New Times, New Hell

Chapter 96 - Escape From Singlehood Vacation

Yu Zhengdu was so shocked by Shang Que’s “I agree” that he temporarily couldn’t say anything. Slightly dazed, he stared at the other.

The light from the streetlamp landed on Shang Que’s face at an angle, placing a faint halo over his sharply defined features. There was great joy on his face; the corners of his lips were also uncontrollably quirking up. A long time later, he finally said, “You should’ve told me you liked me earlier. Actually……”

He stared straight into Yu Zhengdu’s eyes. Those deep dark pupils that never reflected anything surprisingly seemed to hold Yu Zhengdu’s reflection in them. He solemnly stated, “I like you too.”

……It had to be said that this “too” had been used very ingeniously.

But Yu Zhengdu couldn’t stop himself from smiling. He was obviously delighted. After, he seriously nodded too. “Un, I like you a lot.”

The moment he finished saying this, their surroundings seemed to suddenly quiet. It was almost as if even the air around them had stopped flowing. Only their gazes on each other remained.

Shang Que was normally proud and haughty. At this time, though, he looked a bit helpless. A long time passed before he finally asked Yu Zhengdu with uncertainty, “So are we technically together now?”

Yu Zhengdu couldn’t help softly chuckling. “Do you want to be together with me?”

Without any hesitation, Shang Que said, “Yes.”

Yu Zhengdu: “Then yes, we are together.”

At the same time, the LED screen on the skyscraper in the heart of downtown changed colors, indicating that a new day had arrived.

Yu Zhengdu was contemplative. He pulled out his phone and checked the time – as expected, the date had already changed. It was exactly the date that the Life Management App had predicted would be the day he and Shang Que officially confirmed their romantic relationship.

Yu Zhengdu lamented, “Our system’s big data fortune telling is actually quite accurate.”

“Does it dare to be inaccurate?!” Shang Que slightly lifted up his chin. His tone carried a hint of smugness.

Yu Zhengdu burst into laughter. “Un, it doesn’t dare.”

The evening wind blew past. His delicate features became even more discernible under the glow of the streetlamp. Shang Que’s heart started beating faster. He grabbed the other’s hand. “I’m a little bit happy.”

Yu Zhengdu cocked an eyebrow. “A little bit?”

“Un,” Shang Que nodded in a reserved manner. After brief thought, he hesitantly added, “A big little bit.”

This time, Yu Zhengdu could no longer stop himself from bursting into laughter. Then, as Shang Que started looking embarrassed, he sincerely stated, “But I’m very happy.”

Shang Que’s expression instantly brightened. He immediately replied, “Actually, I’m very happy too.”

He kept a slightly tight grip over Yu Zhengdu’s hand. His tone was tentative. “When you confirm a relationship in the mortal realm, do you need to perform some special ceremonies?”

Yu Zhengdu: “For example?”

Shang Que suddenly risked it all as he forcefully tugged Yu Zhengdu closer. When the other was in his embrace, he wrapped both arms around him. “I want to kiss you a little bit.”

“A big little bit……”

“Actually, I really want to kiss you.”

He didn’t wait for Yu Zhengdu to reply. Instead, he corrected his own wording, then slightly lowered his head and kissed Yu Zhengdu’s hair.

Yu Zhengdu hugged him back.

Because of this, Shang Que lifted his head up again. He cradled Yu Zhengdu’s face in his hands and kissed him once more.

Luofeng Employee Mini Groupchat (Groupchat Without Boss)

Kang Jin:【Haha, we don’t need to go to work tomorrow. Friends, stop sleeping. Everyone, come have a disco party at my grave】

Employee A:【You made plans too late. A few days ago, I already burned myself a new car. Since we have the day off, I’ve taken my car out to practice ghost car drifting】

Employee B:【I can go, hehe. I’ll also bring you some of the most in-style burial offerings】

Kang Jin:【What fashionable burial offerings could there be that I don’t know about?】

Employee B:&#k3010;Hair loss prevention + hair growth set&#k3011;

Kang Jin:&#k3010;&#k2026;&#k2026;&#k3011;

Zheng Yan:&#k3010;&#k2026;&#k2026;Can’t you guys discuss these ghostly activities in your private messages? We living people express that these conversations are very terrifying&#k3011;

Kang Jin:&#k3010;What’s there to be terrified about? Don’t you have to take a day off too? I’ll give you the address to my grave. You can come as well&#k3011;

Zheng Yan:【No thanks, no thanks】

Zheng Yan:【Speaking of, though vacation time is very blissful, to this day, we still don’t know why the company is suddenly giving us a day off】

Zheng Yan:【This always gives me a sense of uncertainty】

Zhao Ruola:【Given my many years of experience working for capitalists, there are absolutely no bosses in this world who give random days off】

Zhao Ruola:【Unless they’re not a person】

Kang Jin:【But our boss truly isn’t a person……】

Zhao Ruola:【Makes sense, but isn’t enough to convince me】

Lu Lingxi:【At this time, we can @Yu Zhengdu. He’s the one most likely to know the truth】

Zhao Ruola:【@Yu Zhengdu】

Zheng Yan:【@Yu Zhengdu】

Everyone else:【@Yu Zhengdu】

A while later, Yu Zhengdu finally appeared.

Yu Zhengdu:【Um, because Boss has escaped from singlehood】

As soon as he said this, the groupchat instantly became filled with:【!!!!!!!】

Employee A:【What? Boss has escaped from singlehood?!!!!】

Employee B:【Really??】

Kang Jin:【Hahahahaha, quit joking. Who in the entire Underworld doesn’t know that Boss is a thousand year old single ghost? At such an age, he hasn’t even held hands with a female ghost once. Escaping singlehood?! Holding stomach and laughing loudly.jpg】

After Kang Jin sent this message, a message suddenly popped up in the company’s main chat.

Shang Que:【I’ve escaped from singlehood, slight smile.jpg】

The main and mini groupchats simultaneously fell silent.

One minute later, the mini chat started buzzing again.

Kang Jin:【Fuck fuck fuck!!!!】

Kang Jin:【Boss really escaped from singlehood??!】

Kang Jin:【Who did he escape with?】

Yu Zhengdu:【Um, me】

Kang Jin:【Quit joking. What time is it? Be more serious!】

Zhao Ruola:【……Why do I feel like Boss’s message in the main chat was a timely reply to our messages in the mini chat?】

As soon as she finished sending this, another notification popped up for the main chat.

Shang Que:【Yes, I’ve seen your messages】

Mini groupchat:【…………………………】

Zhao Ruola:【Yu Zhengdu, have you exposed us?】

Yu Zhengdu:【Yes】

Kang Jin:【!!!! How could you treat us in this manner?】

Yu Zhengdu:【Um, it was an accident……】

Kang Jin:【What accident?】

Yu Zhengdu:【Boss is next to me right now……so he saw the messages】

The groupchat once again fell into silence. A while later……

Zhao Ruola:【At such a time, you’re still with Boss?】

Main chat:

Shang Que:【Because we’re together】

Shang Que:【Kang Jin, thousand year old single ghost?】

Kang Jin:【Boss, how much money do I have to pay the company this month? qaq】

The day after Yu Zhengdu’s class meal gathering, his classmates made a post on the Fu City University Forum clearing up all the rumors about Yu Zhengdu. Not only so, but they also exposed Wu Shuojian to be the famous antifan who had made up innumerous rumors about Yu Zhengdu. Additionally, they had provided the related evidence.

After being published, this post instantly caused an uproar in the forum. In the face of evidence, Wu Shuojian could no longer deny anything. He immediately became a public enemy; apparently, someone felt so angry that they had reported him to his current workplace. They felt that someone with intentions as dark as his shouldn’t continue working in law.

Even so, there were still some people who felt suspicious about Yu Zhengdu. They thought that confirming Wu Shuojian’s identity as the antifan could only prove that the post was purposefully intended to attack Yu Zhengdu. However, it couldn’t entirely prove that the content in that post was completely false.

Yu Zhengdu’s achievements were too astonishing. There were always people who refused to accept them. Otherwise, the original post that had made up all those rumors wouldn’t have been believed by so many people.

However, these comments didn’t receive much support, because very quickly, someone added a new post to the forum. This post encompassed information from the headhunters’ inner circles.

Only then did everyone realize that there were so many companies in the tech industry who wanted to steal Yu Zhengdu away. Additionally, the prices they were offering were way higher than everyone’s assumptions.

All the alumni of Fu City University who were currently working more or less knew a few headhunters. Similar news wasn’t hard to get a hold of. Very quickly, other people came out to prove that this was all true.

As such, the rumors quickly became disproved.

However, discussions regarding Yu Zhengdu didn’t fade away so quickly because the forum’s famous new ID, the one that seemed to be Yu Zhengdu’s boss – From Today On I Will Be A European God – logged on and cussed out all of the comments that were suspecting Yu Zhengdu. His style was a bit elementary schooler-like, as usual. People couldn’t tell if this was a fan or a high-level antifan.

Strangely, everytime this account would appear in the past, Yu Zhengdu’s classmates would all pop up and lecture him, asking him to stop using CEO’s identity to garner antifans for Yu Zhengdu.

But after this incident, Yu Zhengdu’s classmates either all silently watched on or commented in agreement with this account’s arguments. They even helped smooth over difficult situations for this account.

This truly caused the students of Fu City University to feel very perplexed.

The long awaited mysterious vacation was actually the Ghost King’s escape from singlehood vacation. This news caused all of Luofeng’s employees to feel like they were hallucinating.

Ultimately, Kang Jin’s grave disco party turned into a silent music event. Nobody had the energy to dance or speak. Apparently, that ghost who had gone to practice his ghost car drifting skills had almost gotten into a car accident.

The break quickly passed. On the day everyone returned to work, nobody had recovered yet. As soon as Yu Zhengdu walked into the company, he discovered that the entire office had fallen into a stifling silence.

Yu Zhengdu asked with a smile, “There’s no need for everyone to be so surprised, right?”

Kang Jin appeared dazed. He replied completely out of instinct, “That’s the Ghost King. The Ghost King of Luofeng Mountain who has been single for a thousand years……”

Yu Zhengdu fell temporarily silent. He asked, “Then shouldn’t everyone feel even happier? The old, single youth has finally resolved his singlehood issues.”

Everyone: “……”

Was that your usual old, single youth?

Kang Jin weakly stared at him. His gaze was filled with slight complaint, but he didn’t dare to express this feeling too obviously. “But, how could he be dating you……”

Yu Zhengdu quieted for a moment. “Is that very strange?”

“Enough. Go work,” Lu Lingxi interrupted. Then, she looked at Yu Zhengdu. “Xiao Yu, let’s go to the meeting room. I have some things to tell you.”

Yu Zhengdu followed Lu Lingxi into the office. Only to see Lu Lingxi’s solemn expression.

He asked, confused, “What’s wrong?”

Lu Lingxi looked at him. “You’re really dating Boss?”

Yu Zhengdu nodded. He could sense that her mood seemed slightly off. “What’s wrong?”

Lu Lingxi fell momentarily silent before asking, “So when are you guys planning on breaking up?”

Yu Zhengdu cocked an eyebrow. “Who asks questions like that?”

“I’m being serious.” Lu Lingxi waved her hands around. Her expression seemed very conflicted as she gazed at him. “You’ve been working at this company for so long. You can’t not know about humans and ghosts having different paths, right?”

Yu Zhengdu paused for a moment. He naturally knew about the phrase “humans and ghosts have different paths.”

He leaned against the back of the chair and smiled, “I’ve thought about it.”

For him, having a shorter or shortened lifespan were things that could be overcome.

“That’s not it,” Lu Lingxi said.

The problem of humans and ghosts having different paths wasn’t only manifested in shortened lifespans. This was a difference between the mortal and Underworld – these were already two completely separate worlds. The questions involved weren’t only as simple as regarding life and death.

Lu Lingxi expressed her great worry, “It’s normal for you not to know about these things, but how could Boss also be so impulsive?”

Yu Zhengdu said with a smile, “He’s an old house on fire, you know? He’s already been single for a thousand years. Isn’t it normal to be a bit impulsive?”

Lu Lingxi was rendered temporarily speechless. “You’re still in the mood to make jokes?”

Yu Zhengdu: “Because people who have just started dating are all in good moods.”

Lu Lingxi: “……You’re not worried about yourself at all?”

Yu Zhengdu smiled at her. He placated, “I’ll take care of things. Don’t worry.”

Just as they finished speaking, the door to the conference room got pushed open. Shang Que peeked in and glanced at Yu Zhengdu. “So you’re here.”

Yu Zhengdu said with a grin, “Having a meeting with Manager Lu.”

“How come you’re so busy so early in the morning? Shang Que furrowed his brows. “When will the meeting end?”

“It’s already ended.” Yu Zhengdu stood up. “Do you need something?”

Shang Que: “I want to go check on Peppa with you.”

Yu Zhengdu: “Okay.”

Shang Que cheerily added, “We need to let Peppa know as soon as possible that she’s not the child of a single parent family anymore.”

Lu Lingxi from behind them: “……”

Wait a moment. What is this plotline that Boss is talking about now?

The author has something to say:

Peppa: Ga! Dads’ relationship is like a roller coaster ride.