In Rhine’s apartnt, Nathalie Quinlan ended her video call and tossed her phone aside to charge it. She propped herself on her arm and stood up, preparing to head to the bathroom to dry her hair.
With a soft ’ding,’ the phone screen lit up.
Her steps paused. Feeling slightly irritated, she lowered her lashes and stood still, picking up the phone again to unlock it.
The first ssage that ca through was from Amadeus Yancey.
[I’ll be back tomorrow night. I’ll let you know when I arrive.]
Nathalie raised her brows, showing no particular reaction. She appeared calm and composed, unfazed in the slightest.
As expected, she opened the Red Alliance software and received a private ssage from Emma Gabehart—[Sun, the item has been delivered.]
Below was an attachnt labeled picture.jdp.
The photo showed a box.
Upon closer inspection, it was easy to notice that the box Nathalie received matched the box in Sadam Vinson’s VIP lounge perfectly.
Even the patterns on the box were identical!
Nathalie’s pale white fingertips tapped on the phone screen. She then swiftly deleted the picture. Just as she did, Emma’s second ssage ca in.
[Sun, I hope you don’t mind asking... Just asking out of curiosity, you don’t have to answer.]
Nathalie’s gaze fell further down. Emma had padded her ssage with a long prelude, separating parts of it with ellipses to ensure she didn’t read everything at once.
[...Has Red Alliance switched to free delivery recently? (*?▽?*)]
"Tsk!" Nathalie’s pitch-black eyes narrowed slightly. She leaned nonchalantly against the edge of the desk, her stance casual yet bold. At another glance, it seed as though she had worked to temper the edge of her rebellious aura.
Her slender, fair fingers typed rapidly, and soon, the reply was sent: [Sun: Deduct it from my account!]
Concise. Decisive.
That short ssage—just a few words—overflowed with unbridled arrogance!
After seeing her ssage send successfully, Nathalie closed the Red Alliance software and placed the phone down again. This ti, she was really heading to the bathroom to dry her hair.
Since her shower, her hair had remained wet, and after sitting around for another ten minutes, the damp strands clinging to her neck beca particularly uncomfortable—cold and clammy.
She hadn’t locked her phone when she put it down.
Just as she pulled out her chair, a text from Winston Sullivan ca in.
Nathalie didn’t need to pick up her phone; with a simple glance, she could read the text on the screen: "Nathalie, we’re eting at Sea View Pavilion for lunch tomorrow. Don’t forget, okay?"
She checked the ti.
Winston had sent the text at nearly ten thirty in the evening—when most people were already asleep.
Yet he had chosen this exact ti to send her a ssage.
Nathalie recalled what Jethro Yapiter had ntioned—that Winston had, ever since receiving the research grant from Pinecone Group, buried himself in his work. Every day, he pushed himself to the limit, practically living in his small laboratory, sending Jethro a latest research progress report every other day. And yet, the money he spent was less than a tenth of what Adelle Wafford spent annually...
Her gaze darkened slightly. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she initially didn’t plan to reply, but after a mont of hesitation, she picked up her phone and sent him a simple ’Alright.’
For Winston to still be awake at this hour could only an he had just erged from his laboratory, unaware of how late it was.
After replying to Winston’s ssage, Nathalie decisively turned off her phone. Without checking any further ssages, she set it down and headed straight to dry her hair.
*
The next day.
With the sester about to begin, students from outside Tsinghua University had already started returning to campus one after another.
As the students returned, the university district imdiately ca back to life, bustling with activity. The stark contrast from July and August, when the campus was devoid of students, was palpable. Now, the streets were filled with Tsinghua students heading to supermarkets and shopping for everyday essentials.
User Comments
0 comments from readers