Genius Mechanic: Chapter 234.1

Slared Contaminated Zone(Territory-Wide Abnormal Move)

234. Shopping

Proofread by Cloud Chip Cake and An Zheee 

When Ying Chenlin stepped out of the maintenance room, his mind lingered on the list of mechanics.  

The matter of the mechanics didn’t require his involvement. He had skimmed the list and recognized several names—colleagues he had worked with in his previous life. While navigating the starship, the sense of familiarity hadn’t been particularly striking. However, when Shen Xingtang handed him this list, he realized that although the trajectory of his rebirth had been full of twists and turns, certain moments still brought him back to fixed points.  

As he walked up to his room, Ying Chenlin snapped back to reality when he saw the suitcase placed outside his door.  

Instinctively, he glanced toward You Su’s room across the hall. The door was closed, but the virtual screen was lit, indicating that You Su was inside.  

Probably showering.  

Ying Chenlin entered his room after inputting the password. A message from Huo Yan popped up on his lightbrain, asking him to meet at the base’s entrance in half an hour.  

After receiving his reply, Huo Yan added, “Oh, and call You Su while you’re at it. He hasn’t replied to my messages, probably busy.”  

Switching out of the chat with Huo Yan, Ying Chenlin paused slightly while searching for You Su in his contacts. His gaze lingered on the pinned chat above Huo Yan’s, where his last conversation with You Su had been from before they departed for the Slared Contaminated Zone. He had asked You Su to come to the maintenance room to inspect his mecha.  

Leaving a message for You Su, Ying Chenlin decided to shower first.  

The clothes in his wardrobe were neatly arranged. Habitually, he reached for the left side but hesitated when his hand touched the black garments. Having been with KID for some time, Ying Chenlin usually dressed for convenience. The clothes on the left side were his go-to pieces—durable, good for layering, and his frequent wear when not in combat attire. They were supposed to be worn until they wore out, but they had piled up here instead.  

With his suitcase’s clothing sent off for cleaning, Ying Chenlin turned to the right side of the wardrobe.  

These were clothes from two years ago, back when he had just completed rehabilitation and joined KID. He had bought them at 18 but rarely touched them after moving here due to limited outings. If not for Shen Xingtang pointing it out, he wouldn’t have noticed how infrequently he shopped. His clothes were long overdue for a refresh.  

After picking a loose outfit from the few options available, he quickly headed to the bathroom.  

“We’re at the training room. Chenlin, come with You Ge when you’re ready!”  

The latest group message popped up as Ying Chenlin exited the shower. His message to You Su remained unanswered.  

The hallway in the dormitory area was quiet. It was typically empty during the day. Ying Chenlin stood there for a while, waiting until the appointed time before pressing the doorbell for You Su’s room.  

“Who is it?” a deep, slightly muffled voice came from the virtual screen.  

“Ying Chenlin,” he replied honestly.  

Before he could hear a response, the door automatically opened.  

You Su’s voice came from deeper inside the room. “Come in, wait a moment.”  

Although they often stayed together when traveling, this was Ying Chenlin’s first time stepping into You Su’s private space.  

The base rooms were decorated uniformly, with mirrored layouts. The difference here was the distinct aura permeating the room—the overwhelming and dominant mental power unique to its owner.  

Ying Chenlin paused, unsure whether to venture further inside. His gaze curiously swept the surroundings. A suitcase lay open on the floor, the desk was cluttered with scattered tools and unorganized anomalous crystals, and a combat suit and coat were draped over the chair—it was a bit messy.  

When You Su emerged from the bathroom, he saw Ying Chenlin standing obediently by the entrance. Toweling his hair, he asked, “Why aren’t you coming in?”  

“Oh.” Ying Chenlin snapped out of it. Just as he was about to reply, he saw You Su turn away and walk toward the bed.  

A massive scar slashed diagonally across You Su’s back, the deep marks etched into his muscular frame. Ying Chenlin’s eyes shifted slightly upward, landing on the fresh scar on You Su’s left shoulder. The wound wasn’t bandaged, its newly healed flesh and scabs blending from the shoulder to the middle of his upper arm. 

You Su asked, “What do you need me for?”

Ying Chenlin avoided eye contact as much as possible. “Huo Ge said to go out shopping. You didn’t respond to his message.”

You Su paused mid-action, grabbed the lightbrain next to him, and finally saw the messages.  

Besides Huo Yan’s message, there were several sent by Ying Chenlin at different times. They had all come in while he was in the bathroom. Theo had been forcibly turned off earlier, so he hadn’t heard any notifications.  

“Wait a moment.” You Su tossed his combat uniform into the bathroom and took a T-shirt from his wardrobe to put on.  

“Your wound,” Ying Chenlin blurted out. “The doctor said there’s a risk of contamination infection in your wound. You need to spray medication for 10 days.”  

You Su paused in his movements, chuckling lightly. “You have quite the memory, huh?”  

Ying Chenlin said nothing, staring at You Su’s wound.  

During their time on the starship, Ying Chenlin had been in the room next to You Su and had frequently heard the doctors coming in and out to discuss his condition. You Su’s external injuries were fairly severe—heavy blood loss, an exposed and infected wound. Recently, while on the starship, the doctors had monitored him closely and had forbidden him from removing his bandages.  

After speaking, You Su decided not to put on the shirt. Instead, he took the prescribed medicine from his luggage.  

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Ying Chenlin. He was wearing clothes he hadn’t seen before and had swapped his usual combat boots for sneakers.  

“Help me out,” You Su said, his voice casually husky. “I can’t reach the back.”  

Ying Chenlin stopped lingering at the doorway. Walking over, he took the medication from You Su and began treating his wounds with practiced ease. “What about the medical bandages?”  

“In my luggage,” You Su replied.  

Ying Chenlin found the bandages. “The wound shouldn’t be exposed to water. You didn’t follow the doctor’s orders.”  

You Su noticed the proficiency in Ying Chenlin’s actions. “It’s scabbed over.”  

Ying Chenlin’s hands were cold, and the feeling of his fingertips on You Su’s skin was oddly distinct. As his fingers moved across You Su’s back, it became even more pronounced, with the occasional light scrape of his nails.  

It tickled.  

Standing with his back to Ying Chenlin, You Su’s eyes darkened slightly.  

The room had some lighting, but it wasn’t very bright. The base rarely saw natural light, and You Su seemed to have adjusted the automatic lighting system to dim when there was no sound.  

The warmth from Ying Chenlin’s fingers passed through his skin, which carried a trace of moisture from the shower. The sensation from his hands moving across the strong, taut muscles of You Su’s shoulder and back was unexpectedly relaxing.  

“Loose,” You Su said hoarsely.  

Ying Chenlin’s hand inadvertently brushed against one of You Su’s scars. He quickly adjusted his touch. “Then I’ll tighten it up a bit, like this?”  

The surrounding light seemed to dim further as Ying Chenlin lowered his gaze to the scars on You Su’s back.  

After finally finishing the bandaging, Ying Chenlin stepped back, his hands behind him. His fingertips still felt warm and slightly damp. “It’s done. I’m going to wash my hands.”  

“The bathroom’s over there,” You Su said, standing up and flexing his shoulder.  

As soon as Ying Chenlin entered the bathroom, he was met with the distinct scent of You Su’s body wash.  

He paused and made his way to the sink, but when he turned the faucet, no water came out.  

“The faucet is broken,” You Su called from outside. “Use the one inside.”  

Ying Chenlin looked toward the shower area. Just as he was about to go in, he was suddenly pulled back by a force behind him, bumping into someone. He froze momentarily. Startled, as water sprayed from the showerhead in front of him, cascading down with a steady stream.  

He had narrowly avoided getting drenched.  

You Su’s hand reached past Ying Chenlin’s waist to turn off the automatic sensor nearby. “Forgot to mention—this area has an auto-sensing setting.” 

The two of them stood very close. Ying Chenlin said nothing, surrounded by You Su’s scent.  

You Su turned on the faucet. “Wash your hands.”  

“Oh.” Ying Chenlin reached out to do so.  

You Su leaned on the shower room door, lowering his gaze to the youth’s slightly bent figure. His eyes fell on the back of Ying Chenlin’s neck.  

After washing his hands, Ying Chenlin felt an inexplicable heat suffocating him, and his heartbeat quickened for no reason.  

“What are you two doing?”  

The sudden voice startled them both back to their senses.  

Ji Qingfeng and Lin Yao, one tall and one short, stood at the bathroom door, craning their necks to peek inside.  

“Hurry up, or it’ll be evening before we even go out,” Lin Yao urged.  

Ji Qingfeng asked, “What are you two squeezing into the shower for? Is the drain clogged?”  

“Still not done showering?” Huo Yan poked his head in from the side, stopping just outside the door. “You Su, why aren’t you wearing a shirt?”  

You Su took a few steps back and closed the bathroom door. “Get out, I’m putting on clothes.”  

Ying Chenlin tried to leave but got shut inside by You Su. “…I haven’t left yet.”  

The trio, who had been enjoying the show, were pushed out of the bathroom. Ji Qingfeng muttered, “Why close the door? It’s not like we haven’t seen before.”  

“Is Chenlin still inside?” Lin Yao stood near the bathroom door.  

Lu Xi, who had come along to find them, waited outside and asked softly, “Still not done?”  

“Almost, almost. Just waiting for You Ge and Chenlin to get dressed,” Lin Yao shouted back.  

Huo Yan glanced over and saw You Su’s T-shirt lying on the bed. “You Su, did you forget to take your clothes?”  

Just then, Dr. Eric, who was on his way back to the medical room, heard the commotion and curiously stopped to look inside. Seeing the group crammed together, he clicked his tongue and shook his head before heading back to the medical room.  

Not long after Lin Yao’s shout, the bathroom door opened.  

You Su walked out with a cold expression, bare-chested, followed by Ying Chenlin.  

The moment Ying Chenlin stepped into the hallway, the stifling heat he felt seemed to ease slightly.  

Lu Xi, standing nearby, looked at him curiously. “Chenlin.”  

Ying Chenlin snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her in confusion.  

Lu Xi pointed at him. “Your ears are red.”  

-*-  

After an hour of dawdling, KID’s six mecha pilots finally left the base.  

The hovercar belonged to Jiang Simiao. Since Jiang Simiao was too busy to drive, Huo Yan borrowed the keys. It was a seven-seater mid-sized hovercar that Jiang Simiao originally used to transport materials for Shen Xingtang. Its appearance was passable at best, with a backseat converted into a cargo hold.  

Huo Yan and Lu Xi sat in the front, leaving the cramped backseats for the others to squeeze into. Lin Yao climbed into the reserved small seat at the back, while the third row had to accommodate three grown men. As soon as Ying Chenlin sat down, You Su squeezed in next to him.  

“Why doesn’t San Shui switch to another car!” Ji Qingfeng grumbled as he was squished. “If I had known earlier, I would’ve just rented one.”  

“This is already the second car. His last one was too small, so he swapped for this. If we want another, we’ll have to wait until we get to the new base,” Huo Yan explained as he expertly turned onto the hovering road. “This one’s fine. After we buy stuff later, we can use the storage compartment in the back. It’s more convenient than renting.”  

If you're enjoying the story don't forget to support the author! You can also support me on KOFI for site maintenance, raws purchase or as an energy boost~ 

Join discord to get notified whenever a new chapter is uploaded since I'm  incapable of keeping up with a schedule~