Chapter 10: Are You Sure They Didn’t Sell You Off?
He Zhong was coming down from the fourth floor when he happened to run into Shen Qing.
“Miss Shen, you’re back.”
“Mm.” Shen Qing replied indifferently, opening the door to her room on the third floor.
“Miss Shen, a package arrived for you today. I left it on the dining table downstairs,” He Zhong said just as Shen Qing was closing her door.
“Alright, thank you. I’ll go get it now.” Shen Qing smiled at him.
He Zhong waved his hand. “It’s all part of my job.”
“But your parcel was quite heavy and tightly wrapped. I didn’t dare leave it on the ground, afraid it might get damaged.”
By then, both of them had reached the downstairs area.
Shen Qing walked quickly over and picked up the package, noticing the sender’s address was from Country M.
“Miss Shen, what did you buy online?” He Zhong couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.
“A laptop.”
“No wonder it’s so heavy.” He Zhong hadn’t checked the label and assumed it was just the kind of online shopping domestic girls liked. But buying such a high-end item online—wasn’t she worried about getting a fake?
Shen Qing said nothing, taking her package and heading upstairs.
“Miss Shen!” He Zhong caught up to her. “There’s something I’m not sure if I should say.”
Shen Qing: “Then don’t.”
He Zhong: “……”
Can’t we have a pleasant conversation?
“Miss Shen, your situation in this household… You should try to get along with the master. Your life will be much easier in the future. After all, he’s your father.”
Shen Qing paused for a moment; she hadn’t expected the steward to say this to her.
“Thank you, but I don’t need that.” The girl laughed, a hint of insolence at the corner of her lips.
He Zhong: “……”
Well! Wasted breath!
“Go on upstairs and rest.” Seeing Shen Qing’s attitude, He Zhong didn’t know what else to say. He could only offer advice up to this point. Miss Shen was still young—when she suffered, it would be too late for regrets.
After Shen Qing went upstairs, Qin Lin entered and immediately saw He Zhong standing at the foot of the staircase.
“Steward?”
He Zhong snapped out of it. “Eh! Madam, do you need something?”
Qin Lin placed her bag on the sofa. “Min’er will be back the day after tomorrow. Is the recording studio renovated?”
“It’s done. Would you like to take a look?”
“Mm.”
*
Shen Qing returned to her room and immediately opened the package. Inside was a black laptop.
She powered it on; the desktop was cluttered, filled with software not available on the market.
*
Qi Lin sat in his office chair, fingers flying across the keyboard. Suddenly, an avatar that hadn’t lit up in three years blinked to life.
“Damn! What day is it today?” Qi Lin checked the directory next to him—August twentieth.
He clicked the avatar and sent several messages.
[Qi Lin: Damn! The missing person has returned!]
[Qi Lin: That batch of contraband from the Luo family, will you share?]
[Dragon Ao Tian: Do I look short of money?]
Qi Lin: ……
Listen to that—what a nouveau riche tone!
Dragon Ao Tian’s wealth was known throughout Tengu. When Tengu was first established, their inaugural deal failed miserably. But Dragon Ao Tian appeared out of nowhere, investing a huge sum that brought Tengu back from the brink.
[Qi Lin: You haven’t been active for three years. There’s talk that the top hacker’s position is up for grabs.]
[Qi Lin: Aren’t you worried? You’re our flagship. If you withdraw from the front line, my business will suffer, and so will your share.]
In the Tengu Intelligence Center, the middle-aged man sitting in the office raked his hair in frustration.
Damn it!
The emperor isn’t anxious, but the eunuch is!
Qi Lin fired off several messages before the other man finally replied, lazily.
[Dragon Ao Tian: Oh.]
Pfft!
Qi Lin nearly fainted.
[Dragon Ao Tian: I’ve upgraded your firewall. Don’t bother me unless it’s urgent.]
Qi Lin: ……
He felt utterly humbled!
Who would have guessed that seven years ago, Dragon Ao Tian, the legendary hacker who shocked the world by attacking the satellite building in Country M, now only showed up to upgrade Tengu’s network security!
Truly, age dulls ambition.
Qi Lin felt a pang of compassion for Dragon Ao Tian.
He’d better focus on grooming new talent. That Li Dog Egg was promising, with solid computer skills.
“Boss?” A gruff male voice called from outside the office.
“Come in.” Qi Lin became serious in a second.
A tall man entered, carrying a tablet.
“Boss, here’s the intel: the goods will change hands at the border between Fan City and Y City in China, and their speed is five days ahead of schedule.”
“Notify Xia Mang. We’ve already sent someone to scout the location.”
“Uh… Xia Mang can’t be reached.”
“……”
The bad habits passed down from Dragon Ao Tian!
*
The headquarters of the International Medical Organization lay on the border of Country M and the S continent. From afar, the sign in front of the building read, Medical Science International.
“Mr. Qi.” A middle-aged, Mediterranean-looking man in a lab coat approached respectfully.
“Mm.” Mr. Qi nodded coolly and walked straight into the building.
The man looked at the expressionless youth behind Mr. Qi—slightly dark-skinned, dressed head to toe in designer brands.
Mr. Qi’s grandson?
“Do you recognize this instrument?” Mr. Qi pointed to a square device on the table.
The youth’s face was blank, voice hoarse. “Low-speed centrifuge.”
“And this one?” He pointed to another device.
“Spectrophotometer.”
“You actually know?” Mr. Qi was a little surprised.
Zhong Yi looked at the old man as if he were mentally challenged. “Am I not supposed to know?”
Mr. Qi clicked his tongue. This kid was sharp-tongued! Reminded him a bit of his sister.
“When will I get my lab coat?”
“No rush. You can rest for a couple of days.”
“No need. My sister sent me here to learn.”
Mr. Qi: “……”
Are you sure you weren’t sold here?
“Hmm? Old man?”
“Follow me. After lunch, I’ll give you the materials. Tomorrow you’ll assist me in experiments—is that alright?”
“Mm.” Zhong Yi nodded.
Mr. Qi smiled. Young and feisty—let’s see if he cries later.
Zhong Yi took out his phone and sent Shen Qing a message.
[Sis, I’m busy now. Don’t chat with me these days.]
The message was sent, and sure enough, Shen Qing didn’t reply for several months…
Zhong Yi: …
Aren’t we closer than family?