Chapter 39: Just an Ordinary Primary School Teacher…
If Xie Ren were to state what he was most dissatisfied with about his job, it would be having a group of idiotic colleagues.
No matter how majestic and steady these people appeared outside—even if they were generals respected by everyone—they were all “dogs” in private.
Starting from the next day, anyone who ran into him would mockingly say, “Sweet dreams tonight~” and the military doctor Luo Yangyang, not wanting to miss out on the fun, directly changed his StarChat signature to: [Sweet dreams /Moon/].
Sun Xiaoyun refused to be outdone and shared the song “Sweet Dreams” in the group the next day.
It was like a relay race, endless.
Nie Qing didn’t participate in this teasing, but on a certain inadvertent night, he inadvertently shared a short poem called “Sweet Dreams.”
If only one person did this, Xie Ren would have beaten them to death without hesitation. But with a whole group doing it, he could only curse in exasperation, “You’re all a bunch of damn dogs.”
That day, he was setting up a sniper position behind cover. The Second Squad Commander, Song Zhaohui, said next to him, “Oh, by the way—take us to see Junior Sister Xiao Shi when we get back. As a big brother, I’m already eager to treat her to a meal.”
Xie Ren’s hand jerked, and the sniper rifle nearly hit him in the head.
The title “Junior Sister Xiao Shi” thus spread. Although Xie Ren repeatedly threatened to ban them from calling him that, no one listened. After all, the “perpetual bachelor” having a situation was worth their excitement for a year or two. Sun Xiaoyun was also happy to watch the show and intentionally didn’t explain.
At night, Xie Ren still called as usual. While arranging a sandbox on his light-brain, he asked Yu Shi professional questions.
“In the batch of androids last time, there was no one acting as a commander. That means they still rely on human command. The disassembly results showed the transmission distance is no more than fifty kilometers. So the commander might be inside the rainforest.”
Xie Ren pondered, “The rainforest is under all-around blockade, and all personnel entering and leaving are recorded. Who could it be?”
Yu Shi thought for a moment and said, “Could there be a double system?”
“What do you mean?”
“The first person controls a second person from fifty kilometers away, and the second person controls a third person from fifty kilometers away. After overlapping, the commander might not be inside the rainforest anymore.”
Xie Ren said in surprise, “Wouldn’t the signal be greatly weakened? Can a central control system reach that level?”
Yu Shi said, “I originally wanted to suggest that the Investigation Department do a double-control experiment, but they seized that batch of androids and won’t let anyone touch them.”
“That group under Section Chief Tao is a real pain. Dealing with them is a headache.” Xie Ren frowned. ” I’ll find a way to apply and have them redo the experiment.”
Yu Shi was quiet for a while, then asked, “You suspected me before—why didn’t you report it directly to the Investigation Department?”
Xie Ren was stunned for a long time before saying, “Suspecting you is one thing, but wanting to mess with you is another. Going to the Investigation Department once means losing a layer of skin; their interrogation methods are even more numerous than K9’s. And with your identity…”
He said in a low voice, “Frequently entering the Investigation Department isn’t a good thing. It’s easy to affect your future promotion.”
Yu Shi was silent. Besides his parents, even he himself didn’t care much about promotions. He hadn’t expected Xie Ren to consider this.
A steady breathing came from the other side. Xie Ren said with some seriousness, “Yu Shi, you will definitely become the Dean of the Third Academy and achieve more and more brilliant results. In the future, you should be written into history books.”
The last sentence sounded a bit funny at first, but his tone was so devout that Yu Shi didn’t dare laugh.
Yu Shi said, “You go out on missions and even learn the skill of flattery?”
“Who’s flattering? I’m not joking.” Xie Ren explained hurriedly. “I thought so the first time I saw you receiving an award…”
He suddenly realized he had misspoken and abruptly shut his mouth.
A rustling sound came from the door. He felt something was wrong, walked over, and pulled the door open.
The moment the door opened, the people eavesdropping outside fell in like dominoes.
Xie Ren: “…”
Luo Yangyang fell flat on his face, looking up at him awkwardly. “Heh. On the phone with Junior Sister Xiao Shi?”
Song Zhaohui barely managed to stand steady, raising his voice: “Oh, the weather is really great today. I won’t disturb you and Junior Sister Xiao Shi anymore.”
He pushed Sun Xiaoyun aside and left without looking back.
Xie Ren hurriedly covered the microphone and silently bared his teeth in a warning to them. Nie Qing peeked in from outside the door and calmly walked away with his coffee.
A bunch of psychos.
After closing the door, Yu Shi asked in confusion, “What Junior Sister were they shouting about?”
“…I don’t know. You must have misheard. What Junior Sister?” Xie Ren feigned innocence.
“I’ll stop for now. I have a class.”
Xie Ren said unhappily, “You’ve been working overtime so much lately. What is Li Yang doing? He doesn’t even go to evening self-study anymore? I’ll talk to Old Tang about him later; this is unacceptable.”
“Don’t cause trouble. It’s another class. Hanging up.”
Yu Shi was indeed in a class, but he wasn’t acting as a teacher for others; someone else was acting as a teacher for him.
Under the temptation of money, Customized Book of Life and Death had given him an additional course: Infiltrating Combat Command Systems.
[Customized Book of Life and Death: This password of yours is a bit like those used by combat command centers of various countries.]
[Anonymous 001: It is. That’s why I have to crack it myself.]
[Customized Book of Life and Death: …I really don’t want to talk anymore. Fuck!]
[Customized Book of Life and Death: Bro, if you get caught, can you please not name me? I don’t want to become an interstellar wanted criminal. You dare to crack any password! Infiltrating a combat command center is punishable by death—do you know that?!]
[Anonymous 001: I won’t get caught.]
[Anonymous 001: Besides, you’re already in the Seventh Zone—what kind of ‘legal citizen’ could you be?]
[Customized Book of Life and Death: …]
[Customized Book of Life and Death: If there’s ‘fate,’ I must meet you once for a physical confrontation in real life. /Roll eyes/]
[Customized Book of Life and Death: Oh, I have to remind you of one thing.]
[Customized Book of Life and Death: If this really is that type of password, it’s very likely there’s a fourth lock after the third.]
[Customized Book of Life and Death: And this fourth lock usually requires a specific fingerprint or iris verification. Once verification fails, everything inside will be completely destroyed.]
[Customized Book of Life and Death: I’m saying this because I’m afraid you’ll learn all this only to fail at the last step.]
Yu Shi typed: [You just need to teach the class. No need to worry about anything else.]
The other side taught for over an hour, leaving him ten password homework assignments, and asked curiously: [I want to know, what is your day job? You learn so fast—yesterday’s homework was all correct. I couldn’t solve a single problem when I first started learning.]
Yu Shi said: [Just an ordinary primary school teacher.]
[Customized Book of Life and Death: You teach primary school students?]
[Anonymous 001: Yeah. They’re noisy and chirpy all day long. They also like to gather and cause trouble. They’re all dim-witted in their academic classes, yet they keep asking for ‘little red flowers’ even if they only just pass. /Sigh/]
[Customized Book of Life and Death: Teaching primary schoolers sounds too tragic. /Terrified/]
Yu Shi studied with him for over half a month and basically mastered the underlying logic of password settings, but solving the first password was still a difficulty.
Although Zhou Qin had already taken the blame and died, the Investigation Department was no pushover. They would soon be able to restore traces and know which file was stolen. Once they followed the trail…
Yu Shi looked out the window and sighed, a rare trace of confusion showing in his eyes.
It was a matter with no certainty of success, but in all the world, no one besides him would do it. Even if he had to pay everything in the end, he would still walk this path without hesitation.
Night fell, the Milky Way hung low, and darkness enveloped the sky over the National Defense Academy. The bell for evening roll call rang in the surroundings.
Xu Bohan walked over and said, “Master, I’m going for roll call. Do you have a date tonight?”
Yu Shi and Xie Ren had a video call scheduled. Actually, he called almost every day, but for some reason, he had specifically mentioned it during the day, asking if Yu Shi was free tonight.
Yu Shi said he was free, and Xie Ren had inexplicably let out a laugh in the voice message.
“I am. Why?” Yu Shi asked strangely.
Xu Bohan smiled suggestively. “Today is the Qixi Festival. It seems Brother Yang was right—I’m really going to have a Master-in-law soon!”
It was actually the Qixi Festival today. Yu Shi was a person without much sense of ceremony. His only impression of this festival was that during his student days, he would receive crates upon crates of gifts. Therefore, after finding out, there was no ripple on his face.
“Master, the person you have a date with is already here to pick you up!” Xu Bohan said joyfully.
Yu Shi was confused. “Pick me up?”
“Yeah. The guard said a car is waiting for you at the gate. It’s a luxury car too. Hehe, my future Master-in-law has quite the financial strength; that’s what suits you.”
Xie Ren was far away in the Seventh Zone, so of course he couldn’t teleport.
Yu Shi went to the school gate. A Mount Everest MH9 business car was parked outside. The moment he saw the car, his face darkened. He reported to the guard and walked over.
To his surprise, the person sitting inside wasn’t Zheng Xiao, but an unfamiliar Beta.
The Beta reached out a hand and introduced himself: “Hello. I’m Gao Han, working in K9. I am currently handling matters for Mr. Qin.”
He didn’t state his department or position, indicating he was Qin Yin’s person, not K9’s.
Yu Shi glanced at him. “What do you want with me?”
“Mr. Qin has arranged a private banquet and invites you to attend.”
“I’m not free.” Yu Shi stood up to get out of the car.
Gao Han said, “Many political figures will be present tonight. Mr. Qin asked me to tell you that among them is someone you want to see.”
Yu Shi’s heart suddenly tightened, then began to throb wildly.
He had collaborated with Qin Yin for many years, but he had never deeply understood his network. He only knew that over the years, he had already infiltrated K9.
Qin Yin didn’t tell him because he was wary of him. He himself didn’t ask because he wanted to be able to extricate himself in time in the future. The two were tacitly aware of this.
It seemed that today, Qin Yin intended to pull him completely into the water.
Gao Han didn’t rush him; he just waited quietly for an answer.
After a moment, Yu Shi closed the car door and said, “Let’s go.”
The private banquet was set on a mountaintop. This place had once been a palace of the dynasty. Business cars and even Coasters were parked all over the outside. Every time Yu Shi saw a familiar license plate, his heart sank a bit further toward the bottom.
He didn’t know what conditions Qin Yin had used to bribe these high officials. He could only foresee a monumental change about to descend.
The security personnel were to confiscate electronic devices and perform body searches.
Gao Han intervened, “This one is exempt.”
He gestured for Yu Shi to go straight in.
The interior of the palace was extravagant. Crystal chandeliers hung from the glazed dome, and the long banquet table wound and extended for dozens of meters. Various famous wines, silver tableware, and red agate cups were scattered about. High-class perfumes brushed past people’s temples.
The chatting guests included political celebrities and business tycoons. Yu Shi scanned their faces one by one, silently noting them in his mind.
Gao Han didn’t linger in the main hall but took him to a quiet room, saying, “Please wait here for a moment. I’ll go inform Mr. Qin.”
Qin Yin was dining on the second floor. Several military officers at the table held ranks higher than his, yet one by one they were fawning over him and offering toasts.
He didn’t pay much attention, playing with the bracelet in his hand. The bracelet looked low-quality and cheap, and some of the beads even had cracks.
the Vice Chairman laughed and said, “This thing looks quite familiar. Where did Mr. Qin get it?”
Qin Yin seemed to be in a good mood; he actually smiled. “Don’t you remember? This is the admission gift of the Azure Orphanage. Every child has one. You even went there for a visit on Father’s Day last time.”
“Oh, I remember now. So it’s a gift for those ‘little beasts.’ To think those pieces of trash actually wear them as if they’re treasures.” The Vice Chairman’s eyes darted about. “Your piece looks many years old; the beads are about to shatter.”
Qin Yin’s smile faded slightly. “Don’t call them ‘little beasts.’ They are all innocent and cute children.”
“My mistake. I was imprecise.” The Chairman laughed wantonly, lowering his glass to clink with his. “Those are all fresh and wonderful pheromones, a source of continuous vitality. Look at my clumsy mouth.”
Qin Yin’s gaze was cold as he drained the crimson liquid.
Gao Han entered and said, “Mr. Qin, Director Yu has arrived.”
Qin Yin hung the bracelet on his fingertip and shook it. “Mhm. The ‘little friend’ is here.”
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