Chapter 27 The Uninvited Guest Shen Mi didn't intend to open the door, but called out from afar…
Back in his dormitory, Chen Mi washed up and lay on his bed. He wanted to close his eyes and rest, but his mind was in turmoil.
She always felt like she had missed something important, but she couldn't figure it out.
Suddenly there was a soft knock on the door. Shen Mi looked towards the door with suspicion. Who could it be so late?
Shen Mi didn't intend to open the door, but called out from afar, "Who is it?"
The person knocking didn't answer, and Chen Mi frowned, her vigilance instantly heightened. She gripped the stun gun Dan Heng had given her, slowly sat up, her gaze fixed on the door.
The person outside remained silent, but the knocking did not stop; it was still light and slow, yet carried a certain unhurried persistence.
Chen Mi held his breath, carefully listening for any sounds outside the door. Nights in the labor camp were never peaceful. While Area C appeared calm on the surface, unseen waves surged beneath. Someone knocking silently on the door at this time was definitely not a good sign.
She tiptoed closer to the door, pressed her back against the wall, and whispered, "If you don't make a sound, I'm going to call for help."
The person outside finally spoke, their voice not loud, but with a hint of familiarity.
"It's me."
Upon hearing this voice, Shen Mi couldn't help but tense up.
"Steward Kulun, is there something you need so late?" Shen Mi asked as he slowly approached.
"Nothing much, just wanted to see if you're feeling better," Cullen's unhurried voice came from outside the door. His voice seemed to possess a magical quality, and Shen Mi couldn't help but think of a fairy tale—Little Red Riding Hood.
Little Red Riding Hood was eaten by wolves when she opened the door; Shen Mi wasn't that stupid.
Shen Mi's fingertips tightened, and his grip on the stun gun tightened involuntarily.
Haha, I was feeling a bit better, but seeing you made me feel worse.
What boss would come to see their subordinates in the middle of the night?
Shen Mi leaned against the door, bracing herself against it, quickly suppressing any other emotions. She lowered her voice and softly replied, "Thank you for your concern, Steward. I'm fine now."
There was a few seconds of silence outside the door. Cullen seemed to be hesitating, then the deep and languid voice rang out again: "Since everything is alright, open the door and let me see you."
Shen Mi immediately felt as if he were facing a formidable enemy.
Her heart began to race, and a hundred ways to do it flashed through her mind.
Opening the door is impossible.
Shen Mi was terrified that if he opened the door, he would impulsively stick the stun gun into Kulun's forehead, hoping to shock him until he was paralyzed from the waist down and his lower limbs were paralyzed.
She cursed inwardly, took a deep breath, and suppressed the sudden surge of anxiety. She quickly adjusted her tone, trying to make herself appear impeccable.
Shen Mi deliberately dragged out his words, adding a hint of weakness, and said in a weak voice, "But my complexion is still not good right now, and I'm afraid opening the door will frighten you."
There was a moment of silence outside the door, as if Cullen was pondering, before a light, slightly amused laugh came from outside: "You're quite the talker. Alright, then I won't bother you any longer."
Footsteps began to sound, growing louder as they faded into the distance, as if he had turned and left.
Shen Mi did not relax for a moment. Instead, she pressed her ear close to the door, trying to catch any sounds outside, afraid that he would suddenly turn back. Only after a few minutes when the corridor was completely silent did she slowly retreat back into the house.
Shen Mi cursed him countless times in her heart, her anger and resentment almost overwhelming her. Whether it was psychological or not, the nausea and vomiting she felt from Kuren vanished silently after seeing Dan Heng, like mist blown away by the wind.
After locking the door, Chen Mi took a few steps and lay back down on the bed. The bed creaked, but she couldn't fall asleep. It was late at night, and the surroundings were so quiet that she could almost hear the wind blowing outside, but her mind was as taut as a running motor, never stopping for a moment.
She buried her head in the pillow in frustration, Chloe and Sunny's conversation echoing in her mind. Every word, every detail seemed to be a clue in a maze, from which she could not escape.
Chloe knew the exact location of the ledger, and Sanley had agreed to stall Cullen—this information only fueled her suspicions. Shen Mi couldn't help but ask herself, was Cullen really that careless? Could he really have exposed the password and the ledger to Chloe?
In order to advance the plot, even the world-building was deliberately made to make the villains less intelligent?
Moreover, the timing of his meeting with her tonight was rather coincidental, and the more Shen Mi thought about it, the more horrified she became.
Could everything tonight have been a setup specifically designed for her?
Problems arose one after another, and Kulun's sudden appearance still affected Shen Mi.
Shen Mi's thoughts were like a swirling eddy, growing increasingly anxious with each passing thought. She suddenly felt that the whole thing was getting more and more suspicious, more and more like a meticulously designed trap.
Just as she began to have these doubts, the system's voice rang in her mind, breaking her reverie:
"Congratulations, host, for discovering a crucial clue."
What...?
The sudden voice was none other than Shen Mi's unreliable system.
The system then added:
“Chloe’s plan has been exposed, but the host’s contact with Danheng has not yet attracted attention.”
The system's voice rang in my mind, still short and calm, urging me on like an alarm:
"Please proceed with Chloe's actions as soon as possible, while remaining highly vigilant."
After that, a new sub-task suddenly appeared below the original task progress bar, containing exactly what the system had just said.
Push forward? How do we push forward?
It disappeared quickly after saying that, and no matter how much Shen Mi shouted in his mind, there was no response. Only the white light above his head flickered twice.
Shen Mi couldn't help but sigh, her lips twitching slightly. Her mind was filled with countless questions, but the system's answer was nothing more than a vague and meaningless statement.
She couldn't help but complain: "This is how the beginner's guide is done? They dare to offer me help with this level of quality?"
"Whether you live or die depends entirely on the host, right?" Shen Mi complained.
Fortunately, at least this time there were hints, so I didn't have to fumble around like a headless fly trying to figure it out myself. Shen Mi couldn't help but wonder, could the system even sense other people's thoughts?
It felt like having a God's-eye view.
So how can we speed up their actions?
Shen Mi stared at the ceiling for a moment, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
If Chloe is unaware that she has been exposed, she will likely proceed according to the original plan. Could she then "inadvertently" reveal some information to urge the other side to act?
“For example…” Shen Mi muttered softly, “Kulun has recently increased its defenses, and the ledgers might be moved.”
She thought about it for a moment, then shook her head, dismissing the idea. Chloe might not believe her side of the story, and going directly to speak or write an anonymous note would only alert her.
But what if it were someone else—like Sang Li?
Shen Mi narrowed his eyes, and Sang Li's beautiful and delicate face involuntarily appeared in his mind. Her beauty was flawless, like a delicate doll displayed in a shop window, but unfortunately... it was a shell with a price tag.
After spending the past few days with Sang Li, Shen Mi had gradually formed some judgments about her. Sang Li knew how to use her advantages to change her fate at crucial moments. This world wasn't governed by laws and rules; more often than not, it was like a small kingdom, dominated by desire and scheming.
Sang Li chose a path to her destiny that was both covert and direct—the manipulation of male-female relationships. This was not only part of her strategy, but also a way to find light in the fog. In her view, perhaps this was the only shortcut that could allow her to break free from her predicament.
Shen Mi was not surprised by Sang Li's methods. In this world full of desire and scheming, relying on others and depending on desire seemed to be the fastest and most convenient way to power, as understood by the locals.
However, Shen Mi knew perfectly well that while this method might seem to grant her what she wanted, it ultimately lacked true freedom. Relying on external power is ultimately fragile, because it is built upon the will and interests of others. True freedom, on the other hand, is not achieved by manipulating others, but through inner independence and self-control.
Sang Li may find fleeting happiness in the beauty of material possessions, but she can never truly find liberation.
Chloe's plan hinges on whether Sangley is willing to help him stall Cullen. If he works through Sangley, subtly revealing information like "Cullen's schedule might have changed recently" or "He might be changing the location of the ledger," Sangley will most likely pass it on to Chloe. After all, she's not the type to think things through on her own.
Moreover—Shen Mi's gaze darkened slightly—Sang Li wanted freedom, but she also valued her life. If she realized that the time left for her was limited, she would likely urge Chloe to act quickly, lest things get complicated.
Shen Mi rolled over and lay on her back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind still filled with various thoughts. Although the plan was taking shape, she knew that this complex situation needed to be handled slowly and patiently. She sighed, trying to clear her mind of the jumbled thoughts; after all, the next day was approaching.
She turned around. Compared to the initial unease of having no ideas, having a goal now made her feel more at ease. However, ideas are one thing, but she still had to meet with Danheng tomorrow and sort out all her thoughts from today.
Shen Mi got up and turned off the light. The night was deep and silent, with only the gentle flow of time like water.
She closed her eyes, thinking, "Maybe... I can ask Danheng if he'd be surprised if he knew I'd only just broken up with Chloe and Sang Li and stumbled upon their secret relationship. And if he knew I'd even planned it all out, what would he think..."
Thinking about this, she couldn't help but smile. She shouldn't be so relaxed, but sometimes, having a godlike perspective and peeking into other people's secrets just feels incredibly satisfying. No wonder some people love gossip…
"I'll get some sleep and talk about it tomorrow," she muttered to herself, secretly deciding to stop thinking about those troublesome things tonight and get some rest.
She'll have a proper talk with Danheng when they meet tomorrow.
Author's Note: ----------------------
I'm late, I'm late! I'll punish myself with a drink!! [Let me see][Let me see][Let me see][doge][doge][doge][doge]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
