I Am a Salted Fish in the Interstellar Era - Chapter 27 (Part 2)
As for Shi Yu, that bastard never spoke a true word; her talk of A-level mental and physical power was just her naivety being exploited.
And upon meeting Luo Xiaci, the mecha he pulled out was not simple either, very lightweight and even faster than Shi Yu’s silver-blue mecha. Lu Dongyan hadn’t seen much of that mecha’s performance but naturally classified it as an SSS level mecha.
Feng Xiao obviously thought the same. Now, hearing Luo Xiaci say that his mental strength and physical ability were only at A level, he also found it hard to believe. However, instruments don’t lie, and since Luo Xiaci said so himself, it must be true.
Lu Dongyan honestly exclaimed, “Seeing your mecha, I thought your mental strength was at SSS level.”
Luo Xiaci’s eyes flickered with helplessness, “I modified it myself. It’s fast but lacks attack power. It’s great for escaping, but if someone stops me, I’m as good as dead.”
Well, it seems everyone noticed his only specialty.
Shi Yu saw that they were talking among themselves without intending to involve her, and she got angry. With a thump, she lay back on the bed, laying flat and closing her eyes, refusing to communicate with anyone.
As for the levels of mental strength and physical ability, it didn’t matter if she didn’t know.
Humph! After all, she could pilot the awesome “War God”!
The three of them noticed the commotion behind them, exchanged glances, and silently laughed.
Who asked this jerk to act on her own three or four times, not uttering a word when turning back to save Lin Xie, and during the time they brought butterfly specimens to the commander’s office, she just snatched the specimens and ran without consulting them. Did they look that unreliable?
Just lay there; the flatter you lay, the less trouble you’ll cause!
Hearing the door open and close, Shi Yu lifted an eyelid, intending only to sneak a peek before quickly closing her eyes again. However, the room was empty; all three of them were gone!
Shi Yu was immediately infuriated, huffing loudly before closing her eyes.
Three jerks! You’ve lost this adorable little salted fish!
–
Shi Yu’s levels of mental strength and physical ability couldn’t be determined even after her injuries had mostly healed. Feng Xiao tried not only Luo Xiaci but also himself and Lu Dongyan, confirming the instruments weren’t damaged. However, whenever they tried to measure Shi Yu, the instrument would malfunction. Eventually, Feng Xiao stopped bothering to test her.
One day, after announcing Shi Yu’s full recovery, she sat on the bed eating small puddings. After finishing, she continued to lay flat.
Lu Dongyan walked in just as she lay down, a line of frustration sliding down his forehead, “Stop lying down; get up. Commander Xie wants to see us.”
Hearing the words “stop lying down,” Shi Yu immediately closed her eyes, but upon hearing “Commander Xie,” she seriously pondered who that could be, then suddenly sat up, “Is it the Commander Xie I’m thinking of?”
“If you’re thinking of Major General Xie Yuyan, then yes,” Lu Dongyan said, seeing her react so quickly for the first time, raising an eyebrow.
Shi Yu let out an “Oh” and began to get out of bed to put on her shoes.
It’s been about a month since she last saw the Little Beauty. She wondered if he had gotten even more handsome?
Shi Yu giggled twice, her laughter making Feng Xiao and Lu Dongyan shudder. Just as Feng Xiao was about to ask why she was laughing so creepily, Shi Yu straightened her back and said, “Then let’s go. We can’t keep Commander Xie waiting.”
Good grief, every time Lin Xie sought her out, it was always with repeated requests. Shi Yu would never arrive a second earlier than necessary.
Walking to the door, Shi Yu then realized she didn’t know where to go and turned to ask, “Who’s leading the way?”
Lu Dongyan resignedly walked ahead, and as they left, they saw Luo Xiaci leaning outside, busy with his smart brain-computer interface. Feeling someone coming out, he glanced at them, put away his device, and then, surprised, said, “You got up so quickly?”
Shi Yu: “…”
That felt like a dig!
Luo Xiaci had been shocked by Shi Yu’s combat ability before, thinking she was a highly skilled expert who must train diligently.
But after arriving at the commander’s office, any illusions were shattered. Whether Shi Yu had ever trained diligently was debatable, but now she was certainly very diligent in slacking off.
Shi Yu huffed to express her dissatisfaction and pulled Lu Dongyan to move forward.
Xiao Feng followed them out of the room, and after the two had left, said, “Wrong way, this way.”
Shi Yu, feeling aggrieved, pulled Lu Dongyan back.
A few minutes later, the four of them sat in the conference room. Just as Shi Yu took out her little pudding and was about to eat, a hand reached out for it.
It was Lu Dongyan.
Quickly, a second and third hand followed.
Shi Yu: “…”
She swore! She would never eat little puddings in front of these people again!
Her pudding was almost gone!
When Xie Yuyan entered, he saw the four people at the conference table munching on little puddings, a scene too amusing, leading him to glance at the space bag on Shi Yu’s waist.
Since their first meeting, Shi Yu had been snacking.
Upon Xie Yuyan’s arrival, Feng Xiao and Lu Dongyan immediately put down their puddings, stood up, and saluted obediently. Luo Xiaci was a step slower but not by much. Only Shi Yu, biting on her pudding cup, stood up waveringly and then saluted, not quite standardly.
It wasn’t intentional; she had never been a soldier.
Xie Yuyan nodded at them, returned the salute, then sat down across from them, not taking the head seat.
Shi Yu, about to sit down with her pudding cup, noticed the three beside her still standing and quickly stood up again, startled.
Just as Xie Yuyan had settled down, he heard a tentative question from the front, “Little… I mean, Commander Xie, may we sit now?”
Xie Yuyan caught the word she almost said, his eyelids twitched, and he replied indifferently, “Sit.”
Shi Yu sat down, feeling justified, while the three beside her wanted to facepalm but, lacking Shi Yu’s boldness, sat down, enduring the embarrassment.
“How have you been adjusting these days? Have your injuries healed?” Xie Yuyan asked.
Shi Yu put the empty pudding cup on the table, happily saying, “I’ve adjusted well, and my injuries are all healed.”
She said this with a smile, her gaze briefly passing over the slightly sharp features of the “Little Beauty.”
The Little Beauty in uniform was different indeed! That cool temperament was still there, but now with added dignity and depth, he looked even better.
Xie Yuyan glanced at her, “Since you’ve adjusted and your injuries have healed, I’ll arrange for you to be officially enlisted. Is that alright?”
Shi Yu’s forehead creased with a question mark, wishing she could go back ten seconds to give a better answer.
As she tried to negotiate, Feng Xiao and Lu Dongyan had already firmly replied, “No problem!”
Luo Xiaci nodded along.
Shi Yu: “…”
If only her teammates were a bit smarter, they wouldn’t have sold her out and even helped count the money.
Feeling the “Little Beauty’s” gaze on her, Shi Yu nodded reluctantly.
Xie Yuyan nodded in acknowledgment, then added, “Regarding that butterfly specimen, I hope you can keep it a secret.”
Of course, that was no problem.
Xie Yuyan isn’t someone who easily engages in conversation with others. After a brief dialogue, he stood up and said, “I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving first. Someone will come later to take you for registration.”
As Xie Yuyan was about to leave, Shi Yu quickly stood up and said, “Wait a moment!”
Her voice was urgent and rapid, causing several people to turn their heads towards her.
Realizing she had somewhat lost her composure, Shi Yu coughed lightly and said, “I have something to ask you, could you please stay for a moment?”
She then gave Feng Xiao and the other two a look that clearly meant ‘hurry up and go,’ which was quite evident in its intent.
Xie Yuyan, guessing she wanted to ask something, nodded and agreed.
Feng Xiao and the others had no choice but to obediently stand up and form a small line to exit the meeting room.
In the now quiet meeting room, only Shi Yu and Xie Yuyan remained. Shi Yu scrutinized the attractive man before her, seeing him clearly for the first time.
His silver hair, tied up, reached down to his waist. Now, standing sideways, the white belt of his military uniform cinched at his waist made him appear tall and straight from Shi Yu’s perspective, a stark contrast to the frail impression he gave off when they first met wearing only a thin shirt.
“What are you looking at?”
Just as Shi Yu was enjoying her observation, she heard him ask.
She wasn’t conscious of being caught staring and replied with a broad smile, “Looking at how handsome you are.”
Xie Yuyan gave her a cold glance, possibly still remembering her previous flippant comment about him being ‘pretty.’
Xie Yuyan didn’t sit down and said, “If you have something to say, say it quickly. I have other matters to attend to.”
The current ‘Little Beauty’ lacked the cuteness of before. Shi Yu puffed her cheeks and walked over to ask, “Was it you who sent me that email? Do you know the origin of my mecha?”
She asked directly, as Xie Yuyan was her only source for answers at the moment.
Xie Yuyan lowered his gaze, sweeping it over Shi Yu’s index finger, “Did I not tell you to keep the mecha secure?”
It was her question, yet the ‘Little Beauty’ retorted with his own.
Still, she honestly responded, “My life was at risk, how could I worry about securing the mecha? Tell me honestly, what’s the deal with this mecha?”
The more she witnessed the terrifying capabilities of the ?War God?, the stronger her unease grew.
Having lived with the stingy uncle for ten years, Shi Yu always thought of him as an ordinary person who liked to tinker with various potions, occasionally using her for experiments. Although each time was painfully tormenting, it never left any lasting effects, so she didn’t give it much thought.
However, the appearance of the mecha made her realize the stingy uncle’s hidden secrets might be significant, especially since he left for the capital star from Sea Blue Star before this…
Shi Yu didn’t want to think further.
Xie Yuyan looked at Shi Yu but said nothing.
Shi Yu continued, “What exactly did you go to the Sea Blue Star Express headquarters for? Although I don’t understand the data you were handling, it’s quite the coincidence that the day before, the Sea Blue Star Express sent me this mecha ring.”
“Do you think… there’s a connection?”
She had run into the Little Beauty and his group by chance. The old hen and the others had their own motives, harboring murderous intent towards her from the moment she entered the mall.
This murderous intent wasn’t specifically directed at her but was a general threat to anyone entering the mall. However, due to the Little Beauty’s presence, the old hen couldn’t act on his impulses immediately.
And though the old hen was a subordinate of the Little Beauty, it was clear there were disagreements between them, making for an interesting speculation.
Indeed, the old hen and the Little Beauty were on the same side, both coming to Sea Blue Star with the same goal, yet each harboring their own schemes.
Afterward, they encountered a spider attack. Shi Yu initially thought Little Beauty brought her along because he would get winded after running a few steps and had no combat ability, facing certain death if they encountered the bug race, making her at best a reluctant fighter.
But later, learning he was the chief commander of the Judgment Legion, her assumptions were completely overturned. Facing the bug race, anyone could be headed for certain death, except Little Beauty, it seemed impossible.
Could the imposing chief commander of the Judgment Legion easily put himself in danger without any chance of turning the situation around? The answer was undoubtedly no.
So why did he bring her, a ‘burden’ with no significant abilities, along?
After pondering and connecting the dots with that email, Shi Yu speculated an answer.
It was when Little Beauty saw the mecha ring on her hand, he had plans in mind; he might even recognize the stingy uncle…
This deduction tormented Shi Yu for a long time, but how could she directly confront Little Beauty about it? Not until now.
Listening to her logically clear deduction, Xie Yuyan blinked: “It’s just a coincidence. Where’s the evidence?”
Xie Yuyan was never afraid of being questioned. Questions he didn’t wish to answer, not even Xie Liqin could make him speak.
Xie Yuyan simply sat down, turned the chair to face Shi Yu, and seeing her speechless from his comment, he leaned his elbow on the armrest and his cheek on the back of his hand, spreading the topic out: “Since you’ve guessed so much, you should also know that this mecha brings you not luck but trouble.”
“Later, I’ll have someone give you the mecha again. Remember, unless absolutely necessary, don’t take this mecha out, or… all efforts will be in vain.”
Shi Yu caught the pause in his words, clearly feeling he intended to mention someone.
Shi Yu didn’t like this feeling, as if she was forced into a quagmire, yet not knowing its depth or how to extricate herself.
Touching the mecha ring on her index finger, Xie Yuyan caught her thoughts, saying, “Giving me the mecha ring is useless. It must have bonded with you, right? After bonding, no one else but you can pilot this mecha.”
“In other words, it’s just a pile of scrap metal to others.”
Shi Yu: “…”
Is Little Beauty a mind reader?
No… Is this mecha so tricky?
Shi Yu narrowed her eyes, her gaze sweeping over Xie Yuyan’s handsome face. Now that she couldn’t ensure her own safety, since it had come to this…
Shi Yu grabbed the armrest of Xie Yuyan’s chair, pushing the chair back against the table edge, then leaned forward, propping her palm on the table: “Since it’s like this, shouldn’t you tell me more? You can’t just drag me into this mess without knowing anything, right?”
Leaning down, the two were almost face to face, such proximity allowing her to see every inch of Little Beauty’s face clearly.
After looking for two seconds, she thought, damn!
How does this man maintain his skin so well?
Xie Yuyan had no idea what she was thinking. He had never been in such a vulnerable position before, feeling a strange discomfort, and he was not one to compromise.
Xie Yuyan’s lips were tightly pressed, but Shi Yu leaned in even closer, their noses almost touching.
“Little Beauty, there are only the two of us in this conference room now. If you don’t talk, I might have to reluctantly do something to you… Look at how handsome you are… I—”
“Beep—”
The conference room door suddenly opened, and Xie Jiangsa walked in, looking at his brain-computer interface: “Yuyan, about the space station—”
“F*ck!” Xie Jiangsa was blindsided.