18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 253

What a coincidence. Not only did they choose the same building, but Mark also ended up in Room 303. That made her breathe a sigh of relief. At least she didn't have to deal with a troublesome neighbor.

She chuckled, "Mark indeed has a good eye. My relatives just happened to buy room 301 and 302."

"It's all thanks to your reminder that we were able to act quickly. Otherwise, we might not have even been able to secure the apartment."

It was a mutual benefit. If it wasn't for Mark's reminder, even with her high credit score, Stella could not have had the chance to select a villa.

On the way, Christian was discussing the installation of solar panels and rooftop gardening.

With over a hundred people, it wasn't easy to arrange for food and drinks, waste management, and other necessities.

Upon arriving at the housing complex, Stella said, "Mark, thank you for taking care of us over the past year. We'll be moving to Newtown in a few days."

Mark was taken aback, "So soon?"

Each day felt incredibly long, but looking back, it seemed as if it had passed in the blink of an eye. They had been at Eastwood Eden for a year now, and during that time, the place had experienced several crises. Without their help, Eastwood Eden might have fallen. "When are you leaving?" Mark asked. "You've done so much for Eastwood Eden, we'd like to give you a proper send-off."

Stella politely declined, "We're all part of the community, so there's no need for thanks. Besides, living here feels like home."

If it wasn't for the pressing circumstances, they really wouldn't want to move.

Mark insisted to express their thanks. If it wasn't for their help, Eastwood Eden wouldn't have even had the chance to live in Newtown.

Stella and Jasper weren't moving just yet; they needed to gather some more resources first.

Jasper reminded, "Newtown has factories, and it's not far from the agricultural institute's plantation. There are plenty of job opportunities. You might want to keep an eye out for job postings."

There was still plenty of time before they had to go. After a nap, the three of them went out to gather soil.

Before the area was developed, it was fertile farmland, and the soil was still quite rich. They dug and loaded the soil into the truck, storing it in Arcadia.

After a good night's sleep, they began disassembling their home, not even leaving the doors and windows behind. They left without giving Mark a chance to throw a farewell party. Jasper drove the truck, while Stella took the SUV.

Luna was heartbroken, chasing after the car. Cooper was cold-hearted, putting on an aloof act - don't fall for me!

Eastwood Eden stood alone. This Eden in the apocalypse was about to be abandoned soon, and who could predict the future?

Two cars, one behind the other, drove into the new villas in Newtown.

Stella was quick, but there were others who were quicker. Several high-end villas had already begun renovations, with workers arriving in succession.

Jasper was worried about tiring Stella out, "Should we hire help?"

"We can take it slow."

They didn't have much else to do, might as well exercise while working.

They weren't in a rush to renovate; they first built up the outer walls, marking their territory.

Stella brought out the bed and furniture. The toilet wasn't fixed yet, so they had to use a portable one instead.

Engaged in physical labor, they needed a solid meal. So, they served up a wholesome feast and ate heartily. Satisfied, they began digging the foundation, starting with the triangular plot of land. Life was meant to be lived, Stella wasn't in a hurry, taking breaks now and then. Jasper, on the other hand, was very efficient at physical labor. Not only did he dig wide, but he also dug deep. When the stone wall was built, even a big truck could crash into it without causing it to collapse.

Stella couldn't help but tease him, "You're not just building a wall. You're building a fortress."

Jasper smiled, "Then let's build a fortress. Even if the sky falls, it won't hit us."

After a few days of wall digging, more and more people came to the villa area for renovations. Thankfully, they were far away, or they would have been annoyed by the noise. After the foundation was dug, Stella went out for a bit and brought back a truck full of stones. They studied construction videos for a while, slowly figuring out how to build a wall.

Jasper was a perfectionist. The wall he first built didn't feel smooth enough, so he tore it down a few times, then it started to look decent.

The wall was reaching half a person's height when a big truck suddenly pulled up in front of their house. More than a dozen men jumped out, all carrying tools. Sensing their arrival, Stella instinctively wanted to draw her knife.

"Yo, I gotta say, your renovation style is quite unique."

The voice was cocky, a cigarette hanging from his mouth, walking with an air of arrogance.

Stella looked up, huh!!!

When she saw who it was, the man dropped his cigarette in surprise, "It's you!"

Realizing he had misspoke, Austin quickly changed his tone, becoming more serious and warm, "What a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?"

His demeanor altered as swiftly as a chameleon changes its color, completely contrasting his prior demeanor. Indeed, every hustler wears two masks. Stella was equally surprised, "Austin, what brings you and your crew here?"

They were all shady looking, not good people at all.

Austin laughed heartily, "Do you know who bought the house next door?"

With such a leading question, Stella couldn't fail to guess, "Did you manage to snag it, Austin?"

"It's fate," Austin lit another cigarette, "I came before and fell in love with this unit at first sight. It's tucked away in a quiet corner. I didn't expect it to be snatched away when it was time to choose. I was curious who had such a good eye. I came today specifically to meet them. Didn't expect it to be you."

"Sorry for stealing your first choice."

"No worries, we're neighbors now."

It was better to be neighbors with Stella and Jasper than with those arrogant, snobbish rich people.

Having dealt with the wealthy for many years, Austin knew how deeply ingrained their class consciousness was. Even if he had a lot of resources, in their eyes, he was nothing more than a nouveau riche. If it wasn't for the relative safety of the villa area and the desire to provide a good environment for his son, he wouldn't even bother living here.

Now, he had found like-minded people.

Seeing the thick wall, Austin couldn't help but be curious, "Are you building a fortress?"

They were old friends, Stella had nothing to hide, "Didn't you hear the official announcement? Worse weather might be coming. The midnight sun is here. Can eternal night be far off? What if there is a hurricane or acid rain, leaving bodies frozen on the streets. I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat, I'd prefer to make my house safer."

Not just safe, but also private. Some rich people were more dangerous than villains.

Originally, it was Austin who had called his buddies over for some remodeling. Seeing the duo working at a snail's pace had him waving his hand in exasperation. "What are you all standing around for? From today on, everyone's helping Jasper out until this job's done." His mates were taken aback for a second, but swiftly responded, rolling up their sleeves and pitching in without a word.

Stella hurried to stop them, "There's no need to trouble yourselves. We can handle it."

"You'll be at it until the cows come home," Austin said, brimming with enthusiasm. "Don't mind their rough looks, these guys are whizzes when it comes to getting the job done. There's nothing they can't handle." "We really don't need..."

But there were those who insisted on helping, stirring up sand, stacking stones, and piling up ash.

Sure, they didn't look like the most upstanding folks, but boy could they hustle.

Stella was speechless. Unbelievably, Austin was still hollering, "Let's see some hustle. Anybody caught slacking off will have me to answer to."

With that, he took a fierce drag on his cigarette.