Chapter 313 - Growth (1/2)
Chapter 313: Growth
On the 647th floor, Room 14.
Long Yuehong held a lunch box and slurped down the tomato omelet noodles that were drenched with braised beef sauce.
“When it’s eaten like this… canned food isn’t that disgusting anymore…” He expressed his thoughts. With that said, he picked a piece of cabbage that had been soaked in stock.
He found it refreshing and sweet, effectively removing the cloyed taste brought about by the canned meat.
At this moment, Shang Jianyao had already finished his last mouthful of soup and looked at Long Yuehong’s lunch box with bright eyes. “You can give me whatever you can’t finish.”
Long Yuehong immediately fell silent and focused on the noodles.
Jiang Baimian smiled and asked Shang Jianyao, “Still hungry? Shall I get some more food?”
Shang Jianyao shook his head. “There’s only enough room for food snatched from others.”
“Whoa!” Jiang Baimian ignored him and lowered her head to take a small bite of the fried egg that had been infused with the stock’s alluring fragrance.
Bai Chen’s appetite couldn’t compare to the three of them. Like Shang Jianyao, she had already finished eating and was peeling the remaining tomatoes as an after-meal fruit.
Since it was a feast, it had to look like a feast.
Before long, Jiang Baimian and Long Yuehong finished their dinner. They leaned back in their chairs and slumped, unwilling to move further.
“The company is the best after all…” Long Yuehong sighed with emotion.
This was the feeling of home.
“That’s right.” Jiang Baimian smiled. “I hope you won’t be bored after staying at home for too long.”
“No, I don’t think so…” Long Yuehong’s answer became less firm when he recalled his experiences on the surface in the past few months. It wasn’t because he felt that the company’s entertainment programs were monotonous. Compared to most settlements in the Ashlands, the leisure activities of Pangu Biology’s employees were considered varied. However, all of them were very sterile.
Long Yuehong only felt that although he liked to stay at home and only interact with people he was familiar with, he might feel a little stifled and uncomfortable if he couldn’t see the blue sky and experience open surroundings. He felt like a bird locked in a cage.
Shang Jianyao added, “As long as he has enough Old World entertainment, he won’t be bored. He won’t even want to find a girlfriend.”
“No way…” Long Yuehong protested weakly. He didn’t continue because he was afraid that his team leader and Bai Chen would think that he only wanted to find a girlfriend and that his mind was filled with marriage and children.
Jiang Baimian laughed. “If you can’t get more of the Old World’s entertainment, it will get boring sooner or later. Sigh, didn’t I say? I’m the kind of person who wants to come back after being out for long but will want to go out when I’m back for long. I hope you won’t become like me…”
As they jested, the four of them split up to wash the dishes and clean the office. This made Long Yuehong feel calm in both body and mind. Amidst the calmness, an indescribable joy slowly grew and echoed.
I wish I could be like this forever… He silently prayed.
…
After the meal, Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong returned to the 495th floor together.
Just as they stepped out of the elevator, they saw their good friend—Yang Zhenyuan—walking over under the sun lamps.
“Ah, are you here to welcome us?” Shang Jianyao was ‘shocked.’
Yang Zhenyuan was also surprised. “You guys are finally back!”
There were very few outfield missions inside Pangu Biology that required months. Of course, it might take two years or even longer if they were deployed to certain places to do certain jobs. However, all of these had their excuses.
The Old Task Force was unlike any other; nobody in the neighborhood knew what they did outside.
As Long Yuehong denigrated Shang Jianyao’s exaggerated act, he smiled at the tall, muscular, and fair Yang Zhenyuan. “That’s right; we’re dead beat. We should be able to have a long vacation.”
He then asked, “Back to visit your old folks? Where’s your wife?”
He still had a deep impression of Zhou Qi, a woman who was ten years older than Yang Zhenyuan. She had come knocking on the door to visit her future husband.
He remembered that they were always together after their marriage. Apart from work situations, it was rare to see only one or the other being absent.
Yang Zhenyuan smiled. “S-she’s pregnant. I came back precisely to consult my mother for some experience.”
“Congratulations!” Long Yuehong was sincerely happy for his friend.
Shang Jianyao was the same. He even recommended himself. “You can consult me.”
“Huh?” Yang Zhenyuan was confused. These are words from a fellow without a spouse?
Shang Jianyao explained seriously, “I have solid theoretical knowledge.” This was the confidence stemming from a Life Ritual parishioner.
Upon seeing that Yang Zhenyuan was still a little confused, Long Yuehong laughed and helped Shang Jianyao smooth things over. “He has read Old World books on childbirth.”
“Is that so? Do you still have the books?” Yang Zhenyuan came to a realization.
“No, we didn’t bring them back.” Long Yuehong could already bullshit under his team leader’s influence.