Chapter 388 - 348: Do You Really Want Me to Get a Promotion?
Chapter 388: Chapter 348: Do You Really Want Me to Get a Promotion?
After finishing her work related to Andrew, Gu Ning opened and checked the unread messages from her superior, Cyril.
There were about seven or eight unread messages, mostly about work. They had all been sent several days ago, with the most recent one being from three days prior.
Gu Ning read through them. In addition to asking how her work was progressing, Cyril had also sent over a few photos of Kaper.
That was when she remembered something she had yet to do.
She had previously told Admiral Andrew that she wanted Kaper to become her spouse, and the admiral had reminded her to create some proof that they had spent time together. A photo of them together was the simplest way to do that, and one of the best methods for demonstrating their relationship.
However, the photos Cyril had sent weren’t very casual. They looked like they were taken during training, or were something like official ID photos.
It wasn’t a big deal, though. She could just cut Kaper out of the photos, take some pictures of herself, and then photoshop them into a composite image.
Gu Ning scrolled through the photos of Kaper, studying the Beastman who was a stranger to her, yet with whom she shared a rather close relationship.
It was a peculiar feeling.
On an emotional level, he was Cook’s older brother, and Cook was her most important family member.
Officially, she and Kaper were legitimate spouses.
Spouses who had never met.
Gu Ning’s gaze landed on one of the photos. In it, Kaper sported a clean buzz cut and wore a simple, black, short-sleeved training uniform. He was looking straight ahead, leading a squad of Beastmen on a run.
The photo was filled with powerfully built Beastmen of similar size. Although Kaper was leading, he wasn’t the focus of the shot. There were troops both in front of and behind him, and the Beastman beside him partially blocked his figure. Gu Ning likely spotted him instantly only because his face was the most familiar to her.
Gu Ning swiped to the next photo.
The Beastman who had been clean and fresh a moment ago was now covered in grime, his face beaded with sweat.
Kaper was alone in this photo. He was leaning back in a trench, cradling a submachine gun. He had turned his head toward the camera and was holding up his pinky finger. Though he looked a bit weary, his eyes were incredibly bright, filled with a defiant spirit.
A small smile touched Gu Ning’s lips. Just as she was about to look at the next photo, a new message from Cyril popped up in her chat window:
[Miss Gu Ning, are you free right now?]
Gu Ning paused before replying: [Not really. Is something the matter, Adjutant Cyril?]
Cyril: [I wanted to ask about your residency information.]
’Residency information?’
Gu Ning was about to ask for clarification when Cyril sent another message: [I need to process your work benefits, and I need your residency information for that. If now isn’t a good time, you can send it to me later. There’s no rush.]
Gu Ning readily replied: [Okay, I’ll send it to you later.]
She hadn’t even finished reviewing her updated personal information and still had to shoot a new video. She would have to put this matter aside for now.
Another message from Cyril popped up: [Congratulations on your position becoming permanent, Miss Gu Ning.]
Gu Ning: [(smile) Thank you, thank you. I hope you get a promotion and make a fortune too, Adjutant Cyril.]
Gu Ning replied politely to her superior-slash-colleague. As a former corporate drone, she knew a thing or two about exchanging pleasantries.
Cyril replied immediately: [Do you really want me to get promoted?]
Gu Ning didn’t quite understand his message. ’What does he mean, do I *really* want him to get promoted?’
’Does he not want a promotion himself?’
Before she could give it much thought, Cyril sent another message:
[Thank you for your well wishes. I will.]
The previous message now showed as having been retracted.
Gu Ning’s finger hovered over the chat window for a moment. She replied with a smiling emoji, taking that as the end of their conversation.
With matters for Pawprint and the Military Department settled for the time being, she now had to get started on shooting her new video.
She had shot a lot of footage during her travels that she could have used, but her camera was broken, and she didn’t know when it could be repaired. Either way, she wouldn’t be able to use it for the new video she needed to release tomorrow. She would have to go shoot some new material.
Gu Ning closed her terminal and looked toward the "head wolf" sleeping on the sofa. All she could see was the black hair on the top half of his head and the lower half of his long legs dangling off the end of the sofa, which was too short for him.
She didn’t want to wake Alex. She carefully lifted the covers, but before her feet could even touch the floor, Alex sat up on the sofa and turned to look at her. "Can’t sleep?"
Gu Ning nodded. "Did I wake you?"
"No, I’m just a light sleeper." Alex said as he got up and walked over to her. He checked her IV bottle and asked, "Do you need to use the restroom? Or want some water?"
Gu Ning shook her head and looked up at him. "Alex, is our... luggage still here?"
Alex sat down beside her. "Yes. What do you need from it?"
"My clothes," Gu Ning said.
Before leaving Zone 19, Barto had stuffed her suitcase with clothes, along with a scarf and gloves he had made for her. She planned on using them for her video.
"You want to go out?" Alex asked.
Gu Ning nodded.
Alex considered this for a moment, then put an arm around her back. "Lanuo said you shouldn’t go out in the wind for now. Given your condition, you need to rest properly for at least another week. How about I take you out once you’re feeling better?"
"I’ll go out," Gu Ning said. "Just for a little bit. I’ll wear lots of layers."
She just needed to film a few shots. The rest could be done indoors. She just had to get a new video uploaded to let Idelos know that she was working, not just trying to bail on the project.
’Ten million! A whole ten million...’ If she were in his shoes and saw a collaborator take such a huge advance, only to either go dark or reject every proposal, showing no progress for a long time, she would suspect fraud too.
Alex didn’t respond, instead opening his terminal.
Seeing that Alex wasn’t saying anything, Gu Ning thought for a moment before adding, "It’s for work."
Alex still remained silent, his gaze lowered as he tapped at his terminal screen.
Gu Ning grabbed Alex’s arm and shook it gently.
Alex’s fingers stilled, and he turned to look at her.
Gu Ning met his gaze and shook his arm again, her eyes pleading, ’Take me out, please, take me out...’
Alex glanced at the young female’s hand gripping his arm, took a slow breath, and suppressed the fluttering in his chest. His tone was gentle but firm. "It’s time for you to be resting. Your health is the priority. Everything else can wait."
"Go out to play. Five minutes," Gu Ning bargained.
"You need to follow the doctor’s orders and rest..." Alex started.
Gu Ning wrapped her arms around his, pressing her palms together as she looked up at him.
Alex’s heart skipped a beat. Composing himself, he continued, "According to the doctor’s orders, you need to lie down and rest after your medication. Once your IV is finished and your clothes have been delivered, we can go out after dinner."
Gu Ning blinked. "My clothes... aren’t they here?"
Alex explained, "The 12th District is very cold. Most of the clothes we had for you were taken by Mutant Species. What’s left isn’t enough to keep you warm."
"Or... did you want to wear my clothes out?"