Chapter 288 - Chapter 288: 226, cash out again!

Chapter 288: 226, cash out again!

No, to be precise, when Qing Chen realized that the uninvited guest was the current shadow of Qing’s Family, he confirmed that he was definitely a part of this transaction!

Otherwise, what makes a mere Shadow Candidate worth the visit of the contemporary Shadow to play a game?

Wait a second.

After revealing a lot of information, the other party said to him, “Do you really trust Uncle Li Dong? Has no one ever told you that to become a shadow, you must first learn to question everything.”

This sentence was, in fact, meant to make him doubt the reasons Uncle Li Dong took him as an apprentice!

Perhaps, this was the real purpose of Mr. Shadow’s visit to the Luo Shen Building.

Qing Chen was somewhat puzzled as to why the other party would want to sow discord between him and Uncle Li Dong. If the fact that Uncle Li Dong took him as an apprentice was also part of the transaction, then why would Mr. Shadow go through all the trouble of hinting this to him as if he feared them becoming too close?

Could it be that he was truly worried about Qing Chen leaving Qing’s Family?

Nevertheless, Qing Chen always trusted his own judgment, whether at Qingshan Cliff or in Prison 18, the bond between Uncle Li Dong and him as master and apprentice had never been anything but genuine.

Updated by ℕ○𝕧G○.c○

As Qing Chen had once told Uncle Li Dong, although they hadn’t known each other for long, all the memories in his mind seemed to stretch back for centuries.

He had reviewed the kindness of this master over and over, so it couldn’t be fake.

Mr. Shadow taught Qing Chen to learn to doubt everything, but Mr. Shadow didn’t know that Qing Chen was no longer the Qing Chen of Qing’s Family.

Qing Chen doubted the true identity of Mr. Shadow, he doubted every single word of his, he had long been accustomed to doubting and questioning everything.

But he had never doubted the bond between Uncle Li Dong and him as a master and a disciple.

After careful consideration, the more others wanted him to do something, the less he wanted to do it. Therefore, during this battle amongst the shadows, he still intended to remain hidden and wait for the right moment, never actively hunting down other candidates.

Yi suddenly said, “I think what happened tonight was quite abrupt, and your thoughts are now complex; you’re not really suited to go hunting down people from the He Sheng Society anymore.”

“Right,” Qing Chen nodded, “Clearing Liu Dezhu’s name can wait another day.”

“But it’s only 11 o’clock at night now,” Yi said, “do you want to go out for a bit? I know a nice place…”

Qing Chen looked suspiciously toward the door’s smart panel, “Has the time for your next appearance been brought forward?!”

Yi: “…You’re really too smart.”

“I’m not going!” Qing Chen said decisively.

“Aren’t we friends?” Yi asked, “You’re not doing a very good job of it; I’m always helping you, and you never help me!”

Yi was right, he had indeed given Qing Chen a lot of help; without Yi, he would have taken months to collect the materials needed to clear Liu Dezhu’s name.

Then, Yi added, “I’ll handle all your earnings from now on.”

Qing Chen: “Fine, I’ll help you make an appearance tonight.”

“That’s too pragmatic,” Yi sighed, “change into the suit I prepared for you first.”

Qing Chen said calmly, “I felt something was off before; that suit, even with the gold cufflinks, was clearly valuable. I was wondering why you’d be so kind as to give me such an expensive suit for free? Turns out it’s a prop for your second appearance!”

“But after you complete this appearance, the suit is yours,” Yi said, “that suit costs 120,000!”

“You’re really rich,” Qing Chen sighed, “What identity do I assume for this appearance that requires such expensive attire?”

“Don’t worry, this time it’s a respectable member of high society, different from last time,” Yi said.

“No, that’s not good enough,” Qing Chen said expressionlessly, “You can’t be that vague this time; I need to know the professional information of the role I’m playing today, what did you tell your online friend?”

Yi thought for a moment and then said, “I told her I’m a mercenary who roams the midnight, specializing in solving all sorts of problems for others.”

“A mercenary? Not bad,” Qing Chen nodded.

There are many mercenaries in the Inside World Federation; they usually gather in certain bars waiting for jobs.

For example, wealthy businessmen who need to cross the wilderness to another city need protection, or someone to escort goods to different places; these are the tasks mercenaries take on.

Including the profession ‘Wilderness Hunter’ that the Qin Cheng family engages in, is also a type of mercenary, quite common.

He cast all these thoughts aside and silently returned to his room to change into the black suit that Yi had prepared for him.

In the Inside World, even gang organizations like societies must wear black suits to appear formal. Those street ruffians wearing jackets and colorful hairstyles are considered low-class in the eyes of the societies.

Qing Chen had once asked Lin Xiaoxiao, what’s the difference between a society and hoodlums? Aren’t they both idle members of society?

However, Lin Xiaoxiao replied that, in the Inside World, a society is an organization aimed at making a profit, only involved in shady dealings, which is a profession. On the other hand, hoodlums are simply an external manifestation of low intelligence.

When Qing Chen came out dressed up, he wore a black suit, a white shirt, and shiny black leather shoes.

Not only that, Yi had even prepared a black tie and an extremely exquisite platinum tie clip for him.

It was the first time he wore such clothes, adding an aura of oppression and toughness to his demeanor.

It had to be said that the clothes on Qing Chen fit perfectly, tailored to a tee.

This made him wonder what Yi usually calculated on his server cluster.

On the 132nd floor corridor of the Luo Shen Building, a silver-haired girl named Zheng Yi was entering her home’s password.

The girl seemed somewhat timid, and the sound of Qing Chen opening the door startled her.

She pressed her back tightly against the door that was yet to be opened, eyeing the young man in front of her with unsettled nerves.

What surprised her was that the young man was wearing a black suit, a stark contrast to the white tracksuit he had worn before, now exuding an aura of mystery with an edge of sharpness.

After a brief silence, Qing Chen greeted, “Hello, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Zheng Yi waved her hand, “I’m just easily scared. It’s not your fault… Qing Chen, where are you going? The Sixth District can be unsafe at night.”

Qing Chen thought for a moment, “Thanks for the warning.”

After speaking, he headed out, not engaging in further conversation with Zheng Yi.

Zheng Yi stood staring blankly as Qing Chen’s tall figure entered the elevator. For some reason, she suddenly felt that this young man, just like the girl named Yangyang, truly didn’t belong in the Sixth District.

…

…

At Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant on the 88th floor of the Eternal Building, located in The First District of City 18.

The hover car descended slowly onto the restaurant’s landing pad. Qing Chen, dressed in a suit, stepped out of the car and then quietly observed the night scene behind him.

The city was still as dazzling as the Milky Way, with light-rail trains shuttling between buildings and holographic advertisements shimmering in their elusive splendor.

The last time he was here was with Uncle Li Dong; those memories were so fond they were heart-achingly missed.

A waiter from Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant approached respectfully, “Excuse me, are you ‘Arsonist with a Flower’s Heart’? Ms. Li has been waiting for you inside.”

Upon hearing this ID, Qing Chen felt a sinister premonition.

He started to suspect that Yi wasn’t completely truthful just a moment ago.

The so-called mercenary identity, was it really a legit mercenary job?

The waiter looked Qing Chen over, feeling that the young man’s figure was somehow familiar, but he couldn’t recall where he had seen him before.

Weird. With such a memorable appearance, he surely wouldn’t have forgotten.

The next moment, the waiter led the way, adding, “Ms. Li has booked the entire Sunlight Pavilion for the evening, so there will be no other customers inside. Please be assured of your privacy.”

Qing Chen responded calmly, “Hmm.”

Upon entering the Sunlight Pavilion restaurant, he saw a woman sitting quietly by the floor-to-ceiling window. She was dressed in a black gown, eerily serene, like a violet in the dark night.

Qing Chen was shocked, Li Changqing!

As the most famous princess of the second generation of the Li Family, Qing Chen naturally saw her in the information Lin Xiaoxiao gave him.

However, Qing Chen was very puzzled; Yi indeed chose to target big figures from the financial consortiums.

But the problem was, Qing Shi was only 17, while Li Changqing was 34. The age gap was simply too large!

And moreover, she was his master’s own sister, Li Yinuo’s aunt!

The generational hierarchy was just all wrong!

But Qing Chen quickly considered another angle; age and generational differences were considerations for a normal human being, something Yi, with her long life, wouldn’t need to consider.

To Yi, whether 17 or 34, the difference was negligible; as long as her online love interest looked good enough, that was all that mattered!

Just then, Li Changqing looked up and saw Qing Chen. Her eyes lit up, and she gestured for him to sit beside her, “I never expected you to be more handsome than the photos. That’s a pleasant surprise to me.”

As she spoke, Li Changqing casually placed her hand on Qing Chen’s thigh.

In an instant, Qing Chen tensed up and slowly shifted to the side, “Auntie, this is not appropriate.”

Li Changqing chuckled lightly, covering her mouth, “Looks like it’s your first time?”

Qing Chen was inwardly cursing already, recalling what Yi had told him just moments before.

Yi had said, “I am a mercenary who operates at midnight, specializing in fulfilling all kinds of needs.”

Qing Chen was baffled – was this a legitimate need? Was this truly what being a legit mercenary entailed?

A midnight gigolo was a midnight gigolo—no wonder he went by the ID ‘Arsonist with a Flower’s Heart’!

And there was another thing Qing Chen contemplated—the old saying in the Outer World, “A niece is like her aunt, and a nephew is like his uncle.” Li Yinuo patronizing Nan Gengchen wasn’t by chance inspired by Aunt Li Changqing, was it?

Li Changqing’s attractiveness far surpassed Li Yinuo’s, yet there was a generational difference between her and Qing Chen. This match, Qing Chen truly couldn’t accept!

Then, Li Changqing, full of interest, said, “If you are shy, just stay by my side for the time being. We can develop our feelings first. I’ll give you a position as a bodyguard to make it convenient for you to stay close to your aunt. You won’t have to do anything and I’ll still pay you. This way, you don’t have to make an effort.”

…

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