RIACMET chapter 15

 

Cheng Jing understood what Jiang Nian meant and realized the pros and cons. After thinking it over, he nodded.

“Don’t worry. I understand. It’s enough that we know. If we tell others, it’ll eventually cause trouble, whether it’s true or not.”

He trusted Jiang Nian because everything Jiang Nian did was within his control. Whether or not the apocalypse came, he could handle those things, and no one else needed to know—just him.

However, if they went public with this information, they would be arrested before the apocalypse began.

Even if the apocalypse did happen, Jiang Nian’s foresight would raise suspicion and get him into trouble.

Forget it. When disaster strikes, everyone has their own fate. People could only take care of themselves before thinking about helping others.

For example, he could let the people he cared about make some preparations.

His parents and younger brother lived in a military district compound. If something really happened, that would probably be the safest place.

He should just remind them not to get drenched after a long drought to avoid contamination.

Then, he should call his hoarder mother and ask her to stockpile supplies for the short rainy season. As for the rest, wait until something unusual shows up. The military district reacts quickly, so there’s no need to worry.

He will call his parents and brother tomorrow.

In addition to family members, he should find a way to let trusted individuals stock up on supplies.

Their security company was special due to its internal ties with the government. They weren’t allowed to accept other assignments for two months before or after collaborating with the government. No more than ten permanent staff members were permitted to be stationed in one place.

In Qingyun City, only eight people, including him, were considered one team:

He was the captain. Huang Qian was the assistant. The other 6 were divided into three groups of two. They managed three safehouses. There was also a nominal vice-captain among them. He had personally selected all of them and could trust them.

After all, the team members’ family situations were somewhat unique. Some were born in orphanages, and some no longer had close relatives. Huang Qian had nearly been forced into an arranged marriage because her family preferred sons over daughters. She ran away and refused to return.

Most of the team followed him so they could all stick together during the end times.

Aside from the eight of them, the rest of the company’s security officers were mobile, and headquarters would assign personnel based on mission needs.

Now that the latest mission had ended, the eight of them had to remain quiet for two months before resuming normal activities. The other security officers who had joined the mission had already returned to headquarters.

Based on this, Cheng Jing figured he could find a reason to let others store supplies in the other safehouses.

Since Huang Qian didn’t have a safehouse of her own, Cheng Jing put her in charge of the rental property he was currently using. After all, if the apocalypse happened, he would be with Jiang Nian.

“…”

Cheng Jing’s mind was full of ideas, and he already had a basic plan. It was always good to be prepared. Just as he was about to ask something else, the person in his arms fell asleep.

He sent a message to the team group chat: “All teams must prepare supplies and drill tasks for safehouses. The more, the faster, the better.” Then he turned off the TV and carried Jiang Nian back to the bedroom.

…

The next morning, when Jiang Nian woke up, Cheng Jing was gone. He had left a message saying that he had taken Huang Qian and the others to gather supplies for a new training mission.

Jiang Nian knew Cheng Jing was reliable, so he didn’t ask many questions. He also didn’t mind letting Huang Qian stay in their “love nest” since they had a better place now.

On August 26, Cheng Jing was out all day while Jiang Nian stayed at the hotel, eating and drinking. It wasn’t until evening that Cheng Jing messaged him, asking him to come to the community and bring food.

Huang Qian was a little suspicious of Cheng Jing’s actions. After all, she was the logistics assistant, and it wasn’t usually her job to handle safehouse supplies during previous mission trainings.

She intuitively felt it had something to do with Jiang Nian’s “hamster” tendencies.

However, his eldest brother’s explanation was reasonable. He told her to take this opportunity to improve her professional skills, so she didn’t question it.

When Jiang Nian arrived with food, the two were busy working.

Aside from the reinforced and modified doors and windows for safety, the interior layout was largely unchanged. It was almost the same as when he and Cheng Jing lived there, except for the lingering smell of smoke left behind by his fake rival, Yang Kai.

Jiang Nian organized the food and called the two busy people over to eat.

The air conditioner was set low, just enough to give Jiang Nian and Huang Qian goosebumps when they touched water or felt the breeze. However, Cheng Jing’s skin was so hot that he was sweating heavily.

Jiang Nian handed him a glass of iced soda.

“Brother Jing, are you okay? You’re sweating so much, and your skin’s burning hot…”

Cheng Jing took the glass and took two gulps. He shook his head.

“I don’t know why, but I’m feeling really hot today. I’ve had the AC running since noon, yet I’m still sweating like crazy. I feel even hotter.”

Jiang Nian frowned.

“Did you overheat? Are you uncomfortable anywhere else?”

The end of the world was coming—they couldn’t afford to get sick.

Cheng Jing shook his head.

“I don’t feel unwell anywhere, just hot.”

Huang Qiang commented absurdly:

“He’s probably just mad because he made up with you. I mean, being alone and repressed for two years wasn’t easy.”

“…”

Jiang Nian was stunned for a second before realizing what she meant. He felt a little embarrassed.

He could only appear calm in front of Cheng Jing; he couldn’t act stubborn in front of outsiders.

As expected, she was the kind of woman who could be Brother Jing’s assistant—so fierce and sharp!

Cheng Jing rolled his eyes at her.

“If you can’t keep your mouth shut, sew it up!”

Huang Qian, a beautiful woman, curled her lips and didn’t care. Seeing Jiang Nian wipe Cheng Jing’s sweat, she clicked her tongue twice.

“Overtime work is already exhausting these days, and now you’re forced to eat dog food, too…”

Jiang Nian wasn’t good at bantering with outsiders, but he was quite good at talking nonsense. So he casually asked,

“Sister Huang Qian, do you have a boyfriend? I didn’t see anyone pick you up the other night.”

He was curious—what kind of man could handle a wild woman like her?

“Shut up!”

Huang Qian snapped her jade-like fingers.

“I want to be beautiful on my own. I don’t need a man!”

She gritted her teeth on that last line. Just as Jiang Nian was about to praise her, saying, “Being beautiful on your own is amazing,” Cheng Jing cut in just in time.

“Qian’s love started with looks and ended in depravity. Her ex is still in a hospital’s physical therapy ward from overstraining his back.”

“Cheng Jing! You’re spreading lies and twisting the truth!”

Huang Qian finally lost it, and one of her delicate hands transformed into the Nine Yin White Bone Claw[mfn]The Nine Yin White Bone Claw (九阴白骨爪, Jiǔ Yīn Bái Gǔ Zhǎo) is a fictional martial arts technique (kung fu move) from the famous Chinese wuxia (martial arts) novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes (射雕英雄传) by Jin Yong (金庸).[/mfn].

Just as Jiang Nian was worried about his beautiful partner, Cheng Jing swiftly grabbed her wrist.

“How many times do I have to tell you? Don’t hit someone in the face, especially a man’s face, when you fight. You don’t have a boyfriend, but I do. If I get dumped again, it’s on you.”

“With a mouth like yours, you deserve to get dumped…”

Huang Qian was so furious at his smug face that she raised her other hand—just as Jiang Nian handed her a cup of chilled, floral tea to calm her down.

“Sister Qian, don’t be angry. Being beautiful on your own is great. A good woman deserves to shine on her own.”

He felt inferior to his fierce little brother-in-law. After all, he couldn’t send Cheng Jing to the hospital for overworked hips—he himself might end up there from overworking instead.

“All right, we’re even.”

Her captured hand still struggled, and Cheng Jing reflexively tried to shake her off with a little force.

He thought he had controlled his strength well, but Huang Qian suddenly let out a sharp “Ah!” She flung the tea from her other hand and collapsed from her chair with a pained expression.

“…”