Survival in the Ice Age: My Billion-Dollar Hoard

De Hua 's attitude towards Fang Ting was icy cold. Both she and Jolin sensed something was off. However, believing De Hua to be a hidden wealthy man, their enthusiasm didn't wane. If anything, it intensified. After all, rich people were allowed their quirks.

"Oh, De Hua , did you just have a meal in this restaurant?" Jolin asked nonchalantly.

De Hua frowned slightly. This woman was no better than Fang Ting; she too had a hand in his betrayal and death.

"Yeah," De Hua replied curtly, hands in his pockets as he headed towards the supermarket.

"Where are you going, De Hua ?" Fang Ting asked sweetly, walking quickly to keep up.

"To the supermarket," he answered, voice laced with impatience.

If he wasn't set on letting her taste the despair of the apocalypse, he would have killed her right then and there.

Seeing De Hua 's indifference, Fang Ting signaled Jolin with her eyes. "What a coincidence! We were just thinking of buying some things too. Let's go together!"

De Hua figured they must have seen him in the Michelin-starred restaurant, assuming he was wealthy. He didn't bother responding, continuing towards the supermarket. This only confirmed their suspicions—such confidence had to stem from wealth.

They followed closely, with Fang Ting occasionally brushing her hand against his and acting bashfully when he looked at her. De Hua smirked inwardly. She was putting on a classic act to lure him in. In the past, he would have fallen for it, but now he saw through her charade.

Entering the supermarket, De Hua grabbed a cart and began filling it with food. Fang Ting and Jolin trailed behind with their own carts.

"Were you dining with someone special?" Fang Ting asked.

"No. I was alone. Is that a problem?" De Hua replied, his tone still cold.

"Oh, no! I was just curious. The food there is so expensive; I thought maybe you were treating someone," Fang Ting said quickly.

Jolin chimed in, " De Hua , you only make a little over ten thousand a month, right? That meal cost half your annual salary! Your family must have left you a lot of money."

Fang Ting shot Jolin a warning look. As a top-tier manipulator, she knew the rule: talk emotions with the rich, talk money with the poor.

Realizing her mistake, Jolin tried to recover. "Just kidding! Money doesn't matter between friends."

De Hua ignored them, focusing on his task. The sight of the well-stocked shelves felt like a treasure trove. He had endured days where a single packet of instant noodles was a luxury. Now, he filled his cart with instant noodles, sausages, self-heating hot pots, and spices.

Fang Ting and Jolin watched in disbelief. " De Hua , why are you buying so much food? Are you going camping?" Fang Ting asked.

"Yeah," he replied simply.

Jolin whispered to Fang Ting, "Do rich people camp with instant noodles?"

Despite their doubts, Fang Ting didn't want to abandon her hope that De Hua was wealthy. She eagerly offered, "Can I help?"

De Hua nodded, a plan forming in his mind. He had a month to prepare for the apocalypse. While he could easily secure his safety and supplies, he also wanted to see Fang Ting beg for help.

By revealing he had stockpiled supplies, he could lure her into a false sense of security. When the time came, her betrayal would bring the predatory neighbors to his doorstep. With a secure fortress, he could easily turn the tables on them.

He smirked at the thought. "Help me push the cart."

Fang Ting agreed immediately. De Hua also had Jolin fetch another cart.

They filled the carts with non-perishable foods, including instant noodles, sausages, preserved meats, and canned goods. De Hua dedicated one cart to fresh meats, fruits, vegetables, and live fish to test how his spatial storage handled perishables.

When the carts were full, he handed the heaviest one to the women, loaded with beef, lamb, and canned goods. Fang Ting pouted, " De Hua , why so much food? Are you preparing for a disaster?"

He smirked, "Just being prepared. You never know when the world might end."

He spoke the truth, but they took it as a joke. Fang Ting laughed, "Oh, stop teasing! Just don't forget to treat me to dinner later."

"Sure, but I'm busy these days. Maybe next month," De Hua replied.

"Deal!" Fang Ting said cheerfully. Jolin echoed her, hoping to join in on another fancy meal.

With three full carts, De Hua paid over ten thousand yuan without blinking. In the apocalypse, these supplies would be worth millions, even priceless. Money would be useless, but food was invaluable.

The supermarket lent them the carts to transport their goods. De Hua let the women push the heavy carts, promising them a future dinner as motivation. Despite their complaints, they were eager to help, driven by the promise of another lavish meal.

Together, they returned to the community, laden with supplies.