Knocking on the Door
Chen Ling paused for a moment, as if organizing his words. But considering that they were running out of time, he decided to get straight to the point:
"We are here to protect you."
"Protect me?"
【Su Zhiwei】's hand, which was brewing tea, suddenly paused. Her gaze was full of incomprehension.
"A lot of things have happened, whether it's the 【Exploration Team】 or other things... In short, someone is currently hunting the members of the 【Exploration Team】." Chen Ling's expression was incredibly serious.
"And you, Doctor Su, the person coming to kill you is already on their way... You must leave with us immediately."
【Yang Xiao】 turned his head to look at Chen Ling, his expression somewhat bizarre. He didn't expect Chen Ling to be so simple and direct, not even offering the slightest explanation, just opening his mouth and demanding to take her away.
When persuading him, at least Chen Ling had explained the past and the future, and he had personally witnessed the electromagnetic storm... However, 【Yang Xiao】 could also understand. 【Nie Yu】 could come knocking at any time right now, so they truly didn't have the time to explain everything bit by bit.
【Yang Xiao】 opened his mouth, wanting to add some explanation. He figured that since he was in the same profession as 【Su Zhiwei】, it might be more persuasive coming from him... But before he could speak, 【Su Zhiwei】's brows furrowed tightly.
"I understand."
【Su Zhiwei】 poured the hot tea from the pot into the two men's 【Tea Cup】s. As the fragrance of tea wafted up with the steam, she looked up at the clock on the wall. "I need five minutes to pack my things. Will that be enough time?"
【Yang Xiao】: ?
Not only 【Yang Xiao】, but even Chen Ling didn't expect 【Su Zhiwei】 to agree so readily. He had even prepared himself to forcefully drag her away if he couldn't persuade her within ten minutes.
They absolutely never expected that 【Su Zhiwei】 would only ponder for less than two seconds before choosing to believe them, even taking the time to pour them some tea.
"You..." Chen Ling was dumbfounded for a long moment. "Aren't you going to ask what exactly happened?"
"Didn't you say the person coming to kill me is already on their way?"
【Su Zhiwei】 stood up, her tied-up hair fluttering like a gossamer veil. The spring scenery of the garden behind her intertwined with the brilliance of 【Rationality】 in her eyes as she spoke calmly,
"Since time is pressing, we can talk about the rest on the road... Furthermore, I've already seen 【Director Chen】's power with my own eyes in 【Shennongjia】, and I also trust Doctor 【Yang Xiao】. I believe you wouldn't mean me any harm."
Chen Ling looked into 【Su Zhiwei】's eyes. After a long while, a surge of emotion welled up in his heart...
He had to admit, 【Su Zhiwei】 truly had her IQ and EQ maxed out simultaneously. This kind of judgment and boldness wasn't something just anyone possessed.
"Five minutes is enough." Chen Ling nodded. "We'll wait for you here."
"Alright, then please have some tea."
Without the slightest sloppiness, 【Su Zhiwei】 headed straight upstairs. At the same time, she called out to the old woman who managed the housekeeping to help her pack her things.
With her departure, only Chen Ling and 【Yang Xiao】 were left behind the tea table. Looking at the still-steaming 【Tea Cup】s on the table, 【Yang Xiao】 couldn't help but sigh:
"I know quite a few scholars in the scientific research circle, but someone like Doctor Su... is truly rare to see."
"Fortunately, she's standing on our side." Chen Ling looked in the direction 【Su Zhiwei】 had gone upstairs, slowly withdrawing his gaze. "But I'm very curious... With Doctor Su's cleverness, coupled with the mysterious and unfathomable 'String Theory', what kind of Monarch will she become in the future... and which Monarch will she be?"
Four minutes and thirty seconds later, 【Su Zhiwei】 walked down the stairs carrying a hiking backpack.
She had already changed into a white windbreaker and sweatpants. Her high ponytail was tied behind her, and coupled with the professional hiking backpack, she looked exactly as if she was prepared for a long period of wandering.
【Yang Xiao】 asked doubtfully, "Are you only bringing that little bit of stuff?"
"Didn't you say we're fleeing for our lives? It's definitely better to be light and convenient. Dragging a suitcase is too troublesome." 【Su Zhiwei】 pointed at 【Yang Xiao】. "Doctor Yang, didn't you also bring nothing at all?"
【Yang Xiao】: ...
It wasn't that 【Yang Xiao】 didn't want to bring anything; it was that Chen Ling fundamentally hadn't given him the chance. He had been taken straight from 【Shennongjia】 and had absolutely nothing on him except his phone.
After packing her own things, 【Su Zhiwei】 shut off the water and electricity. She gave the old woman a sum of money and told her to go rest in her hometown for a while, waiting for her to contact her before returning.
Just as everything was ready and the few of them were preparing to leave, a knock on the door suddenly rang out.
Dong, dong, dong——
At such a crucial moment, the sudden knocking instantly made Chen Ling and 【Yang Xiao】's nerves taut!
【Su Zhiwei】 was stunned for a moment and seemed about to go open the door. Chen Ling reached out and stopped her, simultaneously giving 【Yang Xiao】 a look. The latter instantly understood and pulled 【Su Zhiwei】 towards the inner rooms to hide.
Although Chen Ling didn't think 【Nie Yu】 could shake off the police station and track them to 【Gusu】 in such a short time, it never hurt to be a bit cautious at times like this.
Dong, dong, dong——
The knocking sounded once again.
Chen Ling's gaze swept the surroundings. He grabbed a 【Bone-Stripping Knife】 from the 【Kitchen】 in passing. Weighing it in his hand, he found the length and weight to be quite suitable, so he hid it in his sleeve and walked straight towards the door.
He had already slipped his 【Handgun】 to 【Nie Yu】 on the plane, so he had no weapons for self-defense on him. If a fight really broke out, it was better to have a handy weapon... The only short weapons he could find here were a 【Kitchen Knife】 and a 【Bone-Stripping Knife】.
However, compared to a 【Kitchen Knife】, Chen Ling felt the 【Bone-Stripping Knife】 was more pleasing to the eye. It was similar to a 【Dagger】 or a bayonet, and it felt relatively smooth in his hand.
Standing behind the door, he gripped the handles of the heavy double doors with both hands. Taking a deep breath... he abruptly pulled them open with force!
Whoosh——!!
Under Chen Ling's strength, the heavy doors were instantly yanked open. The rush of air was compressed into a violent gust, sending Chen Ling's brown trench coat fluttering upwards!
The next moment, a glint of cold steel flashed in midair. The sharp tip of the 【Bone-Stripping Knife】 instantly sliced through the air, pressing straight towards the space between a figure's eyebrows.
"Fuck?!!"
A cry of alarm came from the doorway. A young man wearing a black jacket was so startled that he leaned back fiercely and fell flat on his butt.
"You, you you you... who the hell are you?!"
Hearing this voice, 【Su Zhiwei】 inside the house was taken aback. She immediately walked out, with 【Yang Xiao】 following closely behind.
Behind the wide-open doors, an eighteen or nineteen-year-old youth sat on the ground in astonishment, covered in dust. Beside his hand was a square gift box, tied with a pink ribbon on the outside, looking extremely exquisite.
Chen Ling, draped in a brown trench coat and gripping the 【Bone-Stripping Knife】, stared icily at the young man sitting on the ground, his eyes narrowing slightly.
The temperature at the doorway dropped abruptly.
"【Yao Qing】?" Seeing the young man, 【Su Zhiwei】 was somewhat surprised.
【Yao Qing】 looked at 【Su Zhiwei】, then looked at the cold and indifferent Chen Ling standing beside her. The words "【Emotionally Broken】" were practically written all over his pale face:
"Sister Zhiwei, you never said you were dating someone on the outside!!"