What to Do, I've Been Targeted by the Villain Again [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 26
On the way back to the base, they didn’t encounter any zombie sieges, but it was clear this rescue mission couldn’t be considered a success. Far fewer people returned than had set out, and the supplies they brought back were meager.
However, thanks to Su Mo’s abilities manifesting with greater power, the group’s morale remained decent. With so many deaths lately, losing a few strangers no longer stirred much emotion. Besides, compared to others, their own interests mattered more.
Xu Sangning went to register her ability.
Water-type ability users could earn points in the base—two points per liter of water. After registering, Xu Sangning earned ten points.
As she finished her tasks and stepped outside, she found Ji Tangmian waiting for her. The moment Ji saw her, she hurried over.
“Ability users can move into the residential buildings instead of the dorms. How about we live together?” Ji Tangmian gazed at Xu Sangning, her eyes reminding Xu of the little dog near her old workplace—moist and pleading, exactly the same.
“Alright,” Xu Sangning nodded.
Given Ji Tangmian’s current enthusiasm, even if they didn’t live together, she’d probably come looking for her anyway. Might as well save the trouble and share a place—they’d each have their own room.
Besides, given her character setting, it made sense for her to build a good relationship with the base’s only healing-type ability user.
“Yay!” Ji Tangmian jumped in place, then affectionately looped her arm through Xu Sangning’s.
“Tch, you’ve got guts. Aren’t you afraid of dying at Ji Tangmian’s hands? How many people has she gotten killed already?”
A few people exiting the office noticed the pair still lingering and couldn’t resist commenting.
“Not my problem. They just had bad luck,” Ji Tangmian sniffed. “I’m so weak, yet I’m perfectly fine.”
Xu Sangning glanced at Ji Tangmian. She had to admit, her acting had improved drastically from the last world—now utterly lifelike and infuriating to the max. Xu watched as the others’ faces turned green with anger.
“Let’s not argue,” Xu Sangning interjected softly.
“Xu Sangning, if you’re looking to latch onto someone powerful, you’d be better off cozying up to Su Mo,” one of them sneered, eyeing Ji Tangmian up and down. “Sucking up to Ji Tangmian won’t do you any good.”
Ji Tangmian froze for a couple of seconds at his words, then let out a silly giggle. Under everyone’s bewildered stares, she feigned composure with a dry cough. “We’re mutually drawn to each other. What ‘sucking up’? Nonsense.”
The fact that Xu Sangning was willing to live with her was already wonderful. If she was open to getting closer… Ji Tangmian felt giddy just thinking about it, barely suppressing a grin.
The others clearly had more to say, but Ji Tangmian’s bashful expression made them look like they’d just swallowed something vile. Whatever retorts they had died on their tongues, and they left without another word—though not without glancing back several times to confirm Ji Tangmian’s expression.
Xu Sangning, with her sharp hearing, clearly caught their murmurs.
“Is Ji Tangmian insane?”
“She seems even more unhinged… Is she actually mentally ill?”
“Are those two involved or something?”
…
Xu Sangning exhaled and looked at Ji Tangmian. “You… never mind. Let’s go. Help me move my things—thanks.”
“No need for thanks between us,” Ji Tangmian beamed, her eyes nearly disappearing into crescents. “After we move, how about I treat you to hotpot? I’ve got plenty of points.”
Ji Tangmian had one of the highest credit scores in the entire base. She earned credits for every person she treated, and even requesting her assistance on field missions required spending credits.
Though many people disliked her, not everyone had been harmed by her actions. As a result, she also had plenty of supporters—otherwise, she wouldn’t have developed the personality she had later on.
“Thank you,” Xu Sangning didn’t refuse.
Xu Sangning didn’t have many belongings—just a single suitcase was enough.
Ji Tangmian had previously lived alone in a three-bedroom apartment, but now the place finally welcomed its second resident. The apartment was well-decorated, everything neatly arranged, giving Xu Sangning a sense of returning to the peaceful days of the past.
After Xu Sangning settled her things, the two of them went out together.
Though the base didn’t have a hotpot restaurant, there was a market where people sold all kinds of goods. The base only provided the bare necessities to keep people from starving—anything extra had to be bought with credits.
Ji Tangmian was extravagantly wealthy, purchasing all sorts of ingredients. In just an hour, she spent over three thousand credits, drawing sidelong glances from those around her. When they realized it was the infamous Ji Tangmian, they quickly averted their eyes—though their gazes lingered on Xu Sangning with a hint of something strange.
They didn’t say anything, but just from their expressions, Xu Sangning could guess what they were thinking.
Fortunately, Xu Sangning had thick skin. She followed Ji Tangmian without batting an eye, silently carrying the groceries behind her. She didn’t bother telling Ji Tangmian to save money—after all, neither of them had long to live. There was no point hoarding credits when they could just spend them.
Xu Sangning’s contribution to the meal was two bottles of soda, costing five credits.
Back at home, Xu Sangning had intended to help with the chopping, but Ji Tangmian took over all the work, instructing her to just fill the bathtub and washbasin with water.
Plugging in the electric hotpot, Ji Tangmian took out two identical sets of bowls and chopsticks.
Ji Tangmian: I really want to go out and replace everything with matching couples’ sets.
System: Sure, you could definitely earn even more hatred for something like that. Though, I’m more worried you’ll die earlier than the plot intended.
Ji Tangmian: Nonsense. I definitely won’t be working overtime this time.
Humming a tune, Ji Tangmian went to her room to change into a dress, spinning in front of the full-length mirror.
Perfect.
Xu Sangning, having finished filling the bathtub, tied up her hair haphazardly and stepped out of the bathroom. Seeing Ji Tangmian looking so radiant, she instinctively glanced down at her own disheveled appearance.
Xu Sangning: “…”
Why did it feel like this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened?
“Let’s eat,” Ji Tangmian said, taking Xu Sangning’s hand. “The broth smells amazing—just the scent alone makes me hungry.”
“Mm.” Xu Sangning nodded, wiped her hands, and sat down at the table without another thought.
Her body was clearly in a state of starvation, and after overusing her abilities, she was even hungrier. Xu Sangning felt like she could eat an entire cow.
Upstairs and downstairs, people caught the scent of hotpot wafting through their windows and couldn’t help but swallow hard.
“Who in this entire base lives as comfortably as Ji Tangmian?”
“She’s killed so many people—does she feel no guilt at all? If she hadn’t exposed our location today, those zombies wouldn’t have come.”
“Of course she doesn’t feel guilty. She probably still thinks of herself as some kind of savior.”
“Xu Sangning isn’t any good either, knowing full well what kind of person Ji Tangmian is yet still hanging around with her.”
…
Hearing the conversation upstairs, Xu Sangning picked up two more slices of beef. It had to be said that Ji Tangmian’s knife skills were impressive—the meat was sliced as thin as in a hotpot restaurant, just perfect for eating. Fresh meat like this was a luxury these days. After this meal, who knew when they’d get to enjoy it again.
“I have a mission tomorrow. Are you coming?” Ji Tangmian asked.
Xu Sangning flipped through her script. “No.”
“Fine.” Ji Tangmian sighed. “Honestly, if you dislike me so much, why even invite me on missions… Ugh, I still have to go see the base leader later and file a complaint.”
Xu Sangning nodded.
“Will you come with me?” Ji Tangmian asked, pouring Xu Sangning a glass of soda.
“Sure, I’ll keep you company.”
Ji Tangmian immediately let out a soft chuckle.