18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 142

Stella, with a nonchalant tone, called out through the walkie-talkie, "Hold on, guys, I've got something for you."

She headed over to apartment 1803 with a bundle of clothes in her hands. "Made these myself, come on, try them on."

Cody and Lukas were taken aback. The heat was unbearable, they were barely managing in their boxers, and she wanted them to try on full suits?

But they had to respect Stella's efforts. The surprise gesture almost brought tears to their eyes. Stella might seem harsh and sarcastic, but deep down, she cared a lot about them. They hadn't expected her to go the extra mile and make clothes for them. After all, no one made clothes themselves these days.

Despite the risk of heatstroke, the two men tried on the suits. This felt hot... wait, it felt a bit cool. Then, it got cooler and cooler.

Lukas' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he exclaimed, "Honey, you've got to try this!"

Cody echoed his surprise, "Stella, what kind of sorcery is this?"

After trying on the suits, they were all at a loss for words. It felt as though the temperature had dropped by a dozen degrees. It was like standing in an air-conditioned room, with the cooling setting on. They couldn't help but shiver.

Stella smirked mysteriously, "Do you want to know what I traded to get this fabric?"

"What?" They all asked in confusion.

Stella made a gesture with her hands, "Two of these."

They couldn't believe it. She traded guns for this? Those were life-savers.

After a dramatic pause, Stella began her tale, "It was seventy below zero, and I was nearly frozen solid. My mind was so sluggish I fell for a trick. They said the fabric was thermo-regulated, maintaining a comfortable 25 degrees year-round. I traded in a haze, made a suit when I got home, but still nearly froze to death. I regretted it so much back then. I tried to return it, but the traders disappeared. I found it when I was sorting out my winter clothes the other day. I tried it on and, to my surprise, it really was thermo-regulated."

She told her story so convincingly, and she almost believed it herself. Finding excuses to give things away was really not easy.

"It maintains a temperature of around 25 degrees. You guys can test it

a lifesaver. The only downside was the cost. She

then Lukas took out his gun, "Stella, this

so we tossed them at home before heading to Unity Village. We forgot about them afterwards. The extra two guns

grinned, "Don't worry. We'll cherish them. We won't wear them unless absolutely

were not only cooling miracles, but they improved their moods

think meeting Stella is the result of

did agree that the trio shared

most insecure one among us. When she's nice to

is so shrewd and tough, how could

came to love,

was smitten the moment I saw

love at

Lukas wasn't love-struck when he first saw her. He was just taken aback by

reason she fell

to say. Stella's feelings for Hector weren't love. He possessed something she lacked, something

the more we desired it. Many times,

good guy. I hope he is serious

dinner that evening, Rosie was constantly scratching her

asked, "What's

"It's itchy."

Rosie's sleeve to see a large, red, swollen bump, obviously a mosquito

breeding ground for bacteria, and the mosquitoes were mutating. Those living on lower floors were at a greater risk of

the government to fumigate the area, the heaps of trash

still necessary. Such as cleaning up the dead bodies