Aside from that, Hayley's latest batch of seeds had arrived.

She had ordered all the usual crop seeds and saplings. Almost all vegetables could be grown directly from seeds, while things like sweet potatoes needed starter plants. The seeds were super cheap, especially the sweet potato starters.

Hayley had ordered a big pile from the largest seed shop. When she asked the shop owner for some freebies, he ended up tossing in a few extra starter plants for zero charge.

For fruit trees, it was best to buy already-grown saplings that were a bit older. Growing fruit trees from scratch was slow and labor-intensive. Buying a ten-year-old tree was cheap and practical. A top-quality ten-year-old apple sapling cost only about 16 dollars.

Hayley bought a large batch of ten-year-old saplings all at once—apple, blueberry, crab apple, pear, raspberry, cherry, lemon, plum, Euriplan plum, walnut, chestnut, hazelnut, peach, cranberry, persimmon—three of each.

This way, she could guarantee the trees survived and produced fruit year-round. She spent just over 1,200 dollars for more than 100 trees, covering only about half an acre—just the empty space to the right of her fallout shelter.

On the left side, she set up a top-notch plastic greenhouse and racks for vegetables. She planted seeds for greens, cucumbers, eggplants, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, scallions, kale, beans, and many more.

Most vegetables were easy to grow from starters, but Hayley preferred to start from seeds so she could keep planting year after year. Potatoes were simple—just plant the tubers.

Luckily, her land was top-quality. Seeds planted here would thrive without much extra effort.

In just ten days, Hayley's fallout shelter looked completely transformed, inside and out.

Now, it was only three days before the apocalypse.

After planting the last tree, Hayley thought about what else she needed.

For a self-sufficient, hidden life, she needed some chickens, ducks, and fish. Even with all the meal packs she had, nothing beat fresh food.

If she could rear some chickens and fish, she'd be able to have meat anytime she wanted.

She drove straight to the farmers' market, leaving Summer at the warehouse in case there were any more deliveries.

Entering the city again after several days, she immediately noticed the tense atmosphere. Everyone wore masks, their faces anxious.

At a live chicken and duck stall, Hayley scanned the dozen or so birds—both male and female, all healthy-looking.

"Hurry up if you wanna get something. I wanna pack up early and go home," the vendor said impatiently.

"Give me a discount and sell me all of them," she said.

The vendor's eyes lit up. "All of them?"

"Yes."

"I'll do 2 bucks per pound for everything! Normally, my chickens are 3 dollars and ducks are 2.20 per pound."

"Alright."

There were 26 birds in total, averaging about 6 pounds each, costing her just under 380 dollars. She had them delivered to her warehouse, then continued shopping.

At the fish section, she found fresh fish and shrimp, and her eyes brightened.

Her fallout shelter had a water source, so she could dig a small pond. She bought over 30 fish—carp, crucian carp, silver carp, grass carp—and about 40 pounds of fresh shrimp.

She loved prawn dishes—garlic butter prawns, prawn scampi, and Cajun grilled prawns.

She paid extra to get large plastic tanks and oxygen pumps delivered to her warehouse. The fish and shrimp cost over 600 bucks.

Next, she purchased pork and beef. Live pigs and cows weren't available, but with her cold storage and space, she could handle fresh meat.

She ordered 1,000 pounds of pork and 500 pounds of beef, paying extra to have them processed and delivered the same day. This cost over 8,000 dollars, leaving her with just over 320 thousand.

Hayley kept walking through the market, but many stalls were closing. In a corner, she spotted someone selling live baby goats. She bought the last two for 300 bucks.

The seller told her that these goats had been specifically bred for producing goat's milk, but business had been so bad that he started selling them off. The big ones were already gone, and only a few kids were left. By chance, Hayley managed to snag the last two today.

"You should go home after buying these! With the flu outbreak, don't stay out too long," the vendor warned.

Hayley nodded. She always wore a professional medical-grade mask, anyway.

The truth was, the flu had never been the source of the zombie virus. It simply spread so widely and so quickly, lowering people's immunity. When the real virus hit, those with the lowest resistance turned into zombies right away.

That was why everyone blamed the flu, thinking it was the true cause.

It took Hayley ten years of surviving in the apocalypse to figure that much out. Yet, she still had no idea regarding the real origin of the zombie virus.

Some people used to say it was nothing more than a game for the gods, like the Hunger Games. After all, the virus didn't just create zombies. It also changed people in other, stranger ways.

Once Hayley had the vendor deliver her goods to the warehouse, she left the farmer's market without hanging around.

She had less than three days before the apocalypse hit and didn't plan to leave her shelter again. But first, she wanted to spend all her money. She couldn't just let it sit there.

Finding a hidden spot with no cameras, she placed the two goats into her inventory and drove off with Summer. On the way, she stopped at a farm supply store and bought a full set of tools, plus 20 shovels.

Most people didn't realize shovels were serious weapons in survival situations. During conflicts, farmers used them as deadly tools. Even modern military spades evolved from shovels.

In an apocalypse, a melee weapon like this could be more reliable than firearms.

After stocking up on enough shovels, Hayley realized she needed to get baseball bats—another surprisingly effective weapon.

With that in mind, Hayley walked into a sports equipment store.

After picking up a few of the best, sturdiest baseball bats, she grabbed a bunch of adventure gear—flashlights, helmets, armor, pads, tents, protective suits, tactical jackets…all of it. Everything she needed for the outdoors. This alone cost her over 4,000.

The store also carried emergency kit accessories—tweezers, pliers, bandages, thermometers, and stuff like that. It reminded Hayley that she still needed to stop by the pharmacy.

She left the outdoor store and went to stock up on common medicines—cold medicine, bandages, fever reducers, vitamins, alcohol, iodine, and other essentials.

She wasn't interested in prescription drugs; she didn't need them, anyway. Anyone who had survived ten years of the apocalypse without dying probably didn't rely on daily meds. A few emergency supplies would do. In an apocalypse, poor health was just a weak spot you couldn't afford.

By the time she left the pharmacy, it was almost evening. The city lights sparkled, neon glowing all around.

Hayley had pretty much gathered everything she could—food, drink, shelter, tools—all the basics covered. Now, she could focus on upgrading daily necessities and a few extra comforts.

She still had about 260 thousand left.

She figured it was time to go on a shopping spree. Before the apocalypse hit, she was going to enjoy the world one last time.

First stop: a Michelin-star hotel she had never treated herself to before.

She ordered a full-on feast—mushroom soup, barbecued ribs, pan-seared cod, roasted chicken, and garlic butter prawns—everything she had never been able to afford before. She even had the kitchen prepare ten extra orders of her favorite garlic butter prawns and filet mignon to take home for Summer.

After that, she booked a suite and headed down to the mall.

The mall was packed with goods, from general stores to tempting food stands. Hayley, used to hard times, hit the food section first—sausages, mini corn dogs, sponge cakes, meat pies, fried skewers, fried chicken, pork cutlets, stew, ice cream, milkshakes, assorted pastries…everything.

She wanted it all, but there wasn't enough time or money to buy everything. Most of it was just luxury for a peaceful world—things that wouldn't matter after the apocalypse.

But right now, she could buy and eat without worry.

Hayley went store by store, quietly and extravagantly telling each clerk, "I want all your snacks."

She paid and had everything delivered to her hotel room upstairs.

At the first bakery, everything went into bags—fresh bread, cheesecake, cream puffs, petit fours, marshmallows, Swiss rolls, custard slices, custard tarts, waffles, palmiers—all packed and sent up.

At a fried chicken shop, she bought every flavor—sweet chili, barbecue, garlic, honey mustard—and every type of chicken: boneless, drumsticks, wings, whole chickens.

She then hit up the smoothie bars and ordered every flavor she could—berry blends, tropical fruit mixes, creamy yogurt smoothies, protein shakes, even frozen slushies—everything on the list!

She basically just paid and gave them a delivery address before leaving, not wanting to attract too much attention.

Just buying these snacks cost over 40 thousand. Each shop's stock usually totaled about 3,000 dollars. Hayley only spent around a few hundred dollars on smaller stalls, like the sausage stall and corn dog stand, ordering one of each flavor.

Still, she basically cleared the snack stores in one sweep.

Next, she went to the basement supermarket.

Now, supermarkets were essential. She pushed two huge carts through the warehouse-style store.

At checkout, her carts were filled with single units of all kinds—one bag of each flavored chips, one pack of every cookie or candy, one bottle of each drink, and every cooked food item she could get—roast turkey slices, rotisserie chicken, baked salmon, deli wraps, stuffed pita pockets, and microwavable pasta meals.

Even partially prepared foods—marinated chicken, pork chops, fish fillets, and steak—were included. Household necessities like toiletries, face cream, sanitary pads, disposable towels, wipes—everything she could need.

And now that she had money, she even bought appliances—a washing machine, a robot vacuum, and a fridge. She wouldn't have considered this before, but now she could.

After checking out her two carts, she spoke to the store manager. She wanted the store's entire stock of everything in her carts, except for appliances.

However, she had underestimated the cost and inventory. By the time she had selected just a third of what she wanted, her account was empty—220 thousand, gone in a flash!

She found herself in an awkward position.

Basic staples had been cheap, but processed goods were several times more expensive. Looking at her account balance hitting zero, Hayley decided this was enough. She could always make these foods herself using the ingredients she had.

She left her delivery address with the manager and confirmed that everything could be delivered that day.

A bit sad to leave the well-stocked store behind, she continued walking. So far, she had only hit the food sections and the large supermarket.

She didn't have money left to shop on the clothing floors.

But even with just 14 dollars on her, she could still window shop.

She bought a 3-dollar iced cocoa at a convenience store and browsed each clothing shop. By the time she finished the third floor, her drink was gone. She spotted a few items she liked.

"How much for this baseball jacket?" she asked.

"It's on sale for half price—400 dollars," the clerk said.

Hayley didn't reply. Even at half price, that was way too expensive.

Still, it was the best mall in town, and everything inside was from big-name brands. She couldn't afford anything in it right now.

After she walked out empty-handed, the manager nudged the sales assistant who had just given Hayley the price. "Why bother with her? She clearly can't afford anything. Look at her empty hands after walking several floors. Learn to read people next time…"

The clerk just pursed her lips and stayed quiet.

Despite hearing the insults, Hayley ignored them, walking on.

She wasn't some naive kid who would throw money around just because someone said something. After years of surviving the apocalypse, she knew better.

In a crisis, she didn't need to teach anyone a lesson—she could just kill them.

As Hayley kept walking through the mall, she suddenly caught sight of two familiar figures.

A young man was walking with a heavily pregnant woman just ahead of her. Philip and his wife—the same couple Hayley had just "pranked" a little while back.

"Babe, calm down. Whatever you want today, just buy it. Forgive me, okay? Don't get mad… You don't want to stress the baby!"

"No! You've been lying to me this whole time, haven't you? Your family doesn't even own that apartment! You tricked me on purpose!"

"It's really ours."

"Then what was all that earlier? Debt collectors at your door claiming the apartment was theirs, sending your grandma to the hospital!"

"I don't know what happened. I swear, my mom paid 400 thousand to buy it from Hayley. We just have to find her and transfer the deed!"

"Wait, didn't your mom say the apartment was a gift from Hayley, so I couldn't be on the deed? How is it suddenly bought by your family and transferable?"

"Uh… A-Anyway! Just know that the apartment's ours now. I'm my family's only son, so I'm bound to get everything. And whatever's mine is yours! Just trust me!"

Sue wouldn't buy it. "How am I supposed to trust you? First, you said it was move-in ready with renovations done, now it's a shell. You said it was your property, and now debt collectors show up. I've finally seen the truth—you guys are messing with me! I won't keep this baby! I'm gonna get rid of it now!"

"Babe! Babe!"

Hayley leaned against a corner, listening to their argument, a small smirk tugging at her lips.

Wow. Just ten days, and things were already a mess at the Reids'. Eleanor even ended up in the hospital.

Still, it could get even more entertaining.

Hayley watched Philip, hands on the escalator railing, chasing after Sue. Mischievously, she whistled at him.

Philip, already flustered, turned and spotted her leaning on the glass railing, casually watching them.

"Hayley?"

He froze, wanting to chase her, but Sue had already gotten to the floor below.

"Babe! Babe!"

One was his wife, about to get an abortion, and the other was Hayley. He wished he could split himself in two.

After weighing his options, he decided to chase Hayley. He figured he would just grab her and make her explain everything to Sue—simple.

He ran up the escalator that was heading down, trying to reach her.

Meanwhile, Hayley walked at a calm, steady pace. By the time Philip caught up, she had already circled to the opposite escalator, making him chase her through the entire mall.

They ended up in the underground parking lot.

"Damn it! You little wench! Where do you think you're going?" Philip, panting, cornered Hayley. "How dare you mess with me behind my back! I swear I'll—"

"Perfect," Hayley said cheerfully, shutting the car trunk with a click. "I was thinking the same thing."

She swung a baseball bat in her hands.

Philip's eyes went wide, alarm bells ringing.

"What the… You're gonna hit me?"

Before he could react, Hayley swung.

She immediately overpowered him, dislocating his jaw so he couldn't talk, and dragged him to the corner of the parking lot, beating him mercilessly.

Ten years surviving the apocalypse meant she had learned every kind of fighting technique. She could take down a grown man in seconds.

But she was merciful with Philip.

For half an hour, she smashed him in the arms and legs, striking only the most painful spots that wouldn't kill him.

After 30 minutes, Philip lay on the ground, barely conscious.

Hayley leaned against the car and kicked him lightly before bending down to grab his phone. She dialed 911 while pressing his head against the floor with her foot.

"See? I'm nice. I even called 911 for you. You're welcome."

Philip nearly passed out from anger. If her foot weren't on his face, he would've admitted she was "nice".

"Damn you…"

"Not grateful? Fine. Hope you enjoy your hospital stay like your grandma." Hayley kicked him in the head, knocking him out for seven days.

She took care of the scene and wiped his ID from the phone, not wanting the hospital to identify him that quickly.

Then she transferred all the money in his digital bank to hers, using his fingerprint to authorize the payments.

Afterward, she moved him to a bar street outside the parking lot, the same place she had called 911 from.

Soon, EMTs arrived. Hayley watched them take Philip away, blending in like any bystander.

Calmly, she sent messages to Bernard and Lucy with his phone, telling them he had been hurt and to check the hospital.

After all that, she sold his phone to a small roadside store. Even if Lucy reported it, they wouldn't trace it back to Hayley in three days. By then, any investigation into Philip would be useless because it would be the apocalypse.

Knocking Philip out added 6,000 dollars to her account. She used the money to stock up again, emptying several convenience store shelves into her car.

As she prepared to leave, her car door slammed—someone had collapsed on it.

Hayley's eyes darkened. Several stylishly dressed men and women helped lift the man.

One tattooed guy waved. "Sorry, miss. My friend's drunk!"

They laughed and carried him away.

"Damn, he went down after two drinks! I remember him saying he could drink anyone under the table."

"Yeah, he used to hold his liquor a lot better."

"Maybe getting married weakened him!"

"Hahaha!"

Hayley leaned on her car, watching them leave. Her gaze fell on the young man in the middle—head down, stiff, pale hands hanging awkwardly.

Soon, he came to.

"What happened to me?"

"You drank too much, that's what!"

"You're useless! You didn't even drink that much!"

"Work stress, I guess. I'm heading back."

"Heading back? No way! Keep drinking! Let's get wasted tonight!"

The group laughed as they walked off.

Hayley's eyes darkened as she watched the scene.

She checked her phone and noted that today was the 9th. In her last life, the zombie outbreak started on the 11th.

The apocalypse would happen on August 11.