Chapter 35
Lu Ze never considered himself a fickle person, a point that had been proven over the decades in the last world.
Back then, he held a high status, and there was no shortage of people who tried to curry favor with him. There were even those who knew his preferences and would send him beautiful people at banquets and various occasions.
There were all types and ages, but Lu Ze never gave them a second glance.
For him, having Lin Zhiyan was enough.
So, in this world, when he first noticed his attention towards Xu Qingyan, Lu Ze only thought it stemmed from their many similarities, from his longing for Lin Zhiyan, which had affected his attitude towards Xu Qingyan.
But that wasn’t the case.
Lu Ze actually had a vague sense that his attention towards Xu Qingyan was purely because of Xu Qingyan himself, not a transference of feelings for someone else. He wanted to see Xu Qingyan smile, to see him happy. His emotions had already recognized his lover a step ahead, but his rationality was still desperately resisting.
Until today, when he saw Xu Qingyan and that girl chatting happily from a distance, Lu Ze’s emotions were both familiar and strange. It was the jealousy, dissatisfaction, and possessiveness he had always felt only for Lin Zhiyan.
Perhaps it was already very clear at the factory. He had brought him to the factory and had been busy for half a month, rarely asking about him. But thinking about it carefully, was he really that busy, to the point where he didn’t even have time to ask a question or say a few words?
Lu Ze had indulged himself in his work, but now the answer was already given.
Fate had taken a strange turn, as if playing a big joke, but the outcome was unexpected.
Lu Ze had never thought that Xu Qingyan would have any connection to Lin Zhiyan. They were two completely different people from two different worlds.
But the result was here. While Lu Ze was pleasantly surprised, he also had a sense of “it was meant to be.”
He suddenly thought of someone, the person who had pursued him for the last dozen or so worlds in the face-slapping department…
Lu Ze was silent for a long time. Xu Qingyan couldn’t help but wonder if there was something wrong with his haircut. He licked his lips and said, “Is… is it a bad cut?”
As soon as Xu Qingyan finished speaking, Lu Ze came back to his senses. He looked at the apprehension in the young man’s eyes, and his heart suddenly felt heavy.
He thought of what he had done, and his breathing hitched.
“It’s very nice.” Lu Ze suppressed his inner emotions and said with a smile, “I never noticed before, you have a mole on your earlobe.”
Xu Qingyan touched his earlobe and smiled shyly. “It’s always been there. My mom always says that people with moles on their earlobes are lucky.”
Lu Ze looked at him, his voice slightly hoarse. “You are lucky.”
You will be lucky in the future.
Xu Qingyan pursed his lips, a little embarrassed.
Lu Ze composed himself and said as he walked, “Have you eaten?”
Xu Qingyan subconsciously followed him and shook his head. “Not yet. I was planning to go back to the factory cafeteria to eat later.”
The food in the cafeteria was good and free, so there was no need to waste money outside.
Lu Ze paused when he heard this. He took a deep breath, looked sideways at Xu Qingyan, and said, “I haven’t eaten either. Let’s go and eat something together.”
Xu Qingyan thought for a moment and felt that it was a good idea, so he followed Lu Ze, but he watched as the street scene slowly disappeared, and the buildings of the residential area slowly appeared in front of him.
The two of them stopped in front of a small courtyard.
“Lu-ge…?” Xu Qingyan was a little confused and turned his head to look at Lu Ze. “This is…”
“This is the house I bought.” Lu Ze took out the key and opened the door, then stepped aside to let him in. “I’m showing you the way.”
Xu Qingyan remembered that Lu Ze had indeed told him an address. He couldn’t hide his curiosity and looked around. It was similar to a rural courtyard, but it was obviously much cleaner and tidier. It was just that the owner was probably too busy, so the courtyard seemed a bit empty and lacked a sense of life.
Despite this, Xu Qingyan was still happy for him. “This is great. Now you have a home in the city!”
The word “home” was particularly touching at this time. Lu Ze chuckled when he heard this, his gaze fixed on him, and he said in a low voice, “Yes, I have a home.”
He led Xu Qingyan into the main house and asked him to sit down first. Then he went to the kitchen and rummaged around before coming back to ask him, “Is noodles okay?”
Xu Qingyan was a little surprised. “You’re cooking, Lu-ge?”
Lu Ze smiled. “You try it and see how it tastes.”
Xu Qingyan was a little curious, but he didn’t move and just sat there obediently waiting.
After a short while, Lu Ze came over with a bowl of steaming hot noodles. There was also a fried egg on top, which looked bright and fragrant.
Lu Ze pushed the bowl and chopsticks to him. “Try it and see if it’s edible.”
Xu Qingyan’s nose twitched slightly, and his eyes were bright as he looked at him. “It smells so good.”
He asked, “So you can cook, Lu-ge?”
Lu Ze said, “I’ve been busy recently, and I’m at home alone. Sometimes I don’t want to eat, so I just make something simple to get by. I’m best at making noodles. I’m still practicing the rest.”
Xu Qingyan thought that it was indeed a bit lonely for him to live in such a big courtyard by himself, so he said, “Actually, the food in the factory cafeteria is not bad. The masters’ cooking is very good.”
Lu Ze paused, then said, “I usually eat in the cafeteria too, but I can’t help but feel hungry when I come back. I always want to eat something hot to fill my stomach.”
Xu Qingyan couldn’t help but admire him. The people in the factory all knew that the factory was developing very well, but probably not many people knew how much effort this boss had put in behind the scenes.
Lu Ze met his gaze, changed the subject, and smiled. “Let’s not talk about it. Let’s try it first.”
Xu Qingyan took a deep breath again, picked up his chopsticks, and was about to eat when he suddenly thought of something and looked at Lu Ze. “…Lu-ge, what about yours?”
Lu Ze was stunned for a moment, then got up and said, “Mine is still in the pot. I’ll go and get it now.”
Only then was Xu Qingyan satisfied. He put down his chopsticks again and waited for Lu Ze to bring another bowl of noodles over before he picked them up.
But when he looked over, he saw that the bowl was full of thin soup and not many noodles.
There was naturally no egg either.
Xu Qingyan blinked, his chopsticks still holding some noodles. For a moment, he didn’t know how to eat. “Why are you eating so little, Lu-ge?”
Only then did Lu Ze react and smiled. “Actually, I was just talking to people from the textile factory in the restaurant. I had something to eat, but I was talking the whole time and ate a stomach full of cold food, so I wanted to come back and eat something hot.”
He looked at Xu Qingyan’s appearance and couldn’t help but smile. “Don’t worry, there’s still food at home. I’m just not hungry.”
Only then did Xu Qingyan feel a little relieved. He looked at the fried egg in his bowl, divided it into two with his chopsticks, and put half of it into Lu Ze’s bowl. “Then I’ll share half of the egg with you.”
As he spoke, he added, “Don’t worry, I haven’t used my chopsticks yet. They’re clean.”
Lu Ze was stunned for a moment. Only then did he remember what he had done before, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words.
The young man’s eyes were clear and clean, with a shy smile. Lu Ze lowered his eyes slightly and said, “I’m not disgusted with you.”
Xu Qingyan picked up a chopstick of noodles and blew on it gently, his expression serious. “I didn’t think you were disgusted with me. It’s just personal hygiene. It’s not good to use your own chopsticks to pick up food for others.”
In the past, he didn’t have these concerns in the village, but now that he was working in the factory, some of his colleagues were also from the city, and they were indeed a bit particular about eating and drinking. Xu Qingyan understood and respected this, and he didn’t pay much attention to this matter.
Lu Ze was a little speechless, but he just put the half of the egg back into Xu Qingyan’s bowl. “You eat it. You’re still growing, so you should supplement more.”
Xu Qingyan swallowed the noodles in his mouth and couldn’t help but pout. “But my height is not short now. I can be considered average in the factory.”
He was still holding a grudge against what Lu Ze had said about his legs being short last time.
Lu Ze couldn’t count how many pits he had dug for himself. He smiled bitterly in his heart and just said, “That’s not what I meant. It’s just that you’re still in your developmental stage, and your body needs to be supplemented with enough nutrients. I didn’t mean to say you’re short.” He looked at him again and said very seriously, “Your current height is just right, really. It’s fine whether you grow taller in the future or not.”
Xu Qingyan poked the noodles with his chopsticks. “That won’t do. I should still grow a little taller.”
Lu Ze looked to be at least 1.85 meters tall. He didn’t expect to grow to 1.8 meters, but it would be good to grow two more centimeters.
“Then you have to supplement more nutrients.” Lu Ze followed his words. “How’s the food in the cafeteria? Can you eat meat and eggs every meal?”
Xu Qingyan couldn’t help but smile at his words. “How can it be that good, with meat and eggs every meal?” He looked at Lu Ze and said, “There’s meat and eggs for all three meals a day. The food in the cafeteria is already very good, much better than what many families eat outside.”
Lu Ze said, “If you want to grow, this is not enough.”
Xu Qingyan couldn’t help but smile. “If you say so, what kind of food would that be?”
Lu Ze just smiled and didn’t speak. He also knew that he had dug too many pits for himself before, so he couldn’t be in a hurry. So he asked him some questions about his work. He knew that Accountant Li was teaching him seriously, that he was getting along well with his roommate, and that he would study until late every night. While he felt sorry for him, he couldn’t help but feel a little proud.
This was his Yanyan.
After the meal, Xu Qingyan rushed to help him wash the dishes and then proposed to leave.
Although Lu Ze knew that he couldn’t be in a hurry, he still couldn’t help but suggest, “There’s still an empty room here. Why don’t you stay here for a night and go to the factory with me tomorrow?”
Xu Qingyan was stunned for a moment and said without hesitation, “I’d better not. I didn’t tell Brother Wang in advance. If he sees that I’m not back at night, he’ll probably think something happened to me.”
Lu Ze was silent for a moment. For the first time, he wanted to kill himself for making such a decision before.
Xu Qingyan added, “And my clothes, books, and other things are still in the dormitory. I have to go back and study, so I won’t trouble you, Lu-ge.”
Lu Ze really wanted to say that it was no trouble, but he still put on a smile and said, “Then I won’t keep you. The next time you have a holiday, or whenever you want to come, just come over.”
Lu Ze sent him to the door. Xu Qingyan smiled and said, “It’s cold outside. You should go back first, Lu-ge.”
Lu Ze really wanted to send him back to the factory, but he also knew that he couldn’t force him now, so he just said okay.
Before Xu Qingyan turned to leave, he hesitated and looked back. “Lu-ge… are you still coming to the factory tomorrow?”
He clearly had something to say. Lu Ze said, “I’ll be at the factory all day tomorrow.”
Xu Qingyan immediately smiled. “That’s good.”
He waved at him. “Then I’ll go now. You should go back first, Lu-ge.”
Lu Ze stood at the door and watched his retreating back gradually disappear. He couldn’t help but feel fortunate that he had chosen a house not far from the factory.
He gently closed the main door, and the courtyard slowly fell silent, returning to its previous desolation.
Lu Ze lowered his eyes slightly, and only then did he have the time to sort out this matter from beginning to end.
“777,” he called out in his mind, his voice no longer as gentle as usual, but a little more serious.
“H-h-h-host,” 777 was also in a state of shock and stammered.
Thousands of thoughts flashed through Lu Ze’s mind, but he opened his mouth and said, “Did you know about this matter all along?”
777 was shocked. “How would I know? I really didn’t know at all, Host! I don’t know anything!”
He desperately explained, “I-I-I-I really didn’t know…”
This was its first mission. It had never experienced such a thing, let alone heard of it!
This was not in the database at all!
Lu Ze listened to its explanation, and the solemnity on his brow slightly dissipated, his voice slowly becoming a little gentler. “I understand. I knew that 777 was so good, so it definitely wouldn’t hide anything from me.”
“Wuwuwu, Host…” 777 cried out, “I will definitely not lie to you, Host. If there’s any news, I will definitely discuss it with you. This is the code of conduct for a system.”
“I know, 777 is the best.” While coaxing it, Lu Ze added, “But this is a special situation now. Can you help me contact the head of the face-slapping department or your redemption department? We have to see what’s going on with this matter.”
“I’m sorry, Host. I don’t have the authority to contact the department head directly…” 777’s voice became even more guilty. “I can only report it layer by layer through the system. I don’t know when I can contact them.”
Lu Ze paused. “It’s okay. 777 is still a new system. It will definitely be possible when you’re promoted to a senior system in the future.”
777 felt that its host was simply the best host in the world!
Lu Ze changed the subject and added, “Since I can’t contact the department head, can I trouble 777 to help me contact my previous system, 003?”
777’s crying came to an abrupt halt, and its voice was even a little flustered and stammering. “H-host, why do you want to contact your previous system? I-is there something wrong with what 777 is doing?”
Lu Ze said, “No, it’s just that there are some previous matters I want to ask it about. It has nothing to do with 777.”
Only then did 777 feel a little relieved. It added, “I can contact it directly, but I’m not sure if it will reply to me…”
“It’s okay,” Lu Ze said. “As long as you say you’re my system, it will reply to you.”
777 listened to Lu Ze’s words and sent a message. In just a moment, 003’s reply came.
The two sides met in Lu Ze’s personal space.
Lu Ze looked at the mechanical dumpling that was as unchanging as before and raised an eyebrow. “Long time no see, 003.”
003 said in a flat voice, “Long time no see, mission-taker 16037. May I ask if you have any questions for me?”
After more than a hundred worlds, Lu Ze naturally understood 003’s personality. Hearing this, he didn’t say much nonsense and went straight to the point. “The person who pursued me for more than a dozen worlds in the face-slapping department before, has the department found anything?”
003 was silent for a moment, then said without emotion, “Not yet.”
Lu Ze said, “Not a single piece of news?”
003 said, “If there are any clues, we will inform you in time. Please don’t be anxious.”
“I’m not anxious,” Lu Ze said. “I just suddenly found that a similar situation has also occurred in the redemption department.”
“Is that so?” 003 asked.
“One person, who has pursued me from the last world to this one.” Lu Ze’s voice was laced with a smile. “In this situation, I think I should report it to the boss, right?”
003 was silent for a while again. “The two situations are similar. It should indeed be reported.”
Lu Ze said, “In that case, then I’ll have to trouble 003 to help me contact the boss. It’s better for me to explain this kind of thing personally.”
003 said, “I’m very sorry, but the department head is currently on a mission in a world. I can’t contact him.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Lu Ze said. “In that case, then you can help me contact the head of the redemption department. After all, it happened in their world.”
003: “The head of the redemption department is also on a mission in a world.”
Lu Ze’s eyelashes lowered slightly, and he chuckled softly. “What a coincidence. They’re all on a mission at the same time?”
“Then which other department heads are free? Didn’t the boss say before that as a leader, you should always be prepared to liaise with other departments? This kind of thing can’t be delayed after all. It’s better to find someone to solve it as soon as possible.”
003 didn’t speak. Lu Ze slowly looked up at it. “I don’t know much about these things. Why don’t you give me an introduction, 003?”
There was a moment of silence. 777 watched from the side, not daring to make a sound.
“Why must you be like this, Host?” 003 finally spoke, but it was the same as before, calling Lu Ze “Host.” “Since you have your suspicions, why do you have to come to me to confirm them? You never did such useless things before, Host.”
For Lu Ze, he only believed in his own judgment. The words of others were never the most important proof.
003 said, “I understand the Host’s ability, but the rules are there. If I can’t say it, I can’t say it. You don’t have to test me like this, Host.”
How strong this person’s rhetoric was, and how many people had been unknowingly led into his trap, 003 had watched him grow up step by step, so it knew better than anyone else.
It said, “As for everything you want to know, when you’re promoted to team leader, someone will naturally explain it to you.”
Lu Ze was silent for a moment, then smiled. “How can it be useless? At the very least, I’ve already gotten the answer I want.”
“Then congratulations, Host.” 003’s mechanical voice was unchanged. It said, “The main god space is busy with missions. If you have nothing else, Host, I’ll leave now.”
Lu Ze lowered his eyes slightly and said, “Go on.”
003 agreed and went offline, but before it left, it glanced at 777, who was shrinking in the corner, and then said to Lu Ze, “777 is a new system. It really doesn’t know anything about these things.”
Lu Ze looked up. “I understand.”
Lu Ze naturally would not make things difficult for it.
Thinking about it carefully, it was not hard to understand why he had been assigned such a system.
003 finally said, “I wish you a smooth mission, Host.”
After 003 was completely offline, Lu Ze glanced at 777 next to him and said with a smile, “Thank you for your trouble, 777.”
Although 777 was at a loss, it still said after hearing Lu Ze’s words, “It’s no trouble. It’s good that I can help the Host.”
Lu Ze smiled slightly, opened his eyes, looked at the beams of the house, and then thought of that person again, and slowly fell into deep thought.
In the previous dozen or so worlds, their relationship was just the most ordinary friendship, even a bit bland, not even close.
They both knew each other’s identities, but they had never said it explicitly, as if there was a strange tacit understanding, and they were both waiting to see if they could meet each other in the next world.
Lu Ze had thought that they would continue like this, meeting the same person in every different world. To be honest, it was indeed quite an interesting thing. But he didn’t expect that in the last world of the face-slapping department, when he was about to leave the world after completing the mission, that person had looked at him and suddenly sighed, “Ah, you’re leaving again.”
Lu Ze had looked at him at that time, his expression a little surprised.
This was almost the first time they had talked about this matter openly.
He watched as the person lazily stood up, slowly stretched, and said, “In that case… then goodbye.”
After the person finished speaking, he was about to leave, but then he seemed to have thought of something, turned his head to look at him, and said with a smile, “By the way, my name is Lin Yan. Don’t forget.”
