My Romance Game Updated – Chapter 74

Good News

Having changed their coats, Ren Chenxi and Mu Ning checked themselves over briefly to make sure nothing was out of the ordinary. Once they confirmed there were no issues, the two walked together toward the sedan Mu Ning had parked further outside the beach.

Now that both of Mu Ning’s hands were injured, Ren Chenxi couldn’t bear to be so heartless as to let her drive all the way back, so she had to get into the sedan with Mu Ning and act as her driver. After getting in the car, Ren Chenxi discovered another problem… the remaining gas in the sedan was simply not enough for them to drive back to the base.

            

Obviously, Mu Ning also saw the pitifully low gas level displayed on the dashboard. She had to explain to Ren Chenxi that she had borrowed the car in a rush. When one of Qi Sheng’s subordinates lent it to her, he had warned her that it was low on gas. At the time, Mu Ning only cared about hurrying to the beach to check on the situation, paying no mind to what Qi Sheng’s man meant by “low on gas.”

As it turned out, the sedan’s gas wasn’t even enough for her to make a single round trip from the base to the beach!

Forget it, at least this amount of gas had supported her driving all the way out here! When she bought the Crystal Core Engine previously, she hadn’t lacked an earful of Qi Sheng’s complaints about fuel shortages. Now that they had the Crystal Core Engine, they cared even less about whether a car’s tank was full. Well, even if they did care, they likely had nowhere to refuel anyway.

            

Qi Sheng had nowhere to fuel cars, and now he didn’t care if cars had gas or not, but… Ren Chenxi had plenty of gasoline! Even if she didn’t have any gasoline on her right now, couldn’t she just use a Greasy Card to kill a few zombies on the spot?

And so…

“Um… that Greasy Card of yours, how many are left?”

            

Ren Chenxi looked at Mu Ning with a half-smile. “143.”

“Ah, so many…” Much more than she had imagined. “Then… could you…”

“…I can do that!”

            

What else could she do if she couldn’t? Did she expect to drive back to the base on this little bit of gas? Or should she just abandon Mu Ning and drive the off-road vehicle back to the base by herself? Glancing sideways at the white bandages in Mu Ning’s hands, Ren Chenxi didn’t think she was cold-blooded enough to do that. Forget it, she had plenty of Greasy Cards anyway, didn’t she?

Left with no choice, Ren Chenxi could only drive the nearly empty sedan to the large woods outside the beach, catch twelve zombies wandering from who knows where, use twelve Greasy Cards, and obtain twelve bottles of universal gasoline.

After adding five bottles of gasoline into the tank of the sedan Mu Ning had borrowed from Qi Sheng, the remaining gasoline was kept by Ren Chenxi as a reserve. According to Mu Ning, the bus didn’t have much gas left either. These seven bottles of gasoline, plus the eight bottles Ren Chenxi had obtained from the eight crabs on the beach earlier, would be perfect for filling up the bus later.

            

By the time Ren Chenxi and Mu Ning returned to the base, Zhang Tongqi, Chen Gu, and the others were pacing anxiously at the main gates, waiting for them.

As soon as they saw Ren Chenxi driving the sedan, before Chen Gu and the boys could react, Jian Dan and the three girls stared blankly for a moment before quickly and excitedly rushing forward. From their angle, they could perfectly see Ren Chenxi sitting in the driver’s seat.

Seeing Jian Dan’s trio running excitedly toward a sedan, Chen Gu and the others followed suit. Then, upon seeing Mu Ning in the passenger seat, it was as if they had finally found their backbone¹, and they excitedly pounced forward, howling.

            

Mu Ning had anticipated that Chen Gu and the others would be worried if she returned this late, but she hadn’t expected them to crowd the base gate out of concern. Therefore, as soon as Mu Ning stepped out of the sedan—before Zhang Tongqi and the others even had a chance to ask about the gauze wrapped around her palms—she scolded them coldly.

“Who told so many of you to block the base gate? Are you terrified that others won’t know I didn’t act with you and didn’t return with you?!”

When it came to “others”, Mu Ning was primarily worried about the Fan family and Qi Sheng within the base. Ren Chenxi had harvested a Level 8 crystal core; Mu Ning was even more worried than Ren Chenxi that their trip to the beach today would be discovered by those with hidden agendas in the base.

            

“S-sorry, Boss…”

Scolded by Mu Ning, Zhang Tongqi and the others realized that their behavior really was a bit conspicuous. Although they didn’t know where the Boss and Xi-jie had run off to, it was obvious they didn’t want anyone else to know.

“But don’t worry, Boss. Just now, someone asked us what we were waiting for. We only said that during our hunt, we encountered a 6th-order wild boar, but the wild boar got away. You thought the bus was too slow and cumbersome, so you returned to the base alone to borrow a car and chase the wild boar again, and you didn’t even take us with you. We’ve been back at the base for so long and you still hadn’t returned, so we got a little worried and waited at the gates…”

            

This Chen Gu was actually quite quick-witted. Ren Chenxi shot him a somewhat surprised sidelong glance. Regarding Chen Gu’s cleverness, Mu Ning seemed accustomed to it. Keeping her expression cold, she continued to ask, “Who came to ask you? Qi Sheng’s people? Or the Fan family’s people?”

“Neither, just a few ordinary survivors in the base… When we were chatting with them earlier, they said that before dawn this morning, Qi Sheng took a large group of people and headed out. He probably wanted to go somewhere further away to search for supplies since it’s so rare to get a Crystal Core Engine, right? As for the Fan family, there’s been no reaction from them today either. They must be gathered around studying the engine Xi-jie sold them, right? Hehe~”

Speaking of the faulty engine Fan Juntian had bought, an unconscious, gloating smile appeared on Chen Gu’s face.

            

“Put away that face of yours! Are you afraid Fan Juntian won’t come settle the score with us when the engine breaks down?!” Seeing Chen Gu’s crafty smile, Mu Ning’s face grew a few degrees colder. “All of you, remember this: for the next few days, do not go around the base asking about the Fan family’s affairs, especially anything regarding their engine! Also, rein in the expressions on your faces!”

Warned by Mu Ning like this, the other boys hurriedly put away their playful grins.

“Remember my words! Over the next few days, don’t expose anything, understand?!”

            

“Understood!”

All the underlings answered in unison, their expressions solemn.

Watching from the side, Ren Chenxi felt that Mu Ning’s current appearance really had the air of an underworld Female Leader².

            

Well, compared to Mu Ning looking like a mafia Boss reprimanding her underlings, her own side was much warmer. It was just caring inquiries between good sisters.

“Xi-jie, didn’t you have a stomachache? Why did you run outside the base?”

“Xi-jie, is your stomach alright? Did… did you go out hunting with the Boss again?”

            

They were still outside the base, so some questions weren’t suitable to ask right now. The sweet consideration of her little sisters moved Ren Chenxi deeply. Of course, mixed in with all this thoughtful concern was a gossipy voice whose focus was inexplicably skewed.

“X-Xi-jie~~ You and Mu-jie both changed clothes~ Did you… did you change clothes together in the car? Mu-jie’s hands seem to be injured~ Did you help Mu-jie change clothes, Xi-jie~~~”

“…” Tang Ying, you rascal! Could your gossiping tone not be so rippling with excitement!!!

            

Mu Ning, who had been scolding her underlings with a cold face, turned her head upon hearing Tang Ying’s voice and explained in a very gentle tone, “Mhm, she helped me change~”

“…” I used a Costume Card to change your clothes, alright! Don’t make it sound so ambiguous! Believe it or not, I’ll tell your underlings you wore a maid outfit!!!

Bearing the weight of several even more gossipy gazes, Ren Chenxi couldn’t exactly expose her “card skills” to them. She could only bite the bullet and forcibly change the subject. “Let’s head back first. We have some good news to tell you.”

            

“Good news?” Hearing Ren Chenxi say this, Chen Gu and the others immediately grew excited. Over the past few days, any good news Xi-jie brought them had been truly, tangibly good news! Naturally, everyone was full of expectation for this new “good news” Ren Chenxi spoke of.

“Chen Gu, drive this car back to Qi Sheng’s place first.” Mu Ning casually dispatched her underling to run the errand. She then stepped to Ren Chenxi’s side and whispered very softly in her ear, “Don’t mention the octopus is 8th-order.”

Ren Chenxi instantly understood what Mu Ning meant. With their combined strength, taking down a 7th-order mutated octopus was already incredibly unbelievable. If they told everyone this octopus had actually leveled up, wouldn’t these people go crazy? At the same time, her own true strength would definitely be questioned. Although these were her own people, Ren Chenxi was absolutely unwilling to let more people in this game world learn about her difficult-to-explain “esper abilities”.

            

So, even though her ear felt slightly uncomfortable from being brushed by Mu Ning’s warm breath, Ren Chenxi cooperatively nodded at her. “Mhm, I know.”

While Chen Gu went to return the car, Ren Chenxi, Mu Ning, and the rest of the group returned to the Villa Area in a mighty procession. Along the way, a passing survivor called out loudly to Zhang Tongqi and the others, “Hey! Xiao Zhang, did your Boss catch that mutated wild boar?”

“Sigh! Don’t even mention it!” Zhang Tongqi quickly exchanged a glance with Mu Ning and shouted back, “That mutated wild boar was too strong. Thankfully, our Boss didn’t let us follow her. Not only did she fail to catch the boar, but both of her hands were injured by it!”

            

Hearing this, the few passing survivors immediately looked toward Mu Ning’s hands. Sure enough, both of her palms were wrapped in thick bandages. Hiss—For a 5th-order esper as powerful as Mu Ning to be injured by a wild boar, just how strong must that wild boar be! No, no, they had to quickly warn their companions that a powerful 6th-order wild boar might be roaming outside the base. They all had to be careful when hunting from now on.

These survivors were all lower level than Mu Ning, so naturally, they didn’t realize that Mu Ning’s level had already risen to the 6th-order. Of course, Zhang Tongqi and the others closest to Mu Ning didn’t notice either. In fact, even Ren Chenxi hadn’t realized that she had quietly gone up a tier herself.

Because there was good news to announce, after returning to the Villa Area, the boys weren’t in a hurry to return to the Men’s Building. Instead, they all squeezed into the lobby of the Girls’ Building to join in the excitement. As soon as Ren Chenxi entered the main doors, Tantan’s clingy, continuous meowing drifted over. Then, just like it normally pestered Ren Chenxi, Tantan began circling her calves, rubbing against her and purring.

            

Wasn’t Tantan on the second floor? Why did it run down to the first floor?

Just as Ren Chenxi was wondering about this, Sun Jia’s voice rang out at the perfect time, “Thank goodness, Boss, Xi-jie, you’re finally back.”

Oh, so Tantan had followed Sun Jia down to the first floor to wait for her? Seeing Sun Jia, Ren Chenxi thought of the excuses she had made before leaving, and she suddenly felt a little embarrassed. Mu Ning, however, gave Ren Chenxi a look and nodded at Sun Jia. “Mhm. It was nothing to begin with, yet they all ran out to the base gates, and you didn’t even stop them.”

            

The faint aroma of food drifted from the kitchen. These people had definitely come back, cooked lunch, and then run out of the base to wait for her.

“Boss, you know how they are. Even if I wanted to stop them, I couldn’t! Besides, if it was nothing… Eh? Boss, how did you get injured? Boss, you… what exactly did you and Xi-jie go do?” Sun Jia looked with a face full of worry at the gauze wrapped around Mu Ning’s hands.

Coincidentally, Chen Gu returned from returning the car and stepped through the main doors.

            

“Close the doors,” Mu Ning instructed. “We have something to tell you all.”

So, what mysterious “good news” was the Boss going to tell them? Chen Gu immediately closed the main doors backhandedly and carefully locked them. The group stared nervously and intently at Mu Ning and Ren Chenxi.

---

The author has something to say:

            

Tang ‘Dream Crystal’ ‘Tool Person’ ‘CP Chief’ Ying: I don’t care, I don’t care! They definitely hid in a car together to change clothes! Something must have happened in between! Like someone accidentally tripping, pulling the other down onto her, and then their lips accidentally pressed together, and then this and that…

Xixi: It’s a real pity you don’t write novels!

---

Alright, here are the kisses you all wanted~

            

---