Chapter 57: You Are Imprisoning Me
Si Ye calmly analyzed the current situation before suggesting, “Xie Qiang, for the time being, you shouldn’t go out. Stay here at home. I’ll stay with you and keep you company; that way, I can also observe what needs to be done about your Poppy spirit.”
Xie Qiang’s expression sharpened. Casting aside her earlier emotions, she asked, “What do you mean? You want me to stop going out entirely? For how long? Am I supposed to just close my dessert shop?”
Yan Ci, Lei Lie, and Bai Zhi all turned their gazes toward Si Ye. They understood what he was getting at, but they also knew Xie Qiang would despise such an arrangement, which was why they hadn’t even brought it up.
Si Ye had acted out of genuine concern. After all, the footage of Xie Qiang’s spirit losing control had been broadcast nationwide. The reactions of those Sentinels were now public knowledge.
Even if the general public didn’t understand the true nature or addictive quality of a Poppy spirit, it didn’t stop them from demanding the “truth.” It was only a matter of time before people came looking for her.
Si Ye tapped a few times on his personal terminal and explained, “Based on the current livestream situation, you’ll soon be surrounded by crowds. If you rush outside now, you’re likely to be attacked. That’s why I’m suggesting you stay indoors—at least until this storm blows over.”
“You’re imprisoning me.”
The words tumbled from Xie Qiang’s red lips.
Si Ye’s expression shifted instantly. His suggestion was never intended to be an imprisonment.
He hurried to explain, “How can you call it imprisonment? I’m protecting you. Do you realize how dangerous it is for you out there right now? You’re only safe here at home.”
Xie Qiang wasn’t buying it. She crossed her arms and leaned back against the sofa, her posture making it clear that she had no intention of staying cooped up.
Ignoring the looks on the faces of the men around her, she said bluntly, “Fine. If not imprisonment, then house arrest. I will never accept this suggestion. If you don’t have a better idea, please keep your mouth shut.”
At those words, Si Ye’s face went pale. It was obvious Xie Qiang was deeply dissatisfied with him, and he began to panic.
However, he still stood by his assessment. “You should check your terminal. Ever since the incident with your spirit going out of control, Lotia has been calling you an ‘Empire Bomb.’ He claims you have the power to control Sentinels at will and wants to send people to arrest you. My way is the safest for you right now. I’m doing all of this for your sake!”
The expressions of Xie Qiang, Yan Ci, and the others changed. They raised their wrists to check their terminals.
Sure enough, the Imperial network was flooded with news about Xie Qiang being an “Empire Bomb.” There were no fewer than three hundred different articles and threads analyzing the threat she posed to the Empire.
Words like “Arrest,” “Control,” and “Research” filled the screen, stinging Xie Qiang’s heart.
She had held that small demonstration of her abilities specifically to dispel the rumors. How had it ended up like this?
“Qiangqiang, there are so many people outside!”
Lei Lie lifted a corner of the curtain and shouted after seeing the situation outdoors.
Xie Qiang turned quickly to look at the window behind the sofa.
A line of guards stood in neat formation outside. Judging by their uniforms and the emblems on their sleeves, they were soldiers from the Sentinel Management Bureau.
Beyond the guards, a crowd of people was gathered, pointing and gesturing toward Xie Qiang’s house.
Bai Zhi watched their lip movements and repeated what they were saying.
“So this is the home of that 3S Guide.”
“Should we rush in and grab her? Didn’t you see the news? She’s a hazard to the Empire. For our own safety, it’s best to hand her over.”
“Don’t go trespassing. Those guards aren’t to be messed with.”
Xie Qiang’s face darkened. As expected, the public had already been swayed by the online rhetoric and wanted to capture her.
But what was with the guards at the door? Were they watching her?
“Si Ye, tell your people to leave.”
Si Ye shook his head. “Impossible, Xie Qiang. I arranged for them to be here to protect you. Don’t misinterpret my intentions.”
“If this isn’t house arrest, I don’t know what is. You have a lot of nerve calling it protection,” Lei Lie interjected out of the blue.
In the past, he had disliked Bai Zhi because Bai Zhi competed for Xie Qiang’s attention. But now, he found Si Ye far more irritating because his words and actions didn’t match.
Si Ye claimed it was for her own good and for her protection, but in reality, he was just satisfying his own selfish desires.
Today, he could tell her not to go out “for her protection.” Tomorrow, he might tell them not to see her “to prevent them from hurting her.”
Regardless of how Yan Ci or Bai Zhi felt, Lei Lie couldn’t stand it.
Seeing Lei Lie’s defiance, Si Ye’s expression turned icy. “This is none of your business. Don’t you have a mission? You dare to delay a military assignment? Get back and follow your orders!”
Lei Lie looked at Si Ye with pure disdain. Look at this “Commander,” resorting to such underhanded tricks.
He had been wondering why he was being bombarded with so many military orders lately. Now it was clear—Si Ye was the one behind it all.
Seeing Si Ye turn his spear toward Lei Lie, Xie Qiang immediately countered on his behalf. “Don’t involve others. Lei Lie is right. The number of people you’ve stationed out there clearly exceeds the needs of ‘protection.’ I’m warning you: I dislike this behavior immensely. Tell them to leave right now and go back to whatever they’re supposed to be doing.”
Si Ye fell silent, but he didn’t move. It seemed impossible to get him to withdraw the guards.
Seeing his lack of reaction, Xie Qiang was fuming. She turned her body away, unwilling to even look at him.
Seeing the cold war beginning, Yan Ci realized Xie Qiang didn’t want to be watched or have her freedom restricted. He spoke up, “I have a secluded villa that nobody knows about. Xie Qiang, if you’re willing, you can come stay with me.”
Si Ye’s eyes widened in disbelief as he turned toward Yan Ci.
“Fine. You’re really something, aren’t you? Trying to pull the rug out from under me?”
Taking advantage of his conflict with Xie Qiang to try and take her away—this was a blatant slap in the face to his methods.
Si Ye couldn’t understand why his well-intentioned protection was being treated like house arrest, or why even Yan Ci, who usually stood on the same side as him, was starting to cause trouble.
Xie Qiang shook her head, but before she could speak, Lei Lie grabbed her wrist.
“All of you! Every single one of you is trying to lock Qiangqiang up in the name of her ‘own good’! Si Ye, it was bad enough that you stationed guards at her house, but Yan Ci, you actually want to hide her away in your own home! I’m telling you now, I won’t let you get away with it!”
With that, he pulled Xie Qiang up, tugging her to his side as he turned to lead her out.
Xie Qiang was caught off guard and hurriedly asked, “What are you doing? You’re taking me away? How is your behavior any different from Yan Ci or Si Ye?”
Lei Lie ignored the others, explaining as he stormed toward the exit.
“There’s a huge difference. Qiangqiang, come with me to the military base. It’s absolutely safe there, and we won’t stop you from going out. I’ll even assign soldiers to follow and protect you. It’s the ultimate safety.”
Lei Lie moved so fast that not only was Xie Qiang caught off guard, but Yan Ci, Si Ye, and Bai Zhi failed to react in time. In the blink of an eye, he had already pulled Xie Qiang to the front door.
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