Chapter 75#
Placing the Order#
The boss was taken aback. “Please wait a moment, I’ll attend to this guest first—”
“Hey, don’t flip through those yet. I have an appointment soon, so I’m ordering now.” Ning Feng turned and smiled apologetically at the man. “Sorry, sorry, let me cut in line.”
The man reluctantly nodded. “Hurry up.”
“No problem, no problem.” Ning Feng smiled in agreement, his mind racing for the next step.
Just then, Qu Jingshan’s voice came through the neural interface.
[Commander, we’ve located the target.] He lowered his voice. [We’re closing in, but it’ll still take some time.]
The StarNet was a virtual network—there was no way to make an arrest online. All they could do was stall as long as possible, giving the Intelligence Division time to trace the physical coordinates and then rush to make the capture.
Ning Feng thought for a moment, then pointed at the interface. “I want to see this model.”
The boss eagerly pulled up the specifications. Ning Feng pretended to ask several more questions until he noticed the target’s expression growing increasingly impatient. Only then did he look at Yin Beichen. “This one’s pretty good, don’t you think?”
He fully expected the other to raise an objection, giving them an excuse to bicker further and buy more time. But to his utter surprise, Yin Beichen simply nodded and said casually to the boss,
“Place the order.”
Ning Feng froze, thinking he’d just been joking. It wasn’t until he saw Yin Beichen tapping away on the payment interface that he realized the man was serious.
“What are you doing?” He quickly grabbed Yin Beichen’s arm.
“Paying.” Yin Beichen glanced at him, his expression dead serious.
Ning Feng was completely baffled.
What does this mean?
Frowning, he stared at the other man as if seeing him for the first time.
The truth was, he’d noticed it long ago. Recently, Yin Beichen had been switching out parts, building a mech, and sending him all sorts of oil as gifts. If those were still within the bounds of official business, then buying something on the StarNet now was clearly personal.
Ning Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly as he connected the string of inexplicable behavior. Suddenly, a realization dawned on him.
Compensation?
Was this compensation?
He knew Yin Beichen well enough to understand that the man felt no affection for him. It was only because he thought Ning Feng’s death had something to do with him that he developed this pointless sense of repayment.
Did he really think he was in the wrong? Or was this simply a way to make himself feel better?
His lips trembled slightly. Ning Feng almost wanted to laugh, but he couldn’t muster a smile. In the end, he could only curl his mouth into a sardonic arc.
“You don’t have to do any of this.”
But Yin Beichen’s expression remained as indifferent as ever. He said again, “Boss, place the order.”
Hearing this, Ning Feng’s temper flared.
“Don’t you dare!” He forced down his anger, a smile still hanging on his lips. “I’m not buying.”
Yin Beichen’s brow furrowed slightly. Seeing the deal fall through for no reason, the boss grew anxious.
“No, no, no!” He gave a dry laugh. “Are you two a couple?”
“I have nothing to do with him.” Ning Feng’s smile grew even brighter.
“Hey, couples quarreling shouldn’t say things like that.”
“Oh? Are you telling me how to talk?”
“No, uh, I mean…”
Cut off by the sharp gaze, the boss fell silent with a grunt.
[Ooh, a fight.]
The cold voice instantly snapped him back to his senses. Ning Feng pressed his lips tight.
He’d been worried the target might try to escape, but instead, the man was happily watching the drama from behind. For a moment, Ning Feng didn’t know whether to be relieved or punch someone.
He took a breath, making every effort to rein in his temper. “I’m not buying because it’s too expensive. Let me look at other models first.”
Taking in the robot’s reaction, Yin Beichen’s eyes flickered slightly. His tone remained flat. “Are there any models suitable for a lower back injury?”
Lower back injury?
Ning Feng was stunned.
“Yes, yes, yes. These models are all for physical therapy, especially suited for the elderly.” The boss nodded eagerly and immediately pulled up more advanced products.
Watching Yin Beichen study them intently, a strange thought crossed Ning Feng’s mind. He hesitated for a moment. “You… who are you buying this for?”
“An elderly person with a back injury.” Yin Beichen didn’t look up. “In her seventies. A retired director of a welfare home.”
Ning Feng’s eyelids trembled. He was silent for a moment, then asked quietly, “How is she lately?”
“She’s in good health, with a decent appetite. She’s seen a doctor for her back, applied some medicine—nothing serious.” Yin Beichen pressed his lips together. “It’s just that the children at the home are too noisy, so she doesn’t get enough rest during naptime.”
His voice was low. “She has a back injury and needs physical therapy three times a week. But she’s too old to go to the hospital easily, so the doctor recommended buying a therapy device.”
Doctor’s recommendation?
He’d thought it was…
Pointing at the device on the screen, Yin Beichen turned back to him, his eyes deep and earnest. “Take a look at this model.”
The lights in the virtual hall shimmered and shifted, casting a dreamy, hazy glow over the figures. Yet the avatar’s expression was stiff, save for the remarkably vivid eyes.
When Yin Beichen sized someone up, his gaze was always light and shallow—a brief touch, rarely lingering. If he fixed his eyes on a person, that person was usually in for some serious trouble. He always appeared calm and aloof, but at certain moments, there seemed to be something else in his look, even a glimmer of… tenderness?
Ning Feng was taken aback for a moment, but quickly suppressed that emotion.
“Suit yourself. It’s not my money.”
The air between them fell silent. No one spoke for a while.
“Hey, are you buying or not?” Suddenly, the man behind them broke the silence.
Yin Beichen withdrew his gaze.
“Place the order.”
“Alright, alright, gifts for the elderly shouldn’t be skimped on.” Having made the sale, the boss beamed from ear to ear. He said to Ning Feng, “Your husband means well. The old lady will be very happy to know, hahaha!”
Ning Feng wanted to stop him, but couldn’t think of a good reason. He could only watch as Yin Beichen slowly filled in the information.
As he entered the final character, the payment success prompt sounded. Like a signal, the man behind them suddenly swayed, let out a terrified cry, and in an instant exploded into a string of code, vanishing on the spot.
“We got him! We got him!”
Qu Jingshan’s excited laughter and a background of cursing came through the neural interface. Ning Feng finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Mm, lock him up.” Yin Beichen’s expression remained neutral. He handed the order list to the bewildered boss, then looked at the robot. “Where else do you want to go?”
They locked eyes for a moment. Ning Feng didn’t answer; instead, he changed the subject. “That guy’s identity isn’t simple. When are you planning to interrogate him?”
“Immediately.”
“Can I sit in on the interrogation?”
But before Yin Beichen could respond, Qu Jingshan was the first to object. “Who the hell do you think you are? Do you think just anyone can attend an interrogation?”
Ning Feng let out a snicker. “Ah, Captain Qu, don’t forget I’m a robot with a built-in translation system. Maybe I can pick up something extra.”
Qu Jingshan sneered. “Tch, what, can you understand bug talk?”
Ning Feng pressed his lips together, half-smiling as he looked at Yin Beichen. “If I said I could, would you believe me?”
Yin Beichen’s gaze flickered a few times, his face unreadable.
“Bugs? You? Ha!” Qu Jingshan scoffed without restraint. “If you can understand them, then I swear I’ll start growing a braid starting now, never cut my hair again. When it’s long, I’ll get a big perm and dye it pink!”
Ning Feng raised one eyebrow. “Captain Qu, you serious? Then I’ll have to prepare some hair dye for you.”
In the end, Yin Beichen didn’t say whether it was allowed or not. He only instructed Qu Jingshan to keep the prisoner secure and continued assigning tasks to the others.
Seeing this, Ning Feng didn’t explain further.
It made sense, after all.
Right now, he was just a mercenary. There were some things he really shouldn’t know. And understanding bug language was so outlandish that no one would believe it—least of all Yin Beichen. This man hadn’t trusted him for a long time, anyway…
With a self-deprecating smirk, Ning Feng waited until Yin Beichen had finished assigning tasks, then logged off without even saying goodbye.
**
The bug was immediately handed over to the relevant department. But no matter how they interrogated it, it claimed to know nothing. It seemed certain they were afraid it would self-destruct and wouldn’t use any harsh methods, so it kept stalling.
After several consecutive days with no progress, and with the New Year fast approaching, Qu Jingshan had no choice but to report the situation to Yin Beichen.
“Commander, this guy’s really tight-lipped.” After interrogations that went on for multiple nights straight with nothing to show, the bald man looked thoroughly dejected.
“Tight-lipped but not self-destructing…” Ning Feng rubbed his chin. “Did he make a deal with you?”
“None of your business,” Qu Jingshan shot back without hesitation.
Why was this guy still hanging around?
Back at base, information about the bugs was always top secret. Forget mercenaries—even among the commanders, only a few were in the know. At a time like this, why hadn’t the Commander kicked him out yet?
Qu Jingshan was about to spout off a few more words when Yin Beichen suddenly lifted his eyes and shot him a sharp glance that made his heart jump. He promptly shut his mouth.
Tapping his fingers on the table, Yin Beichen asked, “What does he want?”
“He wants to see you.”
“So it seems not all bugs are ready to die fighting.” A sneer of undisguised contempt curled at the corner of his mouth. Yin Beichen stood up unhurriedly. “Let’s go hear his last words.”
He headed for the door. “Come on, Ah Feng.”
“Me?” Ning Feng’s eyes widened.
“Mm.”
“Him too?” Qu Jingshan’s thick brows instantly knit together. “Commander, he’s just a mercenary. What’s he going to do there?”
Yin Beichen looked back calmly, his expression matter-of-fact.
“Didn’t he say he can translate?”
Ning Feng was stunned.
He had never told anyone that he could understand bug language.
Back when he brought it up, he hadn’t really held out much hope. He’d just thought that if he could be there in person, he might be able to dig up more intel on the bugs. He’d assumed the matter would just fizzle out, but he never expected Yin Beichen to actually believe him?
Their eyes met unexpectedly, and in that moment of mutual gaze, both saw a faint, hard-to-read emotion in the other’s eyes.
After a long pause, Ning Feng slowly raised one eyebrow. “And if my translation isn’t accurate?”
A hint of a smile flickered across Yin Beichen’s eyes and the corner of his mouth.
“Then translate it again.”
Seeing the atmosphere growing more and more peculiar, Qu Jingshan’s face twitched violently. He immediately forced his way between the two men, brandishing a fist with a ferocious expression. “What are you staring at? Keep staring and I’ll twist your head off!”
“Tsk, Captain Qu is so fierce.”
“Quit the nonsense! Get moving!”