Chapter 174: Lost in Pleasures, Unwilling to Return - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

Chapter 174: Lost in Pleasures, Unwilling to Return Shen He gave up struggling and surrendered. This outcome did not surprise Xu Shi in the slightest. If the captive had been a mere subordinate, he might have tried to escape—it wasn't just a boast that the protagonist seemed to have all the luck. But alas, Shen Qin was his sister, the only family he had left. The emotional hurdle in his heart was likely insurmountable, wasn't it? Haha. Well then, in that case, I suppose I should thank her. And so, the grand and tumultuous uprising finally came to an end. To say it was grand and tumultuous would not be an exaggeration at all. From Xu Shi's vantage point, comfortably watching events unfold, it might not have seemed all that intense, but for those who were directly involved, it was a different story. For the ordinary individuals living in Sin City, life could mostly be described with two words: "oppressed" and "mundane." It was tough for the working-class, but even in a place like Sin City, a certain degree of safety was assured. Who among them had actually experienced skyscrapers collapsing before their eyes, explosions ringing in their ears, and blood splattering around them? The truth is, not even employees of the major conglomerates had often witnessed such chaos. Even those with strong hearts like Xia Wu You and Su Lin appeared utterly exhausted after dealing with all the aftermath. They dragged themselves home and collapsed into bed, too tired to even speak, let alone eat. Seeing this, the lively duo of Xia Ke An and Gu Yi wisely chose to maintain silence. In the expansive house, the usual laughter and banter were entirely absent. And Xu Shi? Xu Shi had left again. Well, it couldn't really be called fleeing; rather, he went to visit Jiang Cheng Cheng. Their residences weren’t far apart—close enough to visit on a short walk after a meal. But interestingly enough, neither of them had ever thought to visit the other before. Until now. "Ah... Director Xu?" Jiang Cheng Cheng was momentarily surprised to see him, but then warmly invited him in. She, too, looked a bit worn out—understandably, as she had just returned from a war zone herself. Although not a combatant, she had fewer responsibilities. Once she had obtained what she needed, she left. But essentially, her timeline wasn’t far from Su Lin and company’s. "Hope I'm not disturbing you?" Xu Shi teased lightly, "Sorry, didn't bring you flowers." "I'm just happy you're here." Jiang Cheng Cheng clung to his arm, "This is your first visit, after all. Allow me to give you a proper welcome." "Let's not be so formal; it makes us seem distant." "I'll call you however I feel comfortable." Jiang Cheng Cheng attentively poured him a cup of tea, "So... is everything finally over?" "It's more or less wrapped up." Xu Shi sighed with relief, "How about on your end? How did the task I entrusted to you go?" "The combat footage of Su Lin is just finished being compiled." Jiang Cheng Cheng said, "Once I analyze the model, we can attempt to create specialized enhanced armaments." Indeed. Xu Shi had previously sent her to accompany the combat team for this very reason—specialized weapons couldn't stop at just him; the key allies around him also needed their own. The confrontation with Shen Qin and the large-scale suppression of the "Forgotten Ones" riot were undoubtedly the best ways to gather real combat data—Su Lin, being a combatant, was even more intricate in some ways than Xu Shi. "I've also recorded data from Supervisor Xia. You can have her come for a check-up whenever convenient." "Really? Thank you." Xu Shi was a bit astonished by her words. It was undoubtedly essential for Xia Wu You to have her own specialized equipment, something he must have mentioned to Jiang Cheng Cheng before; however, the enthusiasm she displayed far exceeded his expectations. It seemed she was quite dedicated... completely different from her previous focus solely on herself and Su Lin. "I think she's a pretty good person; otherwise, I wouldn't bother." Jiang Cheng Cheng said shyly, "I wouldn't do it for just anyone, you know." Xu Shi blinked, taking a moment to comprehend her attitude. Could this be due to the time they spent having fun together with Xia Wu You? Beyond that, he couldn't think of anything else... Truthfully, that time they played was indeed wild. The impression of the scene where the two of them clasped hands and ventured across his body still lingered vividly. Well, have I become the one being pushed around now? But it seems letting them interact intimately has some benefits too... "As you wish." He said, amused but unable to suppress a chuckle, though his tone soon became serious, "Speaking of which, I really have you to thank. The weapon 'Yu Jing' was even better than I expected." It was the truth. In Xia Ke An's prophecy, the confrontation during that 'divine intervention' was virtually the greatest variable. If he hadn’t managed to resolve it so smoothly, the riot might not have ended as quickly as it did. "Hehe." Hearing this, Jiang Cheng Cheng was naturally delighted, blushing slightly as she scratched her cheek, "It's mostly thanks to your own abilities; even the best tools can only support." "However, based on your feedback, 'Yu Jing's' enhancement effects surpass the written data by one or two levels... and this is only the first-generation product; future versions will undoubtedly surpass this." Indeed, having developed and manufactured the item herself, seeing it perform so exceptionally was gratifying—doubly so since it was being used by someone she cared for. Double the joy. "Anyway, I'll leave everything to you. Let me know if you need anything." Xu Shi acknowledged. "As for the mass-produced weapons, gradually transition that work to others in the engineering department—there should be some new recruits now, right? The overall quality should be better than before?" "Indeed, a few are quite talented and worth nurturing." Jiang Cheng Cheng nodded, which was a high compliment from her, "But don't worry, I can handle both aspects just fine." "Prioritize the more critical work, alright? No need to do everything yourself." Xu Shi gestured dismissively, "That way, you can take it a bit easier, right?" "...Oh, if you say so." Jiang Cheng Cheng responded, but didn’t seem entirely pleased with his concern. Xu Shi noticed but chose to let it go without commenting. "Oh, by the way, what’s Director Xu planning to do with Miss Shen?" Jiang Cheng Cheng, perceptive enough not to continue, quickly adjusted and broached a new topic. Knowing the true identity of the other party now, she was naturally a bit gossipy. "Her... she indeed poses a certain challenge." Xu Shi pondered, "There's still plenty to explore about her, which will keep us busy for a while." "Explore?" Jiang Cheng Cheng paused, "In what way... explore?" "Hey, what are you thinking?" Xu Shi, immediately spotting her wandering thoughts, flicked her forehead playfully, "I'm talking about serious matters. Didn't Su Lin tell you she has two abilities?" "Eh?" Jiang Cheng Cheng was indeed surprised by this revelation, unaware of it before. "How can one person have two abilities?" Not hiding the truth, Xu Shi informed her about Shen Qin’s secret. Jiang Cheng Cheng finally understood. So, it's about Ability Transplantation. Alright, it was indeed her imagination running wild... But then again, Xu Shi’s unseemly demeanor had been to blame, with even his serious topics sounding suggestive. "If it's as you say, this might be even more crucial than the development of enhanced machinery." She immediately realized the hidden, enormous market potential behind it. What a major breakthrough! It's noteworthy that "Ascendants" have always been chaotic. From the disparity during the awakening period, the variety in subsequent cultivation enhancements, to the now mechanical augmentations—each is a massive opportunity from a commercial viewpoint. Logically, such a lucrative space should have long been claimed. Yet, it's not so. Even the most basic awakening abilities are still in rudimentary stages, tied to products like "Sundials" or "Prisms" auxiliary drugs. As for external enhancements, "Gemini" has been around for less than half a year. Before it, what was there, stimulants? As for the second aspect of cultivation, there isn't even a complete system yet. The root cause of this is that abilities themselves are a tangled mess; a thousand people could possess a thousand different abilities. Even if effects appear the same, they are merely "similar" and not "identical," like tree leaves. Thus, each person's method of enhancement varies immensely. What works for one may not work for another. Under such circumstances, attempting to standardize or systematize abilities is next to impossible. Many harbor a fear of abilities themselves, with the notions of "uncontrollable" and "side effects" enough to deter 80% of people... Let's not even mention others, Jiang Cheng Cheng is a prime example right before us. When broken down, this "cake" isn't as easy to digest as it might seem. However, if there truly were a technology like "ability transplantation," everything would change dramatically. People could specify the ability they desire, reducing worries significantly. Though it won't entirely eliminate the risk of side effects, it would make many more willing to try. Moreover, with such a system in place, enhancing and training abilities would become straightforward. Imagine selecting a hundred or even a thousand people to replicate Xia Wu You's or Su Lin's abilities. Their past experiences in cultivation could be directly applied, serving as a form of mentorship that could be passed down... This could be an even more market-disruptive breakthrough than specialized weapons, potentially creating an entirely new system—provided it succeeds. "Sadly, I can’t be of much help here," Jiang Cheng Cheng remarked, "This might be something 'Prism' could handle better." "But you will certainly be a beneficiary," Xu Shi replied earnestly. "If you could awaken abilities in this way, wouldn’t the envy and doubt fade away?" "...I don't know what you mean. Where was I envious or doubtful?" Jiang Cheng Cheng faltered, turning her head away. "Don't pretend. I've noticed something’s off," Xu Shi chuckled. "You've been worried ever since witnessing Su Lin's and Xia Wu You’s performances on the battlefield, haven’t you?" Trying to hide something like this from him? Since he first arrived, he noticed subtle changes in Jiang Cheng Cheng’s demeanor. It wasn’t recent; these thoughts had been there for a long time. Su Lin had mentioned her concerns before. Jiang Cheng Cheng had mixed emotions—the root of the conflict was simply that she wasn't an "Ascendant" and was afraid to become one. Being a non-Ascendant meant losing many advantages others had, and her unique skills weren’t irreplaceable either. This was why she was so reluctant when asked to shift her work focus. As support staff, she didn’t have the same allure as those prominent on the frontlines. Further diminishing her role would only make her less competitive... But should she then commit to awakening abilities? That was no easy choice either. If things went wrong, the consequences would be even more severe than they are now... This underlying issue weighed on Jiang Cheng Cheng; seeing Su Lin and the others shine only exacerbated it. "... Hmm." Her innermost thoughts being laid bare left her feeling a bit wronged. "If the project succeeds... what kind of ability would you want me to choose, Director Xu?" "It's not about what I want, but what you want," Xu Shi stated seriously. "Even if you choose not to awaken any abilities, that's fine." "In all honesty, you've been incredibly helpful without being an 'Ascendant.' Why so fixated on this?" "So..." Jiang Cheng Cheng was momentarily speechless. "So don't overthink things," Xu Shi advised sincerely. "The notion of awakening without consequence is what upsets me, not the choice of refusing to awaken." Saying he was upset felt like a misnomer; he was more helpless and sighed involuntarily. Ultimately, Jiang Cheng Cheng's insecurities stemmed from her personality—the difficult past had made her fiercely loyal, almost to a fault. Taking on everything was her way of ensuring her value wasn’t overlooked. Why would she easily relinquish something so hard-earned? "You should know, I've never treated you as a mere tool," Xu Shi continued, "There's no need to tread so cautiously. Loosen up a bit." This was heartfelt. While he never saw himself as a good guy, there wasn't any rule saying a villain had to be cold-blooded. In essence, he considered himself quite warm-hearted. "Hmm..." Jiang Cheng Cheng mumbled, nodding slightly as she nestled into his embrace, silently weeping. Clearly, this bit of reassurance had a significant impact. Xu Shi's words were very true, and Jiang Cheng Cheng had always felt somewhat inferior to the other girls. Especially seeing others standing strong and independent, she couldn’t help but feel overshadowed, despite the casual facade. Fortunately, reality differed from her expectations, and Xu Shi hadn’t reproached her at all, which certainly eased her mind. As for the underlying issue, it couldn't be resolved overnight, but at least it wouldn’t intensify further. "Director Xu..." Thinking it over, Jiang Cheng Cheng was filled with gratitude, relieved she'd entrusted both heart and soul to him. "There, there," Xu Shi comforted, "And… address me more intimately, won't you?" "Master?" "Hmm?" "Just kidding." Jiang Cheng Cheng laughed, wiping her tears. "Are you hungry? How about dinner together?" "Now that you mention it, I actually am," Xu Shi admitted, nodding. "But we can't order takeout now, can we? The restaurants might be closed too." Indeed, though the affluent districts weren't much affected by the conflict, the service industry was inevitably disrupted. "Why would we need takeout?" Jiang Cheng Cheng tilted her head. "I'll cook for you." Oh? Xu Shi raised an eyebrow, surprised at the unexpected twist. It turned out that Jiang Cheng Cheng could cook indeed. Though a tech enthusiast, she didn’t live on instant noodles. Before long, a delicious spread graced the table, and her culinary skills were on par with her best friend’s. "Come, try it," she urged, uncorking a fine bottle of wine. "I've never cooked for anyone else before." "Then it’s truly an honor." Xu Shi chuckled, savoring each bite of the meal. Resting her chin in her hands, Jiang Cheng Cheng watched him with a contented expression. "Does it suit your taste?" "It's excellent," Xu Shi praised warmly. "Why not move in with me? There's something delightful about you and Su Lin." "Greedy, aren't you? I’m not going anywhere." Jiang Cheng Cheng laughed more heartily, "Being here with you, away from everyone else, is far more interesting." Xu Shi opened his mouth, a faint recollection passing through his mind. Hadn’t a certain friend with the last name Xia said something similar? The intentions were almost identical, too. Truly, these two could have locked fingers... But it wasn't just them; he also felt different being here. It wasn't anything specific. From his perspective, all his close female friends were equally cherished, yet here, with Jiang Cheng Cheng alone, it felt like a clandestine affair... Especially since Jiang Cheng Cheng had some fascinating quirks often unseen in others. As if to punctuate the thought, she stood up, half undressing, one arm hugging herself while the other grabbed the bottle of wine. She poured it over the curve of her body. "Don't just eat, have some wine too," she purred, her eyes brimming with allure. Xu Shi swallowed instinctively. My goodness, how had he never noticed before? No, the truth was she had always been well-endowed; her usual loose clothing just didn’t highlight it... "I am the main course, my, dear, master." Jiang Cheng Cheng’s eyes turned into crescent moons, her voice sultry enough to melt bones. Formalities fell away, and Xu Shi made no pretense of being a gentleman, leaning down to taste. "Isn't Alin still at home... won’t you take care of them?" Jiang Cheng Cheng murmured through a stifled moan. "Are you trying to provoke me?" Xu Shi wrapped his arms around her waist, his tone carrying a hint of severity. "No way..." Jiang Cheng Cheng wouldn’t admit it. "I'm not going back. Today, I’m all yours." Xu Shi had no intention to argue, his hands more daring, "I'll deal with my naughty girl first." Jiang Cheng Cheng closed her eyes, letting him envelop her in his embrace.