18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 617

Stella came home to find Snowflake still fuming from earlier, not even acknowledging Cooper when he walked in. Cooper tried to get close, but got nipped for his efforts. The two pets were baring their teeth at each other, looking ready to brawl at any moment.

The matriarch of the house, ever the high-society lady, stayed neutral and didn’t meddle in the pets' quarrels. Everyone thought this cold war would last for days, but by lunchtime, Cooper had already sweet-talked his mate, and they were back to cuddling and cooing in no time. The emotional rollercoaster of animals was beyond comprehension.

After a nap, Stella was in the kitchen, whipping up a spicy dip for the hotpot when Cody and the Lukas quartet showed up. Snowflake didn't recognize the four and was extra ferocious, snarling and baring its teeth, but Cooper quickly pinned it down. Stella invited them in, but nobody was sitting idle waiting for dinner; they all pitched in.

There was chicken plucking, duck prepping, ginger, garlic, and onion peeling, and leafy green washing. They chatted while they worked, reminiscing about the old days, almost feeling like they were back in the 18th-floor apartment, the suburban villa district, or even gathering for meals at the southern military base.

Angela felt a bit dazed. In the wastelands where even coarse grains were hard to come by, here they were preparing poultry. Stella gave her shoulder a gentle tap, “What’s on your mind? You’re miles away.”

Angela chuckled, “Never thought I’d live to see the day when I’d be wringing chickens’ necks and plucking feathers again.”

“Not only that, but soon you’ll be eating well every day.”

Despite their resilience, the four had been worn down by too many years of hardship in a post-apocalyptic world. Stella encouraged them, “You might not have noticed in the wastelands, but the climate here has been stabilizing.”

She talked about Griffith’s changes over the past couple of years with an easy tone, “We all think that the calamity might be over and that things are slowly healing.”

But they had been too busy surviving and fighting guerrilla warfare with China to notice. Now that they reflected on it, it did seem to be the case. They seemed hopeful, “Could it really be over?”

“Everything is getting better,” Stella reassured them, “Let’s consider those past years a long nightmare, but we’re awake now.”

Lukas, ever the lighthearted one, chimed in, “Exactly, Stella’s got it right. We’re still here in Griffith, Cooper found his soulmate in Kitty, Stella has Jasper’s true love, and my Lily still adores me.”

Everything was still so wonderful. The catastrophe had been brutal, but each of them had found their silver lining. Cody was still smitten with his sister, but had finally escaped the “old maid” curse. Stella had also opened her eyes, no longer falling for scoundrels, and was now deeply in love with Jasper. The three looked at each other and couldn’t help but burst into laughter, thinking about how ridiculous they had been in the past, as if under a spell.

Kitty, who had joined them later on, didn’t know much about these things and asked Angela in a low voice, “Why are the three of them laughing like that?”

It seemed a bit strange, like they were hiding something from her. Angela dared not mention Cody’s past “romantic history” and deflected, “What could it be? Probably just recalling some silly things from the orphanage that seem funny now.”

Each of them had their own glorious past. Fortunately, Lukas had been upfront about his love, ensuring she knew she was his one and only. After all these years, he had kept his word. But time is a butcher’s knife that cuts deep. Now, she hardly dared look in the mirror, whereas Stella and Jasper were living their best lives. With everyone helping out, the work was done in no time.

Stella turned on the range hood and began to sauté the hotpot spices. Spicy, bright, and pungent. Cody and Lukas stood in front of the range hood, inhaling deeply, choking and coughing, but their expressions were blissful. Yes, this was the aroma they hadn’t smelled in years. Stunning! Authentic!

As they ate, they chatted away, Jasper not forgetting to mention his day spent unloading boxes, “The Kindle Chest you brought on the submarine has been opened; it’s equipment for producing fertilizer.”

Industrial fertilizer production? Cody and Lukas didn’t know how to react. They had lost nine comrades for this, but it would bring hope to many for survival. Rosie was elated, “If the base can produce fertilizer, crop yields will keep increasing, and many people won’t go hungry.”

Lukas wiped his face, unable to tell if it was sweat or tears, “Here’s to us, hoping for a future where we can all live well and warm.”

The hotpot party ran late into the night, and when Stella saw her friends off, she even packed them a jar of the savory hotpot base to take home. Back inside her house, she popped open a can of pineapple cider and couldn’t help but let a smile spread across her lips. Midway through her drink, Jasper snatched it from her hands and took a couple of sips. “Having fun?” he asked.

Stella leaned against his shoulder. “Yeah.”

She was genuinely happy. Jasper could feel how relaxed she was. The visit from Cody, Lukas, and the others left her content with the present and hopeful for the future. Unable to resist, Stella turned Jasper’s face towards her and planted a big kiss on his cheek. She was clearly elated, but Jasper wanted to remind her that Rosie was right there. What could Rosie do, though? She tactfully turned her head away, pretending not to notice, and then excused herself to take a shower in the backyard.

No sooner had her sister left than Jasper scooped Stella up in his arms and carried her to their room, making sure to lock the door behind them. Once inside, Stella tickled him playfully, “Dropping the act, are we?”

Jasper tossed her onto the bed and started unbuckling his belt. “Yep, no more acting.”