Chapter 3 Return to normal life...?
Three hours later, in the Penguin Logistics conference room.
"In conclusion, the Prophet has returned alive and well! This is better than anything! And for our newly joined companion, Lappland, cheers!"
"Cheers!!!" N
The employees of the Penguin Logistics field team all raised their glasses with happy faces.
Although it was called the Penguin Logistics field team, in reality, it was just Sora, Li Lin , Texas, Exusiai, Croissant, Lappland—a total of six people.
Yes, Lappland had also joined Penguin Logistics. She was idle anyway, hanging out with the Penguin Logistics crew causing trouble all day, sometimes even going on missions. If Li Lin could join Penguin Logistics, naturally there was room for one Lappland too.
Although Lappland's identity was a mystery and she had all sorts of dark history in her past, few people here were normal. Li Lin's inexplicable origins still puzzled everyone; such small matters were fundamentally irrelevant. The boss of Penguin Logistics, Emperor, seemed to be preparing some other things, just remotely indicating Penguin Logistics didn't mind, as long as there was no loss, and the contracts were handled well, it was fine.
His support for the field team not working for so long actually had some reasons. Because Penguin Logistics, during this period, had a very good cooperative relationship with Lungmen officials and Kazimierz officials, even showing signs of turning into a large company. Terra was also a society of human connections ; having human connections was equivalent to having capital, and this kind of thing was naturally the more the better. Not only did Emperor have a humane touch, but being good to Prophet and the other field team members was also somewhat useful for their subsequent interpersonal relationships. So to some extent, the field team was basically being free-ranged now.
It was said that branch companies had also been established outside, but everyone in the field team was too lazy to care about such things. Only the model employee ( lit. "three-good employee") Texas was a bit down; she was a senior employee of Penguin Logistics, had worked for a considerable period, and now being marginalized like this, no matter what, she felt somewhat sentimental.
However, this sentimentality was quickly drowned in the tide of jubilation, becoming part of the welcome party and celebration.
"Speaking of which, the last welcome party was to welcome Prophet, right?"
Croissant, currently swishing meat slices in the hot pot, opened a bottle of beer with one hand, and said thoughtfully to Li Lin, who was silently grilling meat:
"I remember Texas disliked you very much back then; she even argued with Exusiai in the company. Said you were a freeloader , and then said there must be something else between you and Exusiai, Exusiai must have been deceived or something, I thought it was very excessive listening to it."
"Was there such a saying?"
Li Lin chewed a mouthful of grilled meat, looking at Texas somewhat shockedly.
"Mm, I indeed disliked you very much before, felt you were glib-tongued , lacked responsibility, had abilities but were unwilling to use them, a very cruel person."
Texas, sitting in the corner, sighed, lit a long-missed cigarette, but didn't put it in her mouth. Instead, just holding the cigarette, she gazed at Li Lin, and then the expression on her face softened slightly.
"But now, how should I put it, if strictly speaking, I should like you. Mm, like you very much."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…?????"
Has spring arrived?
Have all things entered the stage of growth and development? Am I finally popular?
Looking at the serious-faced Texas, Li Lin thought carefully and felt he might have misunderstood.
And Texas's subsequent calm words also confirmed it wasn't what Li Lin thought. This 'like' didn't refer to romantic affection between a man and a woman, but in the sense of companionship.
"It's not just me who likes you very much. That fellow Lappland, Exusiai, Sora, Croissant, we all like you very much. Working together, bickering, fighting together, and then coming back to have a party like this, eating, drinking, playing, and fooling around together; I think this kind of life is the best. I think this kind of life is the best life. Different from my past, different from others' pasts too."
"So I don't want anything unexpected to happen to the people I like, and I especially don't want to be able to do nothing, accomplish nothing, when something unexpected happens to them. That feeling of powerlessness, I don't want to experience it a second time. So I want to make a request here."
"No matter what you feel, no matter what you ultimately feel, please discuss it with us. At least, let us know the reason for your choice."
"That feeling of watching you in the hospital room, yet being unable to do anything, I don't want to go through it a second time."
"…"
Ah, so it's here.
Seeing the others also simultaneously stop their mouths and hands, looking towards Li Lin, he more or less understood in his heart.
Li Lin had also felt that kind of powerlessness, but not towards companions, rather towards family. Many times, people will face situations where they are powerless, but some prices are bearable, some are not. Towards this emotion, Li Lin was very touched.
However, precisely because of this, he couldn't make a promise regarding it.
"I can't guarantee. Because sometimes I feel if saying it out loud would lead to worse results, then I won't say it. So I refuse."
Looking at the serious companions, Li Lin also sighed, and replied equally seriously:
"I don't know what the future holds; I can only rely on my own judgment and intuition to think about all this, so I don't know which is correct, which is wrong. Regarding this kind of thing, I can only guarantee I will do my best, but I don't guarantee I will give everything. Because I feel many times, one indeed has to face things alone."
"…Then, as a last resort, we need to know some truth, is that okay?"
"Of course."
Looking at the girls looking at him, Li Lin revealed a smile.
"I will absolutely not do anything detrimental to you all, just as I told Exusiai and Texas back then."