Chapter 16: Auntie Lin Retaliated

Phoenix sat on his sofa, a yawn betraying his boredom. While the world shivered in the cold and hunger, he existed in a bubble of comfort, more heavenly than heaven itself. His home was a fortress of perfect insulation, with an endless supply of fuel to maintain a constant, cozy temperature year-round. His only task now was to revel in his own joy every day.

The TV offered nothing; the extreme cold had put an end to live broadcasts. His favorite female anchors couldn't possibly dance in camisoles in the bone-chilling negative 60 to 70 degrees. If they did, Phoenix thought, they'd deserve his highest respect.

He turned to his alien space, where an array of gaming consoles and AAA games awaited. Brand new PS5s, Switches, Xboxes, and thousands of game cartridges filled the space. Selecting the latest PS5, Phoenix hooked it up to his enormous 100-inch Sony TV and dove into the latest action game, "Angel Hunter 3." Titles like "Elden Fellowship Ring," "The Witcher 3," and "Only Wolf: Shadow of the Dead II" were excellent for whiling away the hours. And for longer engagements, he had endless games like "Civilization" and "Cities Skylines."

In a world where work and social commitments were things of the past, this was even better than his pre-apocalyptic life!

Lounging in pajamas, Phoenix played games and snacked until his phone disrupted the peace. It was Auntie Lin from the neighborhood committee, and she had tagged him in a group message.

"Phoenix, the snow has blocked the roads. Bring your tools and help clear it," she commanded.

Peering outside, he saw the first floor nearly buried under three meters of snow. An impossible task for mere humans, especially since the snow would persist for months. Going out now was futile.

Phoenix replied, "In this cold, we'd freeze in minutes. It's pointless to try clearing it until the snow stops."

Others in the chat echoed his sentiment, citing the risk of frostbite without proper gear. But Auntie Lin was having none of it. She singled out Phoenix.

"I demand you, in the committee's name, to clear that snow! It's a crisis, and we must follow orders!"

Phoenix smirked. The neighborhood still clung to order, not daring to defy the committee's trivial power. Everyone secretly hoped Phoenix would stand up to Auntie Lin.

Scanning the chat, he saw Auntie Lin had only targeted the outspoken young residents, leaving the influential untouched.

Phoenix mocked openly, "Surely the committee members should lead by example. And why only us? What about the affluent residents you're too scared to ask?"

The others in the chat silently cheered for Phoenix's defiance.

Auntie Lin was exposed and humiliated. She had always picked on the weak, avoiding those who wouldn't listen. Furious, she sent several voice messages, threatening to involve the police.

The timid began to take up shovels, but Phoenix wasn't intimidated. He knew the authorities wouldn't back such unreasonable demands. And did Auntie Lin still believe society's gears were turning as usual?

The homeowners' group was abuzz, but Phoenix just laughed. The snowstorm was here, and Auntie Lin's little power meant nothing in the face of nature's wrath.