Chapter 616: Confusion (23)
"...That's really good. It doesn't feel bad."
Zhi Liao stroked Qiao Xi's head as if soothing a pet. The man's gentle movements and the warmth from his broad palms failed to truly reach the girl's heart.
As he caressed Qiao Xi, she said nothing, her whole body stiff, and she was silently embraced by Zhi Liao, who half-hugged her shoulders.
It almost makes people indulge in this gentle caress.
"By the way, I will also prepare some small gifts for you during this period." As if remembering something, a cheerful and cheerful voice sounded from above Qiao Xi's head.
Qiao Xi was stunned for a moment, then came back to her senses from her dazed state.
I want to look up at him.
Zhi Liao, however, pressed her head at this moment, gently but forcefully pulling her back, with an irresistible tone. It was obvious that the young man didn't want Qiao Xi to see his expression at this moment.
"What, a gift...?"
So, Qiao Xi's lips trembled slightly and she asked in a low voice.
Her voice was so soft that it could almost be ignored.
But Zhi Liao didn't care. Even though he could hear her fear, he remained indifferent: "You must see me once every 24 hours."
"……What?"
"Look at the screen over there."
While Qiao Xi was puzzled, Zhi Liao gestured for her to look to the side. The restraints that bound her finally loosened a little.
There is an inconspicuous display screen next to it.
The bustling city center is reflected in the background, and from a bird's-eye view, you can see the bustling streets bustling with traffic. Office workers in suits are hurrying around, catching the subway or crossing the street.
Students riding bicycles waited by the zebra crossing, chatting with their companions from time to time.
Neon lights came on, illuminating the huge billboard.
A perfume advertisement for a certain brand was playing on the giant display screen in the middle building. It looked like a normal day, no different from any other.
Look at the screen.
Zhi Liao casually withdrew his gaze, rolled up his sleeves slightly, revealing the watch on his wrist.
He said, "There's a bomb buried underground here."
"This watch is the trigger. I need to perform iris authentication every 24 hours, otherwise the bomb will explode and the entire city center will fall."
Zhi Liao said this and took off his watch casually.
He took Qiao Xi's hand as if it were a treasure and personally put the watch on the girl's wrist.
"Of course I don't care whether it explodes or not. The choice is yours."
Zhi Liao smiled, and the slight upward curve of his lips showed that he was in a good mood.
Qiao Xi's eyes fell on her wrist. The low-key watch seemed to be customized, with a retro feel, and the other numbers were white.
Only the number "12" is as red as blood.
"Of course, don't even think about calling the police. I have a few gifts hidden away that should be delivered to you in a split second before you act."
The hand on her shoulder patted her gently, as if to encourage her.
"You can do as you please tonight."
The man waved casually, and with steady footsteps he left, his aura of lingering emotion fading. He left, leaving behind the so-called right to choose.
Qiao Xi lowered her eyes and looked at the watch on her wrist.
This person...
He didn't care whether it was destroyed or not. Perhaps the chaos he caused was just right for him. Because there was no substantial evidence, and this person had a perfect alibi, there was no trace of any flaws.
So far.
The pursuit of Zhi Liao should have been carried out secretly.
There must have been undercover agents sent to him, but this person will not trust others easily. Even the things he entrusts to others to take care of are all normal businesses that look really normal.
Therefore, there has never been any real flaw.
[This guy doesn't look like he's going to be easy to deal with.]
The voice of the Little White Cat System suddenly rang in Qiao Xi's mind, bringing her back to her senses from her pensive state.
He looked away and stopped looking at his watch.
She sighed slightly and replied: [Yes, at least this person can't be easily moved]
The Little White Cat System nodded: "After a quick check, he's not kidding. The device on your hand is what controls the bomb over there. Without iris authentication, the countdown over there won't refresh."
Said so.
It also retrieved some information for Qiao Xi.
The bombs buried under the city center are piled up like mountains, and a bright red timer stands out. It is counting down 24 hours a day.
After obtaining Zhiliao's iris authentication, the countdown will be refreshed and start from the 24-hour countdown.
If there is no iris authentication and no refresh, the countdown will return to zero and the car will explode at 0:00.
Considering the amount of bombs.
This area in the city center might be blown apart and sunk into a deep pit, and then everything would be ruined.
so……
Before midnight every day, Qiao Xi must come here to see Zhi Liao.
[Haha, it's like Cinderella's spell, isn't it quite interesting?]
The hearty laughter of the little black cat system was heard.
The little white cat saw its heartless look and scratched it with its claws: [Stop gloating over other people’s misfortunes]
It's really troublesome to come here and see this person every day, okay?
[Why are you angry? It's not you who's going there.] The little black cat didn't care and easily avoided the claw attack. He yawned and jumped off the sofa in the system space and returned to his own nest.
While the two cat systems were making a fuss.
Reorganizing her thoughts, Qiao Xi turned her gaze away from her watch and began to think. Zhi Liao's request for her to take back her finger wasn't necessarily physical. After all, such a thing was too bloody for an ordinary woman.
He couldn't have failed to consider this.
What Qiao Xi should bring back should be something that can shake the Gu family.
That is to say.
Some loophole or something hidden that escapes the law.
Only by bringing back some relevant information to show your sincerity can you initially gain the trust of this person and start contact with him.
Zhi Liao didn't let her leave.
There are only about five hours left until midnight, and she plans to stay here for the rest of the time, and let Zhi Liao verify her iris when it is almost midnight.
As for now...
Qiao Xi looked around and found everything was silent.
She began to walk around, exploring the villa on her own. There was a kitchen, and there were vegetables in the refrigerator. The vegetables were sorted and placed in order, as if someone had sorted them out, perhaps someone who was responsible for Zhi Liao's daily meals?
Qiao Xi looked at it for a while.
I was thinking about whether I should use the kitchen and make something to eat.
【It’s the familiar cooking part】
The Little White Cat System sighed in the space, and the Black Cat System beside it nodded: [Don’t they say that to capture a man, you must first capture his stomach? That makes sense.]
The two cat systems were discussing what dishes Qiao Xi would cook.
But Qiao Xi was looking at the other layer of the refrigerator.
Her eyes fell on the unopened pudding, which was a common pudding in convenience stores, but it didn't look like something Zhi Liao would buy to eat.
【For Gan Youmeng? 】
The Little White Cat System is also a little curious.
The little black cat on the side nodded: [Maybe, then we can't keep it. I suggest eating it.]
"...I felt it wasn't right to just take someone else's things, but he already said to let me do as I pleased."
Qiao Xi looked at the pudding and muttered softly.
Zhi Liao brought him back to tell her all this, not only was there an explosion of information, but he also let her make her own choice. With such a headache gone, Qiao Xi now felt that she was in urgent need of some sweets to comfort her.
Eat a pudding, then buy another one for him.
Thinking so.
Qiao Xi also took out the pudding and held it carefully, opened the unopened package, and ate it with the provided plastic spoon. This mass-produced pudding tasted different from the freshly made puddings she had previously eaten at high-end restaurants.
But having said that.
But it’s still sweet and delicious.
Qiao Xi sat on the sofa on the first floor and ate the pudding with satisfaction. Seeing that it was almost time, she started to prepare dinner. After all, she was still in Zhi Liao's place, using someone else's kitchen and ingredients, so she prepared a portion for him.
As for Zhi Liao who went upstairs earlier.
The young man walked straight to the end of the corridor, locked himself in the study and began to work. Once he focused, it was easy for him to ignore the passage of time.
therefore.
When a faint fragrance began to spread, Zhi Liao, who was immersed in his work, unconsciously stopped typing on the keyboard.
His brows furrowed slightly.
The silver-gray-haired young man seemed a little dissatisfied. He closed his computer and walked downstairs to the source of the fragrance.
Zhi Liao doesn't like others touching his things without permission.
The back of the girl in an apron busying herself in the kitchen was clearly visible in his sight, coming and going. Qiao Xi didn't seem to notice him, but instead carefully lifted the lid of the pot wearing thick cotton gloves.
Hot steam came out all of a sudden.
It is accompanied by a rich aroma that makes you salivate.
"What are you doing?"
Suddenly, a man's dissatisfied, deep voice sounded from behind. It seemed so sudden that it startled the girl who was busy in the kitchen.
"ah?"
Qiao Xi quickly turned around and, in panic, met the eyes of a young man who was leaning against the kitchen door with one arm folded.
Zhi Liao was looking at her.
The cool young man, still dressed in a punk style, said nothing, frowning with obvious dissatisfaction. He didn't wear a lip stud, but he still had silver half-circle earrings on his ears.
It still looks a bit exaggerated, but it gives the impression of a bad, handsome young man.
"So? Who gave you permission to use the kitchen without permission?"
Zhi Liao scratched his short silver-gray hair impatiently, and there was only impatience in his eyes when he looked at Qiao Xi, without much friendliness.
However, Qiao Xi was obviously a little accustomed to this kind of look from him.
Qiao Xi met his gaze.
After a brief hesitation, he said, "I'm hungry, and you said I'm casual. I saw there were ingredients, so I made something to eat."
"Oh, it's hard for the young lady to cook for herself."
Zhi Liao scoffed, not taking it too seriously. He casually glanced at the table over there, which was servings for two.
In other words, Qiao Xi also prepared his share.
"Would you like to sit down and eat together?" Qiao Xi, who brought out the last dish, looked at him intently.
Zhi Liao raised an eyebrow: "Are you not afraid of me anymore?"
"It seems so, or maybe I'm too hungry to care. I still have to eat, and then I can continue to worry." Qiao Xi answered hesitantly.
She pulled out a chair and sat down.
Zhi Liao turned a blind eye to her behavior. What does it mean to continue to be afraid after eating? To be so heartless, he is really a strange person.
He originally thought of leaving Qiao Xi here.
After all, the woman who was threatened should have fled in a hurry. Who knew she would still have the leisure to cook here?
You are too ambitious.
You know, he threatened her an hour ago, right?
Thinking about this question, Zhi Liao also pulled out a chair and sat down opposite her. Qiao Xi had already picked up her chopsticks and started to enjoy her dinner. Seeing this, Zhi Liao also ate his own portion.
"How does it taste?"
Seeing him start to eat, the girl sitting opposite him cast a curious look at him, with a hint of anticipation in her beautiful eyes.
Zhi Liao glanced at her and said, "For a fool like you, this is a very high standard."
Qiao Xi smiled with her eyes curved: "So it means it's delicious?"
"Well, take it as you will."
Zhi Liao looked uninterested and seemed too lazy to discuss such issues with her.
Qiao Xi was not discouraged while eating. The girl observed his every move and started chatting again.
"Come to think of it, I saw you have a lot of food in the refrigerator. Will a chef come over to cook? Now that we've all eaten, I feel like we don't need to call the other party over."
“There’s no chef.”
Zhi Liao paused, as if considering whether to talk about this with Qiao Xi, but he continued: "I don't have the habit of letting others interfere in my life."
Qiao Xi was stunned.
Yes, it was natural for someone like Zhi Liao to be wary of others. It was understandable that he didn't hire a chef, but those ingredients in the refrigerator... Since he said he didn't have the habit of letting others interfere, did that mean he cooked all the food himself?
Qiao Xi felt confused for a moment.
She looked carefully at the young man sitting opposite her. No matter how she looked at him, he looked like a rich second-generation rock musician, and had nothing to do with the word "kitchen".
...Are you sure it's okay?
Perhaps it was because the suspicious look was too blatant. Zhi Liao, who was originally eating his meal casually, raised his eyes and glanced in her direction after noticing Qiao Xi's half-believing and half-doubting look.
Then the young man sneered.
"Are you surprised? No one would believe me if I said I was involved in gang activities, right?"
He uttered these words like a sarcasm and casually picked up a piece of meat from the bowl with a fork.
"Well, that's true..." Qiao Xi looked at him a few more times and nodded a little depressed.
To be honest, when she first met Zhi Liao.
I also feel that he should be a rich second-generation who plays music in a band. He has an inexplicably decadent and ruffian look. This image does not make people associate him with the prince who makes many gangsters tremble in fear.
How to say it...the contrast is too great.
And looks too young.
If we hadn't seen his ruthless side not long ago, and this man still said such words nonchalantly, this image might have been questioned.
So... this prince can not only cook for himself, but he can also play music?
The little white cat system read her thoughts and waved its paws.
[It’s unlikely that he plays music, as he’s so busy he probably doesn’t have the time, but he is working hard.]
Qiao Xi: “…”
How to say it, it seems like there is a strong sense of incongruity but also inexplicably normal.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
