Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty!

Chapter 2: Character Flaws

Chapter 2 Character Flaws

Seeing the sudden countdown and text before him, Qiu Tu was full of questions.

"Is this... a cheat code?"

A cheat code that could warn him of risks?

After a brief thought, Qiu Tu decided that although it seemed weak, it was still acceptable. After all, without the [Crisis Sense] warning, he wouldn’t have known that Yan Chen had already learned some information from the maid and had started to suspect that he and Qin Shuman were having an affair. If he had picked up the call and tried to lie to cover it up, he would have ended up dead in the dirty sewer the next day.

In this situation, this cheat code had saved his life.

"Anyway, I can’t change the cheat code, so there’s no point in overthinking it. I should focus on dealing with the current problem."

Thinking this, Qiu Tu looked at the series of prompts before him and started contemplating how to handle the situation.

The communicator buzzed in his hand, and the bright red countdown beat like a heart.

[1:55]

[1:52]

[1:51]

[1:48]

[1:47]

Time ticked away, second by second, until at [1:45], Qiu Tu's eyes slowly became determined, and he pressed the answer button without hesitation.

The next moment, his expression seamlessly changed, and he respectfully said into the communicator, "Director, you were looking for me?"

"I had some matters to attend to, so I answered late."

Perhaps due to the lingering influence of his predecessor, Qiu Tu found speaking those flattering words extremely smooth, to the point where he was surprised himself.

[1:42]

[1:41]

Hearing Qiu Tu’s tone, which was no different from usual, Yan Chen on the other end of the communicator did not suspect anything. He deeply said, "Hmm," and then continued, "Qiu Tu, I have a task for you."

"The Security Bureau on Xiafang Street caught a pharmacist selling drugs in black market. I need you to bring him back to the bureau. He’s still useful for me."

[1:27]

[1:26]

Glancing at the dwindling countdown, Qiu Tu quickly responded, "Yes, Director!"

However, after responding, he pretended to be in a dilemma and said, "But, Director, I—"

Yan Chen’s authoritative voice cut him off, "What? Is there a problem?"

The pressure from Yan Chen, even through the communicator, was palpable, like a volcano about to erupt.

[1:18]

Qiu Tu, unfazed by Yan Chen’s pressure, maintained his tone and quietly said, "Director, actually, there’s something else I need to do."

He hesitated for two seconds before seemingly making a decision and said, "Director, I have something I’ve been wanting to report to you. But I didn’t have any evidence. I didn’t dare to say."

"Qin Shuman is suspicious. I suspect the Municipal Council planted her to spy on you!"

With this statement, the air seemed to freeze, and the countdown appeared to stop at [1:03].

After five long seconds, the countdown resumed, and Yan Chen's deep voice asked, "What do you mean?"

[1:00]

With only one minute left, the countdown turned a glaring red and began flashing intensely. Qiu Tu, however, remained calm and explained steadily, "Director, I have been following your orders to protect Miss Qin’s safety. But I’ve noticed something off about her."

"For example, you said she just came to New Realm City from the disaster zone, but she seems very familiar with the city."

"For example, she, like us, is not a shelter resident, yet her skin is smooth and white, without any scars or calluses."

"For example, whenever I’m around her, she always tries to talk to me, often bringing up your topics to probe for your information."

"All these signs suggest she may not be as simple as she appears."

"And, don’t you think it’s a bit too coincidental?"

"New Realm City is vast and chaotic. How did such a beautiful woman just happen to be found by you?"

"Wouldn’t others also want to claim such a beauty?"

"Does this really make sense?"

After a pause, Qiu Tu continued, "So, I have been trying to please her, subtly showing my affection to gain her trust."

"Perhaps my approach worked, and I gained her trust. Today, she told me she felt like a caged bird and wanted to go out alone. So I cooperated and sent away the maid and other security personnel to go out with her alone."

"I’ve been with her these few hours, observing her every move, trying to figure out her true intentions."

[0:15]

The flashing red countdown seemed to stop completely this time.

Yan Chen, after a brief silence, asked, "What did you find?"

Qiu Tu replied, "Nothing."

Imagining Yan Chen's face darkening on the other end, Qiu Tu paused and added, "But that’s the biggest problem!"

"She went to great lengths to slip away from everyone just to take a simple walk?"

"Director, does this make sense?"

Yan Chen remained silent.

After two seconds, he asked, "Why do you think she was sent by the Municipal Council?"

Qiu Tu answered, "It’s a guess."

"Everyone in New Realm City knows the Municipal Council and the Investigation Department don’t get along, especially Commissioner Jiang, who has conflicts with you."

Yan Chen snorted coldly.

Sensing he had pushed enough, Qiu Tu changed the subject and summarized, "So, when considering potential suspects, I first thought of the Municipal Council."

"But I’m still verifying it and have no evidence yet."

Yan Chen’s tone softened a bit. He pondered for a moment and then asked, "Where are you now?"

Qiu Tu replied, "At my place."

"Miss Qin requested it."

"She’s playing video games now, and I used an excuse to answer your call in the bathroom."

Yan Chen acknowledged with a "Hmm."

He didn’t reveal his attitude but returned to his original topic, "I’ll have someone else handle the Xiafang Street matter. You stay with Shuman."

"Yes, Director!" Qiu Tu obediently bowed slightly as if Yan Chen could see him. "I will confirm Miss Qin’s identity for you and not let you down."

Yan Chen didn’t respond and hung up.

Hearing the beeping sound from the receiver, Qiu Tu, knowing he had narrowly escaped, slowly exhaled. He straightened up, his smile fading, and became expressionless.

In the years he spent with the scam group in northern Myanmar, Qiu Tu learned a lot, including reading people’s expressions, understanding psychology, and identifying character flaws.

Yan Chen’s character flaw was obvious: suspicion.

Such a person, once suspicious, wouldn’t easily stop.

Therefore, Qiu Tu knew that explaining more would only arouse more suspicion from Yan Chen.

Moreover, for a big shot like Yan Chen, both confidants and mistresses were just begging dogs. In this chaotic world, two ordinary people without shelter identities could be killed on a whim if he had any doubts or displeasure.

To survive, Qiu Tu had to involve a third-party force that Yan Chen would be wary of. Only this would make Yan Chen restrain his emotions and not act rashly, buying Qiu Tu time to resolve the crisis.

This third-party force was the Municipal Council.

The Municipal Council was New Realm City’s highest authority, controlling legislation, personnel, finance, and all other powers. Theoretically, the Investigation Department should also be under its command.

However, for power balance, when the shelter assigned high-level managers, the Municipal Council, Investigation Department, and Military all had direct access to the shelter. In the planning areas, the three were relatively independent. The Municipal Council couldn’t directly command the other two forces, relying on benefits, situations, and righteousness to make them obey.

This led to a relationship of both conflict and necessary cooperation among the three.

In this context, facing someone suspected of being planted by the Municipal Council, the shrewd Yan Chen would likely be cautious. He wouldn’t easily act against the two until he understood Qin Shuman’s identity and the council’s intentions, preserving the delicate balance in New Realm City.

This lie would also create a potential adversarial relationship between Qiu Tu and Qin Shuman in Yan Chen’s mind, reducing suspicion of their affair.

Additionally, Qiu Tu’s “honest” disclosure of their whereabouts would increase the credibility of his information in Yan Chen’s eyes.

The entire plan, though bold and fraught with future issues, was the best Qiu Tu could devise in those few seconds.

Reflecting on his plan, Qiu Tu looked deeply at the paused countdown in the upper left of his vision, continuing to perfect his plan in his mind.

"Though I acted well and replaced the original doubt with a new one, guiding Yan Chen’s suspicion, can it really be dispelled with his suspicious nature?"

"Can it really be that simple?"

With this thought, the hourglass-shaped countdown in his vision slowly changed.

Author's Note