The Villain Slaps The Protagonist’s Halo - Chapter 145

Chapter 145: Hunting the World

Shi Chen's demeanor grew tense, almost engaging in a confrontation with Qiao Yuan.

"Why not let me join the vote as well? I believe I should have that right," Nie Jia's voice came from behind.

"What are you..." Qiao Yuan's anger flared, but when he turned to see Nie Jia, his expression stiffened abruptly, halting his words.

Nie Jia coldly glanced at Qiao Yuan, remaining silent as he stood up and strode to Shi Chen's side, his eyes indifferent. "Does anyone have any objections?"

"Since Mr. Nie is willing to share our burdens, of course, there are no objections," someone said.

Shi Chen tilted his head slightly, sniffing at the ends of Nie Jia's hair before speaking, "To prevent any underhanded tactics, let's all vote by hand. Whether the Oasis lives or dies, everyone should consider carefully."

He Qingtang distributed paper, and after everyone finished writing and folding, she collected them in a box.

A total of 135 votes were cast. After He Tian cast the final vote, He Qingtang stood in the center to count.

The fate of twenty million lives rested on these 135 individuals at this moment. Though Nie Jia participated in the vote, he found the scene particularly ludicrous.

With the global population dwindling, the question of life and death remained paramount, yet they were busy with internal strife.

He gripped Shi Chen's little finger, feeling somewhat irritated.

Finally, He Qingtang finished counting the votes. With 68 votes for life and 67 for death, and no abstentions, He Tian breathed a sigh of relief. Qiao Yuan sat in his seat, nearly grinding his teeth in frustration. He shot a fierce glare at Nie Jia but dared not say anything.

Shi Chen raised an eyebrow, his lips curling as he leaned close to Nie Jia's ear. "Thanks to your vote."

Nie Jia tilted his head and smiled. He didn't think it was his doing; it was just a coincidence. Initially, He Tian's decision had very low support. Without Shi Chen's firm stance and analysis of the pros and cons to increase the vote count, Nie Jia's vote wouldn't have made much difference.

Nie Jia didn't want to destroy or save the Oasis. He was only helping Shi Chen resolve the matter. Now that the votes were in, he tugged at Shi Chen's sleeve and whispered, "Can you come home tonight? I miss you."

"Sweetheart." Shi Chen gently stroked Nie Jia's head, pulling him away from the crowd. He held Nie Jia's face tenderly, kissing him for a while before holding him close. "I miss you too. Once things settle down, I'll come home to you every day."

Nie Jia nodded obediently.

He Qingtang came out to call for Shi Chen. With the results determined, they, as high-ranking officials, had more to do. They needed to consider how to properly resettle the Oasis and pacify the emotions of the domestic populace.

Shi Chen agreed and took off his uniform, draping it over Nie Jia. He reminded him, "I have to go back for another meeting. Try to come home tonight. It's getting colder outside. Take my coat with you. If you're out playing, make sure to wear it to avoid catching a cold. I'll try to cook dinner for you. If you're hungry, don't wait for me. Eat at the restaurant and come back full. I'll make you a late-night snack..."

Nie Jia wanted to tell him that he wasn't out playing but rather missed him and came to see him on purpose. However, Shi Chen kept on rambling, and Nie Jia, feeling the warmth in his heart, didn't interrupt him, just responding with murmurs of agreement.

Until He Qingtang came to urge him again, Shi Chen hastily kissed Nie Jia on the cheek, then took out some doodles neatly folded in his pocket and gave them to Nie Jia.

"What's this?" Nie Jia asked.

"A love letter for you." Shi Chen smiled and let He Qingtang drag him away.

Song Nuanyang chuckled as she approached. "Shi Chen doesn't even have time to sleep, yet he still finds time to write you love letters?"

Nie Jia opened the "love letter" and saw it was a doodle of a stick figure. Blushing, he froze.

Song Nuanyang: "..."

The two of them blushed as they locked eyes. Nie Jia awkwardly folded the stick figure and tucked it into his pocket. His gaze wandered as he said, "Let's go get some milk tea."

"Ah... alright. I could use some egg tarts after all." Song Nuanyang scratched her head, chuckling nervously.

Song Nuanyang stayed at Nie Jia's house until evening, with Shen Su tirelessly cooking for them. Nie Jia received a call from Shi Chen and stepped aside to answer it, leaving Song Nuanyang alone in the house. She noticed the numerous photos of Nie Jia displayed everywhere, some clearly taken by Shi Chen when Nie Jia wasn't looking. Suddenly feeling a bit unhappy, she stormed into the kitchen and shouted at Shen Su, "You've never written me a love letter, not even a doodle!"

Shen Su, in the midst of stirring, paused. "Huh?"

Song Nuanyang huffed, then turned and left, leaving Shen Su bewildered and almost burning the food.

The next day, Shen Su sat in the office, nibbling on a pen, troubled. How does one write a love letter? There wasn't even a template to copy from...

That night, Shi Chen didn't come back to make a late-night snack for Nie Jia as promised. Despite feeling disappointed, Nie Jia understood that Shi Chen was busy. After Shi Chen called to talk, Nie Jia knew he was swamped but still obediently complied with Shi Chen's instructions.

Later, a national vote was held, granting every adult citizen the right to decide the fate of the Oasis. He Tian explained the pros and cons clearly in her speech, making this voting initiative a highly respectful gesture toward the nation's people. However, some ordinary citizens still protested, claiming the vote was unfair.

"There are also many abilities in Huaxia, and even the Dolphin faction consists of abilities. Since they are abilities, they may shelter their own kind. Only us ordinary people should have the right to vote!" 

"The greatest threat posed by Oasis abilities entering the country is to us ordinary people! We have the most say in this matter. If we're giving voting rights to the Dolphin faction, then at least give us ordinary people three times the votes for fairness and justice!"

The calls from ordinary people grew louder, but whether it was depriving the Dolphin faction of voting rights or increasing the number of votes for ordinary people, all proposals were rejected.

The voting lasted only three days, with the final count overwhelmingly in favor of life over death. The matter was settled, without a doubt.

At midnight, Nie Jia curled up on the sofa, pressing the remote control. The TV news was reporting on the government's official announcement to accept the two million abilities from the Oasis, granting them citizenship and related rights. Despite the prolonged protests from the public, this

 was the outcome. Disappointed, Nie Jia turned off the TV. When Shi Chen was guarding the country's borders, these people didn't even dare to touch a gun. They were nothing but troublemakers!

Wrapping himself in a blanket, Nie Jia lay down on the sofa, turned over, and fell asleep angrily.

In the early hours of the morning, Shi Chen returned, dragging his exhausted feet. He guessed Nie Jia was asleep, so he opened the door cautiously. Upon entering, he found Nie Jia sleeping on the sofa.

Shi Chen walked over quietly, squatting in front of the sofa and gazing at Nie Jia's sleeping face. He wondered if Nie Jia was having a nightmare, as his brows were furrowed in his sleep. Shi Chen's eyes softened, gently smoothing out the creases on Nie Jia's forehead with his fingertips. Then, he carefully carried Nie Jia back to the bedroom.

Nie Jia had always had poor sleep quality, waking at the slightest noise. With Shi Chen's embrace, he naturally woke up.

"Did I wake you?" Shi Chen carried Nie Jia into the bedroom.

Nie Jia nestled into his neck, quiet and content.

Lying down on the bed with Nie Jia in his arms, Shi Chen curled his arm gently around him, sighing contentedly. "The seeds sown in spring can be harvested in autumn. My darling is so warm."

Nie Jia hugged his waist, feeling the coolness of Shi Chen's body. He snuggled closer, acting as his oversized warm water bottle. "Did you eat?"

"I'm too tired to eat," Shi Chen replied, pulling the blanket over them. It seemed he was ready to sleep. "Don't sleep on the sofa anymore. If you get sick, I'll worry."

Nie Jia obediently said, "Even if I don't have self-healing abilities, I won't get sick to worry you."

Shi Chen mumbled sleepily. It seemed he was about to doze off. After a while, he suddenly loosened his hold on Nie Jia, propping himself up on one elbow to say, "You can get sick."

"Huh?" Nie Jia was puzzled.

Shi Chen gently caressed Nie Jia's cheek with his cold fingertips, his eyes filled with deep affection. "Even if you don't get sick, as long as I'm not by your side, I'll unconsciously worry about you. Whether you've eaten well, whether you're happy throughout the day, whether you'll feel sad thinking of me and not being able to see me – you don't have to be so obedient. Whether you're good or a little mischievous, I love you very much. You're not my trouble; you're the person I love."

Nie Jia was stunned, tears welled up in his eyes. He hugged Shi Chen's neck tightly, feeling both sad and joyful.

Shi Chen wiped away the glistening tear from the corner of Nie Jia's eye, whispering softly, "Don't be afraid."

Nie Jia wrinkled his nose, sniffing softly, his voice muffled, "I just miss you so much."

"The troops have all been dispatched. Once the Oasis abilities enter the national borders, the remaining issues won't require my personal intervention. I'll take a month's leave when the time comes, staying at home with you," Shi Chen murmured as he gently patted Nie Jia's back, coaxing him.

Nie Jia nodded, snuggling against Shi Chen's arm. Even when Shi Chen's breathing gradually evened out in sleep, Nie Jia couldn't bring himself to fall asleep. He didn't want to wake up and find Shi Chen gone; it had been too long since they last met, and he just wanted to spend a little more time with him.

Unaware, Nie Jia drifted off to sleep around six in the morning. When he woke up, it was nearly nine. Startled, he realized that Shi Chen hadn't left or even shifted position; he was lying right beside him, dealing with affairs on his phone.

"Awake? What would you like for breakfast? It's been a while since I cooked for you," Shi Chen said, tossing his phone aside when he noticed Nie Jia was awake, pulling him into a satisfied embrace.

"I thought you had already left," Nie Jia murmured softly.

Shi Chen got up to make breakfast for Nie Jia, then turned to give him a peck on the cheek. "How could I leave when my wife is still asleep? I'll leave after we finish breakfast together."

Nie Jia pursed his lips, cheeks flushing. He climbed out of bed and hopped onto Shi Chen's back, letting him carry him to the bathroom. "I want egg pancakes."

During breakfast, Nie Jia grew a little upset. Furrowing his brows, he said, "Many people on TV are cursing you."

"Let them curse; it's inevitable. Ordinary people are at an absolute disadvantage in front of abilities, especially after witnessing the downfall of the United States, their fear of abilities has intensified. Their reaction is understandable," Shi Chen said. "President He has even faced a joint demand for impeachment; let alone me, the one who personally brought the Oasis abilities into the country."

After finishing his egg pancake, Nie Jia stuck to Shi Chen in the kitchen.

"They should be grateful that the current president is He Tian. With the population so low now, it will take centuries to restore civilization. In a world where the strong prey on the weak, besides He Tian, no one would give them so many rights, allowing them to be treated as individuals. If He Tian were truly impeached, regardless of whether the Oasis abilities enter the country or not, the first to suffer would be these ordinary people," Nie Jia said as he took the clean plates from Shi Chen and dried them.

Shi Chen chuckled helplessly. "The public won't consider all of this."

"They are the ones who should consider these things the most, but they push all the problems onto the government. He Tian spoils them too much," Nie Jia said, displeased.

He Tian was kind-hearted, perhaps because she was an ordinary person herself, paying more attention to the survival pressures of ordinary people and listening to every voice. Her meticulous care and respect had directly led to these people now relying on their status as a "vulnerable group" to demand her impeachment.

The Oasis also had ordinary people, but the millions living in the Oasis dared not even speak loudly, let alone take to the streets with flags demanding the president's impeachment. Why? Because the Oasis was a survival-of-the-fittest arena, where human civilization and morality were shattered and reshaped, and only He Tian, in such a life-and-death situation for the entire population, still maintained noble moral principles and respected every life.

She was a good president, exhausting herself for the sake of countless lives, yet not a single person thought about her.

"You don't need to worry. Although it seems tumultuous now, the president's approval rating hasn't dropped. She'll only step down if the entire country demands her impeachment," Shi Chen said.

The two chatted as they washed the dishes together. Nie Jia fetched a new uniform jacket for Shi Chen to wear, sending him off at the door. When Shi Chen changed his shoes in the entranceway, Song Nuanyang arrived, carrying buns. Pushing the door open, she shouted, "Nie Jia, are you awake? Shen Ge made especially delicious buns this morning, and I brought some for you! Oh, Shi Chen, when did you come back?"

"Just got back; I'm leaving now," Shi Chen said, taking the jacket Nie Jia handed him, leaning in to peck Nie Jia's cheek, then patting his head. "You two have fun; I'm off."

"Yeah, take care," Nie Jia said, seeing him off before quietly restoring his experience points, watching Shi Chen walk away before closing the door.

Song Nuanyang shook the paper bag in her hand. "Buns."

Nie Jia said grumpily, "I don't want any."

"Then I'll eat them myself," Song Nuanyang said, sitting on the sofa, turning on the TV, and eating buns, then turning to Nie Jia. "In another half month, everyone should have completed their transfer, and I still don't know what to do with Ning Lang."

"Isn't Shen Su in charge of watching him? Hasn't he told you?" Nie Jia took the clothes Shi Chen changed out of and threw them into the washing machine, chatting with Song Nuanyang casually. Another half month, that meant Shi Chen could finally relax.

Song Nuanyang said, "Shen Ge is watching him, but Ning Lang's status is special. How to deal with him still depends on the intentions of the higher-ups. Shi Chen should have the power of life and death over him, right? Did Shi Chen mention it to you?"

"I didn't ask," Nie Jia replied, indifferent to the matter.

The two chatted for a while, and when the washing machine beeped, Nie Jia went to retrieve Shi Chen's clothes and hang them out to dry.

Song Nuanyang finished her buns, crumpled the paper bag, and tossed it into the trash. Flopping back onto the sofa, she watched the news, a faint scent of osmanthus drifting in through the window, autumn approaching. Full and lazy after eating, she felt content. Nie Jia was on the balcony hanging up laundry, the chirping of birds faintly audible.

"How leisurely," Song Nuanyang said contentedly, slumping down further. "Now that everything's settled, I hope everything goes smoothly for you when you return to your own world, safe and sound."

Nie Jia tossed a clothes hanger at her head. "What are you lamenting about?"

Song Nuanyang sat up, propping herself against the back of the sofa, looking at Nie Jia reluctantly. "I'll miss you, even though I don't exist."

Nie Jia looked at her apathetically. "I can't leave until I complete the world mission; I'll be stuck in the world's data until my body's data disappears. Even if I complete it, I won't leave; I still can't bear to be separated from Shi Chen."

Song Nuanyang's eyes lit up suddenly. "Right! I forgot about this; you scared me. I thought you were leaving in

 a day or two. But you're really heartless; can't you say you'll miss me? Shi Chen is searching for you in every world, and the real world is waiting for you. Without me, I'm truly gone."

Song Nuanyang looked eagerly at Nie Jia, who remained silent for a while, somewhat helpless but sincere. "I'll miss you too."

Song Nuanyang grinned triumphantly. "After all, I'm the only protagonist who doesn't cause you trouble!"

"Your troubles are still less?" Nie Jia gave her a sidelong glance, as if seeing through something, and said angrily, "Are you really here today just to bring me buns?"

Song Nuanyang chuckled. "I also want to drag you to see my drawings. Let me tell you, I have an idea; I think I can really build Transformers! But I need your abilities..."

"Get out!" 

In the end, Nie Jia couldn't resist Song Nuanyang's persistence, so he reluctantly went with her to the military area to help her build a big toy.

Shi Chen had been gone for over half a month, not returning once, but he often found time to call Nie Jia. Nearly a month had passed, and all the Oasis abilities had been properly resettled on the East Coast. Due to the large number of Oasis abilities and the need for observation, the East Coast temporarily became a directly administered special zone, under the jurisdiction of senior government military officers led by Shi Chen.

The East Coast was heavily guarded, and Shi Chen directly sent his combat troops to command the military region on the East Coast.

Detailed records were made of the identity and abilities of each ability user. He Tian fulfilled her promise to the Oasis abilities; although the East Coast received special treatment, it did not restrict the freedom of the ability users, only the procedures were stricter.

With this rigorous process, the intense opposition from the domestic public gradually subsided.

As long as the original Oasis abilities behaved themselves, it seemed... there was nothing wrong with that, and it could even help the development of the country.

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