Chapter 21: The official transfer evoked both envy and skepticism. ...
Half a month passed quietly amidst busyness and planning; time seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye.
At the end of the month, when Danheng submitted the report, he also submitted her transfer application. Everything developed as they expected—under Kulun's intervention, Shen Mi, who had only been in the labor camp for a little over a month, was "promoted" to District C and appointed as a group leader.
Promotion across regions is already rare, and such an honor has never been bestowed upon women. Therefore, when the news came out, everyone was surprised, some were envious, and some had doubts.
Faced with the successive gazes and probing questions, Shen Mi simply smiled faintly and said nothing more. She knew in her heart that this "blessing" was hardly a good thing, and if someone else were willing to accept it, she would be more than happy to hand it over.
Once the transfer notice arrived, she would have to move out of the dormitory in Zone E. She hadn't spent much time with Savare, but she had already grown accustomed to this kind girl who always timidly hid behind her. Now, with separation imminent, she couldn't help but feel a pang of reluctance. Savare, too, looked worried, fearing she might be bullied in Zone C.
Just as Shen Mi was about to comfort her, Dan Heng spoke first: "I will take care of you for her."
The words are short, yet they can give people boundless strength.
Upon hearing this, Shen Mi smiled gently. The unease that had been lingering in his heart finally subsided at that moment.
Dan Heng is truly cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
The notification letter that Shen Mi received told her to wait at the entrance of Area C, where someone would lead her in.
Shen Mi waited patiently at the door for a long time before finally spotting that beautiful figure, as radiant as the setting sun, in the crowd.
Sang Li is a woman with a very strong presence.
She was tall and slender with defined curves, possessing an innate, languid allure. Although Shen Mi had seen her photo in Dan Heng's files, the reality still struck her quite a bit. A few strands of hair casually fell to her side, her eyebrows and eyes were long and narrow with slightly upturned corners, and her lips were vibrant. Even just standing there casually, she exuded a dangerous and deadly aura.
As she approached, Chen Mi could smell the perfume on her. On a desolate planet where even bathing required queuing, she had the energy to maintain her appearance, demonstrating just how extravagant and wasteful people of higher rank lived.
"Hello, 6013, I am one of the managers of Zone C, my name is Sang Li." She extended her right hand.
Shen Mi paused slightly and looked down at the outstretched hand.
Sang Li's fingers were long and slender, her nails were meticulously manicured, and the tips were painted with dark nail polish, giving her a cold and sharp look. Such hands clearly did not belong to someone who dealt with labor affairs year-round.
She looked up and met Sang Li's smiling eyes.
"Hello." Shen Mi reached out and shook her hand.
The moment their fingertips touched, Chen Mi seemed to smell another incongruous scent beneath the rose perfume.
Shen Mi frowned slightly. Why did Sang Li seem familiar even though it was their first meeting?
“Now that we’ll be colleagues in the same district, let me show you around.” Sang Li released her hand, turned slightly to the side in a “please” gesture, and smiled casually. “District C is quite different from Section E. I hope you can adapt quickly.”
Shen Mi nodded and followed behind her, his gaze sweeping around.
Unlike the chaotic atmosphere of Zone E, the buildings in Zone C were neat and uniform, exuding a strict and imposing sense of order. The ground was made of a specially treated alloy, producing a clear and dull sound underfoot. Numerous surveillance devices were installed on both sides of the corridor, and every few steps, armed soldiers could be seen patrolling, their steps steady and their expressions indifferent.
“Area C is the core resource area,” Sang Li said casually, but with a hint of warning that was hard to ignore. “It not only controls key aspects such as energy refining and machinery maintenance, but also involves some research projects, so security here is much stricter than in other areas.”
Shen Mi nodded slightly and continued to observe silently. The so-called stricter measures were just that more personnel were assigned to the area than in other areas.
"It's all just pretentious posturing, fooling those who don't understand," Chen Mi thought to himself.
As she walked, she pointed to several buildings: "The warehouse is up ahead, and only high-level administrators can enter; that's the engineering team's laboratory, which is not under your jurisdiction, so it's best not to go near it; the tower on the east side is the core control room, where all production plans and energy flows are determined."
They passed a cluster of low-rise factory buildings with mottled exteriors and a complex network of pipes overhead. Steam occasionally escaped from the joints, carrying a high temperature and a slightly corrosive odor. At the factory entrance, several workers were methodically moving materials. Their work clothes were visibly stained with oil, but their eyes remained fixed on their tasks, without the slightest distraction.
As Shen Mi walked and took notes, his gaze inadvertently swept over a peculiar building—its walls were more solid than the surrounding buildings, its windows were almost all sealed off, and the guards at the entrance were more numerous than elsewhere, giving it an unusually strict atmosphere.
The area was surrounded by blast-proof fencing, and two fully armed soldiers guarded the entrance, holding black firearms. Behind them were electronic scanning devices that would flash warning lights and emit a low humming sound if anyone approached.
"What is that?" Shen asked casually.
Sang Li glanced at her, not wanting to say more: "This is a high-priority area, it's none of your business."
Shen Mi didn't ask any further questions, already understanding in her heart that the name of this building on the map Dan Heng had given her was—the office.
Shen Mi looked around and found that the patrolling soldiers were staring at her more than once. Their scrutinizing gazes made her feel uncomfortable, as if she were a new prey sent into a wolf pack.
Sang Li seemed to notice her unusual behavior and smiled slightly: "Don't be nervous. After all, you are the first female team leader in Zone C. It's normal for everyone to be curious."
Shen Mi looked at her, his eyes seeming to say, "Aren't you the same?"
Sang Li smiled and stated the reason frankly: "You were personally promoted by Kulun."
Chen Mi: "..."
They walked through different functional areas until they arrived at a standalone dormitory building.
“This is the team leader’s dormitory.” Sang Li reached out and gently tapped the door, and the lock immediately popped open. “Go in and take a look.”
Chen Mi stepped into the room, his gaze quickly sweeping over the surroundings—
The room wasn't large, but it was much more spacious than the dormitories in Zone E. The walls were painted white, giving it a clean and pristine feel, and a white light bulb hung from the ceiling, making the simple room feel bright.
Compared to the dormitories in the other areas, the environment is extremely polarized. No wonder everyone wants to get into Area C; you can definitely live a few more years here.
The furniture is only the most basic – a single bed, a fixed table and cabinet, a water inlet and a small storage cabinet in the corner. The bed is clean and tidy, but it lacks a sense of life and there are not even any extra decorations. It seems to be just a transitional space for a short stay.
The window was set higher than most people's height, and the light that came in shone directly onto the bed from above.
More importantly, an automatic lock is installed on the inside of the door, so once it is closed, people without proper external access cannot enter.
Chen Mi's heart sank slightly.
The single room seemed like a "preferential treatment," but considering the strict management and security facilities in Zone C, she felt like she was being confined.
“The team leaders in Zone C all live in single rooms,” Sang Li said casually, leaning against the door frame. “I guess you could call it a perk.”
Shen Mi's gaze shifted slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "Benefits?"
“Of course.” Sang Li seemed oblivious to the ambiguity in her tone and continued, “In Zone C, you have no worries about food and lodging. So many people are desperate to get in, isn’t it because it’s so good?”
"By the way, we have to go to the office for a meeting every Wednesday."
This sentence seemed like a casual remark, but Shen Mi keenly perceived the profound meaning hidden within it.
She didn't reply, put her things on the bedside table, and then looked up at Sang Li: "A meeting?"
“Yes. The building you were curious about earlier.” Sang Li nodded. “You don’t have enough access to enter alone. Wait for me at the entrance, and I’ll take you in.”
Shen Mi gave a soft "hmm," his gaze lingering for a moment on Sang Li's chest—her name tag bore a complete identity code, with her access level clearly visible.
If only I could make a copy...
She lowered her eyelashes, quietly noting the idea in her mind, intending to discuss it with Danheng later.
Sang Li took out a metallic name tag from her pocket, twirled it lightly on her fingertip, and then handed it to Chen Mi.
“This is your access card,” she said with a smile, her tone as casual as if she were giving away a trivial gift. “It can open your dorm room door and the door to your work area. Remember, it can’t be replaced if lost—so don’t lose it.”
Shen Mi took the name tag and glanced at it. It was slightly thicker than a regular employee badge, with smooth, undamaged edges. Her number was engraved on the front, and a simple scanning chip was on the back.
She squeezed the name tag, feeling its slight warmth, probably from being held in Sang Li's hand for so long.
"Understood." She replied briefly and put the name tag away.
Sang Li nodded in satisfaction, turned her head to look at her, and said with a half-smile, "I hope you can adapt to the rhythm of Zone C. Here, being obedient and understanding is more important than ability."
After Sang Li left, Shen Mi closed the doors and windows.
From the moment I entered Zone C, the feeling of being watched lingered, as if something cold was clinging tightly to my skin, sticky and uncomfortable.
After Sang Li left, that gaze grew even stronger, as if it were a shadow clinging to Shen Mi.
Shen Mi opened the door and walked to the end of the corridor, turning his head slightly as if casually scanning his surroundings. The corridor was lined with closed dormitory doors, the light dim, and the air filled with a faint smell of rust and Sang Li's rose perfume. People passed by occasionally, but no one stopped; everything seemed normal.
But she knew very well that gaze was still there.
That scrutinizing gaze was fixed on her, carrying a condescending indifference and greed, as if trying to peel away her layers, examining every inch of her skin from toes to head. That gaze seemed to penetrate her clothes, like a disgusting touch crawling along her spine, caressing every detail, making her feel uncomfortable from the inside out, even somewhat nauseous.
A note from the author:
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Wow!!! Thank you Cyril for the nutrient solution!!! Thank you!!! [shy][shy][shy][doge] I revised the text a bit, I felt the previous one was too monotonous.
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