Chapter 67: Chapter 37. The Sugar Content in the Air Is Too High

Chapter 37: The Sugar Level in the Air Is Too High

Manticore left in tears, rushing out the door and vanishing into the distance. Zhou Jinru's expression froze on his face. He wasn't a fool, so he immediately went outside to chase after her, but how could he possibly match Manticore's agility? In the end, he had to return empty-handed.

Red Bean was wrapped in a blanket, her legs curled up, her eyes fixed firmly on the television program, while Guigui sat there with a completely indifferent expression.

Zhou Jinru asked tentatively, "Did I say something wrong just now?"

Without turning her head, Red Bean replied, "Doctor, you really don't understand a girl's heart at all anymore. You've changed so much compared to before, you've become a complete idiot."

"So what on earth did I do wrong? I just wanted to find a home for Manticore. Lungmen's environment is much better now than it used to be, but the overall situation is still far from optimistic. I came over from the Outer Ring, and the events of that night made the newspapers the very next day. It was an overnight extra edition, which shows that Lungmen's major media outlets haven't unified their stance yet, and all parties are still wavering on whether to boycott the Infected or not."

Zhou Jinru poured out a long stream of words, all of which were experiences from his journey here. The Terra world was not friendly to the Infected. Although compromises had to be made under pressure following the catastrophe in Siesta, the vast majority of people still wanted to kick the Infected out of the current social environment.

Red Bean gently shook her head, and with profound meaning, she said, "Doctor, your objective logic is right. After all, I'm also involved; after the incident, the band was told to stop performing, and we still don't know what to do next. But in this matter, you were wrong."

"Guigui, Manticore, and I used to be companions, having gone through many battles together. But aside from being friends, our relationship is also that of Rhodes Island operators. Although we've already left Rhodes Island, the past bonds are still there, so we don't need those high-sounding grand principles. If you could pay more attention to the operators from minor, everyday details, Manticore certainly wouldn't have refused your request."

Zhou Jinru wasn't a fool either. Enlightened by Red Bean's words, he suddenly understood. He had been thinking the wrong way all along, constantly trying to guide the operators from a macro perspective while ignoring that what they truly wanted was simply thoughtful care.

He grabbed his hair. "I understand what you mean, but if I do that, won't I just go back to being the scumbag I used to be?"

"What's wrong with being a scumbag? So many people like you. Guigui, you like the Doctor too, right?"

Red Bean suddenly shifted the trouble onto someone else, and Guigui's cheerful voice echoed in the living room: "Yeah, everyone loves the Doctor the most."

Zhou Jinru: "..."

This doesn't look good. In the future, Dr. Kal'tsit might actually stuff him into a jar of formalin.

At that moment, Red Bean's phone lit up. She glanced down at it and shouted to Zhou Jinru, "Doctor, go outside and check, the delivery is here."

...

The red-haired delivery angel steadily parked her motorcycle, her bright headlights casting a beam far into the distance. She laboriously pulled a large bag of food out of the delivery insulation box, and a familiar voice reached her ears.

"Thanks for your hard work, Exusiai, making a trip this late."

Hoshiguma walked out of the L.G.D. building, her gaze falling on the halo floating above Exusiai's head, and praised, "It's so convenient having that thing. No matter how dark it gets, you don't have to worry."

Exusiai handed the takeout to Hoshiguma and said, somewhat huffily, "People who've never had one only know the good parts, but angels have always been troubled by how to get a good night's sleep. I have to use a very thick eye mask every day just to block out the light, and it's bad for nighttime operations—the halo would directly expose my position and turn me into an enemy target..."

"But it can attract firepower."

Hoshiguma laughed. Her gaze landed on Exusiai's black motorcycle, and she couldn't help licking her lips. To be honest, she had been coveting this bike for a long time: its mysterious, rugged black exterior, the pleasant roar of the engine when it started, and the way it could accelerate to a terrifying speed in just a few seconds. If she could own a bike like this, she'd go for a joyride in the Outer Ring every single day.

Pity that Exusiai had never revealed its origin to anyone, not even her former companions at Rhodes Island. Hoshiguma suspected that even inside Penguin Logistics, no one knew where it came from.

"Officer Hoshiguma, you're eyeing my bike again. This is my baby, I can't transfer it to anyone else."

Exusiai said apologetically, reaching out to gently pat the motorcycle's dashboard. "I promised its original owner that I wouldn't reveal its secrets to anyone."

Hoshiguma withdrew her gaze, but that yearning look was plain for all to see. Needless to say, neither in Lungmen nor in places like Siracusa or Yan was there any intelligence on this vehicle; even if she wanted to buy one, there was nowhere to source it.

"I'm off, still have to deliver more food."

"Hold it right there!"

A stern reprimand came from behind. Exusiai, who had just swung her leg over the motorcycle, stiffened for a moment, and her hand on the throttle instantly loosened. Without turning her head, she knew Chief Ch'en had followed her out.

"Officer Ch'en, something the matter? Every time you bark like that, it's really terrifying, you know. Delivering food isn't a bad thing, is it? I'm striving for the happiness of the people of Lungmen..."

Exusiai turned her head back, only to see Hoshiguma taking off her coat and wrapping it around Ch'en. As Ch'en showed a trace of resistance, Hoshiguma roughly pressed down on her hands and buttoned the clothes up for her.

The sugar level in the air was simply too high.

Seeing this, Exusiai felt an inexplicable pang of sorrow. She wondered how that Lupo was doing in Siracusa; she hadn't received a phone call from her in two days. She actually felt a bit worried, and the halo above her head dimmed slightly.

"Don't mind it, Exusiai. Hoshiguma is just too enthusiastic, and I find it hard to turn her down."

Ch'en offered a brief explanation, her cheeks somewhat flushed, likely from just coming out of a heated room.

Exusiai nodded, pretending not to see anything. She definitely couldn't handle Chief Ch'en drawing her sword in a fit of embarrassment.

"Ahem."

Seeing Exusiai's mind wandering elsewhere, Ch'en faked a cough and asked, "I heard you've been constantly strapped for cash lately? When everyone from Penguin Logistics went to Siracusa on vacation, you didn't go either. You guys didn't have a falling out, did you?"

Exusiai wore a helpless expression. "I'm broke lately, so I'm delivering food to make some extra cash. Besides, we can't all just leave Lungmen, can we? Someone has to stay behind to watch the nest so we don't come back and find our base has been raided."

"Unwilling to tell the truth, are you? We used to be companions, after all. If you have difficulties, you should speak up—maybe I can help."

"Hahahaha~"

Exusiai laughed, teasingly saying, "Chief Ch'en doesn't need to worry. I can handle my own affairs. I noticed that when Officer Hoshiguma was at Rhodes Island, she ate at the cafeteria every day, and her treatment was no worse than yours—so why is she always strapped for cash too? Gotta go, gotta go."

With the roar of the motorcycle engine leaving the L.G.D. building, Ch'en stood on the steps, gazing thoughtfully at the receding halo.

*(Note at the end of the chapter)*
Next week I get promoted, and today I asked my editor Xiao Yuan and actually managed to get a recommendation spot, hahahaha.
*(End of Chapter)*