Chapter 22: Spare Tire is Good

Phoenix feigned confusion in the chat, "What's the problem? I haven't done anything wrong!"

Iris was incredulous, "Are you clueless? The snowstorm has trapped us all, and our pantry is nearly empty."

"This is the perfect time to prove your loyalty to Mira by sending over some food. Imagine her delight if you shared your steaks and lobsters. Your chances with her would soar."

Phoenix read Iris's message with a smirk. He could practically see the gluttony in her eyes. To him, their request was akin to begging, though they masked it as an act of benevolence.

Pretending to play along, he replied, "There's barely enough for me to survive."

Iris's retort came swiftly, "You're not thinking straight! If you can't sacrifice a little now, you're clearly not dedicated to Mira."

Phoenix laughed at the predictable tactics of these two. He responded with a dismissive "Oh," and set the phone aside, finished with the charade.

Iris fumed at the terse reply. "Just 'Oh'? Is that all you have to say after all this time?"

"Bring the food over, I want to eat well, too!" she demanded, revealing her own cravings.

Originally, her plan was to manipulate Phoenix using Mira's name to secure a feast for herself. But Phoenix's indifference was a curveball she hadn't anticipated.

Could Phoenix have lost interest in Mira? Iris quickly dismissed the thought. "He must be playing hard to get," she reasoned, her irritation growing.

She confided in Mira, exaggerating her efforts to secure provisions from Phoenix. Mira responded with feigned indifference, "Who is Phoenix? Never mention him to me again!"

Yet, beneath her pride, Mira plotted Phoenix's groveling return, expecting grand gestures and lavish apologies.

Iris suggested they turn to other potential benefactors, like Zhou Peng, another warehouse coworker vying for Mira's attention.

Mira scoffed at the notion. To her, Zhou Peng was barely a blip on her radar, a man without prospects.

But given the dire circumstances, Iris convinced Mira to exploit Zhou Peng's infatuation for their immediate benefit.

A message to Zhou Peng yielded swift results—a backpack full of food delivered to their doorstep. In their brief exchange, Mira feigned gratitude, then quickly reverted to scorn once he left. "As if he stood a chance," she scoffed.

As the building's atmosphere grew tenser with the plummeting temperatures, the residents' unease deepened. Despite the heating, the cold was relentless, gnawing at the comfort of their homes. The lack of preparation was evident as the refrigerators emptied, contradicting Big Mother Lin's optimistic predictions.

Phoenix, however, observed the unfolding drama with detached amusement. His preparations had ensured his comfort, rendering him an observer to the chaos outside.

After Alexander and his group's humiliating defeat, they steered clear of Phoenix, recognizing the futility of breaching his stronghold. Alexander's injury was severe, his fate uncertain without medical attention. His followers, too, were suffering—drenched and chilled to the bone, they were now battling fevers and the bitter cold.

Phoenix, meanwhile, occupied himself with games, workouts, and reading—his haven stocked with books and equipment. He stayed informed, readying himself for any turn of events, his days structured around self-improvement and entertainment.

The snowfall continued unabated, obscuring the boundaries between day and night. As the third day dawned, Phoenix rose, a roasted duck in hand, ready for the drama the new day would bring.

And just then, the chat exploded with activity.