“What’s wrong? Scared?” A hint of mockery tinged Lin Xiaohe’s smile.
Brother Thunderbolt, having changed out of his red dress, replied frankly, “Yes, scared. Xiaohe, we’re all the same, smaller than a speck of dust in the universe. Someone could crush us with a flick of their finger.”
The three got out of the vehicle and returned to the clinic.
Lin Zhiyang still lay unconscious on the sickbed.
Old Hei checked his vitals—everything was normal. The fact that he hadn’t woken up yet was likely due to the shadowed area in his brain.
Lin Xiaohe carefully took out Heart Treasure, opened a water bottle, and fed it some purified water.
Heart Treasure knew that with outsiders present, it couldn’t move around freely and behaved very obediently.
Brother Thunderbolt stole glances at Lin Xiaohe from the corner of his eye. Seeing her expression calm—not angry, not sad—he felt rather uneasy.
He changed into his pink suit and shuffled over behind Lin Xiaohe, hesitantly saying, “Are they really your family? Not colleagues?”
“Mhm, they’re my kin.”
Brother Thunderbolt scratched his head, awkward. “What exactly does your organization want to do?”
Lin Xiaohe didn’t reply. What organization?
There was only a time-traveling unlucky soul and a family of dirt-poor farmers.
Brother Thunderbolt sighed, hemming and hawing. “You’re not still thinking of rescuing your second sister, are you? That really won’t work. We’d rather not cooperate with you than provoke someone we shouldn’t.”
“Then what can you do?”
What an awkward question.
Old Hei walked over. “Help you protect your family.”
Brother Thunderbolt was shocked. He grabbed Old Hei’s arm, whispering angrily, “This kid doesn’t know anything. Why are you still encouraging her to go to her death?”
Old Hei brushed off his hand, his voice barely audible. “If their organization dares to use Xiaohe’s family as bait, either they’re confident they can snatch someone from the Grand Theater’s grasp, or they’re testing Xiaohe. Aren’t you curious?”
If it was the former, it proved this mysterious organization not only had influence in the Sixth Ring, but also some sway in the Fifth, even the Fourth Ring.
If it was the latter, that was even more interesting. How could an utterly ordinary little girl attract a mysterious organization’s attention?
Brother Thunderbolt really wanted to answer firmly that he wasn’t curious. But his curiosity had a mind of its own, scratching at him like a cat’s paw!
The two spoke very softly. An ordinary person wouldn’t have heard, but Lin Xiaohe had Heart Treasure, her little cheat device.
Heart Treasure was furious: 【Xiaohe, they’re both big bad guys! They just want to watch your show.】
After hearing Heart Treasure’s relay, Lin Xiaohe knew her plan of using their strength against them had failed.
No one was a fool. Without sufficient benefit, who would be willing to risk their life?
Her gaze fell on Lin Zhiyang on the sickbed. His spiky hair, untended for days, lay flat and soft. His face was flawlessly perfect, with a high-bridged nose—he looked like a sleeping prince.
But her eldest brother wasn’t like this when awake.
When those narrow, long eyes opened, they were either deep as the void or clear as a spring, his demeanor randomly switching between ferocity and softness.
Compared to a sleeping prince, Lin Xiaohe preferred her lively, bouncing eldest brother.
Lin Xiaohe walked over and poked his fair cheek with her finger, whispering, “Big brother, wake up soon! The strawberry-flavored nutrient drink you bought me got smashed. Remember to get me a new one.”
One sibling stood, the other lay.
Under the stark white light, the scene made one’s eyes want to water.
Brother Thunderbolt took out a white handkerchief and dabbed the corners of his eyes.
“Brother Thunderbolt, Brother Old Hei, could you spare some cash? The organization said for this operation, I’m on my own—no funding or support.”
Old Hei and Brother Thunderbolt exchanged a look. Confirmed—it was the second guess!
Old Hei discreetly assessed Lin Xiaohe. Her physique was probably B-grade at best, maybe lower. Besides liking to grow wild plants, nothing special stood out.
After a moment’s thought, Old Hei decided to make a small investment.
This kid was pretty smart. Right from the start, she’d used the tiger’s skin as a banner, using the mysterious organization’s name to get them involved and buy her a theater ticket.
“Alright, I’ll personally sponsor you 100,000 star credits.”
Lin Xiaohe looked at him mournfully. “So little?”
Old Hei widened his eyes. “Getting cocky?! Have you forgotten just days ago when you couldn’t even scrape together 30,000?”
“The me of today is no longer the me of yesterday.”
Old Hei laughed in exasperation. “Everyone has their price. An ordinary life is worth 30,000. How much do you think you’re worth?”
Lin Xiaohe covered Dong Yuxuan’s name and silently showed them the transfer record.
“Over 1.3 million?!” Brother Thunderbolt gasped.
The mysterious organization said no funding, yet they transferred her over a million? Their financial resources were that substantial!
If the mysterious organization was willing to provide funds, how much would that be?!
Kind of want to switch jobs.
Old Hei’s eyes darkened. Jealousy made him writhe in madness; resentment made him crawl in darkness.
He was a senior doctor for the Iron Meteorite Raiders! Not counting bonuses, his annual income was only 500,000 star credits!
This mere slip of a girl, not even formally in the organization yet, got over a million!
Seeing their expressions, a light flashed in Lin Xiaohe’s eyes. Feigning deep regret, she said, “It’s all my greed! They said as long as I pass the assessment and become a formal member, the base salary starts at a million a year, plus benefits and bonuses.”
Holy crap!
Utterly devastating!
Old Hei’s face contorted, the words almost squeezed through his teeth: “Heh, talking about money is so vulgar. We at Iron Meteorite only talk about ideals.”
Lin Xiaohe said earnestly, “Exactly. My momentary greed brought disaster. But if I had another chance, I’d still choose this! Gamble once, motorcycle becomes hovercar; gamble again, hovercar becomes starship!”
Brother Thunderbolt’s face was bitter. Sis, with you speaking such brutally honest truths, how are they supposed to keep deluding themselves afterward?
Lin Xiaohe’s eyes sparkled, like the serpent tempting Eve: “I can introduce you to the organization. 500,000 referral fee per person.”
Brother Thunderbolt’s eyes instantly lit up. He fidgeted, saying, “That doesn’t seem right. We’re under long-term contracts with Iron Meteorite; the penalty for breaking them is high.”
Not until pushed to a certain point did Lin Xiaohe discover she might have a talent for deception. Lying came without a hitch, her expression exceptionally sincere.
“Our organization seeks talent from all walks, welcomes all heroes for part-time positions.”
Still hesitating?
To hesitate even a second longer would be disrespectful to money.
Brother Thunderbolt raised his wrist, declaring generously, “Transfer! Sis, from now on we’re all part of the same organization. Anything except rescuing someone from the Grand Theater is negotiable!”
Lin Xiaohe secretly breathed a sigh of relief inside, then turned to look at Old Hei.
Old Hei was much sharper than Brother Thunderbolt, harder to fool. Would he fall for it?
Old Hei glared at Brother Thunderbolt, scolding, “Are you an idiot?!”
Lin Xiaohe’s heart tightened.
Old Hei turned back, smiling at Lin Xiaohe. “We’re all family now, why talk about referral fees?! Here, take this—500,000 pocket money, spend it however you like!”
Thank you, darlings, for the votes and tips. Love you all.
