NOVEL NEXT Chapter 209: Chapter 209: He Confessed to Me
Compared to everything else, the most shocking news Mo Chen received was that the forces sent to the surface for extermination had not been completely wiped out, as the Ark had claimed. Instead, after suffering heavy losses, they had retreated to the Outpost Base to recover.
Hearing this, Mo Chen let out a small sigh of relief.
A few hours later, the group successfully arrived at the Outpost.
The devastated land was riddled with craters, as if it had been plowed through, completely unrecognizable from its original state. Buildings that had once stood as crumbling ruins, barely retaining their skeletal frameworks, had now been completely razed to the ground.
The thick walls of the Outpost were covered in bullet holes, and several turrets had been destroyed. However, the overall structure remained intact: Nikkes specializing in engineering could be seen actively repairing the damage.
As they approached the base's firing range, Mo Chen immediately sensed the turrets locking onto them. Fortunately, the ones guarding quickly identified him as the commander and opened the gates.
Upon entry, a group of Nikke guards hurried over and saluted him.
"Commander!"
Their faces were filled with excitement.
Mo Chen patted their shoulders in recognition, offering words of encouragement.
"You've done a great job. I'm very reassured to see the Outpost Base in your hands."
The girls were thrilled by Mo Chen's praise. One of the younger Nikkes even sniffled slightly, only to be nudged by a fellow Nikke, causing her to smile sheepishly in embarrassment.
Meanwhile, in the corner of a distant street, Eunhwa observed Mo Chen as he was surrounded by Nikkes. She let out a small huff, turned away, and began walking off.
Emma, understanding her thoughts, stepped forward to stop her.
"Don't you want to see the Commander?"
"Why would I want to see him?"
Eunhwa didn't even glance back. Her tone was as cold as ice, her hands tucked in her pockets without the slightest intention of taking them out.
Emma, knowing Eunhwa's personality well, naturally understood what was on her mind.
"The better something is, the more people will want it. If you don't fight for it, someone else will take it from you."
Eunhwa's steps came to a halt. She turned her head slightly, tilting it at a proud forty-five-degree angle, and scoffed with an air of disdain.
"He's nothing special. People chasing after what they think is 'good' are just blindly following the crowd. Hmph, they're nothing more than mindless sheep."
At that moment, she was completely unaware that Mo Chen had already been standing behind her, looking rather helpless.
Emma, on the other hand, had clearly noticed him. She covered her mouth, stifling a laugh, though she still maintained a serious expression.
"But… you like him too, don't you?"
Eunhwa, for once, did not deny it. Instead, she spoke bluntly.
"I admit, I used to have feelings for him. But that was in the past. Now, I don't feel anything for him anymore. Even if he were standing in front of me, confessing his feelings, I wouldn't accept it."
Her expression remained indifferent, as if she were merely stating a fact that had nothing to do with her. There wasn't the slightest ripple of emotion—her demeanor was as calm and distant as a lotus floating in still water.
Emma glanced at Eunhwa, then at Mo Chen behind her.
Her eyes sparkled mischievously, as if filled with tiny stars. The corners of her eyes crinkled slightly, barely containing the laughter threatening to burst out.
She pressed her lips together tightly, struggling to hold back the amusement welling up inside her.
"Is that really the case?"
"Of course."
Eunhwa's long hair was as smooth as silk, jet-black like ink, cascading loosely over her shoulders, adding a hint of untamed charm. Her skin was pale as jade, yet exuded a cold aura, as if even sunlight couldn't leave a trace of warmth on her.
"Nikkes are weapons. We don't need emotions."
The moment Eunhwa turned around, her pupils shrank, and her entire body stiffened as if someone had pressed the pause button. Even her neck seemed to lock up like rusted metal. For the first time, her deep, ink-like gaze showed a flicker of astonishment.
It was Mo Chen!
Behind her, Emma stifled a giggle.
Eunhwa's fair face went through a brief cycle of paling and flushing before quickly settling back into her usual cold indifference. She lowered her voice and said to Mo Chen, "Step aside."
However, what came out of his mouth next was something she never expected.
"I like you."
Emma froze.
Her eyes filled with sheer disbelief, as if she had just heard something completely impossible.
Mo Chen actually confessed.
But what shocked her even more was that Eunhwa merely gave a calm "Mm" in response. She said nothing else, as if nothing had happened, walking past Mo Chen without a second glance. She blended into the crowd, her expression indifferent and unmoved.
Emma stepped up to Mo Chen, looking at him sincerely.
"Thank you, Commander."
Eunhwa was someone with a strong sense of pride, someone who never admitted defeat.
But people who are too proud often see themselves as the best, and such excessive confidence can lead to isolation, making it difficult for them to truly trust or form deep connections with others.
Her self-esteem was also incredibly strong.
From Emma's perspective, Mo Chen had said that on purpose—not to embarrass Eunhwa, but to give her a way out of the situation, sparing her from an awkward moment. It was a self-sacrificing move, and it made Emma's impression of Mo Chen rise significantly.
Because she knew that the stronger someone's pride, the easier they were to hurt.
Yet, Mo Chen only smiled.
"I really do like Eunhwa. She's exactly my type."
His face seemed to light up as if bathed in warm sunlight, making him look even more vibrant and charming—genuine, without the slightest hint of pretense.
Not far away, Eunhwa, who had yet to fully leave, suddenly stumbled. Though she quickly regained her balance, her footsteps became slightly unsteady. Moments later, she vanished into the streets.
Inside the dormitory.
The Nikkes inside were all stunned when Eunhwa walked in, exuding an icy aura that seemed to chill the air itself. Just getting close to her was enough to make them feel the biting cold, and they instinctively backed away, afraid of becoming her next target.
They began whispering among themselves, curious and worried.
Who had pissed off Eunhwa? Whoever it was, they were doomed.
"Bang!"
The door slammed shut.
Eunhwa leaned against it, her body slowly sliding down until she curled up on the floor. She pulled her legs close together, cupped her face in her hands, and buried her head in her knees.
That frigid, glacier-like expression disappeared in an instant, vanishing without a trace.
In its place, a deep, burning blush spread rapidly across her face, bright as a peach blossom, climbing from her cheeks all the way to her ears, like the first light of dawn painting the sky pink.
Her gaze became hazy, as if covered by a thin mist. Her breathing turned slightly erratic, her flushed skin burning as if it might ignite at any moment.
One thought echoed in her mind, over and over again.
He confessed to me.
He confessed to me.
He confessed to me.