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At the square in front of the Council Building.

Jiang Chen was standing on top of the podium and was handing out Knight Emblems for every soldier worthy of this honor in addition to awarding soldiers for their contributions during the war. The spirits were high and everyone's faces were filled with pride.

Being personally honored by the general was a great honor for the soldiers.

For the soldiers who had fallen beside the Gan River and were unable to receive recognition, the logistics department sent personnel to their family's homes along with their emblems, bonuses, and pensions.

Death must accompany any war.

While material compensation wasn't enough to eliminate the families' grievances, at least it would improve their lives slightly.

After the ceremony, Jiang Chen headed to the director's office with Chu Nan.

The moment he pushed open the office door, his eyes caught the piled stack of paper on the table.

"These are?"

"Military expenses that just got sent over… No need to worry about them; it just looks like there are a lot. We already made our money back by selling land certificates from Golden River Farm, but there's still a lot of work to sign every expense form." Chu Nan swept the pile of papers aside, took a document from the table, and handed it to Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen picked up a thick stack of papers and flipped through them.

"This is?"

"Legal document." Chu Nan had a proud smile on his face. "I referenced the law books left by PAC and asked former lawyers and economists to make amendments to the previous bills. This includes the establishment of a security exchange to separate trading and offering securities, options, land certificates from the banking system and more standardized market regulations. Please take a look."

Jiang Chen nodded at Chu Nan, pleased. He closed the document. "Thank you for your hard work."

"Not at all, it's part of my duty." Chu Nan smiled.

"Do you have any good news?" Jiang Chen asked nonchalantly.

Chu Nan paused for a second before a rare, timid smile appeared on his face. He touched his nose as he said, "How did you know?"

"It's written all over your face. Were you not planning to share with me?" Jiang Chen grinned.

"It's not a big deal at all; it's about my family…" Chu Nan coughed into his fist and rapidly said, "I'm about to become a father."

…

[I'm about to become a father…]

On the helicopter returning to the Fishbone base, Jiang Chen was contemplating those words.

To be honest, when Chu Nan said that, it took him by surprise. He always thought Chu Nan wasn't much older than him.

From Chu Nan getting married to Zhou Xiaoxia one year ago to her getting pregnant, his identity changed from an abject Liuding Town pilot to an almost-father.

From Chu Nan's life, Jiang Chen saw the passage of time.

"… Is it time for children?"

Jiang Chen muttered. As he thought, he took out the serum from the storage dimension.

He took a deep breath, threw the serum back into the storage dimension and shook his head forcefully.

He'd consider the question later; he wasn't ready to take on the duty of a father…

The helicopter quickly arrived and landed at Fishbone base.

Jiang Chen jumped off the plane and went to see Cheng Weiguo who came to greet him.

On the way back to the mansion, Jiang Chen chatted with him about the status of the base and surprisingly heard a number of good news.

Last month, a new fallout shelter opened in the northwest corner of Jia City. Cheng Weiguo sent out the soldiers of the First Division and transported them to the Sixth Street before the raiders arrived, and they also explained the situation on the surface.

The Blue Skins who didn't understand the situation made quite a scene. For example, one person who previously lived in the Sixth Street before realized his house was bulldozed and went to complain, but he was thrown out right away.

Based on investigations, there were no observers in the fallout shelter, meaning that the purpose of this fallout shelter was truly to preserve the population without any other purpose. These fallout shelters were mostly comprised of hibernation chambers. For the survivors, it was only a blink of the eye while they traveled from a peaceful era to the apocalypse.

It was as if they took a maglev to the fallout shelter in the morning, wearing a suit and holding a briefcase as they entered the metal gate, then laid inside the hibernation chamber afterward. Once they woke up, the world outside was entirely different.

If Fishbone base hadn't taken care of them, some of them might've died or been forced into slavery. Some of them might've abandoned the dignity of civilization and become hobos wandering the wasteland.

Of course, because of the existence of NAC, they didn't need to suffer that kind of agony.

Accept, "educate," and release to society. NAC needed their knowledge and abilities, especially economists and scientists whose talents were in high demand in the Sixth Street. Also, people with computer knowledge could find a good job in the military zone.

After saying goodbye to Cheng Weiguo, Jiang Chen stood at the door of the mansion.

When he opened the door, before he could step into the mansion, a familiar figure bumped into his chest and locked his lips with force.

After a while, their lips parted. Sun Jiao stared into his eyes with her face covered in a red hue.

While there were thousands of words to say, after seeing him, only a few words came out.

"… Fool, why didn't you come back earlier?"

Jiang Chen chuckled.

"What are you laughing at?!" Sun Jiao stared at him.

"No, nothing. Right, where is Xiaorou?"

Sun Xiaorou returned to the base by helicopter after she got off the airship. She wasn't a soldier, so she didn't need to attend the victory ceremony nor was she was interested in attending either.

"She's still at the office… She told me you'd be back in the afternoon and let me come home early." Sun Jiao said, slightly embarrassed.

Her younger sister just dropped off her luggage after a long trip and immediately went to help her; that made Sun Jiao feel embarrassed as the older sister. But then she thought about Sun Xiaorou spending two months alone with Jiang Chen and her embarrassment quickly dissipated.

Sun Jiao hugged Jiang Chen for a long time before she let him go. She planned to save the rest of her affection for midnight.

Yao Yao's mouth pouted while she stared at the two of them. She had been twiddling her thumbs for a while.

Seeing Sun Jiao finally letting Jiang Chen go, the little girl immediately stopped twiddling. With both hands behind her back, she anxiously closed her eyes.

Her lips opened slightly.

It looked like she was waiting for something…

Jiang Chen started to chuckle upon seeing her cute gesture and tousled her hair.

"Why are your eyes closed? Don't you want to see me?"

"No, no!" Yao Yao immediately opened her eyes and met Jiang Chen's gaze before quickly looking away with a blushing face. She muttered, "I was just expecting something… Ah, of course, it's okay if- Woo!..."

She went from shock initially to joy, to happiness, and to finally closing her colorful eyes while gently enjoying the affection between their lips.

Their lips parted.

Letting go of Yao Yao, Jiang Chen stared at her blushing, red face and her watery eyes, as well as her expression which said he could do anything freely. His heart suddenly skipped a beat. He somehow felt his Loli Loving Spirit awakening.

Yao Yao's flush went all the way from her face to underneath her shirt.

"Yao Yao will go cook now! We'll eat red bean congee today."

Still intoxicated by her joy, Yao Yao giggled while stumbling toward the kitchen. She looked like she could fall at any time.

Sun Jiao also grinned.

"Pervert."

"I didn't even do anything though?"

Then Jiang Chen noticed Lin Lin's eyes drifting toward him, so he looked at her and joked.

"Do you want a kiss too?"

Lin Lin instantly turned red and jumped up like a squirrel with her tail stepped on. She shouted at Jiang Chen.

"Wh-who would want that?! What a perverted statement! Illogical… Hmph!"

[I want it…] Tingting raised her hand.

[You-you shut up!]

The crimson light flashed at Lin Lin; the suppressed Tingting didn't try to hide her desires at all as Lin Lin escaped back to her room. She slammed the door shut while leaving the two in the living room dumbfounded.