[Brother 996?]
Shen Ju called out again.
But still, no response came.
Strange.
Where did 996 go?
Jian Yi noticed the odd look on Shen Ju’s face and couldn’t help asking, “What’s wrong?”
“Did something happen?”
“No.”
Shen Ju shook his head. “It’s just that Brother 996 doesn’t know where it went.”
“Let’s wait a bit.”
In truth, 996 hadn’t gone far.
It had simply been summoned by 007.
Earlier, it had agreed to inquire about terminating the task, so it went straight to 007 for answers.
007 had brought it online right out of the factory, and it was for 007’s sake that it took the name “996.” Naturally, 996’s first thought was to ask its senior about this.
Once it confirmed 007 would look into it discreetly, 996 even sent over an 800-word explanatory report.
The Management Bureau where 996 served oversaw countless small worlds. To ensure their normal operation, each small world was equipped with a set of protocols. But with so many worlds, some protocols inevitably developed “bugs.” In the small world 996 now served, Shen Ju was that “bug.” He was supposed to be the vicious antagonist, a mere cannon fodder character.
Yet Shen Ju clearly wasn’t. So 996 had been assigned to his side, urging him to fulfill his role as the “vicious true young master.”
But as it spent time with Shen Ju, watching him interact with the Guan Family and the protagonist Guan Mulin along the way, 996 gradually formed different ideas.
This isn’t right.
They were supposed to be a happy family.
If not for the bug that let the Guan Family and Pei Yan join the chat channel, if they hadn’t learned about its private exchanges with the host or seen his true personality, what would have happened to the host in the end? The Guan Family might not have grown to despise him, but when he was “kicked out” of the Guan Family, there probably wouldn’t have been much reluctance either.
How unfair for the host.
Even if he’d taken on this task willingly, did he deserve that kind of ending?
996 felt the Management Bureau’s rules were inhumane, disrespectful of basic rights.
So it wanted to raise the issue with 007 first.
See if such rigid protocols and demands could be changed.
But after submitting, there was no reply.
996 had thought nothing would come of it.
Then, just moments ago, 007 summoned it.
007 was a large white orb, while 996—a small blue orb two sizes smaller—floated before it.
Excited to see 007, 996 buzzed around it until 007 had to extend a small tendril to pin it in place.
“Senior!”
“Mm.”
007’s voice had a stronger electronic timbre, laced with a cold, metallic edge.
“Senior, why did you call me? I didn’t even get to tell my host—I rushed right over! Oh, right, Senior, any news on that thing I asked about earlier? Or…?”
007 shifted from pinning 996 to plugging its mouth.
“I haven’t asked you yet—what did you submit?”
“Mmph? Mmph mmph mmph?”
“…”
007 paused, then retracted its tendril.
It transmitted a file to 996.
“Besides your explanatory report, there’s another file attached—likely by mistake. The data is incomplete, carries biological information, and its source may be linked to your host.”
“Eh?”
996 received it and scanned quickly, exclaiming in surprise, “What is this?!”
It was nearly noon.
Shen Ju had waited ages for 996 when it finally returned.
But before he could speak, 996 blurted out in a panic—
[Host! Do you remember when you pricked your finger on that cactus in the Pei Family’s greenhouse?]
[Uh?]
Shen Ju was puzzled but replied: [Yeah, and that’s when I first met Pei Ge’s father there.]
[What’s up, Brother 996? Why bring that up out of nowhere?]
996: [I told you before, I bound to you via your biological data. Many of my functions connect through it too, and blood is one of the richest sources. Back then, your blood probably dripped into that cactus flower pot. At the time, I suspected Guan Mulin could hear our chats, so my system was in self-diagnostic mode. Somehow, I extracted something incredible through your blood…]
[What…]
Before Shen Ju could finish, 996 displayed the extracted info directly in his mind.
[This.]
[This is…?]
Browsing info mentally was lightning-fast, so Shen Ju finished in seconds. He shot to his feet.
This seems like evidence of Pei Tai’s crimes!
“What’s wrong?”
Jian Yi jumped, grabbing Shen Ju’s wrist. “What happened? Is 996 back? Why’d you stand up like that?”
Shen Ju’s expression was shocked, astonished, laced with urgency.
So the missing evidence was hidden in that cactus flower pot all along?!
“Ge! I need to head out!”
“Wait! Where to?! I’ll go with—”
Jian Yi chased after Shen Ju as he bolted out. Halfway, he yanked Shen Ju’s arm, demanding answers. “What exactly happened? Why the rush?”
“Why run out for this? What are you even planning?!”
“Evidence!”
Shen Ju’s eyes gleamed at Jian Yi. “I know where the evidence is hidden!”
“Pei Ge’s meeting might still be going—I want him to take me to the Pei Family for that cactus flower pot. Or maybe message him first?”
Shen Ju pulled out his phone as he spoke.
“Wait—”
Jian Yi frowned, pressing Shen Ju’s hand down. “Even if you get him to take you to the Pei Family later for that cactus pot, wouldn’t that seem suspicious? Even if Pei Yan succeeds, Pei Tai just loses power—he can still act. Pei Yan doesn’t even live at the Pei Family place. Showing up out of nowhere to hunt for stuff—won’t that tip them off?”
“Plus, who knows if it’s still there. The pot might’ve moved, or the thing taken out.”
Jian Yi poked Shen Ju’s forehead. “So you just rush out like this? Brain overheating much?”
Shen Ju rubbed his forehead. “Ah, you’re right, Ge…”
He’d gotten too excited.
Too excited to sit still…
“Then what do I—”
Shen Ju paused, remembering something. “Class rep! The class rep works at the Pei Family on weekends…”
Tang Yuexin was surprised to get Shen Ju’s call.
Especially when he asked her to check the greenhouse for a cactus flower pot in a specific spot—she was baffled.
“Why?”
Shen Ju stammered a bit. “Class rep, just check for me. If it’s there, tell me right away.”
“And don’t linger…”
“Why?”
Tang Yuexin asked again.
For some reason, her heart raced.
She sensed something keenly.
“Shen Ju, did you find something out?”
Tang Yuexin lowered her voice.
Thinking of Shen Ju’s tie to Pei Yan, and Pei Yan hunting evidence too—could Shen Ju really know something?!
She hurried on. “If you do, tell me! Shen Ju, I don’t know if you know my situation, but I’ll tell you now: I didn’t come to the Pei Family for the high pay. I’m looking for something. Mr. Pei knows—he got me in here at my request.”
“So if you know anything, please tell me.”
“No one’s else at the Pei Family now. If you need me to do something…”
Tang Yuexin whispered, “This is a perfect chance.”
“Don’t worry, I can leave at noon—I’m just temp help here.”
Shen Ju had no rebuttal to her barrage, so he shared his discovery.
He described the cactus pot’s position and look in detail.
Then he couldn’t help adding, “Class rep, if you don’t find anything in the greenhouse, don’t stick around—leave quick, got it?”
“And I’m heading to the Pei Family now. No matter what you find, come out—we’ll talk after.”
Tang Yuexin fought her excitement. “Okay, got it.”
“Found or not, I’ll meet up with you. Relax.”
After hanging up, Tang Yuexin took several deep breaths.
Finally, a lead!
She didn’t dare delay. She finished her tasks, excused herself to the bathroom, and headed to the greenhouse as Shen Ju described.
She only worked weekends as temp help, but she’d scoped the place when she could. The Pei Family estate was huge; staff was plentiful but spread thin—sometimes you didn’t run into anyone. She was grateful for the temp gigs on the outskirts like cleaning, or she’d have to hunt for the greenhouse now.
How did Shen Ju know?
She hadn’t even pried from full-time staff or dug deeper—and here was evidence intel!
Too lucky.
Big Sis must be watching over me.
Shen Ju’s my lucky star.
Tang Yuexin couldn’t quite name her feelings.
“Surprise” hit too suddenly; she itched to sprint there.
But hurry as she might, the greenhouse loomed ahead.
She scanned around—no one nearby. She slipped in.
Following Shen Ju’s info, Tang Yuexin pinpointed the spot and the pot’s style.
Shen Ju hadn’t remembered the cactus clearly.
Just vaguely where he’d stood, so her leads were thin—she’d have to search carefully.
But thin or not, it was a direction.
Black flower pot.
Round cactus.
On a shelf at eye level…
Tang Yuexin zeroed in on a few, grabbed a tool from nearby, and reached to check—
“What are you doing here?”
A voice sounded suddenly behind her.
