RIACMET chapter 42

 

The emergence of various superpowered groups and guilds changed the way people survived in the apocalypse.

Beneath the fragile balance everyone maintained, there was an undercurrent.

When facing disaster, admiring the strong is instinctive.

Ordinary people, or those who had awakened lesser powers, could either accept official protection and follow the established order or find ways to rely on powerful ability users to gain more resources.

Everyone played their own hand, even if it didn’t always look proper or even downright dirty. It had become a normal and necessary choice.

As a result, powerful ability users became wildly popular, and some lived like “local emperors,” with three wives and four concubines.

As the saying goes, enjoy each day while you can—who knows if you’ll have tomorrow?

“Cheng Jing.”

That day, Huang Qian and Xiaoya were staying home. Cheng Jing and his teammates had just returned from a trip and were entering their apartment when a woman stopped Cheng Jing at the corner.

She was tall and dressed in a thick coat and a windproof helmet with a transparent visor, which was both warm and stylish. She had a graceful temperament and looked to be in her early twenties. With red lips and white teeth, she was genuinely beautiful.

Recently, all kinds of people had been approaching them—young and old, men and women—all wanting to join the team or win their favor.

“Is something the matter?”

Cheng Jing stood still. The rest of the team quietly stepped back two paces and began to watch like they were spectating a show. They were used to it by now. Jiang Nian took out a bag of candy and handed a piece to each person.

As the sound of crinkling candy wrappers echoed behind him, Cheng Jing silently turned and glared at the culprit.

Jiang Nian: “?”

Oh no! My boyfriend is giving me the death stare just because a pretty girl is hitting on him.

This should only be a problem if there’s more to it, right?

Jiang Nian’s rebellious gene instantly activated. He walked over with the candy bag and smiled.

“Come on, Brother Jing. Beautiful lady, have some sweets while you chat.”

He shoved two candies into Cheng Jing’s hand and smiled as he offered two to the beautiful woman.

After that, he calmly walked back to his seat amid the stunned yet impressed stares of those around him. At the same time, he received a flurry of messages:

Lu Ningzhou: [Brother Nian’s awesome!]

Jian Cheng: [Brother Nian’s awesome…]

Zhao Lei: [I admire you]

Liao Yu: [My godfather is so generous, he’s like a first wife]

Tang Yi and Zhou Rongbin gave him a simultaneous thumbs-up.

Cheng Jing was so annoyed that he wanted to wring Jiang Nian’s neck. He took a deep breath, frowned, and looked at the woman sucking on a candy beneath her helmet. Then he asked,

“Do you need something?”

“My name is Jiang Wenwen, and my element is water. I’d like to join your team.”

She got straight to the point and smiled while holding the candy in her mouth.

“People with water-based abilities are valued no matter what team they join. However, we’re not accepting new members here. Sorry.”

Cheng Jing nodded and turned to leave.

“…”

Jiang Wenwen clearly hadn’t expected him to be so cold. She froze for a second, then quickly caught up:

“Then how about just being friends?”

Cheng Jing was about to say that wasn’t necessary, but Jiang Wenwen had already walked toward the others, smiling and introducing herself.

You can’t hit someone who’s smiling at you, especially if she’s a woman.

His teammates could only nod politely and state their names.

Even if they couldn’t become teammates, there was no harm in getting to know each other. It wasn’t like it would get you pregnant or cost you a limb.

Jiang Nian thought that would be the end of it, but just as they were about to leave, Jiang Wenwen suddenly called out to him.

“Brother Jiang Nian, do you have a girlfriend?”

“…”

Cheng Jing’s expression immediately turned cold. If she can’t get to him, is she going after him instead?

Liao Yu whispered, “Savage,” and the rest of them tactfully backed off to bother someone else.

“…”

Jiang Nian was a little caught off guard. He’d wanted to joke around, but when he saw Cheng Jing’s strange expression, he decided against it. Instead, he pulled off half of the glove on his left hand and showed her the ring on his finger.

“I don’t have a girlfriend, but I’m married. Thanks anyway.”

“Hey~”

Cheng Jing’s face lit up as if someone had flipped a page in a book. He stepped forward, grabbed Jiang Nian’s hand, and scolded him.

“Wear your gloves properly. Don’t let your hands freeze.”

The nearby gossipers couldn’t help but whistle. See? Why do people say Brother Nian’s got it going on? Look how happy their captain is!

At that moment, Cheng Jing felt he’d made the right decision buying that ring.

What could be more final than being “married”?

“Well, I originally wanted to join your team just to flirt with you, but I guess that’s not going to happen. Oh well.”

Jiang Wenwen looked disappointed and clicked her tongue. The candy was sweet but tasted like dog food somehow.

Jiang Nian only gave an awkward smile, then pointed at the other teammates who had been watching the drama.

“They’re all single. Any of them is better than me.”

“…”

The expressions of the suddenly named crowd froze. Then, in perfect unison, they tactfully backed away and shook their heads.

The main target of the other party was Jiang Nian. Based on that alone, there was no chance she’d join the team.

Besides, it’s the end of the world—who has time for love?

Unless the person they loved was a living, breathing godfather like Brother Nian—someone they could literally live off.

Jiang Wenwen shook her head, too.

“They’re not my type. I like boyfriends who are obedient, and you look super obedient.”

Jiang Nian smiled and said,

“You’re too naive. There’s a saying: ‘Never judge a book by its cover.'”

Besides, he was only obedient in front of Brother Jing. Aside from his face, he had nothing to do with the word “obedient.”

Jiang Wenwen was too lazy to keep chatting. She waved her hand lazily.

“I’ll look elsewhere. Bye~”

She took two steps, then turned back toward Cheng Jing.

“Captain Cheng, times are tough. If there’s ever a chance, I hope we can work together. If you ever want to recruit new teammates, please consider me. Don’t worry—I won’t chase your man.”

Then, she strolled away gracefully. Seeing that Cheng Jing was still in a foul mood, no one dared say anything reckless.

Jiang Nian actually had a pretty good impression of Jiang Wenwen and couldn’t help saying, as they headed upstairs,

“Water abilities are really useful during the apocalypse.

Especially with extreme cold followed by extreme heat.

“We’ve got Liao Yu—we’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Cheng Jing disagreed and glanced at Liao Yu. The young master patted his chest and offered his thoughts:

“Yeah, Godfather, with my ice powers, our team will never run out of water. We can even drink ice water during a heat wave.”

That would completely shut down any chance of Jiang Wenwen joining the team.

Jiang Nian didn’t say anything else. There’s no point in giving that person more influence.

After their little gossip session, everyone wanted some free snacks, but Cheng Jing rejected them. They went hunting for snacks in the safe house and then headed back to their own places.

After the teammates left, Cheng Jing started cooking. They put vegetables and packaged, semi-prepared foods into an automatic hot pot. The rice can be warmed up separately, which is practical and easy.

While they waited, Cheng Jing turned around, shoved Jiang Nian down onto the couch, and started settling some old scores.

“Don’t show off like that in public again.”

He seemed cheerful, but he liked to mess around and always stirred up trouble.

Jiang Nian placed a hand on his shoulder and retorted,

“Why am I the one in the spotlight?”

“Being attention-grabbing is being in the spotlight.”

Cheng Jing replied, sounding unreasonable.

Jiang Nian felt like Cheng Jing was using his good looks as a pass for everything. After holding it in for a while, he couldn’t help but laugh. “All right then. Just stuff me in your pocket,” he said.

Then, looking at the sulky expression in front of him, he touched his face.

“Brother Jing, being jealous of everything will just turn you into a petty husband. Be nice and stop causing drama.”

Cheng Jing: “…”