Ruan Chen was very focused on her drawing—this was one of the things she used to do most often to pass the time in the slums.
But at that time, all she had was charcoal she could find in the stove.
Xu Xiaolan was standing right next to her while she was painting.
When Ruan Chen is engrossed in something, she becomes relaxed and at ease, as if she is the only person left in the world.
Xu Xiaolan suddenly lifted the hair that Ruan Chen had deliberately let down.
“No wonder Actor Tao was able to threaten you with your underage status. So you went to boxing—is your family very poor? Doesn’t seem like it,” Xu Xiaolan didn’t treat her like an ordinary girl. “Miss Ruan, does your father know that you’re spreading rumors that your parents are dead?”
Ruan Chen was not surprised that the criminal investigation team knew his identity.
After all, they hadn't mentioned informing their parents from the beginning; they were simply afraid that the Ruan family would take them away and cut off their current leads.
It's understandable, given that it's a criminal case with no clear beginning or end.
Ruan Chen had finished drawing one, tore it off and handed it to Xu Xiaolan, "This is the waiter who notified Tao Ran—and, whether you believe it or not, I really am an orphan."
She looked extremely tired, and her tone softened unusually, "Sister, can I go back first and come back during the day?"
She glanced at the wall clock; it was 12:30.
There are still eight hours until the assessment at Beijing University of Technology.
She really needs to go back to Qinyuan.
“No,” Xu Xiaolan said with a smile, afraid that if she left, she would go straight to the Ruan family’s house. “I’ll arrange for you to sleep at the guesthouse. We can talk during the day after you’ve rested.”
Ruan Chen sighed helplessly, "Sister, I really have an exam today."
Xu Xiaolan took out a school calendar, placed it in front of Ruan Chen, and gently tapped today's date with her neatly trimmed nails. "You junior high students don't have any exams today."
Ruan Chen shook her head, too lazy to say anything more, and got up to go to the table to get her phone.
Xu Xiaolan didn't stop her. Ruan Chen wasn't a criminal suspect; he was just a concerned citizen. It was indeed against the rules not to even let her look at his phone.
Just now, her subordinates were ignorant, and Ruan Chen didn't use her status as the second young lady of the Ruan family to intimidate them, which was already quite cooperative.
"Looking for your parents?"
Ruan Chen sent a message with her eyes lowered: "They're all dead, don't disbelieve me."
“The underground fighting arena is too dangerous. You’re still a student, so don’t go there anymore. Your Ruan family should be able to find safe and reliable sparring partners.”
After sending the message, Ruan Chen put down her phone and laughed, "My parents are both dead, and no one is looking for me."
Xu Xiaolan assumed it was just her child going through a rebellious phase, so she ignored her and took the bread and milk—"The food at the Municipal Bureau isn't as good as what your Ruan family eats, so make do with this."
Fifteen minutes later.
Ruan Chen was munching on a dry, crumbly loaf of bread when the office door was kicked open.
The commotion was quite loud. She was so sleepy that she was in a daze and was really startled. Her heart started pounding, followed by a throbbing pain in her temples—a problem she had developed in Meicheng.
She couldn't eat any more bread. She pressed her index finger against her temple, staring at the person who barged in, her face cold and silent.
There was a hint of hostility in his eyes.
"Deputy Director Lü, what brings you here?" Xu Xiaolan, who was sitting to the side, stood up, somewhat surprised.
When she saw the people following behind Deputy Director Lü, her attitude changed from a hint of surprise to shock and respect, and she even bowed slightly, which was rare for her.
"teacher?"
Duan Jingfu is a senior researcher at the Jinghua Institute of Technology's Weapon Research Institute. He is in charge of the development projects for China's two current Level 8 weapons.
It is said that after the current director retires, the position will most likely be handed over to him.
He is only in his early forties this year. At this age, coupled with his current achievements, he is considered a national treasure-level scientific researcher in China.
After seeing the second person clearly, Ruan Chen also stood up, her hostility completely gone, even the impatience between her brows disappeared, and she obediently called out, "Teacher."
She had just sent a message to the teacher in charge of the early assessment at Jinghua University of Technology, hoping that someone could put in a good word for her. If that didn't work, she would have to ask someone from the Ye family to come.
But she really didn't want the Ye family to know; she still wanted to stay at the Qingye Bar.
But to my surprise, it only took fifteen minutes.
When Duan Jingfu saw Ruan Chen, a relieved smile appeared on his usually stern face. He quickly stepped forward, took Ruan Chen's hands in his, and said, "Look at you, child, why didn't you tell your teacher about your difficulties sooner?"
He then noticed the bread on the table and said sarcastically, "Old Lu, is the municipal bureau so poor that they only feed our kids this kind of stuff?"
Deputy Director Lü was speechless. Who was this person? A leading scientific research figure whom countless people would rush to curry favor with.
He glanced at the obedient-looking Ruan Chen. He knew that the bureau had brought back a minor tonight, and he also knew that the other party was the second young lady of the Ruan family. He had approved the detention and questioning of the person. He explained that the Ruan family had come to the door.
The Ruan family didn't come; instead, someone we can't afford to offend showed up.
He didn't know what the relationship was between Ruan Chen and this big shot, so naturally he didn't dare to ask.
Xu Xiaolan explained in a low voice, "Teacher Duan, Ruan Chen is a witness to an accidental death tonight, so we're keeping her here to cooperate with the investigation."
The autopsy results, which came out just before she arrived, indicated that the cause of death was a drug overdose, and it could be preliminarily determined that it was indeed unrelated to Ruan Chen Taoran.
However, Xu Weiwei has no history of drug use.
When Duan Jingfu saw Xu Xiaolan, his expression softened a bit. "You've been transferred to the Municipal Bureau now?"
"Yes, Technical Department."
Duan Jingfu patted her on the shoulder, "You chose this path yourself, so do it well."
Then he casually put his arm around Ruan Chen's thin shoulder. "Let's go."
He walked past Deputy Director Lü with a gloomy face and said, "If you need my Ruan Chen to cooperate with the investigation, come to the school to pick her up yourself."
As the car drove towards Qinyuan, Duan Jingfu glanced at Ruan Chen's face in the rearview mirror—pale from lack of rest. She looked out the window at the night view, her hand unconsciously rubbing her temples, appearing utterly exhausted.
He was still slightly frowning.
It must be a headache.
He turned on the stereo, playing Liszt's piano music, and adjusted the air conditioner to a low setting. "I've heard about your situation from the First Affiliated Hospital and the National Medical College. Has anyone told you about your mental strength rating?"
Ruan Chen looked away and sat up straight. "No."
“That’s because the First Affiliated Hospital and the National Medical College lack experience in this area. Their simulators have a maximum level of ten,” Duan Jingfu said, deliberately putting down two and praising one in front of Ruan Chen. “But you are a rare, completely clean body—in other words, you have no upper limit.”
Ruan Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
The same thing happened in that dream I had years ago, when the old man who called himself the administrator said the same thing.
Duan Jingfu continued to explain, "For them, mental power has levels, weapons have levels, instruments have levels, and research has levels. They cannot control anything above their level. But for you..."
Duan Jingfu took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly with excitement, "You are born with the ability to control everything in this world that requires mental power—as long as humans can create it."
"Ruan Chen, you were born for the Ten Famous Swords."
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