Villain Boss Chapter 244
Translated by Digitalian (ko-fi)
Chapter 244: The Lamplighter
Even if Jiang Ran didn’t encounter Pei Xiao at Beichen base, she had planned to visit Dongchao base anyway.
It wasn't just for Chu Yuan, but also for that Mrs. Huo Zhisang.
As if casually, Jiang Ran asked, "Captain Pei, I remember your mother is a daughter of the Huo family? So, you and Huo Lingyin are like cousins, right?"
"Yes." At the mention of his mother, Pei Xiao's gaze towards Jiang Ran subtly changed. "You know my mother?"
"I know," Jiang Ran said casually. "Wei Yage told me."
Why did Wei Yage tell her that? Pei Xiao pondered. "Does she know about Si Xu's background?"
After the disaster, Huo Zhisang only went to Xiling base once, for Si Xu.
It must have been around that time that Wei Yage overheard something she shouldn't have heard.
"Yes, yeah, she overheard it."
Neither of them revealed Si Xu's background, but they both knew it in their hearts.
A bitter smile appeared in Pei Xiao's eyes as he said self-deprecatingly, "You also think that my mother went too far, right?"
"Not... really." Unexpectedly, Jiang Ran didn’t accuse Huo Zhisang of abandoning Si Xu. She thought about how to phrase it. "Knowing that there was no future, she still chose to give birth to the child and entrust him to her best friend to take care of... Thinking about it, at that time, this was the most perfect way she could think of to handle the situation."
Her only complaint about Huo Zhisang was what she said after meeting Si Xu.
Without knowing the truth, Huo Zhisang directly shifted all the blame onto Jiang Yize in order to gain forgiveness from her abandoned child—that was extremely unethical.
It was strange though. Since Jiang Yize used to frequently attend meetings at Dongchao base, wouldn't it be easy for Huo Zhisang to find out about Si Xu?
When did she find out that Si Xu was in Xiling laboratory? Before Jiang Yize's death? Before the disaster? Or after the disaster?
The more Jiang Ran thought about it, the stranger it seemed. She stroked her chin and asked Pei Xiao, "What kind of person is Madam Pei?"
Pei Xiao had never thought about this question.
In his eyes, his mother was a woman who always maintained elegance, was gentle and reasonable, handled matters flawlessly, and even when she was angry, she wouldn’t make a big fuss.
She embodied the utmost in aristocratic etiquette and manners.
—As Madam Pei, as the matriarch of the Pei family, that was enough.
He respected his mother because he understood her perseverance and pride.
But if one asked him what kind of person Huo Zhisang was, he couldn't think of any other word besides "elegant".
"That got you thinking for so long..." Jiang Ran muttered, "It seems that Madam Pei is a very mysterious person."
"..."
……
As a landmark building in Beichen City, the lantern tower was previously just a tourist attraction.
Built a century ago, its European-style architecture made it stand out from the city's rich history. It was said that the lantern tower was once designated by the government as a reconstruction project.
No one could have imagined that it would actually play its true role after the apocalypse.
Below on the platform, superhumans patrolled back and forth. The observers organized the intelligence they received and handed it over to the superhumans to be delivered to the Huo family’s compound.
Everything was proceeding smoothly and in an orderly manner.
On the red-tiled rooftop, a young woman stood upright, looking down at the city.
Behind her, Si Xu seemed bored, yawning while covering his mouth with one hand.
He felt severely sleep-deprived after staying up until late last night and waking up early this morning.
Hearing the yawn, the woman turned around, looking at him with a half-smile, her words tinged with sarcasm. "Since you got a girlfriend, Professor Si, your energy has not been what it used to be."
Si Xu glanced at her, his tone flat. "Hah, as if you know anything about how I used to be."
"..."
The woman snorted and fixed her gaze on one spot. "I saw your little girlfriend... with that young master from the Pei family."
"What, your mind just wanders off when you see a pretty girl? There’s no need to add the second half of the sentence."
"... How did you find a girlfriend with such a sharp tongue?"
"What necessary connection is there? You don't have a boyfriend even if you're not sarcastic."
The girl, unable to contain herself any longer, said, "Si Xu, are you here to cause me trouble?"
"What do you have that will make me want to go out of my way to cause you trouble?"
"You..."
"I've come to you to buy intelligence."
Buy intelligence?
The woman looked surprised. "Is there any information in this world that you can't get?"
Si Xu said calmly, "I didn't expect to be so amazing in your eyes. I didn't even know I was this amazing."
"..."
"Alright, enough of the nonsense. Suxin, let's get down to business."
"You've finished criticizing me, and now you're getting down to business?" Jiang Suxin's lips twitched. "What kind of intelligence do you want?"
"I need to investigate a woman named Si Nian, and Qin Huai."
"You’re investigating Qin Huai again?" Jiang Suxin blurted out. "And who’s Si Nian? She shares your surname. Is she your sister?"
"Do I look like someone who has a younger sister?"
"..." Pretend I didn't say anything.
Jiang Suxin toyed with a clump of hair hanging down, squinting at Si Xu. "You know I'm a businesswoman. You want information on Qin Huai and... Si Nian? Fine, but what will you offer me in exchange?"
"I also have news for you." Si Xu smiled slightly. "Luo Yuting is at Beichen base."
Upon hearing that name, Jiang Suxin’s pretty face turned cold, and she said sarcastically, "I’m the lamplighter of this lantern tower. Do you think I wouldn't know such news?"
"Of course I won't underestimate your sensitivity to intelligence."
She coldly asked, "Then why did you bring him up?"
Si Xu shifted his position against the wall, a smile playing on his lips, and said calmly, "I just want to tell you that I haven't told Luo Yuting that you’re at the lantern tower."
After a moment of stunned silence, Jiang Suxin flew into a rage. "Si Xu, you bastard! You're going to betray me?!"
Si Xu remained calm. "We have no relationship or cooperation, so how can you talk about betrayal? I know that the lamplighter has always regarded money as something external, so how about I exchange this information with you?"
"Exchange?"
"Give me information about Qin Huai and Si Nian, and I can make sure Luo Yuting never finds you again."
Jiang Suxin asked incredulously, "Never?"
"What? You don't want to?" Si Xu suddenly realized. "Could it be that you're actually playing hard to get? Jiang Suxin, when did you become so scheming?"
Jiang Suxin's eyelids twitched violently. When did you become so talkative, you bastard? Did you know how annoying you were right now?
She pointed to the exit on the top floor of the lantern tower. "Leave."
Si Xu turned around without looking back. "Contact me when you've figured it out. Remember, I have limited time."
