47 The Unexpected (2/2)

Although she had a face more attractive than celebrities, even in her free time, it was still expressionless.

She leaned against the sofa as she casually lifted her legs. She turned on the TV with the remote.

”Now we’ll continue with the next piece of news. This morning, IS initiated an attack on Tikrit. The president of Iraq stated that they will do anything to defend Tikrit.”

Xia Shiyu didn’t really care about international news. Like most of the modern professionals, she was more interested in comedy shows, especially the ones that made people laugh.

Surprising, for someone who didn’t like to smile enjoyed humor.

[There are no news today?]

Xia Shiyu let out a breath for reasons she couldn’t explain.

[No news probably means he is safe.]

At least the news didn’t say that a Han man was abducted and taken hostage. The ministry of foreign affairs strongly advises citizens… and related news.

[Hmm? Why am I worried about him?]

Xia Shiyu was suddenly shocked as she subconsciously touched her lips as confusion flashed across her eyes.

She shook her head and pushed out the always grinning face from her head as she began to change the channel.

[It must be because I have been too tired lately.]

With the comedians on the screen as well as the waves of laughter from the audience, Xia Shiyu temporarily forgot about what troubled her.

Her breathing returned to normal as her emotion returned to normal.

－

As the night fell, Jiang Chen leaned against the chair with a cigarette in his mouth.

To prevent being spotted, the headlight must remain off. It would be too dangerous to keep going without any light, so Robert stopped the car.

”If you can’t fall asleep, why don’t you keep an eye out for now?” Robert smiled bitterly as he pressed against the steering wheel. Nick in the back was already snoring up a storm.

”How far away?” Jiang Chen blew a smoke ring out as he sighed.

”Probably two more days. There is enough water and food, you don’t have to be too nervous.” Robert shrugged.

Jiang Chen rolled his eyes. [Who is saving who?]

”I am doing a lot to get rid of the ten tons of gold.” Jiang Chen curled his lips.

”Ten tons!?” Robert suddenly stood up, but then a banging sound ensued. He hit his head against the roof, but he resisted the pain as he stared at Jiang Chen, full concentrated.

”… Fu*k, don’t look at me like that.” Jiang Chen was getting goosebumps as he moved back into contempt.

”Hehe.” Robert touched his greasy blond hair and moved back. ”I know there is a one hundred million USD deal. But why would I do firearms? I’ll just help you sell gold.”

”Nope, I only stored this much gold over the years. I am starting to transition into other industries as well.” Jiang Chen let out a sigh.

”Transitioning? Is there something else that’s easier to sell?” Robert couldn’t fall asleep anymore as he also lit a cigarette.

”Technology.”

”Technology? Buffet didn’t even dare to touch that.” Robert contumaciously sneered, ”I tried to open my own firearm company before but gave up soon after. The risk of development is too high, so I only sell the finished product. It is easier to make money this way.”

”It is also more dangerous.” Jiang Chen didn’t disagree.

”Of course, but I love the adventure.” Robert awkwardly laughed as he avoided the topic.

The desert night was quiet and peaceful without a soul to be seen. As they got further away from Hadithah, the occasional explosions started to fade as well. But within the quiet night sky, a short burst of homing noise could be heard once in awhile.

”F-22, it’s probably the UA doing scouting missions. Maybe we are already on the heat map.” Robert lifted his head.

”Oh? Would the UA soldiers jump out and save you?” Jiang Chen smiled.

”No way. We are only a white dot on the heat map. There are plenty of refugees in the desert. The good thing is that there is no weapon on the back of the car or some bullets may have flown down.” Robert laughed at the remark.

Jiang Chen gazed at the distant sky. The clouds were thin, and the moon was bright. But even in the moonlight, he couldn’t see anything.

”I don’t understand. I feel the IS soldiers are not that strong. With the airstrikes of so many nations, why would they not eradicate this problem already?” Jiang Chen did not have the slightest positive feeling about this group.

It has nothing to do with politics nor nationality. From a purely human perspective, any group that killed civilians and raped women are hideous and hated. For whatever reason, it cannot justify the crime against humanity.

He wanted to laugh at the crazy group that said so many laughable claims, but he couldn’t.

”It’s normal.” Robert shrugged, ”IS is not simply just a terrorist group. It’s a frightening army combined with an ambitious government. A lot of them even received higher education and elite training which taught them how to avoid airstrike and scouting. Also, their opponents have their own personal agendas. Take Turkey, for example, their stance on IS was never clear.”

At that moment, Robert also smiled dubiously.

”Also, if the war ended this quickly, how would we feed ourselves? How would the unemployment rate go down?”

Jiang Chen thought about it as he laughed.

He was right.

Who cared, the Middle East was far from Hua.

But for some reason, he constantly remembered the world that had fallen apart because of the nuclear war.

The world where even the sun in the middle of a summer day could not cast its ray through the thick radiation cloud. The world where not a single piece of grain grew, and a world where millions of twisted faces instinctively practiced violence.

Jiang Chen suddenly felt a chillness, he tried to wrap himself tighter with his clothes.

The desert night was a bit too chill.