Chapter 69: The Team

Chapter 69: The Team

The next morning at six, Song Zhizhang opened the door of the safe house.

When he entered, Zhu Ning was brushing her teeth, and beside her, a toothbrush was floating in mid-air.

Song Zhizhang found it hard to describe, but the toothbrush was indeed floating.

Lin Xiaofeng was invisible, standing next to Zhu Ning like a transparent little chick, brushing her teeth in perfect sync with Zhu Ning.

The scene was somewhat eerie, even for someone as well-traveled as Song Zhizhang. After a moment, he asked, "You're still alive?"

"Do you really hope I'm dead?" Zhu Ning spat out the foam.

Song Zhizhang placed the tray on the dining table, having come to deliver breakfast, then sat down on one of the chairs without much ceremony.

Knowing where Lin Xiaofeng was gave him a sense of security; at least he wouldn't sit on her, which would be too undignified.

"I can't bear to lose you, darling," Song Zhizhang said, not batting an eye.

Zhu Ning washed her face and walked over to the dining table. Two chairs were pulled out, and Song Zhizhang had prepared congee and fried dough sticks.

He watched in amazement as a spoon rose into the air, scooped up some congee, and delivered it somewhere, after which the congee disappeared.

It was unsettling, no matter how he looked at it.

Beside her, Zhu Ning didn't even raise an eyebrow, as if the existence of an invisible person was perfectly normal, making Song Zhizhang seem overly dramatic.

Song Zhizhang had prepared a large amount of food, but it was quickly devoured, not because Zhu Ning ate a lot, but because Lin Xiaofeng did.

Zhu Ning suddenly remembered the procurement list from the Mechanical Oceanarium, where the invisible people ate by the ton. Lin Xiaofeng, being of the same kind, should never feel full.

But Lin Xiaofeng didn't seem to express that she wasn't full.

Perhaps staying in her previous home for so long had made her unaccustomed to expressing her needs directly.

Zhu Ning asked, "Not full yet?"

Lin Xiaofeng instinctively nodded, then realized no one could see her and softly replied, "Yes."

She felt a bit embarrassed.

In her old home, she rarely made requests to her parents, acting like a puppet, doing whatever they said.

Moreover, Lin Tianqi paid close attention to Lin Xiaofeng's weight, requiring her to maintain her figure, so she couldn't ask for more food.

Every time she wanted something, she felt ashamed before she even spoke.

Zhu Ning said, "Next time, just say what you need."

Lin Xiaofeng, who was about to nod, softly replied, "Okay."

She had left that home, and even if she gained weight, it wouldn't matter anymore.

Song Zhizhang watched from the side, wondering if Zhu Ning was talking to a ghost.

But Lin Xiaofeng could speak, her voice soft and gentle. Though he hadn't seen her, she must be a very obedient little girl.

Song Zhizhang propped his chin on his hand, watching them eat. The scene was both warm and terrifying, indescribable.

Zhu Ning said, "You didn't prepare enough food. You promised to provide meals and accommodation, and I've already paid you."

Song Zhizhang, called a swindler, didn't get angry, maintaining his elegant smile and asking, "How much do you need?"

Compared to the three million Zhu Ning had given him, the cost of food was negligible. How much could two girls eat?

Zhu Ning said, "I saw the procurement list from the Mechanical Oceanarium; they measure food by the ton. Start with one ton, and we'll add more later."

How much?

"..." Song Zhizhang almost dropped his jaw. "Are you playing with me?"

Zhu Ning said, "The little girl is growing, you can't starve her. You promised to provide everything, and I didn't force you."

Song Zhizhang: "..."

Indeed, he had offered it himself, and now he regretted it. Three million was too low.

After this calculation, he might end up losing money.

Song Zhizhang conceded, "I'll send it over later."

Zhu Ning smiled, "It's rare to see you flustered."

Song Zhizhang forced a smile, "Serving you is my honor."

He was in the service industry, and the reason the prestigious Queen's Shop had lasted so long was that he could meet all the guests' unreasonable demands.

Song Zhizhang asked, "What are your plans for today?"

Zhu Ning: "I'll go back to the Hive first; I have many things there."

Song Zhizhang: "You managed to stay in the Radiation Zone for so long?"

Zhu Ning: "Radiation Zone?"

Song Zhizhang: "Didn't you know that the slums you lived in have severe metal pollution?"

Zhu Ning: "..."

No wonder her rent is so cheap; the entire neighborhood is emitting pollution.

Song Zhizhang: "If it's weapons you're after, there's no need to go out of your way. Someone just delivered a new batch. I'll pass them on to you later."

The delivery must be from Prometheus.

Zhu Ning asked, "How can I obtain the human-machine interface device you mentioned?"

She had questions she wanted to ask Prometheus.

Song Zhizhang: "It's difficult. The Cleaning Center has a tight grip on it, and it doesn't circulate in the civilian sector."

With such strict control, the AI must be in a tough spot.

Zhu Ning realized she might understand Prometheus's motives. He probably needed her to do something for him, like rescue him?

After finishing breakfast, Zhu Ning asked, "Should they meet?"

"This is Lin Xiaofeng, my new team member," Zhu Ning pointed to her seatmate.

"This is the... manager of the Venerable Queen Shop," Zhu Ning chose her words carefully.

"Also our landlord, his name is Song Zhizhang. You can trust him."

Song Zhizhang extended his hand, "Miss Lin, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Due to his profession, Song Zhizhang always looked at people seriously, making customers feel valued and more likely to spend money in his shop.

Even when looking into empty space, his gaze was serious.

Lin Xiaofeng's face turned slightly red, hesitated for a moment, then reached out to shake Song Zhizhang's hand.

Song Zhizhang felt something grip his hand. She deliberately controlled her strength, but it was still stronger than an average person's, nearly crushing his bones.

Song Zhizhang tried to maintain his composure, but he found it hard to control his expression.

Zhu Ning couldn't help but laugh at his discomfort, "Stop pretending. She hugged me while sleeping last night, almost breaking my ribs."

Song Zhizhang gave up the act, hissing as Lin Xiaofeng quickly released his hand. Instinctively, he shook his fingers.

Five black bruises were left behind.

Zhu Ning wondered how she managed to sleep with Lin Xiaofeng without accidentally killing herself.

Song Zhizhang comforted, "It's okay, it's cool."

Lin Xiaofeng lowered her head in shame, able to control her strength when touching objects but not yet when interacting with people.

Zhu Ning: "Don't be ashamed. It's a great ability; you just need to learn to control it."

Lin Xiaofeng whispered, "Okay."

Song Zhizhang, who had seen much, was asked by Zhu Ning, "Have you seen anyone like her before?"

Song Zhizhang: "Never heard of it."

Zhu Ning hummed, thinking it made sense. Even Xuan Qing was shocked, willing to sacrifice eight employees and destroy the Mechanical Oceanarium to capture a transparent person.

Even the city defense forces showed up.

This must be rare, so she considered herself lucky to have found a treasure.

Zhu Ning hadn't figured out the principle behind the transparent person, and Lin Xiaofeng probably didn't understand it either. She would need time to explore her abilities.

Song Zhizhang: "Though I don't know what you're planning with this team, if you want to develop long-term, you'll need a doctor or someone with research expertise."

Ah, building a team is indeed complicated.

Zhu Ning: "I need you to look after her when I go out."

Song Zhizhang: "Why?"

Zhu Ning: "I've paid the property fees, and besides, do you want her running around your shop?"

Song Zhizhang: "..."

He really wanted to curse.

He might have found the most regretful thing he'd ever done—letting Zhu Ning into his shop.

Song Zhizhang took a deep breath, feeling the need to clarify things with Zhu Ning, "Madam, I run a brothel, a place for romantic business, not a daycare. I don't babysit children."

Zhu Ning nodded, "I know that."

She knew from their first meeting.

Song Zhizhang's forehead twitched, "My profession is that of a madam. You can't entrust a minor girl to a madam."

No one would let a madam take care of a young girl; those two words together would make a headline in crime news.

Zhu Ning: "But you're so gentle."

Song Zhizhang: "..."

Zhu Ning: "And you seem very good at taking care of people."

Song Zhizhang: "..."

Lin Xiaofeng lifted her head.

Song Zhizhang felt a pair of bright eyes watching him, and he found it incredibly hard to refuse.

He could refuse Zhu Ning, but he couldn't refuse a very well-behaved little girl.

She had just lost her parents and become an invisible person, with no one around to see her. Song Zhizhang couldn't stab someone in the back when they were already down.

He wasn't a good man, but he wasn't a scoundrel either.

Seeing that he wasn't so opposed, Zhu Ning said, "Then it's settled. She's very well-behaved."

Song Zhizhang gritted his teeth but still managed a smile, "Alright then."

He had never done such a losing deal in his life. After retiring from the world, he was now taking care of someone else's child, who ate like a ton and only paid him three million.

He was practically a philanthropist.

Zhu Ning had something to do. After finishing breakfast, she left, really entrusting Lin Xiaofeng to Song Zhizhang's care.

Before leaving, Zhu Ning handed Lin Xiaofeng a communication device, telling her to contact her if anything happened. However, Zhu Ning wasn't too worried about her being bullied.

Song Zhizhang and Lin Xiaofeng fell into a moment of silence.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at the shop manager cautiously. Song Zhizhang was wearing a purple high-necked sweater today, a striking color that somehow looked harmonious on him.

His posture was very elegant, exuding a gentle and warm aura.

Lin Xiaofeng thought she would be scared after Zhu Ning left, but so far, she found Song Zhizhang quite approachable. Perhaps Zhu Ning was right; he really did seem suitable for taking care of children.

After a while, Song Zhizhang spoke, "I don't know what you are exactly, but we must be of the same kind."

Lin Xiaofeng was taken aback. Was Song Zhizhang once a pollutant too?

Song Zhizhang didn't elaborate on his past. In a way, Zhu Ning's decision to entrust Lin Xiaofeng to him was actually correct. He had some relevant experience.

"Let's establish some ground rules," Song Zhizhang said. "For example, you need to find a way for me to see you. This will save us a lot of trouble."

Otherwise, Song Zhizhang was afraid he might step on her.

Lin Xiaofeng listened quietly.

"You can choose a method you like," Song Zhizhang said, guiding her gently like a kindergarten teacher.

A method she liked?

It seemed that no one had ever let her decide anything in her own way. This task was actually a challenge for her.

It's hard to take the first step when you've never actively thought or expressed your wishes before.

She remained silent, and Song Zhizhang didn't rush her, as if he could give her infinite time to think about this small issue.

Lin Xiaofeng thought very seriously.

...

Zhu Ning returned to the Hive.

The Hive was densely populated, with extremely cramped living conditions, filled with desperados.

But in return, there were no cameras or advanced technology in the Hive. It was like the old, rundown neighborhoods from Zhu Ning's era, without even a security gate.

The nearby slums were all the same.

When she returned, a man was sprawled out at the entrance of her neighborhood, a genuine drunkard who had probably passed out from drinking too much.

Zhu Ning opened the door to her home. After staying at the Royal Queen Shop for just one night, she felt that her place was truly shabby and small.

Her entire home was less than thirty square meters.

As soon as she entered, she sensed something was off. Someone had definitely been here.

She didn't know who—Yongsheng Pharmaceutical?

But she didn't care. Apart from the weapons that made her place look abnormal, there wasn't much worth searching through.

After all, when she woke up, her home was empty.

Her most valuable possession was Cheng Mofei's employee bracelet, safely stored in a blank card.

There was nothing to pack. She took a few clothes, as Song Zhizhang said he had everything.

Before leaving, she glanced back. The wall still bore marks from her metal manipulation, which had already exposed her.

She had lived in the wasteland for too long. Living inevitably leaves traces, and it's impossible to be completely flawless. The past cannot be changed; she could only move forward.

She originally wanted to ask Mama Wei what she meant by saying she had gone crazy.

But she couldn't find her anywhere.

The building manager always appeared and disappeared mysteriously, only showing up when she needed to collect rent or wanted to be seen. These matters weren't easy to discuss via the secondary brain, so she planned to come back specifically to ask.

Zhu Ning descended the stairs with her backpack. As she went down, the black market shop downstairs just opened.

The rusty roller shutter was halfway up, and the curly-haired boss lady emerged in a red nightgown, a cigarette dangling from her mouth.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked up at Zhu Ning, "What? Going somewhere again?"

Zhu Ning frowned. She remembered wearing a helmet the last time she came. How did the boss lady recognize her so quickly?

Zhu Ning looked at her suspiciously, mainly because of Xu Meng. She was now a bit paranoid, feeling that everyone around her was a potential threat.

The boss lady exhaled a deep smoke ring, "We in this line of work can recognize people."

That good?

The boss lady didn’t rely on faces to recognize people; she looked at the overall figure and aura. In some ways, she was more reliable than recognition software.

The boss lady had sent Zhu Ning to the contaminated zone twice, but she hadn’t expected the face under the helmet to be so young. Youth was truly wonderful, radiating a vibrant energy.

The weather was nice today, the sunlight made everyone feel good, and the boss lady squinted her eyes, "Want to buy a car? Three million eight hundred thousand today."

How did it drop in price?

Zhu Ning hadn’t planned to buy one; she wasn’t a millionaire after all. But she did need a suitable means of transportation, as the contaminated zones were always quite far away.

Zhu Ning asked, "Two million?"

The first rule of haggling: cut it in half.

The boss lady looked up at her, her sleepy eyes surprisingly serious, as if Zhu Ning had sparked her competitive spirit, "First customer of the day, three million five hundred thousand, take it or leave it."

Zhu Ning was also getting into the spirit, asking, "Two point two million?"

"Three million, I’ll throw in a helmet, no less."

Zhu Ning: "Two point five million, no more."

Boss lady: "Deal."

Zhu Ning: "…"

Was she being taken advantage of?

She was just a simpleton.

The boss lady fully opened the roller shutter, revealing a black motorcycle inside. The bike lay there quietly, like a cheetah waiting for its owner.

When Zhu Ning saw it for the first time, she felt as if her name was written on the bike.

The wavy-haired boss lady tossed the keys over, "It’s yours now."

Holding the keys, Zhu Ning still felt a bit unreal. Was it really hers?

Only when the sound of a paper shredder came from her secondary brain did she truly realize it—very real, she had just spent two point five million early in the morning.

She had fallen into the seductive trap of the wasteland world's sexy boss lady!