Zhong Yun narrowed his eyes, observing the pair across from him, seemingly having missed Liu Ming’s question. He hadn't cared in the slightest about the matter between Su Qi and Weiwei before; it had absolutely nothing to do with him.

Although he occasionally fantasized about a one-night stand with Weiwei, it was mostly just fantasy; right now, he simply didn't have the leisure for chasing girls.

Things were different now. Ever since learning that the treasury had been accessed first by members of the Kedong family, he had marked everyone from the Kedong family as a personal threat. As for Su Qi, he hadn't particularly wanted to cause trouble for him, but since he was one of the Kedong clan, Zhong Yun didn't mind taking him as an initial interest payment.

Pi Geng, seated opposite Zhong Yun, happened to turn his head and caught the sliver of cold light flashing in Zhong Yun’s eyes. He paused slightly, his expression unreadable, clearly pondering something.

“Probably got dumped by Weiwei,” Odin chuckled with a hint of schadenfreude. While Black Pearl was undeniably a rare beauty, she was still a tier below Weiwei. If Su Qi could ditch Weiwei only to pursue Black Pearl, Odin would actually have to admire him.

“Good riddance if he was dumped. I find pretty boys like that annoying just looking at them.” Liu Ming almost wished Black Pearl right there would also ditch Su Qi—

In truth, Odin and Liu Ming disliked Su Qi not out of jealousy, but out of shared enmity. Though Pi Geng remained silent, they could all sense that their boss likely had some past friction with this pretty boy, Su Qi. At the very least, he couldn't stand the sight of him.

As for the specific reason, none of them asked. Pi Geng refused to say, suggesting it probably involved **.

“Never mind them. Today is a grand day for Third Brother to rejoin the team; we should properly celebrate,” Liu Ming remarked suddenly, sensing the mood growing heavy.

After eating their fill, Zhong Yun first went to find his mentor to explain his tardiness and submit the assignment that had been given. The mentor said nothing, taking the submitted work, offering a few words of encouragement, and telling Zhong Yun to rest for a day and return to class tomorrow.

Not wanting to head back to the dorms yet, Zhong Yun paused, then walked toward the club building. The reception area was deserted. In the second semester, no one came to register, so the reception wasn't open.

He went straight to Wenzhu’s studio. Wenzhu had her own dedicated studio within the club, unlike general members who had to rent space temporarily.

Zhong Yun had helped her for two months, and Wenzhu trusted him enough to have shared the access code to her studio with him.

As expected, the studio was empty. He recalled Wenzhu mentioning that a heavyweight competition was scheduled this month, meaning she was likely still at the event site.

Opening the studio door, his eyes immediately fell upon the unfinished mech cockpit sitting in the center. Two months had passed, and this cockpit remained incomplete—Wenzhu’s greatest undertaking. When she was in the studio, over half her time was devoted to this machine.

Full-sensory technology was proving immensely difficult for Wenzhu. It involved over a dozen high-end bio-electric sensing techniques that hadn't even been officially announced. To derive them from scratch would take at least a decade of effort.

However, if Zhong Yun were willing to help, the physical realization wouldn't take a month. If this were before, Zhong Yun wouldn't have considered helping her for a second.

But now, he was considering what benefits he might gain if he offered Wenzhu the full-sensory technology.

Suddenly, Zhong Yun sensed someone approach the doorway. He turned and saw a woman standing there, tall and graceful, clad in a lake-green silk dress, a white long-sleeved shirt underneath, and covered by a silver-gray pullover.

“It’s you.”

“Who else did you expect?” Weiwei stepped gracefully towards him, tilting her small head to look at his face. “Are you disappointed to see me instead of Sister Zhu?”

Zhong Yun glanced at her. Her eyes, the color of a deep, vast ocean, shimmered with brilliance, possessing a magnetic quality that made one fall in without hesitation.

“How did you know?”

Weiwei wrinkled her nose and huffed softly. “Don’t think I can’t see it; your feelings for Sister Zhu are practically written all over your face.”

Zhong Yun found this strange. They weren’t close enough for this topic to come up. Why did she sound like she was probing him?

Seeing him only smile without answering, Weiwei pouted. “See? I was right.”

“You seem very concerned,” Zhong Yun observed, looking at the nearly transparent sensing metal atop the mech cockpit. “You seem very concerned about whether or not I like Sister Zhu. Could it be…”

He turned his head, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. “…Are you secretly in love with me?”

Weiwei froze for a beat. “Pah! Stop being narcissistic. Me, secretly in love with you? Look at yourself! My boyfriend is miles handsomer than you.” Two faint pink clouds rose on her cheeks, smooth and radiant like flowing milk.

“You’re still trying to trick me?” Zhong Yun’s eyes held a teasing glint.

“Trick you about what?” Weiwei asked, feigning innocence.

“You and Su Qi aren't actually a couple, are you?” Zhong Yun stared intently into her eyes, as if trying to see through her soul.

“Wh-who said that?” A flicker of panic crossed Weiwei’s eyes, and she involuntarily pulled her gaze away from his scorching stare.

“You did,” Zhong Yun said, smiling, though inwardly he thought, I guessed right just by chance; my intuition must be improving again.

“I did?” Weiwei frowned, thinking for a moment. “Nonsense, I never told anyone…” Ah.” Midway through her sentence, she clapped a hand over her mouth, looking slightly annoyed. Admitting that meant confirming what he said was true.

“Exactly, you did. It’s written all over your face.”

“Written where?” After the annoyance passed, Weiwei grew curious. Besides Su Qi himself, only Little Zhu knew about this; neither of them would possibly tell Zhong Yun. So how did he guess?

“It says, ‘I’m not sad.’”

“Sad?” Weiwei was utterly bewildered. “Why would I be sad?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know Su Qi is dating Black Pearl,” Zhong Yun retorted.

“What?” Weiwei pouted angrily. “That Su Qi is so disloyal; didn't we agree to pretend for a year?”

Zhong Yun let out a soft laugh.

“What are you laughing at?” Weiwei grew even angrier.

“This isn't Su Qi’s fault. It’s yours too.”

“Mine?” Weiwei’s teeth ground together. This guy is too infuriating! Su Qi spends all day with a stunning beauty he can look at but never touch. If this goes on, he’ll get sick from frustration! Naturally, he needs to find a girlfriend to ease the tension.”

“Ptooey.” Weiwei’s face flushed again. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Zhong Yun watched her with a smile, finding it increasingly odd that she wasn't angry when he teased her like this; in fact, she seemed to be enjoying it. Could it be she actually had feelings for him?

How strange. I’m not exactly handsome, yet such a beautiful woman is having a crush at first sight? Perhaps it’s my temperament that attracts her?

He decided to test her again. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re very cute?”

Weiwei bit her lower lip, the blush deepening. She retorted, “Has anyone ever told you that your face is incredibly thick?”

Zhong Yun burst out laughing.

“Why did you ask Su Qi to pretend to be your boyfriend?” After the laughter subsided, Zhong Yun asked.

“Because there were too many flies buzzing around,” Weiwei said with a hint of distaste. “They’re always pestering me, driving me crazy. Su Qi was the perfect shield.”

“Are you very familiar with him?” Zhong Yun caught the difference in her tone.

“Are you dense?” Weiwei finally found an opportunity to look down on him. “If we weren’t familiar, would I ask him? Someone like you, I wouldn’t trust.”

“Don’t worry,” Zhong Yun looked at her chest with playful malice. “I’m not interested in airfields.”

Weiwei erupted in anger, raising her fist and hammering down. “You damned pervert! I’ll teach you to talk nonsense! I’ll teach you!”

In reality, although Weiwei’s figure wasn't as voluptuous as Wenzhu’s, she was by no means flat; she was at least a B-cup. Zhong Yun’s comment was purely to provoke her.

After several vigorous strikes, Weiwei calmed down a little. She lowered her small fist and threatened him, “If you talk nonsense again, I’ll turn you into a pig’s head.”

“Are you trying to commit murder?” Zhong Yun clutched his chest dramatically, feigning pain, and muttered audibly enough for her to hear, “What a savage girl. No wonder Su Qi doesn’t want her.”

“What did you say?” Weiwei shrieked.

“I said, Su Qi’s conditions aren't bad; why would he pretend?”

“He’s not my type,” Weiwei shook her head.

Zhong Yun shot her a sidelong glance and said nothing.

“Say what you want to say. Don't be so wishy-washy; it’s not manly,” Weiwei said dismissively.

“Then what type do you like?”

Weiwei eyed him warily. “Why are you asking? Trying to pursue me? Let me tell you, you don't stand a chance.” She held her head high, like a proud swan.

“No,” Zhong Yun shook his head. “I know quite a few people; I was thinking of introducing someone to you, so you stop bothering me.”

Weiwei rolled her eyes. “Who’s bothering you? You’re the one bothering me, alright?”

“Fine, fine, I’m bothering you, my Lady. I’ll leave, okay?” Zhong Yun started walking toward the door.

Seeing Zhong Yun actually prepare to leave, Weiwei stamped her foot. “You’re really going? Stingy!”

“It’s truly strange. Why do I feel like something is off?” Stepping outside the club, the cool wind cleared his head slightly. Thinking it over and over, he couldn't shake the feeling that Weiwei's behavior was too bizarre.

Thinking back on the girls he had interacted with—whether it was his official girlfriend, Liu Yunqi, or the ambiguously close little sister, Xiao Ruo—ultimately, he had always been the one to initiate things with them.

Having someone like Weiwei actively approach him felt genuinely awkward, causing him to instinctively retreat.

Perhaps it was because he preferred being the pursuer that he wasn't used to being chased.

Actually, calling it Weiwei chasing him was slightly unfair. At most, she had shown him some curiosity. That wasn’t surprising; it was normal for curiosity toward an opposite sex with comparable strength to evolve into some level of favorable feeling.

However, Zhong Yun couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't that simple. But he couldn't pinpoint why.

Shaking his head, he pushed Weiwei’s matters aside. The immediate priority was fabricating some useful tools to enter the treasury.

The base the Kedong family had built there was heavily guarded; breaking in by force would be extremely difficult. Going in empty-handed was out of the question; he needed tools and weapons.

But given the technological capabilities of the Mings Kingdom, only in a few high-end laboratories could usable components possibly be manufactured.

How to infiltrate that location was a headache.

In the days that followed, Zhong Yun returned to his routine from the previous semester. Ten days later, Wenzhu finally returned.

“Sister Zhu, I saw you on the news. Congratulations,” upon seeing Wenzhu, Zhong Yun congratulated her first.

“Thank you,” Wenzhu picked up a bag from beside her. “This is for you.”

“For me?” Zhong Yun was slightly surprised that she had brought him a gift. “Thank you, Sister Zhu.”

“I bought it randomly on the capital planet; open it and see if you like it,” Wenzhu said with a smile.

Zhong Yun unwrapped the gift and found a retro-styled lighter. People no longer smoked in this era, so lighters had become mere decorations.

“Many guys on the capital planet play with lighters like this, so I bought one for you,” Wenzhu explained.

Zhong Yun and Weiwei were Wenzhu’s only assistants in the studio, so him receiving a gift wasn't unusual.

Wenzhu then returned to her own work, using a stylus to draw on the 3D structural diagram of the mech cockpit displayed on the screen.

Zhong Yun stood beside her watching for a moment, then suddenly said, “Why not remove this rotator?”

Wenzhu followed the direction he pointed, studied it for a while, and her delicate brows gradually furrowed. “If we remove that, wouldn’t these two lines conflict?”

“What if we connect this here to here?” Zhong Yun took her stylus and drew a line on the screen, connecting two seemingly unrelated lines.

“Connect it here?” Wenzhu’s frown deepened, murmuring to herself. Suddenly, her body jolted, and unbelievable light shone in her eyes.

“Yes, connect it right here!” She jumped up instantly, throwing her arms around Zhong Yun, jumping and crying out with excitement, “Zhong Yun, thank you!”

Zhong Yun was truly shocked to be hugged so suddenly and instinctively wanted to pull away but managed to restrain himself. Wenzhu held him tightly; feeling the soft pressure against his chest made his heart flutter. It had been a long time since he had such intimate contact with a woman.

His hands inadvertently wrapped around her waist. Wenzhu possessed a devilish figure: a very large bust but an incredibly slender waist. Feeling the curve of her waistline, Zhong Yun’s emotions surged further, and he experienced a natural physical response.

Wenzhu also felt the change in his body. She released him subtly, smoothing down the few stray strands of hair near her forehead. “Zhong Yun, thank you so much…”

Zhong Yun’s expression remained unchanged, as if nothing had happened. He spoke casually, “Even without my reminder, you would have eventually figured it out on your own.”

“No, even if I figured it out myself, I would have wasted so much time. In any case, thank you,” Wenzhu insisted sincerely.

“If you really want to thank me, treat me to a meal,” (To be continued, for future developments, please log in to .**.m, more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading.)