Shen Yuqing asked a few more questions, until Song Wangzhuo’s gaze toward him began to shift slightly.
He said, “Why are you asking all this?”
Shen Yuqing froze for a moment, his mind racing as he replied, “Aren’t we friends? Can’t I even ask a few questions?”
The word “friends” was a fresh concept to Song Wangzhuo. It reminded him of that “friend” who had helped him several times but had since disappeared without a trace.
His eyes lowered slightly, and he didn’t answer immediately. Shen Yuqing thought he disliked the idea and felt a pang of disappointment. He had assumed their relationship had improved enough to be considered friendly.
Even though Song Wangzhuo’s favorability toward him was still negative, the system had assured him that, for someone like Song Wangzhuo, this already meant they were somewhat familiar not outright disliked, and capable of holding a conversation.
Shen Yuqing quickly backtracked, “Well, even if we’re not friends, you’re still my teacher. If you’re injured, won’t it affect my studies? Can’t I even ask a few more questions without you getting impatient?”
The last part was muttered under his breath.
Song Wangzhuo snapped out of his thoughts and instinctively replied, “It won’t interfere with your studies.”
Shen Yuqing glanced at his foot and then his arm. This time, Song Wangzhuo offered more willingly, “It’s really just a minor injury. It won’t affect anything else.”
“That’s good,” Shen Yuqing said. “In that case, I’ll head back first. Get some rest I’ll probably come by around three or four in the afternoon.”
Song Wangzhuo gave a quiet “Mm” in acknowledgment. “Got it.”
Shen Yuqing stood up and left. Only after closing the door behind him did the smile on his face gradually fade.
Something was off.
The whole situation reeked of one word: suspicion.
Shen Yuqing walked toward the elevator and summoned the system.
[Go check the garage surveillance from last night.] He wanted to see the footage to understand exactly what had happened.
The system returned quickly, but with unexpected news.
[Host, last night when Song Wangzhuo was injured, the entire garage’s surveillance system malfunctioned. Even hacking into their computers only shows footage from after the repairs today.] The system reported honestly.
Even stranger.
The elevator dinged as it arrived. Shen Yuqing stepped inside, his gaze instinctively flicking to the surveillance camera inside.
What were the odds that the cameras would fail right when he got injured?
And then there was the fact that he had been drugged just the night before. The timing was too coincidental.
The elevator soon reached the first floor. As Shen Yuqing stepped out, he ran into a maid dressed in the Song family’s uniform. She recognized him and greeted politely, “Good morning, Mr. Shen.”
Shen Yuqing acknowledged her with a hum and walked past.
Only after putting some distance between them did a thought strike him.
[Go check the elevator surveillance from last night too especially after I left.]
The system accepted the order and went to investigate.
Shen Yuqing walked slowly, but his mind was working at full speed. Earlier that morning, he had seen Song Lejin leaving the hospital, his expression extremely grim. Based on his understanding, Song Lejin had likely gone to visit Song Wangzhuo, only to find that he had already left making the trip pointless.
But would a wasted trip really make him that angry?
Shen Yuqing didn’t think it was that simple. The way he looked at the time seemed like he wanted to devour Song Wangzhuo alive there must have been other reasons.
He walked out of the residential complex, and the system returned with its findings: 【Host, the surveillance footage in the elevator has also been erased.】
Shen Yuqing stopped in his tracks.
The system continued: 【Not long after you left, someone tampered with the elevator’s surveillance.】
Hearing this, he tilted his head slightly and looked back through the fence toward the building where Song Wangzhuo and Song Lejin lived.
If he had only felt something was off before, now he was about 70% certain that this matter was connected to Song Lejin.
But why would that be?
As the system had mentioned, the revelation of Song Wangzhuo’s background was still a long way off. During this period, Song Lejin and Song Wangzhuo had no real connection at most, they attended the same school and occasionally crossed paths.
Now that they lived in the same building, they might run into each other in the elevator, but what other interactions could there be?
Why would Song Lejin target Song Wangzhuo?
Noticing Shen Yuqing standing still, the system asked: 【Host, is there something suspicious?】
【Too many things are suspicious.】 Shen Yuqing felt his headache returning. The hangover and the drugging incident had already left him mentally drained today. He thought he had avoided the plot point, yet it had inexplicably happened in another form.
Now he felt like his head was about to explode.
The system asked: 【What exactly is suspicious?】
【I haven’t figured it out yet.】 Shen Yuqing took a deep breath. 【Your energy reserves should be pretty good lately, right?】
The system had been scarce recently, and it wasn’t hard to guess what it had been up to.
The system responded cheerfully: 【Yep! And because the two male leads’ corruption values have dropped, the energy in my pool has become purer. That means I can do things more accurately!】
【Good. Keep an eye on Song Lejin.】 Shen Yuqing ordered. 【If you notice anything strange, report it to me immediately.】
If he couldn’t figure it out now, he’d start by monitoring the person he suspected.
Though puzzled, the system agreed: 【Host, how long should I observe him?】
Shen Yuqing thought for a moment: 【Just keep watching. I’ll let you know when I don’t need to anymore.】
His gut told him Song Lejin wasn’t as simple as the system claimed.
The system’s indicator light flashed twice in acknowledgment before going offline to begin surveillance.
Shen Yuqing returned home. Pei Yiyan and the others were nowhere to be seen, leaving the house empty which actually made him feel more at ease.
He sat on the sofa and turned on the TV, filling the quiet space with noise.
Bending down to search for the remote, Shen Yuqing realized he rarely sat here to watch. Usually, it was Pei Yiyan who “listened” to financial news or updates about their planet.
As soon as the TV turned on, it automatically switched to a financial news channel. Today, there was major news in the financial world.
The Song Corporation had launched a new joint initiative with the government, and reporters were broadcasting the event live.
Hearing “Song Corporation,” Shen Yuqing looked up at the screen.
The footage showed representatives from both sides shaking hands and posing for photos in front of the cameras.
This collaboration involved a junior member of the Song family, Song Lejin’s cousin to be exact.
Shen Yuqing glanced at the screen just as the camera zoomed in, focusing closely on the cousin’s face. He noticed that the cousin’s features bore a striking resemblance to Song Wangzhuo’s. A striking resemblance.
Suddenly, an idea struck Shen Yuqing. He raised his hand, activated his neural terminal, and immediately searched online for photos of the Song Group’s top executives.
Such photos were easy to find corporate executives like them were constantly in the public eye. With little effort, Shen Yuqing located a picture of Song Wangzhuo’s biological father and scrutinized it carefully.
After some thought, he also pulled up a few photos of Song Wangzhuo from the academy forum. When he compared the two side by side, their eyes and brows were practically identical!
