown away if they went outside..."

They were in a northern city, already accustomed to severe cold and snowy winters. But this eerie darkness and these deadly gales were something they had never seen or even heard of in their entire lives.

A stifling fear, like an invisible fog, spread through every corner of the hallway, gripping everyone by the throat and making it hard to breathe.

Sue Lawrence’s fingertips were ice-cold. She slowly closed the door, shutting out the chaos and terror.

But before she could even process it all, her phone buzzed urgently in her pocket. The name "Dad" flashed on the screen. It was Vincent Lawrence.

"Dad?"

"Sue, where are you right now? The wind is insane, I’m coming to get you!" Vincent Lawrence’s voice came through the phone, tinged with a barely perceptible anxiety. The roar of the gale could be faintly heard in the background.

"You don’t have to, Dad. I’m at the hospital with a friend."

Sue Lawrence took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll bring her back home with me."

There was a second of silence on the other end. Vincent Lawrence seemed to want to say something more, but he didn’t argue. His tone just grew more serious. "This sudden gale is too strong, and it’s gotten strangely dark. You have to be safe out there. Lock the doors and windows, and don’t go out unless you have to. If you need anything at all, call me immediately. I’ll have your brother come get you."

"Okay. Don’t worry, Dad, I’m fine."

Sue Lawrence thought for a moment, then added a warning, "Unless I contact you, don’t let anyone leave the house!"

’In my past life, Dad died because he went out to bring me supplies for the extreme cold. They never even found his body.’

"Sue..."

"Dad, please listen to me. Don’t make me worry."

Vincent Lawrence fell silent, but finally agreed.

"Okay. Don’t worry, Dad. It’ll be fine."

She didn’t tell him the apocalypse was here. ’Better to tell him when I get home tomorrow,’ she thought. ’Telling him now would only cause more worry.’

She returned to the hospital bed and transferred the 77 Luck Value points she had taken from that thug to Mia Keller.

"See if you feel any different."

Mia Keller was confused, but she instinctively tried to move.

Almost instantly, the fog in Mia Keller’s mind cleared. Her five senses seemed to have been magnified a thousandfold.

The dripping of the IV tube became crystal clear. The sound of a nurse’s footsteps in the hall, a cough from a distant room, the people’s fear-suppressed whispers, and even the velocity of the raging wind outside—it all poured into her ears.

Even more miraculous was a profound sixth sense that allowed her to clearly perceive every corner of the room. She could even faintly sense the end of the hallway. The unease that had been gnawing at her gradually faded, replaced by a solid certainty: at this moment, there was no danger.

She opened her mouth, her throat moving, but she didn’t cry out in surprise or joy. Instead, she raised her other hand and gently placed it over her heart. She could clearly feel its steady beat, and also a surge of unprecedented power welling up inside her.

"I..." She sniffled, her voice holding back a subtle sob, but it was much firmer than before. "I think... I really have a Superpower now, Sue." She looked up at Sue Lawrence, her eyes wide with joyous surprise. "Thank you."

Sue Lawrence reached out and gently ruffled her hair, a smile in her voice. "You’ve always been amazing, Mia."

Mia Keller nodded forcefully and squeezed Sue Lawrence’s hand, as if she were holding on to the only light in the darkness.

"Okay, you rest up. I’m going to the cafeteria to buy us some food."

After reassuring Mia Keller, Sue Lawrence turned and left.

The apocalypse was here. In her past life, the temperature on the first day had dropped to minus four degrees Fahrenheit with a foot of snow on the ground. But now, *before* the apocalypse had even officially begun, the temperature was already approaching minus four degrees, and the snow was already a foot deep.

She had every reason to believe that when she woke up tomorrow, the first day of the extreme cold would be far, far worse than last time.

So, first things first: food. The more, the better.

Sue Lawrence went out into the hallway. A chaotic mob had already formed around the food cart. Shouts and curses from the shoving crowd mixed with the clatter of bowls and plates, exploding in the cramped corridor.

Outside, the gale howled, slamming against the windows with a wail like a beast’s roar. Hearing that someone had been killed by a falling AC unit, all the family members staying with patients had flooded the food cart area. No one dared to go outside anymore.

"I want five meals!"

"Give me ten!"

The clamor was painfully loud. Sue Lawrence glanced at the tightly packed crowd, then decisively turned and headed downstairs.

But it was the same scene on every floor: a noisy, disorderly throng of people swarming the food carts.

She finally made her way to the convenience store on the first floor. It was even more packed, shoulder to shoulder. The shelves had been ransacked, and everyone was clutching bags of goods, their faces etched with terror.

Sue Lawrence didn’t join the frantic scramble for supplies. She quickly grabbed two packs of instant noodles, some bread, rice balls, pre-packaged cold meals, and marinated eggs—all ready-to-eat foods. She paused, then deliberately added two bottles of pepper, four bottles of baijiu, and two sturdy thermoses. Turning around, she picked out two pairs of the thickest cotton gloves, a fleece-lined hat, a scarf, and a snug-fitting face mask, stuffing everything into her shopping bag.

Carrying the heavy bag, she went to the first-floor cafeteria. She patiently waited in the long line and bought four hot meals to serve as dinner for tonight and breakfast for tomorrow. Only after all this was done did she quickly head back, her footsteps echoing on the cold floor tiles as she returned to the fifth-floor ward.

"Let’s eat first."

Sue Lawrence set out the meal containers, then took the empty thermoses to fill them with hot water, lining them all up for later.

Fortunately, she and Mia Keller were the only ones in the three-person room. All three of the ward’s thermoses were now filled to the brim, providing a small sense of security in this frozen world.

After they finished eating, Sue Lawrence habitually locked the door from the inside. She boiled some water for them to soak their feet, and after a quick wash-up, they both went to bed early.

But in the middle of the night, Sue Lawrence was jolted awake by a bone-chilling cold.