"Hmph, so this is Zhixin's place?"
Wang Global Technology Company's was located on the grounds of Heaven's Gate Resort. Wang Zhixin's private resident was on the top floor on the building, directly above his office.
Jian Qingshan managed to het the key to his apartment from his secretary. The man must have spoken to her in advanced, anticipating just such event would happened.
So, this is what life is like for people who lived above clouds.
She had to search the place before the master of the castle returns, but it was surprisingly empty. Just like his office, his living room was conspicuously bare and minimalistic. Clean and spacious like a model home, the place doesn't feel lived in at all.
However, it was a convenient development as far as her mission is concerned. The emptier the place, the easier it is to search.
Before coming inside the room, she had cautiously looked around and there don't seem to be any security cameras. She was thinking about going to investigate the other rooms when she heard a noise in the entryway. Quickly, she curls her lips into a soft smile.
"Welcome home. I'm here, just like I promised."
"…"
"That was rough. Were you able to convince Mr. Li?"
"I managed to stave him off for the time being. Now we just have to do as you said, keep putting in the work to sell our story."
"Oh? That reminds me. I put the contract here, so—"
Wang Zhixin takes a little breath before roughly running his fingers through his hair. Then, sticking his hand in his jacket pockets, he walks off.
"Where are you going?"
"To take a shower. I'll talk to you about our next move once I'm done. Make yourself at home." And with that, he marches out of the living room.
Since the man have given her the permission, she was going to making herself at home. Before it all, she touches her right earring and starts recording.
She was able to look around the in a short amount of time but didn't find anything useful. In fact, there was not much of anything at all. The place was completely empty. It was like he had a company furnish the place with absolute bare minimum.
The man makes more money than normal people can imagine, but it's like he has no interest whatsoever in material things.
Even the walk-in closet was filled with nothing but multiple pairs of the same, identical black suits.
They're all well-tailored, luxurious pieces, but when she opened the closet doors, she had no words.
His underwear was probably the same too. However, she had no interest in finding out.
As she eyes the place back and forth, she notices something that appears to be a door on the far side of the living room. However, there's no doorknob. When she presses her ear and knock lightly, she could hear an unmistaken echo. There was definitely a room on the other side of the door. But there was no way to get in.
It must be a secret room.
Thinking she had made a bad decision; she sees a mysterious object near the door. If only she could find a key. Not only is there no fingerprint, iris, or card reader, there was not even a simple keypad. But, there definitely must be a switch somewhere.
She knew it was dangerous to touch carelessly therefore she could only look it over.
"System online. Welcome."
A heat sensor system? And it has an electronic voice.
Jian Qingshan braces herself as the mysterious unit, glowing faintly, opens. Eventually, a rotating sphere floats out from inside. It was a hologram.
"Thermography reading complete. Body temperature and overall health condition favorable. Welcome, Guest."
"What in the world?"
"I am Amber, a holographic AI built to make your life more comfortable."
"…"
"Elevated heartbeat detected. You should take a few deep breaths, Guest."
"Umm, Amber? Were you developed by WGTC?" She asked after calming herself.
"Yes. I am the Amber prototype. My home version is currently in development. It will be released publicly in one year."
"A year?"
A flash of realization instantly lights up in her mind. Amber must be the product the man is trying to load with a virus. And the thing she need to have to destroy Amber was with Code X.
WGTC already sells AI products with voice recognition capabilities, but Amber seems outfitted with far, far more advanced features. If people all over the world buys the product, definitely the world will be taken over by viruses.
Startled, Jian Qingshan hears Wang Zhixin calling out to her.
"Amber, do you have an activation history? Do you save guest information?"
"No. Guests are not currently able to change my settings."
"Great! How do I turn you off?"
"I have a power button and a heat sensor system. In addition to pressing my physical off button, you can also turn me on and off by waving your hand in front of me."
"Thank you." She quickly turns Amber off, and the entire place goes quiet again.
The man still seems to be saying something from the bathroom and heads over hurriedly.
"Nianzhen, grab me a towel."
She went to grab a towel from his room and heads back to the bathroom.
"Zhixin? Can you hear me? I brought a towel."
Just as she was about to put the towel down, she sees the man standing on the other side of the glass shower doors. She couldn't stop her eyes from going wide.
The sound of the shower was drowning out his words. She couldn't make out what he was saying. But a thought came to her, 'why are rich people all so obsessed with glass showers anyway?'
This was far from her first time seeing a naked man, but his surprisingly toned body, and slicked back, raven hair made it impossible for her to look away.
Perhaps it's because he's usually so covered up, but she felt like she's looking at something forbidden, and the sight of his naked form sets off fireworks in her mind.
She just needs to give him the towel. It wasn't anything she couldn't do.
The scent of soap wafts through the air the second she opens the shower door.
"Be careful. The floor is wet by the door."
"…"
"Hey!"
Jian Qingshan had slipped forward into the suffocating steam. She did not fall, but only because the man had caught her in time. The arms gripping her body were wet and hot.
"You're surprisingly skilled at taking falls. You fell that night as well."
"That's only because of the pain. And this, is only happening thanks to your surprise strip show."
"Don't try to blame your fall on me."
She had snapped at him in an attempt to play off how awkward she felt, and he raises his eyebrow at her acerbic comment. It was only then that she realizes something very important.
Everything was recorded.
-
Wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, he casually sips on his drink before giving her a look.
"Are you done staring?"
"I didn't mean to. I was just thinking it must be nice to have a carbonated water maker at home. You can drink sparkling water whenever you want. But you're going to make yourself sick, hanging out in a wet towel. Don't you think you should put on a bathrobe or something?"
"If you want a drink, just say so."
"T-thank you." On the inside, she's screaming 'that's not what I was trying to say!' when his phone rings.
Glancing down at his phone, his lips curl into a faint smile.
"What is it?"
"The new product's development announcement and party are going to be held this weekend."
"New product?" After a moment of well-concealed surprise, she regards him with a normal smile.
"That's great. I bet it'll be another hit. What kind of product is it?"
"You'll find out when it's announced. You'll be attending the party too."
"I see. I guess it's only appropriate that I go with you."
"I usually invite a random woman, but you'll be my date this time. I'll be expecting you to deliver an Oscar-worthy performance as my soon-to-be fiancée. But only in front of my employees."
"I understand."
Once she was sure that he was facing the other way, she looks at the corner of the living room. If Amber was the prototype, then the announcement is probably one and the same.
She now believed that Amber was what she'll have to destroy. Now she just needs to find Code X and to do that she must earn his trust as his soon-to-be fiancée.
"So, I'll be attending the party. What kind of people will be there?"
"Members of the media, investors, celebrated professional from variety of different fields. Li Bai and my board of directors will be there as well."
Jian Qingshan just needs to impress and convinced his employees. As far as the other party guests are concerned, she'll just be the man's date.
"How exciting."
"I'm counting on you."
"Leave it to me. I got this. Thanks for telling me who will be there."
"Now that I think about it, there will be people from the entertainment world too."
"The entertainment world?"
"Like Lu Junyi for instance. He's appeared on a few of our ad campaigns."
"SHUT! UP!"
"…"
Jian Qingshan was overly excited and forgot about the man in front of her for a moment.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm just sort of a fan, that's all."
"Sort of?"
"Well. A pretty big fan."
"Pfft."
The man had broken out into a rare, ear to ear smile. He obviously found her pretty funny. Then, seeming to remember something, he says:
"You'll have to wear a gown."
"No problem. I'll find something appropriate."
"No. I'll go with you."
"What?"
"Clear your schedule for tomorrow afternoon."
It was definitely very unexpected. She wasn't sure what the man was planning to do.
The Wang Zhixin she knows wouldn't waste his time personally picking out a dress for his fake girlfriend.