I Will Never Submit to Miss Grim Reaper - Chapter 186

Chapter 186: This World Has Already Become Too Sweet Because of Her

 

Upon entering the Honor District of Shenzhen City, the artistic style of the entire world changes. The second Shenzhen River separates the Nanqi District from the Honor District, and it is also located in the middle of Shenzhen City.

 

This river starts from the Nanqi Port, travels northward, then bends in the northwest direction before ultimately penetrating the Shuiming District. It is a river that traverses the Shuiming District, Honor District, and Nanqi District.

 

On the Nanqi District side, the areas near the Shenzhen River in the Honor District are mostly warehouses and abandoned buildings owned by merchants. There are few residents around, and the roads are deserted. At a glance, one can hardly see many buildings or traces of human life.

 

Therefore, if someone travels from the residential area of Nanqi District, such as Starry Garden Residential Area or Starlight Elementary School, directly to Shenzhen Bridge by car, people unfamiliar with the road conditions may easily get lost or feel a sense of “Did I take the wrong road? It seems like the outskirts here.”

 

After passing through this desolate road and crossing Shenzhen Bridge, the sense of desolation disappears, transforming into a subtle experience of questioning, “Am I really in Shenzhen City?”

 

In addition to the suburban areas, such as the medicinal botanical garden I visited with Yin Xiamo before, most of the buildings in the Honor District have a “Japanese” or “American” style. There is a rare occurrence of “pigeon cages” or “residential dense areas.” Coming down from Shenzhen Bridge, green grass is everywhere, with a convenience store here and a 4S dealership there. Most houses are single-story villas or small residential buildings with a maximum of three to five floors.

 

Even the small residential buildings of three to five floors have very spacious distances between them, with enough space to accommodate at least two basketball courts and a small garden. The surroundings are filled with seemingly precious large trees, creating a vibrant green landscape everywhere you look.

 

There are essentially no cramped apartments or the impoverished areas and various “irregular” street vendors commonly found near the central districts in other cities. These may include mobile food trucks or evening barbecue stalls. The streets are astonishingly clean, and the population is surprisingly sparse, as if this place is isolated from the rest of Shenzhen City.

 

Shenzhen City is widely recognized as a supercity, sharing common issues with most cities, such as affluent areas featuring skyscrapers and a real estate frenzy. In some neighborhoods, it seems as if they are trying to cram as many high-rise buildings as possible, resembling densely packed houses like pig pens.

 

The selling price per square meter can reach two or three times the average, and in bustling urban areas, there are often cheap rental areas surrounded by city villages. These are filled with migrant workers who commute early and return late. Alternatively, you may find four or five-story office buildings, packed with small and medium-sized companies.

 

Surrounding them are fast-food restaurants and snack streets. During rush hours, people line up to squeeze into elevators, and in the evenings, the entire building is illuminated. The countless numbers of people working overtime contribute to the phenomenon of overwork, affecting both youth and health.

 

In strong contrast to the bustling city center is the “resource-depleted zone” like the Nanqi District. Due to severe population loss and a struggling local economy, Nanqi District is characterized by a decreasing population, inability to construct houses, and the absence of a thriving market, giving it a particularly desolate appearance.

 

However, the Honor District here is noticeably different from the city center and Nanqi District. The buildings and people here give me a feeling… how should I put it, as if “it seems like people here don’t need to work, they just lie down, earn money, live in big houses, and retire.”

 

Because, really… there are so many villas here!

 

As I walk along, I can hardly see those office buildings and large corporate bases specifically designed for office workers. Instead, it’s all about villa areas and high-end residential communities, with the remaining space dedicated to snack streets, commercial streets, and pedestrian streets.

 

“Has the Honor District developed to this extent?”

 

Descending from Shenzhen Bridge, Yin Xiamo slows down, allowing me to observe the various landscapes and passersby along the roadside. The magnificent Shenzhen River is gradually receding behind the majestic Shenzhen Bridge.

 

Many early-rising wealthy individuals are adjusting their yachts by the river. Some people are directly taking off in private helicopters, making a “da da da” sound as they head off somewhere.

 

On the road, you can see million-dollar sports cars everywhere, most of which I can’t even name. Some cars give off an instinctual feeling of “a small scratch would cost several thousand,” and even as someone who knows little about cars, I find them particularly impressive.

 

“Hmm? Does Nuo’er really like sports cars?”

 

Perhaps noticing my attention being drawn to the occasional passing cars on the road, Yin Xiamo, who is responsible for riding the bicycle, turns her head. “Sure, in a few days, I’ll do some arms dealing and make sure to buy Nuo’er a car within a week!”

 

“It’s not like that!”

 

I instinctively countered, “I just don’t usually see these kinds of cars, found it a bit curious, and what’s with that arms dealing thing! Don’t do strange stuff, hey!”

 

Although I don’t recognize the brands of various sports cars and don’t have an appreciation for them, living in the central district means I’m familiar with the sounds of ordinary cars. In comparison, the engine noise of sports cars sounds distinctive to my ears.

 

It’s like when I used to play with toy cars as a child. The regular five-yuan small cars had motors that couldn’t run very fast, making a “shh shh shh” sound. All my friends had these kinds of cars, and we were accustomed to the ordinary motor sounds. Then one day, a wealthy kid arrived with a modified remote-controlled car using “ZMC materials” and a nearly one hundred yuan “supersonic” motor. It made a unique “buzzing” sound, and I would also look at his car with fascination.

 

But that doesn’t mean I would want such an extravagant car. A car costing millions or even billions is truly beyond my personal understanding. Perhaps with my and Yin Xiamo’s infinite lifespan, after experiencing most things in the human world for the next few hundred years, I might develop an interest in these sports cars. But for now… spending millions on a car, I’d rather buy a comfortable small house.

 

“Not really?”

 

After receiving my denial, Yin Xiamo also cast a curious gaze at the departing sports car. “The speed of this thing… well, it’s barely on par with a centaur.”

 

“Centaur?” I was surprised. “Can you ride centaurs in the other world?”

 

“Of course! They are a form of intelligent life in the other world, holding a status similar to the elf tribe. Unlike peaceful elves, these guys genuinely crave combat. Whether male or female centaurs, they can stand up and walk within less than six hours of birth. Then, these little guys start sprinting at full speed, and their entire lives are spent running forward.”

 

Yin Xiamo sighed, “I roughly estimated the speed of that sports car just now. At full speed… it should be able to reach the average speed of a teenage female centaur.”

 

“Female? Teenage?” I suddenly became interested. “Has Xiao Mo ridden a centaur before?”

 

Yin Xiamo turned her head, “Not just me… actually, when the Hero was alive, he also liked going to battle with centaurs.”

 

“Huh?” I felt a bit awkward. “Even the Hero…”

 

“He was a blockhead back then. The first time he encountered a centaur… he argued with the little centaur girl from that tribe, making me want to slaughter the little one.” Yin Xiamo looked a bit sour.

 

“But later, I found out they were just having a normal conversation. I didn’t act, and that centaur girl eventually became my mount. We won many wars together, and she became the queen of the centaur tribe.”

 

Wow!

 

It sounds like there’s a kind of… passionate feeling.

 

“Wait, didn’t you just say… in the later stages, you rode a dragon into battle?” I asked.

 

“Yeah, the dragon is another story,” Yin Xiamo said after a moment of thought.

 

“Many ancient races participated in that major battle, including the dragon race. The dragon I fought alongside during that war was also a little princess of the dragon race. Her personality is quite similar to yours now.”

 

“Hey!” I pinched Yin Xiamo’s shoulder. “What do you mean by ‘similar to me now’?”

 

“She always thought of herself as a dragon king. I reminded her many times that she can only be a princess. But she refused and insisted on seeing herself as the man destined to become the future Dragon King.”

 

“……”

 

“Buzz…”

 

While Yin Xiamo and I were chatting, the sports car that had clearly run far away a moment ago seemed to have circled back and parked on the motor vehicle lane next to us. The car window rolled down, and the man in the driver’s seat extended his hand and waved, “Hey, where are you two lovely ladies headed?”

 

“Huh?”

 

At that moment, a rift opened in the space near Yin Xiamo’s hand, and from my perspective, I could already see the shiny reaper scythe inside.

 

“Wait… hold on,” I was a bit flustered. “Is this person your enemy?”

 

“He actually dares to flirt with you. I’ll go over there and take care of him.”

 

“Stop, stop, calm down!”

 

As I spoke, I waved towards the man on the other side, “We’re not going anywhere! We’re just strolling around, sorry!”

 

Given our appearances and figures, especially today when I was wearing Lolita dresses, the probability of being approached on the street was indeed quite high. In ordinary areas like the central district, it’s okay, as most guys these days share a similar mentality to the “uncle” version of myself – unable to manage my own life, so why bother with a girlfriend? Leave those dazzling girls to the wealthy, and wish them happiness.

 

The terrifying housing prices and marriage costs have sharply reduced the desire for young people to settle down. When they see a pretty girl on the street, they might glance a few more times, feel lucky to encounter a cute girl today, and then return to their regular lives – watching anime or playing games at home, going to work at the company, without the same eager pursuit seen ten or twenty years ago – Hey, girl, what’s your WeChat? Let’s be friends!

 

But in the Honor District, it’s different. Most people who can afford to live here are wealthy and influential. So, riding our bikes on the spacious roads here, there is still a probability of being approached.

 

“Oh, okay!”

 

Perhaps feeling the “intent to kill” from Yin Xiamo, with my friendly reminder, the driver in front quickly rolled up the car window, “Sorry for the disturbance.”

 

Afterward, the car’s engine roared to life again, and with a “vroom” sound, it made a U-turn and drove away.

 

“I think I’ll get off here. It’s a good time to walk around after having breakfast.”

 

Signaling Yin Xiamo to stop the bike, I jumped off from the back, saying, “You were really rough just now!”

 

I didn’t know the exact speed Yin Xiamo was going when she went “full throttle” with the bike earlier. All I knew was that the hairstyle I carefully arranged in the morning was now in complete disarray.

 

Not only were the bangs messy, resembling someone who had just woken up from bed, but even the twin ponytails at the back were uneven, and the bands used to secure them were askew.

 

Surveying the somewhat desolate streets around, considering it might be a bit inconvenient to fix my hairstyle here, I had no choice but to remove all the hair accessories and bands from the back. I let my long hair flow behind me and roughly combed the bangs and waist-length hair at the back with my hands to make them look less messy.

 

The bike I bought… compared to those very expensive ones, it belonged to the category of a “budget bike.” However, “budget bikes” have their own advantages – they are durable.

 

You can ride them hard, they are tough, and you don’t have to worry about breaking them. Moreover, when I bought this bike, the shop owner emphasized that this model could be exceptionally fast in the highest gear, as long as the rider had enough strength.

 

At that time, speed was my top priority when buying a bike. The advantage of a bicycle is that, in some complex road sections, you can get off and push or carry it through the crowd. In other sections, you can speed freely. When the shop owner mentioned that this model was fast enough, I casually negotiated the price and made the payment.

 

A mountain bike is different from a regular bicycle in that it has two adjustable-speed sprockets— I don’t know how to describe those things, but anyway, unlike regular bikes or shared bikes, its chain and rotating axis are not fixed. In a regular bike, when you pedal once, the rear wheel typically completes one full rotation. However, a dedicated cycling bike is different. It has many gears at the rear, and you can set the circumference of the rotating axis that contacts the pedal very small while the rear wheel’s rotating axis is exceptionally large. So, when you pedal once, the rear wheel only rotates less than one-third of a full turn.

 

The physics behind this design is like having a belt connecting two circles. When the small circle drives the large circle, or vice versa, if you set the gear to have the small circle driving the large one, pedaling once may not rotate the rear wheel a full turn, and the bike moves forward only a little. This mode feels particularly easy. Conversely, if the large circle drives the small one, pedaling once with the large circle equals the rear wheel completing several turns, making the bike very fast but also more challenging to pedal.

 

When Yin Xiamo was riding the bike a moment ago and lifting off, she adjusted the bike’s gears to the maximum for the pedal’s circle and the minimum for the rear wheel’s circle. This gear setting allows for fast riding but requires a lot of effort— the thing is, Xiao Mo is never short of strength, and that’s how she flew off while riding.

 

I even suspect she used a tiny bit of magic to protect the bike’s rotating axis or tires. Otherwise, even a very durable bike, given her riding style just now, would be scrap within half an hour.

 

“Alright, let’s go.”

 

After fixing my bangs and the long hair at the back, I signaled for Yin Xiamo to get off and push the bike. “We’re not far from Jiang Wei’s apartment, no need to ride.”

 

I haven’t walked this road from Nanqi District to the Honor District before. We discussed the specific route in the morning using the phone map, and Yin Xiamo didn’t even check the map a second time. Either she has an incredible photographic memory or, living in this area for the past few years, she’s become very familiar with the road from Nanqi District to the Honor District.

 

I think it’s the latter.

 

“We’re almost at your apartment building.” Walking together on the quiet streets of the affluent neighborhood, I called Jiang Wei, “Are you guys awake? Okay, okay, we should be there in about ten minutes.”

 

Putting down the phone, feeling the long hair behind me fluttering again, I briefly tidied it up.

 

This Lolita outfit, named “Dreamland Playground,” leans towards “dreamy” and “innocent” in terms of color coordination. It gives off a feeling of a “little girl’s dream in a fairy tale.” Therefore, most girls I see wearing it online usually pair it with a more “loli” hairstyle, such as twin tails. With my long hair, especially waist-length hair, this outfit seems very “ethereal.” It’s like the feeling of a “little fairy,” drawing attention. Moreover, because of the “bell” on my neck, this “little fairy” appears to be “taken.” This makes me feel even more embarrassed.

 

But there’s no way, I can’t just tidy up my hair directly on the street. Speaking of which, it’s true that girls’ long hair is hard to manage, but cutting it short feels like a waste. So, I can only learn to manage long hair while smiling and indulging in a bit of vanity.

 

Even for an uncle… there’s still a desire for beauty, right?

 

“Do you have access cards?”

 

After buying some fruits from a nearby fruit shop, we arrived at the upscale residential area where Jiang Wei lives. Without suspense, Yin Xiamo and I encountered the “interception” of the security guard here.

 

“We’re here to visit a friend.”

 

I provided the address Jiang Wei gave: “107 Zilan Cluster.”

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

I don’t know if security guards in wealthy areas are generally calm, or if it’s our excellent appearance that put this security uncle in a good mood. He directly took the nearby walkie-talkie, “107 Zilan Cluster, contact them, there are two girls saying they’re here to visit a friend, check if the owner is in and confirm with him.”

 

Then there was a silence that lasted for half a minute.

 

“The owner is in, the one who moved in the day before yesterday. He indeed said they are his friends, let them in.”

 

“Okay.”

 

After hearing the voice from the walkie-talkie, the security guard waved to Yin Xiamo and me, pointing to an electric bike parking space on the side, “Go in, park your bikes there. If you park inside and they get stolen, we won’t take responsibility.”

 

Wow, even in an affluent area… do people steal bicycles?

 

Just as this thought crossed my mind, the video footage of the “Uncle Ben” being caught in the cramped apartment complex flashed in my mind.

 

He reportedly dropped out of college because the courses were too dull, the people in the dormitory were annoying, and he often had conflicts with roommates. Unable to tolerate the hardship of work and dissatisfied with the low wages, he chose to indulge in playing games online. Most of the jobs he took didn’t last more than a month. In the end, he resorted to petty theft, relying on stealing and writing articles online for a living.

 

His claim of “I only earn 200 a month right after graduation” was indeed a reflection of his inner reality. He rarely held high-paying jobs, frequently quitting after a couple of weeks, unable to earn a single penny. Even if there were bosses with a bit of conscience, they would at most give him one or two hundred yuan just to get rid of him.

 

I had previously visited their school’s forum and found that many people expressed relief when “Uncle Ben” was caught by the police —

 

?Good riddance, this guy has been acting like a fool in the dormitory since he moved in. He couldn’t stand anything we did in the dorm, he constantly compared and complained about everything.?

?For example, my friend and I across from him liked to drink cola. He heard some information from a marketing account, and then he would nitpick about how cola kills sperm and is bad for health. He kept urging us to quit drinking cola, which was really annoying and ruined our good mood.?

?Yeah, he keeps saying this is bad for health, that is bad for health, and he stays up until 3 a.m. playing games with his microphone on, making loud keyboard noises. Every now and then, he shouts, “Damn, lost again, stupid teammates!” I’ve been woken up several times, I really want to smash his dog head!?

?I live next door to their dorm. Earlier, my friend was smoking in the corridor, and this guy came over and insisted that we quit smoking. If my friend didn’t consider him a classmate, he would have really wanted to start a fight.?

?He just can’t stand anything. Earlier, he even bugged me in the class group chat, asking why I, as a man, use an anime character as my profile picture. What does it have to do with him what profile picture I use? Now, he got expelled from school and still looks like a fool. Can’t survive, right? Got caught stealing, right? I can only say good riddance!?

 

Thinking about how there are all sorts of strange people in this world, and no one can guarantee that even in an affluent area like the Honor District, there won’t be a few “bicycle thieves.” So, I and Yin Xiamo went to the place where the security guard mentioned, which was full of cameras, and securely parked our bikes, locking them to the nearby metal railing.

 

“Right, Nuo’er, I told you, no one would notice this bell.”

 

After parking our bikes and walking towards Jiang Wei’s house together, the girl beside me leaned in, inspecting the golden bell around my neck. She even reached out and flicked it a bit, saying, “Not heavy, huh?”

 

Not knowing what to say at that moment, I could only suppress my inner frustration and replied, “No! Not heavy!”

 

“Wow! Your cheeks puffed up!”

 

Yin Xiamo made an exaggerated expression, extending her hand to pinch my face, saying, “Nuo’er is so cute… even when angry!”

 

I instinctively swatted her hand away.

Hmph.

 

Turning around, walking on the tree-lined road filled with the scent of plants and flowers in the residential area, the more I thought about it, the angrier I became. I subconsciously glanced at Yin Xiamo beside me.

 

Wearing a black summer dress today, for some reason, from my perspective, her buttocks seemed particularly prominent, appearing much “sensual” than usual Xiao Mo. My gaze fell on the girl’s buttocks, and then, lifting her small feet clad in round-toe casual shoes—

 

“Poof!”

 

“Ah!”

 

Knowing that I was playing around, Yin Xiamo exaggeratedly cried out, covering her own buttocks and rubbing them. Then, she also lifted her foot, aimed at my buttocks—

 

“Poof!”

 

“Xiao Mo, you dare to retaliate!”

 

I pounced towards the girl in front of me, “Don’t think you’re a goddess… Don’t run!”

 

“Hehe, Nuo’er’s little short legs can’t catch up!”

 

The front Yin Xiamo had a teasing expression, “Little loli, little short legs, little milk teeth, little kitten, meow meow!”

 

“Who would meow!”

 

I quickened my pace, “Don’t run!”

 

“Come, catch me, catch me, and I’ll let you… hehehe…”

 

“……”

 

In the midst of our chase, Yin Xiamo and I quickly reached the bottom of Jiang Wei’s newly bought detached house. Just as Jiang Wei opened the door and walked out, he saw us and instinctively waved, “So early? Hey, you two…”

 

“Sorry for the disturbance, little kitten Nuo’er is in a playful mood, hehe.”

 

Yin Xiamo was the first to enter Jiang Wei’s house, then turning to Ye Zi inside, she said, “Good morning, Sister Ye Zi. little kitten Nuo’er is in your care now.”

 

“……”

 

……

 

Three minutes later, Yin Xiamo and I sat in Jiang Wei’s living room and placed the fruits on the small coffee table. As the hostess, Ye Zi poured each of us a cup of hot milk.

 

“Thank you.” I took the milk and took a small sip. “Your new home is so beautiful.”

 

Jiang Wei’s detached house had a European artistic style from the outside. The interior had a three-story design, with the first floor mainly serving as a utility room and warehouse. When I passed by earlier, I took a quick look and saw it filled with computer components and various monitors. The second floor was their living space, remarkably spacious, probably around 200 square meters. It had a large living room, two bathrooms, three bedrooms, and an exquisite kitchen.

 

Especially the kitchen, I fell in love with it at first sight. The height… I probably wouldn’t need a step stool to cook there, right? It was exactly the kitchen I had dreamed of!

 

Elegant and short, even someone petite like me could stand and cook. When Xiao Mo and I have our own home in the future, we should also decorate a kitchen like this.

 

“Thank you.” Ye Zi seemed to like the look of Yin Xiamo and me and semi-jokingly said, “Can we consider ourselves neighbors?”

 

“Sure… I guess?” I took another sip of milk. “It takes less than twenty minutes to come from Nanqi District.”

 

“Twenty minutes?” Ye Zi was surprised. “Did you come by taxi?”

 

“No, on bicycles.”

 

I signaled with my eyes towards Yin Xiamo beside me, “She is a professional athlete.”

 

Or rather, faster than a professional athlete.

 

She can navigate turns through drainage ditches, execute bike drifting, and even collect N2O using the heat generated by air friction and wheel rotation. In the end, her bike can reach speeds of eighty miles per hour with flames coming out of the tail.

 

Jiang Wei, at some point, brought a package and a roll of mousepad over, “Is the computer working fine? No issues?”

 

“No issues, it boots up exceptionally fast, and, um… typing is very smooth.”

 

Not knowing what else to say about the computer’s performance, I casually mentioned, “It runs APEX steadily at 60 frames per second.”

 

“Steady 60 frames means your computer monitor supports a maximum of 60 frames, and you must have enabled vertical synchronization.”

 

Jiang Wei placed the large package and mousepad on the table, “Ye Zi mentioned before that you were still using a keyboard from a long time ago. This one is an extra from our store, suitable for typing. Also, here’s a mousepad with the same design as the computer case.”

 

“Well…”

 

I hesitated for a moment about whether to accept, “Is it expensive?”

 

“You, as the author and a girl, shouldn’t use a too cheap keyboard when typing. Otherwise, your hands can easily get hurt over time. Like what happened to me before, I had repetitive strain injury for several years.”

 

Jiang Wei smiled, “As for the money matter, I’ve told you many times before. The fortune teller predicted that we would face a calamity after getting married, and you all helped us avoid it. So, we are still in your debt.”

 

“It’s not that mystical.”

 

Ye Zi chuckled, “Stop talking about this. You two are guests, consider this as a gift.”

 

“Yes, a small gift. Nuo’er, we’ve been old friends. Let’s not talk about these things.”

 

Jiang Wei cleared his throat, “The main reason we invited you here today is that we want to ask for your help…”

 

“Su Yunjin felt sorry for taking the initiative to approach you, so she approached me.”

 

“The mayor of Shenzhen City wants to meet you.”

 

“……”

 

……