[Desastre natural de frio extremo + estoques em espaço próprio + não é reencarnação + sem romance] A filha de Meng Ran teve um sonho em que, a partir de julho, começou a nevar muito forte. No início, Meng Ran não acreditou, até que uma epidemia de gripe explodiu na província vizinha e ela, por acaso, obteve um espaço especial, começando então a estocar suprimentos. Quando o desastre natural chegou, enquanto os outros se preocupavam com a falta de mantimentos, Meng Ran cozinhava fondue e fazia guiozas com a filha dentro de casa. Com as estradas bloqueadas pela neve e a energia elétrica cortada, algumas pessoas cobiçaram os suprimentos de Meng Ran, mas ela rapidamente lhes deu uma lição. No apocalipse, ninguém iria intimidar ela ou sua filha.
July 21, 2045, 40°C.
Meng Ran carried her groceries out of the supermarket and lifted the heavy cloth curtain. A wave of heat rushed toward her, the street’s scorching air seeming to twist the scene before her like a mirage.
This was undoubtedly the hottest day yet.
She quickened her pace toward her car, her face tight with discomfort.
Ahead, she saw an old man in a filthy short-sleeved shirt, holding a chipped ceramic bowl, begging from passersby.
In such sweltering heat, most people simply avoided him, murmuring complaints without offering any help.
Meng Ran noticed large beads of sweat sliding down his forehead, his face flushed from the heat. Unable to bear it, she reached into her purse and found a fifty-yuan bill left over from paying her child’s school fees.
“Here,” she said, placing the money into the bowl. “Buy some cold water and bread, and find somewhere cool to rest.”
The old man clutched the bowl, thanking her repeatedly. He bent down, drew a simple silver ring from his pocket, and handed it to her.
“Thank you.”
Although his clothes were dirty, his hands were surprisingly clean.
“May good fortune follow you,” he said, bowing deeply.
The plain silver ring was placed gently into Meng Ran’s palm. She hesitated for a moment.
The old man bowed again, repeating, “May good fortune follow you,” twice more.
Though puzzled, Meng Ran accepted the ring.
Once in her car, she switched on the air conditioning. The cool air cleared her mind somewhat. She took an alcohol wipe and cleane