Chapter 34: Black Pearl Dinner 

The windows in Jiang Yan's apartment were double-glazed.

They provided insulation against both heat and cold, and were also bulletproof.

Additionally, she had the renovation company apply a newly developed one-way composite window film from abroad, originally designed for luxury cars.

This film not only offered excellent thermal insulation but also had a special feature—she could see outside clearly, while anyone looking toward her apartment from the outside would only see pitch black, even if she didn't draw the curtains.

The privacy was impeccable.

This effectively prevented any nosy individuals from spying on her with telescopes or drones.

After adjusting the telescope's eyepiece distance and various parameters, Jiang Yan turned her gaze toward the group of people in the garden.

There were a few officials in white shirts and black trousers talking to the property management staff.

The residential property manager and several supervisors were also present.

As they spoke, they headed toward the underground parking garage.

Everyone wore helmets and gloves, covering every exposed inch of skin.

Their faces, of course, were flushed red from the heat and stuffiness—redder than freshly steamed lobster.

Officials?

Underground parking garage?

Jiang Yan quickly processed these two pieces of information in her mind and suddenly realized something.

Repulse Bay had five residential buildings with around 500 households.

If parking spaces were built according to the standard one-to-one ratio, there would be at least 500 spots.

Calculating roughly ten square meters per parking space, the underground parking area alone covered over 5,000 square meters.

This didn't even include scattered civil defense parking spots.

Given the current extreme temperatures, it was highly likely that the underground parking spaces were being temporarily requisitioned as a cooling shelter for the community.

However, most of these parking spaces had already been sold, with a small portion still leased out.

Whether the owners would agree to move their cars was a major issue—after all, leaving them outdoors would expose them not only to extreme heat but also security risks.

What puzzled Jiang Yan, though, was why officials had to come in person when a simple notice or phone call would suffice in such scorching weather.

Repulse Bay was situated on relatively high ground, and the geological structure of the area was solid.

The developer behind this project was state-owned, so the construction quality was fairly reliable.

Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't be considered a standout advantage compared to perks like school districts or convenient transportation.

But during heavy rain seasons, this complex held up far better than many other developments in the city.

Could it be that the authorities had already foreseen heavy rains following the heatwave?

After all, she had been reborn—maybe there were also extraordinary individuals among the higher-ups.

But this was a question only time could answer.

Jiang Yan didn't dwell on it.

The group had entered the parking garage and hadn't come out for a while.

They must have gone straight into the residential buildings from there.

She put away her telescope and turned her attention to the most pressing issue in her life at the moment: What to eat for dinner?

At noon, she had simply made do with some refreshing cold noodles in the warehouse.

Tonight, she deserved a proper feast to satisfy her cravings.

Especially today, as a milestone event was accomplished: all the necessary supplies were fully stocked before the disaster struck.

It was indeed worth celebrating.

Jiang Yan pondered for a moment, then retrieved a bottle of top-tier red wine worth over seventy thousand from her dimension, along with a single-serving set of natural crystal-carved decanter and wine glasses.

To enhance the sense of ceremony, she also dug out a candelabra and a high-end table runner from her former villa and arranged them on the dining table.

She opened the wine, poured it slowly into the decanter to let it breathe, and then headed to the bathroom.

After leisurely soaking in a rose-scented bath, she got up, blow-dried her hair, changed into a light and cool silk nightgown, and finally made her way to the dining table.

Leaning slightly forward, she brought her nose close to the decanter and inhaled—the sweet, mellow fragrance of linden blossoms filled her senses. The wine had breathed just right.

Outside, the sky had darkened, and the temperature had reached a terrifying fifty-eight degrees.

In the garden, the streetlights glowed dimly, with not a soul in sight.

But the faint silhouettes of Blood Mosquitoes could be seen.

Their numbers and size had visibly increased.

In the residential buildings opposite and adjacent, every household was brightly lit.

A quick glance revealed people frantically filling bathtubs with water, others hurriedly preparing rice and dishes while electricity, water, and gas were still available.

Some were angrily beating their children with feather dusters, couples were engaged in heated arguments, and in some homes, elderly or children might have succumbed to the extreme heat, with family members kneeling on the ground, wailing in grief.

A few households had apparently installed air conditioners in the past two days and were now facing the same situation Jiang Yan had encountered that afternoon.

The difference was, Jiang Yan had dealt with it outside her door—swiftly and decisively, albeit a bit violently.

Those families, however, were clearly unprepared. They had opened their doors and were patiently negotiating with the intruders.

Two households, already crowded, had reluctantly allowed their persistent neighbors to move in with their families.

Everyone knew the power would soon be cut off, so even if they turned on the air conditioning, it wouldn't last long.

But some clung to the hope that the authorities were right—that after these two days, the temperature would drop, and utilities would be restored.

Besides, the Repulse Bay residential complex had backup generators.

At the very least, they could hold out for two or three days.

Of course, there were also harmonious families going about their business, or young couples in love, undeterred by the heat, clinging to each other.

In short, life offered a full spectrum of flavors—sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy—all present in abundance.

But none of that concerned her.

Jiang Yan merely skimmed the scene before picking up her phone to close the curtains.

She had already decided on the menu while soaking in the bath. Today's selection was a curated set from a certain Black Pearl Restaurant.

Sichuan Pepper Angus Beef Steak, Matsutake Mushroom Sauce Crystal Tiger Shrimp Balls, Lemongrass Glass Crispy Pigeon, Garlic Sauce Baked Lobster, Superior Broth Seasonal Vegetables, Coconut Stewed Fresh Abalone, Tempura Broom Flowers, Refreshing Cold Seaweed Salad, and Osmanthus Rice Wine.

With a thought, four meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, one soup, one cold dish, and one dessert appeared neatly arranged on the table.

Though the plates seemed numerous, each portion was small.

Like the crystal-clear, springy shrimp balls—just four.

The crispy, fragrant roasted pigeon—two small pieces.

The crisp, refreshing seaweed—three small bites.

The rich, sweet-and-sour rice wine—half a small bowl.

It's just that the plates are larger and more aesthetically pleasing.

When she ordered from these Black Pearl Restaurants, five-star hotels, and time-honored establishments, she purchased the dishes along with their containers.

Although the price was significantly higher, it ensured the exquisite presentation of the dishes.

As a former food blogger, she had certain standards for her dishes—not only in terms of color, aroma, and taste but also in their presentation.

The dimension had a freshness-preserving and heat-retaining effect, so these dishes remained as if they had just been served from the restaurant, saving her the trouble of reheating them.