Chapter Thirty-Nine: Winter Is Meant for Hotpot

"Ye Chen, tonight you’re treating us, but let me pick up the tab," Ye Shanshan said with a bright smile.

"Wait until you get paid at the Patrol Bureau, then you can treat me to dinner," Ye Chen replied.

Ye Chen was clearly displeased, and he leaned in close to Ye Shanshan’s ear. "Is this really about getting paid? Are you looking down on me?"

With that, he pulled a stored-value card from his pocket and solemnly pressed it into Ye Shanshan’s hand.

Ye Shanshan blinked her lively eyes, just about to ask where it came from, when Ye Chen explained, "Last night’s mission bonus—there’s fifty thousand on the card."

Hearing that number, Ye Shanshan’s jaw dropped in disbelief. What kind of job was so lucrative?

But recalling how Ye Chen had come home covered in blood that morning, she wisely refrained from asking any further. She quietly tucked the card into her pocket and patted it gently.

Ye Chen himself was puzzled about how Chief Dai had happened to allocate exactly fifty thousand to him. Could it be that Dai knew how much Ye Chen had spent to grease the wheels and get into the Patrol Bureau?

Regardless, this single mission had already paid him back in full.

Meanwhile, Chen Bingfeng and Xu Fan each received ten thousand.

...

Inside Bus No. 99.

It was dinner time, so the small tavern was empty except for the table Ye Chen had reserved.

Before they even stepped inside, Ye Chen could hear Jin Yinghui’s booming voice ringing out in laughter.

Ye Chen and Ye Shanshan shared a smile, feeling the warmth of visiting a friend’s home together.

Seeing them at the door, Jin Yinghui waved energetically, "Come on in, we’ve been waiting for you to start eating!"

Zhou Peng emerged from the kitchen carrying a steaming hotpot, teasing, "Old man, why are you still sitting there? Go help bring out the dishes. Or do you want to chew on the table?"

"Why me?"

"Because you’re here for a free meal!"

Jin was left speechless...

Tonight’s main course was lamb hotpot, made with wild, mutated mountain goats.

A huge platter of meat, sliced thin and piled high like a small mountain—just this dish alone was almost a feast fit for New Year’s.

The original mountain goat had two hollow curved horns, but the mutated one had grown a solid, sharp horn straight out of its forehead. Its temperament had shifted from gentle and docile to something more aggressive.

...

But as long as you didn’t provoke it, it wouldn’t attack without reason.

The mutated world had forced many animals to become more adept at survival.

These goats were incredibly agile, leaping across cliffs as if they were flat ground.

Ye Chen had caught them before, so he knew how difficult it was. He silently admired the hunter who managed to capture this one.

The hotpot broth was rich with spices, the red oil bubbling and the aroma filling the tavern, drifting through the window and out onto the street.

Passersby glanced at the sign in curiosity.

The thin slices of lamb only needed a few seconds in the pot before they were ready—dipped in sauce and popped into the mouth, flooding it with flavor.

Everyone ate greedily, wiping their lips and washing it down with cold liquor.

Ah... what a pleasure.

Ye Shanshan, not much of a drinker, had several glasses, her cheeks flushed, a sheen of sweat on her smooth forehead and dainty nose.

Ye Chen watched her profile as she fanned herself with her hand, looking cute and lively. A gentle affection crept into his gaze.

Across the table, Zhou Peng discreetly kicked Ye Chen under the table and wrote the number "18" on its surface, hinting that after her birthday, Ye Shanshan would be an adult.

Ye Chen glared at him and buried himself in his food.

Ye Shanshan watched the two exchanging glances and wondered why a simple meal involved so much drama.

Suddenly, she raised her glass, stood up, and sincerely toasted Jin Yinghui across the table.

Jin drained his drink cheerfully.

...

Burp!

Full and satisfied, Jin Yinghui leaned back heavily, entrusting both his own weight and the dinner’s to his chair. "Ah... so comfortable!"

He pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, and took a deep drag, then tossed the pack onto the table for everyone to help themselves.

Because Jin had grabbed the last piece of meat, Zhou Peng sneered, "How about a bit of exercise after dinner? Wash the dishes for me?"

Jin protested, "Nothing in the world is bigger than your lack of sense! You should respect your elders!"

Ye Shanshan stood up sweetly to help clear the dishes.

Zhou Peng quickly insisted she stay and rest, but couldn’t deter her enthusiasm as she replied, "You’re bound to discuss business after dinner, so let me handle the little things!"

She flashed Ye Chen a sweet smile.

Watching this, Zhou Peng, still single, felt a pang of envy.

Jin Yinghui, always eager for a good story, spoke first: "Come on, tell us the details of that last case from beginning to end. It’s been ages since I’ve heard a thrilling tale."

Zhou Peng looked just as expectant.

The two had often listened to Ye Chen recount his hunting stories in the wild, and it had become their customary pastime.

Though Chief Dai had instructed the team not to publicize the incident, Ye Chen thought, are those sitting here really outsiders?

Since they weren’t, he felt no burden.

Besides, as his impression of the Outer City Patrol Bureau worsened, he felt even less obliged to keep their secrets.

Ye Chen narrated the events in full detail.

When he described how the bizarre creature possessed human intelligence and could speak, while also having the physique of a D-class awakened being, both men fell into thought.

Zhou Peng analyzed with his experience, "From your description, this was artificially created! Retaining the strength of a beast and the intelligence of a human—that’s impressive. Have you ever heard of such creatures in the Inner City?"

He addressed this last question to Jin Yinghui.

Jin, smoking thoughtfully, shook his head slowly.

Of the three, Jin knew the Inner City best; if even he hadn’t heard of it, there was nowhere else to inquire.

Zhou Peng continued, "If the upper body really was Zhang Jingye, does that mean someone in the Inner City is using prisoners for live experiments? I can’t believe the Inner City Bureau doesn’t know. If they’re allowing it, that’s just—"

He slammed his glass on the table, venting his frustration.

Jin crushed his cigarette and growled, "Enough, don’t talk about it now. It’s fine in private, but never mention it outside. Remember—don’t invite trouble with careless words. And I don’t think the emergence of these creatures is as simple as you imagine; the Inner City Bureau is probably planning something big."

He finished with a stern warning to his two younger comrades.