Villain Boss Chapter 222
Translated by Digitalian (ko-fi)
Chapter 222: Looking At Her Own Self
After completing identity registration and check-in information at the administrative hall, and using points to obtain temporary accommodation, Si Xu led the group to their lodgings.
"Mommy, are we staying here tonight?" Back in the room they had been assigned, the little boy snuggled up to his mother and asked timidly, "Will we be kicked out?"
The woman stroked the child's head and said softly, "No, we won’t. Sleep well, I’ll be by your side."
There were also several young girls sharing the room with them.
"We've finally arrived at Beichen base. I wonder what Ranran and Professor Si's plans are next. If only they could always lead us."
Looking at her own self, the girl knew that this wish was unlikely to come true. She sighed after she finished speaking.
Xing Xiaoyu patted her shoulder and comforted her, "We've arrived at the base. Let's go out and look for work tomorrow. This base can’t possibly only have superhumans. We can do what other ordinary people can do."
"Um." The girl smiled at her. "We can’t always rely on others. Now that we have a place to settle down, we have to work hard ourselves."
The two girls whispered to each other, trying not to disturb others' rest.
"Xiaoyu, be honest with me. Do you like Brother Luo?"
After Luo Yuting joined their team, he didn't get close to anyone except Xing Xiaoyu, with whom he could exchange a few words.
Xing Xiaoyu blushed and said reproachfully, "What nonsense are you talking about? How could I be worthy of someone as outstanding as Brother Luo?"
"No matter how outstanding he is, he’s still just an ordinary person." Her companion pinched her cheek and said earnestly, "In my opinion, you’re not bad-looking. Once you get to the base, you could totally find a superhuman..."
"Hey, if you say that again, I'll get angry!"
"I'm being serious. Although Brother Luo is a very good person, he's still just an ordinary person."
"Stop it!"
Xing Xiaoyu's cheeks flushed bright red, and her companion dropped the topic, saying, "Okay, okay, let's stop talking. Get some rest. We need to look for a job tomorrow..."
……
After taking a shower, Si Xu was standing on the balcony, looking at something.
Jiang Ran walked to his side and looked out the window in the same way he did.
The duplex apartment they exchanged at the administrative hall office was on the ninth floor. Without the lights on, Jiang Ran could only see the outlines of the buildings, which were of varying heights. She couldn't see anything else.
"Si Xu, what are you looking at?"
He sighed and looked away. "I'm looking at Beichen base. I was in such a hurry last time that I didn't have time to take a good look at it."
To see what this base, managed by the Huo family, looked like.
Jiang Ran remained silent.
This city was where the Huo family grew up, and where Huo Zhisang grew up—the Marshal Huo whom they met tonight was Huo Zhisang's nephew. In other words, those younger members of the Huo family were very likely to be Si Xu's blood relatives.
However, they had never met, and didn’t even know of each other's existence before the disaster.
Even among blood relatives, the affection between them was quite weak.
Not wanting to discuss this topic in front of Si Xu, Jiang Ran leaned on his arm and accompanied him as they looked around the unfamiliar base.
The moonlight was gentle, and the girl beside him breathed softly. Her hair brushed against his arm, and the ticklish touch felt even gentler than the moonlight.
"Sigh, there are no stars tonight." Jiang Ran spread her hands, moonlight falling between her fingers. "The moon is bright but there are few stars."
Si Xu held her hand, their fingers intertwined. "The moonlight is so beautiful, perfect for a date—a romantic evening under the moon, a wonderful time, nothing could be better."
Why was this guy suddenly using such flowery language? Jiang Ran chuckled. "Who taught you to say that? Captain Gu?"
Si Xu shook his head honestly. "It's Qin. We used to work in the lab, and for a while she was obsessed with sketchbooks of talented men and beautiful women."
Jiang Ran asked curiously, "Would she tell you?"
"When she got excited, she’d read it out loud."
"..." You guys in the laboratory had pretty peculiar hobbies.
After watching the night view from the balcony for a while, Jiang Ran yawned, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Tired?"
"Um."
He picked Jiang Ran up and carried her back to the room.
As he bent down to put her down, she hooked her arms around his neck. Tears were welling in her eyes, yet she locked her gaze on him.
"Si Xu, I’ll always be by your side."
She pulled him close to her breath, her voice soft.
"I’ll never leave you."
The sudden sweet words made Si Xu’s heart skip a beat.
A smile played in his eyes as he gently kissed the corner of her lips. "Okay." Biting her lip, he said indistinctly, "You must always stay by my side, Jiang Ran."
Stay with me to see how the world would change, and see what kind of endings the people in these "stories" you'd told me would meet.
……
On the way back to the Huo family’s compound, Xie Chengzhi's face was ashen, and he remained silent.
Noticing his unusual behavior, Huo Sichan asked, "Chengzhi, don't blame me for meddling, but do you and that Professor Si have some kind of grudge?"
Xie Chengzhi's hands, which were pushing the wheelchair, froze. After a moment of silence, he spoke frankly. "We had a very unpleasant conflict at Xiling base."
"Oh?" Huo Sichan said gently, "If you don't mind, you can tell me."
"That Miss Jiang, named Jiang Ranran, was my and Ruirui’s classmate. We fled from Shenmu City to Xiling base together. On the way, she was taken away by Professor Si. Our team failed to protect her. I suppose she harbored resentment towards Ruirui and me. Later..." Xie Chengzhi sighed. "After she got together with Professor Si, we had several minor and major conflicts. To be honest, we could probably be considered enemies."
"What do you mean?" If it was just a minor skirmish, there was no need to call each other enemies, was there?
"Si Xu and Marshal Shen don’t get along well. Si Xu is in charge of the laboratory and acts unconventionally and without restraint. Marshal Shen has always been unable to control him and is worried that one day he’ll deviate from the norm and bring unpredictable trouble to the base."
Comprehension dawned on Huo Sichan. So, Shen Lang wanted to get rid of Si Xu?
Xie Chengzhi didn’t say everything outright. "Marshal Shen and Si Xu are at odds, and Ruirui and I are Marshal Shen's subordinates, so naturally we must obey Marshal Shen."
"Miss Luo's legs..."
"Yes." Xie Chengzhi nodded. "It was precisely because we didn't want to continue to stay in the base that Ruirui and I left Xiling base... I didn't expect Si Xu and Ranran to follow us here."
Follow you? What an interesting description. Huo Sicheng patted his hand reassuringly. "Don't worry, this is Beichen base, not Xiling. I don't think Professor Si and Miss Jiang are unreasonable people. Now that you've left Xiling base, they have no reason to continue making things difficult for you."
The two chatted as they arrived at the entrance of the Huo family’s compound.
The tall, heavy gate looked very majestic and solemn, and the large red lanterns hanging under the eaves swayed gently in the night breeze.
A girl stood at the doorway carrying an octagonal glazed glass lantern. Hearing sounds, she listened carefully in the direction of the two people, then lifted her skirt and skillfully walked down the steps to stand in front of them.
"Lingge." Calling the girl's name, Huo Sichan looked at Xie Chengzhi. "Chengzhi, thank you for escorting me back. You've had a busy day, you should get some rest too."
Xie Chengzhi nodded. "Okay."
Huo Lingge smiled gratefully in Xie Chengzhi's direction as a farewell.
After Xie Chengzhi took his leave, she handed the lantern to Huo Sichan, then helped him adjust his coat, went around to the back of the wheelchair, and pushed him into the house.
As they reached the corner, Xie Chengzhi turned back to look at the siblings as they walked away, lost in thought.
