novelGlobal Chapter 89: Serious People Don’t Get Along With Gigolos
Chapter 89: Serious People Don’t Get Along With Gigolos
(Title is a modified idiom: 君子小人不相与: ‘a gentleman and a villain do not mix’)
Yu Xiao felt the familiar jolts and breeze as she opened her eyes. She was in a car again, but this time it was a spacious one, not a racing one. She looked around and saw seven familiar faces, all of them her buddies. They were all waking up, too, and scanning their surroundings. There was one face she didn’t recognize, though. A man in his forties, with a plain but respectable look.
Could he be Ripley? She wondered, narrowing her eyes. Was he the nightmare they were hunting?
She wasn’t the only one who stared at him. Ma Shan and Kang Jun also eyed him with interest. If he was their target, killing him would earn them ten talismans. That was a hundred points in the mall. Not bad, huh!
The man seemed to sense their tension. “Huh? Why’s everyone so tense?” he asked. “No need to fret. Being part of this project is an honour for all of us. You’ve all worked hard for years just for the chance to participate in such a grand project, haven’t you?”
Project? What project? She and the others exchanged wary glances. What was he talking about? What project were they supposed to be part of?
Then they saw it. Outside the window, there was a mountain. And on the slope of the mountain, there was a huge hole. Or rather, a tunnel that seemed to go on forever.
The car drove into the tunnel, and the man smiled brightly. “Welcome to the underworld!” he announced. “I apologise for the secrecy, but you understand. This project is top-secret until you’re officially in,” he said, handing out some folders to each of them.
She and the others took the papers, but they felt a chill as they read them. What the hell was this?
“Three years ago, three geologists stumbled upon a gateway to the underworld here. After three years of exploration, we’ve discovered various precious minerals and exotic energy sources that don’t exist on the surface. But that’s not all. We’ve also made an even more amazing discovery,” the man said eagerly. “That’s why we need top biologists like you to join this project.”
“We’ve discovered subterranean creatures!” The man’s voice was so full of wonder that he seemed ready to leap out of his seat. “They’re incredible, miraculous, unlike anything we’ve ever seen on the surface…”
Yu Xiao and the others listened to his explanation with a mix of awe and confusion. They were supposed to be biologists working on a classified national re
They tried to act casual as they passed by some staff members, but Yu Xiao couldn’t help sneaking a peek at each one of them. She was looking for Ripley, or rather, Nightmare in the dream world.
They followed the man in the lab coat to an office and heard a friendly female voice inviting them in. As they opened the door, they saw a man and a woman inside. The man was busy with some papers, his back turned to them, while the woman was sitting behind a desk. She was young and stunning, with a striking resemblance to the Dr. Qu they had seen in the hospital bed. Only, she was even more gorgeous and curvy.
“The Director,” the man in the lab coat announced, “They’re here.”
“Welcome!” The woman, who was obviously Director Qu, got up and greeted them with a warm smile. She shook hands with each of them and said, “The institute is still new, and we’re in desperate need of more staff. I’m so glad you could join us.”
Yu Xiao shook her hand and thought, ‘If you had looked like this in the last dream, we wouldn’t have wasted so much time chasing after you.’
“Thank you for this opportunity,” Zhao Lan said, with a charming professional smile. “It’s a privilege for us to work at your research institute.”
Director Qu was delighted and said, “Let me show you around the labs. You’ll be amazed by what we’re doing here.”
She added, with a hint of excitement, “Oh, and this is our Deputy Director, Shen Chuan. Shen Chuan, why don’t you come and say hello to our new colleagues?”
Shen Chuan was a tall man, wearing a crisp white shirt. He looked slender from behind. He turned around and faced them, showing a face that none of them recognized. Yu Xiao felt a chill run down her spine.
There’s no escape. This was Nightmare.
Yu Xiao flashed a covert signal to the others, but they all ignored her.
They were hopeless. ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)
“Hello, everyone.” Shen Chuan greeted them with a warm smile and a handshake. “I’m Shen Chuan.”
His hand was pale and elegant, with long fingers and a smooth palm. Yu Xiao hesitated when he reached for hers. She met his eyes, and saw nothing but kindness in them. She forced herself to shake his hand, hoping he wouldn’t notice her reluctance.
“You’re very impressive.” She said politely.
“So are you,” he said back.
They let go of each other’s hands, pretending to be casual.
“Alright then.” Dr. Qu looked satisfied with the introductions. She turned to the middle-aged man and said, “Why don’t you take them to change clothes, and then I’ll show them around the lab.”
Yu Xiao followed the middle-aged man out, thinking of a way to tell the others that Shen Chuan was Nightmare, and how they could kill him.
“That Shen Chuan.” The middle-aged man muttered. “You’ve all met him.”
Zhao Lan sensed his resentment and asked, “Is there a problem with him?”
“He’s nothing but a pretty face,” the middle-aged man scoffed. “He’s always kissing up to the director, that’s how he got the vice-director position. The director is blind, she thinks he’s the best thing since sliced bread.”
He glanced at them and said, “You’re not fooled by his looks, are you?”
“Of course not,” Yu Xiao said. “We can’t stand that type of pretty boy. He makes us sick. By the way, where does he live?”
The middle-aged man stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening. “Shen Chuan?” He echoed, disbelief dripping from his voice.
Yu Xiao nodded curtly. “Mm-hmm.” (づ￣ ³￣)づ
He furrowed his brows, his suspicion rising. “But you hate him, don’t you?” He asked, leaning closer. “Why would you want to know where he lives if you can’t stand him?”
Yu Xiao put on a grave face, as if she was revealing a dark secret. “It’s for our own safety,” she said solemnly. “We need to avoid him at all costs. You know how we feel about him. He makes our skin crawl with just one look.”
The middle-aged man nodded emphatically, a bond forming between them. “Ah, spot on! I know exactly what you mean,” he said, clapping her on the shoulder. “I’m so happy you guys joined us here.”
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