Chapter 136: Coming of Age

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Dr. Gu Yi’s judgment was well-founded. Even within the Inner City Patrol Bureau, or even the Defense Bureau, a Class-C Awakened was an extraordinarily valuable asset.

The moment one was discovered outside, every effort would be made to recruit them.

Had he still been employed by the Outer City Patrol Bureau, Wan Qianfeng and Tu Bei—those two old foxes—would have fought tooth and nail to claim him. How could a suspension incident ever have occurred?

Besides, newly recruited Awakened still had to go to the Extraordinary Affairs Bureau to undergo an Inner Potential Value test. The data they provided had always been objective and accurate, unless...

The old man’s imagination was remarkably fertile. He had even come within a single step of guessing the truth.

Yet given the Extraordinary Affairs Bureau’s consistent reputation for fairness, the suspicion remained in his mind for no more than a second.

The woman’s next report completely dispelled his doubts.

“Doctor, there is one more matter I need to report.”

Dr. Gu Yi gave a flat “Hmm,” the nasal sound carrying a trace of impatience.

“According to information provided by our informants, I suspect that personnel from another bureau were involved in this incident.”

“What makes you say that?”

Dr. Gu Yi straightened slightly from where he had been bent over his desk. Clearly, her words carried considerable weight.

The woman spoke cautiously.

“Based on what happened that night, the residents who left the housing district to patrol took different routes, but after analysis, all of them were heading toward the brothers’ hiding place.

“During that time, someone received a communication. The caller clearly gave them directions.”

Dr. Gu Yi’s brows drew together slightly.

“Do we know which bureau issued the instructions?”

The woman hesitated in the shadows for a moment before replying, not daring to sound certain.

“It should have been someone under Commander-in-Chief Bai Lin. But whether Commander-in-Chief Bai Lin himself was involved is still unclear.”

“Bai Lin? The Trade Bureau? Hmph. All right. You needn’t concern yourself with this any further. I’ll report it to the City Lord personally.”

The woman’s account was closely connected to Ye Chen’s arrangements.

He had not only instructed as many residents as possible to leave the housing district and patrol the area, but had also clearly provided them with the direction and location.

What Dr. Gu Yi could not understand was that the hiding place of the Ma brothers had been agreed upon by him and the brothers themselves. How had another person suddenly come to know about it?

Could something have gone wrong?

“Doctor, regarding the experimental subject, would you still like me to help you...”

The woman asked again respectfully, as though desperately hoping to make up for her mistake.

Without hesitation, Dr. Gu Yi replied, “You will no longer be responsible for this matter. Effective immediately, you are officially removed from the research team for the Number Two Reagent Project.”

“Doctor... Doctor!”

The woman in the shadows panicked. She hurriedly crawled forward on her knees, clasped both hands around Dr. Gu Yi’s leg, and pleaded through her tears:

“Doctor... I can do it! I can find you more experimental subjects! I promise there won’t be any more mistakes!”

Dr. Gu Yi slowly lowered his head and stroked her smooth hair.

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“This isn’t a problem with the experimental subject. It’s the fact that you wasted a Class-C Awakened as an experimental subject.

“So I need a replacement...”

The woman’s face changed dramatically.

...

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After leaving the medical station, Ye Chen was placed under house arrest by Ye Shanshan.

Her reason was that he was far too reckless with his own body.

He had been perfectly fine when he went out that night. Before the night was even over, she had received word that Ye Chen had once again ended up in the medical station.

The girl had nearly stormed in on the spot and given him a thorough beating.

Couldn’t he let her worry a little less?

Thus, when she learned that Ye Chen still had many days of leave remaining, she expressly forbade him from leaving the house.

Poor Ye Chen. Although his injuries had already healed, he was nevertheless locked inside the “little black room.”

Still, this gave him ample time to cultivate.

At the same time, he was waiting for another important day to arrive—Ye Shanshan’s eighteenth birthday.

Around noon, the sound of a key unlocking the door came from outside Ye Chen’s room.

Ye Shanshan had come to bring him lunch.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Ye Chen grinned.

Ye Shanshan, carrying a lunchbox, saw the smile that had yet to fade from the corners of his mouth. She rolled her eyes at him and said irritably:

“You scheming little devil, don’t even think about begging me to let you out. I’m not going to let you run wild.

“Stay home and recuperate properly. I even brought your favorite dried meat.”

Ye Chen sighed dramatically.

“My injuries healed ages ago. If you don’t believe me, I can do a hundred one-arm push-ups right here.”

Ye Shanshan glared fiercely at him, then turned her head away, unwilling to deal with this incorrigible man.

Who knew what sort of trouble he would stir up again?

At that moment, she was entirely in her element. Once again, she had transformed into the role of an older sister, possessing a natural bloodline advantage over her “younger brother.”

Seeing that his “sister” was unmoved by either persuasion or force, Ye Chen said earnestly:

“Shanshan, I really do have something to take care of outside.”

“You’re already on extended leave. What could possibly be so important?”

Ye Chen then pulled an envelope from beneath his pillow and waved it in the air.

“Here. I have an important letter that has to be delivered today!”

Ye Shanshan had just been about to leave, but she turned back suspiciously.

“Is it far?”

Before Ye Chen could give a stammering answer, she snatched the letter from his hand and checked the address.

“It’s all right. It isn’t particularly far. I’ll deliver it for you on my way to the market.”

Ye Shanshan let out a smug little laugh.

“So your excuse is rejected!”

With that, she turned and walked out, conveniently locking the door from the outside with a heavy padlock.

A moment earlier, Ye Chen had been wearing a bitter expression. The instant Ye Shanshan left, a smile returned to his face.

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Standing at the doorway, Ye Shanshan glanced down at her grimy apron and suddenly thought of something.

She turned around, went back to her room, changed into another outfit, and even put on a little light makeup.

Elegant, simple, and charming, she looked like a narcissus blooming in winter.

Even she did not know whether she had done it out of respect for the recipient—

or for that faint, elusive anticipation stirring in her heart.

...

Before long, Ye Shanshan arrived at the Tenth Residential District. She checked the address on the envelope.

“That’s right. It’s this building!”

As the most upscale residential community in the Outer City at present, everything here radiated grandeur and distinction.

The streets were far wider and cleaner than those in her own corrugated-metal housing district, and trees had even been planted along both sides of the road.

Every passerby wore an air of confidence.

The little courier could not help feeling inferior, while also feeling quietly relieved.

Thank goodness she had taken the time to dress up before leaving.

Just as she was preparing to knock, a childish voice came from beside her:

“Mommy, look! That big sister is so pretty!”

Ye Shanshan turned her head and saw a little girl who had just returned from grocery shopping with her mother.

When the girl’s mother noticed the letter in Ye Shanshan’s hand, she immediately understood. Taking her daughter by the hand, she stepped forward and kindly asked:

“Miss, are you here to deliver a letter?”

Ye Shanshan nodded.

The woman continued:

“My name is Xiulan, and I live in the building next door.

“Listen, the new owner of this house hasn’t officially moved in yet.

“Are you sure you have the right address?”

Ye Shanshan’s heart gave a sudden lurch.

That wretched Ye Chen had actually tricked her!

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