Chapter 17: How Can I Live Without a Phone!

Chapter 17: How Can I Live Without a Phone!

Watching the dog that just barked, Chen Zijin was almost laughed to death by it.

This dog is a real dog, in every sense of the word.

Ignoring this creature, Chen Zijin decided to go back to the presidential suite for a bath and rest, of course, neither the dog nor the pink big-eyed follower were allowed inside.

The others were also quite exhausted, but what finally brought them some comfort was that tonight, they wouldn't need to watch the hotel's ads to stay in relatively nice rooms—

Just now, by joining forces, they had managed to eliminate at least a hundred mutated monsters, with almost every participant in the battle absorbing some residual energy from those creatures.

Wang Baojie and Xiong Ge, as the main pushers, each gained 150 energy points, while Lv Jun, Song Fang, and Zhao Xiaofeng, who controlled the mutated monsters, each received about 100 energy points.

Express Brother Ah Fei and Liu Chengli got a bit less, over 50 points, but the biggest surprise was Zhou Mo, the office worker, who unexpectedly secured 166 points of energy, the highest in the group.

"Don't envy me. You should know that although holidays may disappear without reason, they don't truly vanish. They always exist in another form, like, working overtime."

Zhou Mo, with a numb expression: "Tonight, I hope to stay with Xiong Ge or Wang Ge because there might be big-eyed monsters I made disappear popping up to make me work overtime."

Wang Baojie, Xiong Ge: ...

Your ability is strong in one sense but terribly unfortunate in another!

What could Zhou Mo do but cast a secretly admiring and longing glance at Chen Zijin, the ultimate boss-type figure in his heart.

If he could stay with Chen Zijin, maybe he wouldn't have to work overtime.

Then, the office worker received a menacing snarl from the watchdog and a knife-wielding warning from the pink follower.

Office Worker: "Sigh."

There's always that annoying guy in the team.

Since everyone now had some energy points, Wang Baojie and Xiong Ge, feeling a bit wealthier, consulted with Zhou Mo and opted for a deluxe triple suite.

The room, aside from free Wi-Fi, also offered a complimentary massage chair and a soaking tub, a significant upgrade in comfort compared to the dormitory-style accommodations.

Of course, their decision to stay together was also a precaution against the possibility of big-eyed monsters forcing them to work overtime by knocking on their windows at night; together, they figured they could fend off about a dozen of these monsters.

The remaining members, Ah Fei and Liu with his broken arm, settled for a standard suite.

Song Fang and Zhao Xiaofeng split the cost for a deluxe double suite, all for the sake of a good bath.

Everyone was satisfied except for Yang Mianmian, who found herself excluded.

Her eyes were red, as if she had been dealt a great injustice: "Sister Fang, didn't we agree to stay together? How could you suddenly change your mind?"

Song Fang and Zhao Xiaofeng paused in their conversation, then smiled: "Mianmian, it's not that I intentionally changed my mind. The thing is, this deluxe double suite requires 60 energy points to book, and Xiaofeng and I each contributed 30.

If you want to stay with us, you can contribute another 30 energy points, and we can upgrade to a triple suite."

Yang Mianmian bit her lip: "But I don't have that much energy. I know it was wrong for me to run ahead because of the scare, but you all know my abilities. I can only transform my legs into goat hooves to leap and increase speed; I can't attack at all."

"I don't want to either, but that's just how my ability works. What else can I do besides running?"

Afei, with the quickest temper, burst into laughter upon hearing this: "The tone you just used sounds exactly like Lao Shi."

"What's wrong with speed ability? Isn't that what I have? Xiaofeng and Brother Zhou aren't skilled in attack either! Lv Jun can only emit tea gas! So why did everyone else stay behind while you ran ahead? I even snatched a knife and slashed several big-eyed monsters. Can't you kick a few people with your goat hooves faster than a knife?"

"Bai Bai is just a dog; it even kicked a monster with its last jump."

"All you can do is run." You're even worse than a dog.

Yang Mianmian's face turned red from being retorted, her swollen eyes filled with incredulous grievance and annoyance instead of guilt: "How could you compare me to a dog! And I'm a girl, I'm scared!"

Afei chuckled: "The way you say it, it's like Fang Jie and Xiaofeng are men. Don't bring gender into this; you're just selfish and cowardly!"

"In Bright Eye Street and Pleasant Ear Street, you're always hiding behind people like Lao Shi, not participating in snatching food. You always talk nicely but never take action!"

"Enough, I don't want to talk to you anymore. I need to hurry up and take a bath and sleep. Today wore me out."

After Afei finished speaking, he quickly went upstairs, leaving Yang Mianmian still standing there, tearful and aggrieved.

Unfortunately, no one here would care for or pity her tears. After exchanging glances, everyone went back to their rooms.

Yang Mianmian stood in the splendid hall, filled with infinite resentment at this moment.

"Miss, what kind of accommodation would you like tonight?" The tailcoat waiter approached at this moment with a perfect smile.

Yang Mianmian was instantly pale with fear; she bit her lip: "I...I only have 21 energy points."

This was the energy she obtained when fleeing with everyone, kicking several mutated monsters in panic. Although she kicked those monsters who wanted to harm her, her leg was also cut by a knife! It's still bleeding now.

She was genuinely not good at fighting and was scared. How could these people not show her a bit of understanding?

No one showed understanding, but the tailcoat waiter was exceptionally gentle.

"Oh, beautiful miss, please don't cry. Those people are just too heartless.

"While your energy points may only be sufficient for a standard dormitory stay, I can offer you an upgrade to a more comfortable single room with internet access."

Yang Mianmian widened her eyes incredulously, a hint of caution in her gaze: "Really? Does this upgrade require me to like or watch ads?"

The tailcoat waiter's smile remained unchanged: "Of course not. This is a special courtesy for you. And of course, it's also because we happen to have a vacancy."

Hearing this, Yang Mianmian relaxed and smiled happily: "Then, thank you so much."

She had encountered such situations during her travels elsewhere, where many hotels would offer free room upgrades to guests.

She hadn't expected the same could happen here.

Yet, Yang Mianmian still cautiously confirmed: "Are you sure I don't need to like or watch ads, and there won't be any strange dangers in the room?"

The waiter continued to smile: "Madam, we are after all a royal hotel, please trust our professionalism."

Yang Mianmian's worries were allayed, and she happily checked into the room next to Song Fang and Zhao Xiaofeng.

When she saw their surprised expressions, a sense of pride swelled within her.

See, what use was there in excluding her? She still managed to receive preferential treatment.

However, before she entered her room, Zhao Xiaofeng couldn't help but warn her: "Yang Mianmian, you'd better stay in the common dormitory. The hotel wouldn't be so kind as to upgrade your room for nothing."

This isn't Earth; it's a world consumed by monsters.

Yang Mianmian paused in her motion to push the door open, turning to look at Zhao Xiaofeng: "I've already ensured it's safe. Although the people here might be infected, this hotel is definitely fine."

After saying this, she entered her room. Despite feeling somewhat uneasy deep down, she refused to show any weakness in front of Zhao Xiaofeng.

Zhao Xiaofeng frowned as she saw Yang Mianmian enter her room, but Song Fang patted her shoulder, "Let it be. We just need to take care of ourselves."

In this world, who can really look after someone else?

At this time, everyone was washing up in their comfortable rooms, and Chen Jingshen's presidential suite was naturally the most comfortable with various facilities.

He found the bubble bath with massage features truly splendid, and having heard from Wang Baojie that the exile lands lacked everything, he wondered if he could manage to take one with him.

Then, he suddenly heard the sneaky sound of a dog.

The sound was very light and soft, something ordinary people shouldn't be able to hear. But Chen Shijin’s body, constantly bolstered by an excess of power, had his senses and physical strength somewhat enhanced by that power.

It was a rhythmic tapping sound.

If amplified, it really resembled the sound of dog paws making contact with the floor.

So...

When the bathroom door was sneakily nudged open a crack by the dog, what greeted the white dog was not a beautiful man bathing but a basin of bathwater thrown right at it.

"Ow-ze."

"Get out right now, or I'll poke your dog eyes out."

Reluctantly, the white dog lay on the ground and then really rolled away slowly.

"Ow~"

Chen Shijin: Heh.

You're already sneaking peeks at a handsome man bathing, and you dare say you're not that lecherous wolf! At the very least, you two must be related!

Chen Shijin sneered and commanded, "Lock."

The bathroom door automatically locked, becoming impossible to open by anyone but him.

Without the lustful gaze of the lecherous dog, Chen Shijin could finally enjoy a comfortable bubble bath. However, as he soaked, he began to feel bored, sensing something was missing.

What could it be?

Chen Shijin glanced at the mobile phone placed beside the bathtub, realizing it was the absence of his phone.

Who doesn't watch a movie or scroll through their phone while taking a bath?

At the very least, listening to music is a must.

With this thought, Chen Shijin began to feel an uncontrollable urge to check his phone.

Even though he knew that he shouldn't be on his phone for long periods here, or better yet, not listen to music or watch movies, it was like the proverbial white elephant— the more you try not to think about it, the more you do.

Finally, Chen Shijin still reached out for his phone.

Preparing to watch a roughly 20-minute movie commentary.

They say there's network coverage here, but can he actually succeed in going online?

Surprisingly, Chen Shijin actually succeeded in accessing the internet with his phone.

However, the network in this world was indescribably slow, incapable of searching online, and could only open specific apps.

For instance, the movie app.

Chen Shijin raised an eyebrow at the movie app and tapped to open it.

He was then greeted with a very normal-looking page full of movie introductions.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary? He chose a battle royale movie that looked most appealing and placed it on a stand designed for the bathtub.

The movie started without any monstrous eyeball attacks or being suddenly pulled into the phone. The plot was even quite thrilling and engaging, not bland at all.

Chen Shijin was unexpectedly engrossed in watching it.

However, as expected, an unexpected incident occurred. Six minutes into the movie, he felt an intense wave of energy.

Instantly, he pressed a finger to his left eye and saw black energy emanating from the phone, looking like skeleton hands with claws trying to grab at his eyes and head.

Chen Shijin: "Huh."

Then he decisively grabbed those black claw-like energies, hesitated for a moment, and then tentatively tasted them.

Shockingly, they tasted like spicy chicken feet!

At this moment, the white dog was scratching at the door outside, "Woof woof woof!" What are you eating? What are you eating behind the dog's back? There's no sound of eating that a dog can't hear! Share a bite with the dog!

Chen Jingshen: .

The white dog threw a tantrum and acted cute, finally earning the chance to watch a movie and snack with Chen Jingshen by serving as his footrest. Though it preferred to be a pillow or cuddle buddy, it was coldly rejected.

Eventually, Chen Jingshen and the dog watched movies until midnight, munching on countless spicy chicken feet until he couldn't play another movie.

Incidentally, the pink sidekick didn’t get a share and was still sleeping outside the bedroom door.

Then, on the morning of the third day, Chen Jingshen saw his teammates looking pale and anxious, and Yang Mianmian, whose eyes were swollen almost like those of the big-eyed monsters, excitedly swiping her phone.

What happened?

At that moment, Quick Delivery Afei seemed to have already discussed with Wang Baojie and others, dashing over to Yang Mianmian's side and forcefully snatching her phone away.

Although he didn’t like her, he couldn't just watch her mutate.

The next second, the hotel lobby echoed with Yang Mianmian's high-pitched, angry, and somewhat piercing howl: "Give me back my phone!"

"How dare you take my phone?! How dare you?!"

"How am I supposed to live without my phone?!"

"Give it back, give it back, give it back to me—give—it—back—"

Instantly, even Chen Jingshen felt a shiver down his spine from this scream.