Chapter 15 Two-faced Demands Supplies

At that moment, Grace was huddled in her rental, wrapped tightly in two blankets. Despite the heater being set to 104°F, the room's temperature barely reached 32°F. She shivered, feeling as if cold air was being funneled right into her blankets. Seeing the photo Kenneth had sent only widened her eyes in disbelief. In such freezing weather, Kenneth was comfortably wearing just his pajamas, enjoying steak and Red Bull—both in the same building! Why does it feel like we are living in two different worlds? Especially upon seeing the delicious steak and the fine bottle of wine on the table, Grace's mouth watered uncontrollably. As a top-notch two-faced woman, she was well-versed in luxury goods. The steak Kenneth was eating was clearly genuine top-grade steak, and the wine beside him was definitely worth at least twenty to thirty thousand! Freezing to death while Kenneth lived in comfort made Grace's jealousy unbearable. She immediately sent a message to Kenneth, "It must be nice to have steak and wine!" She thought her hint was obvious enough. Based on Kenneth's past behavior, he would have normally offered to share his steak and wine with her. However, seeing her message, Kenneth only laughed. Does she still see me as the same old pushover? He leisurely replied, "Why not just buy some from the supermarket?" Grace's face stiffened at the message. Isn't that a ridiculous suggestion? With temperatures dropping to -70°F outside, any exposed skin risked frostbite. How could he suggest such an outrageous thing to a delicate girl like me? Fuming, Grace snapped back, "Kenneth, you're no man! You're missing a golden opportunity to show some decency, hmph!" Still, Grace had some pride left. Despite craving the steak and fine wine, she viewed Kenneth as just another simp. Besides, she believed the snow disaster wouldn't last more than a few days. Thus, she maintained her haughty demeanor, not stooping to beg Kenneth for food. Kenneth, ignoring Grace, turned his attention to other chat groups, anticipating some drama. When he checked the community group, he saw Zoey from the committee urging everyone to stay calm and stay home. "Don't panic, it's just a sudden drop in temperature. It'll pass in two or three days." "Don't rush to hoard supplies. Trust our officials. Our committee will help everyone get through this snow disaster. Please obey orders and don't cause trouble for the authorities." Some residents disagreed. "With such heavy snow, who knows when it'll stop? How can we not stock up on supplies?" "Yeah, maybe we should go out and buy some vegetables. Prices are probably going to skyrocket in the next few days." Zoey raised her voice. "What are you doing? Isn't this just creating chaos?" "Hoarding only drives up prices, and we'll all end up paying more for vegetables." "If I catch anyone hoarding supplies, don't blame me for reporting you to the authorities for disturbing the peace!" Seeing Zoey bossing everyone around like a leader, Kenneth smirked coldly. It was the first day of the Ice Age, and thanks to the extreme cold, supermarket supplies were yet to be cleared out. Despite the risk of frostbite, there was a chance to stock up if one braved the snow. But Zoey's threats kept many from venturing out. The inevitable outcome was predictable. At that moment, Zoey turned her attention to Kenneth. "Kenneth, you've been hoarding supplies at home. Now that the snow disaster is severe, you should not be setting a bad example. Stay home these next few days. If I find out you're buying more supplies, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Kenneth's expression darkened. This old fanatic had held a grudge because he hadn't given her supplies before. Now, she was using this opportunity to take a dig at him. Unfortunately for her, a community committee matron was nothing to Kenneth now. He replied coldly, "Zoey, no one knows how long this snow disaster will last. If it drags on and people run out of food, can you take responsibility for that?" His question resonated with many. People were unhappy with Zoey's words but hesitated to contradict her due to her position on the committee. With Kenneth leading the charge, others began to speak up. "Yeah, if you forbid us from stocking up and we end up hungry, who's responsible?" "Can you afford that responsibility?" Seeing the backlash, Zoey panicked but grew even more resentful towards Kenneth. Publicly contradicting her in the group chat was a direct challenge to her authority. "Don't worry, our committee can assure everyone that supplies won't run out! The snow disaster will pass quickly. And you, Kenneth. Don't stir up trouble at this time. Such behavior is illegal and disorderly!" Huddled at home, Zoey gritted her teeth and seethed, "Kenneth really doesn't know his place. I'll find a way to detain him for a few days." Kenneth laughed out loud. At a time like this, she thought she could still act powerful with her little bit of authority. How laughable. "Wow, such a big hat, but I can't wear it. Don't worry, it's so cold outside, even if you asked, I wouldn't go out. Do as you please!" His supplies were already secured; he certainly didn't need to go out and compete for vegetables in the supermarket. But those who believed Zoey's lies would soon suffer. Kenneth felt a twinge of sadness; many would die from the cold and hunger in the coming apocalypse. Some deserved it, like the neighbors who had betrayed him in his previous life. Whether they lived or died, Kenneth was determined to survive. What do the lives of others have to do with me?