Bei Sining: "…………"
The cat blushed and its tail almost stood up. As expected of the human it raised, it was so good at talking. Say more!
But then he thought of something, put on a stern face and said, "You're worried about such trivial matters? Do you look down on me? I only ignored those fleas because I didn't want to cause trouble. If they really messed with me, I could blow up that research institute in no time."
After saying that, he added smugly, "It's not like I haven't blown it up before."
"……"Too.
As Wen Zheng ate, he thought that perhaps they really didn't need to be so tense. However, it would be best to avoid frying if possible; the current balance was the best for them, a fact that Bei Sining also knew.
“There’s no need to worry for now,” Wen Zheng said. “Old Liu takes this matter very seriously and has already gone to negotiate. They have signed a confidentiality agreement regarding your matter in the Arctic. If they forget, we will take action to help them remember. However, this research institute is mostly the result of the Allied countries turning a blind eye. Once it is exposed, it will be shut down very quickly.”
Wen Zheng added, "This is the most ideal situation."
Bei Sining silently hummed in agreement and ate a few bites of the all-natural green wood ear mushroom and scrambled eggs.
He's smart; he naturally understands the power dynamics involved.
When the world faces apocalypse, all of humanity unites like never before, willing to sign any agreement. But once the external enemy disappears, nations will return to a delicate competitive relationship.
The key to Wen Zheng's argument is not signing an agreement, but rather the deterrent effect of national power.
Bei Sining can't do much in other aspects, but as long as Liu Anshi keeps his promise and as long as Xia Guo's stance is firm, he doesn't mind using force to deter them.
For example, let's bring out "subspace" again to scare people, haha.
Wen Zheng underestimated the importance that the higher authorities attached to this matter. On the very day the evidence was submitted, Liu Lao set up a special task force, held three days of meetings, and determined the course of action for this matter.
Upon receiving the notification, Wen Zheng asked for leave from school and met up with the cat spirit involved and Wendy in the capital.
Upon exiting the airport, they were immediately surrounded by heavily armed bodyguards who escorted them to the upscale hotel next door. After entering the large conference room, Wen Zheng was surprised to see Rick.
"What are you doing here?" Everyone else looked travel-worn and dusty from their journey, but Rick was dressed smartly, with his bespectacled assistant sitting beside him.
His eyes lit up when he saw Bei Sining: "Hey, Bei! That pure little sprite in your company, her name is Ye, right?"
"?" Bei Sining was furious: "Where did you find out? What's it to you what his name is?"
Rick inexplicably felt a father-in-law-like pressure, shook his head and felt it no longer. Just as he was about to shamelessly continue to ask, Old Liu led a group of people in, followed by Paige and his three tall and strong Xiong Guo brothers.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Elder Liu explained the details and objectives of the mission: to delve into the research institute and find evidence of the other side's anti-protocol experiments so that they could negotiate with the Allied Powers.
"Little Wen," Old Liu took a sip of tea, still smiling, "Originally, the higher-ups planned to send a special force, but after receiving the information you provided, I suggest we just send you directly?"
"Firstly, this matter is closely related to you, and staying in the country to wait for news would only make you uneasy. Secondly, you are all top-notch warriors, and Miss Wen is an outstanding cyber talent in our country, with very strong abilities on her own. Moreover, you have been investigating privately for a long time and are very clear about all the circumstances, which will make your efforts twice as effective."
None of the others spoke, and Bei Sining played with a tissue out of boredom.
Old Liu said, "Of course, if you don't want to go, you can say so, and we'll find someone else. But Xiao Wen, I remember you've never been abroad before? Why not take this opportunity to go out and have some fun? Keep the receipts for your food and lodging, and we'll reimburse you, haha."
Wen Zheng was stunned; he was indeed tempted.
Before he had the chance, he dreamed of going out and seeing the world. Later, when it was said that he could go out, he was held back by all sorts of mundane matters. He thought that since he had the opportunity anyway, he might not be able to go right away, so he never made it.
Rick said, "Come on~ it's on me, no need to claim expenses! Everything will be done through our company's partner project. We'll visit our survival space headquarters as soon as we get off the plane. I guarantee the operation will be discreet and leave no trace!"
He looked at Wen Zheng expectantly, pouting in a fake manner: "Sigh, May introduced you to me a long time ago, but you haven't been coming to the company lately even though you have free time, and you haven't been online in games either. Don't you like me anymore?"
Wen Zheng: "..."
Bei Sining: "………………"
Seeing that the cat spirit was about to lose its temper, Wendy quickly stepped in to smooth things over, laughing first and saying, "I agree! A publicly funded trip, free weapons, and a tour guide throughout the trip—why wouldn't you go for something so good! Right, Wenzheng?"
Wen Zheng calmly crumpled the tissue that Bei Sining had torn into pieces into a ball, stood up and asked, "When are you leaving?"
With Mr. Liu handling everything, they completed all the formalities after one night's rest, and the next day they departed directly from the Capital Airport, taking a morning flight to NQ City in the Allied Country.
Wen Zheng had flown many times, but this was his first time at a civilian airport, going through the security check of ordinary people. He had to look up at the signs every now and then to figure out where to go.
The entire Capital Airport is supported by a rounded steel frame structure, with a fully transparent glass dome and walls, reflecting the blue sky and showing flight contrails.
The crowds were dense, with travelers dragging suitcases, making phone calls, and the sounds of babies crying.
After Wen Zheng passed through customs, he and Bei Sining sat on a bench in the waiting room, staring intently at the electronic travel stamp on their phones for a long while.
“Bai Shuang used to trick me, she photoshopped a stamp on my face and said that with this I could travel abroad,” Wen Zheng said. “I took this to Xu Ji and asked him about it, and Xu Ji said no.”
"Looking back now, I realize that he rarely fulfilled my requests and rarely explained them. He was very kind, always smiling at me and very gentle, but he would refuse me. When I pressed him for an answer, he said, 'Good children don't ask questions.'"
Bei Sining pulled Wen Zheng into her arms and gave a cold snort.
“After this happened so many times, I gradually stopped making requests and refusing, because it was pointless to say anything.” Wen Zheng pulled Bei Sining’s hand and played with his rounded pink nails, his voice calm: “He still thought I really liked the beef patties he made, but actually I haven’t liked them for a long time.”
“…Bei Sining,” Wen Zheng paused, “I have many shortcomings.”
"I'm not good at expressing myself, and I'm not good at asking for help. I realize that, and I'll change in the future." Wen Zheng squeezed his hand and smiled at Bei Sining: "Give me some more time, okay?"
Rick across from them was taking pictures with his phone, making clicking noises.
Wendy stood next to him, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she posted on Weibo.
Paige's brothers left first, leaving Paige alone, bewildered, recalling the terrifying memory of being used as a cushion by the two of them for kissing.
"I want to get married too," Paige said sadly. "Wendy, you're very pretty. Do you have a boyfriend? Would you consider me?"
After posting on Weibo, Wendy flipped her hair, chuckled, and replied, "I have a dog, I don't need a boyfriend."
Paige: "…………"
The trip was ostensibly to visit the headquarters of the Survival Space game company.
As the host, Rick had his assistant make all the travel arrangements perfectly.
The survival space releases over a hundred new instances every year, a massive undertaking. The company occupies ten floors of a landmark skyscraper, making it even larger than the survival company. After dropping off their luggage at the hotel, Wen Zheng and his group were first taken by Rick to tour the company.
The elevator was so bright it was like a mirror. Rick was showering his wife with compliments, and Wen Zheng's feelings were slightly complicated. He let it go in one ear and out the other, occasionally humming in agreement.
In a sense, this visit was a dream come true.
I wonder what kind of life their full-time dungeon designers lead?
"We have three months for the initial selection of drafts, followed by discussion meetings. Our design department is the most creative part of the entire company; everyone here is a genius! An artist! A chef of the soul!"
The elevator dinged and opened, accompanied by Rick's impassioned words: "Join us and experience the joy of creation!"
"..." Everyone fell silent as they looked at the scene before them.
Pizza boxes were piled up higher than a person, and the floor was littered with leftover fast food bags. There wasn't much trash on the long table arranged in a circle, but three people were standing on it.
One person was muttering to himself while holding his head in his hands, another was singing "Jingle Bells" into the light while holding a sketchbook, and yet another was hanging his head dejectedly. If a rope were to be wrapped around his neck, he would look like he was hanging himself.
The person sitting in front of the computer next to it also looked rather strange.
Some were pulling hair, some were making phone calls, some were crying while typing, and some were cursing at a group of young people.
"Are you trash?! How could you even pick out such garbage design?! I bet you want to eat garbage!" The one yelling was a petite woman who turned her head and immediately spotted Rick. Her eyes widened instantly, and she rushed over with superhuman speed, yelling, "Trash Rick! Where the hell have you been?! I thought you'd been shredded in two by the garbage truck! You piece of trash!"
...
Half an hour later, the group finally settled down in a cozy lounge, with lemonade placed in front of them.
Wen Zheng had just finished reorganizing his worldview when he saw the petite girl and Rick come in smiling, and instinctively took a step back.
Did he want to work here before? Wen Zheng was glad he hadn't rashly submitted his resume...
"I'm sorry," the girl scratched her head, "The selection process is always a bit chaotic every year... The submissions this year aren't very good, sigh."
Rick said, "People who are used to playing games tend to have fixed mindsets, and it's become increasingly difficult for them to break out of their established genres in recent years. That's why I insisted on inviting you here."
Rick looked at Wen Zheng, then at Bei Sining: "And Bei's dungeon, its setting and system are also amazing. If it can be made, it will definitely be loved by many people."
“Actually, there are quite a few things like this in Xia Guo,” Wen Zheng said. “Bei Sining’s case isn’t that special. Your company has too few architects from Xia Guo. We have many more treasures to dig out, and they are definitely more exciting than Bei Sining’s case.”
Rick's eyes lit up: "There are many? You mean everyone flying around, dressed in ancient costumes? Cultivators?"
His pronunciation sounded strange through the translator. Wen Zheng nodded and looked at Bei Sining: "Anyway, it's all made up. You can create your own system. If you're unsure about anything, you can ask him."
Bei Sining naturally gave Wen Zheng face and nodded upon hearing this.
Rick quickly jotted down a note in his notebook, then asked Wen Zheng, "And you? Do you have any good ideas?"
Wen Zheng was silent for a moment: "Yes."
"Can your motion-sensing engine recreate subspace?"
Everyone present was stunned.
“No images can be recorded in the subspace, and only specific people can enter. Only a few hundred of us have seen the scenery inside and know the dangers.” Wen Zheng said slowly, “Although the apocalypse has passed, I want more people to see, experience, and remember what it was like. Out of selfishness, I want everyone to remember it, and remember it for a longer time.”
Author's Note: Wendy: I have a dog, why would I need a man, hehe.
Chapter 111
Rick jotted down the idea and fell into deep thought, while Wen Zheng and the others returned to the hotel upon seeing this.
The girl saw them out, smiling as she said, "Even if there are technical difficulties, we will try our best to overcome them. We'll leave it to you then."
After leaving the Sky headquarters, Page took his equipment and went to meet with the Brotherhood. He would notify them immediately if there were any breakthroughs.
Wen Zheng and Bei Sining stayed at the hotel, providing cover for Wendy to install network equipment while waiting for Page to contact them.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
After Peiqi and the others returned from their shifts to wash up and rest, Wen Zheng and Bei Sining were really bored, so they played retro handheld games in their room and tried to cultivate when the moon was bright at night.
After the moon set, Wen Zheng couldn't sleep because Bei Sining was hugging him from behind, pressing one hand on his lower abdomen.
This location is said to be the dantian.
That unwashed, dirty stone exists in this very mystical place, exchanging energy with the people behind it, forming strange streams of heat.
To be honest, it's a bit hard to describe.
Bei Sining fell asleep quickly; the cat spirit always slept a lot. He said that human cultivators at his level could go three years without sleeping, but the demon race didn't have this habit. They were generally very lazy, not only needing to sleep, but also needing to sleep a lot.
So Wen Zheng was left awake alone, lost in his own thoughts.
The curtains weren't drawn, and the night light flickered, creating shifting spots of light on the wall. A warm glow emanated from her back as Bei Sining's soft breath brushed against the back of her neck.
Wen Zheng felt that he could lie like this forever.
***