34: Chapter 34 The Girls' Tea Party, the Newcomers' "Welcome" Rules

"Master, welcome back."

Just as Ye Qingyu was still looking around, a cold, glamorous, and utterly unruffled mature woman's voice suddenly sounded by her ear.

She snapped her head up and saw a holographic projection node on the carriage ceiling flicker once.

An exquisitely beautiful AI projection, constructed from deep blue streams of data light and dressed in a black form-fitting uniform, hovered in mid-air, giving Su Chen a slight bow.

"This... this is holographic projection technology?"

"No! This kind of computational response speed, and this kind of emotional simulation module..."

Ye Qingyu's eyes widened. Like an inquisitive child, she circled Ling Yi's projection twice, even unable to resist extending a grease-stained finger to poke at the blue light.

"This is a genuine artificial intelligence?! How is that possible!"

"With the pre-apocalyptic technological level of Blue Star, it was fundamentally impossible to develop a strong AI capable of operating independently without a super-large server!"

Ling Yi's cold blue eyes shifted slightly, glancing down at Ye Qingyu from above.

"Unregistered vital signs detected."

"Based on behavioral pattern analysis, the individual is suspected of exhibiting symptoms of delayed intellectual development."

"Master, does it require expulsion from the train?"

Hearing the AI's mockery, Ye Qingyu almost jumped up in anger, but she couldn't afford to argue with a program right now.

Because through the carriage's glass door, she saw something that made her question reality even more.

In that transparent, bulletproof glass carriage at the rear of the train, there was actually a lush growth of green plants!

On wooden frames, clusters of plump, round, and even glistening with crystalline water droplets—fresh mutated tomatoes—were hanging!

"Th-those are fresh vegetables?!"

Ye Qingyu swallowed hard, her stomach letting out an embarrassingly loud series of 'gurgling' protests.

Ever since the calamity descended, she had survived daily on scavenged moldy biscuits and murky rainwater. When had she ever seen such fresh, vibrant food!

Before she could snap out of her intense craving for the tomatoes.

Su Chen had already led her into the newly magic-modified [Life Science Research Carriage].

This was a completely sterile, constant-temperature environment.

The silver-white walls were spotless. High-tech culture dishes emitted an ethereal blue glow. Various precision mechanical arms on the micro-biochemical operating table were in standby mode.

Ye Qingyu stood at the entrance, looking at her own canvas shoes covered in black engine oil and mud. For the first time ever, she felt a twinge of inferiority and momentarily hesitated to step inside.

"This material strength... this seamless joining technique..."

"This practically defies the second law of thermodynamics!"

Ye Qingyu crouched on the floor, gently running her fingers over the metal-glossed [Acid-Resistant Alloy Coating] at the carriage's edge, muttering various esoteric physics terms under her breath.

She felt that her proud mechanical knowledge seemed as laughable as kindergarten scribbles in the face of this train.

"Pfft..."

A soft, delicate laugh came from the other end of the corridor.

Ye Qingyu looked up and saw four girls, all wearing identical black tactical camouflage uniforms, with curvaceous figures and stunningly beautiful faces, walking over together.

Chu Qingxue, walking at the front, had an ethereal, aloof aura, like a goddess from the moon palace.

Beside her, Liu Ruyan had a voluptuous figure, her mature, intellectual charm tinged with a deadly sensuality.

Zhang Man exuded a wild, powerful beauty, while Lin Momo was petite and cute, like an exquisite doll.

Following at the very back was a shrewd-looking girl, Su Xiaoxiao, pushing her black-rimmed glasses up and holding an account book.

Looking at these five stunning beauties who surpassed her in both looks and presence, then looking down at her own grease-stained tank top and dirty face.

Ye Qingyu's cheeks instantly flushed crimson.

Su Xiaoxiao, watching this newcomer who was groping around like a country bumpkin, couldn't help covering her mouth and giggling.

"Train Master, where did you pick up this little mud kitten?"

Liu Ruyan was even more brazen in her appraisal, her gaze sweeping over Ye Qingyu and lingering for a moment on the impressive curves still visible beneath the tank top, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

Who would have thought? The girl might be filthy, but her assets were quite substantial.

"Enough joking."

Su Chen shot Liu Ruyan a faint glance, then grabbed Ye Qingyu's high ponytail and dragged her over to the complex mechanical consoles in the control room.

Su Chen pointed at the densely packed, spiderweb-like train schematic displayed via holographic projection on the wall.

"Look carefully. All the current mechanical schematics for this train are here."

"Starting today, you are the [Chief Mechanic] of train no. 0099."

"Your task is to be responsible for the daily maintenance of the entire train's operation and troubleshooting mechanical failures."

Su Chen's voice was cold and severe, carrying an undeniable pressure.

"Additionally, use scrap metal resources to manufacture some basic repeating crossbows and conventional ammunition."

"I will personally provide the core advanced blueprints and the magic modifications for important components."

Su Chen leaned down, bringing his face close to Ye Qingyu's ear. His warm breath brushed against the sensitive skin of the girl's earlobe.

"Listen. If any mechanical problem occurs on the train due to your negligence."

"I'll assign you to the last carriage to scrub toilets every single day."

"Understood?"

Ye Qingyu stiffened under Su Chen's oppressive posture.

She instinctively wanted to resist, her mouth habitually muttering a tsundere complaint.

"Hmph, I'm not your employee..."

"I'm just... just interested in these machines!"

But her traitorous eyes were already glued to those advanced mechanical consoles, shining with unconcealed, fanatical light.

For a mechanical genius, being able to work on such era-defying, top-tier equipment was simply heavenly bliss!

Seeing the girl's contradictory behavior, Su Chen smiled with satisfaction.

This kind of genuinely talented but stubborn little wildcat—just provide her with sufficiently advanced toys, and she'd naturally stay willingly and work her heart out.

"Xiaoxiao, she's your responsibility. Teach her the rules."

Su Chen stretched lazily and yawned.

"I'm going to the master bedroom to take a bath and rest."

"No one is to disturb me."

With that, Su Chen strode out of the control room, heading towards the luxurious master bedroom reserved for the Train Master.

As Su Chen left.

The previously somewhat quiet carriage atmosphere instantly turned subtle.

As the undisputed 'Head of Internal Affairs' on the train, Chu Qingxue slightly lifted her snow-white chin, her cool gaze calmly appraising the grease-smeared girl before her.

The other girls also gathered around.

As an outsider, Ye Qingyu naturally had to undergo the comprehensive scrutiny of this group dubbed the 'Tianhai Dance Department Girl Group'.

This wasn't just a clash between old and new members; it was also a collision of the subtle territorial awareness among women.

Su Xiaoxiao pushed her black-rimmed glasses up her nose, adopting the airs of a head housekeeper, and walked up to Ye Qingyu.

"Ahem, newcomer."

"Although the Train Master has appointed you as Chief Mechanic, on our train no. 0099, rules are rules."

Su Xiaoxiao opened the hardcover account book in her hands and began laying down the rules with great seriousness.

"First, the Train Master's word is absolute law. There is no room for negotiation!"

"Second, we operate on a contribution point system here. If you want to eat those fresh tomatoes or drink purified water, you must exchange them with your labor and the ammunition you manufacture!"

Here, Su Xiaoxiao deliberately paused, her gaze flicking meaninglessly towards the closed master bedroom door at the front of the train.

"Third, and most importantly."

"That master bedroom is the Train Master's absolute private domain."

"Without his or Sister Qingxue's permission, no one is allowed to approach it casually, let alone enter and disturb him!"

Hearing these three rules, especially the last one.

Ye Qingyu rolled her eyes in annoyance, unable to stop herself from grumbling inwardly.

Hmph, who cares about going into that tyrant's room anyway!

This genius has these precious machines to keep her company! That's enough!

However, when her stomach let out another loud protest, her defiant posture immediately deflated.

"Um..."

Ye Qingyu rubbed her stomach awkwardly, muttering softly.

"C-can I get an advance on some contribution points to exchange for a little food?"

Seeing this tsundere little wildcat finally bow her head and yield.

A rare, gentle smile appeared on Chu Qingxue's originally cool and aloof face.

In this post-apocalyptic world, any woman brought onto the train by Su Chen and given an important position was destined to become family, living together day and night in this steel fortress.

As the Head of Internal Affairs whom Su Chen trusted the most, she naturally had to display the appropriate grace and tolerance.

"Alright, Xiaoxiao, stop scaring her."

Chu Qingxue stepped forward, took out a bright red mutated tomato from her spatial backpack, and offered it to Ye Qingyu.

"Have this to settle your stomach first."

"After eating, go take a proper bath in the bathroom."

Liu Ruyan also approached with a charming laugh, reaching out to pinch Ye Qingyu's cheek, which, though dirty, was still full of collagen.

"Exactly, look at you, reeking of engine oil."

"Our Train Master is a very clean person. If you parade around in front of him looking like this every day, you might really get thrown into toilet-scrubbing duty one of these days."

Zhang Man directly rummaged through the logistics storage and pulled out a brand-new black tactical tank top and camouflage pants, unceremoniously shoving them into Ye Qingyu's arms.

"Go wash up now! Get clean and put these on!"

"The women on our train can't disgrace the Train Master!"

Facing this group of girls with distinct personalities but exuding a Unexplained harmonious cohesion.

Ye Qingyu's heart, which had always been closed off and defensive, suddenly felt a long-lost warmth.

Holding the clean clothes and the bright red tomato, her eyes grew slightly hot.

Ten minutes later.

As the bathroom sliding door was slowly pulled open, a wave of warm steam and the faint scent of shower gel wafted out.

The girls, who had been chattering away at their 'tea party', instantly fell silent.

All eyes focused on the newly bathed Chief Mechanic.

Stripped of the layer of grimy grease and soot, what was revealed before everyone was a stunningly beautiful girl with skin fairer than snow and flawless, exquisite features.

Ye Qingyu's originally messy long hair was now casually tied up at the back. A few damp strands clung to her slender, swan-like neck, adding a touch of delicate, pitiable sensuality.

What drew the most attention from the girls present was her figure in that set of black form-fitting tactical gear.

Though she was only nineteen and still carried a hint of youthful innocence, the proud, full curves standing tall beneath the tactical tank top made even Liu Ruyan, famous for her own voluptuous figure, inwardly exclaim 'impressive assets'.

Her two long, straight legs, encased in the camouflage pants, were full of the explosive power and strength developed from years of working with machinery.

"Tsk tsk, no wonder the Train Master was merciful enough to bring you back."

Liu Ruyan was the first to break the silence. Swaying her serpentine waist, she walked forward and extended a jade-like finger tipped with red nail polish to lightly lift Ye Qingyu's chin.

"All cleaned up, you really are a fresh, beautiful flower."

"But little sister, on this train, just being pretty isn't enough, you know."

Under the gaze filled with mature feminine charm from Liu Ruyan, Ye Qingyu, who was accustomed to being a loner, felt a flush of shy pink rise on her cheeks.

She turned her head away uncomfortably, her innate tsundere nature flaring up again.

"Hmph, I don't need to rely on my looks!"

"My mechanical skills are irreplaceable in this wasteland!"

Ye Qingyu lifted her chin, trying to reclaim a bit of dignity befitting a technical expert in front of these formidable women.

"I'm a genius from the Mechanical Engineering Department of a top polytechnic university, with an S-class talent, [Mechanical Resonance]!"

"With enough materials, I could even build heavy artillery for the train!"

Hearing Ye Qingyu's confident declaration, Chu Qingxue, sitting in the center of the sofa, merely took a sip of purified water from the glass before her. A faint smile played on her lips, but she didn't respond.

As the logistics head, Su Xiaoxiao pushed her black-rimmed glasses up her nose, holding the thick hardcover account book, and walked unhurriedly up to Ye Qingyu.

"New genius mechanic, welcome aboard train no. 0099."

Su Xiaoxiao's tone was polite, but her eyes held the shrewdness and experience of a merchant.

"Now that you're clean and wearing our train's uniform, there are some rules I must make absolutely clear to you."

Ye Qingyu frowned. Though she felt somewhat indignant, she knew she was under someone else's roof and had to lower her head.

Moreover, she had just witnessed the miraculous internal facilities of this train in the control room.

To stay and study those advanced machines, she decided to temporarily endure these women's ' making things difficult'.