As the midday sun beat down on the bustling streets of the Qingdao city, Yun Chun sat across from Fen Hua, picking at her food with a furrowed brow. The weight of recent incidents had been heavy on her mind, because ever since she knew about the incredible achievement of Cera on the Darknet, her days had been anything but easy since then, and her behavior had taken a sharp turn towards aggression, causing concern among her fellow members of the esteemed Yun Family.
For two days straight, she had not closed her eyes in slumber. Instead, she had been tirelessly working on completing tasks on the Darknet, hoping to earn new achievements. Despite her efforts, she remained stuck in the top 50, unable to climb any higher. She even attempted to tackle the daunting +A1 category task, but as each stage grew increasingly complex, she found herself abandoning it midway.
Once the center of attention, she now found herself overshadowed by the arrival of Cera. The newcomer had stolen her spotlight in one fell swoop, leaving her seething with anger. Her fury had reached such a boiling point that she now harbored a burning desire to track down Cera and end her life. She had even attempted to hack into Cera's system, but her firewalls proved impenetrable.
Yun Chun had always believed that her hacking skills would take her to new heights, and perhaps even catch the eye of the enigmatic and handsome man she had glimpsed in a past life. But now, it all seemed like a fruitless endeavor.
Lost in her thoughts, she was suddenly jolted back to reality by the presence of Fen Hua, who sat before her with a grin as wide as a quokka's. "Chun, are you there?" he asked.
Forced to put on a facade of sweetness, Yun Chun replied, "I'm sorry, Brother Hua. I was just lost in thought." But inside, she was repulsed by his clinginess. She had no desire to spend time with him, but Su Fang had insisted, and so she found herself obliged to join Fen Hua for lunch.
"Chun, is everything alright? Are you facing any difficulties?" After a brief pause, he reassured her, "Please trust me. I'll help you with everything I could." Fen Hua gently placed his hand on Yun Chun's idle hand resting on the table, speaking in a calm and comforting tone.
Fen Hua's gentle touch on Yun Chun's hand was like a feather caressing her skin. But Yun Chun couldn't help but feel a sense of revulsion when she saw his hand on hers. It was as if a slimy creature had crawled onto her hand.
She put on a sweet smile and spoke in a soft voice, "Brother Hua, I appreciate your concern, but I'm not in trouble. I'm just worried about Lin Chang. You know how much she likes you. What if she sees us together? It would break her heart."
Hoping to add to the effect, Yun Chun's eyes welled up with tears, and she blinked them away.
Fen Hua's reaction was like a lion being taunted with raw meat. The mere mention of Lin Chang's name made him bristle with anger. "Don't mention her name, Chun. I can't stand the thought of her. She's like a thorn in my side, always nagging and whining."
Yun Chun smiled inwardly, knowing that she had won this round, sldespite her dislike for Fen Hua, Yun Chun knew she had to keep him close. He would serve as a stepping stone for her in future. But what truly made him valuable was Lin Chang's fondness for him. By keeping Fen Hua under her thumb, Yun Chun could easily manipulate Lin Chang and even inflict her own brand of torture upon her. The mere thought of it made Yun Chun's lips curl into a sly smirk.
As they continued their lunch, a sudden commotion caught Yun Chun's attention. A group of impeccably dressed men sauntered through the entrance, their chiseled features and debonair demeanor turning heads. At first, Yun Chun tried to dismiss them as just another group of handsome strangers, but then she saw him. The man in the center of the group, the one who made her heart skip a beat and time stand still.
The world around her fell silent, and even the bustling crowd seemed to move in slow motion. Yun Chun's breath caught in her throat as she realized who it was. The same man from her past life, the one who had left an indelible mark on her soul.
From the moment of her rebirth, a singular obsession has consumed her every thought: 'she must marry him'. Despite lacking any knowledge of his name or personal details, his mere countenance and aura were enough to elevate him to the most vital aspect of her existence. As he strode briskly ahead, her hands grew icy with the realization that he was slipping away from her grasp.
Without a second thought, she leapt from her seat and bolted down the stairs. Her mind raced with questions, her heart pounding with anticipation. She had to know his identity, this will be her first successful move towards her goal.
"bros, I got everything set up for us already. This hotel is actually owned by our Zhi group, can you believe it? I didn't even know about it until yesterday. Our old man really knows how to expand, haha!" Zhi Qiang chuckled.
Shen Kang's voice dripped with irritation as he questioned their presence. "Why are we even here? It's been a long day already."
Zhi Qiang, interjected. "I thought it would be nice for us to have lunch together before starting on our mission, Cera." He glanced over at Wang Haoran, silently seeking his approval.
Despite their 12-year friendship, Zhi Qiang couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear around Wang Haoran. The man's demeanor was always icy and unpredictable, making those around him tread carefully.
The four of them were seated at a grandiose lunch table, nestled in a private room. The aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, tantalizing their senses. As they dug into their meals, Zhi Qiang broke the silence with a question that had been on everyone's mind.
"So, we're in Qingdao. Now what?" he asked, his mouth full of food.
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to each other, searching for an answer. "Exactly, now what?" Ying Aiguo repeated the question, hoping someone would have a plan.
"This is the first time we're not prepared at all. It's like we're on a battlefield, but we don't know who the enemy is," Shen Kang said, letting out a deep sigh.
All eyes turned to Wang Haoran, waiting for his response. "Horan, what do you say?" Dong Ming asked, hoping for some guidance.
Wang Haoran sat in pensive silence, his brow furrowed in deep contemplation. Suddenly, he turned to his friends and spoke with a sense of urgency, "Our next move hinges on her logging into the darknet. Until then, we must have some patience."