Chapter 82

“Uncle Wen, Grandpa, I didn’t mean to disturb you, but there’s no other choice…”

On the fifth day of their marriage, still on their honeymoon, Wen Jiuze reluctantly received a call from his boss, Xiao Gao.

“Don’t act like you’re the grandson now. You ate the one-week wedding leave you wrote down yourself?” Wen Jiuze mocked, tossing the peeled garlic into a nearby bowl.

On the other end of the call, Gao Ninghai was embarrassed. “Once this is over, I’ll make sure to extend your leave, alright? Please, just help us out now.”

“We thought there were only ghost-faced moths in Qin River. I sent team two to deal with them, but there were too many to clear, and several of them had to be hospitalized for detoxification.”

“Today, those moths attracted a large flock of mutated birds, and now they’re circling above Qin River.”

“The area’s been on lockdown for days now. We can’t turn on the lights at night, and we’re not allowed to go outside. If this keeps up, we’ll be flooded with complaints…”

“Double compensation for holidays, and wages will be calculated based on overtime work on rest days, remember this.” Wen Jiuze said.

Gao Ninghai quickly agreed.

True enough, now that he was married, Wen Jiuze, who used to never care about his salary when on field assignments, was now worried about it.

“There’s one more thing. I can’t find your lover’s contact information anywhere. You…” Gao Ninghai trailed off.

Wen Jiuze ended the call abruptly.

Xue Ling was in the kitchen, stirring the marinade. After he hung up, she said, “Your boss called you in to work, huh?”

“Yeah, two more hours to prep. We’re heading out to Qin River at two in the afternoon,” Wen Jiuze said, tapping on his communicator as he sent a message on the team’s public channel.

“Alright, you go ahead,” Xue Ling continued stirring the marinade.

When she woke up this morning, she suddenly had a strong craving for the marinated dishes she used to make. Though she couldn’t eat them anymore, it would be nice to at least taste the flavor. She could marinate some items that would be good for chewing, as long as she didn’t swallow them.

In short, she had to taste this nostalgic flavor.

So, early in the morning, she dragged Wen Jiuze, who had been sleeping way too much recently, out of bed and asked him to accompany her to buy the ingredients.

Wen Jiuze, who had been handling things for her for so long, washed his hands to remove the garlic smell. Turning around, he said, “Hurry up, we need to leave soon.”

Xue Ling asked, “What, I’m going too?”

Wen Jiuze replied, “What else?”

Xue Ling said, “Are you telling me that just after I’ve barely woken up, you want me to go to work with you?”

Wen Jiuze replied, “You can get me out of bed and ask me to go with you to do something, but I can’t ask you to go with me?”

Xue Ling: “…”

“That’s not what I meant,” Xue Ling held up the spoon and tried to reason with him, “What I mean is, you and your team are going to work, wouldn’t it be a bit out of place for me to tag along?”

“There’s nothing out of place,” Wen Jiuze said, “You’re part of our team. It’s perfectly normal for you to join us for a task.”

Xue Ling raised an eyebrow. “When did I become a part of your team?”

Wen Jiuze said, “A full complement of an abnormal team is ten people, and our team only has nine people. I have already registered a position for you. Didn’t I say that everything is ready?”

Xue Ling: “…” I didn’t expect that the preparation you mentioned also included preparing work for me.

It wasn’t like she had reserved a spot in a library; how could he reserve a position for her like that? This was truly absurd.

“Actually, now that the world has mostly restored order, I don’t necessarily have to do the same kind of work as you,” Xue Ling asked.

Wen Jiuze said,”Join the team. You can fly the large aircraft in the team, along with small single-pilot craft that aren’t available on the market. Don’t you want to give them a try?”

Xue Ling closed the lid of the marinade pot and said, “I’ll change my clothes and go.”

Her work on the marinade was reluctantly interrupted as Wen Jiuze took her to the Abnormal Team Management Center. The building was nearby, just as large as their house.

Upon entering, Wen Jiuze began introducing the place:

“You don’t need to look at the rules in the hall. Even if you break them, you won’t be fined.”

“Almost everyone here is a thawed person. Area A’s abnormal team has over a hundred members, including official and reserve members. Don’t bother memorizing it, because I haven’t either.”

As they walked, Xue Ling felt like everyone was watching them, but no one greeted them.

“Wen Jiuze, do you not get along with people?” Xue Ling asked.

“Our first team doesn’t have the best reputation,” Wen Jiuze said.

Xue Ling thought to herself, this must be because of you. She silently apologized for the bad reputation of his team.

“Is your team really just called Team One and Team Two?” Xue Ling asked as she followed him into the first team’s break room.

“The official team names are not like that. Team One and Team Two are just the common names. We used to rotate, re-ranking once a year. Teams with better task completion rates ranked higher.”

Deputy Captain Xiong Wenhuan, who was waiting in the break room, explained.

“But since Wen Jiuze joined our team, our task completion rate has been the champion for several years in a row. Over time, Team One became fixed as referring to us.”

Xue Ling greeted her and thought, so your team has been winning the rotating banner every year.

No wonder Wen Jiuze was so arrogant. Turns out, he was untouchable, a crucial figure with specialized skills.

“Then what is your official team name?”

“Missing Persons Team,” Xiong Wenhuan said.

“…” Xue Ling was silent for a moment. “Did Wen Jiuze come up with that? How did he let you all choose that name?”

Xiong Wenhuan laughed. “Our team name is actually fine. The third team is called the Rose Sisters, but all ten members are men.”

“It’s because the captain initially wanted all the members to be women, so the name was chosen to attract female recruits, but all the applicants were men. Once a team name is chosen, it can’t be changed.”

“Then the fourth team is called ‘Who Dares to Compete with Us,’ the fifth team is the ‘Chuchu Freeze People’ team, their captain is named Chuchu.”

“The sixth team is ‘The Hundred-Year-Old Team,’ the seventh team is the ‘Waist Drum Team,’ the ninth team is the ‘Am I Still Alive?’ team, and the tenth team is the ‘Resurrection Guerrilla Team…'”

What kind of university debate team names are these?

Xue Ling suddenly felt that “Missing Persons Team” wasn’t too bad after all.

No wonder everyone just calls it Team One and Team Two; their official names are hard to say out loud.

“Wait a minute, didn’t you skip the second team?” Xue Ling counted.

“The second team is called the Thunder Battle Team,” Xiong Wenhuan said.

This team’s name was so ordinary among all of these, it seemed almost out of place because of how normal it was.

Xue Ling noticed that Xiong Wenhuan seemed to have some issues with the second team; her expression was complicated when she mentioned them.

At that moment, Captain Xiong Xiyuan walked into the break room with a stack of documents. He looked the oldest and had been patiently taking care of the disorganized members of Team One for years, handling all the trivial matters.

“This is Xue Ling’s first day. She needs to fill out some forms. I’ve filled out everything I could, but the signature has to be done by her.”

Captain Xiong handed over the documents and a pen to Xue Ling.

“Also, here’s the ID badge for the abnormal team. I’ll help you authenticate it and activate full district access.”

“Alright, if you need anything, you can always find me.”

In less than three minutes, Xue Ling was officially registered as a member of Area A’s first abnormal team. The whole process was nothing like the complicated procedure she had imagined.

“That’s it?” Xue Ling pulled Wen Jiuze aside. “There’s no kind of assessment?”

She had looked it up, and the anomaly teams in Area A were the hardest to join. How was it so easy for her? It was even simpler than getting married! People had to take tests for marriage registration!

“Am I really capable of this? I’ve completely disconnected from society, I don’t know how to use the current weapons or tools. It’s not like before when we had to fight zombies. I don’t even know what missions you guys are working on now. Is it really okay for me to join the team like this…”

Wen Jiuze saw her nervously biting her nails and simply said, “You, like me, have special advantages.”

“Now, mutant animals are rampant, and their viruses have mutated over many generations. But our bodies still carry the original zombie virus, which is more unique than the common zombie virus.”

“Other thawed people don’t have a high resistance to the mutant animal toxins as we do. In many cases, these mutant animals won’t even attack us, so when we take on missions, it’s much easier.”

“In this line of work, you have a unique, irreplaceable advantage, do you understand?”

Wen Jiuze knew very well that Xue Ling lacked self-confidence. Telling her “you can do it” wouldn’t work, but if he told her, “No one else can do it except you,” she would take on the task with a strong sense of responsibility and move forward.

As expected, her self-doubt disappeared immediately.

“Don’t worry, no matter what happens, I’m here. Even if you mess up and cause trouble, I can handle it.” Wen Jiuze reassured her.

Hearing this, Xue Ling felt even more at ease: “Right, no matter what I do, can I really cause a bigger mess than you?”

Wen Jiuze: “…”

“Well, if that’s how you want to think about it.”

Thanks to Wen Jiuze’s solid reputation, the remaining members of the first team were friendly as they introduced themselves to Xue Ling.

“Alright, everyone’s here. Let’s go.”

The group walked out of the break room, just as a few people from the opposite room were coming out.

The young man leading the group had a rebellious expression. His gaze swept over the unfamiliar face in the first team.

“So, this is the one who’s been occupying a spot in the first team? Wen Jiuze, I admit you’re strong, but letting a fragile woman like this into your team, I think the first team’s reputation is about to be ours soon.”

The members of the first team stopped in their tracks.

Walking beside Xue Ling, Deputy Captain Xiong Wenhuan introduced, “This is the second team, and their captaini is Huang Mao.”

Captain Xiong added, “He used to try to join the first team, but Wen Jiuze rejected him, saying it was full. After that, he’s been causing trouble for us.”

Xue Ling: “…”

You’re just saying that in front of his face. Now he’s overheard, and his face is getting darker!

“I always feel like when Captain Huang talks, he sounds like a typical villain from old dramas, like he’s acting. It’s so weird, hahaha.” The youngest member of the team, Dong Yang, laughed cheerfully.

Xue Ling: You are even more of a heavyweight.

The other team members continued discussing with no regard for anyone around: “Wasn’t the second team’s mission a failure, and a few of their members ended up in the hospital? How come he’s fine?”

“Alas, if the second team wasn’t so useless, we would still be taking advantage of Brother Wen’s wedding leave and wouldn’t have to run off on missions.”

Xue Ling listened to the loud shouting and whispering in the team, and understood why their team was not very popular.

It doesn’t seem to have much to do with Wen Jiuze.

“Hmph, you are all so arrogant just because you rely on Wen Jiuze. I don’t believe that you have never failed in a mission!” Captain Huang was furious.

Wen Jiuze, with his hand resting on Xue Ling’s shoulder, glanced over at him, “Huang Mao, remember, I’m only saying one more word to you today because I’m in a good mood. You…”

Xue Ling felt like they were about to fight, and she didn’t want to be involved in a brawl on her first day at work.

She gently pulled on Wen Jiuze’s arm and whispered, “We probably fought zombies before his grandfather was even born. Let’s not bother with this kid. Let’s go.”

Wen Jiuze replied, “Did you hear that? Your great-grandmother said not to argue with the grandson. Quickly thank your great-grandmother.”

Xue Ling: “…”

On her first day at work, she was involved in a group fight.

Afterward, they boarded the aircraft and headed to the task location, Qinghe.

Wen Jiuze asked Xue Ling, “Are you still nervous after the fight?”

“Actually, I’m not nervous anymore,” Xue Ling replied.

“Good. We usually use Huang Mao to relieve stress, and it’s pretty effective. Next time, you can experience it too.” Wen Jiuze pulled out an equipment box from under his seat. “Put on your combat suit first.”

Xue Ling reached to take it, but Wen Jiuze didn’t let her move; instead quickly dressing her in the gear, securing her vest, belt, and wrist guards, and even helping her with the leg armor.

Xue Ling, feeling embarrassed from all the attention, said, “If you keep doing this, people will start to think that you dress me every day.”

Wen Jiuze replied, “Lately, I have been dressing you.”

Xue Ling felt the surrounding gazes become a little too intense for comfort.

Wen Jiuze rummaged through the weapons box and handed her a weapon that looked similar to a gun.

“Today’s first mission is to let you feel the atmosphere. Come, I’ll show you how to use it.”

Xue Ling declined, “Can I have someone else from the team teach me? I’m afraid you’ll play tricks on me.”

Dong Yang, who was watching from the side, raised his hand, “Sister Ling, I can teach you, I know how!”

In the next second, he was struck in the face by a magazine from Wen Jiuze, falling into his seat with a cry.

“Who told you to call her Sister Ling?” Wen Jiuze gave him a sidelong glance.

Dong Yang quickly sat up, his eyes wide as he realized the issue, “Wait a minute, you also call her Sister Ling?”

Xue Ling, unable to watch, stopped Wen Jiuze’s hand, “Okay, okay, let him teach, let him teach.”

Don’t beat the poor guy. He doesn’t look very smart.

Dong Yang rubbed his nose, watching Wen Jiuze and Xue Ling, who were now whispering to each other, their heads touching. He chuckled softly.

This felt great. Normally, when they went on missions, the atmosphere wasn’t this relaxed. Brother Wen hardly spoke, but now it felt like he was actually alive.

“I didn’t know Wen Jiuze could talk this much,” one teammate whispered.

Dong Yang nodded vigorously in agreement.

“Now would be a good time to say, ‘It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Brother Wen smile this happily.'”

“Hey, deputy captain, I saw this sentence in a novel before!”

Xue Ling: “…” I heard it all.

“Did they always act like this before?”

“I don’t know, I didn’t pay attention.”

“Then how did you communicate before?”

“Communicate? Like this—”

Wen Jiuze helped the two of them gear up and stood up. “I’ll go first, handle the first wave, you follow afterward.”

He pulled Xue Ling onto a single-person aircraft, opened the hatch, and controlled the vehicle to launch them into the air.

The world spun, and Xue Ling tightly gripped the handle, her body crashing into Wen Jiuze’s chest from the strong air currents.

They had reached the mission location, and their craft descended into the dark, swirling mutated bird flock.

“You control the direction. I’ll show you how to use the weapon to kill the mutated birds.”

“I control the direction? You never taught me how to pilot this thing!”

This damn dog, before she could even react, he had already pulled her into the bird flock.

It seemed like Wen Jiuze was laughing. Xue Ling could feel his chest vibrating against her back.

She had no choice but to hurry and take control. Feeling his arms around her, she saw him fire a series of fireballs from his weapon, creating gaps in the dense bird flock.

Other single-person aircraft appeared one after another around them.

The Deputy Captain’s aircraft approached. “Xue Ling, how’s it going? Are you okay?”

Xue Ling nervously controlled the aircraft. “I’m okay, just… I still can’t really pilot this thing!”

The Deputy Captain seemed to fall silent for a moment, then Dong Yang’s voice rang out in surprise. “Ah, isn’t this aircraft set to automatic mode? You don’t have to control it!”

Xue Ling: “…………”

She released the control lever and clenched her fists.

After landing, if she didn’t kill the mutated animals, she’d start with Wen Jiuze.

Wen Jiuze’s voice came through her ear. “Xiao Dong, connect my aircraft. We’ll land and handle the mutated moths below.”

He pushed off the aircraft’s pedal and leaped from the air, holding Xue Ling in his arms.

Xue Ling felt the wind whipping across her face, with stray mutated birds zipping past.

The world spun out of control, and some dog was laughing. She couldn’t help but scream.

“You’re just jumping like this! We’re STILL THIS HIGH above the ground, Wen Jiuze, ahhhhhhh——”

– END – 

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Ayalee: The main story has officially ended! Don’t worry, we still have 8 extra chapters of Zombie Wen Jiuze × Human Xue Ling. I’ll unlock 2 chapters every Saturday, so see you guys next week!

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