Chapter 14: The Rest I Cannot Recall

Beixing City.

Inside a heavily guarded building, a middle-aged man, his shoulders adorned with golden leaves and two golden stars, was presiding over an important meeting.

The participants included six academicians from the meteorological and geological departments, two experts from the special police division, and various other professionals from different fields.

“Greetings, esteemed experts. I am Qin Xuezheng, deputy chief commander for national torrential rain and flood emergencies,” Qin Xuezheng began. “The reason I’ve gathered everyone today is to discuss the management of this global torrential rainfall disaster.”

Beside him, an assistant used a remote to play footage on the conference hall’s large screen: cities devastated by the relentless downpour, and places like Lop Lake, almost reduced to a boundless sea.

The experts present wore grave expressions.

The nation had endured catastrophic rainstorms before, but such events typically lasted half a day, rarely more than three days at the most. Even such brief storms were enough to cause unimaginable devastation.

Yet now, this catastrophic rainfall had persisted worldwide for fifteen days. Apart from a few regions where the rain had started later, once the downpour began, it had never ceased.

The number of deaths and missing persons from the flood disaster across the globe was, to this day, impossible to calculate.

Such a prolonged, global-scale rainstorm was highly abnormal.

At first, some suspected that North America had developed a new kind of meteorological weapon, whose deployment had triggered this worldwide catastrophe.

But when North America itself was found to be thoroughly submerged, that theory quickly lost ground.

Qin Xuezheng continued, “We have compiled a comprehensive report on the current status of the global torrential rain and floods; copies are in front of each of you. You have already discussed this issue extensively and provided numerous recommendations, which we will consider accordingly.”

“Today, however, we have an additional topic to address.”

The assistant pressed the remote again.

A forum post appeared on the screen, one that Su Miao had published on the Bihu platform: ‘There are 26 days left until the end of the world—what should I prepare?’

Noticing this post, the attendees stirred uneasily. As experts in science, none had expected Qin Xuezheng to present an internet post as the main topic for such a serious meeting.

“So far, this post accurately predicted the onset of the torrential rain and characterized the disaster as apocalyptic. I would like to hear your thoughts on this,” Qin Xuezheng said, glancing at the assembled specialists.

Every year, all manner of doomsday prophecies surfaced. Those that gained traction were closely monitored, to prevent anyone from exploiting them for unlawful purposes.

Bringing such a prophecy to this solemn table might seem absurd, but the reality of this global deluge was even more so. In order to save lives, no possible clue could be disregarded.

Having considered this, Huang Zhewen, an academician specializing in meteorology, spoke up: “General Qin, if her predictions are accurate, then while we continue disaster relief, we must also prepare for subsequent cataclysms.”

Qin Xuezheng nodded. “Indeed.”

Huang Zhewen continued, “According to satellite observations, the entire globe is now shrouded in thick clouds. These, combined with unstable convection currents, have created multiple cyclonic systems, which are causing the global rainfall.”

“If this persists, it’s not impossible that in three months, we’ll face worldwide snowfall.”

“However, the probability remains low.”

He glanced at the geologist beside him and added, “That said, geological monitoring indicates the Earth’s magnetic poles are currently shifting. This could lead to further disasters, so we cannot dismiss the possibility of the prophecy.”

“If possible, I’d like to make contact with the person who made the post.”

“That can be arranged,” Qin Xuezheng replied.

All information regarding Su Miao—her contact details, her activities since she posted, even her current location hiding in a villa in the Panshan Scenic Tourist Area—had already been thoroughly investigated.

The assistant quickly dialed Su Miao’s phone.

Su Miao had just finished breakfast.

As usual, she approached the window, her expression tense as she checked for any sign of danger nearby.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

Who would be calling her at this hour?

Seeing the unfamiliar number from Beixing City, Su Miao hesitated, but answered. If anything felt off, she would hang up immediately.

“Hello, this is Qin Xuezheng from the National Torrential Rain and Flood Relief Task Force. Am I speaking to Su Miao? We have a few questions for you.”

A deep, official voice came through the phone.

Su Miao replied, somewhat dazed and with a slight tremor in her voice, “Yes, I’m Su Miao.”

The experts listening in grew increasingly concerned. They did not know that Su Miao was simply socially anxious and unaccustomed to interacting with others.

Qin Xuezheng asked, “‘There are 26 days left until the end of the world—what should I prepare?’ Did you write this post?”

Su Miao’s voice trembled again. “Yes, I wrote it.”

“Are the predictions you made there true?”

“I—I—I’m not sure, but I believe these disasters will happen. There were many more I forgot to mention.”

At the time, she had flipped through the book too quickly, curious only to see Su’s final page. Besides a ‘Magic Space’ spell, there was nothing else.

Worse, when she tried to reread it, the writing had vanished from the pages.

There was no way to explain this to anyone—it would only make her sound insane.

Qin Xuezheng’s expression grew grave.

He had intended only to verify the prediction, never expecting that Su Miao would reveal, beyond the events listed in her post, that there were even more disasters to come.

“Su Miao, please don’t be nervous. Of the disasters you mentioned, how much do you remember?”

Su Miao replied, “Insects, birds, beasts, even humans—there’s a chance they’ll mutate. After the mutations, many more will die.”

“Floods, extreme heat, and bitter cold will all occur repeatedly, each lasting at least three months. I don’t know how long it will take for them to end.”

“There will also be earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and mudslides.”

“That’s all I remember.”

Recalling the doomsday prophecies from that book, Su Miao shared everything she could remember.

Her initial plan had been to stockpile enough food and find a high place to hide—she thought that would suffice.

But only half a month had passed, and already, human threats in the tourist district had become more terrifying than the disaster itself.

Now, with someone who seemed to be an official contacting her, she hoped that if the authorities were building shelters, she might secure a place and escape her current predicament.

And if the caller turned out to be an imposter, there was no harm in sharing this information anyway.