RIACMET chapter 268

 

Jiang Nian was still in the bath. Huang Qian and Li Shuhui really wanted to sneak a peek at his bare butt, but they restrained themselves in the end.

After all, even if they lost their minds, Cheng Jing would never let them get away with it.

Li Shuhui pulled out a few bath toys: a tiny yellow duck, a water hamster wheel, a small turtle, and a little fish. She handed them to the oldest brother.

“Brother Cheng, here—give these to Brother Jiang Nian so he can play in the water.”

Cheng Jing wanted to remind her that Jiang Nian had only shrunk physically—his memory and intelligence were intact. But, seeing the hopeful expression on the young girl’s face, he accepted them anyway.

He took the toys into the bathroom, rinsed them off, and tossed them into the tub with an expression that was both indulgent and amused.

“Niannian, here. Xiaohui and Huang Qian brought these for you to play with.”

Then, he picked up the camera and snapped a few pictures. Spoiling someone like this, making them look even smaller, was strangely satisfying.

Jiang Nian curled his lip.

“Yeah, I figured…”

Still, he started playing happily. Since he already had them, he might as well have some fun and relive his childhood.

He’d had plenty of these kinds of toys when he was little. His mom had never let him down, always doing her best to give him what he wanted or needed at every stage of life.

So, Jiang Nian had fun in the bath while Cheng Jing, Huang Qian, and Li Shuhui sat outside, picking out outfits for him.

Cheng Jing personally thought Niannian looked good in anything. Over the next three days, he would let Niannian wear every outfit and show them off, so it didn’t matter what they picked.

Eventually, Huang Qian made a decision:

“Let’s go with the backless maid outfit, white stockings, black leather shoes, and a lace headband. I think that would really suit him.”

As she said this, she looked straight at Cheng Jing. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Might as well go big.

Cheng Jing touched his nose awkwardly.

“Alright, as long as it doesn’t reveal too much.”

Once the outfit was chosen, Cheng Jing brought it into the bathroom. Ten minutes later, he emerged carrying a fully dressed Jiang Nian, who was blushing furiously.

It was one thing to agree to wear women’s clothes. Actually putting them on was a whole other level of embarrassment.

“Sister Qian, Xiaohui…”

Jiang Nian greeted them shyly and asked Cheng Jing to set him down on the sofa.

Huang Qian’s eyes sparkled.

“Wow! I knew it! Little Nianzi, maid outfits are made for you!”

Her maternal instincts were overflowing. Had Cheng Jing not been there, she would have scooped him up and smothered him with affection on the spot.

Li Shuhui chimed in:

“Yeah, yeah! You look so good! Brother Jiang Nian would look so cute in skirts of all kinds!”

Then, she came over with a fluffy, fragrant, pink towel to dry his hair while Huang Qian adjusted his lace headband.

Cheng Jing didn’t object; he calmly held the camera and kept snapping photos.

“Don’t go overboard,” Jiang Nian grumbled.

He couldn’t help but complain. They were treating him like a doll. It was so embarrassing—his dignity was in shambles.

Once his hair was dry and the headband was in place, Huang Qian and Li Shuhui posed him in different ways and took more photos. They even had him strike various “styles.”

As long as they didn’t cross any lines, Jiang Nian was willing to cooperate. He didn’t want to ruin their fun, and Cheng Jing certainly didn’t stop them.

“…”

Soon, the other teammates started showing up one by one. Jiang Nian became the team’s “mascot,” taking photos and serving as a live check-in point. During this time, Huang Qian and Li Shuhui relentlessly encouraged him to change into several different outfits.

Finally, they took a group photo with the entire team. Cheng Jing put Jiang Nian in the center position, leaving behind a “colorful legacy” in Team 017’s history.

Jiang Nian suspected that they were all doing this on purpose, especially Brother Jing.

Other than the two girls, no one dared to make requests. Everyone was afraid that, once he recovered, Jiang Nian would drag them off for combat training.

As long as superpowers weren’t involved, no one could beat Brother Nian except Cheng Jing. Talent like his couldn’t be matched by ordinary effort.

Some even suspected that Jiang Nian had let Cheng Jing win. However, with no proof, no one dared to bring it up. They couldn’t begin to understand the power dynamics in a romantic relationship.

“I swear, I have to give birth to a child like this one day.”

Huang Qian declared dramatically while staring at the sweat-drenched, rosy-faced Jiang Nian. He sat there, letting them dress him up however they pleased.

The rest of the team couldn’t help but laugh. They glanced at her, then at Lu Ningzhou, as if judging his genetics. In the end, they all nodded seriously and agreed it was possible.

Zhou Rongbin gave an approving nod.

“Now that the base is stable, those who want children can start planning.”

Children were humanity’s hope for the future, and the authorities had already begun drafting protection policies.

Liao Yu immediately chimed in with a solemn tone:

“Sister Qian, please have lots of babies. Our whole team will help raise them—we’ll make sure they’re well-fed, well-dressed, safe, and happy.”

The others all smiled and nodded in agreement.

Jiang Nian, sitting elegantly, tugged at his skirt and added,

“Live like me, Sister Qian. You can do it.”

There was nothing that someone as amazing as Sister Qian couldn’t do.

“… ”

Once everyone had had their fill of teasing, they finally dispersed.

Huang Qian was the last to leave. At the door, she pulled Cheng Jing aside and whispered,

“He’s so cute. So, how do you plan to ‘play’ with him?”

“You—Huang Qian!”

Cheng Jing almost choked.

“Don’t drag me down with your pervy thoughts!”

He liked the mini version of Nian Nian, but not like that. This was a different kind of affection! What on earth was this woman thinking?!

Huang Qian raised an eyebrow.

“All right then. I’ll see if you’re a real gentleman or a degenerate in disguise.”

Cheng Jing rolled his eyes.

“Have Niannian purify your brain later. Clearly, you’re infected.”

Still unbothered, Huang Qian kept up the nonsense:

“Or, let me borrow Xiaonian for a few days—”

“Go find Lu Ningzhou, have babies, and raise them together. I’ll kill zombies and earn money to feed your whole family.”

Cheng Jing cut her off, slammed the door, and exhaled deeply.

In everyone else’s eyes, was he really just a pervert around Jiang Nian?

When did his image turn into this?

When he returned to the living room, he saw Jiang Nian trying to tear open a vacuum-sealed snack pack using both hands, both feet, and his teeth.

The packaging was top-quality. The poor guy gave it his all, face turning red from effort, but still couldn’t open it with his stubby arms and legs. Instead, he left little trails of drool on the wrapper. Finally, he turned to Cheng Jing with pleading eyes.

“Brother Jing, help me…”

It was over. This snack had completely lost its dignity.

Cheng Jing took the wrapper, opened it, and said,

“Just eat a little. Dinner’s almost ready.”

He couldn’t even sneak snacks on his own for the next few days—so cute!

Jiang Nian nodded obediently. “Okay.”

He could only manage a few matchstick-sized pieces of tofu. The smaller his body became, the less he could eat.

Still, this kind of superpower had great practical applications, especially during difficult times. The team had started taking turns shrinking down to conserve resources.