Chapter 27: The Intruder

Dr. Connor’s eyes widened instantly. He could only force a calm tone as he asked, "Madam, may I ask from where the danger I am about to face originates? And who are you?"

"Shh."

The woman in the red mask gestured for silence, then extended her right index finger to point at the spherical surveillance eye hovering above Dr. Irons Connor’s head.

"!"

Dr. Connor’s nerves tightened instantly. When had this device arrived? He had been completely unaware of it.

Outside the ballroom building, on the opposite rooftop, Zheng Chao also saw the woman. As she pointed toward the surveillance eye, his heart trembled.

*Buzz, buzz.*

With a flutter of silver, translucent wings, the surveillance eye flew toward the ballroom exit. However, the next moment, the woman in the exquisite red mask produced a hairpin from her hair.

With a sharp *bang*, the hairpin shot out, pinning the silver metal drone to the wall. Sparks flew as the device was rendered useless, falling into the hands of Dr. Connor and the woman.

Zheng Chao’s expression changed—the woman was no ordinary person!

"Dr. Connor, the one who wants to assassinate you," the woman said, removing her mask, her hair cascading down as the hairpins were dislodged, "is the United States government."

A woman with a face strikingly similar to Shen Liangxin’s, yet even more ethereal, revealed herself.

"I am a captain of the 32nd Team of the Chinese covert forces. You may call me Sheng Hua."

As she spoke, the woman who called herself Sheng Hua said clearly, "Are you willing to join a Chinese team? We can guarantee the legitimacy of your work and your personal safety."

"..."

Irons Connor fell silent. That the country he loved would attempt to assassinate him because of his words was something a patriot could not accept.

"I am willing to join the team, but I will not do anything that harms the interests of the United States."

In the end, Dr. Connor said these words with great effort, as if it had drained years of his energy. His face was etched with pain and helplessness.

"Understood."

Shen Shenghua nodded slightly. Such an answer was entirely expected. Since the United States was not openly dealing with this scientist, they could resolve a series of issues in the open. For their side, it was all benefit and no harm.

Dressed in a ballroom gown, Sheng Hua stood up, curtsied slightly, put her mask back on, and reached out to rest her hand on Dr. Connor’s wrist. "Dr. Connor, would you care to dance with me?"

...

Li Fengyin suddenly recalled that Shen Liangxin had never mentioned her mother. According to the head of the Shen family, he might already be considered a future son-in-law.

"Can you tell me about your parents?"

Li Fengyin took the opportunity while they were eating instant noodles to ask this question. He wanted to know what it was like to have parents, to know the feeling of loving and being loved.

"..."

Shen Liangxin stopped midway through eating, as if touched on a sore spot. But then, realizing the guy next to her was an orphan, she composed herself and explained:

"My mother disappeared when I was sixteen. My father never told me where she went. The only thing I know for sure is that she is still alive, though it feels as if she abandoned me."

"My father was busy with his career and family achievements. In truth, the people I was closest to were our housekeeper and the two bodyguards who protected me for seven or eight years."

At this point, Shen Liangxin felt a bit melancholic and asked tentatively, "Fengyin, do you think it is harder to go from riches to poverty, or to have always lived in poverty?"

"Everyone has their own perspective, I suppose," Li Fengyin said after some thought. "For instance, I’ve been an orphan almost my whole life, so I’m used to it. You, on the other hand, went from riches to poverty, but you have beautiful memories to look back on."

"Hmm?"

Shen Liangxin tilted her head, sensing he was about to say something, but failing to grasp the nuance.

"I think they are both about the same."

That was Li Fengyin’s answer.

"Hmph!"

Shen Liangxin carried her bowl of noodles toward the workstation. "I’m not sitting with you anymore. You’re too good at sweet-talking!"

"Don't do that! This is high-end equipment—if the broth spills on it, we’ll have a problem!"

Li Fengyin warned her, but Shen Liangxin didn't listen, placing her noodles on the button-covered workstation and slurping away.

*Seems she has a bit of a stubborn streak,* Li Fengyin thought. On the other side, Shen Liangxin was actually quite happy, though she didn't want him to see it. After all, girls always need to be coaxed.

Underground, there was no day or night; they could only judge time by the clock. Li Fengyin and Shen Liangxin maintained a regular schedule, and after a few days, Li Fengyin felt his mental state had improved significantly.

It could be called forced self-discipline, but it was really good. Of course, being able to stay up late without restraint was also fun.

There was internet in the research lab, along with laptops. When Li Fengyin and Shen Liangxin were in a good mood, they would play online games. Naturally, *Naraka: Bladepoint*, which Li Fengyin played often, was already downloaded.

Shen Liangxin was a talented player, though unfortunately hindered by her age. After all, she was already twenty-six—or, as she claimed, twenty-five and a half.

"You must have been bad at games originally."

Based on her observations, she reached this conclusion, but the problem was that Li Fengyin’s mechanics were absurdly good, with a unique style all his own.

"Yes," Li Fengyin said softly. "I acquired the skills by chance, so I play quite well now."

"Hmm~"

Shen Liangxin leaned close to Li Fengyin and said, "There’s a story there, isn't there?"

It had to be said that her insight was truly exceptional. Even when she learned about Li Fengyin's illness, she had instantly realized things others couldn't fathom.

"No story," Li Fengyin said, not intending to elaborate. "I just spent a lot of time playing games."

"Oh."

Shen Liangxin nodded. "Got it!"

"By the way, your father is called Shen Wansan, what is your mother’s name?"

Finally, Li Fengyin was ready to learn a few things he was curious about.

"Sheng Hua, Shen Shenghua."

Shen Liangxin finally revealed the name. "And after my mother disappeared, my father dissolved his relationship with her."

The scene shifted. The woman who called herself Shen Shenghua, wearing a red mask, was dancing a duet with Dr. Connor in the ballroom. She was an intruder at the ball.

She was also an intruder into Connor’s heart.

Zheng Chao packed away his firearms, put them in a suitcase, and left the rooftop. Although he had missed by a hair, he had already learned some information: that woman was Chinese, and in all likelihood, a member of the Chinese government’s covert department.

"Looks like the mission is a failure."