Chapter 133: Meow Like a Kitten! - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

**Chapter 133: Meow Like a Kitten!** As Xu Shi had anticipated, despite knowing it might be a trap laid for him, after careful consideration, Lin Wenhua still accepted the task of developing the chip. The troubles of the old man aren't confined to just within the "Serpent Ring." The critical issue is that his connections and resources outside are no longer effective. Take Yue Chizheng, the governor of the city hall, for instance. This older man used to have a good relationship with him. With Yue advocating for him, many tasks could be accomplished with half the effort. But recently, things have changed. Forget about reaching out when he needed him; even inviting him out for dinners and drinks, Yue Chizheng would avoid him like the plague. Lin Wenhua knew in his heart that this was likely because Xu Shi had been in the spotlight recently, single-handedly promoting the acceptance of the "forgotten ones," benefiting the entire city significantly. At this juncture, due to offending Xu Shi, Yue Chizheng wouldn't be so foolish, even if he were senile. What he didn’t know was that Xu Shi had met with Yue privately and showed him something. Of course, it was the unsightly information on the questionable preferences of the big bosses in Night City, obtained from "Disgue." Including Yue Chizheng. "Governor Yue, you wouldn't want others to know about your preference for young girls and how you pulled out their teeth, would you?" That's what Director Xu had said. Viewing those data bricks wasn’t mere entertainment for him—there were plenty of other ways to amuse himself. The main purpose was sorting, selecting valuable political and business figures from it, and thus having leverage against them. It's worth mentioning that Zhang Shijun didn't keep these to have leverage. The ruler of District Six seemed prestigious but didn't have that much authority—his intent was merely to have a reference, to better appease his financial backers. To dare use this as a threat would be akin to digging his own grave. This is also why, after obtaining these items, he deliberately guided Lin Yue away from such thoughts. Should the young assassin sister make such a foolish move, nobody could save her. To her, the data bricks' only value was in trading them with Ding Jun. But for himself, it was different. He had fewer reservations in using them—after all, scandals find their biggest battleground in the media. And who controlled the media? Qi Maoyang, or rather, "Virtual Number." Given how great the family relationship is now, there's no way Qi Maoyang wouldn’t help with such matters. His assistance would mean the two major conglomerates teaming up against you, weighing the situation’s gravity. However, regardless of the process, the outcome is what truly matters. The fact remains, Lin Wenhua is now deeply embroiled within the struggle. His connections have been cut off externally, and his remaining reformed secret guards pose no threat to Xu Shi. Even 1557, who escaped last time, remains unfound... The only leverage left seems to be seniority, but who cares about seniority alone? Continuing in this way, the only possibility is being slowly worn out by Xu Shi. Taking on this task gives him a sliver of hope—hope that lies in re-gathering valuable resources. If successful, it can restore his reputation somewhat. Moreover, as the person in charge, handling Phase Two chips himself is a chance to reacquire a bargaining chip. "Well then, let’s wish for the project's success. Thanks for your efforts, Uncle Lin." Xu Shi nodded meaningfully. The main business discussion was over, and now it was time for the wrap-up chatter. The atmosphere in the meeting room was harmonious. Outside, Shen Qin, who overheard the conversation, had a slight change in her expression. Truthfully, the meeting room wasn't soundproofed poorly, but being an A-grade "Elevated" herself, her five senses were much sharper than ordinary people's. Thus, she couldn’t help but wonder, who exactly is Lin Wenhua? Bearing with humiliation to join the "Serpent Ring," she certainly didn’t do this to play house and stand guard. To outsiders, this might seem as if the "forgotten ones," for self-preservation, had no choice but to seek shelter. Feeling disgruntled is normal human nature, but letting that disgruntlement lead to reckless thoughts would be unwise. If she really was only "Nan Qian," then contemplating all these unnecessary things would indeed be unwise. But given she was Shen Qin, this shouldn’t be her endpoint. She had to find an opportunity, at any cost, to eliminate Xu Shi as an enemy—not just for her brother, but for the other "forgotten ones" as well... Well, admittedly, her brother's issue weighed more. But that's still the reason. Slow progress doesn’t mean no progress. The meeting evidently made her sense something off. It seemed like there was discord between the two men? This seemed like an opportunity to exploit... But unfortunately, she wasn’t well-versed in the internal workings of the "Serpent Ring." With some things unclear, she couldn’t act rashly. "Team Leader Xia..." She instinctively called Xia Wuyou. "..." Xia Wuyou didn’t respond, merely pressing a finger to her lips, giving a silent gesture for quiet. The External Operations Department’s role included armed escorts externally and responsibilities like standing guard internally, just like they were doing now. Most importantly, nothing was to be seen or heard, and speech was forbidden. Did Shen Qin think Xia Wuyou couldn’t hear when she could? Discussing it was crossing the line; best to keep quiet. Even if there was something between her and Xu Shi, work required undivided attention and absolute discretion. Shen Qin realized her slip, flashed an apologetic smile, waved a hand at her lips, then said no more. She also realized she had misspoken. Occupational rules were one thing, but asking Xia Wuyou? Not even indirectly—that would raise suspicions given her ties with Xu Shi. Thinking this, she felt a sense of fear but also confusion at her unwise behavior. Perhaps it was really Xu Shi's ability influencing her... One misstep and she found herself lightheaded; his power was indeed insidious and unpredictable. This realization made her recognize the urgency to hasten her plans—delaying would only harm her. Shen Qin silently calmed herself. ... Switching perspectives. Having completed arrangements and concluded the meeting, Xu Shi finally found a bit of leisure. Not entirely free, but no problem visiting home. "...Whoa! Xu Shi, you finally remembered to come home?!" Opening the door, he was greeted by Gu Yi's delight tinged with a hint of reproach. Indeed, Xu Shi hadn’t been home much lately, and Su Lin hadn’t returned either. It left Gu Yi feeling like the sole occupant of a vast house, akin to a lonely bride. In the past, she would’ve celebrated such solitude. Getting rid of the nuisance that was Xu Shi—out of sight, out of mind. But now, it was different; not seeing him left Gu Yi feeling empty, her heart being pricked like by a kitten's paw. Sure, video calls could let her see him, but seeing without touching only provided minimal solace—nothing beat having him in front of her. Understanding the allure of...ahem, Saint's worth? (doge) "I'm surprised you didn't turn the home into a pigsty." Xu Shi didn’t reject her welcoming embrace, though he teased her verbally. "You can't say one nice thing, can you?" Miss Black Rabbit pouted, headbutting his chest with irritation. "My apologies." Xu Shi replied, flicking her forehead with no sign of genuine regret in his tone. "...Fine. Play a game with me, and I’ll forgive you." Realizing she wouldn’t win verbally, Gu Yi wisely shifted the topic. "Sure." Xu Shi nodded; a promise was a promise. I always keep my word! The game Gu Yi eagerly wanted to play with Xu Shi was the most popular game in Night City, "Divine Descent." Developed by a mysterious company, it's an open-world adventure game where the chosen ones... Being a veteran player, Xu Shi was unfamiliar with this particular title, but he caught on quickly. As he played, he felt a sense of nostalgia. It reminded him of a hugely popular game from his past life... Yes, that's right, "Give Her Love." He even recalled the days of having cheat codes printed out, memorizing them better than his English lessons. Truth be told, the game itself was well-crafted. Beyond the standard version, players could use specially designed VR helmets to experience the game more vividly. Including sensory feedback... essentially, treading the line of consciousness upload. In reality, the tech wasn’t as advanced as one might think; from Xu Shi's perspective, it wasn’t true consciousness upload. Not like the Matrix where plugging in and living entirely in a digital realm took care of basic necessities automatically. Though, undeniably, this setup offers a semblance of secrecy for the game, facilitating many gray or even illegal transactions. Consider that, in the original text, Shen He frequently used such channels to communicate with others in the organization, right? There were merits in that. Yet, perhaps due to aging, the enjoyment the game brought him was undeniably less than before. While he admitted it was captivating, the excitement that Gu Yi felt was absent for him. Of course, the disparity in their statuses was also a major factor. For the workforce in Night City, the allure of this game lay in fulfilling desires usually out of reach—going on rampages at a whim, indulging in luxury cars and beautiful women, raking in billions in game currency... For Xu Shi, such fantasies were nearly achievable in reality. Hence, his interest in purely virtual pursuits naturally waned. On the contrary, the Gu Yi in his arms piqued his interest even more. Indeed. Their posture while gaming was distinctly intimate. Xu Shi was reclined lazily on a beanbag, half-lying down, with Gu Yi nestled between his legs, half-lying back in his embrace. Their height difference didn't obscure the view, perfect for gaming. And today, Miss Black Rabbit's attire was particularly charming. She wore a light blue silk nightgown, thin white over-the-knee socks on her feet, cat-ear headphones, with her hair let loose, exuding a strong homebody girl vibe. This was a far cry from her previous street renegade style. Indeed, she had changed quite a bit, seemingly paying attention to her attire after his subtle hints. If only she could curb her colorful language a bit... However, Xu Shi had to admit, only Gu Yi could be so unabashed, casually letting peculiar words slip from her lips. He actually liked this trait about her; it was part of her distinctive charm. Xu Shi tossed aside the game controller, turning a bit mischievous. "...Hey, didn’t we say we were playing games?" Even with all her focus, Miss Black Rabbit couldn't ignore his roving hands. Without turning back, she expressed slight discontent in her tone. "The game’s not as fun as you." Xu Shi replied cheekily, "You play your game, don’t mind me." "By the way, you look great today." "How am I supposed to keep playing like this?" Gu Yi pouted, her grip on the controller barely steady, murmuring softly, "It's just normal loungewear… nothing special." "Is that so?" Xu Shi teased her deliberately, tugging at the black choker around her neck, "Is this also loungewear?" “...” Miss Black Rabbit fell silent, choosing to fall back into his embrace. Looking down, her face was flush with embarrassment. The truth was, her outfit wasn't entirely just home wear and at least the choker definitely wasn’t. Why did she buy such a pointless accessory? She couldn't quite explain it—perhaps her past experience with wearing a collar left her feeling incomplete when it was removed. Thus, she had bought this item and even considered one with a small bell... but that was too much. She’d never choose that. Why am I so ridiculous? She couldn't help but scold herself, yet her body was honest, feeling much more comfortable wearing it. Her shift in fashion style was indeed inspired by a desire to present herself attractively, an idea she'd previously overlooked. The ragged street style was cool in its own way... but, in truth, how many men truly favored untidy girls? At least she believed Xu Shi wouldn’t. Given the situation, she could see through Xu Shi’s intentions. Clearly, he wasn't here just to play games, more like, as he said, to 'play' her. Well… Miss Black Rabbit blinked, flipped over to kneel before him, adjusted her headphones, and leaned closer, lifting her hands gingerly and making a cute sound. "Meow?" To say she didn’t desire this would be self-deception. Some things, once experienced, are unforgettable, and being left at home for all these days? That wasn't easy... The headphones were swiftly discarded; the scene shifted onto the nearby bed. "Um..." Gu Yi couldn't suppress a soft moan. "Come on, meow like a kitten!" (End of Chapter)