Embers Ad Infinitum

Upon hearing Jiang Baimian’s question, Bai Chen slowed down her footsteps and calmly replied, “I quite like him.”

Ah… Jiang Baimian was first stunned before she looked around and unconsciously lowered her voice. “Since he likes you and you like him, you should’ve taken the initiative long ago given your style.”

It was precisely because of this that Jiang Baimian couldn’t guess Bai Chen’s thoughts. Frankly speaking, her mind was filled with: With Bai Chen’s style, she should’ve already walked in front of Long Yuehong, reached out, grabbed his collar, and pulled him in front of her. She would’ve directly asked him, ‘I want to have sex with you. Are you willing?’

Of course, she definitely couldn’t imagine such an exaggerated scene. She had to be polite and not act like a certain person.

Bai Chen frowned and replied thoughtfully, “I just think my style in this regard conflicts with the atmosphere in the company. As the saying goes, ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do.’ I’m not afraid that having too much initiative will damage my reputation, but I’m worried that it will scare him and embarrass him in front of others. Therefore, I’ve been waiting for him to take the initiative.”

Oh shucks, I thought you had an inferiority complex because of your past experience. I was just thinking about how to counsel you… Jiang Baimian heaved a sigh of relief and happily used terms she had learned from the Old World’s entertainment. She then deliberated over her words and said, “There are only a few of us in our team. If I don’t say anything, and Hey or Old Ge doesn’t say anything, who will know what happens between you and Little Red?”

“Will Hey really keep silent?” Bai Chen expressed her worry.

Jiang Baimian stammered and couldn’t give her guarantee.

Shang Jianyao couldn’t guarantee it himself!

Jiang Baimian then said, “Ding Ling is right about one thing: There are often times when there’s no tomorrow in the Ashlands. You have to cherish the people in front of you and not waste time on baffling concerns. You are a wilderness nomad, so you should know better than me.”

Bai Chen fell silent for a few seconds before nodding slightly. “I understand.”

Jiang Baimian didn’t say anything else. After all, this was someone else’s relationship; it was inappropriate to get too involved.

The two of them walked back to the camp together in silence.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong were strolling around the jeep to digest their food.

Bai Chen suddenly quickened her pace and walked toward Long Yuehong.

Long Yuehong froze a little as Shang Jianyao whizzed away and distanced himself.

Upon seeing this, Genava—who was in charge of guarding the area—continued casting his gaze out of the camp.

Upon seeing Bai Chen stand in front of him, Long Yuehong stammered, “W-what’s the matter?”

Bai Chen calmly asked, “Do you like me?”

Woah! Just as Shang Jianyao was about to whistle, a hand wrapped around his mouth—it was Jiang Baimian.

Long Yuehong was first stunned before he became abnormally nervous. He blurted out, “I-I’m only 1.75 meters tall after genetic enhancement. My looks are average…”

Bai Chen interrupted him. “Do you like me or not?”

Long Yuehong stammered for a while. With a flushed face, he replied with a wandering gaze, “I-I like you. Don’t be troubled by…”

Bai Chen nodded. “I like you too.”

“…” Long Yuehong was stunned for a few seconds before his eyes lit up. “Really?”

Without waiting for Bai Chen’s answer, he quickly said, “It’s not that I don’t believe you; I’m just habitually asking.”

Bai Chen nodded again. “Yes, it’s real.”

Long Yuehong gaped his mouth but was momentarily at a loss for words. All kinds of thoughts raced through his mind like a wild horse that couldn’t be reined in.

Bai Chen took the initiative to extend her hand and grab Long Yuehong’s left palm. She glanced at the jeep and nodded slightly. “It’s inconvenient to do many things now that we’re out. It’s even more troublesome if we get pregnant. Otherwise, we can do it tonight…”

“There’s no need. There’s no need to be so fast!” Long Yuehong swung his mechanical arm in embarrassment and joy. He then saw a faint smile appear on Bai Chen’s lips, and it showed a little playfulness. Only then did he come to a realization that apart from the girl in front of him being sincere, there was also a hint of teasing and bantering.

Not far away, Shang Jianyao tried his best to shout, “I can lend you the Six Senses Beads,” but he failed. His mouth was tightly covered by Jiang Baimian.

At the same time, Jiang Baimian also glared at Genava to stop the crappy robot—who couldn’t read the atmosphere—from randomly clapping and affecting the heart-to-heart talk between the two.

However, Bai Chen and Long Yuehong didn’t carry out their private conversation for too long. After all, three pairs of eyes were watching them, and one of them had red lights occasionally flashing.

After sitting around the bonfire again, Jiang Baimian looked at the two of them—who were still holding hands—and joked, “You can’t do this when patrolling later. It will affect your combat strength!”

“That’s right. For the team’s safety, we might as well change the pairing. I’ll be with Little Red, Big White will be with Little White,” Shang Jianyao said cooperatively.

“There’s no need. We’re fine.” Long Yuehong quickly shook his head.

Jiang Baimian chuckled. “Then, when we return to the company, should I give you marriage leave, honeymoon leave, and parent care leave?”

Pangu Biology didn’t have the concept of honeymoon leave as it was included in marriage leave. However, the Old Task Force members were experts in Old World entertainment.

Jiang Baimian honestly heaved a sigh of relief. She had previously been worried about how she would persuade Long Yuehong and Bai Chen to stay behind after returning to the company and stop participating in the subsequent investigations.

Long Yuehong was easy to persuade, but Bai Chen was more troublesome. If they formed a family and began to give birth to life according to Pangu Biology’s customs and procedures, things would become simpler.

“We-we’ll see,” Long Yuehong replied awkwardly.

But despite the embarrassment, he couldn’t bear to let go of Bai Chen’s hand.

Bai Chen nodded. “It depends on the team’s arrangements.”

Jiang Baimian immediately felt a headache. She then pretended to wave her right hand boldly. “It’s fine. I’ll give you guys a break!”

As they chatted and laughed, the gloomy atmosphere weighing over the Old Task Force—no thanks to Commissioner Huang, Elder Zhang, and the others’ sacrifice—gradually returned to normal.

Two days later, the Old Task Force learned from the forested settlement named Anse that the all-clear had been given to Ubei and that the evacuated citizens were returning one after another.

Therefore, they drove the jeep and headed to Ubei again. Their goal was to receive the Eighth Research Institute’s information that Commissioner Huang had previously applied for and planned on sharing with them.

Jiang Baimian believed that with the Salvation Army’s style, they wouldn’t return them with nothing after the Old Task Force took the initiative to share with them so much important information. The only thing worth paying attention to was how much valuable information they would provide or what intelligence they had on the Eighth Research Institute.

Upon seeing Ubei, Long Yuehong looked at Bai Chen—who was driving—and said worriedly, “Will the Salvation Army check the vehicles coming and going in search of the missing nuclear warhead?”

And it was still hidden in the Old Task Force’s jeep.

Jiang Baimian smiled. “If they find it, we’ll let them know that we specially made the trip back to return it to the rightful owner after finding it.”

“Tsk…” Shang Jianyao clicked his tongue and gave in under Jiang Baimian’s raised left hand.

As expected of Team Leader… Long Yuehong muttered and cast his gaze at Ubei’s entrance into the city.

The Salvation Army warriors there briefly checked the Old Task Force’s pass and instructed them not to take out their military exoskeletons and bionic artificial intelligence armor before letting them pass.

As he drove toward the Ubei Supplies Management Committee, Shang Jianyao rolled down the window, leaned against the door, and took in the street’s scenery.

Not far away was a non-staple food shop under the Salvation Army’s jurisdiction. More than ten people were in line, waiting patiently while holding negotiables.

They stood in an orderly line, and nobody cut the line. They even spoke to each other from time to time, and the corners of their eyes were filled with the joy of finally having a safe celebration.

There was a market further away. The older generation carried a basket as they walked in and out.

As the jeep drove forward, Shang Jianyao also saw the nursery, kindergarten, and primary school.

Tiny figures were playing, listening, or doing inter-class exercises.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

A bicycle drove past and rushed to the factory at the edge of Ubei.

Shang Jianyao leaned against the window and quietly watched without saying a word. Jiang Baimian did the same.

Finally, they arrived at the Ubei Supplies Management Committee. After informing them of their goal, they were led to a room on the first floor after waiting for about ten minutes.

Before long, a young man in the Salvation Army’s black uniform entered and handed them a folder.

“Burn it after reading,” he said simply and sat the furthest he could.

Jiang Baimian nodded, opened the folder, and quickly scanned through it.

Much of this was information that the Old Task Force had already grasped, but there were also some things they didn’t know. For example—

Vice President, Professor Li, Charlie, and Doctor aren’t like many New World powerhouses who often interfere with the Ashlands.

They and some Awakened who have explored the Mind Corridor’s depths form the Professor’s Association to manage the Eighth Research Institute. The latter group deals with day-to-day affairs.

The captured Eighth Research Institute commissioners don’t seem to believe in any Kalendarium…