Chapter 143: I Cannot Control Myself - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

**Chapter 143: I Cannot Control Myself** During this time, Xu Shi generally hasn't paid much attention to the "Good Sister" matter and has let Lin Yue mostly run her course. Managing the territories of the Sixth District has kept her quite busy; there hasn't been any unexpected trouble. If anything arises, Xu Shi can quickly find out from Lin Xing. The modified hexagram acts as a storage card, recording daily events. Skimming through it, he knows Lin Yue successfully took over the territories he assigned to her. Officially, she now holds the title of a big gang leader governing half of the Sixth District. Big Sister of the gang! Anyway, many people are calling her that now, and her initial confusion and hesitation are gradually fading. The burgundy trench coat gives her a powerful woman vibe. Lin Yue even cut her hair short, and her severed finger was reattached, making her almost unrecognizable from when they first met. Quite strong, indeed. Although she was pushed step by step, she genuinely took those territories. Xu Shi remembers instructing Ding Jun not to hold back, and Ding Jun is quite the fierce fighter. For Lin Yue to achieve this, she indeed put in considerable effort. Good, very good. Anyhow, this nurturing process has been satisfying for Xu Shi, but he also feels it's not enough. Being the leader of half a district's gang is quite awkward. Above her is the district leader, someone who might have the strength to deal with major corporations. Below are the neighborhood leaders who merely collect protection money. They are aware of their lack of power. But she's currently stuck in between, feeling that neighborhood leaders aren’t worthy of dealing with her. Yet, she can't move up, and she's stuck, unable to make any impactful operations... Cough, that's the gist of it. In Xu Shi's own plan, the Good Sister cannot stop here. The higher she climbs, the more she can see and reach, increasing her utility. The current "Angry Wolf" is an excellent stepping stone. Last time, during the conflict, they were severely beaten. Now they're in a weakened state, just waiting for the final straw—a city war to change the power structure again. It's better to take them down; letting Long Tianding replace them wouldn't be ideal. Even in a division, those involved must be his people. Having Xie Qingyan and Lin Yue divide it between themselves would be good. It’s indeed as Xu Shi said before, returning a favor to his fiancée... How Xie Qingyan and Lin Yue would compete is not his concern. After all, Xie Qingyan isn't aware that the current "Starlight" is also Xu Shi's domain, so what does it have to do with him? Moreover, this is also a test. Xie Qingyan's sudden soft approach is strange, and Xu Shi knows that she has been developing behind the scenes recently. That won't do. Better to bring her publicly into the light. For Lin Yue, this is the second trial for her as a warrior. Unlike Xu Shi's previous arrangements, this time it's a real battle. Neither "Angry Wolf" nor "White Iron" will hold back like Ding Jun did. There’s certainly danger involved, but honestly, when has life ever been smooth sailing? However, he believes that Lin Yue, being one of the main characters, would definitely fathom a breakthrough in this area. Besides, even if she falters, doesn't he have a reliable younger sister to rely on? Therefore... "So should I be grateful for our family's generous fiancé?" Xie Qingyan found it hard to believe Xu Shi would deliver such a big opportunity to her doorstep. But after careful thought, there seemed to be no flaw, so all she could do was tease him with words. The only issue she foresaw was potentially crossing swords with Long City. Still, her control over "White Iron" was kept secret, so Long Tianding hasn't noticed. Even if Long Tianding directed Song Ziyou to take down "Angry Wolf," in the chaotic environment of the Crime City, it would seem like a regular gang conflict far less severe than the "Dysk" incident... Given how "Angry Wolf" had declined, not stepping on them would be questionable. Taking a step back, even if Long Tianding does uncover something, he wouldn't fully turn against her. The reality is that "Prism" and "Long City" have had little interaction, neither warm nor hostile. In the current situation, they might even need her assistance. Thus, this opportunity should be seized. As for "Lin Yue" and Starlight, she had no clue they were under Xu Shi's banner... No matter how shrewd she was, omniscience was impossible. Very few were privy to this knowledge. "I’ve always been a generous person, otherwise I'd have already punished you." Xu Shi retorted, "After all, it was you sneaking around before, wasn’t it?" "…You dare." Being called out like this, Xie Qingyan's expression darkened. After a few perfunctory exchanges, she left with Ye Shanshan. Xu Shi laughed heartily, thinking that his fiancée had quite the nice figure; spanking her would likely feel pleasant. After Xie Qingyan left, he quickly contacted Ding Jun. "...Aren't we allowed to intervene again?" Ding Jun sounded a bit helpless upon hearing Xu Shi's intentions. Giving away half of the Sixth District last time was already quite generous. Now, being asked not to involve himself in the entire Tenth District, his heart was bleeding. "Just remain steady." Xu Shi teased, "I know Leader Ding hasn’t actually suffered losses recently. On the contrary, you’ve made quite a bit, haven’t you?" "Nonsense..." Ding Jun lamented, "I was never skilled in Zhang Shijun's businesses. Those two girls you sent over keep causing disruptions. How can you call it a profit..." "But haven’t you made quite a considerable amount in Night City? Would you like me to list it out for you?" Xu Shi cut him off, "I know you no longer focus on Crime City as your primary area, don't try to fool me." "…" Ding Jun went silent instantly. Truthfully, that was the case. If any leader in Crime City was the most ambitious, it would undoubtedly be Ding Jun. While others were fighting tooth and nail for territory in Crime City, he started connecting with enterprises in Night City. The six major corporations might not recognize him, but utilizing his old resources, he was quite welcomed among second and third-tier businesses. Benefiting from Xu Shi’s equipment subsidies, even though the Sixth District's sex doll business made little progress, he saw an expansion in other profitable ventures, replacing losses with gains elsewhere. Recently, leveraging the "Forgotten Ones" settling in, he made numerous investments in Night City, reaping stable returns. "I hear Leader Ding is self-studying business management? Why not come to "Serpent Ring," and I'll arrange one-on-one mentorship with some veterans for you?" "...No need, thank you for your consideration, Director Xu." Ding Jun broke into a cold sweat hearing this. Xu Shi even knew about his studies? It seemed Xu Shi never stopped observing him... "Don’t worry, I’m not blaming you." Xu Shi said nonchalantly, “Having ambition is a good thing. If the opportunity arises, I can introduce you to some real big shots." Actually, Xu Shi had some faith in Ding Jun. One, because this guy was genuinely attentive and, ever since joining Xu Shi, never caused any trouble—just a bit of helpless lamenting, which wasn’t a big deal. Secondly, Ding Jun genuinely had aspirations that extended beyond Crime City, aiming for legitimate entry into the upper echelons. From a broader perspective, such visionaries were what Xu Shi needed, not mere gangsters. "Alright, alright, thank you, Director Xu." Ding Jun was quite excited hearing this, recognizing this promise as a grand honor—it wasn't a chance that came by often! Progess! Progress! "So, is it really fine for me to do nothing? Is there anything I should…" He quickly inquired eagerly. "No need, just hold steady." Xu Shi instructed, then proceeded to access Lin Xing's surveillance feed. Time to personally log in. ... Crime City, Sixth District. "… Fine, just leave the related documents here." Staring at the towering pile of files in front of her, Lin Yue felt a headache coming. After securing half of the Sixth District's territories, she thought she was settled. Unexpectedly, that's when the real challenges started pouring in. Who would have thought gang leadership also involved corporate-style leadership—managing this or that? It surely was overwhelming. Especially with more subordinates to manage, considering how to support them financially was challenging. She refused to engage in the existing sex doll business and had to find new avenues to maintain economic stability... Looking at her increasingly heavy dark circles, she couldn’t help but sigh. Previously in "Starlight," she never had to worry about such issues. Only after hands-on experience did she realize how tough it was. Sigh. "Sis, what are you up to?" Lin Xing bounced over, asking with genuine concern, his sweet voice contrasting his appearance. Yes. As the influence of "Starlight" expanded, Lin Yue was prompt in helping Lin Xing repair her voice box with new mechanical components, making communication between the two sisters much more convenient. Upon discovering this, Xu Shi felt a bit sentimental. In a sense, this also signaled Lin Yue's complete trust in her; she truly listened to her sister. Moreover, many of the cyborgs previously used for sexual purposes were gradually rescued. Returning these individuals to a life of normalcy became one of Lin Yue's major goals. Those who wished could join; those who didn’t were free to leave, offering them a chance at a regular life. This half of the Sixth District could be considered a sanctuary within Crime City. "I have some matters to handle; you should go rest first," Lin Yue smiled. Spending time with her sister always lightened her fatigue. Lin Xing was genuinely helpful, assisting in both conflicts and administrative tasks, with many things Lin Yue ended up learning from her. "Let me help you, Sis," Lin Xing smiled and, without waiting for Lin Yue's response, sat beside her, joining her in the workload. Together, they processed the piled-up matters more swiftly. "It’s truly tiring. Those early days were far easier, with much less to worry about," Lin Xing sighed, leaning against Lin Yue. "Sweet girl, you know you can't have it both ways," Lin Yue commented lightly. To wear the crown, one must bear its weight. Being a neighborhood leader was less stressful, but it also left one vulnerable to bullying. As for avenging Xu Shi? That was still beyond her reach. Only by gradually growing stronger could she hope to grasp a sliver of opportunity. "Sis is being stern~," Lin Xing teased. "But seriously, what do you think about the Tenth District situation?" The decline of "Angry Wolf" was apparent, and decisions had to be made swiftly before others seized the opportunity, leaving them with nothing but missed chances. "Should I... just take another piece of the pie like before?" Lin Yue asked, embracing Lin Xing with uncertainty. "But we’ve only just stabilized; would it be reckless to act now?" She was clearly torn, her indecisiveness concerning both the fading strength of "Angry Wolf" and the inevitable spotlight on "Starlight" amid the city's factions. "What do you think, little sister?" Lin Yue asked, falling back into the habit of seeking Lin Xing’s advice. "If it were me, I'd definitely give it a try," Lin Xing replied earnestly, snuggling closer. "Like you said, there's no sweet without sweat. If we don’t try, we’ll gain nothing." "Plus, there are still many issues we haven't solved, like revenue sources and weapon orders from Night City. Securing 'Angry Wolf’s' channels would significantly improve things." This was the pressing issue before "Starlight." In Crime City, money and guns were imperative. Although managing money was feasible, arms procurement was troublesome. The biggest arms dealer was "Serpent Ring," and Lin Yue couldn’t and wouldn’t approach them. Relying solely on personal capabilities was insufficient; her members needed proper armament. This problem couldn’t be ignored, especially with "Serpent Ring" refreshing their stock—falling behind could have dire consequences. For instance, they currently could only acquire "Gemini" chips through resellers at exorbitant prices. As for "Shark Tooth"? They could barely handle their own affairs, let alone help... But acquiring "Angry Wolf" would improve their situation considerably—they were a major arms dealer in Crime City. Taking over their channels would resolve many issues. This wasn’t like the sex doll business that Lin Yue personally opposed. Economic concerns would also be alleviated, making it a win-win situation. It seemed they had no choice but to compete for this. "Alright, I'll go with your suggestion," Lin Yue resolved quietly. "It’s getting late, you should rest. Tomorrow, we'll plan everything thoroughly." "Okay," Lin Xing said, nuzzling Lin Yue's face before leaving. Once her sister left, Lin Yue shook her head, then collapsed onto the nearby sofa. She wondered if her sister felt particularly attached to her... possibly more than usual? Sometimes she felt that Lin Xing might hold special feelings for her. Their relationship wasn’t a typical sibling bond and lacked conventional moral boundaries. Unfortunately, Lin Yue did not reciprocate those feelings. Whenever she thought about matters of the heart, only that pesky individual entered her mind. "Xu Shi..." she muttered angrily, but her hands betrayed her as she pulled a cushion under herself. "Master..." She felt a deep sense of shame inside, especially knowing she shouldn’t refer to him that way or behave like this, making her actions feel even more depraved. Yet, she couldn’t stop herself... (End of Chapter)