Genius Mechanic: Chapter 235.2

Slared Contaminated Zone(Territory-Wide Abnormal Move)

235.2 Relocation

This concept was challenging, and Ying Chenlin wasn’t sure if it could be fully realized, but he had a feeling it was achievable. “If it doesn’t work this season, we’ll aim for the next. There’s plenty of time.”

Grandpa Gu looked at the young man before him and smiled warmly. “We’re not very knowledgeable about tactics, but don’t worry. We’ll prioritize forging all your design drafts and deliver the models for training as soon as possible.”

“One more thing,” Grandpa Gu suddenly paused. “Should we take this opportunity during the maintenance to finalize Theo’s modifications?”

“I’ll handle Theo myself,” Ying Chenlin replied. “I’ll coordinate the timing.”

Not just Theo—Yuan also needed to be modified soon. With the upcoming Star Domain Tournament, they had to ensure both S-Class mechas could enter the battlefield.

A few days after Ying Chenlin returned to the maintenance room, the base in the suburbs was ready, and the entire KID team prepared for a day-long move.

Shen Xingtang didn’t plan to rent out the underground space in KID’s central building in District A. She intended to keep it as a temporary base for the mecha pilots and Grandpa Gu’s team in the bustling center, providing them with a foothold. Moreover, Jianheng’s parts market was rapidly expanding. With KID’s building as the hub, they had already begun extending their research centers outward, planning to transfer most of their research operations there.

On moving day, Boss Zhou lent Shen Xingtang a super-sized storage hovercar from Jianheng. At dawn, Shen Xingtang began waking up the mecha pilots, who were still sleeping soundly. Ying Chenlin, being an early riser, was already tidying up his room by the time Shen Xingtang started calling everyone. The others, however, were still deep asleep, so she had to wake them one by one.

Jiang Simiao, with a disheveled hairdo, knocked repeatedly on doors. Seeing Ying Chenlin waiting in the hallway, he said, “Chenlin, go wake up You Su.”

Ying Chenlin hesitated. “Me?”

Jiang Simiao lifted Lin Yao’s blanket in one swift motion and handed Ying Chenlin a special keycard. “These guys are too good at lazing in bed. I’ll handle the rest.”

With the keycard in hand, Ying Chenlin saw Jiang Simiao and Huo Yan busy rousing the others while Shen Xingtang’s urging voice echoed from down the hallway. Left with no other choice, he went to wake You Su.

When the door opened, the bedroom was pitch dark.

Ying Chenlin walked in lightly and immediately noticed a lump under the blanket.

Near the bedside table, a mecha key glowed faintly as Theo seemed to greet him amiably.

The noise from outside didn’t seem to disturb You Su’s rest. Unlike Ji Qingfeng’s obvious snoring, You Su’s room was eerily quiet.

From afar, Ying Chenlin saw the man sleeping with his bare back exposed, a thin blanket covering only his waist.

As Ying Chenlin approached, about to call him, the man’s gaze suddenly swept over. His sharp eyes carried a hint of coldness and unmistakable morning grumpiness, traces of irritation from being woken up. Ying Chenlin froze, locking eyes with You Su.

“It’s time to move things,” Ying Chenlin said.

You Su looked at him, sat up, and fixed his eyes directly on Ying Chenlin, his voice hoarse. “It’s time already?”

“It is,” Ying Chenlin unconsciously took a step back.

You Su let out a light chuckle. “Do I eat people?”

Eat people? Ying Chenlin tilted his head and caught sight of You Su’s faintly glowing eyes in the dim room. As his gaze traveled downward, he noticed You Su’s Adam’s apple move.

“No, you don’t,” Ying Chenlin shifted his eyes away slightly. For some reason, his attention landed on the scattered mental power around them. Taking back the step he’d retreated, his gaze inadvertently landed on You Su’s body. The faint motion of the abdominal muscles near his waist caught his eye, and his gaze followed them upward, as if scrutinizing, finally lingering on You Su.

After a half-minute of silence, You Su suddenly asked, “What are you looking at?”

“Looking at you,” Ying Chenlin paused and slightly averted his gaze. “…When are you getting up?”

After a moment, You Su flipped off the thin blanket, got up, and headed to the bathroom on the other side of the room.

Seeing him leave, Ying Chenlin’s eyes lingered on the bed. Images of certain muscle contours flickered faintly in his mind.

“Chenlin,” Yuan asked curiously, “Mental power?”

Ying Chenlin paused, then came back to his senses, brushing his hand across his waist. “It feels a bit warm.”

He hadn’t done any precise calculations. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen You Su shirtless, but this was the first time he hadn’t calculated the other man’s body data… instead, he’d been admiring a same-gendered friend’s abs.

Yuan clarified, “Your body temperature has risen by 0.2 degrees. You’re sweating.”

“It’s stifling. I’m heading out,” Ying Chenlin said as he moved toward the door, noting the temperature on the thermostat.

—The temperature in You Su’s room was two degrees lower than his own.

As the sound of running water came from the bathroom, Ying Chenlin was about to step outside to wait for You Su when he heard a voice from the bathroom.

“Ying Chenlin, grab me a shirt from the wardrobe,” You Su called out.

Ying Chenlin, suddenly addressed, looked toward the wardrobe. It hadn’t been tidied, and the clothes were hanging inside. “Which one?”

“Any one,” You Su replied.

Ying Chenlin ended up pulling out a gray shirt You Su had worn before. His peripheral vision caught sight of a still-sealed package nearby, which looked similar to the one piled outside his own room yesterday.

He glanced at the package briefly, then brought the shirt to the bathroom. “I got you a gray one—”

You Su was bent over the sink with his back to him, the scars on his back particularly visible under the light. Just as Ying Chenlin approached, a wet hand stretched out to grab the shirt and inadvertently brushed his wrist.

The touch quickly loosened, the shirt taken from his hands.

You Su’s face was damp, and his wet bangs clung to his forehead. “Thanks. I’ll take a quick shower, just a bit longer.”

Ying Chenlin nodded. “I’ll wait outside for you then.”

Once outside, Ying Chenlin lingered in the hallway.

In the distance, Jiang Simiao had managed to get Lin Yao up and was already dealing with Ji Qingfeng, the noise gradually filtering through the corridor.

The hallway was spacious and well-ventilated, a faint breeze circulating through.

Ying Chenlin looked down at his left wrist, where a few drops of water remained. The sensation of being touched lingered on his skin.

“Was it intentional?” Ying Chenlin asked.

Yuan paused, as if not understanding the question. “What?”

Ying Chenlin didn’t elaborate. He stared at his left hand for a moment before wiping off the water droplets after a few seconds.

By the time they finished packing and got on the road, it was already past ten.

Inside the large transport vehicle, Shen Xingtang sat at the front, emphasizing the importance of punctuality. Ji Qingfeng and Lin Yao bore the brunt of her lecture.

Ying Chenlin didn’t need to endure the scolding. After boarding, he found a seat near the back.

Not long after he sat down, someone being lectured in the front passed a nutrient vial back to him. “Breakfast.”

Ying Chenlin took it from You Su. The bottle was warm and had a honey scent.

“Eat it after the lecture is over,” Shen Xingtang said, noticing two fiddling with their nutrient vials.

Lin Yao quipped, “A few days ago, you were so kind to us, you even gave us money to go shopping.”

Ji Qingfeng chimed in, “Women are so unpredictable.”

Shen Xingtang: “…”

News about KID moving to a new base had already spread across StarNet. Several other mecha bases sent housewarming gifts. Upon arriving at the new base, Lin Yao only recognized the spot where he usually fired artillery. There was even a newly built mecha field nearby, meaning he could now fire artillery right at the doorstep.

“Nice,” Lin Yao said cheerfully, pushing his luggage as he explored the new base. “Chenlin, want to go fire some artillery later?”

Ying Chenlin shook his head. “I’m going to check out the new maintenance room.”

The new staff members had moved in before KID’s mecha pilots. The dormitory area had been expanded several times over. The transferred mechas and weapons had already undergone operational testing in the past two days.

When Ying Chenlin stepped into the maintenance room, he was greeted by a bright, spacious area. Inside, robots and mechanics were already at work.

As he walked further, he noticed the smooth operational stairs and instinctively looked at the handrails.

It was different now—no more smart assistive devices or modifications made specially for a disabled version of himself.

A familiar scene now felt strangely unique. Ying Chenlin paused, set his luggage down at the entrance, and dashed into the maintenance room’s changing area.

The people strolling through the base passed by the maintenance room and saw Ying Chenlin, who had changed into a new maintenance suit, talking to the newly arrived mechanics inside.

Grandpa Gu: “This kid treats the maintenance room like his home.”

You Su’s gaze fell on the figure running inside. His peripheral vision caught sight of the luggage left nearby.

“He adapts quickly. I didn’t even tell him where the changing room was, and he found it on his own,” Shen Xingtang said with a smile. She looked at the group of mecha pilots crowding the area. “Alright, finish your tour and head back to your dorms to unpack. Training starts later! Oh, and take Chenlin’s luggage—”

Before she could finish, You Su had already picked up the suitcase and walked off with it.

Shen Xingtang paused, her gaze following You Su’s departing figure.

“Xingtang,” Jiang Simiao said as he approached after finishing a call. “Chairman Li just sent word. He wants you to attend a meeting later.”

“It’s about some updates regarding the Star Domain Tournament. This year, after the format change, both the Star Alliance and the Star Domain tournaments are going to be tough. With so many teams from Dawn participating, we need to hold an urgent meeting. Also, we need to discuss issues related to the Star Domain Tournament’s special format.”

“We might have to head to the tournament venue earlier than planned. I heard this year’s Star Domain Tournament will only last a month.”

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