Chapter 24 "Illegal Intrusion!"

Jiang Yan had just taken out a simple folding stool from her dimension and sat down when the trailer delivering the Mobile Apple Cabin arrived with the installation workers.

Accompanying them were the company's owner and several cleaning aunties in uniform work clothes, carrying various cleaning equipment.

After all, this was a private order worth over six million, and given today's unusual weather, the boss had decided to personally oversee the assembly and cleaning.

His main purpose, however, was to meet Jiang Yan, this big client, hoping to maintain a good relationship for potential long-term cooperation in the future.

Unfortunately, there would be no "future."

The boss, Liu Lei, was a trendy young man in his late twenties.

When he saw Jiang Yan fully armed, he was momentarily stunned.

Another young man, who seemed to be his assistant, directed the others to carry down several boxes of electrolyte water for the workers to drink. He then had the cleaning aunties spray mosquito repellent throughout the warehouse before loudly announcing:

"It's scorching hot today, so let's work hard to finish the installation and testing quickly! The sooner we finish, the sooner we can inspect, get our red envelopes, and go home!"

The workers, seeing that they would receive free neck fans and red envelopes for today's job, temporarily ignored the heat and suddenly became energized.

Liu Lei, as the boss, was also very detail-oriented.

He unscrewed the cap of a bottle of electrolyte water that had been specially chilled in the car's mini-fridge before handing it to Jiang Yan.

"Ms. Jiang, even though you're wearing a heat-resistant suit, today is extremely hot, and heatstroke is a real risk. You should drink some."

As an extreme sports enthusiast in his daily life, he had some knowledge of professional gear and immediately recognized Jiang Yan's outfit.

Jiang Yan said "thank you" and took the bottle.

"By the way, Ms. Jiang, are you sure you want the Mobile Apple Cabin installed inside this warehouse?" Liu Lei asked, glancing around.

The warehouse was large and spacious, with a row of faucets nearby.

In such scorching weather, the temperature inside was slightly lower than outside by a degree or two.

But in his opinion, living here was clearly unrealistic.

The area outside the warehouse was overgrown with weeds, making it a prime spot for mosquitoes at night.

If those enormous Blood Mosquitoes showed up, her petite frame wouldn't even suffice as an appetizer.

Moreover, such a high-end, luxurious Mobile Apple Cabin seemed more suited for placement beside a lakeside golf course.

Installing it here felt completely out of place.

Additionally, the warehouse had no sunlight, making the photovoltaic panels as redundant as taking off pants to fart.

Though marketed as "mobile," this Apple Cabin was simply too massive.

Once installed, it might as well be permanently fixed in place—unless someone was hired to dismantle it later.

Jiang Yan simply replied with an "Mhm," offering no further explanation.

Liu Lei didn't press further.

As a businessman, he had a strong sense of boundaries.

Though he was a professional, his role was only advisory—the final decision always rested with the client.

Most of the time, it was best to just get the job done.

On the other side, with the help of two cranes, the workers, their faces flushed, had already finished unloading the goods and started assembling them.

After exchanging a few casual words with Jiang Yan, Liu Lei personally stepped forward to oversee the operation, leaving Jiang Yan to her own devices.

-

"Beep!! Detected intruder at the front door!!!"

Jiang Yan had just finished a bottle of electrolyte water and was about to browse the news when her smart home app on her phone sounded an alarm.

She had specifically invested in some advanced tech for her smart home system.

Beyond basic functions like turning on the TV, lights, and curtains, it was integrated with the home surveillance system, smoke detectors at the entrance, and sensors on the doors and windows.

Any stranger lingering near her door for more than three minutes and making physical contact with it would automatically be flagged as an intruder by the system.

She could remotely activate the anti-intrusion program via her phone or tablet, delivering an electric shock ranging from 110V to a high-voltage 500V, along with triggering water sprays or pepper spray.

The nozzles for water and pepper spray were discreetly installed behind the first door, making them difficult to tamper with.

Jiang Yan had a good guess who the visitors might be.

She picked up her phone and opened the app, revealing a high-definition feed of her doorstep.

As expected, He Chunmei and Zhou Guangfu were standing outside her door.

But besides them, there was also a seven or eight-year-old boy and a three or four-year-old girl.

Both children looked feverish and listless, their faces flushed and eyes unfocused.

Each held a small cartoon plastic stool.

Beside Zhou Guangfu stood two elderly people—thin, grim-faced, with graying hair and walking canes.

Judging by their resemblance, they were likely Zhou Guangfu's parents.

The pathway in this residential area wasn't wide to begin with, and the family of six now completely blocked Jiang Yan's doorstep.

He Chunmei brushed her hair aside and instructed her children, "Bao Bao, Bei Bei, your job this morning is to sit in front of this auntie's door. If she opens it, beg her to let you inside to escape the heat. If she refuses, grab her legs or pull her hands, understand?"

The little boy pressed his lips together and stayed silent, his eyes flickering toward the small hammer in her hand before lowering his head.

The little girl, however, piped up in a childish voice, "Got it, Mommy."

"This is just begging at someone's door! I, Zhou Shangyou, have lived my life with dignity—I won't stoop to this! I'd rather die of heat! Old woman, let's go home!" The old man banged his cane on the ground and turned to leave, dragging his wife, Jiang Lifen, with him.

Earlier, his daughter-in-law had claimed their new neighbor had air conditioning and invited them to take shelter there. But now it was clear she'd just tricked them into coming.

Jiang Lifen hesitated, her expression awkward as she glanced at her feverish grandchildren, but she didn't move.

"Dad, what are you saying?!

Do you even know what the weather forecast says today's high will be?

47 degrees!!!

And do you know that when Guangfu called the AC company this morning, they said the earliest installation slot was three months away?!

Three months—with this heat and the Blood Mosquitoes, we'll all be baked into jerky by then!

In this entire building, the only household with AC and just one person living there is hers!"

Bao Bao and Bei Bei were vomiting all night and now they're running a fever. If they get heatstroke, their lives will be ruined!

In extraordinary times, we must take extraordinary measures. How can she stand by and not contribute even a little help when lives are at stake?

Besides, what's pride and dignity compared to survival?

Yes, you're an educated person! You're noble! You have self-respect! You're halfway in the grave already, so you're not afraid of death!

But you should at least think about Bao Bao and Bei Bei!!

After the sudden disaster, social order will descend into chaos, but it won't collapse instantly. Plus, the female lead still has some loose ends to tie up regarding her stockpiling preparations, so the next few chapters will serve as a transition.

(End of chapter)