The group chat was very active, with the familiar 99+ notifications.

"4-1209 Goofing Off: It’s so cold, so cold! I’m freezing to death! The temperature has dropped way too fast these past couple of days! Is this what they call a polar plunge?!"

"4-1209 Goofing Off: Doesn’t the old saying go, ’cold before the frost, colder after the snow’? And don’t they say it’s not cold when it’s snowing, but when the snow melts? So why is it this cold while it’s still snowing?!"

"4-1209 Goofing Off: Why is no one saying anything?! Am I the only one who’s cold?!"

"3-805 Gummy Candies: @4-1209 Goofing Off Because it’s too cold to type... I’m totally wrapped up in my comforter but I’m still shivering uncontrollably. My hands are shaking just typing this!"

"3-805 Gummy Candies: My comforter and I are inseparable right now!"

"6-2702 Holly: I’m on a higher floor, so it’s even colder up here. My son is so cold he can’t sleep! I’m terrified he’s going to catch a chill and get a fever, and you can’t even buy fever reducers anymore."

"6-2702 Holly: I’m so worn out from these past two years of disasters... My son has a weak immune system. He got heatstroke during the heatwave last year, then pneumonia from the volcanic ash, and now the temperature is plummeting... If he gets a fever from the cold, I think I’ll lose my mind!"

"3-1007 Kiki, Mom of Two: @6-2702 Holly That’s awful. I’m lucky my kids have good immune systems, or I’d be a wreck too."

"2-1908 Coco: Have you all seen the weather forecast? They’re predicting temperatures will drop another twenty to thirty degrees in the coming week. This isn’t even the worst of it. It’s only going to get colder, so we should all prepare in advance."

"4-1209 Goofing Off: Prepare what? I already woke up from the cold yesterday and pulled out my thickest comforter!"

"2-1908 Coco: @4-1209 Goofing Off Just putting a blanket on top isn’t enough. The cold will seep up from the mattress and bed frame. Try layering a few blankets underneath you for insulation."

"7-901 Adventurous Lawson: @2-1908 Coco What?! Really?! But I don’t have any extra blankets. I only have one!"

"2-1908 Coco: @7-901 Adventurous Lawson Why? Are you renting the place? How come you only have one blanket?"

"7-901 Adventurous Lawson: @2-1908 Coco Don’t even get me started. During the heatwave last summer, I sold all my heavy comforters and winter clothes online to scrape together money for the AC bill! What am I going to do now?!"

"7-901 Adventurous Lawson: Dear neighbors, does anyone have a spare blanket? I can trade other things for it!"

"2-1908 Coco: @7-901 Adventurous Lawson Who would trade with you right now? Experts are saying this extreme low temperature will last for months. Warm clothes and comforters have become essential for survival."

"7-901 Adventurous Lawson: Oh god, am I going to freeze to death?! The government has to turn on the central heating, right?!"

"7-901 Adventurous Lawson: @Property Management @The Metropolis Residences Emergency Response Office When is the city going to start the heating? We’re freezing to death out here!"

"2-1408 Bella Grant: @Property Management Yes, when will the heating be turned on? My child can’t take the cold, so we’ve had to run the heat on our AC for the past two days. If this keeps up, we won’t be able to afford the electricity bill."

"4-1209 Goofing Off: I don’t even dare run the heat anymore!" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"4-1209 Goofing Off: During the heatwave last year, I still had some savings and could barely afford the electric bill from running the AC. But I just can’t manage it now! After two years of disasters and no job, my savings are completely gone! Electricity is so expensive; I really can’t afford to run the heat anymore."

"4-1009 Lowell On Deadline: I gathered some black snow from outside, boiled it in a kettle, filtered out the solid particles with cheesecloth, and then filled a hot water bottle with the water. I hold it in bed, and it stays warm for two or three hours!"

"3-1007 Kiki, Mom of Two: @4-1009 Lowell On Deadline That black snow is way too dirty! You’ll ruin your hot water bottle!"

"2-1908 Coco: I actually think boiling snow for heat is a good idea. You have to remember, if the temperature drops any lower, the AC heat pumps won’t even be able to start because it’s too cold outside. In that case, an old-fashioned hot water bottle is more reliable."

"2-1408 Bella Grant: @2-1908 Coco What about a power outage? How would we boil water if the power goes out?"

"2-1908 Coco: @2-1408 Bella Grant Charcoal, bamboo charcoal, coal, solid fuel tablets—all of these are fuel. If things get really desperate, we can go to the hill behind our complex to chop down trees for firewood. We’re intelligent creatures. If we want to live, we’ll find a way."

"3-1007 Kiki, Mom of Two: Oh, hearing you say that reminds me! I stocked up on a bunch of bamboo charcoal and solid fuel tablets! They’ll be perfect for heating now!"

"4-1009 Lowell On Deadline: @3-1007 Kiki, Mom of Two I’m so jealous you prepared ahead. You can’t find any of that stuff on the market now. I really regret not buying some earlier."

"3-1007 Kiki, Mom of Two: I only bought it because some kind soul in this group gave a reminder a while back. My husband told me I was wasting money! I bet he has nothing to say about it now!"

"..."

After scrolling through the group chat messages and confirming Mrs. Vance hadn’t posted anything, Melody finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But after reading through the chat history, a wave of concern washed over Melody.

The residents in the group weren’t wrong. Over the next few months, the power supply would become intermittent, and massive brownouts and blackouts would begin to roll out one after another.

Due to the massive energy deficit, the days of centralized heating during the entire blizzard and extreme cold period would be few and far between.

When that time came, many people, unable to withstand the onslaught of the bitter cold, would fall, their lives swallowed by the freezing temperatures and snowstorms.

’Even though I’ve lived this life once before, I still can’t change these things,’ Melody thought. At least some people in the group had listened to her earlier advice and stocked up on fuel, which gave her a small measure of comfort...

******

As soon as Grace Sutton got home, she told Grandma and Miss Lowell about running into Mrs. Vance in the elevator with Melody.

The two older women listened and immediately understood the gravity of the situation. They were extra cautious with dinner, avoiding anything that needed to be pan-fried or stir-fried.

Grace Sutton mixed various kinds of rice and beans to make a thick, sticky pot of eight-treasure congee. She added a generous amount of white sugar, making it fragrant and sweet—perfect for a winter’s day.

One bowl of the sweet congee was enough to chase away the chill.

Miss Lowell steamed some eggs, carrots, and potatoes, then mashed them to make a potato salad.

Grandma clipped a good amount of water spinach from the styrofoam planter in the living room. All of it had been transplanted from the vegetable garden at their villa and was flourishing.

The water spinach was simply boiled, then tossed with a simple dressing to make a delicious side.

Just as the family was getting dinner ready, the doorbell to 1606 rang.

Grace Sutton thought Colin and Winnie were back, so she hurried over to open the door.

But on the video intercom screen, she saw an unwelcome visitor. Standing at the door to 1606 was, of all people, Mrs. Vance!