The car left Vine Corporation's perimeter, its engine humming low on the desolate, pitted road. The interior was dead silent, the smell of blood yet to dissipate. Neither spoke, only heavy breaths floating in the air.
Lu Feng's ordinary life had been utterly shattered, and he naturally had a bellyful of questions. Just as he was brewing one and about to speak, Chen Qi, gripping the steering wheel, subtly tightened her fingers. Her gaze, cold and hard, fixed straight ahead, cutting Lu Feng off before he could start.
"Don't move around, don't look around, don't speak without cause." Her voice was icy, devoid of any warmth, each word like a blade tempered in frost, pressing directly on Lu Feng. "From now on, you do exactly as I say. Show the slightest hint of abnormality, and I'll toss you to the patrol immediately."
Even a small fry like Lu Feng was still a man. Being barked at like this by a woman around his own age was bound to sting. Even if he idolized her, his pride was genuinely wounded. Frankly, he wanted to force Chen Qi to stop the car right then, slap her, skip all the steps, and conquer her in the most primal way!
But anyone with half a brain wouldn't be that impulsive. Instinct told him this woman seemed to know a lot. Chen Qi could probably solve many of his problems. Otherwise, what? Go confess to Vine Corporation? 'I've been parasitized by a company secret monster thing'? Wait for Vine to lock him in a lab and cut him into a thousand pieces?
Just as this thought formed, Lu Feng's whole body stiffened. He subconsciously held his breath. A spot on his chest felt unnaturally warm. Pain made him suck in a sharp, hissing breath, which caught Chen Qi's attention.
"What's wrong?"
Lu Feng didn't answer. Instead, he directly tore open the shirt over his chest. The bizarre sight stunned both of them simultaneously: a vine-like plant had appeared on Lu Feng's left pectoral! Wait... a vine?
Chen Qi immediately reined in her surprise, her eyes returning to the road. "Hah. The old man's mark. Congratulations, you're now someone else's property."
Lu Feng's jaw dropped even further, but seeing Chen Qi's icy profile, he swallowed his words.
"Address." Chen Qi's demand was terse.
Lu Feng's throat felt tight. Trembling, he gave his residential address.
The car drove smoothly over the bumpy road, no extra lights, no communication devices, only the low hum of old machinery. Chen Qi didn't utter another word the entire way, her expression cold and hard as the toughest metal, as if the life-and-death struggle moments ago had left not a single ripple on her heart.
Before long, the car slowly stopped outside a cluster of low, dilapidated shacks.
This was poor guy Lu Feng's rented room. Dim, damp, oppressive.
"Get out." Chen Qi didn't look back, her tone still an unyielding command. "Go to work as usual tomorrow. No being late, no asking for leave, no showing anything out of the ordinary. Listen to me, and you'll be fine."
Lu Feng nodded, pushed the car door open. His legs were still a bit weak. He knew that transformation earlier, badass as it was, had taken a massive toll.
He'd barely steadied himself when the car's wheels turned again, quickly disappearing into the deep night.
A cold wind swept past. Lu Feng hugged his work clothes tighter, pressing hard on his chest. There, the vine mark was gradually cooling with each heartbeat.
Despite the near-death experience, and even though his rented room was dirty and smelly, Lu Feng fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow...
The next morning, the alarm clock roused a dead-to-the-world Lu Feng. He changed his shirt, had no time for breakfast, and headed out.
Lu Feng was more than a little apprehensive, but he was usually like this anyway, so it wouldn't draw extra attention. He'd just slipped into his sales department seat when Qian Youwei sidled over, his tone full of condescension. "Well, if it isn't Lu Feng. Left early yesterday, didn't you? Pretty slick."
A herd of mental alpacas stampeded through Lu Feng's mind. He wanted to deny it but stopped himself. He had to let Qian Youwei's false accusation stand. Because yesterday, he'd been temporarily pulled to do manual labor—no record. No one even remembered his face. Seemingly pathetic, but in this specific situation, it was a stroke of luck. He was a forgettable little ghost; the company couldn't trace it to him. Meaning, as long as Chen Qi didn't expose him, he was safe.
"Boss just dumped this backlog of orders. Your problem now." Qian Youwei tossed a stack of delivery slips onto his desk. "Don't drag your feet again, or you'll get chewed out, and no one's gonna help you."
His words pretended to be helpful, but the disdain in his eyes couldn't be hidden. Lu Feng clenched the slips, his fingertips turning white. He was about to speak when the office area suddenly went quiet.
Backlit in the doorway, Chen Qi walked in slowly on her heels. Her crisp black uniform outlined her graceful yet upright figure. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, revealing her fair, slender neck. Every step carried an imposing aura.
The sales department was a rough-and-tumble place full of guys. Several people's pens clattered onto their desks, eyes glued to Chen Qi.
Qian Youwei was practically drooling, subconsciously straightening his posture, a lewd look on his face. He leaned over and whispered to Lu Feng, "Tsk tsk, Lu Feng, stop staring. A stunning beauty like that would never look twice at you in this lifetime. Only a master of romance like me has a chance."
Lu Feng glanced at Qian Youwei. Hah! This guy, with less than 5/10 looks and a potbelly, calling himself a 'master of romance'? Should wipe the drool from the corner of his mouth first, what an embarrassment!
Lu Feng usually stole glances at this glamorous female manager too, but after last night's events, he now had some connection to this woman. Connection aside, he wasn't used to being the center of attention. Chen Qi was the focus; being associated with Chen Qi meant he'd become the focus. So, he instinctively avoided Chen Qi's gaze.
But of course, Chen Qi was coming straight for him.
Her gaze passed over everyone, landing precisely on Lu Feng in the corner.
That gaze was cool, without a ripple, yet enough to freeze the air in the entire room.
"Lu Feng," her thin lips parted, her voice clear as jade striking jade, especially distinct in the quiet office. "Starting today, you're transferred to my Western District Sales Department. Report immediately."
The words exploded like thunder in everyone's ears.
The lewd smile on Qian Youwei's face froze instantly. His mouth hung slightly open, an expression of utter disbelief.
The Western District Sales Department? That was the district with the richest pickings, the easiest to get results, the place countless people fought tooth and nail to get into. Even a schemer like him hadn't found a way in.
Lu Feng?
This waste who usually took his orders, who couldn't even sort delivery slips properly—on what basis?
An indescribable resentment and jealousy, like weeds, went wild in Qian Youwei's heart. He stared fixedly at Lu Feng's back, his eyes full of shock, suspicion, and indignation. He wanted nothing more than to rush up and ask Chen Qi if she'd gotten the wrong person.
But meeting Chen Qi's icy stare, he ultimately didn't have the guts. He could only clench his fists, fingernails digging deep into his palms.