Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-Two: I Don’t Want to Be Cao the Thief
Nian Nian’s question had piqued Sang Zhe’s curiosity for a long time.
No matter how business-savvy Bai Ming was, a clever woman couldn’t cook without rice. Sang Zhe didn’t believe he could independently develop something as complicated as a Communication Device.
This wasn’t even in the same tech lane; even if you wanted to, you’d have to start from scratch.
So when Nian Nian brought it up now, Sang Zhe’s first thought was:
“You mean… he also has a system?”
“Of course not.” Nian Nian huffed, clearly displeased. “This system is one of a kind. Do you think this system is as common as dirt, something anyone can have?”
“However, creating a Communication Device in this world is indeed riddled with challenges, and Bai Ming certainly relied on some external forces to get to where he is today.”
With a mysterious smile, she gently pushed her glasses up. “Don’t you want to know the truth behind this?”
Just as Sang Zhe was about to ask, he caught sight of the little devil tail about to peek out from under Nian Nian’s pleated skirt and immediately got suspicious.
“Wait a second. You said all this, and you aren’t trying to trick me into spending a fortune on information, are you?”
“Of course not.”
Nian Nian turned her head and huffed. “If the host isn’t interested, so be it. After all, not knowing won’t affect your everyday life, right?”
Sang Zhe gritted his teeth. “Just give me a price, and I’ll see if I can accept it.”
“Thirty thousand points.”
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Hey, hey, hey, don’t rush off!” Nian Nian grabbed his sleeve as he turned away, pouting playfully. “You were just so curious about Bai Ming’s secret!”
“Yeah.”
“Then why do you want to leave?”
“Because you already told me the answer.”
Sang Zhe said flatly, “The Earth Store Immortal Jade, right? Isn’t that it?”
Nian Nian: “…”
“Well, aren’t you curious about what the Earth Store Immortal Jade is? Why does it have such fantastic effects? How can it be produced—”
“Not interested.”
“Just a little interest, please!”
Seeing Sang Zhe turn to leave again, Nian Nian was on the verge of a meltdown.
Why was her host so stubborn today? He wouldn’t listen to her at all!
It was rare for Sang Zhe to see Nian Nian look so anxious.
She bit her lip gently, her eyes shimmering with a hint of moisture, looking down with a mix of anxiety and helplessness, like she was about to cry.
This was the first time Sang Zhe had seen such a cute expression from her.
Usually, she looked at him with that usual disdainful gaze.
But right now, her frantic and teary-eyed look was just too endearing.
He couldn’t help but tease her a little.
“Ahem… It’s not that I don’t want to help you.”
He stated with conviction, “I just can’t take on this task.”
“Think about it, if, as you said, the Earth Store Immortal Jade is Bai Ming’s trade secret for the Communication Device, wouldn’t reclaiming it cut off his source of income and livelihood?”
“The difficulty is about the same as going to the Sword Flower Palace to steal Sister Gu’s beloved sword.”
“Even if we did manage to steal it back, it would mean a vendetta with the Floating Splendor Commerce. Do you not have enough trouble with the Demon Cultivators already?”
“Plus, we just agreed on a partnership with the Floating Splendor Commerce; you turn around and want to stab your partner in the back. Isn’t that a bit much?”
Listening to Sang Zhe’s arguments, Nian Nian snorted. “It’s fine.”
“After all, these things shouldn’t be much of a hassle for the host.”
“Why aren’t they a hassle?” Sang Zhe was puzzled.
“Because, given your nature, the way you’d reclaim the Earth Store Immortal Jade would be to directly conquer the head of the commerce and bring back both the jade and the person, right?”
Sang Zhe: “?”
“Who gave you that impression!”
“And don’t gross me out! I have a wife at home; I’m not into that kind of nonsense!”
Nian Nian shot him an annoyed side-eye.
“… Fine. I’ll give you a friendly hint.”
“If you’re not interested in Bai Ming, maybe consider going after someone else.”
“Who?” Sang Zhe’s curiosity was piqued.
“That young lady, Gongzi Shuiming.”
Nian Nian chimed, “This lady is fair-skinned, beautiful, graceful, and knowledgeable—exactly your type, isn’t she?”
“If you manage to win her over, there might be unexpected surprises!”
But how would romancing Gongzi Shuiming help collect the Earth Store Immortal Jade? Wasn’t she just a hot-selling female author at Fusa Pavilion?
Recalling the various attitudes Gongzi Shuiming had when she hosted him before, Sang Zhe furrowed his brows suddenly and then his eyes lit up as realization struck. “I get it now!”
Nian Nian suddenly felt uneasy; was her hint too obvious?
“So Gongzi Shuiming is Bai Ming’s secretly kept mistress, right?!”
Nian Nian: “…”
“Well, that can’t work.”
Sang Zhe shook his head. “As the saying goes, a brother shouldn’t mess with his friend’s wife. Even though I haven’t known Bai Ming for long, robbing a man of his mistress is just plain wrong.”
“I’m not some thief; while the idea of taking my bro’s wife is kinda tempting, ahem… cough, cough.”
“But Bai Ming seems like the type who is intensely career-driven. Even if I managed to win over his mistress, expecting to get such crucial business secrets just through pillow talk seems unrealistic.”
Nian Nian felt an overwhelming urge to smack her host on the head.
Taking a deep breath to regain her composure, Nian Nian said coldly, “You’re overthinking it. Shuiming is not Bai Ming’s mistress.”
“Then what is she? An infatuation? A sister? A daughter? A mother? A secretly funded magical girl?”
“… You can chase whoever you want.”
With a huff, Nian Nian glared at him and then spun away, disappearing without a trace.
Leaving Sang Zhe scratching his head in confusion.
What? Did I guess wrong again?
So Gongzi Shuiming isn’t a magical girl… what, can it be that Bai Ming himself is a magical girl?
“Stop daydreaming about your favorite magical girl!” Nian Nian suddenly popped back out, unable to hold back her frustration, and gave Sang Zhe a smack on the head.
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