The Walk-in Closet Safehouse CH2
Chapter 2: The Walk-in Closet
Cui Ye glanced at the station where the person had gotten off. It was the stop right before hers, less than two kilometers from her apartment complex. Did they live nearby, or were they just passing through? Was that person carrying the new virus, too—just waiting for it to break out?
Thinking about how she had seen two danger prompts in a single day, she remembered the first time her talent had triggered. It was late one night; she’d worked until nine and skipped dinner. On her way from the office to the subway, a red prompt had practically slapped her in the face. It startled her so much she froze in her tracks, narrowly missing a motorcycle that screeched past right in front of her. If that prompt hadn’t appeared, she’d have been dead for days already. She wouldn't even be around to worry about the end of the world.
That grim realization completely killed her interest in scrolling through posts. As the announcement for the next station rang out, Cui Ye immediately grabbed her shopping bags and left the train.
From the subway all the way back to her rental, she didn't see any more depressing red prompts. Instead, a [Gift] prompt popped up once in a green belt near her complex. A green balloon was hovering among the low bushes, having only just been discovered.
Cui Ye drew several wary stares just by walking past. They were worried she’d snatch their balloon, but she was more worried they’d snatch the canned goods in her hands. Left with no choice, she took a detour and entered through the complex’s east gate.
Because her morning had been so eventful, it was already noon by the time she got back. Starving to the point of seeing spots, Cui Ye just wanted to fill her stomach with food immediately.
Before she could even take off her raincoat, there was a knock on her bedroom door. She opened it to find her roommate, Liu Yue, pointing at a photo of a sea of balloons on her phone, asking if the "Lucky Balloons" everyone was talking about online were real.
Cui Ye was too hungry to be patient, but she nodded anyway. She glanced at Liu Yue’s messy hair and pajamas. "They're real. You should’ve heard that voice, too."
Liu Yue’s frown deepened, her voice turning frantic. "I was playing a game! I thought it was just audio from the game, so I didn't catch a word of it! I just checked my phone and saw everyone talking about Lucky Balloons. People online say they got something like a gold coin. Can I see yours?"
That last sentence was the real point, but unfortunately for her, even if Cui Ye had only gotten a gold coin, she might not have shown it. What she actually had was a safe house key that had turned into a tattoo, and that "Rabbit Coin" from her talent reward didn't seem common either.
She had already skimmed the web on the subway. Over ninety percent of people had only received a single gold coin; those who got safe houses were a tiny minority. So far, she hadn't seen anyone showing off "Talents" or special abilities online. She didn't think she was the only exception; clearly, no one wanted to reveal their hand too early.
So, all Cui Ye gave her was a look of disappointment. "I’d just stepped out of the mall and my hands were full. There weren't many balloons left out there, and I couldn't outrun those guys. Luckily I didn't get hurt—call it a blessing in disguise."
Liu Yue peered into the room, spotting an oversized shopping bag stuffed with something. She couldn't tell what it was, but she figured it wasn't anything valuable. She gave up on the balloons that easily?
If Liu Yue had been out there, she would’ve risked everything to grab a balloon. She might have even landed a rare safe house key instead of just a coin. She played plenty of games and considered herself pretty lucky with "gacha" pulls; she knew exactly what a safe house meant in an apocalypse! Dammit!
After realizing what she’d missed, Liu Yue spent half an hour in her room sulking. Hearing Cui Ye’s answer made her feel a mix of disdain and relief. It seemed plenty of people had missed out on the balloons; even if she’d run outside, she might not have caught one. It was better to stay inside like a sensible person rather than waste her effort.
Cui Ye noticed Liu Yue’s eyes drifting toward the shopping bag behind her again. Before the other girl could speak, Cui Ye said, "My clothes are damp, so I need to change and shower. Let’s chat after I’m done, okay?"
Liu Yue wanted to say more, but before she could open her mouth, Cui Ye waved her off and shut the door. Liu Yue felt a surge of irritation. She had wanted to ask what Cui Ye bought and if she could "borrow" some instant noodles or canned food—ideally a self-heating hot pot.
Just as she was debating whether to knock again, she heard the front door open behind her. It was their other roommate, Wang Zhiqiu. Liu Yue turned around and saw that Wang was uncharacteristically disheveled. Her usually perfect bun was falling apart, and one of her high heels was broken. She limped into the apartment. Seeing her like that, Liu Yue immediately realized what was happening and rushed over.
Inside her room, Cui Ye heard the commotion in the living room and silently thanked Sister Wang for drawing the fire. She had no intention of sharing the cans she’d lugged all that way with Liu Yue. Once things were "borrowed" by her, they were as good as gone. In the past, she’d tolerated it since they lived under the same roof, but times had changed.
She cleaned herself up quickly. The instant noodles and dried veggies in her electric pot were about done. She opened a can of luncheon meat and a bag of pickled mustard greens, tossed them all in, and let it simmer for two more minutes.
Since she didn't have a bowl big enough for two packs of noodles, she used a stainless steel basin. It wasn't until she’d finished every drop of broth that she felt about eighty percent full, but her stomach couldn't hold any more.
If the frequency of her talent triggers kept increasing at this rate, she’d have to eat until she burst just to feel half-full. Was this side effect unique to her, or did it happen to everyone with a talent?
Before Cui Ye could worry too much, a string of prompts jumped out:
[Daily Mission: Obtain three survival supplies outdoors (Completed)]
[Mission Reward: 1 Gold Coin]
[Random Mission Triggered: Place your Safe House (Pending)]
Note: Once the Safe House is placed, its location cannot be changed for twenty-four hours.
[First Mission completed. Daily Shop unlocked. Random items refreshed; please purchase as needed.]
[Today’s Items: Hemostatic Bandage (1 Gold Coin), Food Voucher (1 Gold Coin), Air Conditioner (20 Gold Coins)]
Cui Ye clicked through the items to see the descriptions:
Hemostatic Bandage: Single-use consumable. Can slow bleeding to a certain extent.
Food Voucher: Randomly provides one meal. Guaranteed to satisfy hunger.
Air Conditioner: Smart "green" appliance. No electricity required. Can be installed in a Level 3 Safe House.
The bandage sounded a bit useless—"to a certain extent" was too vague. She skipped it. The second item’s description, however, made her eyes light up. That was exactly what she needed! As for the last item, the air conditioner... not only was it obscenely expensive, but she couldn't even use it yet. It actually had a safe house level requirement!
Still, looking at the description, it seemed worth the price. An appliance that worked without power and provided both heating and cooling would be a lifesaver if the weather turned extremely cold or hot. But for now, as a "broke" person, she didn't need to consider it.
Her current balance was only one gold coin. Fortunately, she had a safe house and had triggered a random mission. She just hoped the game wasn't too stingy and would give her a decent amount of coins.
Cui Ye looked around, unsure if she could place the safe house inside her room. Compared to putting it somewhere unfamiliar, her rental—where she’d lived for six months and already had supplies stored—was the obvious choice.
People with safe houses were in the minority; she needed to keep her wealth hidden. Luckily, this "Walk-in Closet" didn't sound very big. Her room was twenty square meters excluding the bathroom, so it should fit.
The moment she confirmed the placement, a prompt appeared: [Concealment point detected. Set up Safe House?] She instinctively hit "Yes," and a door handle suddenly appeared on her wardrobe. It can do that?!
Cui Ye grabbed the wooden handle. A second later, she was transported from her rental into a strange space. She looked around and found it looked just like the walk-in closets she’d seen on TV. It was about five square meters with a three-meter-high ceiling. Both sides were lined with built-in wardrobes. Various dividers split the wardrobes into squares, but only one section had five pieces of clothing hanging in it. The rest were empty.
Between the wardrobes sat a long, padded bench for changing. The entire structure, including the floor, was made of wood. Cui Ye’s first thought was to worry about water damage. Because of the constant rain, the wallpaper in many rooms had gone soft and moldy, and clothes had to be dried in a machine or they’d grow spots.
However, she didn't have to worry about humidity here for now. As soon as she entered the safe house, she noticed the air was incredibly dry. Or rather, the air outside was simply too damp. Even with the AC on heat, the dehumidifier on max, and moisture absorbers in every corner, it barely made a dent.
Since the humidity accelerated rot, she wondered: if she put prepared food inside the safe house, would it stay fresh longer?
Cui Ye left the safe house immediately, took a half-opened bag of beef jerky, and put it inside, leaving the other half outside. She’d have an answer in a few hours.
Additionally, the random mission she’d just finished netted her two gold coins. Her total assets now stood at three. After thinking for a moment, she skipped the bandage and bought the Food Voucher. She needed to test her theory.
Currently, she could only rely on daily missions for one gold coin a day. Upgrading to a Level 2 Safe House would take at least ten days. By now, she had already realized just how important the safe house was.
[Walk-in Closet: Level 1 Safe House] [Defense: 100] [Durability: 0] [Indoor Environment: Normal] [Trait: Obtain five random pieces of clothing daily]
Upgrading to Level 2 would increase the defense value and expand the area. It only cost ten gold coins—half the price of an AC. Unfortunately, she only had two coins left in her pocket. At this rate, she’d need to complete her daily missions for eight consecutive days without fail to upgrade.
She hadn't paid a down payment, but it felt like she was paying off a mortgage. All the money she’d earned from her past jobs was about to become worthless paper; it was a profound tragedy for a "working-class ox." However, after checking the few items in the closet, her mood brightened. She’d assumed the closet’s trait was just to give her regular clothes.
She pulled out the only item with an attribute—[Leopard Print Thermal Leggings: Wearing these increases the player’s movement speed.]
Cui Ye peeled off her damp pajamas and immediately swapped them for the thermal leggings. She did a few test hops and felt her body was significantly lighter than usual. Nice leopard print!
Chapter Notes:
Cui Ye glanced at the station where the person had gotten off. It was the stop right before hers, less than two kilometers from her apartment complex. Did they live nearby, or were they just passing through? Was that person carrying the new virus, too—just waiting for it to break out?
Thinking about how she had seen two danger prompts in a single day, she remembered the first time her talent had triggered. It was late one night; she’d worked until nine and skipped dinner. On her way from the office to the subway, a red prompt had practically slapped her in the face. It startled her so much she froze in her tracks, narrowly missing a motorcycle that screeched past right in front of her. If that prompt hadn’t appeared, she’d have been dead for days already. She wouldn't even be around to worry about the end of the world.
That grim realization completely killed her interest in scrolling through posts. As the announcement for the next station rang out, Cui Ye immediately grabbed her shopping bags and left the train.
From the subway all the way back to her rental, she didn't see any more depressing red prompts. Instead, a [Gift] prompt popped up once in a green belt near her complex. A green balloon was hovering among the low bushes, having only just been discovered.
Cui Ye drew several wary stares just by walking past. They were worried she’d snatch their balloon, but she was more worried they’d snatch the canned goods in her hands. Left with no choice, she took a detour and entered through the complex’s east gate.
Because her morning had been so eventful, it was already noon by the time she got back. Starving to the point of seeing spots, Cui Ye just wanted to fill her stomach with food immediately.
Before she could even take off her raincoat, there was a knock on her bedroom door. She opened it to find her roommate, Liu Yue, pointing at a photo of a sea of balloons on her phone, asking if the "Lucky Balloons" everyone was talking about online were real.
Cui Ye was too hungry to be patient, but she nodded anyway. She glanced at Liu Yue’s messy hair and pajamas. "They're real. You should’ve heard that voice, too."
Liu Yue’s frown deepened, her voice turning frantic. "I was playing a game! I thought it was just audio from the game, so I didn't catch a word of it! I just checked my phone and saw everyone talking about Lucky Balloons. People online say they got something like a gold coin. Can I see yours?"
That last sentence was the real point, but unfortunately for her, even if Cui Ye had only gotten a gold coin, she might not have shown it. What she actually had was a safe house key that had turned into a tattoo, and that "Rabbit Coin" from her talent reward didn't seem common either.
She had already skimmed the web on the subway. Over ninety percent of people had only received a single gold coin; those who got safe houses were a tiny minority. So far, she hadn't seen anyone showing off "Talents" or special abilities online. She didn't think she was the only exception; clearly, no one wanted to reveal their hand too early.
So, all Cui Ye gave her was a look of disappointment. "I’d just stepped out of the mall and my hands were full. There weren't many balloons left out there, and I couldn't outrun those guys. Luckily I didn't get hurt—call it a blessing in disguise."
Liu Yue peered into the room, spotting an oversized shopping bag stuffed with something. She couldn't tell what it was, but she figured it wasn't anything valuable. She gave up on the balloons that easily?
If Liu Yue had been out there, she would’ve risked everything to grab a balloon. She might have even landed a rare safe house key instead of just a coin. She played plenty of games and considered herself pretty lucky with "gacha" pulls; she knew exactly what a safe house meant in an apocalypse! Dammit!
After realizing what she’d missed, Liu Yue spent half an hour in her room sulking. Hearing Cui Ye’s answer made her feel a mix of disdain and relief. It seemed plenty of people had missed out on the balloons; even if she’d run outside, she might not have caught one. It was better to stay inside like a sensible person rather than waste her effort.
Cui Ye noticed Liu Yue’s eyes drifting toward the shopping bag behind her again. Before the other girl could speak, Cui Ye said, "My clothes are damp, so I need to change and shower. Let’s chat after I’m done, okay?"
Liu Yue wanted to say more, but before she could open her mouth, Cui Ye waved her off and shut the door. Liu Yue felt a surge of irritation. She had wanted to ask what Cui Ye bought and if she could "borrow" some instant noodles or canned food—ideally a self-heating hot pot.
Just as she was debating whether to knock again, she heard the front door open behind her. It was their other roommate, Wang Zhiqiu. Liu Yue turned around and saw that Wang was uncharacteristically disheveled. Her usually perfect bun was falling apart, and one of her high heels was broken. She limped into the apartment. Seeing her like that, Liu Yue immediately realized what was happening and rushed over.
Inside her room, Cui Ye heard the commotion in the living room and silently thanked Sister Wang for drawing the fire. She had no intention of sharing the cans she’d lugged all that way with Liu Yue. Once things were "borrowed" by her, they were as good as gone. In the past, she’d tolerated it since they lived under the same roof, but times had changed.
She cleaned herself up quickly. The instant noodles and dried veggies in her electric pot were about done. She opened a can of luncheon meat and a bag of pickled mustard greens, tossed them all in, and let it simmer for two more minutes.
Since she didn't have a bowl big enough for two packs of noodles, she used a stainless steel basin. It wasn't until she’d finished every drop of broth that she felt about eighty percent full, but her stomach couldn't hold any more.
If the frequency of her talent triggers kept increasing at this rate, she’d have to eat until she burst just to feel half-full. Was this side effect unique to her, or did it happen to everyone with a talent?
Before Cui Ye could worry too much, a string of prompts jumped out:
[Daily Mission: Obtain three survival supplies outdoors (Completed)]
[Mission Reward: 1 Gold Coin]
[Random Mission Triggered: Place your Safe House (Pending)]
Note: Once the Safe House is placed, its location cannot be changed for twenty-four hours.
[First Mission completed. Daily Shop unlocked. Random items refreshed; please purchase as needed.]
[Today’s Items: Hemostatic Bandage (1 Gold Coin), Food Voucher (1 Gold Coin), Air Conditioner (20 Gold Coins)]
Cui Ye clicked through the items to see the descriptions:
Hemostatic Bandage: Single-use consumable. Can slow bleeding to a certain extent.
Food Voucher: Randomly provides one meal. Guaranteed to satisfy hunger.
Air Conditioner: Smart "green" appliance. No electricity required. Can be installed in a Level 3 Safe House.
The bandage sounded a bit useless—"to a certain extent" was too vague. She skipped it. The second item’s description, however, made her eyes light up. That was exactly what she needed! As for the last item, the air conditioner... not only was it obscenely expensive, but she couldn't even use it yet. It actually had a safe house level requirement!
Still, looking at the description, it seemed worth the price. An appliance that worked without power and provided both heating and cooling would be a lifesaver if the weather turned extremely cold or hot. But for now, as a "broke" person, she didn't need to consider it.
Her current balance was only one gold coin. Fortunately, she had a safe house and had triggered a random mission. She just hoped the game wasn't too stingy and would give her a decent amount of coins.
Cui Ye looked around, unsure if she could place the safe house inside her room. Compared to putting it somewhere unfamiliar, her rental—where she’d lived for six months and already had supplies stored—was the obvious choice.
People with safe houses were in the minority; she needed to keep her wealth hidden. Luckily, this "Walk-in Closet" didn't sound very big. Her room was twenty square meters excluding the bathroom, so it should fit.
The moment she confirmed the placement, a prompt appeared: [Concealment point detected. Set up Safe House?] She instinctively hit "Yes," and a door handle suddenly appeared on her wardrobe. It can do that?!
Cui Ye grabbed the wooden handle. A second later, she was transported from her rental into a strange space. She looked around and found it looked just like the walk-in closets she’d seen on TV. It was about five square meters with a three-meter-high ceiling. Both sides were lined with built-in wardrobes. Various dividers split the wardrobes into squares, but only one section had five pieces of clothing hanging in it. The rest were empty.
Between the wardrobes sat a long, padded bench for changing. The entire structure, including the floor, was made of wood. Cui Ye’s first thought was to worry about water damage. Because of the constant rain, the wallpaper in many rooms had gone soft and moldy, and clothes had to be dried in a machine or they’d grow spots.
However, she didn't have to worry about humidity here for now. As soon as she entered the safe house, she noticed the air was incredibly dry. Or rather, the air outside was simply too damp. Even with the AC on heat, the dehumidifier on max, and moisture absorbers in every corner, it barely made a dent.
Since the humidity accelerated rot, she wondered: if she put prepared food inside the safe house, would it stay fresh longer?
Cui Ye left the safe house immediately, took a half-opened bag of beef jerky, and put it inside, leaving the other half outside. She’d have an answer in a few hours.
Additionally, the random mission she’d just finished netted her two gold coins. Her total assets now stood at three. After thinking for a moment, she skipped the bandage and bought the Food Voucher. She needed to test her theory.
Currently, she could only rely on daily missions for one gold coin a day. Upgrading to a Level 2 Safe House would take at least ten days. By now, she had already realized just how important the safe house was.
[Walk-in Closet: Level 1 Safe House] [Defense: 100] [Durability: 0] [Indoor Environment: Normal] [Trait: Obtain five random pieces of clothing daily]
Upgrading to Level 2 would increase the defense value and expand the area. It only cost ten gold coins—half the price of an AC. Unfortunately, she only had two coins left in her pocket. At this rate, she’d need to complete her daily missions for eight consecutive days without fail to upgrade.
She hadn't paid a down payment, but it felt like she was paying off a mortgage. All the money she’d earned from her past jobs was about to become worthless paper; it was a profound tragedy for a "working-class ox." However, after checking the few items in the closet, her mood brightened. She’d assumed the closet’s trait was just to give her regular clothes.
She pulled out the only item with an attribute—[Leopard Print Thermal Leggings: Wearing these increases the player’s movement speed.]
Cui Ye peeled off her damp pajamas and immediately swapped them for the thermal leggings. She did a few test hops and felt her body was significantly lighter than usual. Nice leopard print!
Chapter Notes:
- "Working-class ox" / "Beast of burden." (牛马 ): Popular Chinese internet slang for people who work hard for little pay, often used self-deprecatingly.
- 抬头不见低头见 (Tái tóu bù jiàn dī tóu jiàn): An idiom meaning "to see each other all the time" (literally "don't see them when looking up, see them when looking down").
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