Jing Shu unbuttoned her big cotton coat. The cabin heating was a stark contrast to the biting cold outside, and she felt a bit warm as the heavy fabric loosened. She had sworn she wouldn't take it off even while sleeping, but now she was breaking her own vow just stepping inside the aircraft.
Xiao Dou had dozed off again. Jing Shu had to grab the hen's little nest and lay it on the floor. Under Monkey's stunned gaze, Xiao Dou curled up comfortably inside, her armored helmet clinking softly against the padding.
Yang Yang was momentarily speechless. He was unsure how to introduce Jing Shu. Her records were incomplete. Was she badass? Sure, by his knowledge, she had killed the third of Zhetian, Shangguan Jun, and Ling—or at least those she could. The ones she couldn't were now working for the government selling intel.
But what made her truly impressive? He couldn't put it into words. She seemed to know a bit of everything but wasn't a master at anything. She was powerful but unskilled. Not impressive? Then there was the Xishan incident, where she dismantled a bomb with her bare hands. That was ridiculously impressive. Jing Shu was just hard to pin down.
"Just call her Mirror. You all know her deeds. She also carries a rare special medicine that prevents infection and speeds recovery from gunshot or knife wounds. This time her role is doctor and support, but she is strong enough to wear the combat suit and provide firepower. Considering she has life-saving medicine for critical moments, her overall rating is B."
Everyone headed to the U.S. had a code name; real names weren't disclosed. Yang Yang's was Mountain Goat.
Jing Shu figured it out. One guy, Hao Yunlai, could sense danger at critical moments. One was her, with life-saving medicine. Another was a scout. And Yang Yang was basically a weakling who couldn't lift much. This Wu City squad was basically a logistics support team.
Speaking of which, what was Yang Yang's role exactly? She had known him a while, yet he always felt unreal and mysterious. He completely shattered all her idealized notions of soldier-brothers. The good qualities like strength, combat skills, and sunshine vibes were nowhere to be found on him.
Monkey looked disappointed. "All logistics, small contributions, small rewards. We're probably going in just to lose out." Yang Yang smiled mysteriously, saying nothing.
Monkey perked up again. "Then what is this? Are there really mutated animals in the post-apocalypse? I heard they're bringing one to the capital."
Yang Yang thought for a moment. "It's her grandmother's chicken. It lays eggs on the way to help Mirror recover her strength."
Monkey froze. He stared at Xiao Dou before bursting into laughter. "Hahaha, this is priceless! Going to the U.S. for a big mission and bringing a chicken? But wow, it's huge! If we ever get desperate, Hao Yunlai can roast it. And look at that steel helmet; I thought it was a battle pet at first."
Xiao Dou wasn't happy. Jing Shu gave the bird a few gentle nudges. "My chicken is a combat chicken, not like other chickens," she said, defending it. Otherwise, when it went on a rampage, everyone wouldn't be shocked.
Monkey almost sprayed his drink everywhere laughing. He finally said, "Better watch out for my Ah Huang. It's famous for loving chicken. It's obedient now because I'm here. But without me, it might just steal yours. Keep an eye on it, or don't blame me."
Yang Yang's eyes glinted dangerously as he smiled and pulled out a long-unused syringe. He slowly sucked up the spilled drink on the table, planning to experiment on injecting it into a body. Jing Shu didn't flinch.
"Better watch out for my Xiao Dou," she said evenly. "It loves brains and eyes. It's obedient now because I have been keeping it in check, but if provoked, it's going to peck out eyes and eat brains. Keep an eye on your dog, or don't blame me."
"Let's see about that," Monkey said, his smile fading. The foreign hostess quietly cleared the table, closing her eyes. Yang Yang pouted. "Stole my thunder."
The plane took off quickly. The runway was short; if it didn't lift off in time, it would hit the nearby buildings. The bumps made Jing Shu question her life choices. Thankfully, the takeoff went without incident.
The flight from Wu City to the capital took five hours. The roaring engine made it sound like thunder, but at least it wasn't real lightning. There were a few sharp shakes, but nothing dangerous occurred. Finally, they reached the capital. Jing Shu felt her little heart was under heavy assault. Even Xiao Dou was unsettled, pressing tightly against Jing Shu's feet. Monkey's Ah Huang barked anxiously.
Hao Yunlai slept like a log. Yang Yang said calmly, "Hao Yunlai isn't reacting, so the flight was safe."
"Kind of makes sense," Jing Shu thought. Still, relying on Hao Yunlai as a danger warning system was risky. What if it failed?
They had a meal of vegetables, potatoes, and fried rice with scallions, soy sauce, and diced ham. It was definitely luxury post-apocalypse fried rice. Everyone was satisfied, including Jing Shu, though her bowl wasn't enough. Her stomach growled after she finished.
Half an hour later, she couldn't wait anymore. She pulled out a basin and some instant noodles. She asked for hot water and cooked two packs with five eggs and two sausages. Everyone stared in envy. Jing Shu, under enormous pressure, finished it all in three minutes. The rich aroma filled the plane. The peaceful journey was shattered. Even Hao Yunlai woke up, sniffing the air. "Mirror, are you eating those instant Tonkotsu noodles?"
Jing Shu gave a thumbs-up. "You smelled that?"
"You just ate a meal, and you're still eating that much? I can't wait to see what you eat in the U.S.," Monkey muttered, swallowing constantly. The aroma filled the cabin. Hao Yunlai tried self-hypnosis, telling himself he couldn't smell it and was sleeping. Yang Yang took out meatballs his grandfather had made and occasionally ate one. Jing Shu urged him to eat more, but he shook his head. "You're too hungry. Save some for the U.S., just in case."
Finally, the group landed in the capital, exhausted. The three administrative personnel left in a rush. Jing Shu's four-person team finally met up with the capital team.
"Rest for half an hour while the plane refuels and checks are done. Once everyone is here, we will discuss the detailed plan, roles, and rules for this mission," Yang Yang said as another group boarded.
===
Jing Shu name is "静姝". 静 (jìng) in here meaning quiet, modest, serene, calm, or still.
While her code name is also Jing but with different hanzi 镜 (jìng), mirror