Liu Xuan's Special Permission, Another Chance Encounter

Going to work without the chance encounter with Liu Xuan, Lin Qi didn't find it strange at all.

Entering the elevator, the elevator detected Lin Qi's identity.

"L-level researcher Lin Qi, today is your day off. Please state the reason for your visit to the company."

The intelligent system of the Red Fruit Weapons Research Institute identified Lin Qi and posed the question.

"I'm working on a new design and need to use the company's network to look up materials." Lin Qi told the truth, seeing no need to hide it.

"Verification in progress. This action carries risk."

"L-level researcher Lin Qi, no overtime record. Probability of overtime is below 1%. Requesting manual arbitration."

Receiving the intelligent system's response, Lin Qi's facial muscles twitched twice.

What did it mean by "probability of overtime is below 1%"? When did the company's intelligent system get so sensitive?

Although the system's analysis wasn't wrong—Lin Qi's habit of clocking in and out right on the dot meant he indeed never worked overtime—the company had never stopped authorized personnel from entering the research institute before.

Did this mean the security measures in Red Fruit City had been upgraded?

Inside the elevator, a holographic projection appeared.

The 13th-floor supervisor, Lin Qi's direct superior, Wei Wei.

"Lin Qi? Why are you at the company? According to the intelligent system's assessment, your behavior carries a high risk level."

Wei Wei wasn't a researcher but a professional manager, making all decisions strictly based on the intelligent system's judgment.

"I need to look up some materials and require the company network." Lin Qi repeated his reason.

Lin Qi's reason was sufficient and reasonable; under normal circumstances, there was no cause for rejection.

But Wei Wei shook his head. "The company's security level has been raised to S-tier. Your reason isn't enough to pass the system's judgment, and due to your abnormal behavior, you'll undergo a review by the company's security team."

Lin Qi frowned. This was a situation he didn't want to face.

Although Lin Qi's exoskeleton design was clever and the risk of exposure low, the security team's review would involve certain lie-detection methods.

"I request a manual review by a higher-level authorized staff member. Requested party: Liu Xuan."

Wei Wei continued shaking his head. "Lin Qi, just accept the review calmly. Given your training level, the company won't make things too hard on you. With the current security level, your request will definitely be rejected. Why not..."

Before Wei Wei could finish, his holographic projection vanished.

Replaced by the company's intelligent system's reply: "Request approved. Level 4 authorized personnel Liu Xuan is coming online."

Level 4 authorization—very high.

Company authorization had 15 levels. Lin Qi's authorization was only Level 12, one level higher than a standard L-level researcher, a privilege for key personnel under training.

Wei Wei, as a floor supervisor, had Level 8 authorization, far below Liu Xuan's level as a member of the Liu family.

Almost the moment the request was approved, Liu Xuan's holographic projection appeared inside the elevator.

Through the projection, Lin Qi could see Liu Xuan was in a home environment, not at the company.

"Lin Qi? Why are you going to the company today?" Liu Xuan was also puzzled.

As someone who had been stalking... keeping an eye on Lin Qi for years, Liu Xuan never came to the research institute on his days off.

"I'm working on a new design and need to use the company's network to look up materials." Lin Qi repeated his reason once more.

Liu Xuan acted quickly. "Alright, I've approved it. The company's security risk has increased recently. If something like this happens again, you can contact me in advance."

Liu Xuan's voice was quite cold, but her efficiency was high.

"Alright, thanks." Lin Qi faced the projection and smiled.

In the projection, Liu Xuan's face flushed slightly, and she cut off the communication almost instantly.

Inside the elevator, the intelligent system's voice sounded: "Level 4 authorization granted. Proceeding to the 13th floor."

Lin Qi rubbed his chin. After all this time, he still found Liu Xuan's behavior strange.

He always felt that Liu Xuan both wanted to see him and was somewhat afraid to.

"Am I some kind of scary person?"

Lin Qi couldn't figure out Liu Xuan's thoughts. When the elevator reached the 13th floor and the doors opened, he strolled slowly toward his lab.

Red Fruit City, Liu Heavy Industries senior member residential area.

Liu Xuan gently touched her cheek, feeling it burning hot.

Data appeared in her left eye's prosthetic: "Abnormal mental state level increased. Please upgrade to a higher-grade suppressor."

Liu Xuan's left eye was a prosthetic, but also a mental abnormality suppressor.

The strange emotions Liu Xuan felt toward Lin Qi were a mix of normal feelings and the effects of her mental abnormality.

In other words, ever since the experimental accident back then, Liu Xuan had been infected with a mild form of cyberpsychosis.

Liu Xuan gently stroked her cheek when a voice came from behind: "Sis, the family has ordered us to head to the Green City branch. Green City has already activated the Iron Curtain, and its security level is higher than Red Fruit City. All Liu family members in Red Fruit City need to take temporary shelter."

"My family has already negotiated with the Si Clan. Both sides' security forces will be concentrated in Greenland City."

Liu Li rounded the sofa and came before Liu Xuan.

Only then did she notice Liu Xuan's complexion was a bit too flushed. "Sis, why is your face so red?"

Liu Xuan replied, "There's something wrong with my suppressor. I need to go to the research institute to replace it."

Liu Li paused. "We have some at home, several models of prosthetic eye suppressors..."

Liu Xuan cut her off quickly. "The purple prosthetic eye I like is at the institute."

Liu Li: "Huh?"

Liu Li didn't quite understand her sister's reasoning, so she could only urge, "Remember to bring the security team."

Liu Xuan nodded and hurried out the door.

By afternoon, Lin Qi had quickly finished his data search.

M-level Mech Design wasn't some high-end research project. The reason Lin Qi wasted so much time was to arrange a plausible excuse.

He left traces in the company network: "Large Prosthetic Design," "Expandable Prosthetic-Mech Connection," "Phil Group Jason Hammer (Mech-Connected Prosthetic) Design Concepts," and so on.

All of it was for the sake of making the data query look reasonable.

After all, since joining the company, Lin Qi had never researched mechs. A sudden search would flag his behavior as anomalous in the company's AI system.

If that kind of tag appeared, Liu Xuan's authority might not be enough to help him anymore.

After copying a mech design onto a blank chip, Lin Qi walked out of the lab satisfied.

Today wasn't a workday, so there was no need to clock out exactly on time.

Taking the elevator, Lin Qi arrived at the vehicle parking lot on the top floor of the Weapon Research Institute.

The moment the elevator doors opened, the opposite elevator opened as well.

Inside that elevator stood Liu Xuan.

"What a coincidence." Liu Xuan stepped out of the elevator, didn't exchange more words with Lin Qi, and walked straight toward her flying vehicle.

Lin Qi's facial muscles twitched uncontrollably.

Coincidence.

Too coincidental!

First time: an afternoon chance encounter.

745th time: a chance encounter on the institute's top floor.