Everyone in the living room listened intently, Shen Mu staring in disbelief. After a brief introduction, 007 began to help people around the world solve their crises.
"You are currently in a safe location. Within the next two weeks, radioactive materials from above City S will settle in your city. Please remain indoors during this period. After two weeks, take protective measures and proceed to the large shelter in City A. Good luck."
The voice stopped, and the phone screen returned to normal.
Shen Mu looked at her phone in a panic, then at the others. "What… what is this?"
The other two were also bewildered.
Shen Zhongyan said, "I don't know. But according to what he said, we don't need to do anything for now. Let's wait and see."
They sat in the living room for nearly half an hour longer before the basement door was knocked on again. Shen Mu quickly got up to open it, finally seeing the person she had been longing for.
"Xiao Qian, you're finally back."
"You have trace amounts of radioactive material on you. Please refrain from close contact with others."
Shen Qian instinctively took a large step back. "Mom, don't touch me!"
The voice in the silent basement was particularly clear. Shen Mu heard every word. She took two steps back, looking at her son helplessly.
"Please remove your clothes, shave all your hair. Pack your clothes and hair in a sealed bag or a metal box, and rinse your body with clean water."
Shen Qian had survived thanks to this sudden "alien creature" and naturally believed it implicitly. Hearing this, he said to Shen Mu, "Mom, can you hand me the scissors?"
Shen Mu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay."
Shen Fu had already gone to get them. They stood at a distance, watching Shen Qian take off his jacket, use the clothes to catch his falling hair, clumsily shave it all off, then wrap his hair in his clothes. He removed his pants and shoes, placing them all in a plastic bag Shen Mu had brought, and tossed it into a corner. He finally entered the room wearing only a pair of shorts.
He hadn't expected anyone else to be in his home besides his parents and younger brother. Seeing Zhuo Jin, he gave an awkward smile and quickly ran into his room.
In fact, Zhuo Jin hadn't even looked at him. She was using 007 to observe the current state of the world.
This crisis had begun to brew months ago. When some people started making moves, others naturally wouldn't stand idly by. By the time 007 took over the world's internet systems, over a hundred nuclear bombs had detonated in this world, so no one suspected what he was saying was false.
This world's total nuclear arsenal exceeded one hundred thousand. If they continued like this, it wouldn't even take ten years; perhaps in ten days, humanity would revert to a primitive society.
Before he took over, some people had been eager to continue, but he had directly locked them out.
What their country was currently suffering were the three bombs from that noon; the rest had been intercepted by the air defense system. This world was much more advanced than some previous worlds, perhaps in the decades before humanity broke through Earth's limitations. Their weaponry and resistance capabilities had greatly improved.
These weapons were originally intended for their "conquest" of the solar system after breaking through Earth, but now they were being used against humanity itself.
A shared karma of humanity.
All disasters would ultimately be borne by humanity collectively.
Yet, conflict was a human nature.
As she was thinking, she was suddenly nudged by the person beside her. She looked up to see Shen Zhongyan looking at her in confusion. "What are you thinking about? I've called you a few times and you didn't respond."
"Nothing," she said, pulling her thoughts back. Shen Qian was still showering in the bathroom, and the others sat looking at each other, the atmosphere momentarily awkward.
"Miss Jin."
Shen Fu suddenly spoke. "The Jin family isn't far from here. Your grandfather sent someone to look for you just now. Wouldn't you like to call him? So he can be at ease."
Zhuo Jin's phone had fallen at some point. She said indifferently, "I lost my phone. Uncle, can you tell him I'm at your house and I'm safe? I'll return after the radiation has settled."
Ten hours had passed since the nuclear explosion. Going out now would surely expose her to radiation. For all logical and emotional reasons, Shen Fu would not turn her away.
He had only mentioned it upon hearing that Elder Jin was looking for her.
Upon hearing this, he found Elder Jin's number and dialed it directly.
The call was answered shortly after. He got straight to the point, and the elder on the other end said, "Since she's alright, I'm relieved. Director Shen, thank you. I'll personally visit to express my gratitude after this incident passes."
"You're too kind..."
They chatted cordially for a while before hanging up. Shen Fu looked at the expressionless Zhuo Jin, recalling how Elder Jin, who had been strong his entire life, had spoken to him with such politeness just now. He felt a bit wistful and wanted to lecture her a few words, but he lacked the standing to do so, so he could only sigh.
Shen Qian soon came out after changing his clothes. The Shen family had been wealthy since the older generation. He grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth and always dressed fashionably. Now, with a shaved head, while his face made him not look unsightly, the Shen family found him strange and unfamiliar.
"Dad, Mom, Xiao Yan."
"Come sit quickly, we saved some food for you. I'll go get it."
Shen Qian sat down on the other side of Shen Zhongyan. Seeing the bandages wrapped around his leg, he asked, "Xiao Yan, are you injured? Is it serious?"
"It's nothing major," Shen Zhongyan replied. "It's been dealt with. But Brother, what trouble did you encounter? You're back so late."
Shen Qian said tiredly, "My car ran out of gas halfway. I wanted to get gas, but the gas station system had a problem, and I couldn't fill up. With only ten kilometers left, the car wouldn't move. If that thing hadn't suddenly appeared and unlocked my car, I would have had to run back."
He had already run two to three kilometers at that point, panting from exhaustion. Coupled with the radiation in the air, he had worried he wouldn't make it back. Unexpectedly, his phone suddenly rang. After the voice introduced itself, it found a car abandoned by someone on the roadside, unlocked it, and let him drive back.
Shen Mu came out with the dishes, and upon hearing this, said, "Your father and I were worried it was some kind of phone virus. Now it seems there really might be something helping us."
"When I came back, I heard many roadside broadcasts with his voice, reminding people how to protect themselves. It's possible he's really here to save us."
The situation was so critical. He knew from the news at noon that war was likely to break out, and many cities had already been reduced to ruins. He just hadn't expected City S to be bombed.
It was too close to them.
"Then he told us to go to the shelter in City A in two weeks. Should we go?"
"We definitely can't stay here for now. After the radiation settles, everyone will likely leave gradually. As for where to go, we'll monitor the situation these next few days and then decide where to go."
The settling of radioactive materials didn't mean safety. The ground would still be radioactive, and the groundwater would be contaminated. Then, facing a shortage of water and food, they would still have to leave.