Chapter 75: The Wan Family, Wan Yuning

“Knock knock knock...” The sound of knocking echoed continuously, so clear that it could be heard even through the door.

“Dog Egg, go open the door.”

“Beep beep.” Sensing someone outside, Dog Egg said nothing. After a few rings, it turned and opened the laboratory door, stepped out, and then unlocked the room door. Outside stood Hao Nan, Tian Shangguo, and a guard assigned to Elder Yan.

All three held their arms full of items, with large black cloth bundles slung over their shoulders.

“Dog Egg, we’ve brought the things Comrade Zhong requested. She asked us to deliver them earlier.”

The guard had seen Dog Egg before, but couldn’t help glancing a few more times; a robot, after all—a rare thing. To this day, only Comrade Zhong had one, and another was at the research institute, out of their sight.

Dog Egg didn’t step aside, blocking the doorway.

Zhong Yuxiu strode over. Hao Nan asked, “Comrade Zhong, where should we put these?”

“Put them where they were.”

“Alright.” The three placed the items down. Hao Nan said, “Comrade Zhong, we’ll head back downstairs. You must be busy.”

Zhong Yuxiu nodded. “Thank you for your trouble.”

Once they left, Dog Egg closed the door and carried everything inside the laboratory.

“Master, everything’s inside. Shall I open them?”

“Yes, open them. I want to check the quality first, see if the components meet the standards.” Zhong Yuxiu stepped forward and began unpacking with Dog Egg. They opened each parcel, counted and checked everything, taking over twenty minutes.

Inside were computer parts, various tools, shells and components for surveillance devices, and some network cables—all manufactured according to her blueprints. Not every item was perfectly up to her standards, but close enough, demonstrating the era’s remarkable spirit of inquiry.

A single blueprint, and they could build it for you.

“Dog Egg, our technology may be backward now, but it will improve in time.” With such dedicated minds, the future was near.

“With Master here, it’s bound to get better.”

Zhong Yuxiu chuckled softly. “You’re good at talking. Now that we have a soldering iron, assemble the computer for me. I’ll handle the chip and motherboard issues.”

“No problem, Master.”

One human and one robot began busily working. The black curtains were drawn over the windows. The door was knocked again.

“Who is it?” Zhong Yuxiu, engrossed in her work, was suddenly interrupted, her mood soured.

Dog Egg murmured, “It’s Tian Shangguo.”

“Oh, I almost forgot about that.” Zhong Yuxiu hurriedly stood up, her legs weakened and she nearly fell, but Dog Egg caught her. “Careful, Master. Stand slowly after squatting for so long.”

“Yes, yes.” She paid no mind to the pile of items on the floor, got up and walked out, issuing instructions as she went. “Dog Egg, keep working. I’ll check later.”

Dog Egg beeped in response; with someone outside and Master gone from the lab, it couldn’t speak loudly.

Zhong Yuxiu opened the door, apologizing, “Thank you for reminding me, Comrade Tian—I almost lost track of time.”

“Comrade Zhong, shall we leave now or wait a bit?” Tian Shangguo inquired.

“Let’s go now. I have nothing to take with me.” She stepped out, closed the door, and hurried past Tian Shangguo.

He followed closely. The two descended the stairs, with Hao Nan glancing back. “Comrade Zhong, did you get so busy you forgot the time?”

“I really did,” Zhong Yuxiu replied with a smile. “Let’s go. I still need to pick up my lesson plan at the office once we get to school.”

“Alright.”

The two followed Zhong Yuxiu outside. Tian Shangguo closed and locked the main door behind them.

The three moved quickly. Families strolling in the courtyard merely glanced curiously; everyone living here understood one thing: don’t look where you shouldn’t, don’t ask what you shouldn’t, don’t meddle in what’s not your business.

Since moving in, Zhong Yuxiu hadn’t visited any neighbors—busy, and not inclined to. Everyone knew of the newcomer surnamed Zhong, a young woman with enviable privileges. Those still employed would warn their families not to approach the newcomer—not someone to provoke.

She had the Yan family behind her, with top-level support.

For all these reasons, Zhong Yuxiu’s days were calm and uneventful, precisely what she wanted. Now that she’d achieved it, why would she change?

Leaving the compound, night had fully fallen. The streetlights were dim, and some corners were shrouded in darkness.

Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo heightened their vigilance, scanning all directions in the night, observing every corner by the faint, flickering light.

Zhong Yuxiu hurried along, saying nothing about their caution. At the school gate, she spoke, “You two wait for me at the gatehouse? It will shelter you from the cold wind. I’ll come out as soon as class is over.”

“We’ll go in with you... Wait, someone’s coming!”

Both men stepped in the same direction, instinctively shielding Zhong Yuxiu behind them. A figure approached swiftly, intercepted by Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo.

“Yuxiu, it’s me, your brother.”

“Wan Yuning.” Zhong Yuxiu frowned. “Comrade Hao, Comrade Tian, it’s alright. He’s Wan Yuning from the Wan family; if he’s here, he must have something important.”

Wan Yuning was tall but thin, looking nothing like the brother from her predecessor’s memories—aged by at least ten years. He must have suffered greatly after being sent down, otherwise he wouldn’t be so worn.

“Yes,” Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo released her and stepped aside, though they didn’t retreat.

Wan Yuning passed them and stood before Zhong Yuxiu, smiling warmly. “Little sister, it’s been so long.”

“It has been a long time, Comrade Wan Yuning,” Zhong Yuxiu replied, neither warm nor cold.

“Little sister, I should have come during the day, but father is ill in the hospital. I had to wait until he was asleep to come find you. I thought I’d have to wait until after school to see you.” Wan Yuning was full of joy.

“Is that so?”

“It’s true, little sister. Father misses you. He came looking for you, then heard the news about Wan Yutong and got so angry he fell ill.” Wan Yuning’s heart held both anger towards his younger sister and sadness at her distant demeanor after so many years.

“He sent you?”

Wan Yuning shook his head. “Not father—it was me. When we sent you to the countryside, we had no choice. If we hadn’t sent you away, both father and I feared Wan Yutong would become even more obsessive, and worried you’d be hurt.”

“There’s no need to say all this. We’ve settled everything between us—you gave me the severance letter, and I still have it.” Attempts to deceive her, to play the emotional card? Not a chance.

“The severance letter—that was my fault.” Wan Yuning admitted candidly. “Wan Yutong made me write it.”

Zhong Yuxiu waved her hand. “So, what do you want? If there’s nothing, I need to go teach. I don’t have the patience for your brotherly theatrics.”

Wan Yuning frowned slightly, gazing at her deeply.

“Little sister, you...” Why have you changed so much? You weren’t like this before.

“Is there something you need?” Zhong Yuxiu asked again.