Chapter 2 (1/2)

Translator: virtual group  Editor: virtual group

After the second hand on the Rec Center’s old, hanging clock creakingly spun three and a half rounds, lines of text finally appeared on the LCD screen.

Meng Xia and the others quickly searched for their names before they heaved a sigh of relief one after another.

Most of them weren’t necessarily satisfied or excited, but they weren’t unhappy either. To them, this was no different from participating in exams. It didn’t matter as long as the results weren’t too bad. After all, their parents and grandparents had been through the same.

The others were more confused because they didn’t know who their marriage partner was, what floor they came from, or which department their parents belonged to. Even though they had all entered university and received higher education, the people they knew were still limited to their classmates and neighbors on the same floor.

Long Yuehong looked up and down the list carefully and seriously. Finally, he could not help but mutter to himself, “Why isn’t my name on the list?”

“Because your name sucks.” Shang Jianyao’s expression didn’t change.

“…” Long Yuehong wanted to refute, but sadly, he found himself agreeing with Shang Jianyao’s conclusion.

Thousands of people had met the conditions and were forced to participate in the central assignment, but there were only two more men than women. If not for their ill fate, a sucky name, or bad luck, how could they have been one of the two unlucky fools?

Long Yuehong paused for a moment before indignantly saying, “Your name isn’t on the list either!” He did not notice Shang Jianyao receiving any successful assignment of a female.

Shang Jianyao raised his right eyebrow and said, “Didn’t I tell you? I’ve already applied to give up on this marriage assignment.”

“Seriously? Why would the company agree…” Long Yuehong was stunned and confused. He felt like his world had been turned upside down. He had lived for 21 years. In the past, he had indeed heard of people who fit the criteria but did not participate in the marriage assignment. However, they had sufficient reason for doing so. The other party was either bedridden and could die at any moment or had participated in the Security Department’s expeditions. It was even a question if they could return.

Nobody who was healthy and fit in the company dared to violate the rules if they met the criteria. This was one of the core duties of a company employee.

Long Yuehong’s sadness was washed away by this matter. He looked at Shang Jianyao and asked, “Are you prepared to accept a reduction in energy rationing? That’s not too bad. The scariest thing is to have contribution points deducted. You won’t even have enough to eat when that happens! People like us—who are only at D1—only receive 1,800 points every month, affording us meat just once a week. Having one-third deducted at once speaks volumes!”

“The company has agreed to my request. There won’t be any deductions.” Shang Jianyao smiled.

“No, impossible, impossible…” Long Yuehong muttered to himself as he suddenly thought of something. If Shang Jianyao really applied to give up on this marriage assignment, it means that there should only be one more male than female participants. Just one more person…

I-I am the only unlucky bastard… Long Yuehong’s mouth fell wide open, and a deep sense of sorrow rose from his heart.

At this moment, the display began to flip the pages. It briefly introduced the basic information of the people who had successfully matched up with this floor’s residents so that they could find each other and register their marriage at the Order Supervisory Department’s various branches.

“Meng Xia, your husband is an outsider!” The crowd stared at the screen for a while when an exclamation came from the women’s side.

Meng Xia’s expression was slightly solemn. Her eyes darted about slightly as she muttered, “Zhang Lei; Male; Born: Wilderness nomad; Age: 25; Recruited by the company three years ago; Performance has always been good; There are no latent problems with his body; Residence: 622nd floor, Zone A, Room 192; Employee Level: D4; Electronic Card Number: 04311029189…”

“There really are outsiders…” Long Yuehong was also attracted by this matter and started discussing it with his companions.

They all knew that the company would periodically take in nomads from the wilderness to supplement the population and perfect their genes. However, residents of this floor had never worked with outsiders before, and nobody had ever married them, so everyone treated this matter as an interesting piece of news.

“Meng Xia, it’s actually not that bad. Although he used to be a nomad in the wilderness, he’s now a D4 employee. He’s only 25 years old. That’s very impressive!” The girl in the green top and blue pants consoled her friend.

D4 meant that he had gone from an ordinary employee to a senior, high-ranking employee. He could be the deputy of a small research project, a factory production line’s supervisor, an assistant team leader of the Security Department, or the Order supervisor of a certain floor’s zone. His monthly compensation was at least 2,000 points higher than D1 employees.

A young man beside Long Yuehong muttered, “However, the effect of genetic enhancement after adulthood isn’t that good…” At this moment, he saw the information of his betrothed.

“Zhou Qi; Female; Born: Internal employee; Age: 30 years old; Had a former husband who died five years ago, currently raising a child; voluntary application to participate in this marriage assignment; There are no latent problems with her body; Residence: 569th floor, Zone B, Room 27; Employee level: D4; Electronic Card Number: 01609052558…”

“Yang Zhenyuan, your wife is ten years older than you…” Long Yuehong also saw the information.

Yang Zhenyuan was the same as most of his peers in the company. His face was fair and clean, and his body was muscular. He looked good, but he had slightly androgynous features and appeared more introverted.

Yang Zhenyuan’s face flushed red when he heard Long Yuehong’s words. He wanted to say something but couldn’t say a word.

After a while, everyone finally memorized their partner’s corresponding information. They then left the Rec Center one after another, preparing to find their betrothed or return home to wait for the other party to come looking for them.

At this moment, a voice suddenly sounded in the hall when only five or six people were left. “Who is Yang Zhenyuan?”

“Me, what is it?” Yang Zhenyuan—who was chatting with Long Yuehong and Shang Jianyao—subconsciously turned to look at the door.

A woman walked into the Rec Center. Her appearance was mature and charming. Although she wore simple and plain clothes, they could not hide her impressive figure. “I’m Zhou Qi.”

The woman glanced at Yang Zhenyuan and nodded in satisfaction. “Shall we go to your house for a chat?”

Yang Zhenyuan was shocked at first, but he quickly nodded. “Sure, sure.”

“Then let’s go now?” Zhou Qi smiled like a blooming flower.

“Sure, sure,” Yang Zhenyuan said as he walked over quickly.

Long Yuehong watched the couple leave the Rec Center and couldn’t help but sigh. “What should I do next?”

Shang Jianyao turned his head and looked at him in all seriousness. “A great cause awaits you.”