Chapter 1 (2/2)
The two groups of people sized each other up for a few seconds before they looked away shyly. After all, no one knew if their future husband or wife was just across them.
A man—about 1.75 meters tall with a refreshing crew cut—glanced at the few old tables, the benches, and the high-back chairs around them in the Rec Center. He then nervously spoke to his companion beside him. “Shang Jianyao, what kind of wife do you think the company will assign me?”
His companion was about 1.85 meters tall, with straight eyebrows and bright brown eyes. His face was deeply contoured, and his black hair was slightly messy, covering half of his forehead.
The young man named Shang Jianyao turned his head to glance at his companion and said, “First, you’ll have to be assigned before we can discuss what she’ll be like.” He was wearing a dark-blue, two-piece suit. The muscles on his arms bulged, creasing the fabric ever so slightly. He looked masculine and strong.
“Ha, I won’t be that unlucky, will I? There are only two more men than women this time.” The 1.75-meter-tall man with average features laughed. His expression gradually turned solemn as he rambled. “Could it be that they won’t like me? I’m only 1.75 meters tall after genetic enhancement. I’m not handsome either. My grades are only average…”
Shang Jianyao said solemnly, “That’s not the point. The point is your feminine name.”
“Feminine name? What’s wrong with the name Long Yuehong? My father’s surname is Long, and my mother’s name has the word ‘Hong’ in it. How meaningful is that?” Long Yuehong muttered to himself in confusion. “That’s true. The company’s assignment doesn’t care about how tall or good-looking I am. It’s said that it’s all random after any blood-related possibilities are eliminated… Ah, will they mistake me as a woman because of my name and assign me to a husband? What should I do if that happens?”
Shang Jianyao sized up Long Yuehong and said, “Organ transplant, neural reconstruction, artificial uterus. A perfect solution.”
Long Yuehong laughed awkwardly. “Haha, how is that possible? I mean, how can they get it wrong? Every document about me states that I’m male! What a strange train of thought you have. Shouldn’t a normal person be thinking of making a complaint?”
Without waiting for Shang Jianyao’s response, he added, “So, why is my name the key?”
“A name represents a person’s destiny. A random assignment is all about one’s destiny,” Shang Jianyao replied seriously.
Long Yuehong’s expression froze for two seconds. “I knew you couldn’t give me any constructive ideas!” Just as he said that, he asked, “What kind of wife do you want?”
Shang Jianyao lifted his chin and said, “I don’t need one. The company has insufficient resources, and the humans above the Ashlands are in dire straits. The curse of famine, infection, mutation, and beastification still cloaks the entire world. How can I marry?”
“…” Long Yuehong laughed. “You’re getting better at joking.”
Shang Jianyao looked at him and said without a smile, “I’ve already applied to give up today’s central assignment.”
“Are you serious? That’s impossible. How could the company agree to your request!? Haha, I almost believed you!” Long Yuehong was shocked at first, but then he let out a sigh of relief.
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Xianyu—the person-in-charge of the Rec Center on the 495th floor—left his seat. He walked to the LCD screen and began to adjust it.
This old man with white hair and staggering footsteps was once part of the Security Department. He was in charge of expedition members and had always been a D7 team leader. Later, he left the Security Department due to his age and was promoted to become a D8 manager, who was in charge of the Rec Center on this floor.
Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong were very curious about the old man’s past. They had a penchant for coming to the Rec Center and asking all sorts of questions. However, Chen Xianyu strictly adhered to the confidentiality regulations and only selected things that everyone knew about for conversations. He was like an ordinary employee who was born, grew up, studied, worked, matured, and aged in the Inner Ecosystem. He had never left the underground building or seen the real sky.
“Alright, it’s about to begin.” Chen Xianyu held onto a remote control and pressed down heavily.
The display flickered a few times before emitting a faint light.
Long Yuehong, Meng Xia, and the others held their breaths as they waited for the assignment’s results to be announced.
They were not worried that the names would scroll down too quickly, preventing them from reading it clearly. This was because the Rec Centers on each floor only showed the results related to the residents on the respective floor.