It's the apocalypse again

For a moment, Qianqian just sat there, staring at the screen. The weight of it all—her past, her future, the responsibility now resting on her shoulders—threatened to overwhelm her. But then, as she had done countless times before, she forced herself to breathe. To think.

"Alright," she said aloud, her voice steadying. "We start small. I can't waste time or resources, and I definitely can't make the same mistakes I did in my last life."

"Exactly," Echo agreed. "So, what's the plan?"

She stood, pacing the small room as she spoke. "Food is off the table for now. I'll need to focus on other essentials—things that will last, things that will help me survive long-term."

She began to list them off on her fingers. "Pads, clothes, medical supplies, tools, camping equipment, tents… maybe even appliances like fridges or air conditioners. I'll need things to make this place livable, not just for me, but for anyone who might join me later."

Echo hummed approvingly. "A good start. But don't forget, you'll need space to store it all. The house is small for now—you'll have to use your warehouses."

" Hmm,what if we bring the warehouse here",she pondered. She then opened the store but literally everything there was locked,she found a warehouse but it was locked and below it was Level 2.

" how long till I get to level 2", she groaned.

" Just keep stockpiling, girl" Echo replied laughing.

Her thoughts shifted to her dwindling finances. She had spent a significant portion of her savings over the past three months, and while she wasn't broke yet, it was a looming concern.

"I need to be smarter about my spending," she admitted," or wait...", she paused," I can ask for more money from my sister or dad."

She smiled remembering she had rich parents and siblings. She also had a few properties in her name as well as a few shares. She also had additional savings from her stock investment which she had started 3 months ago.

"That would work for now," Echo agreed. "But remember, as your system upgrades, you'll gain more storage options. For now, focus on gathering what you can with the resources you have."

As night fell, Qianqian stood outside the small house, staring up at the starry sky. The forest around her was alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures, and the air was cool and crisp.

"This place feels… strange," she murmured.

"It's because it's new," Echo said. "But give it time. Soon, this clearing will be more than just a shelter—it will be a sanctuary. A base of operations for everything you'll build."

She smiled faintly at his words, a flicker of hope warming her chest.

"Alright, Echo," she said, her voice filled with quiet determination. "Let's get to work."

Over the next few weeks, Qianqian fell into a routine. By day, she scoured shops, warehouses, and online sales, hunting for deals on non-food essentials. By night, she meticulously organized her purchases and tracked her progress.

She had upgraded to level 3 by now and had built 2 warehouses at the Base. She would wake up early in the morning,drive to the warehouse at the city and pay people to help her transfer them to the truck then she'll drive to the base and use her system to transfer the goods to the warehouse.

The first warehouse, now brimming with supplies, had become a lifeline. Shelves were neatly lined with packs of pads, boxes of durable clothes, stacks of lightweight tents, and tools of every kind. In one corner, a row of air conditioners and refrigerators stood like silent sentinels, carefully wrapped to prevent damage.

Each item had been chosen with a specific purpose in mind.

"I'm not hoarding junk," she muttered to herself one evening as she double-checked her inventory. "Everything here will have a use when the time comes."

Echo's voice came from within her thoughts, calm and approving. "You're doing well. These supplies will be invaluable once things start falling apart."

But no matter how organized she was, the weight of her mission never left her. Her bank account, once flush with millions, had dwindled alarmingly. She'd also started drawing attention. Her roommate, Lin Mei, often questioned why Qianqian skipped class and disappeared for hours. Her brother, Xu Jinhai, had even called her twice after the school notified him of her absences.

"You're going to have to address these distractions," Echo warned her one afternoon. "If you're not careful, someone will uncover what you're doing."

"I know," she sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I'll deal with it. For now, I need to stay focused."

One evening, after another long day of stocking the warehouse, Qianqian returned to the clearing. The house seemed to glow faintly in the moonlight, as if it were alive. She stepped inside, exhaustion weighing her down, only to notice something strange.

The shelves, which had been bare when she first arrived, were now lined with a few items—a small bundle of firewood, a water canteen, and what appeared to be a rolled-up sleeping bag.

"What is this?" she asked aloud, her eyes narrowing.

"Your house is responding to your progress," Echo explained. "The system rewards effort. Every time you complete a significant milestone, the house will upgrade itself slightly. Consider it an incentive to keep moving forward."

Qianqian frowned, inspecting the items. They weren't extraordinary, but they were practical. The firewood would save her the trouble of gathering it herself, and the water canteen was sturdy and well-made.

"How do these upgrades work?" she asked.

"It depends on your level," Echo said. "Right now, the house is basic—a single room, minimal features. But as you level up, it will expand. More rooms, better facilities, even defenses. Think of it as your ultimate safe haven."

Qianqian felt a flicker of hope at the thought. "So, if I keep working, this place will become a real base? Something I can rely on when the apocalypse hits?"

"Exactly. But don't get complacent. The upgrades won't come without effort."

She nodded, determination hardening her features. "Effort is something I'm not short on."

She continued this cycle for a month...

March,3019

The school had escalated their concerns, calling her family directly to report her absences. And Lin Mei had grown increasingly suspicious, her questions becoming harder to deflect.

"You can't keep this up," Echo said one night as Qianqian slumped against the wall of her small house. "Something has to change."

"I know," she muttered. "But what choice do I have? If I don't push now, I'll lose my momentum. I can't afford to waste time."

Before Echo could reply, her phone buzzed. She pulled it out, expecting another sale notification or a call from Jinhai. Instead, the system interface lit up with a new message:

"No man is born an island, A friend in need is a friend indeed. Seek the heart of the forest and Rescue the legacy."

She stared at the screen, confusion etched on her face. "What does that mean?"

"A riddle," Echo said, his tone thoughtful. "The system is leading you to something important. We need to figure out what."

For hours, they debated the meaning of the message. Qianqian paced the small house, her mind racing with possibilities. Finally, Echo's voice broke through her thoughts.

"The heart of the forest. It's not a metaphor—it's a location. Look at your map."

She opened the system's map feature, and sure enough, a faint glowing dot had appeared deep within the surrounding forest.

"This… this is it," she whispered, excitement and apprehension warring within her.

"Then it's time to go," Echo said simply.