Wang Qiqi knew Han Tao and the others must be holed up at home busy with the mission, so she slowly moved her purchases inside. Han Tao went to the kitchen for a coffee and saw Qiqi's disheveled state. "Busy day, huh?" Today, Qiqi looked as rough as one could possibly look.

Even now, Qiqi felt a lingering wave of fear. "You have no idea how chaotic it was. I estimate a quarter of this small city showed up. Forget about green vegetables or cabbage—you couldn't even dream of it. Thank heavens I snagged a few cabbages when they were on special a few days ago." Otherwise, they’d have no greens at all.

"Hard work, hard work," Han Tao murmured. He knew that compared to him and Fatty shoveling snow inside, Qiqi’s trip outside hadn't been easy either. "Right, Qiqi, did you buy instant coffee?" Han Tao had planned on using the coffee machine they had inside, completely forgetting that it wouldn't work if the power went out. It was only when he went to pour a cup for Qiqi that the issue struck him.

Qiqi was also taken aback; she truly hadn't considered that. "Think about anything else you might need. I doubt many people scrambled for this item, so we can grab some near the entrance. Also, I need to get some gasoline later." Gasoline was gold; they needed to stock up. Qiqi was mostly worried that if the snow got too heavy, no fuel could be transported, rendering their little car useless.

Han Tao hummed in response, smoothly taking the bags from Qiqi’s hands and starting to tuck things away. Qiqi, meanwhile, went to an outlet to charge the batteries. Her only hope now was that the snow would hold off a bit longer, so the batteries could fully charge before any potential power outage.

Fatty waited in the living room for Han Tao for a long time and was beginning to lose patience. "Hey Han Tao, what's taking you so long? Don't you know how tight our timeline is?"

As soon as Fatty walked in, he spotted Wang Qiqi. "Whoa, Qiqi! Where did you disappear to buying groceries? I thought you’d gone missing." How could just buying supplies take her from before 1 PM until nearly 5 PM?

Qiqi shot him an irritated look. "You really should have seen the supermarket—it was packed. And to get these batteries, I drove to over twenty different stores before I snagged these three." Seeing Fatty standing around looking like he had nothing to do but complain, she added, "Take these two batteries into the living room to charge." Since he had the energy to complain, he might as well do some work.

Fatty knew these items were more critical than food. He picked up a battery in each hand and carried them to the living room to charge. After Qiqi helped Han Tao put everything away, she said, "Go handle your business, I’m going to start baking some cakes."

"I'll run to the supermarket for coffee and maybe some powdered milk," Han Tao started to say he’d drive, but then realized that driving now would only burden Fatty, and he probably wouldn't be faster than running there himself. "I'll just go to the supermarket near the complex; I’ll be quick."

Qiqi couldn't worry about that now. She waved Han Tao to keep an eye on the situation and immediately started mixing ingredients for the pastries. Fearing the gas might also go out later, Qiqi planned to braise a large pot of beef in brown sauce, another of pork, and a third of curried chicken. She’d need a lot of rice, too. Along the way, the more Qiqi thought about it, the more she felt like crying; it truly felt like she was running a restaurant kitchen.

Fatty returned to the kitchen to find Qiqi washing pots. "Anything I can help with?" Fatty saw the sheer volume of ingredients waiting in the sink and wondered if Qiqi intended to cook all of it. That seemed like an excessive amount.

"I can handle it alone; dinner will just be a bit late," Qiqi replied. Even if she wanted Fatty’s help, she didn't dare ask, worried that someone might later complain she was wasting time and delaying the project's progress. Besides, this was just the immediate rush; once the cakes were in the oven, she could start cleaning the meat and get the pots simmering slowly.

"It's fine, we’ve been glued to the computers for two hours; we need a break anyway," Fatty said. Though he loved to bicker with Qiqi and the others, he wasn't blind to the situation. "Do all this meat need washing?"

Qiqi nodded. Since someone was helping, she could get back to the cakes. "I plan to make some steamed buns later. That way, we can split the buns and sandwich some meat inside—like Rou Jia Mo—or we can boil some noodles." Regardless, the staple foods would be wheat-based. As for rice, Qiqi only knew how to cook it in an electric cooker or a microwave, neither of which would work without power, leaving her staring helplessly at the grains.

"Dinner’s ready!" Qiqi announced, bracing her back as she called out to the others still hard at work in the living room.

"Finally, time to eat! It’s been a long haul," Fatty quickly rushed into the kitchen to help carry dishes and set the table. "Qiqi, the meat you stewed smells incredible; I’m starving." His already hungry stomach couldn't handle the delicious aroma. He’d sneak a piece or two of meat every time he came into the kitchen to pour himself a coffee.

Han Tao saw Wang Qiqi supporting her lower back and asked with concern, "Are you okay?" Qiqi had been truly pushed today—cleaning first thing in the morning, then rushing to the supermarket for supplies, and now cooking nonstop since getting home. Even an iron man would be exhausted.

Qiqi managed a faint, wry smile. "I’m managing. You handle the dishes tonight; I need to lie down and stretch my back for a bit." Qiqi felt her back protesting loudly, like it couldn't straighten up anymore. Sigh, how old am I? Why am I competing with a middle-aged woman? Moreover, Qiqi felt slightly unwell and didn't want to overexert herself. At this critical juncture, she needed to keep her body in shape; having a breakdown when the blizzard hits would be a disaster.

When Qiqi looked up, her appearance startled Han Tao. "Are you alright?" Qiqi’s face was pale, which terrified Han Tao. Could Qiqi be sick? "Should we go to the hospital?" he urged. They could go now before the heavy snow started. If she wasn't well, she could stay in the hospital. Han Tao wasn't worried about Fatty; they had stocked enough food and drink to last him half a month alone.

Qiqi waved him off. "I'm just a bit tired. I haven't been this exhausted in ages. I just need a short rest."

After Han Tao confirmed her state with multiple reassurances met with several eye-rolls and a few light shoves from Qiqi, he finally abandoned the idea of taking her to the hospital. "Then sleep in the living room later. I’m worried the snow will get heavy tonight and cut the power. I’ll bring the blankets and bedding down." Since Han Tao and Fatty planned to work all night, he worried about Qiqi sleeping alone in the attic. If she woke up to darkness, she’d be scared, and without electricity, her electric blanket wouldn't work, leaving her vulnerable to catching a cold.

Qiqi wasn't surprised about sleeping in the living room; she would have suggested it herself. After all, the living room had the fireplace, allowing them to confer immediately if any issue arose. However, it was already past 8 PM. Although snow had started falling, Qiqi looked out the kitchen window and noted the snowfall wasn't heavy. "Is this weather going to turn into a blizzard?" In Qiqi's estimation, since a blizzard warning had been issued, the likelihood was high. Why hadn't it started snowing harder by this hour?

"It will probably pick up later," Han Tao replied, hoping the snow would wait until the batteries were fully charged. "Oh, the flashlight batteries are charged, and I’ve unplugged everything in the attic, too."

Fatty was focused on eating, thrilled to finally have hot food after working so hard. "Hey, I noticed Qiqi bought steak. How about we grill some tomorrow?"

Qiqi agreed, "As long as the gas supply holds." If water, electricity, and gas were all stable, she could cook anything. "We have plenty of ingredients, and they fit Fatty’s demands perfectly—all meat!" Fatty had been constantly asking for meat; now he could finally have his fill.

"Alas, it was earned at the cost of my slow progress," Fatty lamented. "Who knows if such good meals will be waiting for me in the coming days." Everything was uncertain.

Qiqi slept for a while tucked into her covers. Feeling slightly recovered, she crawled out and decided to take a shower. As she passed the window, she habitually glanced outside. "Oh, the snow has gotten heavy!" The earlier snow hadn't been insignificant, but this was relentless, swirling thickly. And she could feel the wind picking up intensely.

"It’s been this heavy for half an hour," Han Tao typed steadily at his computer without looking up. "Qiqi, make some coffee when you get a chance." They should drink the freshly brewed stuff while they still could.

Qiqi responded with an "Okay," adding, "And boot up my computer while you’re at it." Qiqi needed to finish the work she hadn't completed yesterday and leave a message for Shi Man, asking her to check her email over the next few days in case of urgent matters that needed immediate attention.

Worried about a power outage at any moment, Qiqi didn't indulge in a long bath. She rushed through her shower, climbed out, brewed the coffee, added a few more logs to the fireplace, and then settled in front of her computer to seriously translate her draft. She then began organizing the emails Song Yao had sent previously. However, Qiqi hesitated about completing this task. If the blizzard cleared up by Christmas, she could still fly to London to source supplies around the New Year. Otherwise, with this awful weather, not only would driving be impossible, but flights would be grounded, and trains might even strike.

After consuming countless cups of coffee, though everyone was yawning constantly, they kept inputting data into their computers. "Should we just go to sleep?" Han Tao asked, noticing Qiqi’s eyelids drooping. For a period, she hadn't entered anything, making Han Tao suspect she was fighting sleep.

Qiqi rubbed her eyes and shook her head. "I’ll hold on a little longer. My sister’s side is still tallying the orders." Song Yao usually sent Qiqi a manifest every few days listing the pre-orders she and Yang Jing had received. But now, due to the impending heavy snow, Song Yao was pushing hard, contacting clients and adding a few extra items—after all, some classic designs would surely sell whenever they were acquired.

"Let me tally those for you, and you go rest?" Han Tao suggested, seeing Qiqi lacked the energy even to yawn. Though he was tired too, he felt like he needed to let his brain relax. After working for over ten hours, plus constantly monitoring the electricity supply, he was thoroughly drained.

Qiqi waved dismissively, lacking spirit. "It’s fine, I’m almost done tallying. I just need to print it out."

In no time, Qiqi printed out a sheet. Fatty glanced at it casually as he reached to hand it to her. "Good heavens, you’re planning to clear out those counters?" There were at least a dozen LV bags listed alone. "Are these all sold already?" My God, even if they only took a ten-point commission, that was substantial, not to mention the current sales period. Stocking up heavily now and selling later at pre-discount prices meant a significant profit margin.

"Hardly. I just need to order more," Qiqi replied, feeling a headache looming from the dense list. She had hoped Han Tao would be her errand runner, but now she couldn't rely on him; he was neck-deep in his own work. "After the blizzard, I'll take a plane to London and try to finish everything in one day, then fly back." Planes were fast, and in this weather, Qiqi felt safer flying through the sky.

"With this snow, can planes even take off and land?" Fatty had just cracked the window open to peer outside, estimating the snowpack was at least half a meter deep.

That was certainly not guaranteed. If a severe blizzard hit, even major airports in London would close, let alone smaller ones. Just as Qiqi was about to say they’d figure it out later, her vision suddenly went black. Everything except the glowing computer screen went dark. "Power outage?" Qiqi was unaccustomed to the sudden darkness. Although they were mentally prepared, the power had held steady through most of the snow, leading everyone to relax. Yet, right as they let their guard down, the lights failed.

Qiqi let out a yawn and shut down her computer. Though the battery had some charge left, there were still tasks unfinished, so she needed to conserve power, especially since they didn't know when it would return.

Han Tao and Fatty also shut down their machines, yawned, and crawled into the pre-laid bedding. "So tired, thank goodness the power is out," Fatty sighed contentedly as he settled into the warm covers. "Staring at the computer since the afternoon—I’m exhausted." While he was used to long hours in front of the screen, the pressure hadn't been this high before.

Tucked into bed, Qiqi had no sleepiness. She stared at the window. The heavy snow had started around 9 PM the previous night and hadn't stopped until now. She wondered if the roof could bear the weight. While she wouldn’t be liable if something disastrous happened—the insurance company would cover it—it was still deeply unsettling.

Han Tao heard Qiqi’s sigh and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "What's wrong?" he asked gently. "You’ve been busy all day; let’s get some sleep." With no telling when the power would return, they could sleep until they naturally woke up. Han Tao planned to chat with Fatty about project-related topics. Earlier, any good idea they had was quickly followed by a return to work. Now, they had this rare chance to talk things through properly.

"I wonder if the roof will hold up under this much snow," Fatty murmured sleepily. Though he longed for sleep, he couldn't shake his concern. "I wonder if the entire grid is down or just localized issues." That was what concerned Fatty; if the whole system was down, the problem was huge, but if it was just a section, a simple line repair would suffice.

"Let's hope for the best. Sleep, sleep. If other people's roofs can handle it, ours should too," Han Tao said, primarily trying to reassure himself. "At least we cleared the snow off our roof; some of our neighbors haven't done anything around theirs."

Fatty and Qiqi found that logic sound. Besides, worrying now wouldn't help anything. "Sleep," Fatty agreed.

Qiqi felt the urge to pee and sleepily emerged from the covers. As she passed the window, she saw the outside was a field of white. That wasn't the main point, though; the main point was that the snow was still flying and swirling—just as densely as it had the night before.

After taking care of her bodily needs, Qiqi was relieved to find the water was still running normally. As long as there was water, that was all that mattered.

"Where did you go?" A groggy voice asked from behind as Qiqi slid back under the covers.

"I used the restroom. It’s still snowing heavily outside," Qiqi whispered. "Are you hungry?" She had glanced at the clock and realized it was past 10 AM. Usually, they'd be up by then, but since everyone hadn't gone to sleep until after 4 AM, this was still relatively early for them.

"Power on? Water supply? Gas?" Han Tao’s voice was sharper now that he heard the snow was still falling.

"No power, yes water, and the gas should be fine too," Qiqi wasn't entirely sure. "Should I make some noodles? We have plenty of leftovers from yesterday."

Before Han Tao could agree, Fatty's voice chimed in from beside him. "I want braised beef noodles too! Qiqi, your beef is amazing." Even without power, they had hot food waiting when they woke up; in Fatty's eyes, that was enough.

"I'll have one too then," Han Tao said, following Fatty’s lead. "Make extra, consider it lunch."

"No way! Lunch is lunch," Fatty objected immediately. How could two meals be counted as one? "We have plenty of time today without electricity. People are already depressed enough; denying us a good meal? How am I supposed to live like this?" Fatty whined in a tone usually reserved for an aggrieved housewife. "Oh, Qiqi, maybe we can try barbecuing tonight?" Fatty suggested, looking at the wood-burning fireplace. Barbecuing was similar, wasn't it? Except their grill was just bigger. They could only cook one side at a time, and the fire would be hotter, requiring constant attention.

Barbecue inside the house? Qiqi’s first reaction was concern that the house wouldn't be habitable. "No!" While they were using the fireplace, the concept was different. If she allowed this suggestion now, she worried Fatty would keep proposing BBQs or just grilling some chicken wings and sprinkling them with pepper—no marinating required on her part. "The room will smell intensely. If you are willing to air out the house for an hour afterward, I have no objection." Qiqi cut him off before he could complain.

An hour of airing out versus a good barbecue meal. Fatty calculated quickly in his head. "I have no objection." Hmph, you think I won't agree? Well, I will. In reality, Fatty figured Qiqi would insist on opening windows for ventilation anyway to avoid the smell of lingering smoke, which she always complained about. Since that was the case, he might as well enjoy a good meal. It was just an extra hour of ventilation; a small price to pay; he could totally handle it. Plus, they could retreat to the attic or Qiqi's room to discuss work where there was no wind.

Qiqi was genuinely surprised Fatty agreed so readily. She paused for a moment before rising to prepare the barbecue supplies. As for breakfast? Sorry, the head chef was busy preparing a BBQ feast; anyone who wanted breakfast would have to fend for themselves.

By noon, Fatty was already standing in front of the fireplace, eating his hearthside BBQ. "Mmm, not bad. The heat is intense; things cook fast." Fatty rapidly popped meat skewers into his mouth. "Qiqi, your cooking is great, but it would be even better if the meat had marinated longer."

Qiqi gave him a withering look. She didn't understand why the person who claimed to be starving kept refusing the pastries but then complained about the marinating time after finally being dragged to eat BBQ. Was the process easy? She was tempted to slap him. "If you don't like it, don't eat it."

Fatty chuckled and didn't retort. It wasn't that he didn't want to argue, but he realized that while the fireplace cooked things quickly, his eating speed couldn't keep up with the grilling pace. One moment of inattention, and he'd smell char. This forced Fatty to speed up his eating.

Han Tao wasn't anxious like Fatty. He only ever grilled two skewers at a time, never the four or five that Fatty managed, ensuring that neither he nor Qiqi would end up with anything burnt. "It's been so long since I've eaten this leisurely." In the past, eating was always a race; the goal was to finish quickly so he could get back to work. But with the power out, the only way to go was slow and easy.

Leisurely? Fatty shot Han Tao a mournful look as he watched his friend calmly tending the grill, then glanced down at his own frantic barbecue efforts, which resembled frontline activity. He could only vent his frustration onto the meat, determined to eat enough to make up for the lost time.