Chapter 114

Despite everything, they were fortunate—luck stayed on their side the entire journey. No trouble found them, and they made their way smoothly to

Starlight Towers

without a single delay.

At this point, most people were busy scavenging for supplies, far too preoccupied to pay any attention to Wendy, Liam, and the others. Besides, Wendy’s speedboat was far more advanced than anything anyone else had. With the scraps and makeshift gear others possessed, catching up to her would’ve been nothing short of a fantasy.

Once they arrived, Wendy found a suitable place to dock. She gestured for the two of them to go on ahead, then, while they weren’t looking, quietly stored the speedboat away into her private space.

They had already handed over her payment for the trip, and Wendy didn’t bother with politeness—she simply packed everything neatly into her backpack.

After parting ways for a short distance, she caught up to them again.

Thinking about how Liam might one day become part of her future inner circle, Wendy’s attitude toward him grew noticeably warmer—almost eager.

"Which building do you live in?" she asked, taking the initiative.

Liam hesitated briefly before replying, "Building Eight."

Wendy’s eyes lit up. Once again, it felt as though fate itself was favoring her.

"What a coincidence—I’m in Building Eight too," she said with a bright smile.

Liam gave her a surprised glance. If that were true... it really was quite a coincidence.

At present, Starlight Towers was one of the few places not yet swallowed by the floodwaters. Though the ground was slick with pooled rain, it was still passable on foot.

They walked one after the other toward Building Eight.

Both of them owned apartments above the tenth floor. Wendy had rented a unit on the tenth, while Liam and his brother lived on the thirteenth.

"Well, I suppose we know each other now," Wendy said, her enthusiasm unmistakable. "If you ever need anything, you can come find me on the tenth floor."

Liam gave a brief acknowledgment but didn’t say much more.

After Wendy left, the two brothers exchanged a glance.

"I don’t like her, she’s strange," Noah said bluntly.

Liam nodded. "I think so too. She’s a little too enthusiastic."

In times like these, warmth from a stranger was rarely a good sign.

Perhaps Wendy truly was favored by fate—because not long after they returned to Starlight Towers, another storm began to rage. The rain came down harder than before, relentless and unyielding.

It poured for three straight days.

Back at Derek Martin’s residential complex, the floodwaters had already risen to the fourth floor.

During this time, Suzy had been steadily deepening her relationship with Derek.

Without even realizing it, his affection for her had already crossed the seventy-point threshold, reaching seventy-eight.

Just a little more, and she would unlock the reward tied to eighty points of favorability.

But it stalled there.

No matter what she tried—every trick, every effort—the number refused to budge.

Deep down, she understood why. She had likely reached a temporary ceiling. The higher the affection, the harder it became to increase. Toward the later stages, only something truly significant could push it further.

On the fourth day, the rain finally stopped.

Sunlight broke through the clouds, and for a moment, people believed the disaster had come to an end.

In truth, it was only an intermission.

Suzy knew it was time for her to leave Derek.

"You’re leaving today?" he asked after waking, noticing the quiet outside. A faint unease flickered in his chest.

Standing beside the bed, Suzy nodded. "Yeah. It’s time."

Over the past two days, Leonard had been urging her to return—at one point even insisting on coming to pick her up himself, though she had firmly talked him out of it.

She had stayed with Derek long enough. She had left him ample supplies. His affection had reached a solid threshold.

At a time like this, it was better to slip away.

Sometimes, distance was exactly what made the heart grow fonder.

Of course, there was an even more important reason—her poor lower back simply couldn’t take much more...

Over the past two days, Derek had been like a ravenous beast that could never get enough. Whenever he had a moment to spare, he would pull Suzy into yet another "round," leaving her utterly exhausted.

Sure, Suzy gained quite a bit from it—but the physical toll was just as real.

No matter how strong she was, there were limits to what she could endure.

"...Alright."

Derek had originally wanted to ask her to stay, but the words died on his lips before he could say them.

He could tell Suzy had already made up her mind.

Besides, her uncle was still waiting for her at home. There was no way she could remain here indefinitely. Pushing too hard might only drive her away.

In the end, Derek chose to keep quiet.

"Then I’ll walk you out," he said instead.

"No need, really," Suzy waved him off. "I can make it back on my own."

If she went alone, she would simply arrive. But if Derek escorted her, he’d have to make the trip back himself—doubling the risk for no reason. To Suzy, it wasn’t worth it.

During this time, growing stronger alongside Derek had significantly improved her physical condition.

Though her complexion still appeared pale, she knew exactly what her body was capable of now.

If anyone foolish enough tried to pick a fight with her, dealing with them wouldn’t be a problem.

Besides... she now held the ultimate advantage in her hands.

Seeing how firm she was, Derek didn’t insist any further.

Before parting, he walked her downstairs.

Their building was already more than half submerged. Someone had rigged up a crude structure, creating a makeshift path from the windows to the outside.

Suzy took out the inflatable boat she had prepared in advance and quickly filled it with air.

"I’m heading out. Stay in touch," she said.

Derek looked at her, reluctant to let go. "Mm."

Suzy gently pulled her hand free from his grasp. "Bye."

"...Once I’ve dealt with things here, I’ll come find you," Derek said.

Suzy paused for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I’ll be waiting."

"Oh, right—I left you a gift," she added. "It’s in the drawer of your desk."

With that, she left Derek’s residential complex.

The flooded streets of the city had turned into murky waterways, littered with drifting debris and trash. Suzy’s small inflatable boat cut through the relatively calm surface, leaving ripples in its wake. It wasn’t fast, but it moved with clear purpose—heading toward the hillside district where Starlight Towers stood.

At the same time, Derek returned home.

He remembered what Suzy had said—that she’d left him a gift in the drawer.

He went straight to his room and pulled open the drawer.

Nothing.

No gift.

Had she remembered the wrong place?

He opened the second drawer. It was filled with his personal belongings—still no sign of anything new.

Not here either...?

Then his gaze fell on the last drawer.

His expression shifted.

He let out a slow breath, steeling himself as he reached out and pulled it open.

The drawer slid out smoothly—effortless, silent.

But Derek’s face drained of color, turning deathly pale, as though his blood had frozen in that very instant.

How could he have...?

How could he have forgotten to lock that drawer?!