Chapter 57

Chapter 57

When he learned that Ruan Yunchu had applied for a trial quota for the T021 agent for Ruan Jing, Yan Zhuo was not surprised at all.

To be honest, he had no goodwill toward this "cousin." The Ruan family had always been notorious. Apart from Ruan Yunchu, he didn't care about anyone else. In fact, he hoped this guy would wake up just long enough to spill everything and then go right back to being a vegetable.

Two weeks later, Ruan Jing was successfully transferred to the Alliance's special research institute on Planet A. By then, the news of the Ruan family patriarch's miraculous recovery had already faded from the Star Network and was no longer a hot topic.

Ruan Yunchu didn't have to wait long. One morning, he received word that Ruan Jing had been successfully awakened.

He wasn't particularly surprised. Even as the other party urged him, he took his time getting ready, ate a hearty breakfast, and only then told Chen Quan to prepare the car.

But the vehicle he had prepared never ended up being used. As soon as he stepped out of the main gate, a sleek black hover car screeched to a halt at the courtyard entrance. The scissor door rose slowly, and the black-clad man in the driver's seat, flashed him a smile.

"Boss, if you dawdle any longer, the research institute is going to explode with anxiety."

Yan Zhuo knew Ruan Yunchu was deliberately stalling, but he wasn't the least bit annoyed. He had come to pick him up personally.

When Chen Quan saw this scene, he immediately waved at the chauffeur behind him, signaling him to leave.

But just as he finished that gesture, the man in front turned around. Ruan Yunchu looked displeased. "Uncle Chen, I didn't say I was going with him."

Chen Quan felt awkward for a moment, then quickly asked, "Should I call him back?"

Ruan Yunchu's gaze darkened, but Yan Zhuo at the gate had already gotten out of the car and strode over to him.

"Hurry up. That idiot Ruan Jing is kicking up a fuss, demanding to see you. Since he woke up last night, he hasn't said a word about anything else. If this keeps up, he's going to start slandering you."

Ruan Yunchu glanced at him indifferently but eventually bent down and got into his car.

Chen Quan: "..."

"His car can go directly into the research institute," Ruan Yunchu turned his head to explain. "Have the driver pick me up in two hours."

Chen Quan was about to nod in agreement when Yan Zhuo leaned over from the other side and said with a smile, "No need, I'll take him."

With that, the hover car's tail spat out flames, and it vanished from Chen Quan's sight with a whoosh.

On the way, Yan Zhuo briefed him on Ruan Jing's condition. Ruan Yunchu remained silent the whole time. It was only when they arrived and he was about to get out of the car that Yan Zhuo grabbed his wrist.

He instinctively tried to shake it off, but Yan Zhuo said, "If they ask you anything, don't answer. Just say you don't know."

Ruan Yunchu looked at him and finally just nodded.

The visit with Ruan Jing went smoothly. The research institute's ward was very private, and the room was filled with researchers in white coats. Yan Zhuo led the way in, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

Some people sighed with relief when they saw them and strode over.

"You must be Mr. Ruan? You're finally here. Ruan Jing's condition isn't great—he's very wary of all of us. Could you talk to him and try to calm him down?"

Ruan Yunchu replied coldly, "My relationship with him is terrible. I can't guarantee results."

"That's fine. Just give it a try."

The person standing inside the ward opened the door. Ruan Yunchu strode in and heard a sharp, shrill yell, as if Ruan Jing was resisting someone's touch.

He frowned slightly, feeling a deep sense of aversion, but he couldn't just leave.

The man on the bed was gaunt. The years spent in bed had worn away his former sharpness, leaving him haggard and withered.

When Ruan Yunchu got a clear look at Ruan Jing's face, the latter stared back at him, his eyes suddenly bulging. He froze completely.

Seeing that he had finally stopped his defensive actions, the group outside breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ruan Jing, do you remember him? Didn't you want to see your little brother? He's right here."

Ruan Yunchu frowned. Although he and Ruan Jing were indeed blood-related, he didn't want to acknowledge the man in front of him as his brother.

Ruan Jing's sunken, thin face was taut. But after a moment, he seemed to realize something. His dry lips stretched high into a strange, unsettling smile.

"My little brother, of course I remember him."

It was as if he wasn't yet used to speaking. His voice was hoarse, rough, and the tone was odd.

Ruan Yunchu's face showed no expression, but Ruan Jing didn't mind being ignored. His eyes roamed up and down, and he said with interest, "So you don't need a wheelchair anymore now."

"..."

Ruan Yunchu wasn't provoked. He said flatly, "The Alliance has questions for you. Stop playing dumb."

"Playing dumb about what?"

Ruan Jing looked confused. Before Ruan Yunchu could speak again, he suddenly raised both hands and clutched his head, his body trembling as if on the verge of a breakdown.

"My head hurts so much! It hurts so much!"

The medical staff rushed forward and started examining him.

Ruan Yunchu turned coldly and walked away. Someone next to him scolded, "Mr. Ruan, you shouldn't have spoken to him so bluntly. He just woke up. He's easily stimulated at times like this."

Ruan Yunchu glanced at him without any mercy. "I'm sorry, but I have no relationship with him. We're less close than strangers. If you expect me to coax him with gentle words, I'm afraid I can't do that."

"You... this is a cooperation with the Alliance. How can you have this attitude?"

Ruan Yunchu's face darkened. He was about to retort when a man hurried in, put an arm around his shoulder, and pushed him behind.

"Ruan Jing's identity hasn't been cleared yet. Not to mention the Ruan family's affairs, he is currently under suspicion of being used by the rebels to escape," Yan Zhuo said coldly. "Mr. Ruan is only here as a citizen to assist in the investigation. Calming down a criminal is supposed to be your job."

Seeing it was him, the man choked, his expression turning extremely unnatural. "But if we don't calm him down, we can't get any useful information out of him."

If it weren't for the fact that they hadn't been able to get Ruan Jing to talk all night, I wouldn't be so impatient either.

"Then it's even simpler." Yan Zhuo immediately pulled up a pre-prepared consent form. "Since he refuses to confess, use unconventional methods. This is the family consent form. Once Mr. Ruan signs it, you can use any means to make him talk."

Without any hesitation, Ruan Yunchu raised his hand and signed his name on the document.

The person in charge was stunned, then a look of delight appeared on his face.

"Good. Um... sorry about that earlier, Mr. Ruan."

Ruan Yunchu didn't care about such trivial matters. He nodded and followed the man's retreating figure, catching a glimpse through the crack in the door of Ruan Jing still smashing things. He paused for a moment, then turned away coldly.

Yan Zhuo saw that he wasn't in a good mood and decided to ask, "Since you're here, why not come to my office for a bit?"

Ruan Yunchu looked at him. "Is that appropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it?"

Yan Zhuo immediately took him back to the car and drove straight to the Alliance Center.

This was not Ruan Yunchu's first time here, but it was his first time entering the interior, passing by large building complexes and finally stopping at a glass building at the center.

Yan Zhuo led him out of the car, used his biometrics to get in, and the first thing that caught his eye was a massive portrait beneath the glass dome. Ruan Yunchu scanned them one by one, recognizing these as generals who had served the Alliance.

Passing through the spacious and grand lobby, the two entered an old-fashioned elevator. There was no floor indicator, but after five seconds, the elevator door slowly opened, revealing a spacious office.

The office had few partitions, an open-plan office with a living area, decorated in a stark black-and-white-and-gray scheme, giving it a very bleak feel.

"Do you usually work here?"

Ruan Yunchu glanced around, feeling that this place hardly resembled an Alliance central office, but rather a brand-new luxury apartment with a view.

"Yeah, a lot of times I don't have time to leave, so I just rest here." Yan Zhuo took off his coat, and a chubby little robot took it, its nimble robotic arm folding the coat neatly, placing it inside its belly for disinfection, then turning to Ruan Yunchu.

"Hello, would you like to take off your coat?"

Ruan Yunchu: "No, thank you."

The robot screen displayed a crescent smile and turned away.

Yan Zhuo leaned against the spacious desk, arms crossed, watching this scene, a smile unconsciously tugging at his lips.

But when Ruan Yunchu looked toward him, he suppressed that smile and asked in a low voice, "How about we eat here, and then go check on the situation in the afternoon?"

"Yeah."

Ruan Yunchu didn't want to keep going back and forth; he didn't care about Ruan Jing's life or death, just wanted an answer.

Yan Zhuo knew he had been busy with the Jiaxie matter recently, so he simply let him use his desk, lounging on the sofa by the window, playing a game on his phone.

In the quiet space, there was barely a sound, but the atmosphere was still pretty relaxed.

When Ruan Yunchu finished his work and leaned back wearily, catching sight of the man's relaxed pose.

The supreme commander of the Alliance—how could he be such a guy?

Even now, it felt off. Perhaps it was because Yan Zhuo came across as too casual that he always felt a disconnect.

After a while, Yan Zhuo finally finished that level, looked up in his direction, and their gazes met. He paused for a moment, then quickly grinned.

"Done?"

Ruan Yunchu hummed in response and looked away.

"What do you want to eat? I'll have someone deliver it, or we can go out to eat. There are several new restaurants nearby, I hear..."

"Just have it delivered. Anything works."

Ruan Yunchu still wasn't used to being this familiar with him, so he cut him off.

Yan Zhuo paused for a moment but ultimately responded, turning to make a call on his communicator.

The easy atmosphere suddenly became tense again.

But Ruan Yunchu was very clear that their relationship wasn't like this. Both of them knew well the gap between them, so why pretend they could just forget everything and be all warm?

After lunch, Yan Zhuo went to attend a quick online meeting.

Ruan Yunchu waited for him to come back so they could go to the institute to check on Ruan Jing's condition. He had initially intended to just lean on the sofa and browse documents, but eventually, his usual nap habit caught up with him and he fell into a deep sleep.

He slept very soundly, and unusually, he didn't have any weird dreams. When he woke up, he felt light and relaxed.

Ruan Yunchu slowly opened his eyes, moved his arm, and found a soft blanket on him. Someone was sitting in the armchair diagonally to his left, his dark eyes resting on him, pausing for a moment when he opened his eyes, then going casual.

"You're awake." Yan Zhuo's tone was flat.

"Yeah." He sat up, putting the blanket aside. "What time is it?"

"Almost four."

Ruan Yunchu was taken aback.

"The research institute just sent word. Ruan Jing said quite a bit. We need to go there now."

"Okay."

When they arrived outside the ward this time, they heard no sound. Ruan Yunchu looked through the observation window and saw the man on the bed, barely alive, his eyes tightly shut, seemingly unconscious.

The man who had nearly argued with Ruan Yunchu that morning came out, a smile on his face.

"We've gotten the general information. The details have been sent to the Alliance's higher-ups. This is a more detailed report."

Yan Zhuo nodded. "How is he?"

"Not good, but he's said pretty much everything. We'll try to stabilize his condition for further investigation."

Ruan Yunchu listened to their conversation without interjecting.

As they were leaving, Yan Zhuo opened his terminal screen, apparently browsing the secrets obtained from Ruan Jing. Just then, his terminal rang. He glanced down and saw it was Lin Zheng, and was about to leave to take the call, but Ruan Yunchu grasped his wrist.

"Where are you going?"

Ruan Yunchu looked up coldly. "I'm not cleared for that. I'll take my leave."

Yan Zhuo frowned slightly. "When did I ever say you couldn't see it?"

Ruan Yunchu looked at him calmly, a hint of a smile that wasn't quite a smile. "Commander, I'm not part of the Alliance. I know my place. You don't need to probe me."

"I didn't..."

Yan Zhuo didn't understand his attitude at first, but then it hit him. Two years ago, when he was about to leave A Star for a mission, he had used that same excuse to brush him off.

He was momentarily speechless and finally said in a low voice, "This time is different. What Ruan Jing confessed is related to the Ruan family. Even if I tried to protect you by not telling you, as far as the rebels are concerned, you're already an insider."

"..."

Ruan Yunchu said nothing, just looked at him expressionlessly.

Yan Zhuo sighed. "I'll tell you when we get back. Don't worry, I won't hide anything from you."

Leaving the research institute, the sky outside was already somewhat dark. Ruan Yunchu fastened the buttons of his coat, put his hands in his pockets, his hair hanging down on both sides of his face, expressionless, looking very cold.

Yan Zhuo hated seeing him like this the most. He led him into the car and sent him a one-time file.

"Read it quick, then erase it."

Ruan Yunchu didn't stand on ceremony. He opened it right away, his eyes quickly locking onto several key words. His face hardened, and he went still.

Knowing this would hit him hard, Yan Zhuo didn't rush him at all. He drove slow, heading toward the Ruan place.

After who knows how long, Ruan Yunchu finally finished reading word by word, closed the file, and it self-destructed. He was silent for a long while, and when he spoke again, his voice was hoarse. "Did Ruan Mingyi's actions have anything to do with Jiaxie?"

"Originally, it was highly likely, but after you took over, it vanished. It may have been relocated in advance." Yan Zhuo stopped the car at a red light, his slender fingers lightly tapping the steering wheel, lost in thought. "Gene replication—for a hospital to access the database, it's as easy as pie."

What Ruan Mingyi had delved into was not merely gene replication. According to Ruan Jing's testimony, they had even successfully replicated the genes of a general who had undergone rehabilitation treatment at Jiaxie, obtaining the same pheromones and physical qualities.

"......"

Ruan Yunchu half-closed his eyes. "Is Ruan Mingyi making deals with the rebels?"

"Yes. Later, there was likely a disagreement. The technology hasn't completely leaked out yet; it's been hidden somewhere."

"No wonder."

Ruan Yunchu let out a slow breath.

He finally understood why both the rebels and the Alliance had gone to such lengths to abduct Ruan Jing. He himself had already been certified by the Alliance Commander as an outsider with no knowledge, and Ruan Jing was perhaps the only person in the world who knew the inside story of the Ruan family's technological developments.

Yan Zhuo said, "Don't worry, I'll have people protect you. As for Ruan Jing, now that the rebels have finally achieved their goal, they will spare no effort to rescue him."

Ruan Yunchu grunted in acknowledgment and said no more.

He turned his head sideways to look out the window and saw his own grim expression reflected in the glass.

Jiaxie was the business his mother had left behind, having nothing to do with Ruan Mingyi from beginning to end. Yet the Ruan family had used Jiaxie for such disgusting dealings.

It really made his blood boil.

Knowing he was in a bad mood, Yan Zhuo, for once, didn't hang around him talking endlessly. When he dropped him off at home, he told Ruan Yunchu about the security arrangements he had set up in the vicinity. Seeing that the other man wasn't interested, he thought for a moment, then got out of the car and, ignoring Ruan Yunchu's resistance, hugged him tightly.

"Alright, I'll get them and make this right, okay?"

Ruan Yunchu stopped moving in his arms but ultimately said nothing.

Yan Zhuo knew he must be plotting something, but since he wouldn't get an answer even if he asked, he let it go.

He reluctantly let go, watched Ruan Yunchu disappear into the courtyard, and then redeployed his men around the area. If any Alliance soldiers had been there, they would have recognized that these people in plain clothes, well-trained, all bore the insignia of the Commander's personal guard.

"......"

For a full two weeks, Ruan Yunchu received no further news about Ruan Jing.

This was classified Alliance intelligence and should not have been made public. However, before Yan Zhuo could send any word, Ruan Yunchu stumbled upon a piece of news on the Star Network.

"Mr. Ruan Jing, one of the survivors of the Ruan family fire, accused Mr. Ruan Yunchu, the sole heir of the Ruan family estate, of arson and murder in front of the media this morning."

Under the hashtag, the word "explosive" in red fading to black was particularly glaring. In the photos from the scene, Ruan Jing, wearing a hospital gown, looked haggard, portraying himself as a weak patient who had been brutalized, drawing widespread sympathy.

Seeing Ruan Jing tearfully accusing him on camera, Ruan Yunchu found it both ridiculous and ironic.

This shamelessness runs in the Ruan family.