Saving Unpermitted

Chapter 90: Good Night

Inside Y City, people were still discussing the images from the ruins of X City, unaware of the tragedy at the border settlement. Recently, a request was issued for residents to relocate to the city center, but amidst the heated atmosphere of the new elections, people didn’t fall into panic. Regardless of whether they moved or not, everyone had to go out during that period. Now, they just had to carry more of their belongings and temporarily stay in the city center.

No one considered that there could be a real disaster that could break through the city defenses of Y City. The tragic events in X City’s history served as a lesson for people, and they knew that humans couldn’t stumble in the same place twice.

Only a few people noticed that both of the candidates for leadership didn’t seem to be in good shape. Since the attack on the program, Zhu Yanchen had been weak and frail. As for Yi Ning, it was unclear what blow he had suffered, but he constantly had a pale face and occasionally appeared absent-minded in front of the camera.

However, this didn’t prevent the rest of the population from taking advantage of the situation to rest. Y City, with its vast size, had been running smoothly for over a hundred years, and people had already grown accustomed to the predictable way of life. Occasionally, during an emergency like this, everyone found it refreshing.

It had to be said that Zhu Sheng was exceptional in controlling the situation. Y City now resembled a fried egg. Everyone crowded into the yolk area, leaving only patrolling guards and the military ready for battle in the egg whites.

The underground bar of the Old Fourth, located on the outskirts of Y City, was now empty due to the evacuation order. This secluded place wasn’t suitable for camping and had become a ghostly room, which ironically facilitated certain clandestine gatherings—

“The ‘fake massacres’ of the three settlements near γ-31329 have been completed. As for the settlements that didn’t prepare underground bunkers, they have been evacuated under the arrangement of the Old Fourth. They don’t know the truth about the other settlements and believe the massacres are real.”

Wearing a dice mask, Two Dots reported still with a slick voice. Sitting on a tilted cushioned chair, he poured himself a glass of untouched wine. “Your actions are even bigger than I imagined.”

“I heard you made quite a profit from the mudsled and supply business,” Zhu Yanchen said. His face was covered by a mask, and he deliberately lowered his voice. He didn’t respond to Two Dots probing and changed the topic directly.

“We played by the rules. No one raised prices for transportation or supplies. Rest assured, I’ll go back and give Three Dots to Six Dots a good lesson. This opportunity is rare in a century, so it’s not surprising that some people are eager.”

“Mm.”

Two Dots looked up and down at Zhu Yanchen. “I heard Miss Ai entered the city center. It seems you’ll be sitting in her position for a while.”

Zhu Yanchen still paid no attention. “The prices of consumables in the settlements must be coordinated. The Old Fourth’s medical supplies are controlled by designated individuals and must not be hoarded or sold privately. Ai Xiaoxiao has arranged the necessary personnel. Let me emphasize once again, especially in this regard, I don’t want anyone else interfering.”

Two Dot’s voice carried a hint of amusement. “Yes, boss. But speaking of that… Zhu Sheng has recently loosened the restrictions on the Old Fourth. Have you heard about it? Zhu Lao plans to completely seal off the city, and the guards outside no longer care about our people. They are now weak, and there’s a considerable amount of military supplies in the periphery. Maybe we should…”

“Prohibited from conflicting with the military. If caught, you know the rules.”

“Haa, whether it’s Miss Ai or you, you both have stubborn minds. Fine, I get it. Who made me get stuck with the rank ‘Two Dots’ anyway?” The person shrugged.

After seeing Two Dots off, Zhu Yanchen relaxed his tense nerves and opened a bottle of champagne, which was a rare sight. Over this period, he had been working on the “Suppression” weapon production workshop, the underground bar, and the command center, always on the move like a spinning top. The days spent with Shu Jun were too relaxed, and he even found it difficult to adapt to the almost sleepless time.

He had to return to the command center later to participate in Zhu Sheng’s meeting. Since being shot on the program, Xia Yufeng had been in a state of confusion, as if his mind had gone blank. It was a challenge for him to convey anything related to the meeting; he often forgot what he was supposed to say.

People were truly prone to corruption. He had been living like an ascetic monk before, but now, after only a few days of separation from his loved one, Zhu Yanchen felt somewhat tired. He took a sip of champagne and looked at the empty bar.

Then everything went black before his eyes.

Something cold, slick, and greasy wrapped around his eyes. Zhu Yanchen’s heart tightened, but immediately relaxed.

“I won’t ask you to ‘guess who’ this time.” Shu Jun lazily spoke. “Master, I’ve never seen you drown your sorrows in alcohol. That’s not a good habit.”

With that, Shu Jun removed the covering material from his face and stood in front of Zhu Yanchen. He looked into his eyes, which were filled with bloodshot veins.

“What’s going on? I haven’t kept an eye on you for a while, and you’re not getting enough sleep again?”

“The production of the ‘Suppression’ weapons is limited, so I have to personally inspect them.” Feeling the warmth radiating from Shu Jun, Zhu Yanchen couldn’t help but curl his lips. Fatigue instantly flooded over him, washing away all the bitterness and leaving only a soft acidity. “In this battle, we must be flawless on our side… Shu Jun, now that the city is under complete lockdown, how did you manage to get in?”

“I learned from the spirit of Luo Duan and slowly crawled in through the cracks in the ground.” Shu Jun’s voice was bitter. “Have you seen my outfit? It’s all made of mimicry material. A’Yan, I was packed in a box the entire way and presented myself to the command center with great care. I’ve learned quite a few tricks.”

“You’re really…”

“No other way. I missed you.” Shu Jun unceremoniously grabbed Zhu Yanchen, and the two of them fell onto the couch. He didn’t do anything more; he just held his lover in his arms. “And I knew you wouldn’t rest properly.”

“Don’t tease me. I have a meeting later.” Wrapped in the familiar scent of the other person, Zhu Yanchen almost instantly fell asleep, but he managed to hold on.

“How long has it been since you last slept?”

“Less than three days.”

“I’ve come all this way, so I’ll go.”

Zhu Yanchen suddenly sobered up and exerted force to lift himself from the couch. “The perimeter of the command center is now equipped with the highest level of purifiers. You won’t be able to get in! Not through the cracks either. They will definitely check the entrance monitoring and guest records. You…”

“I can tolerate the internal purification, but the most challenging part is the purification shield around the courtyard. I know.” Shu Jun smiled. “Don’t worry, I haven’t been idle during this time. I’ve learned a thing or two from others as well.”

Shu Jun stood up, and the erosion substance climbed up from his feet, slowly writhing. In the next moment, another “Zhu Yanchen” appeared in front of Marshal Zhu, down to every detail of the uniform.

“I’ve only practiced for a short while, and my technique is still lousy, but I can manipulate dust to a certain extent. Causing a purifier to temporarily malfunction is achievable.” Shu Jun’s voice remained his own. He reached out, grabbed Zhu Yanchen’s wrist with the communicator, and then returned to his own appearance. “Come on, just like before—let your family know first, then you can sleep with me for a while.”

With that, he glanced at the communication list and pressed the most frequently used contact—

“What’s going on?” Tang Heyu had clearly been sleeping, as his white hair was completely disheveled. “You brat, I warn you—”

The old man’s voice suddenly faltered. He rubbed his eyes and then widened them in astonishment. “Shu Jun?!”

“A’Yan needs rest. We’re at the bar where we last met.” Shu Jun stated concisely. “I’ll hide him first… Forget about the meeting at the command center. How much time until your meeting over there?”

“Seven and a half hours.” Tang Heyu had a complicated expression. His mouth opened and closed for a while before he finally gave an answer.

“Then in another seven hours, remember to wake him up.”

“Mr. Tang, he’s joking.” Zhu Yanchen tried to pull his wrist back, but Shu Jun held on tightly. He could only helplessly explain in a loud voice, “I’ll go soon—”

“Go my ass,” Shu Jun asserted boldly. “Look at your complexion. It’s as pale as paper—Marshal Zhu, I warn you. I know you’re immune to the erosion, and I can help treat your wounds, but if you suddenly drop dead in the meeting room, you’ll be really gone. Now, sleep.”

“I’ve checked my body. It shouldn’t…”

“I won’t discuss the issue of ‘should’. If you keep pushing through like this, you’ll become an idiot.” Shu Jun insisted firmly. “I don’t want to spend my life with an idiot.”

Zhu Yanchen: “…”

Tang Heyu: “Can I hang up first?”

“Not for now.” Shu Jun raised his voice. “Anyway, Mr. Tang, it’s settled. You come to pick him up in seven hours. Alright, you can hang up now.”

Tang Heyu quickly disconnected the call at the fastest speed known to mankind.

Shu Jun released Zhu Yanchen’s wrist, but there wasn’t much of a victorious look on his face. “Why do I feel like I’ve been supervising your sleep ever since we met again?”

Zhu Yanchen didn’t respond. His eyebrows slightly furrowed as he reached out and grabbed Shu Jun’s wrist, pulling him back onto the couch.

“What’s wrong? Don’t trust me to go?” Shu Jun saw the seriousness in Zhu Yanchen’s expression and then curled his lips. “I can impersonate the real you. I can achieve the same level as Xia Yufeng. As for the voice, I have the ‘Replication’ ability. I can use erosion to adjust my vocal cords without exposing anything.”

They fell silent for a few seconds, and Shu Jun’s vertical pupils slowly contracted.

“Of course, I won’t take the opportunity to kill off all the high-ranking human officials, although it’s quite tempting…”

“Since we met, I’ve also been supervising your emotional state,” Zhu Yanchen quietly interrupted Shu Jun. “I know you just want me to rest, but I also understand that you seek closeness when you’re feeling uneasy.”

Shu Jun was momentarily stunned.

“The scenes of destruction weren’t something you imagined yourself, right? At least, I didn’t sense much deliberate acting. It seemed quite natural.”

…And the mournful and desperate cries of the monster. Shu Jun wasn’t skilled in acting. That kind of despair was something he could never portray. That expression seemed more like an outburst of genuine emotions than acting skills.

Zhu Yanchen reached out and gently stroked Shu Jun’s cheek with his palm. Seeing Shu Jun’s lips slightly parted, he couldn’t help but poke at the pointed tooth peeking out.

“Those scenes were information implanted by Sigma, right?”

“…Mm, I referenced the destruction of X City a bit.” The remnants of the yet unformed hostility in Shu Jun instantly dissipated.

“It was the same last time, and it’s the same this time. Every time you turn yourself into a monster, you become more susceptible to negative emotions.” Zhu Yanchen withdrew his hand and ruffled Shu Jun’s hair in that position. “I don’t mind if you come to me for reassurance—whether it’s trust or love, you can come anytime.”

His gaze became incredibly gentle. “I agree to let you go, and I won’t hold back anymore. But, in return, you don’t have to deliberately hide your emotions either.”

“Alright, alright, shut up.” Shu Jun pushed Zhu Yanchen down onto the couch and looked up at the ceiling. “If you keep talking, I won’t be able to resist kissing you. Then neither of us will get any sleep.”

This time, Zhu Yanchen didn’t struggle. He turned to the side on the couch, resting his head on Shu Jun’s leg, and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Once his lover was sound asleep, Shu Jun slowly moved away and slipped a soft pillow under Zhu Yanchen’s head. Then he wandered around the bar for a few rounds and found a blanket to carefully cover his beloved Marshal Zhu.

“I’ll be right back.” Shu Jun whispered, giving a gentle kiss on Zhu Yanchen’s eyes. “When you wake up, I’ll fill you in on the details of the meeting.”

Shu Jun stood up, extinguishing the only source of light in the bar. The windows were already sealed shut, enveloping the surroundings in complete darkness.

“Goodnight. Sweet dreams.”