Chapter 137
The moment the thought of a chastity belt arose, it became impossible to ignore.
The more Shang Yu thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. Although Minister Yu had always acted freely and didn’t care about others’ opinions, the video had been replayed throughout the entire Safe Zone for so long this time, ruining his reputation…
Taking a step back—even if Minister Yu wasn’t angry, wouldn’t he seize the opportunity to do something to Brother Yu because of it?
He had just driven everyone else out of the control room. Who knew—maybe he had been punishing Brother Yu inside. Otherwise, why would he come out and say something like, “So what if he did it?”
…That definitely sounded like someone who had already punished him and was thoroughly satisfied.
The corner of Shang Yu’s mouth twitched upward uncontrollably.
With effort, she dragged her gaze away from Yu Zhi’s waist and hips and looked at his face instead.
Yu Zhi didn’t seem to notice her scrutiny. His eyelashes were lowered, his lips pressed tightly together, flushed a deep red.
Shang Yu narrowed her eyes.
His lips weren’t even bitten open?
Was Minister Yu that restrained?
Or was it the cold-faced version—washing underwear with a blank expression? Cold-faced while putting on a chastity belt? Never smiling while kissing you again?
Just as her imagination was running wild, a voice suddenly rang in her ear.
“Old Shang.”
Shang Yu nearly jumped on the spot. Turning and seeing it was Lin Xiangyuan, she reflexively smacked the top of his bald head.
Rubbing his forehead, Lin Xiangyuan asked, puzzled, “What were you thinking about? You look scared out of your wits.”
Of course she couldn’t tell him the truth. Instead she said, “Wasn’t Minister Yu telling you to handle the aftermath? Why are you still here?”
“I’m a bit worried,” Lin Xiangyuan paused, his face full of concern. “You just broadcast that we’d give a satisfactory explanation, and then Minister Yu immediately said we’re proceeding according to the original plan.”
“Isn’t that just fooling people? What if they start causing trouble again later?”
Shang Yu glanced at him. “Then keep fooling them—no, keep making things up according to Minister Yu’s instructions.”
Lin Xiangyuan looked even more troubled. “We still have to lie to them…”
Shang Yu had been friends with him for years. Though he looked rough on the outside, he was gentle and sensitive, worrying over many small matters.
After staring at him for a moment, she said bluntly, “Just tell them we’re not letting them leave Jing’an Community and are stationing soldiers to watch over them because they escaped from a polluted zone. We’re worried something might happen to them—and also worried that if they leave, it might affect others.”
“If anyone asks about Qu Xiaonan, just say you don’t know and let them ask her directly. Team Leader Shi will be staying here for now anyway.”
Lin Xiangyuan hesitated, then nodded. “Alright.”
He scanned the area to make sure Fu Suxi wasn’t nearby, then leaned closer to Shang Yu and lowered his voice. “Old Shang, tell me honestly—will Minister Yu really be okay doing this?”
“Yan Yang is dead. So many ordinary people died in the temporary settlement. But… it doesn’t look like Minister Yu plans to target Meteorite at all.”
His brows twisted together, doubt filling his eyes. “Meteorite managed to create a pollution source inside the Safe Zone. Our combat division is either guarding the city walls or sent out to clear other pollution sources in East China. Do you think Minister Yu might be…”
Shang Yu cut him off. “Old Lin, you don’t need to think about what Minister Yu is planning.”
“You just need to remember that he definitely has his reasons.”
Lin Xiangyuan gave a hesitant “oh.”
Shang Yu could tell at a glance that he still hadn’t fully trusted Fu Suxi. She frowned. “What’s with you today? Because of Yan Yang?”
He nodded, then shook his head. “Partly because of Yan Yang. And also… people in the Bureau are spreading rumors about Minister Yu, saying he caused someone’s death and all that. I talked with Old Qi last night, and he also thinks what Minister Yu did wasn’t great.”
“Old Qi? That coward was so scared by a pollution zone accident years ago that he hasn’t dared leave S City since,” Shang Yu scoffed. “Don’t talk about this stuff with him. You’ll just scare yourselves half to death.”
She thought for a moment, then said, “Try looking at it from another angle.”
“Back then, it seemed like Minister Yu killed someone at the city gate, but in reality he strictly eliminated the possibility of parasitic pollution inside the Safe Zone.”
“As for non-parasitic pollution sources—you know as well as I do that a few walls can’t stop them. The Safe Zone isn’t absolutely safe. Something was bound to happen eventually.”
“Yes, something happened in the temporary settlement. Many people died. But we controlled the polluted zone immediately and learned about Meteorite Biotech’s current capability to manufacture pollution sources.”
“And Yan Yang sacrificed himself, yes—but more people survived.”
Lin Xiangyuan scratched his scalp, enlightened. “That makes sense.”
Shang Yu glanced toward the control room. Yu Zhi was still standing there unmoving.
“Don’t think of Minister Yu as so cold-blooded,” she continued. “When we came out of the temporary settlement instance, he mentioned Yan Yang’s family and told me to handle it properly.”
Lin Xiangyuan froze. “When?”
“When you weren’t around.”
“More importantly,” she changed the subject abruptly, “what exactly did Minister Yu and Brother Yu talk about in there just now?”
“Besides Brother Yu confessing, what else was said? Tell me everything—word for word.”
Lin Xiangyuan obediently repeated every line and detail of the conversation in the control room.
When he finished, he suddenly realized something. “Wait.”
“Old Shang, based on what you said earlier—that Minister Yu has his own purpose—then Brother Yu making the video known throughout the Safe Zone… wouldn’t that be obstructing Minister Yu’s secret plan?”
Shang Yu wasn’t listening to him at all. Without thinking, she said, “Don’t talk. I’m savoring.”
“Savoring what?” Lin Xiangyuan asked blankly.
“The love-hate saga between Minister Yu and Brother Yu, of course.”
Lin Xiangyuan: “……”
He knew she was acting up again. Muttering, he said, “What’s there to savor? Everyone’s wondering whether it’s love or hate between them.”
Shang Yu glanced at him and shook her head. “You don’t get it.”
“Pure love and pure hate get boring fast. It has to be this kind—love that isn’t clear, hate that isn’t complete.”
“Twisted love is top-tier delicacy!”
Lin Xiangyuan: “…?”
He did not understand, and he was deeply shaken.
Shang Yu was about to say more when she caught sight of Yu Zhi walking to the door of the control room, about to close it. She immediately told Lin Xiangyuan, “Go do your job.”
Then she hurried over and slipped into the control room just before Yu Zhi shut the door, closing it behind her.
“Brother Yu.”
Yu Zhi glanced at her. Seeing her standing stiffly by the door without saying or doing anything, he asked bluntly, “Did Yu Yi tell you to keep an eye on me?”
Shang Yu didn’t dare answer. Her gaze drifted—and drifted—until it uncontrollably landed on Yu Zhi’s lower half again.
Yu Zhi sensed something off about her look. Thinking about Fu Suxi pausing beside her before leaving, he asked, “What did he say to you just now?”
That question was even deadlier than the previous one. How could she possibly say that Minister Yu told her not to let him go to the restroom?
She cleared her throat and awkwardly fabricated an excuse. “Since you admitted the Qu Xiaonan matter was your doing, it’s not convenient for you to be alone right now.”
“So Minister Yu told me to come over.”
Yu Zhi knew she was brushing him off and didn’t dare tell the truth, so he didn’t press further.
Compared to why she was staring at him, he had something more important to do.
He walked inside, pulled out a chair, and sat down casually, glancing at the livestream comments.
[Livestream ID: H310000 Asia]
[Online viewers: 8129]
After Fu Suxi left, the spike in viewers dropped slightly, but with Pandora’s compensation traffic added, the overall number had still increased by several hundred.
The chat was scrolling rapidly.
[User “Salad Pancake” questions why your temporary lover isn’t looking for the mole and tips 30 credits.]
[User “Ultimate White-Sock Hunk” is curious how you plan to find the mole and tips 30 credits.]
[User “Reborn in Another Universe: Absolute Love” is watching your actions closely.]
[User “National Special-Grade Humanoid Weapon” asks why your temporary lover isn’t investigating the mole and tips 20 credits.]
[User “World’s Cutest Girl” urges you to act quickly and tips 30 credits.]
[User “Scarecrow’s Straw” viciously curses you to face severe punishment.]
Yu Zhi selected a few repeatedly asked questions and answered leisurely.
“Why confess? To muddy the waters further. To cause that mad dog more trouble.”
“Why doesn’t he want to find the mole? I’m curious about the real reason too.”
“When the instance ended, I told him the mole was someone very familiar with interpersonal relationships—definitely someone close to him…”
He paused, widened his eyes slightly as if realizing something, and continued, “I get it. Maybe he already knows who the mole is and wants to use them to trace Meteorite.”
[User “Pure Love Warrior” eagerly asks who the mole is and tips 20 credits.]
[User “Strongest King” asks if you’ve already figured out the mole’s identity and tips 10 credits.]
“Do I really not know who the mole is? I don’t. That’s why I’m looking.”
“If I did know, first I could threaten them for credits, second I could extort the Operations Bureau for credits, third I could demand credits from Meteorite.”
Yu Zhi leaned back lazily. “Besides, if I knew their real identity, would I still be stuck here under Shang Yu’s watch?”
He added pointedly, “And from last night until now, you’ve seen my every move. Do I look like someone who knows who the mole is?”
He lowered his lashes, hiding the calculation in his eyes.
From the viewers’ perspective, his situation seemed extremely disadvantageous.
First, publicly he was the suspect who released Fu Suxi’s video. The Special Operations Bureau might want to issue an announcement about the pollution incident, but they certainly wouldn’t be happy it had blown up like this—so they’d resent him.
Second, he was under Fu Suxi’s supervision, making it difficult to find the mole under his watchful eyes.
Third, Meteorite had people lurking around him, ready to pin another crime on him at any moment.
Finally, his livestream couldn’t be shut down. Viewers could see his every action and could report directly to Fu Suxi’s stream at any time to interfere.
After reviewing everything mentally and confirming he hadn’t missed anything, Yu Zhi lifted his eyelids and slowly answered the question viewers were most curious about:
“How am I going to find the mole? Just keep watching.”
He curved his lips into a smile.
“Want to make a bet?”
“Bet on whether I find the mole first—or whether Fu Suxi uses the mole to uncover Meteorite Biotech first.”
