Chapter 78: 078 Like a thorn in one’s side
In this apocalyptic wasteland, there were many threats to survival: scarcity of food and water, mutant monsters, and so on.
For Chen Xu and his companion, in this refugee shelter, those threats could be put on hold. What concerned them more were the people who had stayed behind.
At first, they didn’t think much of it. But as ti passed, the delay of these people in making an appearance beca very troubling.
The human heart is the hardest to fathom; the re thought of other people hiding sowhere in the shelter, reluctant to show themselves even after a month, was like a thorn in their side.
How many of them were there?
Why hide and not show themselves?
What were they planning?
The longer Chen Xu and his partner stayed, the deeper their suspicions grew.
Whenever they thought that every move they made was possibly being observed by those people, they felt downright creeped out.
Without rooting out these people, they couldn’t rest easy.
Originally, after the last event, Chen Xu had co to a realization: his initial choice to scan Yang Jinxia was because she was beautiful and had an appealing deanor, and he wanted to develop a relationship with her beyond friendship in a dream.
As for whether she was cunning or had a good nature, what did it matter?
After all, once the dream ended, so would the relationship, and even she herself wouldn’t know. There wouldn’t be any loose ends—where else could he find such a perfect relationship?
If it were in reality, with his conditions, the chance of finding such a beautiful girlfriend was slim. Moreover, girls who were generally attractive seldom lacked admirers. To put it nicely, they were sowhat princess-like. To put it bluntly, they were a bit of a hassle.
Even if he were lucky enough to win her over, he felt he couldn’t stand it for long and would quickly break it off.
A beautiful, gentle, considerate, and understanding woman… Well, it seed that he could only find such a woman in a dream.
The current Yang Jinxia seed to fit that mold slightly. Not to ntion actively seeking to please, at least she took care of his feelings in every way, neither giving him the cold shoulder nor being unreasonably difficult.
He was well aware that her attitude stemd from the special circumstances they were in.
In the real world, a woman like her probably wouldn’t give him a second glance.
He knew if it had been in the past, perhaps years later, he would have compromised under his parents’ wishes, married a woman he found pleasing to the eye, and made do with life, having children together.
But now, with the virtual dream device in hand, he had no wish to live that way.
He was an ordinary man who also longed for love, but if it required a deaning deanor to obtain, he would rather be without it.
Now, he could experience nearly ideal romance in a dream; why not indulge in it?
He reflected for a mont on his past attitude towards Luo Xiyun and Yang Jinxia, which was mainly due to being too imrsed and not properly adjusting his ntality.
His mindset adjusted, yet Chen Xu still hadn’t taken practical action.
The thought of those hidden people made him uncomfortable; if they really were spying and he did sothing with her, wouldn’t that be a live broadcast?
Yang Jinxia seed to share the concern, and although they hadn’t formally communicated about it, there was an understanding between them in this respect.
“But how do we get in?” Evidently, Yang Jinxia knew what Chen Xu was referring to.
By now, they had searched the entire shelter without finding the hidden people. That left only the places they hadn’t been.
The access S01 had given them was quite high; there was only one place they didn’t have permission to enter: the control center.
They were standing in the hall, having carefully chosen their spot so that as long as they kept their voices within a certain range, they wouldn’t be overheard.
Chen Xu’s terminal, resembling a handheld computer, could access surveillance of the hall. They were also able to learn the placent of all the surveillance through this terminal.
As they spoke, they intentionally used their hands to cover their mouths to prevent their lip movents from being seen, behaving with the cautiousness of spies eting secretly.
Chen Xu whispered, “The control center isn’t very large, about one hundred and fifty square ters. Even if soone is hiding inside, it can’t be many.”
Yang Jinxia added, “This half-month, I’ve had 2003 keep an eye on the control center. S01 hasn’t left there at all. And I’ve checked the water supply data—there’s nothing abnormal.”
Chen Xu furrowed his brow and said, “That ans, besides people, the control room must also store a large amount of food and drinking water. That doesn’t make sense.”
A group of people, even just three or five, hiding in a control center of one hundred and fifty square ters, consuming food and drink inside—what was their aim?
She said, “I don’t think so either. Unless there’s so hidden space in the shelter that even the map on that handheld computer can’t find. Otherwise, S01 is lying.”
“It doesn’t need to lie about this,” Chen Xu felt S01’s words were still trustworthy. He pondered for a while and said, “Regardless, let’s find a way to get into the control center to check. If it really cos down to it, we’ll leave earlier.”
Yang Jinxia nodded in agreent.
She had insisted on leaving Shelter G5232 to obtain greater living space. Coming here, even though they lost the highest access, the facilities were much more advanced than before.
Most of the materials had been taken, but they could still find so scraps in the warehouse. While it wasn’t enough for large projects, it sufficed for the two of them.
This month, working together, they had remodeled the transport vehicle. They had used stronger special alloy steel plates, reinforcing and widening it, and also installed a small radar warning device, an air filter, a mini cultivation chamber, and so on.
With their modifications, the vehicle’s capability to survive in the wild was greatly enhanced. They could head directly to the United Army.
Of course, that was a backup option. Because the United Army’s headquarters were far away and the batteries currently in use simply wouldn’t last that far.
If they really had to go, they’d have to reclaim the energy core. S01 definitely wouldn’t just sit by in that scenario.
Beep—Beep—
Suddenly, a long alarm sounded all around, and red lights flashed. The two, who were in the midst of their secret discussion, were startled.
“Could S01 have discovered us? Is it preparing to strike first?”
Chen Xu was initially shocked but soon cald down. The thought flashed through his mind as he looked towards Yang Jinxia.
She was also looking at him, her expression not panicked, appearing thoughtful as she whispered, “This seems to be an invasion alert.”
Chen Xu said, “Let’s go and check.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)