CHAPTER 827: CHAPTER 728: DISLOCATED LIVES 26

Wen Shuangshuang didn’t plan to hire any private detective. There really isn’t a private detective industry in the country; even those operating covertly have questionable professional ethics. If they accidentally leak a client’s information to the subject of the investigation, it’s just shooting oneself in the foot.

Wen Shuangshuang decided to learn some hacker skills. In today’s society, everyone’s mobile phone is like a mini-computer. In the eyes of top hackers, these phones are individual surveillance devices, able to track a person’s whereabouts at any time, much more useful and safer than private detectives.

Moreover, this world has very advanced surveillance systems, installed both secretly and openly everywhere. On the streets by the government, at the doorsteps of private residences and business fronts, everyone has become accustomed to monitoring.

While this might infringe on privacy, it effectively deters crime to the greatest extent. Surveillance cameras, especially hidden ones which positions are unknown, serve as a major deterrent to criminals.

And these cameras can also become the eyes of high-level hackers, through which hackers can know everything.

While Wen Shuangshuang was focused on learning hacker skills, Zhu Shihao, who was absorbed in gaming for several days, was forcibly dragged out of the game and kicked out the door by his uncle Zhu Wanpeng, who told him to go out for a walk, saying he’d turn into a couch potato if he kept playing.

Zhu Shihao didn’t want to go out. He hadn’t even finished exploring the scenery in the game yet. His mind was filled with sights from the game, leaving him uninterested in doing anything else. Zhu Shihao felt as though he had been on a journey for days, physically at home but mentally traveling in another fantasy world.

However, Zhu Wanpeng insisted that Zhu Shihao needed to go out, so Zhu Shihao had no choice. Unable to resist his uncle, he reluctantly went out, and only then did Zhu Shihao remember he hadn’t contacted Fang Zhijin for several days.

Fang Zhijin was a junior at the same school, a very outstanding girl, sweet and pretty, and an excellent student. While the school had quite a few wealthy young men, several including Zhu Shihao himself pursued Fang Zhijin, but she was completely unmoved.

Not only that, Fang Zhijin never accepted gifts from her suitors, whether ordinary or expensive luxury items. Her indifference only made these young boys, used to girls spending their money, even more interested in her.

Even Zhu Shihao, who initially pursued her nonchalantly, became more serious. He had a wealthy, single uncle who doted on him, and growing up, he saw many women around his uncle who were unscrupulous for money, so he particularly admired Fang Zhijin for being unaffected by wealth.

Thus, what began as a casual pursuit turned serious. Zhu Shihao stopped giving Fang Zhijin money and started using small, thoughtful gestures instead.

On holidays, he might give her a bouquet of wildflowers, a handwritten card, or simply offer warm companionship on ordinary days. Over time, Fang Zhijin grew closer to Zhu Shihao.

Fang Zhijin finally stopped refusing the gifts Zhu Shihao gave her, which made him very happy. In his mind, it indicated her dependence and acceptance of him and was a public declaration that she was now in a relationship.

Although Fang Zhijin verbally never acknowledged him as her boyfriend, leaving him still in pursuit, Zhu Shihao had already convinced himself in his heart that Fang Zhijin was his girlfriend.

Since becoming a couple with Fang Zhijin, Zhu Shihao had never been away from her for so many days. During those days, he gamed so much that his phone remained untouched, and in school, he concentrated on classes with his head down, his mind full of gaming during breaks.

After school, he would rush home, eager to tell the driver to fly the car home without bothering to think about his girlfriend. And since Fang Zhijin wasn’t clingy by nature, he had no idea if she was upset these days.

Thinking of this, Zhu Shihao immediately called Fang Zhijin, inviting her to meet up. Fang Zhijin quickly agreed, which eased Zhu Shihao’s mind and made him appreciate his girlfriend’s understanding nature, seeing her as better than other girls.

Thinking about this brought Zhu Shihao to a pause. He used to think that among peers, only Fang Zhijin was the most outstanding, but now, thinking of Fang Zhijin reminded him of Wen Shuangshuang.

He recalled Wen Shuangshuang’s incredible game creation, winning a net profit share and sixty million from his uncle’s company. At just fifteen, not yet sixteen, she had earned what many couldn’t hope to make in a lifetime.

Facing his uncle, a top executive, she showed no trace of intimidation, chatting freely at dinner while never obsessing over money, seeming even more exceptional than himself. Comparing Fang Zhijin to her, both of the same age, she seemed like she couldn’t even match up to a fraction of the other’s accomplishments.

While thinking this way might seem like diminishing his girlfriend, it’s the truth. Even Zhu Shihao couldn’t think of any strengths Fang Zhijin had that surpassed Wen Shuangshuang because she truly couldn’t compare.

Yet, in the next moment, Zhu Shihao dismissed the thought. Someone like Wen Shuangshuang is a genius among geniuses, incomparable to ordinary talent; even he couldn’t measure up, let alone Fang Zhijin, who is just exceptionally talented.

Zhu Shihao arranged to meet Fang Zhijin at a particularly atmospheric café, decorated with lots of plants and flowers. Its European-style design was very romantic, suitable for a couple’s date or for spending time alone.

Fang Zhijin sat at her seat feeling very anxious. Zhu Shihao believed Fang Zhijin was understanding and independent because he used to be the clingy one. Zhu Shihao had no idea that Fang Zhijin had been overthinking due to his sudden distancing, making her increasingly restless.

Fang Zhijin dreaded that, after having worked so hard to get close to Zhu Shihao, some unknown reason would create a rift between them. She was determined to be Mrs. Zhu, the future CEO’s wife.

Beforehand, Fang Zhijin had always held back in accepting Zhu Shihao’s pursuit, using it as a strategy to keep him keen, knowing full well that Zhu Shihao disliked clingy and money-loving women.

But now, the boy, whom she believed had fallen for her and couldn’t escape her grasp, suddenly changed, becoming distant, no longer clingy, no more gifts, not even a phone call. This made Fang Zhijin very uneasy. She didn’t dare ruin her cool, independent image by confronting him, forced to wonder on her own.

When she received Zhu Shihao’s call today, Fang Zhijin felt a great sigh of relief. To make a good impression, she started getting ready the moment she hung up, fussing for a long while before finally choosing a pure, simple outfit—it was the only style that matched a student.