RIACMET chapter 257

 

The misunderstanding was resolved, but Tang Ji remained cold in the following days. It was only when he saw Chu Yi’s chapped lips and overheard a few people teasing him that he started to feel a little embarrassed. He thought to himself,

I really need to control my emotions. After all, Chu Yi is their leader and has to deal with many people and things. Maybe I did go a little overboard.”

Chu Yi didn’t mind, though. He spoke kindly to those who had been cold to him and explained why he had asked what he did.

Tang Ji realized that his steady, thoughtful boyfriend sometimes made mistakes when he was stuck in a dead end.

To others, like Xiaoya, the interaction made the two people who had just quarreled look like a couple.

“…”

After returning to the base, reporting the mission, and finishing the paperwork, Chu Yi finally got his first proper long vacation since the apocalypse, with Tang Ji.

Aside from resting and readjusting, he planned to take Tang Ji to the base where his family lived.

Before heading out on the mission, Tang Ji had handed over his duties at the base, so he could go on leave immediately after finishing the task ahead of schedule.

Chu Yi arranged everything else.

It was time to meet Chu Yi’s parents. The anxiety that Tang Ji had felt over the past few days finally eased. He actively asked about Chu Yi’s family and made some preparations.

Two days later, everything was ready.

That night, Chu Yi informed his family in advance that he and his partner would be visiting. He also asked them for some basic information about K Base.

After the call, Tang Ji wanted to leave, but Chu Yi wouldn’t let him. He had no choice but to sit quietly and wait.

However, he relaxed upon hearing his boyfriend’s family speak positively and enthusiastically about him.

Especially with that strong arm wrapped around him.

“… ”

Chu Yi knew that he had said things before that made Xiao Ji feel insecure. After hanging up, he said seriously,

“Xiao Ji, our relationship has already been reported to the leadership. We’re not just an ordinary couple. Without registering with the Civil Affairs Bureau, it’s basically the same as being married.”

He was older than Tang Ji and more experienced in many ways. He should have taken better care of his lover, but instead, he made him feel insecure. That was his failure as a partner.

“All right, I understand now.”

Tang Ji nodded, his face red, and added,

“Then let’s leave earlier so you can spend more time with your family.”

Chu Yi smiled.

“Don’t worry. We’re free this time. We can also talk to K Base about zombie evolution and improving soil quality. It’s fine if we stay longer.”

After a brief pause, he added,

“I told my parents we’d leave next Monday.”

“That’s fine.”

Tang Ji nodded and counted the days on the calendar again.

“Today’s Monday, so we still have a week. Is there anything else you need to take care of?”

Chu Yi stared at him intently and smiled wickedly.

“Yes, and it’s very important.”

“What…”

Tang Ji wanted to ask, but when he met his gaze, his heart skipped a beat, and he didn’t dare speak. Heat crept up his face, and he lowered his head slightly.

It seemed like he was finally going to be “taken care of.”

“Xiao Ji.”

Chu Yi knew his personality well and didn’t tease him on purpose. He simply hugged him and rolled over with him.

“It’s not right for newlyweds to sleep in separate rooms. Don’t you think?”

This vacation was meant for dating. Everything else was secondary. There was no need to put the cart before the horse.

“… ”

Tang Ji nervously clutched his arm with both hands. His face turned red, his mind buzzed, and he bit his lip, forgetting to say anything.

It’s over. Even though I had imagined this scenario many times, I was still a total rookie when it was really happening.

His chest rose and fell sharply as he swallowed and his thoughts turned slowly.

What did Brother Nian, his “gold-medal strategist,” say again?

Be more proactive? Have fun?

But how can I be wild when I’m being pinned down like this?

Seeing how nervous he was, Chu Yi leaned in and gently stroked his hot cheeks and neck with his rough palm. He changed the topic slightly:

“It’s my fault for not handling things well and making you anxious.”

They had started dating during a hectic time, and he hadn’t been able to coordinate things properly. It wouldn’t be like this in the future.

“I don’t blame you. I can wait as long as you don’t regret it.”

Tang Ji’s eyes were red and his voice trembled with nervousness and joy.

He had known about Chu Yi’s job from the beginning and had never complained about being neglected because of it. What he was afraid of was that Chu Yi would have second thoughts.

Chu Yi lowered his head and kissed him.

“Xiao Ji, if I make mistakes in the future, you can blame and criticize me. That’s your right as my partner. Don’t let your imagination run wild. From now on, you’re my lover first and my colleague second.”

“Alright…”

Tang Ji agreed, obediently closing his eyes when he was kissed. However, he clutched his hands even tighter, his body trembling slightly.

“It’s okay, don’t be scared.”

Chu Yi breathed heavily and coaxed him gently, though his actions were far less gentle than his words.

“Mm… Chu Yi…”

Tang Ji softly called out the man’s name in a daze. What answered him was a rush of warm breaths.

All of his anxiety and worries melted away in the flood of rising emotions, and he felt satisfied and comforted.

…

Like any proper couple, they completed the “honeymoon phase” procedures and finally reached a happy ending. After spending a week together with their friends, Chu Yi and Tang Ji set out for K Base.

Due to their absence, Xiaoya’s field mission was temporarily suspended. Instead, she was assigned to help plan and build the new area of the base.

She was in charge of relocating the equipment room and the large-scale machinery control room, which had been moved back from outside to their proper locations.

Other people’s duties were adjusted as well:

Liang Yunhao, Uncle Li, and his son jointly managed the Superpower Bounty Guild.

The grocery store associated with the guild flourished under Li Shuhui’s management, and the goods traded became increasingly diverse and complex.

Besides providing daily necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, the base began renting out special equipment with official approval:

Such items included compasses, walkie-talkies, trackers, maps, weapons, rifles, and ammunition.

Ordinary people rented these items when they needed to leave the base. Of course, the deposits were substantial—if the items weren’t returned, the losses would be too great.

No one expected the grocery store, originally just Jiang Nian’s obsession during the apocalypse, to grow into this. It started by selling whatever was available and now sells nearly everything.

Everything changed with the times and the demands of the market.

Jiang Nian liked to come by and check on the store during the day. He’d lounge in a reclining chair, eat ice cream made by Li Shuhui, chat with her, and plan how to spend their points.

He kept a notebook to record their team’s current industries at the South City Base.

And Jiang Wenwen had finally become the manager of Jiangnian Agriculture, just as she had wanted. Looking over the agricultural layout of South City Base, their farm was the greenest.

Meanwhile, Cheng Lei and his team were guarding Laboratory Building No. 3. Teacher Gao had started acting independently and was responsible for monitoring the movement of zombies and infected individuals inside and outside the base. He was the strongest barrier against zombie intrusion.

There was also a legion of non-staff superpowered beings overseen by Cheng Jing and Yang Kai. They all did their best to cooperate with the base’s overall planning.

However, ever since Teacher Gao arrived at the base, Yang Kai had rarely gone out far with his Unit 017 teammates and had instead stayed quietly at the base.

This made Cheng Jing and the others feel more at ease when they went out.

“…”

Inside the modified off-road vehicle, Chu Yi looked at the base walls slowly fading in the rearview mirror. His expression was more relaxed than ever.

South City Base was now filled with talent. Order and stability had been restored, making it the most reliable human refuge for survivors of the apocalypse. As an official, it was one of the results he most wanted to see.