translator: baumkuchen editors: serefina, glitterypanda
While 061 was still stuck in a stunned daze, Chi Xiaochi took it in stride and immediately began chatting with Ji Zuoshan.
Who would have thought that despite Ji Zuoshanâs cold and aloof face, seemingly detached from the seven human emotions, when he spoke, he had the dazed air of someone abnormally malleable.
Chi Xiaochi asked him, âHow come you can talk?â
Ji Zuoshan, â......Am I not supposed to?â
After that, he stopped speaking, trying to pretend that he had never appeared.
Chi Xiaochi barked out a laugh, âThis is great, Iâve got one more person to chat with. Come out, quick, come out.â
Ji Zuoshanâs chat bubble popped up once more. âIâm not very good at holding conversations.â
Chi Xiaochi didnât at all mind. âIâm good at it.â
Ji Zuoshan rarely spoke so much with other people, so he was unavoidably nervous. âThen, then letâs talk.â
Chi Xiaochi got straight to the point, asking, âDo you know why you died before?â
061, â......â Chi Xiaochi, even the heavens would be talked to death by you, you know.
But Ji Zuoshan didnât get angry.
His temperament had long been honed by Zhan Yanchao. Even if worse words entered his ears, he wouldnât be affected at all. Furthermore, what Chi Xiaochi was asking about was something that had truly happened.
He said, âBecause I shouldnât have trusted Zhan Yanchao so much.â
He had reflected on his mistakes tens of thousands of times in his heart. Speaking them out now, although he was a little ashamed, he felt as if a weight had been lifted off his chest.
Chi Xiaochi said, âWrong. Your death, was because you didnât have the strength to nuke the Zergs out of orbit.â
Ji Zuoshan, â......â
061, â......â
Chi Xiaochi drawled, âWas it Zhan Yanchao who killed you?â
Ji Zuoshan replied honestly, âNo.â It was a mechanical Zerg that had been air dropped down from the sky.
Chi Xiaochi then asked, âWhen those Alphas were having their way with you, why was Zhan Yanchao not there?â
Ji Zuoshanâs eyes widened slightly. âThe Zerg invaded, he...... went off to investigate.â
Chi Xiaochi asked, âYour dream was to live a good life together with your younger siblings. Let me ask you, while the Zerg still exist, can you live a good life?â
Ji Zuoshan clenched his teeth slightly. âNo.â
Chi Xiaochi said, âDo you want to live a good life this time around?â
Ji Zuoshan, âYes.â
Chi Xiaochi, âDo you want to be an Alpha?â
These words directly poked Ji Zuoshanâs sore spot. âYes!â
Chi Xiaochi, âThen work together with me, alright?â
Ji Zuoshanâs tone was filled with undisguisable excitement, âOkay!â
061, â......â The words themselves were good, but why was it that it sounded so much like an MLM drawing in an innocent youth.
After the MLM recruitment, Chi Xiaochi gave a proper self-introduction, âMy name is Chi Xiaochi.â
Ji Zuoshan said obediently, âMister Chi.â
Chi Xiaochi, âDo you have anything you want to ask me?â
Since signing the contract with the Lord God, Ji Zuoshan had been waiting in the darkness for a very long time. It was only until someone took over his body that he could once more open his eyes and see the light of day again.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
......He was still a Beta, he hadnât regressed.
Even though he wasnât in control of his body, to him, this reality was already far too wonderful. Although there were still some things that needed to be urgently dealt with, he first had to express his gratitude to Chi Xiaochi.
So he said, âYour singing, it sounds good.â
061, â......â The words themselves were good, but as a person, one shouldnât forget their conscience.
Chi Xiaochi just smiled, not speaking any longer.
He furrowed his eyebrows slightly, pretending to slowly come to. The voice that came out of his dry and hoarse throat was a little rough, âMiss Rosie.â
Rosie was currently sitting next to him. Seeing him come to, she inwardly let out a sigh of relief. âHow are you feeling?â
He shook his head and moistened his throat to make his voice sound a little clearer, âMy younger siblings......â
Ji Zuoshanâs eyes were watery from his high fever. His expression was gentle, and he looked a little ill at ease, but his attitude didnât seem too humble.
Rosie was a straightforward person. Ji Zuoshan not acting pitiful and pleading, actually made her a lot more relaxed.
&#k2026;&#k2026;What sheâd feared most was facing a scene where the other party would hug her thigh, tears streaming down his face as he thanked her deeply.
From his selling himself and becoming a human sacrifice, she could imagine what state the Ji family was in. And Ji Zuoshan only asked her to save his younger siblings, never mentioning his parents. From that, those younger siblings he mentioned should be the only members of the Ji family left.
......Sheâd already helped him a bit, she might as well help him to the end.
But Rosie wasnât purely a kind person. She wanted to know if the person before her was worth saving.
So she asked, âHow is your fever? Is your mind clear?â
Ji Zuoshan looked at her. Although his eyes were bloodshot, his mind was obviously very clear.
She asked, âWill you go back to the Zhan family?â
Ji Zuoshan just shook his head.
Rosieâs heart settled slightly. She continued to ask further, âWhy? This probably isnât the first time Zhan Yanchaoâs done this to you, why is it that you couldnât take it any longer this time?â
She didnât want herself to become, as Mister Zhan had said, a tool for Ji Zuoshan to use to peeve Zhan Yanchao, and even less did she want Ji Zuoshan to be a fool willing to be abused by others.
If the person she saved was this kind of trash, she didnât need to help him fetch his siblings or whatever. After helping him get better, sheâd just throw him out again. After all, some people were just naturally lowly and born in need of a beating. She didnât need to waste her compassion on those kinds of people.
Ji Zuoshan was stunned for a moment. As he opened his mouth, the corners of his lips curved upwards, but a film of water spread over his eyes.
He didnât let the tears drip down. As he bowed his head, in his eyes were seven parts silent endurance, and the remaining three parts was a desolation he couldnât keep from flowing out. â......He once promised me, he wouldnât make me a human sacrifice, he would let me become the strongest Alpha.â
Rosie was astounded.
Combining this with what Zhan Yanchao had loudly announced in the living room just now, Rosie understood now.
......It was because Zhan Yanchao had promised to let him become an Alpha and also took care of his siblings, that Ji Zuoshan let him do as he wished.
But clearly, from how Zhan Yanchao had brazenly bellowed out âJi Zuoshan is my Omegaâ, he completely hadnât taken his earlier promise to heart, or might even have been lying to Ji Zuoshan.
Rosie was much more at ease now. She propped up her jaw with one hand and stared at Ji Zuoshan with her azure, cat-like eyes, a little ruminative. âYouâve got lofty ambitions. But becoming the strongest Alpha...... isnât that a little too lofty?â
She thought that Ji Zuoshan would argue with her, unwilling to yield, like most people of their age and enumerate on his own outstanding points, but Ji Zuoshanâs response was mild. After giving her the address to his younger siblingsâ home, he then gently and respectfully said a âthank you Miss Rosieâ before closing his eyes once more.
Rosie stared, stunned, at Ji Zuoshanâs face for a moment and laughed softly.
A few days ago, her hitting on Ji Zuoshan was because sheâd taken a liking to his handsome face.
It had to be said, this cool temperament of Ji Zuoshanâs was full of an abnormally alluring air, which made others especially want to strip off his clothes and see how he looked like with his face flushed and sweaty and his Adamâs apple rolling.
However, what she actually wanted to see now was where Ji Zuoshanâs confidence stemmed from.
After all, sheâd learned not long ago, that when you talked about the current strongest Alpha in school, everyone would say it was the second young master of the Zhan family, Zhan Yanchao.
As for Ji Zuoshanâs name, it was listed in the middle of the ranks, utterly unremarkable.
After âJi Zuoshanâ closed his eyes, Chi Xiaochi came online once more.
There was sincere surprise in Ji Zuoshanâs voice, â......Thank you for remembering my younger siblings.â
Chi Xiaochi said, âFrom now on, if you have any requests, just voice them, donât bother beating around the bush with me. If not for the fact that this body of yours was still dizzy when you left the Zhan home and needed to slowly wake up for it to be natural, I would have long since brought it up with Rosie.â
To the side, 061 comforted Ji Zuoshan, âXiaochiâs acting is very good, you donât have to worry.â
Ji Zuoshan was a little pleasantly surprised, as well as a little shy.
Heâd just seen Chi Xiaochiâs performance in the rearview mirror.
Heâd never thought that this would be how heâd look with a little self-confidence.
He found it very novel, and really liked this appearance of his. Silently, he made up his mind to learn more from Mister Chi in the future.
âYou praised my singing,â Chi Xiaochi said, sounding very pleased, âIâm doing what I ought to. No oneâs ever praised me like this.â
061, â......â
Ji Zuoshan said, âIt really does sound very good. Iâve never heard that song you were singing before, can you sing it again?â
Before 061âs âdonâtâ could leave his mouth, Chi Xiaochiâs voice gave him a direct hit to the soul.
Only after Ji Zuoshan sang along for a verse did 061 realise why the boy was able to praise Chi Xiaochi so sincerely.
......Starting from the baseline of the point upto which Chi Xiaochiâs singing had run off tune, Ji Zuoshan had run at least another 100 metre sprint.
Chi Xiaochi praised him, âSo smart, you picked it up instantly.â
Ji Zuoshan was a little embarrassed. âEn.â
Chi Xiaochi said, âDo you know what we call this in the world I come from?â
061 thought, it should be tone deaf, probably.
Chi Xiaochi said smugly, âSoulmates.â
061, â......â My son.
Ji Zuoshan was curious. âWhat are soulmates?â
Chi Xiaochi asked enthusiastically, âHave you heard of Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi?â
As a spectator to their singing, 061 wished he had never heard of it.
Ji Zuoshan had been reborn, and had fulfilled his wish, managing to leave the Zhan Yanchao who had stifled him. His heart at ease, he simply pricked up his ears and listened to Chi Xiaochi talk nonsense about this and that.
It was like Chi Xiaochi was raising a little seal who only knew how to clap. He would clap his flippers together, unimaginably obedient.
Seeing this, 061âs heart was warm, but also a little uneasy.
Rosieâs home didnât have a decent guest room to spare at the moment, so they could only pack up the storage room in the attic for Ji Zuoshan to stay in temporarily.
The attic was very big and could hold six to seven beds. Having seen Zhan Yanchaoâs craziness today, Rosie planned to bring over the children living in the suburbs that night.
After Ji Zuoshan took some good medicine and settled down, 061 read Chi Xiaochi a bit of ãOne Hundred Years of Solitudeã.
Chi Xiaochi, unable to stand up to the spiritual pollution of the constantly repeating names, fell asleep only a short while after.
After reading the first chapter, 061 put down the book.
Ji Zuoshan actually wanted to hear more. â......After that?â
061 said quietly, âShh.â
Chi Xiaochi was a light sleeper and had also been beaten today. Even though 061 had kept him from feeling the pain, seeing how pale his face was, 061 couldnât feel at ease at all. He just hoped for Chi Xiaochi to be able to sleep a little better.
Xiao Ji caught on very quickly and stopped talking.
061 sent himself back to the Lord Godâs space.
Upon noticing the bug that was Ji Zuoshan, 061âs first reaction was to want to report it to the higher ups so as to avoid any errors that might affect Chi Xiaochiâs task progress from occurring.
But after taking just a few more steps towards the âSpace Between Momentsâ, he stopped in his tracks.
The cause of this bug of Ji Zuoshan being able to speak wasnât hard to understand after a bit of thought.
The energy in his body was naturally a level above that of ordinary people, and his spiritual energy was even more abnormally powerful. The Lord Godâs restraints couldnât stop him in any way.
And 061 realised something else.
......If it could be said that in Dong Geâs world, the signals heâd received werenât necessarily from Dong Ge, then Ji Zuoshan opening his mouth and speaking basically confirmed all of Chi Xiaochiâs speculation.
ââWhile the host was boarding, the original owners did not leave the body.
So before, why did the Lord God request that all hosts die before leaving the body? Why did he not inform the systems of this in the relevant contracts?
After the hosts departed through death, then, as for those original owners left in their own now-dead bodies, where could they go?
061 felt cold all over.
At that moment, System 131 passed by and greeted, â061, youâre back.â
061 came back to himself, nodding and replying, âEn.â
131 was a glasses-wearing babyface, forever with an expression that was worrying for the country and worrying for the people, a well-renowned pessimist amongst the systems. Seeing 061âs expression, he asked, âWhatâs wrong? Did something happen to Chi Xiaochi?â
061 smiled. âNo, heâs doing very well. I came to download a few books for him.â
It was precisely because Chi Xiaochi was currently doing very well that he couldnât make any trouble for him.
Chi Xiaochi had a sharp mind but he didnât question Ji Zuoshanâs existence, because in his mind, he was clear on the fact that there was something fishy here. Once he poked it, once he asked, and broke through that invisible barrier, he would inevitably attract trouble to himself.
Since he didnât bring it up, he probably had a corresponding tacit understanding.
However, the evidence proving that the original hosts still remained in their bodies should be preserved. If in the future, a supervisory body came by, he definitely had to take out this evidence and ask about this matter.
At this very moment, in the âSpace Between Momentsâ, the dark red main brain was slowly pulsing happily.
His exclusive AI said, â061âs back.â
The Lord God asked, âWhat did he come back for?â
His AI replied, âHe came to find 023, saying that he wanted to find some books for host no. 1198.â
The Lord God didnât think any more of it. He asked his AI, âHave you picked up any life activity signals from 061 in world 198?â
World 198, was the world Chi Xiaochi was currently in.
His AI replied, âNot yet.â
The Lord God sneered.
He was really looking forward to 061âs appearance.
After all, as long as he stayed by Chi Xiaochiâs side, Chi Xiaochiâs entropy value would skyrocket, just like with Dong Feihong from the last world.
His unintentional actions that had led to an unexpected success had been a big help to the Lord God, and had let the Lord God finally figure out Chi Xiaochiâs weakness.
Even though in the agreement that theyâd signed on, 061 had persisted in wanting to be able to choose his own identity, and the Lord God had given him this right, as long as 061 took a human form in world 198, everything would fall into place easily.
In a world with an A-rank difficulty, the hosts would constantly be in danger of losing their lives. Even though the Lord God had started out as an AI, data, and didnât really understand the human heart, he had read a lot of books on psychology and knew about the existence of the âsuspension bridge effectâ. He believed that if 061 constantly stayed by Chi Xiaochiâs side, it was impossible for Chi Xiaochi, who would be saved by him over and over again, to not be moved.
Whatâs more, in this world that he had carefully picked out, there was the option of âpregnancyâ.
Even Alphas could get pregnant, it just wasnât as easy for them to conceive as it was for Omegas.
If Chi Xiaochi developed feelings with 061 for a while, and had children with him, for the sake of their children, even he would choose to stay in that world.
No one could escape his control. No one should become his mistake.
Ji Zuoshanâs body had a very good foundation. After taking some medicine, in less than half a day, his fever had already subsided.
His younger siblings had all been brought to the attic by Rosie and were living together with Ji Zuoshan. And Rosieâs familyâs villa was huge, even though there were housekeepers and servants, the were always lacking help, so they each got themselves a job.
As for Zhan Yanchao, he still hadnât placed his attention onto Ji Zuoshanâs younger siblings, and with how he was stomping around in fury, restless with rage at home, they wouldnât bring it up for the time being.
When Rosie came to see Ji Zuoshan the next day only to find that he had already recovered completely and the scars on his body had already faded by quite a lot, she couldnât help but be surprised.
His healing speed was very fast, which was a result of the naturally strong energy in his body.
......But over the course of one night, shouldnât at least some of the red marks on his body have remained?
As Rosie pondered over this, she led Ji Zuoshan to the training room.
She was about 1.75 metres tall and wore a long, dark blue dress that contrasted well with her snow-white skin. This was originally a very elegant colour, but a bit of its dignified air was taken away by her slender waist and shapely chest, lending it a few brushstrokes of sexiness.
She said, âMy family doesnât raise human sacrifices. Since you decided to leave the Zhan family and I brought you here, youâre going to be my sparring partner and go to school with me. When I take back the contract you signed with Zhan Yanchao, youâll become my person.â
Ji Zuoshan valued his words like gold. âEn.â
Rosieâs homeâs training room was huge, with every facility one could think of available, but what caught Ji Zuoshanâs interest more was an even bigger area adjacent to the training room.
He asked, âWhatâs that?â
Rosie unlocked the training room with the iris scanner, then pulled Ji Zuoshan over to register his iris information as well. She said frankly, âLaboratory.â
As Ji Zuoshan stared into the scanner, he was slightly surprised. âEn?â
âMy dream is to become a scientist,â Rosie said, âBut combat power is more respected on this planet, and only those who become Alphas can enjoy the top resources.â
As she spoke, Rosie pushed open the door to the training room. âSo, for the sake of my dreams, I have to become an Alpha.â
The girl led Ji Zuoshan into the training room. She walked over to a two metre tall mecha covered in a white cloth, pointed at it, and said, âI canât prepare a specialised mecha for you like Zhan Yanchao did. Thereâs only one extra training mecha in my home, you can use it first.â
Seemingly feeling like this kind of treatment wasnât very much like what one would give âthe strongest Alphaâ, Rosie looked back at him and smiled. âBut my family has specialised in technology for many generations. Our AI designing level is first-class. Yesterday, I already entered your data into this mecha. From today onwards, itâs yours. Donât let me down. Mister Strongest Alpha.â
In the âSpace Between Momentsâ.
The AI suddenly reacted, â061âs life signal has been detected!â
The Lord God couldnât wait. âWhere? Who is he?â
......Who had he chosen?
His AI directly projected the image of 061âs avatar onto the digital screen.
As soon as the Lord God cast his eyes upon it, he abruptly stopped. Next, a nameless anger erupted, almost blowing up the digital screen.
The white cloth slowly fell to the ground.
The indicator lights of the human shaped mecha with a dark blue, metallic sheen lit up. After the brief moment that it took for the data bridge to connect, Chi Xiaochiâs figure was reflected in its eyes.
It went down on one knee towards Chi Xiaochi, and said in a gentle, mechanical voice, âHello, my master.â
The author has something to say:
Letâs have a round of applause from our Xiao Ji seal!
sere: i srsly want my own 061 plz
panda: lol, 061 finding ways to infuriate da main brain and overturn his plans since 1923
baum: ahh my seal baby <3 <3 <3
Also, Iâll be taking a two week break from translating to focus on my finals! Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding ð (I might still update sporadically within this period, but I canât make any promises orz)