Zhang Yingying (Part 2)

Weirdo.

Ronan first looked away, his gaze sweeping over the Exoskeleton Armor on the carrier. There were no obvious markings, but the distinctive blue paint scheme had already revealed the answer:

Deep Blue Walkers... and not military ones, at that.

Ninety percent of the world's Deep Blue Walkers were in military service—there was no doubt about that. But as the developer of the Deep Blue Platform, it was only natural for Quantum Corporation to possess a few so-called "experimental models." However, Quantum Corporation's Deep Blue Walkers were not permitted to carry highly lethal weapons. They had fewer modules and slimmer frames, along with certain auxiliary equipment, such as short guide wings.

Those little details might have fooled others, but they could not fool Ronan. Among these identical-looking Exoskeleton Armor units, he even spotted one he had dealt with before.

The second from the left was that "Crowd Controller," the first to engage the Burning Demon Shadow and a key contributor to the final encirclement.

Ronan narrowed his eyes slightly.

The Deep Blue Walker's system layout and specifications were undoubtedly highly classified. Even by piecing together information from multiple sources, one could only assemble fragments. In a state like this—just removed and not yet packed away—probably not many people had seen them in the more than five years since the Deep Blue Walker was introduced.

Ronan gripped his notebook, almost wanting to pick up a pen immediately and sketch every detail of this row of equipment...

But at that moment, the tough, dark-faced man on the carrier cast an even colder look his way. Then he performed an operation, and an invisible membrane rose over the carrier, sealing all the armor inside.

Ronan paused, then shrugged. Were Quantum Corporation people always this stingy?

"Looks like Quantum Corporation... someone you know?" Zhang Yingying suddenly asked.

Ronan answered honestly, "No."

"Then what were you spacing out for? Let's go."

Zhang Yingying urged him from the side, tugging him back into the previous room. As soon as she entered, she let out a long breath, spun around, and leaned back against the edge of the desk again, stretching lazily. "Dealing with those bureaucrats and lawsuit hounds is seriously irritating!"

Ronan had no words for this female lawsuit hound. More importantly, standing in the room, he had no idea what he was supposed to do.

Zhang Yingying pointed at him with a grin. "You did pretty well just now, so I'll give you a little perk. See? This cabin."

"..."

"Don't look so dissatisfied. On the entire ship, only this area has temporarily lifted external communications restrictions. Otherwise, how would you be able to play games?"

Ronan subconsciously glanced at his wristband. Sure enough, its communication and network functions had been unblocked. Uh... what was with these dozens of missed calls?

After a quick look, he found that most of them were from his cousin Mo Ya—twenty-five calls in all, starting from that morning.

Then, from seven in the evening onward, there were three calls from his aunt as well.

It was already ten at night...

Ronan's scalp went numb. Forgetting everything else, he hurriedly called back the usual accomplice, Miss Mo Ya.

"Sis?"

"Ah Nan?" There was uncertainty in Mo Ya's voice.

"Sis, what's wrong..."

"What do you mean, what's wrong?! What the hell were you doing all day?! You didn't answer your phone, nobody could find you at school, and you weren't home either. I was about to call the police, did you know that?"

Mo Ya's high-pitched, tearing rock voice engulfed him like a sandstorm, like a nuclear bomb detonating in a blaze of fury:

"Why didn't you go to class? Why didn't you attend the society entrance exam? Did you set me up yesterday? Ronan, you've really grown up, huh? The moment you're out on your own, you start running wild?"

Ronan was instantly sprayed bloody by the tirade. Her powerfully piercing voice even broke through the wristband's audio limits and echoed throughout the room.

Zhang Yingying whistled, looking up at the ceiling with the innocent expression of a bystander who knew absolutely nothing.

Ronan could not spare a thought for embarrassment. He moved a little farther away and explained his current situation to his cousin.

As long as he left out elements like the Burning Demon Shadow, today's events had been entirely the result of his own bad luck. There was nothing that needed hiding.

After venting her accumulated worry and anger, Mo Ya was still willing to listen to his explanation. However, she had not the slightest sympathy for what Ronan had gone through.

"Sticking around trash like Xie Junping—serves you right for getting unlucky! If you don't learn your lesson, there'll be plenty more trouble waiting for you... The Mystic Studies Society is basically that sort of place. It's no big deal if you can't join."

"Huh?"

Ronan suddenly realized that he had undoubtedly missed the Mystic Studies Society's entrance interview today. But how had his cousin known?

Looking at the call log, Mo Ya had been fairly restrained that morning, calling only twice. But from four-thirty in the afternoon, when society activities began, she had called once every ten minutes on average. Clearly, that was only after she found out he had missed the exam.

Mo Ya sneered through clenched teeth. "Knowing how stupid you are, I thought I'd ask someone to help since there was an acquaintance over there! But now you skipped the exam entirely and stood them up. You've rubbed my face into the dirt! And when Mother called, you didn't answer. I risked my life telling her you needed to do experiments for the society exam... You'd better make that lie hold up! Otherwise, you're dead! No one in heaven or on earth will be able to save you!"

Ronan felt warmth spread through his chest. He knew his cousin must have done a great deal behind the scenes. Skipping the exam outright had indeed put her in an awkward position.

The words slipped out of his mouth. "Then I'll treat you tomorrow to apologize!"

Mo Ya sneered. "Forget treating me. But let me tell you this: stay away from that circle. Those bastards have wealth they could squander for a lifetime, while you have nothing. I don't want the inheritance I get someday to be used to support an idiot like you."

The siblings' final exchange had nothing at all to do with familial affection, but Ronan had long since grown used to his cousin's way of speaking and did not take it to heart.

He also learned that Mo Ya was currently waiting at his Blue Bay Community apartment, and naturally thanked her again and again. Mo Ya dismissed it entirely, casually saying, "I'm heading to a gig," before hanging up.

Since college, Mo Ya had formed a band with others. They had become somewhat well-known in the Xia City area and were on the rise. Every evening was her busiest time, yet today she had waited at his apartment for news of him. There was no need to say how much face she had given up for Ronan.

But thinking of the task his cousin had assigned him, Ronan could not help baring his teeth. After considering it for a moment, he still gathered his courage and called his aunt. He did not dare mention what had happened today, merely building on Mo Ya's lie by making up a reason that the interview needed to assess experimental ability. As for the exam results, he could only vaguely say they would not be available until tomorrow, hoping to muddle through first.

He did not dare make a video call, and he could not tell from her voice whether his aunt believed him. He only felt that she was unusually easy to talk to tonight, even telling him to get some rest early. Somehow, he had passed the test.

Perhaps his aunt had misunderstood his evasiveness about the exam results?

That would be perfect!