A brand new, sleek laptop without any redundant software was soon delivered personally by Zhong Shu. When he put it down, his gaze lingered on Su Wan's face for a moment, carrying a barely perceptible scrutiny, but he asked nothing and withdrew respectfully.
Su Wan checked the computer, confirmed there were no monitoring programs, and placed it on the small tea table by the window. She didn't use it immediately, waiting until nightfall after Leng Yecheng had taken his medicine and fallen asleep again before quietly getting up.
She didn't turn on the lights. Only the cold moonlight outside and the distant city neon provided faint illumination. The screen's cold glow reflected on her face, making her expression appear exceptionally focused and calm.
Her slender fingers flew across the keyboard, opening not a普通浏览器 (ordinary browser) but a specially encrypted and disguised interface. A series of complex codes were input smoothly. The screen flickered, finally jumping to a minimalist, secret forum interface dominated by deep blue and black.
The forum name was a single symbol: [∮].
This was one of the secret gathering places in the international underground medical research field, filled with cutting-edge, forbidden, even illegal medical exchanges and information trading. Access required special invitation codes and identity verification, and the account "Wraith" held very high permissions here.
Su Wan logged in with an ID that seemed like gibberish. Her fingers paused slightly before quickly typing the names and codes of several rare medicinal herbs, setting交易条件 (transaction terms) and an encrypted delivery address (a safe house in the suburbs, completely unconnected to her surface identity).
Not long after the post went up, an encrypted reply arrived. The other party was clearly also a seasoned player, quoting an astonishing price but promising delivery within seventy-two hours through special channels.
Su Wan didn't even blink, completing the payment using cryptocurrency. Money was never an issue for her; "Wraith's" fees for each job were enough to drive people mad.
After handling the herbs, her fingers didn't stop. Hesitating for a moment, she entered several key feature codes of the toxin affecting Leng Yecheng into an extremely隐秘 (secret) inquiry section.
She wanted to know where this insidious poison originated. It might help follow the trail to find the poisoner.
However, the search results made her frown. The database only had some vague, similar records pointing to several disbanded illegal biological research organizations, but no完全匹配 (exact matches). Either this toxin was newly developed, or its source had been deliberately erased by a more powerful force.
Just as she was about to log out, an encrypted private message suddenly popped up in the forum's backend, from a user with the code [V].
[∮-Ghost? Long time no see. Inquiring about 'Frost Ember'?]
Su Wan's pupils constricted. [V] was an anonymous information broker she had met during an international joint rescue operation. His background was mysterious, his消息极其灵通 (information extremely well-informed), but he never showed himself. He actually recognized her disguised query intent at a glance, and even knew a possible name for the toxin?
She replied quickly: [You know it?]
[V]'s reply came fast: [Know a bit by chance. This thing is in deep water, involves a shadow organization called 'Underground River,'专门 (specializing) in handling 'dirty work' for certain big shots.建议你别碰 (Suggest you don't touch it), you'll get messy.]
Underground River organization? Su Wan noted the name. She pressed on: [Source? Characteristics? Antidote?]
[V] sent a 'zip it' emoji: [You know the rules, Ghost. Information has a price. Or, owe me a favor?]
Su Wan didn't hesitate to choose the transaction. She traded a significant amount of cryptocurrency for detailed information on the "Frost Ember" toxin, including its general mechanism, latency characteristics, and a few potentially effective palliative ingredients—but these were大同小异 (largely similar) to the detox思路 (approach) she had deduced herself, not a decisive breakthrough.
[V] left a final warning: [Be careful, Ghost. 'Underground River' has been very active lately. Their reach might be longer than you think. Don't ask for trouble.]
The chat window closed.
Su Wan leaned back in her chair, the screen's cold light flickering in her eyes.
Underground River organization... the Leng family... Could the two be connected? Was poisoning Leng Yecheng an escalation of internal strife within the Leng family, or did it involve larger external forces?
She felt an invisible net slowly tightening, and she and Leng Yecheng seemed to be right at its center.
"Find anything?"
A low, hoarse voice suddenly sounded from behind her, startling Su Wan!
She snapped the laptop screen shut and turned around instantly, her heart pounding.
Leng Yecheng was half-leaning against the headboard, awake who knows how long. His deep gaze pierced through the dim light, landing precisely on her, filled with inquiry and a hint of indescribable complexity.
How much had he seen? Heard? Even with the encrypted interface, those codes and the strange forum were绝非 (definitely not) something an ordinary woman should接触 (be involved with).
Su Wan quickly suppressed her shock, letting panic and a touch of embarrassment show on her face. "Husband, when did you wake up? You didn't make a sound, you scared me to death."
She stood up, subtly moving the computer behind her, like a child caught using the computer secretly. "N-nothing, just couldn't sleep, browsing the web casually..."
Leng Yecheng didn't expose her clumsy lie. His gaze moved from the computer she tried to hide to her forcibly composed face. In the dim light, her slightly flushed cheeks and flickering eyes from nervousness had a peculiar vividness.
He had actually seen quite a bit. Those rapidly scrolling complex codes, that strange forum interface, and the powerful aura she exuded when operating it, fully focused and in complete control... that was definitely not "casual browsing."
His "substitute" little wife had far more secrets than he imagined.
However,出乎苏晚意料 (to Su Wan's surprise), Leng Yecheng didn't press further. He was silent for a moment, then patted the empty space beside him. His voice was unreadable. "Come here."
Su Wan was taken aback, hesitant.
"It's cold at night. Why sit on the floor?" His tone was flat, yet carried an undeniable force.
Su Wan hesitated for a moment but slowly walked over and carefully sat on the edge of the bed, trying to keep her distance.
But Leng Yecheng suddenly reached out and grasped her cool fingers.
Su Wan stiffened, instinctively trying to pull back, but he held on tighter.
"Your hands are so cold," he frowned, his tone seeming displeased, yet perhaps mixed with something else. "Use the computer on the bed from now on. It's warmer here."
Saying this, he actually pulled her hand into the warm quilt, enveloping her cold fingers with his own warm palm.
Su Wan was彻底愣住了 (completely stunned), her mind blank for a second.
This man... He clearly saw her suspicious actions. Why wasn't he questioning her, exposing her, but instead... using this almost intimate way to express a hidden concern and... acquiescence?
His hand was large, warm, dry, and powerful, tightly enveloping hers. Heat源源不断 (continuously) transmitted, scalding her into disarray.
She tried to read the emotions in his deep eyes but only saw a pool of calm darkness,似乎 (seeming) to absorb all light and inquiry.
"Sleep," he closed his eyes, as if everything just now was normal, still holding her hand without any intention of letting go. "It's very late."
Su Wan sat rigidly on the edge of the bed, her hand firmly held in the warm quilt. Pulling away wasn't an option, nor was leaving it there. The computer screen had gone dark. The room was left with only the sound of their soft breathing and the undeniable, searing heat at their fingertips.
An unprecedented, chaotic, and微妙 (subtle) emotion quietly spread through the silent night.
What exactly... was his intention?