Chapter 33 Countermeasures and Estrangement

In the afternoon, after organizing his work, Chen Zi’ang went to report to Xia Qingyu.

Normally, before speaking with Xia Qingyu, he had to do three things:

First, drink a cup of hot tea.

Second, watch an episode of an animated show.

Third, recite the “Don’t Get Angry” mantra once.

Only after adjusting his state of mind to “perfectly calm” could he bring himself to knock on Xia Qingyu’s office door.

Of course, he had learned a few tricks from Xia Zili the night before, so this time he decided to put them to the test first.

“Qingyu.” Chen Zi’ang pushed open the door and spoke quickly. “I’ve left the work report on your desk. I also have two questions.”

“Ask,” Xia Qingyu said.

Today, the beautiful, venom-tongued supervisor had unusually put on a black coat that wrapped her body from head to toe. There was no way to tell whether she was wearing a skirt, trousers, or black stockings underneath.

“First question.” Chen Zi’ang already knew that Xia Qingyu preferred to focus on important matters rather than delve into trivial details, so he simply laid everything out plainly and fluently. “Regarding our previous negotiations with Takano Seiko, how should we handle the follow-up?”

“Did Takano Seiko come to ask you about it?” Xia Qingyu raised an eyebrow.

“No,” Chen Zi’ang said.

“Then why are you concerning yourself with her?” Xia Qingyu asked with a cold laugh. “Don’t you have more important matters to focus on in your usual work?”

“You’re absolutely right.” Chen Zi’ang immediately unleashed his ultimate move—“Yes, yes, you’re right”—and blocked all the venom that had been about to erupt from her. He then continued, “Second question. Regarding Takano Seiko’s abilities, I noticed that the documents you prepared earlier described them as ‘the Living Dead.’ What does that mean?”

“Did you ask Rio Hokaze?” Xia Qingyu asked again.

“No,” Chen Zi’ang replied quickly. “But Rio’s intelligence report didn’t touch on this matter, so I assumed she hadn’t concluded that Takano Seiko’s abilities were related to the Living Dead. Asking her about it without preparation might lead her to form associations in that direction and affect her normal judgment.”

Xia Qingyu fell silent for a moment, then said faintly:

“Have you finally started using your brain?”

“It’s because you’re such a good supervisor,” Chen Zi’ang added at once.

“I never taught you to flatter people,” Xia Qingyu said with a cold laugh. “Or perhaps you…”

“You’re right about everything.” Chen Zi’ang interrupted her again. “I don’t want my mistakes to waste your time, so could you explain the intelligence regarding the Living Dead as soon as possible? That way, I can continue planning my work.”

This time, Xia Qingyu remained silent for even longer. Surprisingly, however, she did not get angry. She merely crossed her legs at an unhurried pace—finally confirming that she was wearing black stockings—and said:

“The Living Dead. A lower species that worships the deity known as the Nest of the Drowned. Since you don’t want to waste my time, go look it up in the Grand Intelligence Archive yourself.”

“All right.” Chen Zi’ang nodded, turned around, and left.

Only after he had exited Xia Qingyu’s office did he allow himself to secretly rejoice.

Just as expected. Xia Zili had been right.

As long as I use the “Yes, yes, you’re right” ultimate move, I can quickly seal Xia Qingyu’s venomous tongue!

I’ve completely figured it out!

Back in his office, Chen Zi’ang was still immersed in the satisfaction of having “defeated the evil dragon” when he sent Xia Zili a message.

[Urban Legends Department]: Are you back?

[Good at Singing]: I’m back. Thank you for letting me stay over last night.

[Urban Legends Department]: It was nothing. Last night was just a special situation.

[Good at Singing]: I still have to thank you for talking me through it. Otherwise, I don’t know how long it would have taken me to figure things out.

[Urban Legends Department]: Forget about that. I used the communication technique you taught me yesterday, and I found it especially effective with your sister!

[Good at Singing]: Really? I told you, didn’t I? My sister isn’t the kind of person who’s difficult to communicate with.

Chen Zi’ang: …………

Had the two of us somehow developed a subtle misunderstanding about Xia Qingyu?

Never mind. As long as Xia Zili could continue providing him with information, that was all that mattered.

After closing the chat window, Chen Zi’ang saw Lu Yunfeng and Okita Heigo carrying an office desk into the room.

“What are you two doing?” Chen Zi’ang asked, baffled.

“Deputy Section Chief Tsukimiya said she was moving in here to work with you,” Okita Heigo replied. “Her office is being converted into a conference room.”

Chen Zi’ang: ???

“Put it beside Senior’s desk, please. Thank you~” Tsukimiya Rinna came in from outside and directed Lu Yunfeng and Okita Heigo to place the two desks together.

“Rinna.” Only after the two men had left did Chen Zi’ang speak up. “Would you care to explain?”

“It’s like this.” Tsukimiya Rinna answered lightly. “Since everyone didn’t have a conference room, I remembered that Senior’s office is quite spacious, so I moved in to work with you. That way, everyone will have a conference room to use too~”

“There’s a conference room upstairs,” Chen Zi’ang said, unable to understand.

“It’s too far,” Tsukimiya Rinna replied.

“Too far?” Chen Zi’ang could not comprehend it. “It’s right above us. You just have to climb one flight of stairs.”

“There are eighteen steps,” Tsukimiya Rinna said.

Chen Zi’ang: …………

“All right, Senior, don’t dislike me.” Tsukimiya Rinna sat down beside him. “I’ll give you some potato chips.”

She took out a paper napkin, spread it in front of Chen Zi’ang, and poured some chips onto it.

Chen Zi’ang did not even have the energy to get angry with her, so he continued reading the work report.

He casually ate the chips Rinna had given him.

————————

When the workday ended, Chen Zi’ang stood up and asked:

“Rinna, want to get something to eat?”

“Oh, Senior, I have something to do tonight.” Tsukimiya Rinna smiled. “You go ahead.”

The young lady of the Tsukimiya family was being rather strange as well. When they had first met, she had practically wanted to cling to him every day. Yet over the past few days, she had suddenly become busy.

A faint suspicion even arose in Chen Zi’ang’s heart.

Could Miss Tsukimiya have grown tired of him? Had the novelty brought on by love at first sight already faded?

At the thought, he felt an indescribable sense of disappointment and dejection, but he soon persuaded himself to accept reality.

Whatever Rinna was thinking, he would respect her wishes.

Chen Zi’ang went to the staff cafeteria. Tsukimiya Rinna, meanwhile, sat before the computer and slowly scrolled through the statistical results of the midterm election. Her expression gradually turned solemn.

They had begun to make their move.

The fate of Takamagahara had already begun to follow the path ordained for it.

Then I must begin making preparations as well.

“Uncle Emon.” Tsukimiya Rinna placed a call. “Did you get the results regarding the matter I asked you about?”

“Miss, I’ve already hired an expedition team to verify it near the Rose Nebula,” Emon Goro said hesitantly. “But… even with the coordinates you provided, the cost of interstellar travel and cosmic exploration is enormous. There’s no way we can keep it from your father…”

“It’s fine. I’ll speak with him,” Tsukimiya Rinna said calmly.

After hanging up, she slowly leaned forward onto the desk, rested her head on her folded arms, closed her eyes, and gradually fell asleep.

“Senior…”

“This time…”

“I definitely will. I definitely will…”

(End of Chapter)