Chapter 69-I Clean Up Garbage in a Wasteland World
Chapter 69: Team
At six o'clock the next morning, Song Zhizhang opened the safe house door.
When he entered, Zhu Ning was brushing her teeth. Then beside Zhu Ning, at a slightly lower position, a toothbrush was floating.
Song Zhizhang found it hard to describe, but that toothbrush was just floating.
Lin Xiaofeng was a transparent person, standing beside Zhu Ning like a transparent little chick, brushing teeth in sync with Zhu Ning.
The scene was a bit horrifying. Even though Song Zhizhang was well-traveled, he'd never seen a transparent person. Song Zhizhang adapted for a moment. "You're still alive?"
"Do you really hope I'd die?" Zhu Ning spat out the foam.
Song Zhizhang placed the meal tray on the dining table. He came to deliver food, then very impolitely sat in one of the chairs.
Being able to see where Lin Xiaofeng was gave him more sense of security—at least he wouldn't sit on someone. That would be too inelegant.
"I can't bear to lose you, baby." Song Zhizhang said mushy words without batting an eye.
Zhu Ning washed her face, then walked to the dining table. Two chairs were pulled out. Song Zhizhang had prepared white porridge and fried dough sticks.
He watched as a spoon rose into the air, scooped up a spoonful of porridge, delivered it somewhere, then the white porridge disappeared.
Uncomfortable. No matter how you looked at it, it was horrifying.
Beside her, Zhu Ning didn't even furrow her brow, as if transparent people existing in this world was perfectly normal. Song Zhizhang was making too much fuss.
Song Zhizhang had prepared quite a large portion, but it was quickly swept clean—not because Zhu Ning ate a lot, but because Lin Xiaofeng ate a lot.
Zhu Ning suddenly remembered the Mechanical Oceanarium's purchase order. The transparent people there all ate by the ton. Lin Xiaofeng was the same type—could she eat enough?
But Lin Xiaofeng didn't seem to express that she hadn't eaten enough. Maybe she'd stayed in that home for too long and didn't know how to directly express her thoughts.
Zhu Ning asked: "Not full?"
Lin Xiaofeng instinctively nodded, then realized no one could see her now, so she made a very soft "mm" sound.
She was a bit embarrassed. At home before, she rarely made requests to her parents, like a puppet on strings—whatever they said was what it was.
Moreover, Lin Tianqi paid close attention to Lin Xiaofeng's weight. Every morning Lin Xiaofeng had to get on the scale. She needed to maintain her figure and couldn't ask for more food.
Every time she made a request, she was very cautious. Before even speaking, she felt ashamed. Later she stopped saying anything.
Zhu Ning: "Next time speak directly."
Lin Xiaofeng had wanted to nod again, but this time said very softly: "Okay."
She'd already left that home. Even if she ate herself into a big fatty, it didn't matter.
Song Zhizhang watched from the side. Those who didn't know would think Zhu Ning was talking to a ghost. Lin Xiaofeng's voice was soft. Without seeing what she looked like, she should be a very well-behaved little girl.
Song Zhizhang propped his chin, watching them. This breakfast scene was both warm and terrifying—hard to describe.
Zhu Ning: "The food you prepared isn't enough. You said you'd include meals and lodging. I paid money, you profiteer."
Song Zhizhang wasn't angered by being called a profiteer. He maintained an elegant smile and asked: "How much do you want to eat?"
Compared to the three million Zhu Ning gave, food was trivial. How much could two little girls eat?
Zhu Ning: "I've seen the Mechanical Oceanarium's purchase order—it's all calculated by the ton. Start with one ton, then add more later."
How much?
"..." Song Zhizhang's chin almost couldn't hold up: "Are you messing with me?"
Zhu Ning: "The little girl is growing. You can't skimp on her provisions, right? You said yourself you'd include meals and lodging. I didn't force you."
Song Zhizhang: "..."
It was indeed him who proactively said it. He regretted it a bit now. Three million was too low. Calculating this way, he might end up at a loss.
Song Zhizhang accepted his fate. "I'll send it later."
Zhu Ning laughed. "Rare to see you suffer a loss."
Song Zhizhang smiled without warmth: "It's my honor to serve you."
He was in the service industry himself. The Dignified Queen could exist for so long because he could satisfy all customers' unreasonable demands.
Song Zhizhang asked: "What are you doing today?"
Zhu Ning: "I'll go back to the Hive first. I have a lot of stuff there."
Song Zhizhang: "You actually managed to live in the radiation zone for so long."
Zhu Ning: "Radiation zone?"
Song Zhizhang: "You didn't know that whole slum area has severe metal contamination?"
Zhu Ning: "..."
No wonder her rent there was so cheap. The entire complex was emitting contamination.
Song Zhizhang: "If it's weapons, you don't need to specially get them. Someone sent a new batch. I'll give them to you later."
Someone sent them—must be Prometheus.
Zhu Ning asked: "How can I get that human-machine interface device you mentioned?"
She had questions she wanted to privately ask Prometheus.
Song Zhizhang: "Very difficult. The Sanitation Center controls them tightly. They can't circulate among civilians at all."
Such strict control—this AI's situation wasn't great. Zhu Ning discovered she seemed to understand Prometheus's motives. He must have something he needed her to do, like rescuing him or something?
Zhu Ning finished breakfast and asked: "Do you two want to meet?"
"This is Lin Xiaofeng, my new team member." Zhu Ning pointed to her neighbor's seat.
"This is the Dignified Queen's..." Zhu Ning chose her words carefully, "manager."
"He's also our landlord. His name is Song Zhizhang. You can trust him."
Song Zhizhang extended a hand. "Miss Lin, pleased to meet you."
Due to his professional attributes, Song Zhizhang looked at everyone very seriously, making these customers feel they were being taken seriously, thus consuming in his shop. Now Song Zhizhang's gaze toward the void was very serious.
Lin Xiaofeng's face reddened. After hesitating a moment, she extended her hand and grasped Song Zhizhang's hand.
Song Zhizhang only felt something grasp him. The other party deliberately restrained their strength, but the force was still fiercer than ordinary people's. It almost crushed his bones.
Song Zhizhang kept holding it in, not wanting to break character, but he had difficulty controlling his expression for a moment.
Zhu Ning wanted to laugh seeing him suffer. "Stop pretending. She hugged me to sleep yesterday—I was almost broken in half at the waist."
Song Zhizhang stopped pretending and hissed. Lin Xiaofeng quickly released her hand. Song Zhizhang instinctively shook his fingers. They hurt fiercely—five black and blue fingerprints remained.
How did Zhu Ning sleep with Lin Xiaofeng? All those bumps and knocks—wasn't she afraid of accidentally killing herself?
Song Zhizhang comforted: "It's okay. Very cool."
Lin Xiaofeng lowered her head somewhat ashamedly. She could control the force when contacting objects, but hadn't learned how to interact with people yet.
Zhu Ning: "No need to be ashamed. It's a good ability. Just learn to control it."
Lin Xiaofeng said in a low voice: "Okay."
Song Zhizhang was well-traveled. Zhu Ning asked: "Have you seen her type before?"
Song Zhizhang: "Never heard of it."
That made sense. Even Xuan Qing was so shocked, willing to sacrifice eight employees and blow up the Mechanical Oceanarium. Even the city defense forces appeared. Lin Xiaofeng's type of existence should be very rare. So she'd picked up a treasure.
Zhu Ning hadn't figured out the principle of transparent people. Lin Xiaofeng herself probably wasn't very clear. She might need to spend some time exploring her abilities.
Song Zhizhang: "Although I don't know what you're forming a team for, if you want long-term development, you need a doctor or professional scientific researcher."
Zhu Ning clicked her tongue. Building a team was indeed troublesome.
Zhu Ning: "When I go out, I need you to help take care of her."
Song Zhizhang: "Why?"
Zhu Ning: "I paid property management fees. And do you want her running around in your shop?"
Song Zhizhang: "..."
He really wanted to curse inside. He might have found the most regrettable thing he'd done in his life. He shouldn't have let Zhu Ning move into his shop.
Song Zhizhang took a deep breath, feeling some principles needed to be clarified with Zhu Ning. "This lady, I run a host club, doing adult business, not a daycare—I don't babysit children."
Zhu Ning nodded: "I know."
She knew from their first meeting.
Song Zhizhang's forehead twitched. "My profession is madam. You can't entrust an underage girl to a madam."
No one would let a madam help raise a little girl. These two words together were the headline of a crime news story.
Zhu Ning: "But you're very gentle."
Song Zhizhang: "..."
Zhu Ning: "And you look like you're good at taking care of people."
Song Zhizhang: "..."
Lin Xiaofeng looked up. Although Song Zhizhang couldn't see, he could feel a pair of bright eyes looking at him. He found it hard to refuse.
He could refuse Zhu Ning, but couldn't refuse a very well-behaved little girl.
She'd just lost her parents and become a transparent person no one could see. When she was all alone, Song Zhizhang couldn't stab someone in the back. He wasn't a good person, but he wasn't scum either.
Zhu Ning saw he wasn't that resistant. "Then it's settled. She's very well-behaved."
Song Zhizhang gritted his teeth, still smiling on the surface: "Okay then."
He'd never done such an unprofitable deal in his life. After retiring from the underworld, babysitting children, food by the ton, only charging three million—he was practically a philanthropist.
Zhu Ning had things to do. After finishing breakfast, she left, really leaving Lin Xiaofeng for Song Zhizhang to raise.
Before leaving, Zhu Ning tossed Lin Xiaofeng a communication device, telling her to contact her if anything happened. But Zhu Ning wasn't too worried she'd be bullied.
Song Zhizhang and Lin Xiaofeng fell into silence for a moment.
Lin Xiaofeng carefully looked at this manager. Song Zhizhang wore a purple turtleneck sweater today—a very exaggerated color that somehow felt very harmonious on him.
His posture was very elegant, emanating a very gentle temperament.
Lin Xiaofeng had thought she'd be a bit afraid after Zhu Ning left. So far, she felt very close to Song Zhizhang. Maybe Zhu Ning was right—he really was suitable for taking care of children.
After a while, Song Zhizhang spoke. "Although I don't know what you are exactly, we should be the same type."
Lin Xiaofeng froze. Was Song Zhizhang once a Source of Contamination too?
Song Zhizhang didn't elaborate on his past. Zhu Ning entrusting Lin Xiaofeng to him was actually the right choice to some degree. He had ready-made experience here.
"Let's reach some consensus first." Song Zhizhang said: "For example, you need to find a way to let me see you. This way we can save a lot of trouble."
Otherwise Song Zhizhang would be very afraid of stepping on her here, or being stepped on by Lin Xiaofeng. Either way would require a hospital visit.
Lin Xiaofeng listened quietly.
"You can choose a method you like." Song Zhizhang was like a kindergarten teacher, patiently guiding.
A method she liked? Growing up, no one had ever let her use a method she liked to decide anything. Even what color socks to wear each day was decided by others. This matter was actually a difficult problem for her.
A person who'd never actively thought, never actively expressed their wishes, found it hard to take the first step.
She didn't speak. Song Zhizhang didn't rush her either, as if he could give her infinite time to think about such a small problem.
Lin Xiaofeng thought very seriously.
...
Zhu Ning returned to the Hive once.
The Hive had high population density, very crowded living conditions, full of desperadoes inside.
But correspondingly, the Hive had no surveillance and no tech feel. This place was just like the old run-down small complexes from Zhu Ning's era. There wasn't even a main gate access control. The nearby slums were all the same.
When she returned, a man was lying at the complex entrance. This time it was a genuine drunk, probably drank too much and slept outside all night.
Zhu Ning opened her home door. After staying at the Dignified Queen for just one night, she felt her home was really shabby and small. The entire home added up to less than thirty square meters.
As soon as Zhu Ning entered, she felt something was wrong. Someone had definitely been here. She didn't know which group—Eternal Pharma?
But she didn't care. Apart from having weapons that seemed abnormal, there was nothing else worth rummaging through in her home. After all, when she woke up, there was nothing in the house.
Her only valuable item was Cheng Mofei's employee wristband, stored in a Blank Card, very safe. Fortunately Zhu Ning carried it with her when going out.
There wasn't much to pack. She just took a few clothes. Song Zhizhang said he had everything there.
When Zhu Ning left, she looked back. The wall still had traces from when she used metal manipulation. Actually this wall had already exposed her.
She'd lived in the Wasteland too long. As long as you lived, you couldn't avoid leaving traces. She couldn't be 100% flawless. The past couldn't be changed—she could only look forward.
She'd originally wanted to ask Auntie Wei what she meant before about going crazy, but she searched up and down and couldn't find her.
The building manager was always elusive, only appearing when collecting rent or when she wanted to appear. These matters weren't good to ask about on the Sub-Brain. She planned to come specially to ask next time.
Zhu Ning carried her backpack downstairs. The black shop downstairs had just opened.
The shabby rolling door opened halfway. Big Wave boss, wearing red pajamas, crawled out from inside. Now that it was cold, the pajama collar also covered her neck. A thin cigarette dangled from her mouth.
She looked sleepy, looked up at Zhu Ning: "What? Going somewhere again?"
Zhu Ning frowned. She remembered when she came last time, she wore a helmet and was wrapped tightly in protective gear. Zhu Ning hadn't even spoken yet—how did the boss judge in one second?
Zhu Ning looked at her somewhat suspiciously. Mainly because of Xu Meng, she was now a bit paranoid, feeling everyone around her was a suspicious person lying in ambush.
The boss deeply exhaled a smoke ring. "In our line of work, we recognize people."
That amazing? But people in business were all sharp. In Zhu Ning's previous world, there was a fried noodle seller at her door who recognized people not by faces but by overall body shape and temperament. In some ways, more reliable than identification software.
Today's weather was good. With sunlight shining down, everyone felt good. The boss squinted. "Buying a vehicle? Three million eight hundred thousand today."
Why the price drop?
Zhu Ning hadn't planned to buy. She wasn't some tycoon. But she really did lack suitable transportation. Every contamination zone was quite far. She couldn't always have people drive her.
Zhu Ning asked: "Will you sell for two million?"
First principle of bargaining: cut in half.
The boss looked up at her, very serious despite looking sleepy, as if Zhu Ning had sparked her fighting spirit. "Opening special, first deal today—three million five. Take it or leave it."
Zhu Ning was equally eager to try. She asked: "Two million two?"
"Three million, I'll throw in a helmet. Can't go any lower."
Zhu Ning: "Two million five. Can't go any higher."
Boss: "Deal."
Zhu Ning: "..."
Had she been scammed? She was a two-fifty.
The boss fully pulled up the rolling door, revealing the black motorcycle inside. This vehicle crouched quietly, like a cheetah always waiting for its master.
Zhu Ning felt from the first time she saw it that this vehicle had her name written on it.
Big Wave boss tossed over the vehicle keys. "It belongs to you now."
Zhu Ning held the vehicle keys, still feeling unreal. Did it really belong to her?
Not until the Sub-Brain transmitted a sound like a money shredder did she truly confirm—very real. She'd spent two million five hundred thousand first thing in the morning.
She'd fallen into the Wasteland's sexy boss consumption trap!
Author's Note:
Today we gather together to celebrate Miss Zhu's new vehicle!
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