Girl, There's Something Wrong With You - Chapter 1

Inside the Underground Rail Network Train

“Traveling through the Central Plains, using the underground rail network is the safest option,” said the princess sister. “Whether on the surface or in the air, you’re more likely to be harassed and blocked by demons.”

“Of course, the underground rail system in the Central Plains has two common issues: first, collapses due to long-term disrepair, and second, occupation by human refugees.”

“If we encounter the former, we’ll have no choice but to surface, navigate past the collapsed section, and look for the next underground passage.”

“If it’s the latter, then we’ll need to negotiate and see if we can find a way through. In my experience, most human settlements allow caravans and travelers to pass, but not vehicles.”

“In other words, we’ll have to change transportation.”

Cheng Jinyang listened intently, while Wang Wanrou, seated beside him, drooped her head, looking as if she were about to fall asleep.

“Sister Xinnan, have you been to the Central Plains often?” Cheng Jinyang raised his hand and asked.

“Not often, maybe just a dozen or so times,” the princess sister replied. “Because the Central Plains are shrouded in demonic fog, military satellites can’t conduct reconnaissance. We have to rely on drones for preliminary mapping, followed by specialized personnel for field surveys.”

“From Jingkou to Jinyang Prefecture, there are two main routes: the western route passes through Luoyang, the Divine Capital, while the eastern route goes through Qinghe Prefecture. Both routes converge at Pengcheng Prefecture, the entry point into the Central Plains. On the surface, it’s the border line patrolled by the Cavalry Corps, fortified with numerous autonomous artillery robots to create a desolate no-man’s land.”

“Below ground, there are three military fortresses to defend against potential demon incursions through the northern underground passages. The western route has the ‘Square Base,’ the eastern route has the ‘Train Station Base,’ and the southern route has the ‘Huai Tower Base.'”

“As mentioned earlier, we can only rely on the drone-and-scout method to survey the Central Plains, so keeping our maps up-to-date is crucial. Next, we’ll head to Huai Tower Base, then successively to the Train Station Base and Square Base to update our maps. Finally, we’ll decide which route to take based on the most current map data. Any questions?”

Though she asked “any questions,” her gaze was fixed on Wang Wanrou.

Seemingly waking from her nap, Wang Wanrou opened her eyes and asked in a low voice, “Where are we now?”

“Lü County,” Princess Nankang replied. “We’ll be entering Pengcheng Prefecture soon.”

“Call me when we’re about to stop,” Wang Wanrou said as she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

Princess Nankang stared at her for a moment before letting out a sharp, cold laugh.

Cheng Jinyang, feeling immensely awkward, whispered to his princess sister, “It’s her first time traveling far from home. Sorry, Sister Xinnan, please bear with her.”

“I’m only letting it go because you spoke up for her, Jinyang,” the princess sister said coldly. “Otherwise, I’d have thrown her off the train.”

She turned and headed to the cockpit. Cheng Jinyang sighed and closed his eyes.

The demonic transformation state activated.

Instantly, a cacophony of voices flooded his mind, making his head feel like it was about to explode.

“Jinyang, are you crazy, running off to the north? Do you want to die?!”

“Sister Yuexian said that when you come back, she’s going to hold a vote to remove you as clan leader! So irresponsible!”

“What do we do? Should we go look for Jinyang…?”

“You don’t even know where he is! How would we find him?”

“So where exactly are you? Hurry up and tell us!”

“Yeah, if you don’t, we’re marrying off Sister Xiao Pei!”

“Eh? Wait, why does me getting married have anything to do with this…?”

“Because men don’t treasure what they have, but they drool over what they don’t. Sister Xiao Pei, since you’re not interested in scumbags, you’re the most tempting bait for him…”

“Wait, are we trying to lure him back now? He did elope with Miss Wang, didn’t he? Just don’t come back with a baby in her arms and a bun in her oven!”

“Idiots.”

“Everyone, don’t worry!” Seeing the girls’ speculations spiral out of control, Cheng Jinyang quickly explained, “Sister Xinnan is here too, so you don’t have to worry. Wanrou and I didn’t elope, okay?”

“Oh, Sister Xinnan is there too? What is this, a ménage à trois…?”

“Wangshu, shut up!”

“So why exactly are you heading north?”

“Reconnaissance, reconnaissance,” Cheng Jinyang replied, his head spinning from the barrage of voices. He couldn’t even tell who was asking anymore, so he gave a blanket response. “We might also search for some labs or something… Don’t worry, I’ve got Miss Wang for her foresight on strategy and the princess elder sister for combat support. It’s practically risk-free.”

“Wow, look at that! Jinyang doesn’t need us now that he’s got these two girls!”

“Miss Wang for strategy, the princess for combat—so what are we to you? Eye candy?”

“Or maybe just breeding tools.”

“Wangshu, I’ve told you to shut up! Stay out of grown-ups’ conversations!”

“No, no, no.” Cheng Jinyang was sweating bullets trying to explain. “Why are we even talking about this? My feelings for all of you are sincere; it has nothing to do with whether you’re useful to me or not.”

“Then why didn’t you tell us before you left?”

“Yeah, you kept it from us but told Wanrou and Her Highness. Isn’t that just saying you don’t trust us?”

“Wanrou figured it out on her own, and I told Her Highness because she’s familiar with the terrain in the Central Plains…” Cheng Jinyang felt like his throat was going dry, even though speaking in his consciousness didn’t actually use up saliva.

“That just means you think we’re useless, doesn’t it?”

The voices in his head grew even more chaotic. Unable to handle the uproar, Cheng Jinyang quickly shut off his demonic transformation state, forcibly cutting off his connection to the girls.

For the past few days of the journey, every time he activated the demonic transformation state, the girls would start bickering all at once. Cheng Jinyang, completely overwhelmed, had no choice but to “hang up” to end the chaos.

“Idiot,” Wang Wanrou muttered faintly, her eyes still closed.

“They’re just worried about me,” Cheng Jinyang said stiffly, trying to defend himself.

“Hmph.” Wang Wanrou didn’t bother to argue. She simply let out a cold laugh. “Move over.”

“What for?” Cheng Jinyang scooted closer.

“Sleeping.” Wang Wanrou then lay down, resting her head on his lap. Her hands crossed over her stomach as she stretched out on the train’s long bench.

Cheng Jinyang: …

A beautiful girl, a lap pillow—this should’ve been twice the joy. So why wasn’t he the one lying down? As he stared at Wang Wanrou’s peaceful sleeping face, a mischievous thought suddenly crept into his mind: should he lean down and kiss her? There was no one else in the train car right now. Even if he did, no one would notice. As for Miss Wang herself? She’d be easy to placate. He’d just need to say something like, “Your unparalleled beauty clouded my judgment.”

…Forget it. I, Cheng Jinyang, am a gentleman. How could I do something that goes against a lady’s wishes? But then again, why is it that when she asks for a lap pillow, I have to oblige, yet when I want to kiss her, I can’t?

“Um.” Cheng Jinyang hesitated before asking quietly, “Wanrou, have you had your first kiss yet? No reason, I’m just curious…”

Wang Wanrou opened her eyes. “Want to find out?”

Cheng Jinyang froze.

The next second, she wrapped her arms around his neck and forcefully pulled his head down.