It was already quite late, so Shen Youan found a hotel at random.
Chuncheng was a tourist city, and since it was currently summer vacation, the hotels were nearly full.
“I’m sorry, our standard and business rooms are all sold out. We only have one presidential suite left.”
The hotel receptionist sized up the girl in front of her. Dressed plainly and unremarkable in appearance, she looked like a student traveler; there was no way she could afford a presidential suite that cost eighteen thousand yuan a night.
The girl before her didn’t even blink as she pulled a black bank card from her wallet and pushed it forward.
The receptionist picked up the card with suspicion. Upon seeing the pattern on it, her pupils couldn’t help but constrict.
It was a limited-edition Supreme Card from Tianlu Bank.
It was said there were only ten of them in the entire world.
Anyone holding such a card was either of noble status or immense wealth.
The receptionist quickly swiped the card and returned the room key, ID, and bank card with both hands.
The girl placed them back in her bag and turned toward the elevator.
Watching the girl’s slender retreating figure, the receptionist couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Truly, one should never judge a book by its cover.
Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a girl rushed over. “Wait…”
Shen Youan pressed the button to hold the door. A short-haired girl soon entered, pulling another girl with shoulder-length hair behind her.
The short-haired girl cast a quick, fleeting glance at Shen Youan before turning her head away haughtily.
“Qiqi, has your admission letter arrived?”
“Mhm. My mom called me this afternoon; the admission letter from Lan Ya High School has already arrived.” The long-haired girl tilted her chin slightly, looking like an elegant white swan. Her gentle tone carried a trace of pride that was hard to detect.
“That’s Lan Ya High School, the best private high school in the city! Qiqi, I’m so jealous.”
“Wende High School isn’t bad either. Don’t be discouraged.”
“But it can’t compare to Lan Ya. I heard Lan Ya has eight cafeterias covering every cuisine in the world. Even the school uniforms are incredibly fashionable and beautiful—they say they were designed by a world-famous fashion designer. Going to a school like that is like a dream.”
Luo Yunqi smiled gently. As the elevator doors were as reflective as a mirror, she looked up and saw a slender figure reflected on the surface.
“The spots at Lan Ya High School are extremely precious. Rankings are held once a year, and if you fall behind, you’ll be replaced. That’s why I have to work twice as hard to maintain my place there. You should work hard too; maybe you can get into Lan Ya eventually.”
“I don’t have a chance, but you and the Great God Liu can finally be reunited.”
Tian Wei gave an ambiguous smile.
A hint of shyness appeared on Luo Yunqi’s face as she chided, “Stop talking nonsense.”
“How is it nonsense? Don’t tell me you don’t like Great God Liu?”
Luo Yunqi’s face darkened. “If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll ignore you.”
“Fine, fine, I’m done joking. But speaking of which, Great God Liu ranked second in the province again this time. Who on earth is that number one? To think they actually made our Great God Liu settle for second place.”
Her tone was full of indignation.
Luo Yunqi frowned. “I heard it’s a girl. Lan Ya High School spent a million yuan to scout her.”
“A million?” Tian Wei gasped.
“Lan Ya really went all out. Still, I can already imagine what she looks like—scrawny, a pair of black-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, plain-looking, a total nerd. That kind of person is just a study machine.”
While they were talking, the elevator reached the twelfth floor. The doors opened, and the two walked out, still chatting.
As the elevator doors slowly slid shut, the girl’s rhythmic voice drifted in from the hallway: “How could she compare to you, Qiqi? You’re a ‘white, rich, and beautiful’ girl who’s also good at studying…”
Shen Youan pushed up the black-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose.
Unremarkable appearance? A study machine?
It was exactly the effect she wanted. Excellent.
The elevator reached the fifteenth floor. There was only one presidential suite on this level, making it extremely quiet.
She swiped her card and entered. The room was massive, divided into three areas: a living room, a bedroom, and a study.
Shen Youan didn’t spare it a second glance. She set down her backpack and went to the bathroom to wash up.
After showering, she stepped out wrapped in a bath towel, just as her phone gave a “ding.”
Shen Youan walked over and picked up the phone. An encrypted message popped up. After she entered the password, the screen went black as a progress bar quickly loaded.
Soon, the phone entered a new system and automatically jumped into a chat application.
The interface was a very simple black and white.
[Chong Ming]: Boss, I’m almost dead. Quick, come save me.
[Dan Huang]: Just go die then.
[Chong Ming]: Boss, you’re so heartless! Do you not like your little cutie anymore?
Shen Youan walked over and turned on her laptop. Once it booted up, her hands flew across the keyboard, tapping with rapid precision.
Soon, a satellite map appeared on the screen with a GPS lock. The red dot was fixed on a location very close to where she was now.
Shen Youan narrowed her eyes and replied via phone: You’re in Chuncheng.
[Chong Ming]: Holy crap, Boss, do you have a third eye or something?
[Dan Huang]: To be hunted down all the way here… you really are useless.
The person currently being called useless was hiding in a small alley, wanting to cry but having no tears.
In the darkness, a shadow gradually approached.
Chong Ming gripped his dagger tightly, his teeth clenched as a fierce light flared in his eyes.
At worst, he’d just go down fighting. He had to show the Boss he definitely wasn’t useless.
A man’s sinister laughter echoed in the darkness. “Stop hiding. Today, there’s only one path for you: death.”
Chong Ming stood up and walked out. “You lot purge those who disagree with you and murder your own kind. If Lord Bai Ze finds out, he will never forgive him!”
He brandished his dagger as he finished speaking. “I will never let your conspiracy succeed!”
Bo Jiao snorted coldly. “Overestimating yourself.”
With a wave of his hand, two men in black flashed out from behind him, charging straight for Chong Ming.
Chong Ming cursed inwardly as he struggled to fend them off. He was quickly forced into a disadvantage. One of them struck him in the abdomen; despite the pain, Chong Ming took the opportunity to plunge his dagger into the man’s chest.
His gaze revealed a wolf-like ferocity. “Even if I die, I’m taking you with me!”
Bo Jiao said impatiently, “He’s just a C-rank mercenary. You guys are disappointing me.”
The two men in black looked at each other, their expressions turning ruthless as they prepared to end it quickly.
At that moment, two pebbles tore through the air, hitting the knees of both men. They knelt on the ground with a cry of pain.
Bo Jiao snapped his head up. At the end of the alley, a person was perched atop a wall, though he hadn’t noticed when they arrived. The person was idly playing with a pebble.
Under the moonlight, their hands appeared slender and jade-like.
“Who are you? You dare interfere in my business? Are you tired of living?” Bo Jiao roared, his gaze wary as one hand quietly reached for the silenced pistol at his waist.
“Boss!” Chong Ming looked at the person on the wall, his eyes filled with pleasant surprise.
“You dare bully someone under my protection? It’s you who’s tired of living.” As the words fell, the pebble in her hand flew out, heading straight for Bo Jiao’s face.
The speed was too fast for Bo Jiao to dodge. It struck his left eye, and a scream immediately erupted from his throat.
The two subordinates were now trembling, looking at the mysterious figure with terrified eyes.
The figure leaped down from the wall, floating before Bo Jiao like a ghost in the blink of an eye. She raised a foot and stepped on his shoulder, slowly pressing the man down toward the ground.
“You… who exactly are you?”
Beneath the brim of her hat, a pair of beautiful eyes were shrouded in a misty haze.
“C-rank mercenary, Dan Huang.”