Chapter Seventy-Two: Deterrence
Qi An has no friends in the Public Security Department.
However, she did indirectly know someone who worked in the Public Security Department and was a mid-level leader—the deputy team leader's brother, Zhao Bowen.
However, Xiang Shiyang had no way of knowing whether she had connections within the Ministry of Public Security.
Xiang Shiyang was both surprised and bewildered, and found it utterly incomprehensible.
How did the little monster know about their past?
Did Wang Ming say that? Has this kid been bewitched by that little monster?
Wang Ming was stunned by Qi An, and now he frantically pulled out the pistol he had bought from the black market.
Although it's a cheap DIY assembly kit, it's no problem to kill Qi An with one shot!
"Put...put the gun down!" he said in a daze.
How could things have suddenly turned out like this! It was as if he had gained the little monster's trust and dependence, and he was now playing both sides, even able to bypass Brother Xiang and reap the benefits from the little monster all by himself!
Qi An glanced at Wang Ming, but didn't move the gun in his hand at all.
If we walk a few more steps forward, we'll reach the main road. If we shoot and kill someone here, Qi An might have a chance to survive, but these two are definitely doomed!
At this point, whoever experiences stronger fear and desire will lose.
Qi An did not believe that Xiang Shiyang and Wang Ming did not want her life, and that they still had any hope of coercing her.
As the sun continues its southward movement, this corner will soon be exposed to sunlight.
Sweat rolled down the foreheads of the three men in the standoff, not only because of the life-or-death situation, but also because the position was too dangerous and too likely to attract the attention of passersby.
This place is very close to the military camp!
It seemed that people on the main road had already turned to look.
"As expected of a little monster..." Xiang Shiyang repeated the words "little monster" in his mouth, then slowly raised his hands:
"I admit defeat. We... can talk things over."
He looked at Wang Ming with an extremely cold gaze, almost as if he were looking at a dead man. Wang Ming shuddered, put down his gun, and cowered into the shadows of the corner.
Qi An pointed the gun at Xiang Shiyang, spun him around, stepped back, and said calmly, "Remember to pay back the money. I'll come and collect the debt."
As she holstered her gun, she took out her phone and quickly snapped a photo of Xiang Shiyang.
Ignoring Xiang Shiyang's gloomy and fierce gaze, as well as the surprised and curious onlookers, she walked lightly into the bright sunlight.
......
Sunlight also streamed into the room through the window at the end of the corridor on the 5th floor of the research building.
However, this place is too far out in the corner, and the windows have not been cleaned for a long time, so they are covered with stains, which makes the light somewhat dim and broken.
Tang Xinying leaned against the window, staring blankly at a magnolia tree outside.
The magnolia season has passed, the flowers have faded, and the trees are covered with fallen petals, just like the bunch of plum blossoms in front of her window.
A round-faced girl walked by, her footsteps bringing Tang Xinying back to her senses.
"Teacher Tang, the sample you sent the day before yesterday has already been tested, and the results are expected to be available tomorrow morning," the round-faced girl said softly as she walked up to Tang Xinying.
She explained apologetically, "Because a new strain has been discovered in the southwest, Professor Huang wanted to complete the gene sequencing of all the existing experimental subjects before the new strain samples were sent back, which is why your work was delayed."
But your sample is already being sequenced, and because there are many samples to be sequenced in the next couple of days, it's actually easier to include yours in the sequencer.
"Thank you, Xiao Ye," Tang Xinying said with a smile.
"Teacher Tang, don't be so polite, it's nothing!" Xiao Ye quickly replied with a smile.
Tang Xinying is a scientist and a purification specialist, and she also undertakes biomedical teaching tasks at the base. Xiao Ye was once her student.
Tang Xinying helped Xiao Ye when her family was in dire straits.
Although Xiao Ye chose gene research and entered the gene enhancement laboratory after that, she always felt grateful to Teacher Tang.
Of course, since cultivating a good relationship with a purifier is a must for everyone with a heart in the apocalypse, Xiao Ye has maintained a close relationship with Teacher Tang all these years.
Helping to test a hair follicle sample is easy, and Xiao Ye agreed to help without hesitation. However, she was also a little curious and asked:
"Whose hair is that? Why do they need sequencing? Are they checking for genetic diseases?"
Tang Xinying gave a vague "hmm" and did not answer in detail.
......
There is a new solution to Xiang Shiyang's problem, and Qi An no longer needs to risk assassination.
The risks are twofold: first, Boss Qian has stockpiled high-quality gas purchased through legitimate channels, and Xiang and Wang may not necessarily go to the black market again in the next couple of days; second, among the several roads leading from the shop to the black market, there is no absolutely secluded location without residents, suitable for assassination.
If Qi An fires, her process of dragging and purifying the two people's memories may alert bystanders, and then the security team.
But has the situation completely improved? Will she then be able to check and balance Xiang Shiyang, maintaining peace in terms of deterrence?
Can a peace built on deterrence last?
Qi An remembered reading about pre-apocalyptic nuclear deterrence in the base's general education textbook.
Teacher Tang once said that before the apocalypse, trade wars, economic recessions, and extreme social involution caused by artificial intelligence would intensify conflicts, and the tension of global war would be stretched to its limit.
Even without apocalyptic crises involving viruses and pollution, a nuclear winter may still arrive.
Qi An sat on a bench for a long time under the magnolia tree whose leaves had withered and fallen.
But before she could fully sort out her thoughts, a familiar presence and a familiar voice appeared beside her again.
"Dr. Qi's unhappiness seems to be getting worse. Is your bubble about to burst?"
Qi An turned his head and met Chen Yuezhou's dark eyes.
"Maybe," Qi An said.
Chen Yuezhou raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Qi An didn't want to explain what bad thing had happened, and she was about to get up and leave, but Chen Yuezhou asked:
"You rejected Yang Yuning?"
Qi An immediately recalled the day she came out of the woods and noticed someone was watching her.
It must be this guy!
"I refused." Qi An did not deny it.
"So you hugged him, was it... to say goodbye?" Chen Yuezhou still felt that the situation between Qi An and Yang Yuning that day was very strange.
When Yang Yuning said something, Qi An stood on tiptoe and cupped his face in his hands. Then, when they retreated into the depths of the woods, Chen Yuezhou assumed they were a couple.
But Qi An came out alone afterwards, her face seemingly wet with tears, and she didn't see Yang Yuning off this morning.
"After confessing his feelings, he gave her a hug, and then said goodbye?" Chen Yuezhou's tone was inscrutable. He recalled how Yang Yuning kept looking back at the base before leaving and didn't get into the car for a long time.
But Qi An never appeared.
Yang Yuning couldn't hide her disappointment, dejection, and anger.
Chen Yuezhou looked at Qi An and asked, "What kind of boyfriend is Dr. Qi looking for?"
A boyfriend who could accompany a little monster to live a secluded life in the mountains? Qi An thought, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"What kind of girlfriend is Chief Chen looking for?" she asked in return.
Chen Yuezhou did not answer.
But he looked at Qi An for a long time, as if sighing, and said, "I'm leaving tomorrow too. Dr. Qi, could you purify me one more time?"
Qi An was slightly taken aback, then frowned: "Doesn't Chief Chen have Xu Le?"
If you need purification, go find your own purification specialist!
"I want your purification." Chen Yuezhou looked at her and said it clearly and resolutely.
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