“In the Apocalypse, I Only Make Contracts with Super-Hot Male Gods” - Chapter 9

“Lio~? (What does that sentence mean?)”

Strangely, Jiang Changyi realized that although this little fellow was only going “lio lio,” he could actually understand what it was saying.

But that wasn’t important. Jiang Changyi took a sip of water and patiently explained:
“The original sentence goes: ‘The bustling world comes for profit; the clamoring world leaves for profit.’ It was written by an ancient scholar to sigh at how people rush around chasing gain.”

“Lio~? (But what does that have to do with that person just now?)”

Jiang Changyi said:
“Outstanding people are never short of supporters, flatterers, and hangers-on. Their sides are always crowded, even if they wanted to push them away.”

As for him—Jiang Changyi—what he hated most was squeezing into such crowds, as if he had to struggle with everything just to earn a person’s attention.

Chen Yonglong was a good man, but no matter how good he was, it had nothing to do with him. Jiang Changyi had no intention of currying favor with anyone. He only wanted to bring his mother and sister through the apocalypse, living free and happy—untouchable by anyone.

He pulled out his phone, only to find that there was no longer a signal, and the internet was also down. Soon enough, water and electricity would stop too.

A life without internet, water, and power—that was scarier than the monsters.

As night gradually fell, more and more people fled into the cafeteria for refuge. Those who didn’t come either lacked the courage to resist or didn’t trust that the cafeteria was truly safe.

Zong Qiong divided the cafeteria into two functional levels:

• First floor: responsible for wound checks, logistics, and the rotating guard shifts of the Defense Squad.

• Second floor: ordinary survivors. After passing inspection and receiving food, they were sent upstairs to receive comfort and instructions.

In short—the first floor was Zong Qiong’s core team, while the second floor was for the masses.

Chen Yonglong, being an awakened, naturally stayed with Zong Qiong on the first floor.

Jiang Changyi leaned against the wall, finished his bread in a few bites, and prepared to nap a little. Otherwise, staying awake all night would leave him too tired during the day and prone to accidents.

“Look! That’s the awakened one!”

“He’s so handsome… Do you think his muscles were there before, or did he get them after awakening?”

“If I were his girlfriend, I probably wouldn’t have to live in fear anymore, right?”

Although Jiang Changyi had his eyes closed, the noisy chatter woke him. He could tell Chen Yonglong had come up to the second floor.

But he didn’t plan to join the crowd or try to show his presence—he simply continued his nap.

Chen Yonglong pushed through the eager stares around him, finally finding the lonely figure leaning against the wall.

Ignoring the overenthusiastic admirers, he walked straight to Jiang Changyi.

Yet this guy acted as if he hadn’t heard anything, eyes still closed, unmoving.

Chen Yonglong felt puzzled and also a bit aggrieved.

Had he done something wrong?

Why, ever since they returned from the campus clinic, did it feel like Jiang-ge didn’t want to talk to him anymore?

“Jiang-ge, are you asleep?” Chen Yonglong asked in his thick, muffled voice.

“…”

Jiang Changyi opened his eyes, expression exasperated: “Yes, I’m asleep.”

Chen Yonglong shamelessly grinned. “Hehe, I knew you weren’t asleep.”

His goofy grin was so silly that even Jiang Changyi couldn’t keep a cold face. He sighed and asked, “What are you doing up on the second floor?”

“Of course I came to find you,” Chen Yonglong pouted. “When we were on the first floor earlier, why did you leave without waiting for me? I couldn’t catch up.”

Jiang Changyi almost said, ‘Are we that close?’ But when he saw that husky-like silly face, he softened.

This dumb straight guy would actually take it to heart.

So Jiang Changyi made an excuse instead: “I’m just an ordinary person, not part of the Defense Squad, so naturally I don’t need to stay on the first floor.”

Chen Yonglong said: “But I told Zong Qiong, and he agreed to let you join the Defense Squad.”

Jiang Changyi: ???

Big thick eyebrows, big honest face—how could you stab me in the back like this?!

He had no desire to stand in the spotlight, much less join the squad and fight monsters on the frontlines.

Wouldn’t it be better to hide in the crowd and let others protect him?

He still wanted to quietly grow stronger in the shadows—and you wanted to drag him to the frontlines?!

“No, no, I’m just a weakling with a battle power of five. Why drag me into the squad?” Jiang Changyi said bitterly.

“Huh?” Chen Yonglong looked completely baffled.

“You? A weakling?”

He recalled the moment Jiang Changyi had smashed an iron-armored bug’s skull with a single swing earlier. How could that possibly be “battle power five”?

“…Hiss…”

Seeing his expression, Jiang Changyi knew he had remembered.

Sigh… If I’d known it would come to this, I should have played weak all the way while getting the medicine.

Just as he was struggling to come up with an excuse, a girl suddenly approached and said:
“Yeah, Jiang Changyi is the well-known useless one in our class. Long-ge, letting him join the Defense Squad is just harming him.”

Clearly she’d been eavesdropping for a while, since she knew exactly what they’d been talking about.

Jiang Changyi glanced at her. Of course he knew this girl.

Her name was Bai Zhenzhen, a classmate. Pretty, fond of dressing up, and one of the most popular girls among the boys in class.

It wasn’t surprising she belittled him. Jiang Changyi often skipped or was late to class because of his part-time jobs, never joined class activities, and after someone spotted him at the Black Horse Club, rumors spread that he was a male escort who caught a disease and had to work to pay for treatment.

Jiang Changyi’s personality never allowed him to explain himself—he’d long since seen the cruelty of rumors and human nature.

People only believe what they want to believe.

The truth was irrelevant. What mattered was that his life became their gossip.

When people find excitement in rewriting someone else’s life, the truth no longer matters.

But Bai Zhenzhen’s words were music to his ears. Jiang Changyi immediately jumped in: “Yes, yes, I’m that useless. If you put me in the squad, you’re just sending me to my death.”

Chen Yonglong was completely lost. He didn’t know who this girl was, and he didn’t understand the situation. All he could do was stand there, mouth open: “Ah?”

Jiang Changyi, acting heartbroken, said: “Alright, I know you mean well, but really, it’s not necessary.”