Chapter 300: Volume 1, Chapter 300: You Are My System (10)

Over six years, Xie Xunze grew from a boy into a youth, his demeanor becoming increasingly mature and restrained.

Today happened to be his first birthday after coming of age; Jiang Zhi picked out a gift for him and personally made him a birthday cake.

She made it while he was asleep.

Xie Xunze woke up, and as he opened his eyes, he saw a face covered in flour; no matter how many times he had seen it, it still gave him a different feeling.

"Clang clang clang~ Happy birthday, little Xie Xunze—"

Xie Xunze was already used to being startled by her; he sat up, rubbed his sore forehead, his voice hoarse from just waking, and asked dazedly, "What birthday?"

Jiang Zhi blinked and reminded him, "It's your eighteenth birthday."

Xie Xunze's thoughts gradually cleared; he pulled out a sheet of paper from beside the bed, brought it to her cheek, and gently wiped off the flour on it.

His motion was smooth and practiced, as if he had done it many times before.

"I know." After wiping it clean, he pulled his hand back, got out of bed, left the bedroom, and saw the cake placed on the dining table.

It was a deep green color, the cream like a melting iceberg sliding down—not like a cake, more like a poisoned slime.

Jiang Zhi pointed at the cake, slightly lifted her chin, and her rich, beautiful face wore an expression that seemed to say, "Quick, praise me."

"How is it?"

She had spent the whole night making it, and after tasting it herself, she found the flavor quite good.

In this apocalypse, not to mention cake—you can't even see bread—so she exchanged energy with the mall for these ingredients.

The ingredients were limited, so the appearance wasn't great, but the taste was still that of a genuine cream cake.

Xie Xunze looked at the cake and suddenly felt nauseous, his throat burning, almost vomiting on the spot.

"It's pretty good." He forced the praise, holding back his urge to vomit.

Jiang Zhi's eyes shone with anticipation as she said, "Then hurry up and eat."

Xie Xunze wouldn't take a single step closer:

"I'm allergic to cake."

Hearing this, Jiang Zhi strangely pulled up all his information, which didn't say he was allergic to cake.

Before she could react, she asked in confusion, "Does anyone in this world even have a cake allergy?"

Xie Xunze nodded: "Just because you don't know doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

Having said that, he walked past the table toward the bathroom.

Only when Jiang Zhi heard the bathroom door lock from the inside did she belatedly realize she had been played.

"Xie Xunze!!" she shouted, jumping up in anger.

In the bathroom, Xie Xunze walked to the sink, brushed his teeth, the corners of his mouth turning up in a faint laugh.

When he came out, he saw the girl sitting sullenly at the table.

Her appearance remained as youthful as ever, beautiful like a rare, precious gem; in every frown and smile lay emotions only humans possess.

But she was a system, a system created by machines.

Such a system had accompanied him for six years.

"Two outfits." He walked over and said.

Jiang Zhi turned her back to him and let out a cold snort.

Xie Xunze then added, "Three outfits, plus a plate of sweet and sour pork."

He sat in the chair beside her, picked up a spoon, took a bite of the cake—the taste was fine, but its appearance was too off-putting.

"If you won't agree, then forget it."

Saying that, he rose to leave.

Jiang Zhi wrapped her arms around his arm, her smile rising again: "How does it taste?"

The girl's manifested body was as soft and delicate as a human's, with normal body temperature; her loose, silky white hair slid over his arms as she moved, giving off a natural fruity fragrance, and her slender white fingers clung to his sleeve like beautiful jade.

Xie Xunze suddenly recalled the dream he had just before waking.

She leaned softly into his embrace, extending her slender wrists to hook around his neck, and gently, coquettishly demanded that he kiss her.

Just as he was about to kiss her, the dream ended.

Xie Xunze abruptly stood up, his usually calm brows and eyes tightening, he pulled back his sleeve, and his tone turned slightly stiff: "... It's delicious."

Having said that, he went to the bathroom again.

Jiang Zhi smiled and held back her voice.

777 said: "Host, the villain has just come of age; don't tease him."

Jiang Zhi lifted her pinky and said, "I'm not that desperate!"

But watching him grow up these six years has felt like raising a younger brother, giving me a great sense of accomplishment.

Over these six years, many things have happened, but none of them touch the main plot.

Because monsters only appear at night or when the sun is covered by clouds, everyone's schedule has shifted: daytime is for sleeping, nighttime for working—a pattern of hiding by day and emerging by night.

Monsters have gradually grown stronger, while humans have found it increasingly difficult; the base's high walls have been repeatedly repaired and upgraded, yet they are still not as easy to manage as they were six years ago.

Xie Xunze is very cautious; before each night mission, he first scouts the surroundings and the monsters' levels, eliminates various external suspicious factors, and only then truly sets out.

Thus, over these six years, he has rarely put himself in danger.

Over time, her system has seemed quite useless.

After deactivating the physical manifestation, they came to the Bounty Hall.

The tasks on the notice board grew more numerous, packed together; the higher up, the more dangerous, with the highest danger marked by five stars, and the topmost task not only had five stars but also bore an urgent stamp.

"These days the jobs are getting harder and harder." said a hunter slumped beside the notice board.

Someone echoed: "Before, the easiest job was just killing D‑rank monsters; look now, it's all C‑rank and above—where are there any D‑rank monsters left to kill?"

The stubble-scratched man crossed his arms: "Missions can only be done in teams; otherwise it's just going to die."

Although a few people complained dissatisfiedly, they still went to take missions.

In the base, the consequence of not taking a mission is being expelled from the base, which is no different from going to die.

At that moment, a squad walked in, radiating a strong aura; the hunters in the hall all turned to look, and upon seeing the emblem on their chests, they all showed looks of envy and fear.

This is the strongest combat squad of Huabeijidi base; squad leader Mu Tianyi is the strongest defense-attack type in the base; behind him is a person with a huge build named Meng Qi, who is the squad's thick shield; the female following behind the squad leader is a swift-attack long-range gunner; the other three squad members, aside from the mascot lucky point maxed-out member at the rear, the remaining two are also long-range gunners.

I heard they recently killed an A-rank monster and thwarted a destructive operation; they're incredibly strong.

Their highest level is over 80, while the highest level in the Huabei and Huannan bases is only 72, so it's no wonder they can kill an A-rank monster.

Did you see that female? She is the strongest support gunner Wen Qian; I heard several teams tried to recruit her, even the base government got involved, but to no avail.