MORIC - Chapter 157
Chapter 157: The Best Experience
The wait was actually excruciatingly difficult.
At least, that was how it seemed to Chi Yueshan.
She simply couldn't imagine how she would have managed if she hadn't found Xi Zhoumeng.
Although this world had no Zerg and no insurmountable class divide, it didn't make Chi Yueshan feel at ease.
She suddenly discovered that she was quite nostalgic.
Even with her strong ability to adapt, she constantly missed everything about Planet R.
It had been a long time since Xi Zhoumeng was this busy. The last time she'd been so swamped was when she was forced to study various things as a child.
Even though she handled everything with ease now, and design wasn't difficult for her—especially with her true muse lying here with a big belly.
But for someone accustomed to being lazy, it was still agonizing.
Chi Yueshan, on the other hand, could always find something to pass the time.
Mecha, mecha, mecha.
In a world without mecha, she could still use her phone to search for them.
She found the imagination in this world's interstellar movies fascinating and even wanted to incorporate these ideas into designing a mecha of her own.
When the doctor announced that Chi Yueshan had recovered, Chi Yueshan asked Xuan Rujia, who had come to visit, "Can she and I leave this place?"
The fashion director looked at the woman who was efficiently handling the paperwork all by herself and nodded. "Aren't you being discharged today?"
Chi Yueshan said, "I mean, she's leaving with me."
Xi Zhoumeng was still checking the digital drafts Xuan Rujia had brought over. It was clear she was annoyed, looking as if she might smash the tablet at any second.
Xuan Rujia said, "You can't return to the capital planet right now. She probably told you, right?"
Chi Yueshan shook her head. "Not the capital planet. We're going to the place I came from."
Xuan Rujia knew Chi Yueshan was from a small town. Combined with the image of her cycling to the venue in a storm, it had the desolate air of a thousand-mile search for one's wife.
But now that she had recovered, she looked full of life, exuding a vibrant energy.
It was hard to imagine how she and the perpetually lazy Xi Zhoumeng had fallen in love.
Xuan Rujia said, "If she wants to leave, I certainly can't stop her."
The woman who was both Xi Zhoumeng's savior and boss was not short and had the air of a capable professional.
Chi Yueshan thought to herself, This isn't an ABO world, so how can someone like this still exist?
In front of an outsider, she was the picture of composure. "Can she complete her work online?"
Xuan Rujia replied, "Yes."
Chi Yueshan said, "If there are any offline events, I'll make sure she comes back. You don't need to worry."
Xuan Rujia sighed and glanced at Xi Zhoumeng, who had finally lost her temper.
Even when this genius designer was throwing a fit, she was captivatingly beautiful. Though they couldn't hear her cursing, they knew it couldn't be anything pleasant.
Xuan Rujia said, "There's just one event, but she doesn't like those kinds of occasions."
Chi Yueshan said, "You saved her. It's only normal that you make her do some work."
After all, we have no money right now. We're basically starting from scratch.
That Xi Zhoumeng said this was her original world, so does she have any assets here?
And could there be another 'her' in this world?!
That would be terrifying.
What would a Xi Zhoumeng without a dick be like?
Chi Yueshan suppressed her imagination as Xuan Rujia said, "It would be even better if you could persuade her to do a live stream."
Chi Yueshan let out a small sound. She couldn't even dare to imagine Xi Zhoumeng live streaming.
Xuan Rujia smiled. "No pressure. She's already created a lot of wealth for me."
Even if she couldn't possess her entirely, this treasure had already taken Xuan Rujia's career to the next level.
She wasn't that shortsighted.
More people means more connections, after all.
Chi Yueshan said, "I'll try my best…"
Just as she finished speaking, Xi Zhoumeng came over and tossed the tablet directly into Xuan Rujia's arms.
She wrapped an arm around Chi Yueshan's shoulder. "What are you two talking about?"
For a moment, Xuan Rujia felt as if she were being assassinated by a glare.
She waved her hand. "Just saying goodbye to Miss Chi."
Xi Zhoumeng said, "There's nothing to say goodbye about. We probably won't see each other again."
Her heartlessness was awkward. Chi Yueshan gave an embarrassed laugh. "She… she's just very direct."
Xuan Rujia was used to it. She asked Chi Yueshan, "Have you rented a place over there yet?"
Chi Yueshan replied, "Not yet."
Xuan Rujia started, "Zhoumeng's…"
Chi Yueshan thought, As if I don't know her personality. Still being picky at a time like this.
"It's fine. She's not actually that particular."
Xi Zhoumeng was about to say, I'm extremely particular, but Chi Yueshan kicked the tip of her shoe.
She could only nod.
On the day they left, they took Xuan Rujia's car again, which drove them directly to the city Chi Yueshan had come from.
Xuan Rujia was wealthy and generous, and her car was excellent, providing a smooth ride.
Unfortunately, the passenger was a true young lady, the type who couldn't endure the slightest hardship. Not only was she picky, but she also whined and complained about this and that.
Chi Yueshan couldn't be bothered with her nonsense and ended up falling asleep in Xi Zhoumeng's arms.
Dozing on and off, they traveled from noon until evening. The car stopped at the small restaurant where Chi Yueshan had worked, right at its busiest time.
The proprietress was bustling about. Spotting Chi Yueshan, she quickly had the new part-time girl deliver a dish and warmly asked Chi Yueshan—
"Xiao Chi, you're back? How…"
Xi Zhoumeng had just sent the female driver away. Xuan Rujia had shamelessly had the driver pass on a message.
Telling Xi Zhoumeng not to forget her work.
Xi Zhoumeng had never truly suffered the hardships of work, whether in this world or the other. This was all because she owed a favor.
In truth, if she were truly heartless, she could have just left without a care. But unfortunately, she had a loyal and devoted wife.
Who was currently sharing a warm embrace with the proprietress of the small restaurant.
Just as Xi Zhoumeng walked over, the proprietress saw her.
This area was very lively. The storefronts along the street and the small stalls set up at the entrances created a rich, worldly atmosphere, so thick it could almost roast a person into a skewer of mortal dust.
And yet, even with a black mask on, Xi Zhoumeng possessed an aura that made people take a second look.
The proprietress asked, "This is…"
Chi Yueshan reached out and pulled Xi Zhoumeng forward. "She's my girlfriend."
The proprietress's look of amazement instantly vanished. The next second, as if remembering something, she asked in confusion, "Weren't you looking for your child's…"
A woman and a woman can't have a baby.
Xi Zhoumeng suddenly felt that the ABO world wasn't so bad after all. Here, even if same-sex marriage was legal, they couldn't have biological children.
Although most people didn't want children, there were some same-sex couples who genuinely did.
Adoption was an option, but if there was a real chance to have their own child, there would probably be a long line of people waiting.
Xi Zhoumeng instantly made peace with the ABO world.
She felt that when she returned, she could reluctantly give the female Alphas at her beauty salon a fifty percent discount.
Chi Yueshan didn't know how to explain, especially since the proprietress thought her pregnancy was the result of a scumbag man.
The proprietress whispered to Chi Yueshan, "Xiao Chi, you went away for a trip and came back with a new partner?"
Chi Yueshan was at a loss for words and didn't say that the child was Xi Zhoumeng's.
Xi Zhoumeng was already used to it. She walked to Chi Yueshan's side and politely greeted the proprietress.
"Hello, Auntie. Thank you for taking care of Yueshan during this time."
She even took off her mask.
This person's looks had always been unbeatable. Standing at the entrance of the small restaurant, the dim yellow light traced the flawless lines of her profile, and every frown and smile was bewitching.
Who could possibly have a bad impression of her?
Even Chi Yueshan, upon first seeing Xi Zhoumeng, had to admit her rival's stunning beauty.
The proprietress let out a soft 'Aiyo,' unable to stop herself from looking again and again. Finally, she smiled and waved her hand. "It's nothing, it's nothing."
Chi Yueshan said, "She's my girlfriend. We were together before."
The proprietress had already concocted a whole drama in her head: a young girl, betrayed by a scumbag ex-boyfriend, finds the love of her life, only to be separated by a tragic accident.
Xi Zhoumeng looked like she was either rich or noble, and together with Chi Yueshan, they had the setup of an old idol drama.
The proprietress looked at Xi Zhoumeng. "What are your plans now? Have you eaten?"
Chi Yueshan said, "She and I are going to stay here for a while. We'll look for a house tomorrow."
Xi Zhoumeng didn't speak. She looked at the proprietress's face and found it a bit familiar.
Xi Zhoumeng had found it strange when Chi Yueshan insisted on coming back. After all, even if the woman had saved her, there was no need to be so clingy.
Why did she look so familiar…
Have I seen her before?
Impossible. If I had, I would definitely remember.
Could it be a photograph?
A photograph…
Chi Yueshan did have a photo tucked into her notebook—their only one together.
Zhou Fengqin.
Xi Zhoumeng looked again but felt they weren't that similar after all.
But Zhou Fengqin was the family Chi Yueshan had depended on. Given Chi Yueshan's personality, even a slight resemblance was enough to make her nostalgic for a long time.
Xi Zhoumeng's heart suddenly softened.
Compared to her, Chi Yueshan's emotions were like a constant stream of sunlight, a warmth that was always hard to resist.
"Looking for a house? Right, if the two of you are staying together, it's not convenient for you to live at the shop."
The proprietress was warm-hearted. "I'll ask around for you. Are you staying in a hotel tonight?"
Xi Zhoumeng really wanted to say, I'm not short on money, we can just book a hotel for the month.
But Chi Yueshan glared at her.
What's the point of saving money?
It's not like I can't earn it.
Xi Zhoumeng felt a little helpless, but seeing Chi Yueshan so happy, she thought,
Forget it, I'll let her have her way.
The next second, she abruptly realized she had become the kind of person she used to despise most.
The kind of person who just goes along with whatever their partner says, with no opinion of their own.
The memory of a past conversation by the roadside suddenly surfaced, a stark contrast to her current state of mind, which felt worlds apart.
And yet, Xi Zhoumeng wasn't the least bit unwilling.
So this is what it feels like.
The ordinary affection she had tried so hard to obtain.
It wasn't actually that hard to get.
It just depended on whether you met the right person.
The proprietress pulled Chi Yueshan over. She called out, shouting to Xi Zhoumeng, "What are you spacing out for? Let's go eat."
She whispered, "Don't you dare complain that the conditions here are bad."
Xi Zhoumeng was acting so strange, she'd been smiling ever since just now.
What's so funny?
Her smiling is giving me goosebumps.
But… she seems really happy.
What's with her? The prettier the woman, the more fickle she is.
Chi Yueshan scratched her head and went to eat.
During the meal, Xi Zhoumeng was unusually well-behaved. There was no sarcasm or biting remarks, and her attitude toward the proprietress was simply impeccable.
It made Chi Yueshan, who was walking back to the hotel with her, feel particularly flustered.
The streets of this world were different from the other one.
Even the decay was different. The decay of the Lower World was one of lifelessness.
Everyone lived day by day, just getting by, because they knew that no matter how hard they worked, their lives would never change.
It was impossible to move between the upper and Lower Worlds, and most people in the Lower World were descendants of exiles from the Upper World.
Descendants of criminals.
What kind of future could they have?
There was no sunlight, no flowers, no small animals.
There was nothing that could make one feel the world was still beautiful. Even dancing in the dance halls felt like the movements of the living dead.
But here it was different. It was vibrantly dilapidated.
Like the plants in a roadside shop growing in an empty laundry detergent box, like the dogs strolling by the road, their fur not painstakingly simulated like Chi Yueshan's creations. There was even a guinea pig that had escaped from somewhere, with several people chasing after it.
Xi Zhoumeng pulled the dazed Chi Yueshan to her side.
She wasn't wearing a dress today, nor was she in one of those classical outfits that made it hard to breathe.
The black Chinese-style shirt, the asymmetrical vest over it, and her golden hair created a rare, untamable look. Her culottes were long, revealing ankles so pale they were breathtaking, to say nothing of her face.
"What are you thinking about? In a moment, you'll be the one knocked over by a rat, how embarrassing."
Too bad her mouth is still so annoying.
Chi Yueshan huffed. "Aren't you here?"
Xi Zhoumeng put an arm around her and walked forward, whispering a proposal, "Can we just stay in a hotel? They have cleaning and room service… although the five-star hotels here are worse than what I'm used to, at least we won't have to…"
Chi Yueshan shook her head. "No!"
Xi Zhoumeng asked, "Why?"
Chi Yueshan looked up. Even though she was pregnant and her belly had grown, it wasn't noticeable under her loose clothes. At this moment, her eyes were so lively they seemed to hold all the burgeoning life of early spring, enough to overturn all the harsh winters of Xi Zhoumeng's life.
Chi Yueshan said, "Weren't you always curious about what my life was like in the Lower World?"
She stepped on the uneven paving stones, glancing at her and Xi Zhoumeng's elongated shadows.
The shadows nestled together, just as the people did.
So intimate.
If I go by what I remember from my dreams every night...
...I'll soon find out about the past Xi Zhoumeng refuses to talk about.
Then my own past, in this much better environment, can also be relived.
Just a narrow rental apartment, a cramped bed, a bathroom with peeling tiles.
Of course, here there's sunlight, flowers, and dogs.
And Xi Zhoumeng.
I feel so sorry for my friends back there. Right now, I actually feel like Xi Zhoumeng and I are on a special honeymoon.
Xi Zhoumeng gave Chi Yueshan a deep look and finally sighed in resignation.
"Fine, we'll treat it as experiencing life."
Chi Yueshan exclaimed, "What kind of attitude is that! Experiencing life? Please, this is our honey…"
Xi Zhoumeng asked, "Honey-what? It couldn't be honeymoon, could it?"
She suddenly burst out laughing, her expression filled with an unconcealable ease. "So you want to marry me that badly."
Chi Yueshan threw caution to the wind. "What do you mean, I want to? I have it right here! I have yours and my… and-and we've already been completely marked!"
Xi Zhoumeng nodded. "You make me sound like such a scumbag."
Chi Yueshan huffed. "You are."
The hotel was at the top of the slope. Xi Zhoumeng suddenly swept Chi Yueshan up into her arms.
Chi Yueshan was startled. "What are you doing?!"
Xi Zhoumeng said, "Didn't you tell Xuan Ping you'd never experienced being princess-carried while running?"
She was already panting before she even started running, though it was hard to tell if she was faking it.
"Your marriage partner is now working hard to make your dream come true. Aren't you moved?"
Chi Yueshan said, "Just don't drop me."
Xi Zhoumeng replied, "Can't you have a little faith in me?"
Chi Yueshan said, "One minute would be pretty good."
Xi Zhoumeng: ......
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