A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 2394 - 1607: Endless Night (What Abstract Thing Is Beef Jerky?)
The snowstorm howled past the window, and although the inn was quite warm, the atmosphere felt as cold as ice.
"I’ve already called for rescue. A professional search team should be organized shortly. They will head up the mountain as soon as the weather improves."
After hanging up the phone, the director walked over with a tired expression and spoke to the staff sitting in the living room.
"For now, we’re snowed in, so we can only stay here. It’s best not to act impulsively until the situation clears up. Understand?"
The crew members could only nod at the director’s orders.
"I hope Mai is alright."
Arima Kaname clutched her cup, murmuring to herself while staring out the window, and Hei Chuan Chi Yin glanced at her.
"Aren’t you worried about Xiao Ai?"
"I can’t even imagine her being in trouble."
"Me neither."
The two nodded, relatively calm compared to the panicking crew. Arima Kaname and Hei Chuan Chi Yin were confident in Duanmu Huai. Or rather, worrying now was useless. With the heavy snow completely surrounding them, they couldn’t venture out to find them.
"In the comic, the protagonist and Liangzi seemed to find a small cabin to take refuge, so we can only hope they’re as lucky as the comic characters."
The best Arima Kaname could do now was pray.
In truth, Arima Kaname’s prayers were quite effective.
"Phew... finding this place before being buried by snow, what luck."
Stepping into the cold and desolate mountain cabin, Duanmu Huai sighed in relief, and Sakurajima Mai also showed a hint of relaxation. They had trekked through the snowstorm for a good few minutes, and there was a moment when Sakurajima Mai even doubted whether they had lost their way in the deep mountains.
"You really managed to find this place."
"Mountain cabins are everywhere; you just have to pay attention when you’re in the mountains."
Of course, Duanmu Huai was talking nonsense. He had used his perception to locate it; otherwise, he would have just found a random cave to stay in.
These mountain cabins are used by hunters or mountain travelers for rest. They’re simple but fully equipped, with dry wood and matches. Duanmu Huai filled the fireplace with logs and placed dry twigs on top to light them, gradually warming the chilly cabin.
"You seem quite familiar with all this."
Sitting nearby, Sakurajima Mai observed this scene with curiosity.
"My hobby is wilderness survival, and wrestling bears is part of my interest."
Duanmu Huai replied casually.
"Is this some kind of martial arts training?"
"You can look at it that way."
"........."
The conversation paused briefly, and they quietly watched the crackling firewood in the fireplace. After a while, Sakurajima Mai finally spoke up.
"...Thank you for saving me."
"You’re welcome."
Duanmu Huai stood up and stretched.
"I’ll repay you."
"With your body?"
"I don’t think Xiao Ai is someone who takes advantage of others."
Sakurajima Mai smiled at Duanmu Huai, her presence intimidating for some, but not enough to trouble him.
Unfortunately, Duanmu Huai wouldn’t be bothered by such trivial matters.
"After saving your life, you won’t even agree to that? Seems like your promise to repay is just empty words."
"I will repay you."
"Repaying with something the other person wants is true repayment."
"Not demanding repayment boosts goodwill."
"I think being clear is better."
Duanmu Huai added another log to the fire. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
"After all, didn’t Liangzi fall for the protagonist in a similar situation in the comic?"
"But the protagonist didn’t say things like that."
Sakurajima Mai rolled her eyes at Duanmu Huai.
"Protagonists who say things like that aren’t popular with girls."
"Maybe in comics."
Duanmu Huai adjusted the logs to make the fire burn brighter and then said.
"But reality might be different."
"Reality and comics aren’t the same, but a sudden request like ’give me your body’ from the rescuer is quite a mood-breaker."
"That’s others; I’m not like them."
Duanmu Huai turned to look at Sakurajima Mai; perhaps due to the warmth of the fire, her cheeks were a little flushed.
"Why aren’t you like others?"
"We’ve kissed multiple times; regular friends wouldn’t do that, right?"
"That was......."
Unable to respond, Sakurajima Mai paused.
"And you don’t dislike it, right?"
"............."
"After all, I know it; you’ve been quite proactive lately, always initiating with your tongue..."
However, before Duanmu Huai could finish his sentence, Sakurajima Mai reached out to cover his mouth. At this moment, she was puffing her cheeks, glaring at Duanmu Huai with an annoyed expression.
"Stop talking."
Duanmu Huai shrugged and said nothing, while Sakurajima Mai sat beside him, turning her head to gaze at the dark night outside the window. After a moment, she sighed.
"I’m just an ordinary girl. I want to fall in love too."
"Hmm."
"But I never thought about falling in love with a girl."
"Just think of me as a guy."
"That might be a bit difficult."
Sakurajima Mai looked at Duanmu Huai again.
"I know there are people with that kind of preference, but you don’t seem like that."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, generally speaking, girls who have that kind of preference dress in a more boyish way, right? But Xiao Ai, you still have a very girly vibe."
"This just shows that the world is full of wonders, and not everything can be generalized."
"But you must be seeing someone, right?"
"Saying ’seeing someone’ might not be quite right, but there is a similar relationship."
Duanmu Huai wasn’t lying about it; as for the partner... well, it’s Hei Chuan Chi Yin.
Although, after that, Duanmu Huai removed the Curse from Hei Chuan Chi Yin; theoretically speaking, she should be completely fine now. But perhaps what happened earlier was too much of a shock for Hei Chuan Chi Yin, opening a whole new switch. Now Hei Chuan Chi Yin faces a strange situation where, after acting, she gets very high-strung, and if too much accumulates, she becomes disoriented.
Therefore, Hei Chuan Chi Yin hopes Duanmu Huai can help her "cool down", and once she does, she enters a state akin to "Sage Time", where she becomes more calm than usual and her perceptiveness and acting skills reach a new level.
What can I say... Duanmu Huai couldn’t explain it; he could only say the world is full of wonders.
On the side note, Duanmu Huai didn’t feel at a disadvantage, and although he didn’t have "instruments of the crime," seeing a beauty like Hei Chuan Chi Yin as docile as a lamb at his mercy was quite gratifying.
Speaking of Hei Chuan Chi Yin, she isn’t exactly ordinary either, for example, in this aspect, she has no ethical standards at all. In contrast, Sakurajima Mai seems to have a regular person’s three views.
But when it comes to Hei Chuan Chi Yin...
Recalling the time when she grabbed him, smilingly saying, "As long as I’m with you, I would go anywhere," made Duanmu Huai reflexively feel a twinge in his waist.
For some reason.
Overall, he was sure that at least Hei Chuan Chi Yin wasn’t as obedient and honest as she seemed.
"Having someone and still flirting with other girls, that’s being a player, isn’t it?"
"What’s wrong with being a player? What world stipulates that one can only love one person?"
"The law."
"The law regulates morality and social order, not heart. Besides, betrayal or infidelity isn’t exactly rare, right?"
".........."
Faced with Duanmu Huai’s straightforward answer, Sakurajima Mai was at a loss for words.
"Then why me?"
"Because you’re beautiful, and liking to be close to beautiful girls is perfectly normal, right?"
"Shouldn’t I feel a sense of crisis now?"
"Don’t worry, I’m a gentleman, and I won’t force you unless you agree."
"That’s hard to say; after all, you did steal my first kiss, didn’t you?"
Sakurajima Mai was referring to what Duanmu Huai did in the bathroom when reporting to the "Jintian" crew.
"You didn’t want to then?"
".........."
However, Duanmu Huai’s mere question put Sakurajima Mai into silence.
"See, not opposing means consenting. It’s such a simple logic."
"You sound like those old men. If you were a guy, Xiao Ai, you’d definitely be a scumbag."
"Being a scumbag is better than being a coward. At least the former truly enjoys the reward, while the latter, aside from a word of ’yasashii’, what do they get? Nothing but being discarded as a worthless waste after being used up."
Duanmu Huai sneered at this, accustomed to offense rather than defense, and inclined to take initiative. So to Duanmu Huai, such "yasashii" cowards are totally incomprehensible and unconvincing. He thinks they are self-righteous, believing their kindness and consideration would certainly move the other person.
But in Duanmu Huai’s view, once you hand over the initiative to someone else, you’ve already lost.
"So, would you confess to any pretty girl you see?"
"Not really, but if I’m interested, I’d express my thoughts."
"That could ruin the relationship you’ve always had, you know."
"I like an old saying, ’Say the ugly words upfront.’ Since there’s an underlying intention, it’s better to admit it openly than to make the other person feel betrayed in the end."
Duanmu Huai has always done this, especially in negotiations with others, always clarifying his thoughts and actions first, so when Duanmu Huai needs to act, it’s much simpler.
After all, I have already said the ugly words upfront, if you don’t take it seriously, that’s your own problem.
Not mine.
".........."
Sakurajima Mai was silent for a moment before sitting beside Duanmu Huai.
"It’s still very cold in the snowy mountains."
She started to speak.
"Let’s sleep together tonight."
