abyss rose

Chapter 8

The incandescent lights on the top illuminate every street in the dungeon base.

After walking through the commercial area, you will find the residential area of ​​the Sixth District.

At both ends of the street in the accommodation area, four-storey horizontally connected public buildings are crowded in this small space, brightly illuminated by lights.

There are many such crowded public accommodation areas in every outer city, and Chai Yuening took Chu Ci to several alleys before returning to his familiar home.

Swiping the room card to open the door, Chai Yuening walked into the room first.

The radio that I forgot to turn off before leaving was still playing broadcasts related to the development of the base in a loop. Most of them were some exciting and good news, and expectations for the base's future to be better and better, and existing problems would be resolved as soon as possible.

Chai Yuening grew up in the base since she was a child, and she has heard similar words countless times, no matter how the radio is played, no matter how she listens, she doesn't take it to heart anyway.

She walked to the radio at a leisurely pace and turned off the long-winded broadcast.

When I turned around, I saw the girl who was still holding the mineral water bottle in both hands and followed silently all the way behind her. She was standing timidly by the door at this moment, half of her body was hidden behind the door, as if she didn't dare to approach.

"Come in, you don't need to change your shoes." Chai Yuening turned around and greeted her.

Chu Ci nodded, walked into the room, and gently closed the door behind his back.

"It's... a bit messy and crowded here." Chai Yuening said, walking to a small sofa for one person, picking up the three or two pieces of worn clothes on it, and freed up another room besides the rocking chair. Sitting and resting position.

Chu Ci didn't answer, but just glanced blankly at the clothes that Chai Yuening was holding.

A flash of embarrassment flashed in Chai Yuening's eyes, and she smiled at Chu Ci with some embarrassment: "Well, the water in the base is quite expensive, and washing one piece at a time is wasteful, so I like to wash a few more pieces each time."

"Yeah." Chu Ci nodded.

"Don't stand at the door, sit down!"

As Chai Yuening said, she was thinking about whether to take the clothes in her hands to wash, but when she turned around and saw Chu Ci still standing at the door, she couldn't help but fell into a new embarrassment.

She suddenly became a little worried about getting along with this new roommate in the future.

The housing allocated by the base to the residents of the outer city is usually relatively narrow, it can be said that it is so small that you can't see it when you look up.

This is obviously not a suitable size for two people to live together, but she brought everyone back, and it is impossible to suddenly regret it, and said to the little girl who hurriedly caught up: "You go back, I think it's too crowded for two people to live together .” Similar words.

Just when she was so embarrassed that she was a little overwhelmed, she finally saw the "human pillar" at the door move.

Chu Ci walked a few steps into the room, but did not find a place to sit down. He just walked around slowly and looked around. Finally, he looked at the room with nothing but a wardrobe and a small bed. The interior of other objects.

Chai Yuening hurriedly stuffed the clothes in her hand into the sink in the bathroom, stepped forward a few steps, and said, "This bed is a bit small, and it's too crowded for two people. Move it to the wall later, and I'll make a few bedsides first." Let’s make a bed, and get a bigger bed in a few days.”

Chu Ci replied: "I can sleep on the floor, I'm the one who bothered you..."

Chai Yuening quickly interrupted: "That won't work, your injury hasn't fully healed yet, the cold air and humidity on the sleeping floor is not good for the wound."

"Can……"

"No matter what, I'm going to send you back to the Ninth District." Chai Yuening put her hands on her hips, pretending to be angry.

Chu Ci fell silent for a moment, just lowered his head and lowered his eyes. After half a second of silence, he said softly, "Thank you."

"Then you sit for a while, you can turn on the radio if you want to listen to it, there are a few books under the coffee table, you can flip through them if you're bored." Chai Yuening said, pointing to the bathroom, "Shall I do some laundry?"

"Ah."

The dumb new roommate finally spoke, and Chai Yuening breathed a long sigh of relief.

She went to the bathroom and washed the clothes she had changed.

One second before turning on the faucet, footsteps as light as kittens came from outside the house.

Chai Yuening looked outside subconsciously, and saw that Chu Ci walked to the small coffee table lightly, put a sip of undrinked mineral water on the coffee table, and then looked at the radio for a long time, with a look of wanting to touch it but not daring Touch the way.

Soon, Chu Ci squatted down and found a few old books with pages missing from under the coffee table.

The pages that fell from her hand obviously startled her.

She quickly picked it up and stuffed it back into it carefully, as if she had damaged the book.

But in fact, those were the things that Liandong had sent her to "edify her sentiments". Chai Yuening hadn't even touched them once, and there was a little dust on them.

After a while, Chu Ci chose one of the relatively new ones, put the others back in their original places, and squatted down by the coffee table to read them quietly.

The corners of Chai Yuening's mouth raised slightly unconsciously, turned on the faucet, and scrubbed his clothes.

After the clothes were washed, Chai Yuening walked to the clothes rail in the corner, and while drying them, asked, "By the way, why are you in the detention center?"

The girl squatting by the coffee table raised her head when she heard the sound, her eyes flickered with anxiety.

"Isn't it convenient to say this?" Chai Yuening waved his hand indifferently, "You don't need to say it."

"It can be said." Chu Ci pursed his lips, and said, "I want to make some money, but I don't know where to go. Someone told me that Nanshui Street in the seventh district has a lot of work, and the money comes quickly... When you arrive at Nanshui Street, I want to ask if there is anything I can do, someone said to go to the 'Not Drunk Bar' to find Sister You."

Hearing this, Chai Yuening probably guessed the reason why Chu Ci was sent to the detention center by Youlan.

Chu Ci continued: "I asked for the way, and that 'Sister You' also left me behind, she said to serve the guests well, the reward will not be less..."

Chai Yuening interrupted with a headache: "Did you hit someone later?"

"It was the guest who hit me first." As Chu Ci said, there was a bit of stubbornness that Chai Yuening had never seen in her eyes.

"The guest hit you first?"

"He pinched me first, and I just gave him a drink and didn't do anything." Chu Ci said seriously, "I beat him, and he cried. Sister You scolded me for being ignorant. In order to prevent me from quarreling with the guests, she Send me to that little dark room."

"..."

Seeing that Chu Ci was explaining in a serious manner, Chai Yuening was a little dumbfounded.

The little girl who lost her love immediately after amnesia was tricked into being a "accompanying drinker" at Youlan's.

She didn't understand what kind of job it was. Not only did she beat Youlan's guests, she even made them cry...

Even at this moment, the girl has not realized what kind of shit happened to her.

But fortunately, Chu Ci looks like she has thin arms and legs, and she can really beat people with dirty hands and feet, otherwise I really don't know what will happen.

When Chu Ci saw that Chai Yuening hadn't spoken for a long time, a little uneasiness appeared in his eyes.

She tentatively asked: "Is there a prison? I... Am I breaking the law?"

"Uh...no." Chai Yuening came back to his senses, and quickly explained, "That place is a temporary place where people are locked up, and those who go in don't make any major mistakes. Usually, they fight, steal money, or smash things. If you admit your mistakes and have a good attitude, you will be released after a few days, and those who break the law are all squatting in prison.”

"But I'm not wrong." Chu Ci's tone was a little aggrieved.

"This is probably...a not-so-beautiful misunderstanding." Chai Yuening said awkwardly.

The black market has rules of the black market. Youlan's bar is for that business. People who get drunk there on weekdays can be of any status and status.

Someone like this came here to ask for a job, but they didn't follow the rules at all. Whether they were wrong or not, it really wasn't up to one person to decide.

Chai Yuening thought about it, finally sighed, and handed the bottle of mineral water on the tea table to Chu Ci again.

"Have a drink."

Chu Ci took the water bottle, took a sip, lowered his eyelashes, and asked softly, "Do you think I'm wrong too?"

Chai Yuening couldn't resist such an aggrieved tone.

"That's right!" She moved forward, nudged Chu Ci's arm lightly with her elbow, and coaxed: "He hit you first, and of course he will hit you back if he is bullied! , I will help you fight together!"

After being recognized, the corners of Chu Ci's mouth visibly raised a little.

Chai Yuening stood up, changed the subject and said, "Are you going to get your own things?"

"Ah?" Chu Ci raised his eyes, his eyes were blank.

Chai Yuening said patiently: "That is, after staying for ten days, you don't have anything to bring back from the Ninth District?"

Chu Ci shook his head.

It was only then that Chai Yuening realized that the clothes on this girl were still the ones she bought for her when she took her to apply for a temporary ID card more than ten days ago.

The clothes are a little torn, the marks left by the fight, but they are very clean, obviously they have only been washed for two days.

Chai Yuening asked, "Don't you have one or two pieces of clothing?"

Chu Ci shook his head.

"Then what do you get for laundry?"

"You can wear it even when it's wet, as long as you don't go out." Chu Ci said lightly, without any grievance in his tone.

A simple answer was said to be very light, but Chai Yuening was speechless for a while, feeling a sense of guilt for no reason.

How could she be at ease, and leave a young girl who was injured, lost her memory, and was a little ignorant no matter how she looked at it, alone in an unfamiliar place?

She couldn't help thinking that if she had chosen to bring Chu Ci back more than ten days ago, this little girl who was already injured would not have shrunk at home wearing undried clothes, and would not have gone to a place where she was born to make money. Looking for a job in an unfamiliar place, I met Youlan, a guy who doesn't have the slightest conscience in front of money.

Chai Yuening took a deep breath, stood up, and asked, "Are you hungry? I'll cook you something to eat."

"Thank you." Chu Ci stood up.

Chai Yuening turned around and walked towards the kitchen.

Chu Ci, who was on the side, also followed her with the mineral water in his hand, and walked into the kitchen all the way.

The narrow kitchen is fine for one person standing, but it is somewhat crowded for two people standing.

"You can rest outside." Chai Yuening turned around and said.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Chu Ci asked anxiously, as if if he didn't do anything, he would be kicked out of this small shabby house at any moment.

Faced with such small eyes, Chai Yuening couldn't bear to ask her to go out and sit down.

She scratched her ears and said, "Then you can help me wash the vegetables. It's in the refrigerator. Just take what you want to eat."

Some people speak generously, and their rhetoric gives people a feeling that there is everything delicious in the refrigerator.

However, the moment Chu Ci opened the refrigerator, the two fell silent together.

In the empty refrigerator, there were only three potatoes and a handful of wilted vegetables left.

Chu Ci stood by the refrigerator in a daze, his bewilderment was written all over his face, as if he was struggling with whether a handful of vegetables or three potatoes would be easier to feed two people.

Fortunately, this is not a multiple choice question.

"Wash them all!" Chai Yuening said hurriedly, "I forgot to buy fresh ones..."

"Yeah." Chu Ci responded, and carried the potatoes and vegetables to the only bathroom with water supply.

The slightly thickened vegetable and potato soup was the first meal the two ate together after they met again.

They squatted next to the small coffee table, eating this hot dinner with the only two sets of bowls and chopsticks at home.

Chai Yuening is glad that after living alone for so long, she still has the habit of keeping an extra copy of every little thing just in case, otherwise the dishes and chopsticks would have to go out temporarily to buy new ones.

Chu Ci didn't eat much, so he put down the bowls and chopsticks after eating for a long time.

A pot of soup that is not too much, just enough to fill the stomachs of two people who are not too hungry.

Chai Yuening thought, after a short rest, it's better to go out and buy something, otherwise I don't know what to have for breakfast tomorrow.

It's just that she didn't expect that even if she went out to buy some food, Chu Ci would follow her every step of the way, as if she would abandon her again.

Before going out, Chai Yuening suggested that Chu Ci rest at home for a while, but Chu Ci just shook his head and said nothing, which left her with no choice but to take the little girl to the vegetable market.

Although she is not a rich person, since she has brought them out, she is willing to spend a little on what they like to eat as long as it is within her affordability.

But it's getting late now, and the vegetable market is about to close, and the leftover vegetables that have been selected in the past day are somewhat cheaper than in the morning.

"Take whatever you like."

When saying this, Chai Yuening unconsciously estimated how much money he still had in his heart.

It's not because she feels sorry for the food, but mainly because the communicator can't be used normally outside the base. Apart from the time when she and Luo Kun went out to die, she has been resting for a long time.If the money left on my body is enough to provide food, clothing and water for two people, I don't know if it will be enough until the day when the signal tower is recovered and reopened.

Do you want to start work earlier?

The missions in the medium and high-risk areas are not easy to take. I lead my own team in the low-risk areas to casually fish for some low-level exotic animal carapaces, bone skins, etc., and it is okay to ask Youlan to help sell them.

Thinking this way, Chai Yuening subconsciously looked at Chu Ci who was picking vegetables.

She still remembers the scene when she saw the girl for the first time.

A young girl who looked to be seventeen or eighteen years old treated her wounds skillfully like a battle-tested veteran.

That's right, Chu Ci said that he beat the guests in Youlan's Bar to tears.

To be able to beat and cry a big man who dared to go out on the black market, you think you have some skills, right?

Otherwise, I will tell everyone later that she can also join the mercenary team and have a job to do, so she can get some money in the future.

Chai Yuening thought it over and thought it was reliable.

She walked to Chu Ci's side in two steps, and was thinking about talking about it after paying the money, when she found Chu Ci standing here for a long time, holding a small plastic bag in her hand, but there was nothing there take.

"No one you like?"

"do not know……"

With just three words, Chai Yuening was at a loss for answers.

Fortunately, in the next second, Chu Ci added in a low voice: "I don't recognize..."

Chai Yuening was stunned for half a second, and probably understood the meaning of these words.

She has amnesia, not only the memory of past people and events, but also the cognitive ability of some objects.

Speaking of which, Chai Yuening didn't understand anything about wound healing except the conventional wound treatment.

She has seen many brain injuries before.

Some have amnesia, some are insane, and there are also some who are stupid and stupid. The level of medical treatment in the outer city basically cannot be cured.

It is not easy for people from the outer city to enter the main city. Even if they do, they have no money to go to the medical center in the main city.

Fortunately, no matter which cranial nerve Chu Ci injured in the foggy area half a month ago, she still looks like a normal person at this moment.

"It's okay, then I'll pick what I like."

"Okay." Chu Ci nodded.

"When you turn back, you will eat and see, whether it is delicious or not, you will recognize it next time."

"Yeah." The girl's face was full of obedience.

Chai Yuening picked up a few tomatoes and potatoes at random, weighed some vegetables and mushrooms, and gritted her teeth to buy four eggs that only "rich people" would be willing to eat.

The two of them carried half of the things that were not heavy at all, and slowly swayed back in the direction of home.

On the way back, Chai Yuening recalled what she wanted to ask but didn't ask.

Just when she was about to speak, out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of some hideous scars on Chu Ci's arm, and her heart, which was already full of guilt, softened again.

She thought, let's take a while, and after a while, she will find a way to make some connections and find a safer job for this little girl in the city.

If your brain is not bad and you can read and write, then the clerical job is the best.

With such thoughts in mind, Chai Yuening led Chu Ci back home, and put the freshly bought vegetables into the refrigerator.

The underground base does not have the distinction of day and night on the ground, only there will be a base broadcast in the whole city at six o'clock in the morning, twelve o'clock in the noon, and eleven o'clock in the evening.

Chai Yuening didn't have a clock at home, so she took out her pocket watch and took a look.

It's past seven o'clock in the evening, which is still relatively early. It's suitable for promoting relationships with new roommates who are not very talkative.

Chai Yuening took a deep breath, and walked towards Chu Ci, who was sitting on the coffee table and on the sofa, flipping through the book in his hand.

"What are you looking at?" Chai Yuening looked curiously at the book in Chu Ci's hand.

This is a standard beginning of conversation, at least Chai Yuening, who has never had many friends, thinks this kind of beginning is very common.

"This is a collection of essays." Chu Ci replied seriously.

"Do you like reading prose?"

"I don't know, I don't remember what I like." Chu Ci said.

Chai Yuening choked for a moment, and asked, "Then you were reading before eating, did you find anything interesting?"

"This." Chu Ci flipped through the collection of essays, pointed to the black letters on the yellowed pages, and said seriously, "The author's name is Anonymous."

"Ah." Chai Yuening reminded in a low voice, "Anonymous is not a name, it means unknown."

As soon as the words fell, she regretted a little.

It's somewhat embarrassing for me to explain so bluntly.

She was just thinking about how to change the subject tactfully, when Chu Ci responded lightly: "So that's how it is, it doesn't feel like it was written by one person."

Chai Yuening: "..."

It seems a little too much to worry about. People who have bumped their heads are not that sensitive at all.

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The first day of picking up alien species