Chapter 76 – Eavesdropping Storm

[We’ve got a lead on the thing we’re looking for.]

During dinner, Shi Yu and Lin Xi both received a message from their Captain, Zheng Mo.

“The thing” referred to the item inside the safe in the vault-the one Lin Xi, Shi Yu, and Lu Yi had failed to get their hands on when they teamed up to rob Jinrui Bank last time.

The lead hadn’t been found by the investigation team. Instead, Qin Ling, the Genius Hacker, had quietly infiltrated Shuguang Technology’s internal network and “stolen” it.

They would meet tomorrow to discuss the specifics of the operation.

“Qin Ling works fast,” Shi Yu said. In her opinion, this new member was far more capable than the people on the investigation team. “Unlike someone, who only knows how to stuff her face and cuddle up to girls.”

Lin Xi paused with her chopsticks in hand. “Can you not be so passive-aggressive every single day?”

“It’s not like I’m Qin Ling, some Genius Hacker. When it comes to the investigation, you haven’t helped much either, have you?”

“Different people specialize in different things. Ever heard of that?”

“Aren’t we the action team? If we’re robbing another bank under Shuguang Technology this time, whether it’s the vault door or the safe’s combination lock, I can melt it open.”

Shi Yu chuckled. “So you really are still thinking about robbing banks.”

Lin Xi: “…”

“I didn’t. I’m not. Don’t make things up.”

“I was just giving an example. Maybe the operation this time won’t be at a bank.”

They would only know the exact location after they met up for tomorrow’s briefing.

Shi Yu said, “Even if it isn’t a mission, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to rob a bank.”

“Wouldn’t that make us actual criminals?”

“Your ideological awareness still needs work,” Shi Yu lectured. “Shuguang Technology’s enormous wealth is all capitalist ill-gotten gains, built up by devouring people whole and leaving not even the bones.”

“If we seize ill-gotten wealth and use it for charity, then in ancient times, we’d be famous ‘righteous bandits.'”

“Shuguang Technology is the evil ‘gentry,’ and the Countermeasures Bureau is the corrupt ‘government office.’ That’s why they’re colluding with each other to take down us ‘righteous bandits.'”

Shi Yu made it all sound perfectly logical. Lin Xi listened in a daze.

“Does ZERO give ideological education or something?”

Shi Yu’s “awareness” was so advanced that Lin Xi, a person with ordinary morals and respect for the law, couldn’t keep up at all.

“Let me ask you this,” Lin Xi said, suddenly becoming very serious. “The money you stole last time-did you really donate it to charity?”

“Yeah.”

Lin Xi’s mouth fell open in shock.

“What’s so surprising?” Shi Yu said. “Some charitable organizations these days just use the name of charity to rake in money.”

“The cause of charity still has to be carried forward by ‘righteous bandits’ like us in ZERO.”

This time, Lin Xi was genuinely convinced. “I thought someone as stingy as you would save up to buy a car and a house.”

“I have a vehicle,” Shi Yu said. Her motorcycle was extremely high-performance. “As for a house, isn’t this one right here?”

Lin Xi: “…”

“I’m not so noble that I’d ‘donate’ my house to you.”

“You said before that you were planning to move out. You weren’t just bluffing me, were you?”

“I wasn’t,” Shi Yu said. “I even went out yesterday to look at places. I’m planning to rent somewhere spacious and use it as a manga studio.”

“When the time comes, you should move over too.”

“Huh? I-screw you.” Lin Xi asked, “Why are you dragging me into this?”

“Aren’t you my assistant? The contract says that while you’re ‘dating’ me, you also have to help me out.”

“I have a home. Why should I move in with you? Helping out is one thing, sure.”

“So what you’re saying is, we’re going to be ‘separated’ long-term?”

“Listen to you. You’re making it sound like we’re actually a couple. Friendly reminder: if you really do like me, then according to the contract, all the royalties go to me, and then I’ll kick you to the curb-“

Before Lin Xi could finish, Shi Yu cut in. “And then you’ll take the money I worked so hard to earn drawing comics and go find some other woman?”

“Perverted Witch, you really are human garbage incarnate.”

Lin Xi: “…”

“You’ve got too many twisted arguments. There’s no way I can outtalk you. Anyway, don’t even think about meddling in my life so much anymore. I’m not the same person I used to be.”

“Oho, your wings have hardened, have they?” Shi Yu said with a smile. “No matter how strong you get, and no matter how many people you know, if I want to, I can have you in the palm of my hand in minutes.”

Scum of Humanity, wicked woman… Lin Xi said nothing and chose to keep eating.

At least Shi Yu really did plan to move out. She would finally get some peace and quiet…

…

The listening device inside the bag Lin Xi had hung on the coat rack in the living room transmitted her entire conversation with Shi Yu to Zhao Xinning.

The coat rack was a little far from the dining table, so Zhao Xinning only caught the general idea.

But that was more than enough to shock her all over again.

So the Jinrui Bank robbery case from a few days ago had been committed by Lin Xi, Shi Yu, and the others!

Zhao Xinning was completely dumbfounded. In her mind, Lin Xi had always been a soft, delicate, innocent girl who needed to rely on her.

Her soft and delicate Xi had turned into one of the bank robbers?!

“It has to be Shi Yu!”

“That damned bastard!”

“She’s the one who dragged Xi down and led her onto the path of crime.”

If Lin Xi hadn’t also been involved in the bank robbery case, Zhao Xinning would have called in a report immediately.

Zhao Xinning calmly analyzed the timeline. “Every bad thing Xi has done happened after she met Shi Yu.”

“Shi Yu really is a malignant tumor!”

“And she even forced her to sign some ‘Couple Contract’?”

“Could that bastard be lusting after Xi’s body?”

“Planning to use her until she’s ruined, then throw her away?”

“Damn it!!!!!-“

Zhao Xinning was seeing red. Once again, she wanted to grab her handgun and confront Shi Yu face-to-face.

Pluto popped out and kept trying to persuade her to calm down.

“You heard it too. Xi’s attitude toward Shi Yu isn’t good.”

“Shi Yu is about to move out. That’s a good thing.”

“Also, Shi Yu probably hasn’t succeeded yet. Right now, the two of them are simply sleeping in the same bed.”

“Xi’s first time will belong to you in the end!”

Zhao Xinning: “…”

Blushing, she told Pluto not to say such lewd things. “My feelings for Xi are pure and flawless.”

Pluto: “…”

“Back to the point. Since you know Shi Yu is one of the bank robbers, you have room to maneuver.”

“Report her? No,” Zhao Xinning said, shaking her head. “If I report Shi Yu and she gets arrested, a rotten woman like her definitely won’t show any loyalty. She’ll absolutely sell Xi out too.”

“Not report her,” Pluto said. “Write an anonymous letter, threaten her, and lure her out. You get to the designated location ahead of time and set up an ambush, then shoot her from the shadows.”

Zhao Xinning’s eyes lit up. “Oh, right. It’s a simple method, but it really is a good idea.”

She took Pluto’s suggestion under consideration.

Zhao Xinning had to think this through carefully and account for everything.

Shi Yu was bad, but she wasn’t stupid. If Zhao Xinning failed the first time, killing her later would probably be difficult…