Chapter 77 Suspicion and Gambling
——＜A Fearful Dividing Line＞
Su Yan sat at the dining table, eating the food on his plate with a tasteless look. Huo Shen sat opposite him, drinking in silence, his eyes occasionally glancing at him with an indescribable scrutiny.
The USB flash drive hidden in the crack of the bathroom was like a piece of ice, sticking tightly to his heart, and the coldness penetrated every limb.
"Phase Two: Scavengers".
Those words lingered in his mind. Assistant Zhou wanted more than just money; he also wanted to "clear" obstacles. Who were those obstacles? Someone who knew the details of his plan? Someone who might hinder his actions? Or... someone like him, someone who had accidentally glimpsed a secret, yet was insignificant and could be wiped away at any time?
Did Huo Shen know about this plan? If he didn't, then Assistant Zhou's betrayal was already a fact. If he knew... Su Yan didn't dare to think too deeply. That meant Huo Shen had acquiesced to, or perhaps even orchestrated, this conspiracy, including the "cleansing of personnel." His "surrender" on the deck just now, in Huo Shen's eyes, was probably more like a ridiculous act of walking into a trap.
"Did you finish eating?"
Huo Shen's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Su Yan snapped back to reality and realized he was unconsciously poking the cold steak with his fork. He put down his cutlery and nodded, "Yeah."
Huo Shen stood up, walked in front of him, and looked down at him. The shadow completely enveloped Su Yan.
"You will sleep here tonight." His tone was an unquestionable command. "You are not allowed to leave this room without my permission."
Su Yan's heart sank. Was this protection or house arrest? Was it to guard against Assistant Zhou, or to keep an eye on him?
He raised his head, trying hard to see something in Huo Shen's bottomless eyes, but there was only a silent dark color, and no emotion could be detected.
"Mr. Huo," Su Yan's voice was dry, even though he didn't notice it. "Assistant Zhou..."
"This is not your concern." Huo Shen interrupted him in a cold tone, "Mind your own business."
After he finished speaking, he seemed not to intend to stay any longer and turned to walk towards the door.
The moment his hand grasped the door handle, Su Yan didn't know where he got the courage from, and blurted out: "Do you believe me?"
The moment he asked the question, Su Yan regretted it. This question was too stupid, too straightforward, and in this situation, it was almost equivalent to exposing his guilty conscience.
Huo Shen paused. He didn't turn around, but just turned his face slightly. His hard jaw outlined a sharp arc under the light.
"Believe?" He repeated the word, a barely audible hint of mockery in his tone. "I never trust anyone."
His voice was calm, but like an icy awl, it pierced through Su Yan's last bit of unrealistic fantasy.
“I only believe in value and control.”
After saying that, he unlocked the door and walked out without hesitation. The hatch closed again, and the sound of the lock "clicking" could be heard clearly, locking Su Yan alone in this gorgeous and cold cage.
Su Yan slumped in the chair, feeling cold all over.
Huo Shen's answer was cruel but truthful. In his eyes, he might have some special value, thus temporarily worthy of protection. But all of this was based on "control." Once he lost control, or his value was no longer there, the consequences were obvious.
And that USB flash drive is precisely the proof of “out of control”.
He had to get rid of it as soon as possible. Every second he kept it around would increase the danger.
Su Yan took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He walked to the door, confirmed it was locked, and checked the room again, but found no obvious surveillance equipment. Huo Shen's personality disdained and had no need for overt surveillance in a place like this. His control came from more invisible coercion and manpower.
He quickly walked back to the bathroom, locked the door, and fished out the cold USB drive and adapter from the crack. Holding the items in his hands, his fear strangely subsided, transforming into a desperate determination.
It cannot be destroyed. This is evidence, and it may be the only bargaining chip to save your life or fight back in the future.
Huo Shen was very careful. If he remembered the USB drive and went back to check it, and found that it had been touched, he would be exposed immediately.
It must be hidden somewhere safer and where there is a chance of getting it out.
He scanned the bathroom. A vent? Too obvious. A toilet tank? Not waterproof and easily visible during maintenance.
Finally, his eyes landed on the expensive, unopened bottle of shower gel. He unscrewed the cap and removed the sealed plastic bag inside (some high-end brands use this to ensure product freshness). He carefully placed the USB drive and adapter into the bag, sealed it, and then stuffed it back into the bottle of shower gel and screwed the cap on tightly. The liquid's perfect density and viscosity were enough to submerge the small bag and hold it in place, making it barely noticeable without shaking.
This bottle of shower gel was brand new and wouldn't be used anytime soon. Besides, he might be able to take this kind of daily necessity with him when he left.
After doing all this, he restored the bathroom to its original state, trying to remove any traces.
As soon as I walked out of the bathroom, the intercom phone rang.
Su Yan's heart tightened and he walked over to pick up the phone.
"Mr. Su," the waiter's respectful voice said, "Mr. Huo has ordered some soothing drinks and snacks for you."
Huo Shen's "concern" had arrived. ╯^╰ was both surveillance and a warning.
"Send it in." Su Yan said calmly.
The waiter came in with a dining cart, put down the food, and left quietly. Su Yan looked at the steaming cup of milk and the exquisite pastries without any appetite.
He walked to the window and looked out at the dark sea. The yacht was still sailing, its destination unknown.
The storm did not end, it just moved from the open deck to this seemingly calm cabin, and to the silent game between him and Huo Shen.
Assistant Zhou's murderous intention, Huo Shen's suspicion, the secret of the USB flash drive...all the clues are intertwined, forming a huge and dangerous vortex.
And he, Su Yan, the unexpected time traveler, the cannon fodder who should have exited early, is now standing at the center of the vortex.
He knew that every step he took next would be treading on thin ice.
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