After finishing lunch, Lin Dong began practicing with his spear.
His routine was disciplined, and the presence of a beautiful woman in the house hadn't changed that.
Lin Dong focused mainly on thrusting spear techniques. Having experienced the benefits of improving his Physical Constitution, he deliberately incorporated strength training into his regimen.
To increase the weight of the spear, he inserted the steel rebar crowbar he had taken from Zhou Jiaqiang's tent on the rooftop into the steel pipe.
This made thrusting the spear significantly more difficult, but Lin Dong gritted his teeth and persisted.
Only after an hour, when his arms were sore and completely exhausted, did he finally set the spear down and sit to rest.
Seeing this, Yang Mei quickly handed him a cup of water. While helping him drink, she took the initiative to massage his shoulders and arms.
Lin Dong let her work on his muscles as he lay on the sofa and said, "No need to cook tonight."
Yang Mei froze for a moment but didn't ask why, immediately nodding. "Alright."
"Aren't you going to ask why?"
Yang Mei shook her head. "Food is so scarce right now. Many people can't even get one full meal a day, yet we eat three times daily—it's too extravagant."
"Little brother, to be honest, I've been meaning to suggest we start rationing. Maybe we can hold out until government aid arrives…"
Lin Dong chuckled. "You've misunderstood. It's not that we're running out of food. The neighbors invited us for dinner tonight."
"Huh? The neighbors?"
Yang Mei was stunned, then immediately thought of Li Zhiqiang. Her expression shifted slightly as she asked, "Can… can I not go?"
She didn't want to see her ex-husband again—it would be too awkward.
Lin Dong raised an eyebrow. "Don't you want to know where the neighbors got their food?"
"Where?"
"Li Zhiqiang had it hidden. Cai Zhi and the others found it."
"What?! He… he still had food?"
Yang Mei's face twisted with disbelief upon hearing this.
If Li Zhiqiang still had food, why had he tried to sell her to Liu Erlong?
Why had he made her seduce Lin Dong in exchange for food?
Watching her reaction, Lin Dong said coolly, "Can't you figure it out? There's only so much food. If he ate alone, it would last longer. But with two people, it wouldn't stretch as far."
"Besides, trading you for more food would buy him extra days."
"Naturally, he did the math."
Yang Mei's almond-shaped eyes reddened with hatred as she bit her lip. "He's a beast… worse than a beast…"
She had clearly realized Li Zhiqiang's reasoning now, and it filled her with loathing for the man who had once been her husband.
Taking a deep breath, she said, "I'll go tonight. I want him to see that the man I'm with now is ten thousand times better than him."
Lin Dong grinned. "That's more like it. Since you're with me now, don't think about other men. Though… you won't actually see him."
Yang Mei was confused again. "Why not?"
"Cai Zhi and Lao Ma kicked him out. Keeping someone like that around is just asking for trouble."
Yang Mei frowned in concern. "If they let him go… won't he go join Liu Erlong?"
Lin Dong smirked. "And if he does team up with Liu Erlong to come after me, whose side will you be on?"
"I… I'd obviously stand with you, little brother."
Lin Dong laughed and stretched out on the sofa. "Oh? Really? Then show me your resolve."
"Huh? How… how do I do that?"
"Get on."
"Ah?"
Yang Mei's fair face instantly flushed red as she stammered, "N-not now... didn't you say... tonight... tonight?"
Lin Dong gazed at her voluptuous figure, his lips suddenly dry. "Just taking a little interest first."
A blush spread across Yang Mei's face as she bit her lower lip.
She had no choice but to rise, lifting her long, slender legs to straddle Lin Dong's body, settling onto his abdomen in a squatting position.
She extended her delicate fingers, intending to massage him as she had done before.
But Lin Dong suddenly spoke in a hoarse voice, "Move back."
Yang Mei's face burned even hotter. His waist was the narrowest part of his physique.
Moving back meant his hips, noticeably broader than his waist.
The further she shifted, the wider her thighs were forced to part.
And she was still wearing the same black uniform skirt from earlier.
The skirt was too tight, the fabric lacking elasticity. As she scooted backward, the hem gradually rode up.
Blushing, she hurriedly pressed down on the front of her skirt to avoid exposing herself.
Suddenly, she felt something—her entire body froze, not daring to move an inch.
Lin Dong also drew a sharp breath, his voice slightly rough as he commanded, "Keep going."
Yang Mei's face was crimson, but under his order, she had no choice but to comply.
Just as she was about to continue, her gaze flickered to the side—her expression abruptly changed. "What's that?!"
Lin Dong frowned at her exclamation, sitting up and turning to look where she pointed.
There, at the balcony window, a black object buzzed and vibrated.
Lin Dong's expression darkened instantly. He scooped Yang Mei into his arms and swiftly moved to the wall, grabbing his spear.
Pressing against the wall, he told her, "Stay down."
Startled by his sudden movement, Yang Mei immediately flattened herself on the couch, not daring to move.
Lin Dong edged closer to the balcony, only realizing what it was when he got near.
A black drone!
Right now, it was hovering outside, filming and observing his apartment.
Lin Dong's expression shifted—someone was using a drone to spy on his home?
Who?
Liu Erlong?
Fortunately, the balcony windows had long been sealed shut, preventing the drone from entering.
Plus, the interior was too dark for the drone to capture anything clearly.
Lin Dong studied the drone, deciding to track its path rather than act immediately.
After circling the balcony once and finding no entry, the drone buzzed away from Lin Dong's apartment.
Lin Dong quickly approached the window, opening it to peer outside.
The drone flew straight downward, disappearing into the darkness.
It was too dark to see clearly, but after a moment, the buzzing returned.
The drone flew back—this time with a plastic bag hooked beneath it!
Lin Dong squinted. The bag looked like a delivery package.
As the drone ascended to the 31st floor, Lin Dong's eyes narrowed.
A hand suddenly reached out from the apartment below, pulling open the window.
The drone immediately flew inside.
"The downstairs neighbor?"
Lin Dong's gaze sharpened as he tried to recall.
He barely ever saw the resident below.
The only time he'd encountered them was in the building's group chat, where the user, under the screen name "Song Dabao," was an active participant.
Lin Dong turned to look at Yang Mei, who was still lying face down on the sofa. Her plump, rounded bottom remained prominently raised even in that position.
He walked over and gave her butt a playful slap, saying, "All done."
"Little brother, what... what was that?" Yang Mei asked anxiously, still startled.
"A drone."
"Huh? A drone?"
She looked bewildered, having initially mistaken it for some unknown creature.
"Do you know the resident downstairs? The one who's always active in the owners' group chat under the name 'Song Dabao'?" Lin Dong inquired.
Yang Mei thought for a moment before replying, "I know her. The owner of unit 3101 is Song Wen, a rather pretty young girl. But I haven't seen her since the Great Flood."
"What does she do?" Lin Dong pressed immediately.
"I ran into her in the complex once and chatted with her. I think she's some kind of live-streamer," Yang Mei recalled after a moment's thought.
"A live-streamer?"
Lin Dong pondered this. Being a streamer would explain why she had a drone—probably used for outdoor broadcasts and aerial shots during her streams.
But it was somewhat clever of her to use the drone to retrieve items from the water.
Still, why had she been spying on his apartment just now?
A thought suddenly struck Lin Dong—could this woman be planning to use the drone for theft?
(End of chapter)