Jingkong United was located near the north side of Yu City, occupying an entire building by itself. Beside it was a parking lot, surrounded by greenery, with a sports field in the back.
It was safe to say that Jingkong United was the wealthiest and most charismatic organization among Yu City’s power factions.
Standing at the base of the Jingkong United building, Zhou Ming’s heart churned with turmoil.
After returning to Yu City, Zhou Ming had originally planned to report his experience and the photos he had secretly taken to Captain Zhang Chuanlei, and then let Zhang Chuanlei escalate the matter.
But now that he was actually at the foot of the Jingkong United building, Zhou Ming hesitated.
What if there were members of the Tu family inside?
Wouldn’t that be walking right into a trap?
After all, with these photos of his, the Tu family could still come and have them deleted. But once he reported them to Jingkong United, that would be an open declaration to the Tu family that he had already entered that ruin.
“No, for Gadelia and Jiang Jialie’s safety, at least for now I can’t report this. I have to find another way.”
Just as he was about to turn and leave, Zhou Ming suddenly caught sight of a familiar light ink-green ponytail, along with cream-white dyed strands, emerging from the Jingkong United building.
Gadelia!
Lowering his head, Zhou Ming pretended to be a passerby.
But that obviously wouldn’t evade Gadelia.
Without using her ability, Gadelia’s perception range for Zhou Ming was five hundred meters.
In other words, the moment Zhou Ming arrived in front of the Jingkong United building, Gadelia had already sensed him.
Seeing Zhou Ming appear at Jingkong United, Gadelia was actually quite puzzled.
After having the surveillance team banish everyone outside into an alternate space and then release them after a while, Gadelia had ordered The Order to withdraw.
She had thought that after Zhou Ming came out, he would come find her and pour out his heart.
“Could it be… to protect me and Jiang Jialie?”
A warmth surged in her heart. Feeling delighted, Gadelia abandoned whatever she was about to deal with and went straight to Zhou Ming.
“Zhou Ming, are you playing some kind of cosplay? Afraid of being recognized, so you’re cosplaying as a headless worker?”
Because she wasn’t tall enough and hadn’t worn heels today, Gadelia was worried that even if she stood on tiptoe, Zhou Ming might not see her from above, so she had to remind him of her presence in another way.
“Oh, it’s you, Ga… Gadelia!”
Understanding the situation, Zhou Ming turned around with an awkward expression like he’d been caught red-handed, his eyes darting and his face stiff.
“What a coincidence! I didn’t expect to run into you here. Do you have something important to do?”
Zhou Ming chose to ask first, shifting the topic to Gadelia.
He didn’t want to tell Gadelia about what had happened to him.
He had already troubled her enough.
“Even though I saved Gadelia’s life, I can’t drag her into this.”
Gadelia ignored Zhou Ming’s counter-question and said something completely irrelevant to the topic.
“But!”
“Are you forgetting about my ability?”
“I give up! I surrender, okay!”
Zhou Ming immediately caught on, sincerely admitted his mistake, and then made his own request.
“Gadelia, let me handle this matter first, and then I’ll come back.”
Crossing her arms over her chest.
Walking around Zhou Ming, stepping down to the lower step, Gadelia turned sideways and extended her hand toward Zhou Ming.
“Let’s go. We’ll talk when we’re back.”
Taking the jade-like hand Gadelia offered, Zhou Ming used the leverage to step down.
But because she couldn’t support the force Zhou Ming exerted, Gadelia’s body tilted, falling toward Zhou Ming.
Zhou Ming quickly used his other hand to steady Gadelia, taking a small step back.
“I used too much force!”
“Then let go already, you’re squeezing my hand!”
“Right, right, sorry.”
Zhou Ming immediately released the hand holding Gadelia’s, and his gaze wandered to her hand.
Slender, as if carved from jade.
Distinct knuckles, skin as white as snow, dotted with cherry pink at the joints, faint green veins visible underneath, like unique patterns wandering beneath the jade.
And very soft.
Zhou Ming savored the tactile sensation, unable to forget it.
“And!”
Reminding Zhou Ming, Gadelia lowered her arm and turned to walk away.
“Young people sure are something. All these antics remind me of when we were young!”
“Daddy, what was that strange sister doing?”
“Ahem, don’t ask too many questions, kid. You’ll understand when you grow up.”
Listening to the passersby’s chatter, close and distant, Zhou Ming’s face flushed slightly, and he quickly caught up with Gadelia.
“Gadelia, wait for me!”
Gadelia was wearing a loose white hoodie with a leather jacket over it, dark blue jeans, and sneakers. She looked very youthful.
That was probably one of the reasons people around them associated her with youth.
Following behind Gadelia, Zhou Ming pondered what to do next.
Gadelia was definitely out of the question.
Jiang Jialie would stick to him like glue and never leave.
Even though he had no hope about this in his heart, Zhou Ming only had one option—to quickly improve his strength.
Once in the car and inside her small sedan, Gadelia secretly observed Zhou Ming through the rearview mirror.
Anxiety, worry, and a deep-seated tenacity hidden beneath.
“Did I overdo it? This matter should have been encountered by Zhou Ming after he had gained some experience. After all, Flowing Wind level is still very strong for him.”
The Tu family and The Order were also colossal entities that made him tremble.
Too much pressure wasn’t good.
But then again, he was already facing the countdown to monster death, and now possibly the Tu family and The Order.
For someone who was only at Micro-level, it was still too despairing—not even a shred of hope in sight.
“Relax. Neither the Tu family nor The Order will notice us.”
“After what happened, the Tu family’s top priority is actually dealing with The Order, maintaining their prestige, and giving an account to the higher-ups in the capital.”
“As for small fries like us who came from who knows where, they won’t have time to pay attention.”
After Gadelia proactively brought up the topic, Zhou Ming’s nerves only tensed further, and he spoke rapidly.
“That ruin is gone, and the data was discovered and taken away by The Order. Someone has to take the blame, right? Then…”
Interrupting Zhou Ming, Gadelia put her foot down.
“The The Order—aren’t they the perfect scapegoats?”
“No matter how much the Tu family wants to, facing all the external pressure, they absolutely cannot find a low-level Micro Dust level ability user to take the fall.”
“That would only make the Tu family look incompetent. Got it?”
Silent for a moment, Zhou Ming nodded heavily.
“I’ll take you back to school. It’s almost five o’clock now. Jiang Jialie should be finishing her driving training soon. Go talk to her directly.”
“The bystander sees more than the player. Listen to your childhood friend’s advice.”
“After all, you want to protect me and her, don’t you?”
At the end of her sentence, Gadelia’s lips curved into a smile, and her voice lightened involuntarily.
“Okay.”
Zhou Ming replied with just one word.
In the blink of an eye, Gadelia had already driven to the front gate of Yu City University. She turned back to remind Zhou Ming.
“We’re here. Get out.”
Opening the car door, Zhou Ming had one foot on the ground when he suddenly heard Gadelia honk the horn.
“Wait, don’t go!”
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