Chapter 39

Central City, as its simple and crude name suggests, is not only the capital of A133, but also the political and economic center of the country.

More than half of the country's population gathers in this city, creating economic value day and night, providing a steady stream of electricity for this shining metal butterfly.

Overlooking the high-density buildings in Central City, it is like a black mass of ants.

In the prosperous places, there is luxury and extravagance, and the streets where the rich and officials gather are paved with precious metals, providing a stable and smooth electromagnetic runway for the most expensive sports cars, and the cost is enough to match the income of a small country for a whole year.

In the poor places, there are broken cars and weak horses. Throwing a coin of the smallest denomination on the ground will be rushed by someone. They live in cramped, coffin-like slums, with no clothes to cover their bodies and no food to fill their stomachs. Every day is the same.

There are more ordinary people who are struggling for a living, but cannot give up material enjoyment. They are floating in the black sea of ​​material desires, exhausting their health for the country's economic data, and giving their last property to the hospital.

Yongqiang knew that Chen Li always kept his word, so when Chen Li parked the car in front of the pet grooming shop, Yanqiang really felt a sense of crisis."Hey, Boss Chen, can you take me to the place where dogs are shaved... It's not impossible, but I remember that the place where people are cut hair seems to be more cost-effective."Chen Li glanced at him and parked the car in the public parking lot next to the pet grooming shop."How are you going to introduce me?" Yanqiang asked.Chen Li didn't hold it back, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, he opened the car door and stepped out, and saw Yanqiang still sitting inside.

He leaned against the car door frame and bent down, revealing a piece of wheat-colored skin at his collar. His collarbone and sternum were small and delicate, but not at all skinny, which made Yanqiang a little distracted.

"Wait for me to tie you up with a chain?" Chen Li asked with a smile.Yanqiang tutted, opened the car door and jumped out.Chen Li took Yanqiang and turned into a street behind the pet beauty salon. Yanqiang was relieved and was glad that he didn't have to be put on the same level as cats, dogs, birds and snakes for public execution."I think long hair is pretty cool, just tie it up at ordinary times, it won't be a problem." Yanqiang scratched his silver hair. His hair was very straight and smooth, which didn't match his easily frizzy personality.Chen Li didn't say anything and led Yanqiang into a styling company with a private door and courtyard. A tall and burly young man came up to greet him, and his voice was unexpectedly delicate after he spoke, "Oh, Boss Chen, you've been here for a long time. I miss you."Yongqiang was startled and whispered to Chen Li, "I would rather go to the pet beauty salon now.""You don't recognize him?" Chen Li turned his head and asked Yanqiang.Yongqiang was stunned when he heard this, and carefully looked up and down at this tall man in colorful casual clothes. After a while, he was dumbfounded and his voice couldn't help but rise a few points, "No way, Captain Lin?!"The man smiled and performed the stage actor's appearance ceremony, showing a terrifying smile to Yanqiang, "It's me."The former captain of a special forces team had cooperated with them more than once during the war. Unexpectedly, in just more than three years, things have changed and people have changed. A tough captain has become... an indescribable man."Xiaoyan doesn't even recognize me." Captain Lin complained to Chen Li while ushering the two into the guest seat.

"Normal, he's a vegetarian." Chen Li said.

"You're so annoying!" Captain Lin patted Chen Li's chest hard, causing Chen Li to stagger and turn pale. Yan Qiang helped him from behind - the fight two days ago left him with a lot of injuries, and he hasn't recovered yet.Chen Li turned around and pressed Yan Qiang on the swivel chair in front of the mirror.Now is an era of human rights nihilism, which will do a better job on the surface. Barber shops are forced to buy this kind of mirror. Only the customers and barbers opposite can see the image in the mirror, and it is difficult to see from other angles."Xiao Yan, what kind of hairstyle do you want?" Captain Lin turned around happily behind Yan Qiang, like a huge butterfly, "Just ask, I will meet any request.""Ahem... I want to change a barber." Yan Qiang looked embarrassed."This, no." Captain Lin gestured with a comb on Yan Qiang's head."Captain Lin, are you originally... or something changed your, cough, aesthetics." Smoking Gun couldn't help it."After retiring, I thought about being a peaceful person, but as I was doing it, I became like this hahahaha." Captain Lin looked happy, obviously very satisfied with his current situation."Whatever, just cut it short." Smoking Gun felt an unspeakable emotion fermenting in his heart."Like you used to?" Captain Lin used a comb to make a gesture, his thick hands holding the electric scissors, and strands of silver hair fell from the blades."No, just cut it short."Chen Li sat on a chair beside him, with his hands clasped in front of his chest, watching Captain Lin cut Smoking Gun's hair.They used to work in the same department, doing bloody and sacrificial work. Now Captain Lin has become a barber, and he and Smoking Gun are still fighting.This may be the impermanence of fate. "You'll be a little nervous. If you cut your hair like that," Captain Lin said gently, "you'll feel like you're back on the battlefield. You don't know where there will be a sudden explosion, when the enemy will launch an air strike, or when someone will sneak into the camp...""Maybe I shouldn't call you Captain Lin. It reminds you of the past. Sorry... I don't know your name.""Lin Zhitao, my name. They all call me Brother Xiao Tao," Captain Lin blinked and said coquettishly, "If you want to call me Xiao Taotao, I can also allow you to do so. You're so handsome."Yong Qiang felt that his pity for Captain Lin just now suddenly became a little redundant."By the way, help him trim his eyebrows." Chen Li interjected."No problem." Lin Zhitao turned around and made a playful gesture.Yong Qiang sighed, "Boss Chen, you are really a particular person.""You make me look like a human being. I will feel better when I work." Chen Li said lightly. "Heh, who is the one who calls me a stray dog ​​every day? I can't even figure out my own species now.""So it's 'human-like'." Chen Li emphasized the last four words of the sentence.It took Yan Qiang half a minute to swallow his breath and asked Lin Zhitao, "Brother Tao, is there a boxing gym nearby? I want to train.""There's none nearby." Lin Zhitao said with a smile.Lin Zhitao's craftsmanship is very good and his movements are neat. Yan Qiang became handsome again after cutting his messy hair. With his neat hairstyle, fair skin, and deep eyebrows and eyes of a yellow-white mixed race, he would not be out of place among the current entertainment stars.Chen Li went to the front desk to pay the bill, and the two said goodbye to Lin Zhitao. Brother Tao took them all the way to the door of the store, blowing kisses and flirting, so enthusiastic that people couldn't bear to look at him any more.At this moment, it was getting dark, and countless people were busy on the streets of the central city, and countless vehicles were running hard on the road.

The temperature in the central city in late autumn is close to zero degrees. Even with the heat island effect, it is useless.

Chen Li rubbed his palms, and Yan Qiang complained that his head was cold. The two stood on the roadside, and their coats were rustling in the wind."I want to eat mint ice cream." Chen Li said suddenly.Yan Qiang was puzzled, "Do you have a fever?""Look at that girl's skirt, does it look like mint ice cream?" Chen Li pointed across the street.Yan Qiang looked over and saw a tall modern girl passing by. She was wearing a trendy dress, which was made of glass-like material. The edge was also designed with light strips. The hem of the skirt was a standard spherical shape, mint green, and it really looked like an ice cream ball. She was wearing stiletto high heels and walked with big steps. It was obvious that she was familiar with it."Let's go." Chen Li made a "action" gesture to Yan Qiang, and Yan Qiang didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

The two randomly found a chain dessert shop on the roadside. It had red and white striped wallpaper and yellow tables and chairs. At this moment, there were three or two diners eating.

Chen Li chose a seat by the window and sat down. Yan Qiang raised his eyebrows, "Your hook is straight enough.""The bait is not salty, the fish will not come."Chen Li flipped through the self-ordering machine on the seat, "Cocoa?""Yeah." Yan Qiang responded."You must have been a young master in your previous life." Chen Li placed the order."What does it matter?" Yan Qiang was dissatisfied.Many tracks were laid on the ground of the dessert shop, and the machine automatic food delivery service is very popular nowadays. Such restaurants only need some manpower in the back kitchen, and the rest are all done by intelligent machines.There are still many restaurants that still use human waiters, but they will increase the service fee, and most of them will cost a lot when checking out.Chen Li took two boxes of ice cream balls from the plate and put them in a surprisingly thin plastic bowl. He handed one to Yan Qiang.

"Don't you think there's something weird?" Smoker mumbled as he ate a ball of ice cream.

"Taste?" Chen Li asked."We two!" Smoker was almost baring his teeth."Where?" Chen Li stirred the blue-green semi-solid in the paper box, and the small ice chips reflected the light of the chandelier."You should have seen a love movie even if you haven't been in love." Smoker's tone was a little unnatural."Sorry, I really haven't seen a love movie." Chen Li said sincerely.Smoker held his forehead. Indeed, it might be harder to get Chen Li to finish a love movie that was full of nonsense than to get him to eat raw meat. Chen Li was a little monster. It was hard to imagine how he grew up. Most omegas were delicate and weak, but he was as tough as... an icebreaker."I can share the love movie resources I have collected for many years...""Are you sure it's a movie and not a teaching short film?" Chen Li interrupted casually. "That's another category. I can lend it to you if you want." Yan Qiang countered."No need. I can go to the bar to watch the live version.""Tsk, dirty, obscene, and unbearable to watch.""I know you're a vegetarian." Chen Li smiled faintly.The two of them finished their ice cream balls while bickering. After Chen Li paid, the two left the dessert house one after the other.After leaving the dessert house, the cold wind blew, and Yan Qiang felt cold to the bone, and couldn't help complaining, "Little bastard, why are you eating ice cream in such a cold weather."