After I Stopped Being a Simp, My Husband Fell for Me on His Own - Chapter 29

The sound of splashing water came from the bathroom.

The Beta had once again forgotten to turn on the privacy frosting mode. However, since the shower stall was tucked further inside, the view through the transparent glass was quite limited, especially once the steam rose and blurred the glass completely.

Ji Xingxiao did not know what he was thinking. He could have sternly refused or warned Yu Yi never to say such strange things again, but he did not. He simply watched in silence as Yu Yi entered the bathroom. Hearing the sound of the water, he could almost imagine the hot spray soaking Yu Yi’s black hair and droplets sliding down his slender body.

This dangerous line of thought made his throat tighten. Ji Xingxiao sat back stiffly on the multi-functional furniture, which had reverted to its sofa form. This was where Yu Yi slept every night, and it seemed to still carry the scent of the man’s clean, cheap soap. Perhaps it was even drifting from the bathroom.

It was too bizarre. He felt that the most correct course of action was to stand up immediately, return to his room, lock the door, and never come out again. What was the point of sitting here? Was he actually waiting for Yu Yi to wash up?

The moment that thought crossed his mind, Ji Xingxiao felt he was going insane. It was a mix of panic and an indescribable sense of shame. He could no longer tolerate these uncontrollable, stray thoughts. This was surely just the effect of trace amounts of contaminated pheromones; he had not reached the point where he needed someone to mark him to solve the issue.

At that thought, he stood up and retreated to his room almost as if he were fleeing. When Yu Yi finished washing and came out to find the living room empty, he scratched his head. Being sensible, he did not go to bother Ji Xingxiao. It was exactly as he expected.

Yu Yi agonized over it for a long while but ultimately did not tell Ji Xingxiao the truth. He had not spent those 50,000 Star Coins either, though he would occasionally open his account just to look at the balance. He really needed money. Even though he was staying in Ji Xingxiao’s dormitory, he still needed funds for class materials and meals at the cafeteria. The cost of living in the Upper District was extremely high. If he did not find a way to make money, the 200,000 plus coins in his account would vanish quickly.

Furthermore, tuition was still an issue. That scumbag had already made it clear he would not provide any more help. Yu Yi did not understand tolerance indices. He only knew that when those people came looking for him, they had truly found the right person.

Soon, the following Friday arrived. Yu Yi told Ji Xingxiao in advance that he would be away for a part-time job for the next two days and would not be back at night. As he looked down to put on his shoes, the habitually silent Ji Xingxiao suddenly asked, “What kind of part-time job takes two days?”

“Just a part-time job,” Yu Yi replied vaguely, afraid of being found out. “It is quite far away, and they happen to have temporary dorms there. I will stay for two days and come back Sunday night. It will not interfere with Monday’s classes.”

Ji Xingxiao’s brow furrowed. “Did you not say you did not trust that place?”

“I was just a bit scared of the environment at first,” Yu Yi explained. “A waste processing plant is just like that. It has a rough environment, but it is legitimate.”

“What exactly are you doing there?” Ji Xingxiao asked.

“Sorting,” Yu Yi lied fluently, recalling the cover story provided to him. “Sorting mech scrap and things like that. I will only know the specifics once I get there.”

After a moment of silence, Ji Xingxiao said, “If you are truly in a difficult position…”

“No, it is not difficult,” Yu Yi said with a grin. “Was the biggest difficulty not already solved by you? Now I am just saving up money.”

Could he say the only way to solve his difficulties was to marry Ji Xingxiao? Of course not. Seeing Ji Xingxiao looking as if he wanted to say more but held back, Yu Yi felt a bit conflicted. If people found out that Ji Xingxiao’s fiancé was sorting trash, it would be quite embarrassing.

Thinking it over, Yu Yi added, “That place is near the Lower District. Generally, no one from the Academy goes there. If by some coincidence someone does see me, I will explain our actual relationship to them.”

Actual relationship? What did he mean by that?

Looking at Yu Yi, a wave of nameless irritation washed over Ji Xingxiao. What was there to explain? Yu Yi was the one who had proactively shown up at his door and made the matter known to everyone. What was he playing at now? Was it a game of playing hard to get?

Seeing that Ji Xingxiao remained silent, Yu Yi finished putting on his shoes, opened the door, and said, “I am off then.”

It took two hours just to reach Chen Cheng’s scrap recycling plant by train. He had an appointment with Chen Cheng at 5:00 PM. Yu Yi arrived right on time and rang the dilapidated bell at the gate. This time, it was not Chen Cheng who opened the door, but someone else.

Yu Yi could not quite tell the person’s gender. The person before him had handsome, clean features and extremely short, buzzed hair. He was about the same height as Yu Yi and wore a white tank top. Beneath the thin fabric, firm, wheat-colored muscles were visible. His features were deep-set, and he had an eyebrow piercing that gave him a rebellious look.

This person also seemed annoyed by the bell. Hearing the sound that resembled a broken gong, he muttered, “Stop pulling. Damn, why is this thing so annoying?”

Yu Yi quickly stopped. “Ah, um, I am…”

“Yu Yi,” the man interrupted, giving him a casual glance before turning to lead him into the factory. “I know.”

Following behind, Yu Yi noticed a very vivid pink chrysanthemum stuck on the back of the man’s neck. It was so striking that Yu Yi could not help but stare. He felt it looked familiar. Was it a tattoo? This person’s aesthetic was certainly wild.

Then he suddenly realized that it was not a tattoo; it was a scent-blocking patch. Yu Yi was startled. This person was actually an Omega. Blocking patches were specifically for Omegas. Nowadays, inhibitor technology was so advanced that patches were largely obsolete. Only Omegas in the Lower District who could not afford inhibitors still used them. Yu Yi recognized it because he had seen a few Omegas wearing them before. Apparently, they came in sheets of multi-colored chrysanthemums, and this person just happened to be wearing the pink one.

“Yu Yi,” Chen Cheng called out from inside when he saw him enter.

“Ah, Brother Chen,” Yu Yi nodded in greeting.

“Punctual as always.” Brother Chen had his feet propped up on the desk. He gestured with his chin toward the buzzed-haired Omega. “This is Meng Zhao, your teammate. Get to know each other.”

“Oh, hello,” Yu Yi said, looking at him. “My name is Yu Yi.”

Meng Zhao did not say a word, merely glancing at Yu Yi. For some reason, Yu Yi felt this Omega was not very friendly.

Chen Cheng laughed. “Hey, you two are technically alumni. Although our Zhao-zhao is a bit more impressive because he is from the Combat Academy next door.”

Combat Academy Omegas were extremely rare. Hearing this, Yu Yi could not hide his surprise. The man named Meng Zhao clearly did not appreciate Chen Cheng’s praise. He frowned and warned, “Do not use that name so casually.”

“Why not? Are you not Zhao-zhao?” Chen Cheng feigned surprise. “Why are you so disrespectful to your senior?”

Senior? Was Chen Cheng also from the Combat Academy? Yu Yi was astonished. He had not expected this small scrap yard to be such a gathering of hidden talents.

“I did not give you permission to call me that,” Meng Zhao hissed through gritted teeth.

Chen Cheng raised an eyebrow. “I have not even settled the score with you for cursing out the boss the other day, and you are already getting cocky with me?”

“That is because he is an idiot,” Meng Zhao said bluntly.

“If he were not an idiot, would he be paying you?”

Yu Yi listened to them bicker for a few rounds before they finally got down to business. Chen Cheng said, “Alright, Yu Yi, this is your teammate. We have thought about it. Since this is your first mission, we will start with a trial. The duration is set for four hours. We head out tonight. Is that alright?”

“No problem,” Yu Yi nodded. It seemed Meng Zhao was his only teammate. Yu Yi was a bit tense at first.

There was a direct tunnel from the scrap yard to the edge of the Contaminated Zone. The entrance was hidden in a cellar within the yard. Chen Cheng drove a tricycle to transport them there. The more Yu Yi looked at the tricycle, the more familiar it seemed. It was a shared vehicle from the Lower District. How did they even get one here?

The two of them crouched in the back like cargo. As they approached the edge of the Contaminated Zone, Yu Yi saw Meng Zhao pull a syringe from his pocket. He bit off the cap with his teeth, lifted the hoodie he had put on before they left, and injected it directly into his heart.

The tricycle was still bumping along, but the green fluid in Meng Zhao’s hand was injected steadily. His face did not even show a reaction, as if he were not stabbing himself. Once finished, he pulled it out and tossed the syringe carelessly into the tunnel.

“Can you show some civility?” Chen Cheng, driving in the front, sounded helpless. “What if I drive back later and pop a tire?”

“Then you can push the bike back,” Meng Zhao replied.

“What if I step on the needle!” Chen Cheng shouted.

“Then you will have a bad day.”

“Is that how you talk to your boss?”

“Yes, and I also call the boss an idiot.”

The two started bickering again. Yu Yi, crouching in the back, found it quite amusing. He started to think the working environment was not so bad. Finally, the vehicle stopped. As soon as Chen Cheng got off, he pulled out a cigarette and flicked a lighter. “We are here. Off you go.”

He said it as casually as if he were telling them to go grab dinner. But they were going into a Contaminated Zone! Yu Yi saw Meng Zhao pull a transparent helmet from under the seat and put it on. He then glanced at Yu Yi and said curtly, “Let us go.”

Yu Yi did not move.

“What is wrong?” Chen Cheng asked, his cigarette glowing in the dark.

Yu Yi whispered, “Why do I not have one?”

“Have what?” Chen Cheng asked.

“A helmet.”

Chen Cheng replied, “Oh, you do not need one.”

Yu Yi was horrified. “That will not do. What if I die out there?”

“What benefit would we get if you died?” Chen Cheng countered.

Yu Yi pursed his lips and did not move. Was he joking? They were letting him enter the Contaminated Zone just like that? Seeing Yu Yi’s stubborn expression, Chen Cheng finally gave in. “Fine, if you want one, you can have one.”

Chen Cheng rummaged through the back of the tricycle as ash fell from his cigarette. After a while, he tossed a helmet to Yu Yi. “Is this one okay?”

The helmet was heavy and different from the one Meng Zhao was wearing. It was black with a glass visor that could be opened and closed. Whatever the case, as long as it worked, he was satisfied. Yu Yi put it on and followed Meng Zhao. Chen Cheng waved behind them and shouted, “Have a safe trip!”

At the energy barrier between the Upper District and the Contaminated Zone, Meng Zhao stopped.

“What is it, Brother Meng?” Yu Yi asked respectfully.

“Get the mech out first,” Meng Zhao’s voice sounded muffled inside the helmet.

Yu Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief. There was a mech. It was not as unprofessional as he had imagined. He wished they had said so earlier because he had thought they were going to walk into the zone on foot. Then he watched as Meng Zhao reached into his pocket and threw a ball-shaped object onto the ground. As soon as the ball hit the ground, it bounced up and expanded in an instant into a small, three-meter-tall mech.

Yu Yi was not sure what to call it. What kind of mech was open on all sides? This was clearly a tractor! Compared to the meticulous preparations Ji Xingxiao and the others made for the Contaminated Zone, this was far too casual. If it had not been for the injection Meng Zhao gave himself earlier, Yu Yi would have thought the Contaminated Zone was just a place anyone could visit at any time.

“If you are unwilling, it is not too late to go back now.” Meng Zhao reached out his long arm, stepped on the tire, and climbed into the pilot’s seat. He looked down at Yu Yi with a flat expression. “Do not waste time hesitating.”

“I…” For a moment, Yu Yi really wanted to run away. But thinking of the 50,000 in his account, he gritted his teeth. “I am willing!”

Meng Zhao looked exasperated. “Do not make it sound like I am proposing to you.”

Yu Yi was amused, but seeing Meng Zhao’s cold, serious face, he quickly stifled his laugh. He tried to mimic Meng Zhao’s movements, but he was not as agile. Eventually, he used both hands and feet to scramble into the mech. When the mech started up, it made a terrifying sound of grinding metal, as if it were buckling under its own weight.

Is this really reliable? Yu Yi sat in the worn-out passenger seat next to Meng Zhao, where the black stuffing was visible. Just as he sat down, he heard a clang. A round grenade had fallen out.

Support