Su Xiao could already afford an apartment that cost forty thousand a month.
Yet he was still crammed into his mother's garage, nothing having changed.
Chapter 34: Thank you, Taro
Su Xiao's rapid rise to wealth made Jack all the more determined.
He had to take big jobs and earn big money.
That was how he would change his fate.
Then he, Misty, and his mother could live in a place like this sooner.
Just then, the receptionist's cold, mechanical voice suddenly came over the apartment's speakers.
"Hello, guests viewing the apartment on the twelfth floor. Your visit has nearly reached thirty minutes. If you do not intend to pay, please take the elevator downstairs in turn and leave. Remaining here will incur an additional fee. Thank you for your cooperation."
"I'll take this apartment. I'll transfer the money now."
The receptionist's voice over the speakers immediately became warm and welcoming.
"Thank you for your payment, Mr. Su. Your temporary visitor access has been changed to resident access. If you have any issues during your stay, please contact the front desk. We will do everything we can to assist you."
"A friendly reminder: monthly rent is due no later than the eighth of each month. To avoid any unnecessary unpleasantness, please be sure to take time out of your busy schedule to pay before the eighth."
"All of us at Simple Realty wish you a pleasant stay. Goodbye."
Su Xiao stopped her.
"Wait, give these two friends of mine access too. They can come over whenever they want."
"Of course, Mr. Su. Please wait a moment while we arrange that for you."
Jack beamed and gave Su Xiao a light punch on the shoulder. "Now that's a real friend."
"Of course. I'm not just being polite, Jack. You like drinking, right? All the booze in that cabinet is yours and V's."
"What about you?"
"You know I don't like drinking."
"Then I really won't hold back, buddy! Hahaha-"
Jack's eyes lit up, and he actually headed over to get a drink right then.
Seeing him look ready to drink himself senseless gave Su Xiao quite a fright.
"Hey, hey, hey, just don't drink too much at once."
"Don't worry. If I mess up your floor, I'll clean it."
"No, the floor's no big deal. I'm just worried Mrs. Wells will get mad at me if she finds out I let you drink too much."
Jack waved a hand without looking back.
Su Xiao was speechless.
Did Jack's wave mean he understood?
Or was he telling Su Xiao not to worry?
Jack took a bottle from the liquor cabinet.
He poured himself a glass right to the brim.
The intoxicated delight on his face was something Su Xiao, who never touched a drop, simply couldn't understand. Why was Jack so obsessed with alcohol?
"Um, Su."
V parted her cherry-red lips.
She seemed hesitant.
It looked as though she had a problem and wanted to ask Su Xiao for help.
But she was too embarrassed to speak.
Uncharacteristically, she fidgeted.
She was nothing like her usual self.
"This isn't like you, V. Don't you know me by now? If you're having trouble, just tell me."
"Okay."
V nodded.
She thought for a moment. "I was just wondering... could I borrow some money from you?"
V found it difficult to ask.
"It's not that I have anything against Jack. It's just, you know, in the garage, after all..."
She didn't know how to put it.
Whatever she said, it felt like it would come out wrong.
V had barely begun before Su Xiao understood.
Back when all three of them were crammed into the garage, Su Xiao had already understood how V felt.
That was why he had asked Jack to help him find an apartment.
After V saw the apartment Jack had found for him, Su Xiao could completely understand why she would want to move out too.
Especially since V was a woman.
She naturally needed a little more privacy.
Without another word, a golden glow rose across his Tactical Goggles.
Then three hundred thousand eurodollars appeared in V's account.
"Wait, this much? No... I don't need this much... I can't take it..."
Flustered, V tried to transfer the money back to Su Xiao.
Su Xiao refused.
He was now working with the Padre, making Tech Weapons for him every day.
He earned tens of thousands a day.
A mere three hundred thousand eurodollars...
He didn't think anything of it.
"Find yourself a decent apartment. When you're comfortable at home, you'll feel more at ease too. Life in this fucked-up Night City is hard enough already. Don't make yourself suffer."
Su Xiao had noticed all the care and concern V and Jack had shown him while he was making the AR Glasses.
With friends like these, never mind three hundred thousand eurodollars...
He wouldn't trade them for hundreds of millions!
Meanwhile, Jack had already downed several glasses.
He shook the bottle. "This stuff's really good. Su, V, want a taste?"
Su Xiao stepped forward and patted V's arm while she was still standing there in a daze.
"Come on, don't overthink it. Besides, we'd better keep an eye on Jack. We can't let him drink all of it himself, or Mrs. Wells won't let us off the hook."
The next day.
Inside an apartment building somewhere in the Watson District.
Max Jones hummed the background music from Tom and Jerry.
He picked his favorite tie out of the wardrobe and put it on.
After washing up and eating breakfast, he left home.
He got into his car and was about to head out.
Then he suddenly received a call from an unknown number.
Max hesitated.
But he decided to answer.
An unfamiliar, rough voice came from the other end. "Max Jones?"
"That's me. Who is this?"
"My name is Esteban Ramirez. I hear you're in the media, a real reporter who writes with a conscience. Not afraid of danger, a man with principles. You're exactly the kind of person I'm looking for."
As a reporter, he had an exceptionally keen nose for news.
Max felt as though he could smell a major story.
He instinctively perked up.
"Hold on. This line isn't encrypted. We'd better talk in person. I'm still worried about this getting out."
After a pause, he continued, "Is anyone watching you?"
"Probably not."
Probably?
Max frowned.
"Probably" wasn't a reassuring word.
He thought for a moment. "Then let's meet at Tom's Restaurant this afternoon."
But the other man refused.
"Somewhere crowded isn't suitable. I've got a better idea. I'll send you the coordinates now."
At the same time.
Arasaka Tower, Corporate Plaza.
The counterintelligence department.
"Director, we've intercepted communications from the rogue agent Esteban Ramirez."
"Who was he communicating with?"
"A reporter who specializes in exposing corporate secrets and scandals. They made contact, but Esteban didn't reveal anything. They only arranged to meet this afternoon, beneath an overpass in the Northside Industrial District."
"They say a cunning rabbit has three burrows. But even the craftiest rabbit eventually runs out of patience."
"Yes. I've already put together a list of field agents suitable for the mission."
"We're not sending field agents this time. Deploy the Special Assault Unit
to eliminate Esteban and all witnesses."
Chapter 35: Riddle-spewers, get out of Night City
As dawn broke, Su Xiao woke in the large bed in his apartment in The Glen.
There was no cramped garage, nor any air so stifling he could barely breathe.
Last night had been the most comfortable night's sleep Su Xiao had enjoyed since arriving in Night City.
But for some reason...
When he woke to find himself alone in the spacious apartment...
An inexplicable sense of loneliness rose within him.
After washing up, Su Xiao went downstairs and drove to the Wolf Bar.
He had meant to find V and Jack.
But when he arrived, he was told that V and Jack had gone out early that morning.
"Do you know what they went out to do?"
Peppy shook his head from behind the counter.
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