Chapter 11: No Free Lunch
Fei stood beside Jiang Xu, his tone uncharacteristically gentle. “It was getting late; I thought you had returned to the Jiang house.”
“?” A flash of surprise appeared in Jiang Xu’s eyes. These words had a bit less frost and a bit more warmth than before.
Fei waited for Jiang Xu to finish changing his shoes before continuing, “Please sit in the living room for a moment. I will prepare dinner for you immediately.”
“Alright.”
Jiang Xu looked at his back strangely; this bug was quite easy to please.
But it was for the best; they would likely be living together for a long time. It wasn’t a bad thing for their relationship to soften.
The sound of stir-frying soon came from the kitchen, and a savory meat aroma wafted out.
After a short while, Fei brought the food out and placed it on the dining table, calling out to the living room, “Xiongzhu, dinner is read—”
He was caught off guard as his eyes met Jiang Xu’s; the other seemed to be watching him. He quickly lowered his eyes to avoid the other’s direct gaze.
“Xiongzhu, please enjoy your dinner.”
Jiang Xu suddenly let out a soft chuckle, stood up, walked to the table, sat down, and began his dinner.
The two bugs ate in silence, but from time to time, Jiang Xu felt a gaze sizing him up.
He turned to look at Fei, but the other had already hidden any trace of it.
“Is something wrong?”
Fei remained silent, his hand pausing for a moment while eating, but he quickly covered it up.
Seeing that he wouldn’t speak, Jiang Xu continued to finish the rest of his food.
He pulled a tissue, meticulously wiped the food residue from his mouth, and only after finishing everything did he look at Fei again.
“If you’re not going to speak, I’m going back to my room.”
Fei had been hesitating, but seeing Jiang Xu actually about to stand up, he grew somewhat frantic and pressed both hands onto the other’s arm just as he was about to leave the table.
“Xiongzhu, I have something to tell you.”
Jiang Xu, who was half-standing, sat back down in his chair. “Speak.”
“This afternoon, when I went to the military district to submit the paperwork, Admiral Lan told me to start reporting for duty at the military district starting tomorrow.”
Except for him, all the bugs on the previous roster had gone to the battlefield. The military district currently had too many affairs to handle.
They desperately needed capable bugs to step up.
They hadn’t originally counted on Fei’s quota; they had all heard of the great Jiang Xu’s reputation.
The willingness document submitted today was thought to be just a formality; they hadn’t expected to actually get it back.
Who knew the other would actually agree?
When Lan received the document Fei personally submitted in his office, Fei could still remember the look of shock on his face.
“That’s what you’ve been agonizing over for so long?” Jiang Xu was helpless. He was the one who had signed that document, and he had a general idea of what was written in it.
Such an outcome was predictable.
Did such a normal occurrence really require a Cichong to think for so long?
Fei didn’t understand; he was merely following the regulations in the Cishi Code, obeying every single taboo.
“Got it.” Jiang Xu stood up and went upstairs again, only this time Fei didn’t stop him.
The next morning, Jiang Xu woke up early.
But someone had woken even earlier than him.
Hearing the faint sounds from downstairs, he didn’t need to think to know it was Fei making breakfast.
After washing up, Jiang Xu went downstairs and walked to the kitchen door, watching Fei busy at work.
“You don’t need to make me breakfast on purpose from now on. If you have to leave early for work, just look after yourself.”
During his outing yesterday, he had already looked at all the shops along the road by the entrance.
Not far away, there was a place that sold food.
Fei, who was focused on making breakfast, was startled by the voice behind him. He spun around abruptly, and only after seeing it was Jiang Xu did he say:
“I’m not in a hurry. I can make it to work even after preparing breakfast for you.”
Since this bug didn’t find it troublesome, Jiang Xu didn’t care.
Anyway, he was the one benefiting.
Once breakfast was on the table, Fei went to the second floor.
When Jiang Xu saw him again, the other had already changed into a military uniform.
“Xiongzhu, I am going to the military district. Please leave the plates in the kitchen; I will wash them when I return tonight.” After saying this, Fei headed out.
Jiang Xu watched his crisp, efficient movements and set down his utensils, observing the departing bug.
He suddenly understood Bernd’s lecherousness a little.
After eating, Jiang Xu casually washed the dishes.
He couldn’t cook, but he could certainly wash dishes.
After drying the plates and putting them in the cupboard, Jiang Xu went into the study.
Now, he needed to investigate the economic and industrial situation of the Zerg race. Even though he was a bug, he still needed a means of making a living.
Thinking of the money on Fei’s card, he would consider it as helping the other invest in himself.
Right now, he was indeed very short on money.
However, he needed to prepare some office tools. Jiang Xu looked around the study; there wasn’t even a simple computer.
Having to check everything on his wrist screen every time was a bit inconvenient.
He clicked on a shopping platform and began purchasing items one by one.
First Military District, combat meeting room.
The communicator on Fei’s wrist wouldn’t stop chiming with notification alerts.
Lan looked at Fei with a helpless expression. “Why don’t you see what’s going on?”
Recalling the Jiang Xu he had seen on Bernd’s communicator, he couldn’t help but feel a bit of pity—not only for Fei but for himself as well.
Fei was a bit embarrassed. If he said he and his Xiongzhu weren’t familiar, the other likely wouldn’t believe him.
He didn’t know why the other was suddenly sending him so many messages.
“Yes.” Fei awkwardly turned his back and checked the new alerts. Only then did he realize that although he had given his asset card to the other, it was still tied to his own communicator.
It turned out the other was shopping online. He scrolled down, glancing over twenty separate payment notifications.
Seeing that the alerts had stopped, Fei assumed the other had finished buying what he needed.
“Is there some emergency?” Seeing Fei sit straight again, Lan continued, “Do you need me to grant you leave?”
Fei: “No need. Just some advertising spam; it’s fine.”
Lan was a bit worried. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Admiral Lan, please continue the meeting.” Fei told the other firmly.
“Since there’s no problem, let’s continue with the matters of the Western Battlefield…”
“Yes!” Several bugs in the meeting room responded in unison.
Jiang Xu had no idea that his shopping spree had caused a minor interruption for the other. Right now, he was simply amazed at the sheer efficiency of the Zerg delivery service.
Less than half an hour after he placed the order, every single item he bought had appeared in his study.
Not only that, even the computer had been installed and set up for him. He looked at the service worker who was cleaning up the “battlefield,” feeling a bit envious.
If his own employees had this kind of efficiency, he might actually wake up laughing in his sleep.
After packing up all the waste packaging, the service worker handed a document to Jiang Xu. “Hello, customer. Please rate our service. If you are satisfied, please give us a five-star review. This is linked to our performance bonuses; thank you for your understanding.”
Jiang Xu quickly signed his name and didn’t hold back on the five stars.
Look at that—standard professional smiles!
Thinking of his own employees, Jiang Xu felt a headache for no reason. He hoped they were performing their duties well before he returned.
That was all he asked of them.
After seeing the service workers off, Jiang Xu returned to the study and officially began his work.
He didn’t care what other Xiongchong were like, but he wasn’t someone who lived off “soft rice.”
He needed a job that could support him.
And this job was also the best way for him to integrate into this society. If possible, he even hoped he could open a sanctuary for these Cichong.
Of course, for his current self, that seemed a bit like a pipe dream.
But having seen what freedom and equality looked like, he hoped he could see such a society in this world as well.
At this thought, Jiang Xu fell silent.
Hopefully, he would have such an ability.
It was just that right now, he was too insignificant.
At this moment, Jiang Xu didn’t know what kind of power the Jiang family possessed, nor did he know why they insisted he marry Fei.
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