Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Something’s Wrong with This Couple

At the critical moment, Melody Summers took a few steps forward. She pulled out a small, flashlight-sized fire extinguisher she had prepared earlier and sprayed it at the lighter.

With a PFFT, a cloud of white powder shot from the extinguisher, instantly blanketing the lighter as if covering it in a thick layer of snow.

As the white powder settled, the flame on the lighter gradually died down. A tiny flicker struggled weakly, as if trying to hold on, but it ultimately vanished into the air.

The danger passed without any harm done. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers.

Everyone began talking at once. They cursed the couple, Chrome Dome and his wife, calling them conscienceless and a menace to the community.

And in the same breath, they praised Melody Summers for her quick reaction, saying that thanks to her, the supplies were saved.

"Wow, kid, you’re amazing! Such quick reflexes!"

"A true heroine! That was incredible!"

"Young lady, we have you to thank. Otherwise, this whole pile of supplies would’ve gone up in smoke!"

"Is there something wrong with that couple? If they want to die, they can do it themselves. Why try to drag the rest of the community down with them?"

"That couple is pure evil! Kick them out of the residences!"

"Execute them! They have to be executed!"

"Just drag them to the plantation and feed them to the Desert Vines!"

...

Listening to everyone’s praise, Melody Summers scratched her head, a little embarrassed.

To keep from obstructing the residents collecting their supplies, Officer Tristan Tanner and the property management security guards held back the furious crowd, while Officer Sean Pierce escorted Chrome Dome and his wife to the emergency management office.

Melody Summers had Grace Sutton take her grandmother and Miss Lowell home first. She herself, along with the man who had tackled the curly-haired woman, followed them to the emergency management office.

On the way, the man kept patting his chest, still shaken by the incident.

He turned his head to Melody Summers and said, "That scared the life out of me just now. Her lighter actually flew right out of her hand! Sis, it’s a good thing you were so quick on your feet!"

Melody Summers looked at the heroic man before her. After a moment of silence, she asked tentatively, "Sir, did your family used to live near Skyfire Volcano? Did you move here to take shelter when it erupted?"

The man was taken aback. He scratched his head, confused. "How’d you know I used to live near Skyfire Volcano? I didn’t think I had an accent!"

Melody Summers smiled and shook her head. "No, you don’t. It was just a guess."

The man didn’t think much of it and continued, "My family moved here over six months ago. I always thought this community was super safe. Never expected to run into two pests like them today! What a pain!"

Since the volcanic eruption six months ago, The Metropolis Residences had seen a steady influx of new residents, many of whom were refugees from other regions.

The man was also quite the chatterbox. He rambled on to Melody Summers, "The forecast said that volcano near our home was about to erupt. The government ordered an emergency evacuation, and we had no time to pack anything!"

"It was still hot back then! All we had with us were summer clothes. Winter clothes and quilts take up too much space, so we didn’t bring a single one!" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Who would’ve thought fate would deal us such a crappy hand! The temperature dropped so fast!"

"Buying things like padded jackets and quilts is crazy expensive now, and my family doesn’t have much money left. Thank goodness the government is distributing them for free!"

The whole way, the man praised the Anworth city leadership for their excellent arrangements and efficient supply distribution.

Melody Summers listened and nodded along.

「...」

When they arrived at the emergency management office, Chrome Dome and his wife were in handcuffs, squatting on the ground with their heads lowered. All their previous arrogance was gone.

To reward the man for his heroic actions, the emergency management office gave him two comforters and a blanket, free of charge.

Overjoyed, the man left with his items, eager to share the good news with his family.

Melody Summers, on the other hand, sat down to the side to watch Officer Sean Pierce interrogate the couple.

It wasn’t that Melody Summers enjoyed watching a spectacle; it was because she recognized the two people in front of her.

When she first saw Chrome Dome, Melody Summers had just found him familiar and couldn’t quite place who he was.

It wasn’t until the curly-haired woman stepped forward that she was certain: these two were the ones who had taken over Crystal Mart in her past life!

In her past life, Melody Summers had not moved to The Metropolis Residences, nor had she let her family invest in Crystal Mart.

Due to poor management, Crystal Lynch’s family had sold the supermarket and their house before the disasters began, and then they moved out of the community.

And this couple, Chrome Dome and his wife, had taken over Crystal Mart for a low price.

When the disasters struck, the supermarket was requisitioned by the government and designated as the supply point for The Metropolis Residences. As the supermarket operators, Chrome Dome and his wife naturally joined the emergency management office, becoming official staff members.

Later, when The Metropolis Residences began to establish a reconstruction zone and form a reconstruction department, the personnel from the emergency management office were transferred directly into the highly sought-after new department.

As the saying goes, when you’re in the right place at the right time, even a pig can fly.

Back then, as members of the reconstruction department—the most promising and powerful division—Chrome Dome and his wife were basking in glory.

The couple had a son and a daughter. At the time, Robert Lancaster and Elaine Hughes still had some assets, making them something of a fallen wealthy family. They were even trying to set up their youngest son, Silas Lancaster, with the couple’s daughter.

’I can’t believe it. In this life, without the opportunity that Crystal Mart provided, they’ve fallen so far that they’re throwing tantrums on the ground over an extra piece of winter clothing...’

Melody Summers snapped out of her reverie as Officer Sean Pierce announced the verdict for Chrome Dome and his wife.

"Gene Young, for the attempted fraudulent acquisition of supplies and disturbing public order, we are issuing you a warning. If there is a next time, you will be blacklisted and your eligibility to purchase supplies will be revoked!"

"Yvonne York, for the attempted destruction of state property and severely disturbing public order! We are hereby notifying you that your eligibility to receive supplies has been revoked. If there is a next time, we will expel you directly from The Metropolis Residences!"

Chrome Dome, whose real name was Gene Young, still hadn’t fully recovered from the pepper spray. He wailed, "I understand! I’ll never do it again!"

Chrome Dome’s wife, Yvonne York, also nodded frantically. She looked nothing like the arrogant, hysterical woman she had been outside.

Seeing that they had submitted, Officer Sean Pierce unlocked their handcuffs and told them to go home.

Yvonne York scrambled to her feet, helped up her wailing husband, and supported him as they walked toward the door.

As they passed Melody Summers, Yvonne York lifted her head and shot her a glare, as if blaming her for hurting her husband with pepper spray.

Seeing this, Melody Summers rolled her eyes, speechless.

’Even though their status in this life is completely different from my last, this scene is exactly the same...’

In her past life, Melody Summers had applied for a job in The Metropolis Residences’ reconstruction department. During her probation period, she was harassed by Gene Young.

Gene Young, seeing that Melody Summers was young and beautiful, had wanted to make her his mistress.

He had even told her that if she was willing to be with him, he would ensure she passed her probation.

At the time, without a second thought, Melody Summers had taught the handsy Gene Young a lesson with her pepper spray and reported him to the police.

The person who arrived with the police was Gene Young’s wife, Yvonne York. She didn’t blame her husband for trying to cheat and harass a young woman; instead, she resented Melody Summers for hurting her darling husband with pepper spray.

The look she gave Melody Summers back then was identical to the one she’d just given her now!

’What rotten luck!’ Melody Summers cursed inwardly.

After Gene Young and his wife left, only Officer Sean Pierce and Melody Summers remained in the emergency management office.

Officer Sean Pierce had always been fond of the younger Melody Summers. Looking at her, the stern expression on his face softened.

A rare, kind smile appeared on his usually serious face. He looked at Melody Summers and said, "Summers, you’ve done a great service again. Tell me, what kind of reward would you like? We’ll do our best to apply for it for you, within our capabilities!"

Officer Sean Pierce knew The Summers Family wasn’t short on things like comforters and blankets. In fact, just a few days ago, they had donated a significant amount of winter supplies to the emergency management office.

But Melody Summers just shook her head. She looked at Officer Sean Pierce and said seriously, "Officer Sean Pierce, please investigate Gene Young and Yvonne York again. I feel like there’s something wrong with that couple!"