Chapter 81 Limited Freedom and Temptation
The days in the penthouse began at a strange pace.
Su Yan has an access card that allows him to move freely in a space of over 500 square meters. He can also go to the gym and indoor heated swimming pool downstairs accompanied by a taciturn but sharp-eyed "assistant" named Chen Mo.
Chen Mo was more of a shadow than an assistant. He rarely spoke, but Su Yan could sense that every subtle movement and every pause in his gaze might be recorded and reported.
Huo Shen seemed very busy, often leaving early and returning late, or even staying out all night. Most of the time, only Su Yan, Chen Mo, and the elusive servants lived in this cold, luxurious apartment.
Su Yan wasted no time. He used his limited freedom to carefully observe the place. He familiarized himself with every corner of the apartment, noted the approximate locations of the surveillance cameras (though he knew there were certainly more hidden ones). He even attempted, accompanied by Chen Mo, to familiarize himself with the building's security procedures and shift patterns.
He was like a patient hunter, carefully drawing his own map within the enemy's territory.
One evening a few days later, Su Yan was sitting in front of the floor-to-ceiling window reading a book. The golden glow of the setting sun dyed the entire city in warm colors, but it could not warm up the room at all.
There was a sound at the entrance. It was Huo Shen coming back.
He took off his coat and handed it to the servant waiting beside him, his eyes sweeping over Su Yan, who was sitting by the window. Su Yan was wearing a soft off-white sweater today. The sunlight outlined his quiet profile and slender neck, making this cold space feel a rare softness.
Huo Shen paused and walked towards him.
"Are you used to living here?" He sat down on the single sofa opposite Su Yan, crossed his long legs, and relaxed his posture, as if he was having a casual chat.
Su Yan closed the book and looked up: "Very good, thank you Mr. Huo."
His answer was polite and distant, and there was nothing wrong with it.
Huo Shen's eyes fell on the book in his hand, an introductory book on data encryption and network security. He raised his eyebrows slightly: "Interested in this?"
Su Yan's heart tightened slightly, but his expression remained calm: "Just looking around, to kill time."
He couldn't act too purposeful. This basic book was the starting point for him to understand the encryption technology that might be involved in the USB drive, and it was also his attempt to understand the communication methods that Assistant Zhou and Su Chen might use.
Huo Shen didn't delve into it, and instead asked, "Is Chen Mo still suitable?"
"Assistant Chen is very professional." Su Yan chose his words carefully.
"So professional that it makes you feel uncomfortable?" Huo Shen seemed to see through his thoughts, with a faint curve at the corner of his lips.
Su Yan was silent for a moment, then chose a relatively truthful answer: "It does take time to adapt to having someone around."
"Just get used to it." Huo Shen said calmly, no emotion in his tone. "There are still many things you need to adapt to."
These words were suggestive, and Su Yan lowered his eyelashes without responding.
A brief silence stretched between the two of them, with only the faint hustle and bustle of the city outside the window as background sound.
Suddenly, Huo Shen seemed to remember something and said, "There is a private dinner tomorrow night. Come with me."
Su Yan's head shot up, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Bringing him to a dinner? This went beyond "imprisonment" or "asylum" and was more like sending a signal.
"I..." He subconsciously wanted to refuse. He didn't think he was suitable to appear in that kind of occasion.
"There's no room for negotiation." Huo Shen interrupted him, his tone unquestionable. "When the time comes, it's up to you to decide what to say and what not to say."
He stood up and looked down at Su Yan with deep eyes: "Remember your identity. There are some scenes that you need to see with your own eyes."
After saying that, he said no more and turned to walk towards his bedroom area.
Su Yan sat alone on the sofa, his fingers unconsciously tightened and crumpled the pages of the book.
A private dinner...who would he meet? Would Su Chen show up? Or would it be another of Huo Shen's business partners?
Did Huo Shen push him out to test his reaction? Or did he want to use him to pass on a message to someone?
He found that he had no idea what Huo Shen was thinking. This man was like a deep ocean, calm on the surface, but hidden within were countless undercurrents and unknown creatures.
He picked up the book on data encryption, but couldn't read a single word.
Tomorrow night, what awaits him is probably not a relaxing dinner, but another battlefield that requires careful handling.
He walked to the bar and poured himself a glass of water. The cool liquid slid down his throat, calming the restlessness in his heart a little.
He looked at the closed door of Huo Shen's bedroom, his eyes gradually becoming firm.
Since there is no way to escape, we can only face it.
He wanted to see how Huo Shen would play his so-called "game" next.
And as an "accomplice", how much chance of survival and...initiative can he gain for himself?
------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
