Use My Card

Not a sound could be heard.

The Intelligence Department personnel.

The ordinary group members didn't dare make a sound.

Luo Shan winked at Wang Wen.

Tong Xiaolei looked at Wang Wen thoughtfully.

The old man frowned deeply, lost in thought.

The Academy personnel.

At that moment, they wished they could cover their ears and pretend they knew nothing.

After a long while, the old man looked up at Wang Wen.

Wang Wen didn't avoid his gaze, simply meeting the old man's eyes in silence.

The old man turned to his subordinates and asked, "What do you think of this condition?"

No one answered immediately.

After some thought, Tong Xiaolei softly said, "There may be security risks. What if..."

"What if?" The old man slapped the armrest and burst into laughter. "Never would've imagined it! Never would've imagined that after living seventy years, I, Gu, would encounter something this rare!"

He rose directly to his feet, startling the group members around him into flinching. They hurriedly moved to guard his sides.

The old man pushed away the subordinate trying to support him, stepped forward, and patted Wang Wen on the shoulder. Shaking his head with emotion, he said, "The young truly are formidable. Whatever your purpose is, whether someone is directing you from behind the scenes or not, I admit it—you've truly broadened my horizons today. Once a week, right? I'll be waiting for you at the consortium building."

Having said that.

With his hands behind his back, he took the lead toward the door.

Tong Xiaolei hurried after him. As she brushed past Wang Wen, she inexplicably glared at him.

When she caught up to the old man, she quietly asked, "Department Head, should we request that the consortium strengthen its security measures?"

"What?" The old man turned back to look at her. "Afraid I'll be assassinated?"

Tong Xiaolei lowered her head. "Your safety is the consortium's highest priority. I wouldn't dare be careless."

The old man turned to Wang Wen, who had also turned around to look at him, and smiled. "If I were assassinated inside the consortium building, dying under the noses of so many people in the Intelligence Department, then the First Consortium might as well give up its title as number one."

Wang Wen smiled as well. "If Group Leader Tong is worried, I can make a special exception and allow you to sit in during our chats. I don't mind having one more person to pour water and make tea."

"Me, pour water and make tea for you?!" Tong Xiaolei's delicate brows shot up, and the Central Group members instantly surrounded Wang Wen as if they meant to eliminate him on the spot to prevent future trouble.

"Enough." The old man waved his hand and said to Wang Wen, "Joking aside, the Intelligence Department keeps its word. The one million we promised you won't be a cent short."

Wang Wen shook his head. "I keep my word too. If I said it was free, then it's free."

Seeing the old man beginning to frown, he quickly added, "Don't rush to argue. During this week's chat, I happen to want to discuss a collaboration with the Intelligence Department. When the time comes, we'll have plenty to talk about regarding money."

"A collaboration with the Intelligence Department?" The old man laughed in exasperation. "Your nerve truly knows no bounds. Fine, I'll wait for you! But I've never had a habit of taking back money once I've offered it. If you don't want it, then I'll donate it to The Academy in your name."

The old man turned and left after saying that, not giving Wang Wen any chance to ramble.

Everyone followed him out. The remaining staff stepped forward to coordinate with the Dean, leaving him nodding repeatedly and offering continuous thanks.

With everything settled.

The Department Chair finally dared to step into the Dean's Office.

The Dean exchanged a glance with him, and the two walked over to Wang Wen together.

Seeing that the Dean was still choosing his words, the Department Chair took the initiative. "Wang Wen, I misunderstood you this morning. So you really did go handle something important yesterday. I was wrong, and I shouldn't have blamed you."

Wang Wen asked strangely, "When did you blame me? Weren't you reminding me to pay attention to my safety this morning?"

The Department Chair quickly picked up the thread. "Right, right, right! It's best that you understand! If anything comes up in the future, just tell me anytime. I'll stand up for you!"

"Thank you, Teacher." Having lived two lives, Wang Wen was thoroughly familiar with this sort of mutually flattering performance.

The Dean, watching the harmonious teacher-student scene beside him, was greatly pleased. Stroking his beard, he smiled at Wang Wen. "Student Wang, I'm deeply ashamed. The Academy didn't care enough about you in the past. We only knew of your kindness, not your difficulties. Now that you're cooperating with the First Consortium, I imagine you won't be lacking Points. So, are you satisfied with your living conditions?"

At this point, the Dean turned to consult the Department Chair. "Chair, I recall that The Academy still has some vacant apartments available. Is that right?"

Having worked together for years, the Department Chair immediately understood the Dean's intention and hurriedly nodded. "Yes, I'll arrange for someone to prepare one right away. Student Wang can move in whenever he wishes."

"No, no." Wang Wen finally couldn't take the Dean's and Department Chair's enthusiasm any longer. Stopping them both, he said goodbye. "Don't trouble yourselves. I'm used to where I live now and don't want to move. I'm going back to class! Goodbye, Teachers!"

The two watched Wang Wen flee the Dean's Office, then leaned close to discuss it.

The Department Chair said, "He said he doesn't want to move."

The Dean said, "Do you think he doesn't want to move into an apartment, or doesn't want to move out of The Academy?"

The Department Chair said, "I think it's both."

The Dean said, "Then that's good. That's very good."

Outside the Dean's Office.

Wang Wen's footsteps were a little hurried as he ran straight toward the cafeteria.

After being delayed for so long, never mind class—whether there was even any lunch left in the cafeteria was a problem!

Halfway there, he happened to see the skinny boy walking toward him.

He carried a lunchbox in his hand.

Upon seeing Wang Wen, he happily waved and called out, "I heard you'd been busy in the Dean's Office until now. I was just about to bring you food."

Wang Wen was starving. Grabbing the lunchbox, he pulled the boy over to a stone bench in the shade by the field and started eating.

Same as always—vegetables, but no meat.

There was quite a bit of meat in the soup, though. The boy must've gone early and waited, then picked out the meat as soon as the soup was served.

But the meat in the soup was all fatty scraps used for making broth. It was greasy and tasteless, not even as good as the soup itself.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Wen took out his student card, slapped it into the skinny boy's hand, and said, "Use my card from now on."

The boy looked confused. "Why? I have my own card."

"No reason." Wang Wen shoveled food into his mouth.

"But you..."

"Don't nag!"

"Oh, okay."

After lunch, Wang Wen wanted to take a stroll outside The Academy.

He needed to buy a translator, and preferably a phone or something similar for easier communication.

He looked at the skinny boy clinging closely to his side and thought he might as well buy two phones.

But that would make his budget a little tight. He didn't know whether he'd still have enough for a good translator. The cheap ones had translation quality so terrible it was unbearable, and this was still twenty years ago—the manufacturing standards were probably garbage.

Lost in thought, Wang Wen walked out of The Academy.

He hadn't gone far.

Suddenly, several people stepped forward and surrounded him and the boy. Hooking an arm around his neck, they said, "You're Wang Wen, right? Come talk with us over there."

Wang Wen glanced in the direction they indicated. It was a secluded alley.

He found it rather strange.

What was this? Had he offended someone? But why would they use the methods of petty street thugs?

There were thieves who worked every day, but no guards who stayed vigilant every day. Wang Wen decided to find out who was behind this, so he followed them into the alley.

Unexpectedly, the skinny boy followed along too.

"Who told you to come? Go back!" Wang Wen shouted at him.