Chapter 98

Chapter 98

While Jiang Nian and Li Cheng were discussing their suspicions, in Room 1121, the woman was sitting sideways in a man's lap, holding a phone mid-dial.

Yet, after ringing three times in a row, no one answered.

"What the hell..."

The woman complained impatiently, grabbing the man’s hands as they groped her and whining flirtatiously:

"I already texted you to come later, but you’re still in such a hurry. If we get caught, everything’s ruined."

Horny idiot, stinking of zombies—couldn’t even clean up first!

"I’m not blind. Nothing’s getting ruined."

The man brushed her off, scratching his stubble against her shoulder.

As he got handsier, the woman was about to hang up when the call finally connected, followed by a cold female voice:

"Su Jing, what is it?"

The man licked his lips impatiently but paused for the moment.

"..."

It took the woman a second to remember that "Su Jing" was the alias she’d used. Clearing her throat, she replied calmly:

"Miss Xia, the guys who came to question me today were Jiang Nian and Li Cheng. I did exactly as you said, and it went smoothly—they bought every word. When can I get my payment? It’s getting hotter—I need to move to the inner district fast."

She had done everything as requested; now it was time for the promised reward.

When Xia Weiwei first approached her, she knew her luck had turned. Women could read other women well. Though it felt a bit like dancing with the devil, high risk, high reward—and Miss Xia paid top dollar!

Xia Weiwei dodged the question, instead asking:

"Is Xiao Liu there with you?"

Su Jing glanced at the man, who was clearly worked up, and replied:

"He’s here..."

"He’ll give it to you."

With that, the other party hung up abruptly. The man holding her—Xiao Liu—snorted, shoving a temp points card at her and stuffing it down her shirt with a leer:

"Damn, can’t even finish business first? 80,000 points exactly. Miss Xia said you’ll need to keep lines open even after renting in the inner district—we’re not done here."

"Thank you..."

Her face lit up as she took the card, immediately transferring the points into her own account. She tapped a finger against the man’s chest:

"Miss Xia doesn’t need to tell me—I know we’ll keep in touch. I’m still banking on you to get me to Base S."

The man scoffed and pinned her down. Su Jing cooperated with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes:

A woman with no connections or superpowers had to milk every chance when fortune smiled her way. Points meant survival.

She didn’t actually believe these people would take her to Base S for a better life—she knew her place.

Nor would she yearn for so-called true love or sincerity—after all, even a moderately intelligent dog wouldn’t think of romance at a time like this.

It was all about putting on an act to gain advantages. In a world where lives were worth less than dirt, survival came first before morality could even be discussed. Otherwise, it’s all worthless!

She didn’t think she was in the wrong. Who wouldn’t want a better life?

Besides, all she did was help Xia Weiwei reunite with her sister.

...

Since no useful information could be found, when Li Cheng went to question Xia Weiwei, the woman turned the tables and accused him first instead:

She claimed her sister was missing and that the South City Base’s management was negligent, forcing her to request assistance from the S Base.

In a few days, the S Base would dispatch a team to help her search for Jiang Wenwen.

Xia Weiwei also mentioned that she had been feeling unwell lately and had even called in her personal doctors.

Her act as a bratty, entitled rich girl was nothing but a smokescreen—her real game was plain as day:

To sneak her own people into the South City Base. Yet, her reasoning was just convincing enough to shut down objections.

Faced with this situation, Jiang Nian had no choice but to set aside Jiang Wenwen’s case for now.

Though they couldn’t find her, catching Xia Weiwei’s tricks was still a gain.

From then on, Li Cheng would have people secretly monitor that woman and the men she frequently interacted with.

Unless something unexpected happens, most of the personnel Xia Weiwei was transferring—including her private doctors—were likely the same ones who had "ran the show" at the Z Base in their past lives.

This time, the "stage" had shifted from the Z Base to the South City Base, but the key "actors" remained indispensable:

The Chen Yue family and the S Base’s pawns... like it was written in the stars.

Undercurrents stirred silently, but unlike in his past life, he wouldn’t sit idly by or retreat.

Come what may, he would square all accounts, old and new, with absolute clarity.

To ensure nothing went wrong, he had to level up his superpower before those people arrived at the South City Base.

He aimed to hit the 500-meter threshold and achieve the final purification upgrade.

So, once his squad got back from their mission, he’d ask Brother Jing to get him some time off for training.

"..."

Over the next few days, Jiang Nian spent his days peacefully running his little shop, occasionally leaving the shop in the care of Li Liang and Uncle Li when he visited the farm.

At night, he drove himself to mental exhaustion, forcing breakthroughs in his superpower daily.

Sometimes, he’d be so drained, he’d collapse on the living room floor, only waking the next day. After a quick shower, he’d head straight to the shop—he was holding up okay, especially since he could rest on the recliner there.

The grocery store’s earnings grew steadily, with daily revenues now pulling in around three grand. It wouldn’t be long before they hit five thousand.

After several quiet days, Cheng Jing and the others successfully completed their mission and returned to the base.

Coincidentally, Li Shuhui was on leave. That morning, Jiang Nian went with her to the entrance waiting area, picking up supplies and browsing around.

While organizing the shelves, Li Shuhui overheard Jiang Nian’s phone call and, hearing that Cheng Jing had returned, told him to get going home:

"Go on home, Brother Nian. I'll mind the store today."

People always say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Though she's never been in a relationship, she's seen enough to fully understand couples newly in love, especially when you two are so deeply in love.

Seeing her big grin, Jiang Nian felt too embarrassed to leave immediately: "Uh... it's okay, I'll go back in the afternoon..."

"Oh please..."

Li Shuhui took the things from his hands and arranged them on the shelf, covering a laugh when she noticed his reddened ears.

"Brother Nian, don't stand on ceremony with me. Everyone knows how crazy you are about Brother Cheng. Missing each other after being apart for so long during the honeymoon phase is totally normal. Hurry back, or else Brother Cheng will come looking for you, and it would be awkward for you two here."

"...Xiao Hui! You..."

Jiang Nian flushed crimson at her pointed teasing.

"Alright, alright..."

Li Shuhui shooed him out from behind the counter: "Go, go, go! Let me play boss for a change!"

Sometimes she didn’t understand why, after being in a relationship for so long, Jiang Nian was still such a blusher.

Just look at Sister Qian—whenever someone tells a risqué joke, she can come back with ten, completely unmatched in their circle.

"Uh, ahem..."

Jiang Nian awkwardly pinched his burning ears: "Well... alright then, I’ll head back first. I owe you one."

After that, he went to explain the situation to Li Kaiyun, who was on duty at the security booth across the street, before finally driving home under the man’s knowing smile.

Embarrassed as he was, he was still buzzing with excitement.

"..."