“0.2%.”
“0.3%.”
“……”
“0.4%.”
The numbers crawled upward like a snail on a tree.
Song Jinze stayed silent beside her.
Xu Lian felt even more humiliated.
Was she really that bad?
Damn it!
She couldn’t bear to watch any longer and raised her hand to remove the device.
“Don’t move.”
Song Jinze suddenly stopped her and pressed her hand down.
He was staring intently at the data, his voice and breathing soft. “Don’t rush. Wait a little longer.”
Xu Lian felt a little wronged. “Forget it, Commander Song, I want to leave.”
Song Jinze: “Don’t go.”
Xu Lian: “……”
She could tell Song Jinze probably didn’t think much of her, and he certainly didn’t believe that an F-class like her could pilot a starship successfully.
Of course, she didn’t even believe it herself.
She sat silently, staring at the humiliating decimals, and her mind drifted to memories of her miserable life.
0 years old, born.
4 years old, lost both parents.
5 years old, orphanage, despised by classmates and teachers.
6, 7, 8…16 years old, rejected in the first, second, third… nth psychic evaluations.
17 years old, first met Lin Zhaocai, survived by scavenging and secretly studying using his notes.
18 years old, officially deemed an F-class talentless waste, life with no chance of turning around.
19 years old, joined the intelligence organization under her orphan and illegal identity, serving the higher-ups.
20, 21, 22, 23 years old, surviving by the skin of her teeth, scraping by in dangerous situations.
24 years old, diagnosed with black brain syndrome, life expectancy less than a year.
She glanced at the S-class commander beside her, still shocked at her pitiful numbers, and felt desolate.
She spoke morosely, “Commander Song, I know I’m terrible, but you don’t need to stare at me so long. Haven’t you seen such low numbers before?”
She looked at the screen; the value had maxed out, stabilizing at 0.9%.
Xu Lian couldn’t bear to look.
Song Jinze didn’t answer her, lost in thought.
After several quiet seconds, he suddenly removed all his connected devices, stood up, and helped her remove hers too. Ignoring her protests, he picked her up, cradling her in his arms, striding swiftly toward the research lab.
The passing subordinates were utterly stunned.
What was wrong with their Supreme Commander today?
Why was he so agitated?
He went in and out, in and out—what did it all mean?
From their perspective, today the Supreme Commander had suddenly brought back a strange woman, first into his bedroom, then his cockpit, then inexplicably into the Interrogation Room, hurriedly performed surgery, brought her back to the cockpit, and now was heading to the research lab.
What was happening? Some kind of timed room experience?
Xu Lian was handed over to a top-level researcher.
He ordered: “Immediately conduct a full routine examination, including all psychic data tests. Send me the report as soon as it’s done.”
Xu Lian, still perched on his forearm, froze. “Hey, what are you doing? I have things to do later.”
Song Jinze vetoed her immediately. “Cancel them.”
Xu Lian: “……”
Brother, I have to go kill someone later—do you think I’m playing around with you?
She struggled against him. “Song Jinze, you promised to let me go.”
Song Jinze held her legs. “You can’t leave now.”
Xu Lian, fully in awe of his strict adherence to his word, muttered, “Don’t you feel shameless?”
Song Jinze: “Hmm.”
Xu Lian: “……” That two-faced bastard.
As they argued, the researcher glanced at Xu Lian, his eyes full of curiosity:
This woman was clearly not ordinary, daring to call out the Supreme Commander’s name.
Heh, word had already spread among the subordinates about what happened in the medical room—they whispered that Commander Song had accompanied her the entire time, kneeling on one knee and soothing her with gentle words.
Heaven.
They were seeing the man himself in person so soon.
Unable to resist, the researcher stepped forward. “Miss, don’t worry. It’s just a routine check. It won’t take long.”
Song Jinze raised an eyebrow silently.
Good, as expected of his subordinate, lying without blinking.
And yet, the naive Rolling Wealth actually believed it. “O-okay, then please hurry.”
Song Jinze squinted at her with a faint smile and left, closing the door behind him.
Xu Lian realized she had been tricked.
Sure enough, she then underwent a four-hour deep examination.
She mentally cursed Song Jinze’s entire ancestry.
When she finally emerged, Xu Lian was completely exhausted.
Song Jinze, having likely just finished his work, leaned lazily against the doorway. “How do you feel?”
Xu Lian, looking like a kidney-deficient zombie, replied weakly, “You stupid—”
Thud.
She collapsed on the spot.
…
When Xu Lian woke up, she found herself in a medical pod, Song Jinze sitting beside her, eyes on his work files, brow slightly furrowed.
She tried feebly to get up. “Let me go…”
Song Jinze didn’t look up. “Lie down.”
Xu Lian: “Let me…”
Thud.
She fainted again.
Song Jinze looked up slightly, mildly exasperated.
Her body was ridiculously fragile.
…
When Xu Lian woke a third time, still in the pod, Song Jinze hadn’t left. This time, he wasn’t looking at files but staring intently at her face, silently, for who knew how long.
However, his gaze was far from kind—it wasn’t concern or gentleness. It was like he was looking at prey.
Xu Lian shivered. “Please let me go, I beg you.”
Song Jinze finally relented, voice flat. “Where to? I’ll send someone with you.”
Xu Lian tugged at her messy hair. “Ah… inconvenient.”
Song Jinze chuckled lightly. “What, trying to sneak off and do something bad behind my back?”
Xu Lian: “……” Could he not be so perceptive?
Yet his guess was, unfortunately, accurate.
She felt exposed, but she really didn’t have time to waste on Song Jinze.
Suddenly recalling something, she spoke seriously: “I warn you, release me immediately, or I’ll send the files.”
Song Jinze lowered his lashes, surprised she still remembered that threat.
He indeed felt threatened and became less amicable. “Fine, then leave on your own.”
Xu Lian: “Open the pod door.”
Song Jinze continued to look down at his files, casually saying, “I’ve given you access. You can come and go freely here in the future.”
Xu Lian snorted. “Well, thank you, then.”
She knew exactly what Song Jinze was up to—he just feared her soul would be swapped again, leaving him powerless like last time.
Heh. Smart.
Xu Lian left.
Song Jinze didn’t bother accompanying her, remaining seated.
Halfway out, Xu Lian suddenly returned, looking slightly embarrassed.
Song Jinze glanced at her lightly. “What now? Can’t bear to leave?”
Xu Lian clasped her hands in front of her, looking awkward and stiff: “Um… could you… lend me some money?”
Song Jinze lifted his eyes slowly, silent.
Xu Lian steeled herself and bowed. “Boss, just a bit, as if I’m buying your stuff.”
Song Jinze nearly choked. “…Are you trying to die?”
Xu Lian countered boldly. “Or do you want me to make it public?”
“……”
She was indeed penniless and morally bankrupt.
Although she had previously sent a large amount of gold to Lin Zhaocai, she had forgotten to keep a backup for herself—what a fatal oversight.
Originally, she wanted to borrow from Lin Zhaocai, but fearing misunderstandings, she decided to go to the wealthy Song Jinze instead, after all, she had leverage over him.
No reason not to use it.
Song Jinze: “How much do you need?”
Xu Lian scratched her head and boldly asked: “Two million gold.”
Song Jinze laughed. “How dare you ask for that?”
It wasn’t much for him, but why should Rolling Wealth get it?
Xu Lian bared her teeth. “1.99 million.”
Song Jinze: “……”
Silence.
She cut further. “1.98 million.”
Still silent.
Cut again: “1.97 million.”
Silent.
“1.96 million.”
Silent.
“1.95 million.”
Silent.
“1.84.”
“1.83.”
“1.82.”
“1.81.”
Song Jinze couldn’t take it anymore. “You’re counting down?”
Xu Lian: “Final price: 1.8 million.”
“……”
Xu Lian clasped her hands. “Boss, really can’t go lower. You know this line of work isn’t easy. Just give me a bit.”
“……”
He sighed.
He couldn’t believe he was haggling over money with a mysterious little spy.
Song Jinze: “Two million. I’ll transfer it to you later.”
Xu Lian immediately beamed, legs together, bowing. “Thank you, Boss! Wishing your business prosperity and endless wealth!”
Song Jinze: “Get lost.”
“Alright, Boss, I’ll go now.” Xu Lian grabbed the money and ran.
“……”
Song Jinze silently watched her retreating back, then sent a message to his subordinate.
Song Jinze: 「Did you put the device in as I told you?」
Doctor: 「Yes, Commander. While performing the chip removal on the lady, I also put the chip you provided in.」
Song Jinze: 「Hmm.」
He activated the locator. Sure enough, the chip he had planted on Rolling Wealth was already moving.
He curved his lips slightly. Run, Rolling Wealth. Run slowly—I want to see where you can go.