Chapter 490: Su Zhiwei

"A hunter from the Golden Triangle, huh..."

After reading the file, Yang Xiao, sitting in the speeding passenger seat, was thoughtful. "Sounds like a tricky character."

"I think I know why he would submit to the 'Emperor'," Chen Ling said slowly. "Trying to eliminate national borders with the strength of one person is wishful thinking, but if there were an 'Emperor' aiming to unify the two worlds, I reckon Nie Yu would follow him without hesitation... However, the Emperor’s speed in absorbing subordinates is a bit too fast. How does he do it?"

"An enemy with conviction is the most terrifying. It seems we should find Su Zhiwei as soon as possible and protect her."

Chen Ling floored the accelerator. As the yellow taxi sped toward the rising sun, the outline of a city appeared before them.

He glanced at the navigation on his phone and said calmly,

"We’re almost there."

About half an hour later, the car pulled over to the side of the road.

Chen Ling and Yang Xiao got out of the car and scanned their surroundings. This wasn't a commercial hub with high-rise buildings; everywhere they looked were white-walled, low-rise houses no more than three or four stories high. Several small streams crossed bridges, and a row of weeping willows swayed in the wind along the banks.

"Dr. Su’s family background doesn't seem very good?" Yang Xiao asked in confusion. "Is this considered a village?"

"A village? Have you ever seen a village where housing prices are 60,000 per square meter?"

"??? How much?"

"This is the city center of Gusu, and also the best-preserved old town." Chen Ling looked at Su Zhiwei’s address on the map, his mouth twitching slightly.

"It seems Dr. Su’s family background is quite substantial..."

The rest of the way was mostly through alleys, not suitable for driving, so the two walked according to the map. After passing through an old street scenic area, they finally stopped in front of a mansion next to the scenic area.

Looking at the three-meter-wide vermilion mansion gate and the two characters "Su Mansion" on it, Yang Xiao’s mouth opened involuntarily...

"This is Dr. Su’s home? Right next to the scenic area? It’s this big?"

Chen Ling confirmed the address again; it was definitely this place. He walked straight to the gate and knocked with the ring on the door handle.

*Knock, knock, knock—*

After a brief wait, the gate slowly opened, and an old woman in her fifties or sixties stood behind it, frowning as she sized them up.

"Who are you?"

"Hello, we are friends of Dr. Su." Chen Ling glanced behind the door. "Is Dr. Su home?"

The old woman hesitated for a moment, then pulled the gate shut and said:

"Wait a moment."

Chen Ling and Yang Xiao stood outside the door, unable to observe the scene inside through the crack. However, judging by the old woman’s actions, Su Zhiwei was likely home, which made the two breathe a sigh of relief.

What they feared most was finding the address only to discover Su Zhiwei wasn't home, which would put them back at the same starting line as Nie Yu... Only by finding Su Zhiwei and taking her away in advance could they shake off Nie Yu.

After the old woman left, Yang Xiao asked uncertainly:

"In a moment, what should we say to Dr. Su?"

"Tell the truth, of course."

"What if she doesn't believe us? She has such a big mansion, she lives here, how could she just listen to a few stories and abandon everything to flee with us?"

Chen Ling thought for a moment. "Then it won't be up to her... Even if I have to tie her up, I’m taking her with me."

Yang Xiao: ...

"So, we’ve added kidnapping to our business?"

"How can you call this kidnapping..."

Chen Ling was still trying to explain when the vermilion gate was pushed open, and a slender, agile figure stood behind it, looking surprised to see the two.

"Yang Xiao? Director Chen?"

In the courtyard, Su Zhiwei was wearing a plain practice suit, her long hair tied high behind her, sweat still on her cheeks; it seemed she had just been exercising...

"Dr. Su." Chen Ling’s eyes were full of seriousness. "We need to talk."

Su Zhiwei scanned the two of them and, without much hesitation, nodded slightly.

"...Come in first."

As the two entered the courtyard, Su Zhiwei closed the gate behind her.

A breeze blew through the empty courtyard, swaying the weeping willows by the lake in the center. Several fat red fish swam across the surface, ethereal and as if they were nothing.

Chen Ling and Yang Xiao stood in the courtyard, stunned for a moment...

Compared to this, Chu Muyun’s Chinese-style mansion in Aurora City could only be considered a clumsy imitation... Not only was the area several times smaller, but the rockeries and landscaping were worlds apart. Every step taken here revealed carefully designed garden scenery.

After the Great Catastrophe, some things could never be restored to their original state no matter how hard one tried to imitate them, just as the modern era could never perfectly restore the cultural heritage of the ancient times. Countless treasures condensed from spiritual civilization were buried bit by bit in heavy history.

Su Zhiwei walked to their side and gestured for them to follow.

"The guest area is over here."

"Dr. Su, this mansion... is it yours?" Yang Xiao asked in surprise.

"It was passed down by my ancestors," Su Zhiwei smiled. "In the early years, our Su family had some industries in Gusu, but times have changed, and it has long since declined. Only this mansion remains in the family as an inheritance.

With the salary I get at the lab, I couldn't afford a place in this area."

"Do you live alone usually?"

"There’s also an auntie who is responsible for cleaning the house and cooking, but I basically prune the flowers and plants in the courtyard myself." Su Zhiwei scanned the pond where the red fish swam, the rockery on the side, and the weeping willows dancing in the wind, and continued:

"I quite like this Jiangnan atmosphere and style. If no one takes care of it, this place would be overgrown with weeds, which would be a pity."

As she spoke, Su Zhiwei led the two to the tea room on the first floor.

This was a semi-open corridor. The three sat in the room, next to the sliding doors opening to the courtyard. Gauze-like curtains swayed in the wind, covering the Jiangnan spring scenery in the courtyard with a faint mist, creating a hazy, blurred beauty.

Although Chen Ling and Yang Xiao didn't know much about architecture or landscaping, they could feel the elegance and refinement here, which was consistent with their first impression of Su Zhiwei...

Su Zhiwei sat in the main seat in her plain practice suit, skillfully washing the cups and brewing tea for the two. With her back to the scenery of the courtyard, she carried a touch of detached, otherworldly temperament.

Scientific rationality and romantic sensibility were cleverly fused in Su Zhiwei. Every gesture gave people a very comfortable feeling.

After a brief silence, Su Zhiwei took the initiative to speak:

"You two visited suddenly, is there something wrong?"