36: Chapter 36 Sister: Brother, are you dealing drugs? So many people are watching!

"Pfft!"

Jiang Chen sprayed the mouthful of aged vinegar soup base he had just taken straight out in a mist.

He choked, coughing repeatedly, his face flushing bright red. Forgetting to wipe his mouth, he stared fixedly at his sister as if she were an alien.

"Cough, cough... What did you say?"

Jiang Chen caught his breath and glared. "Dealing drugs? Jiang Qianqian, has your senior year of high school made you stupid? What kind of chaotic police dramas are you filling your head with?"

"Don't think you can fool me! I've already figured it out!"

Jiang Qianqian was not fooled by his act at all; instead, she interpreted it as him getting angry out of shame after being exposed.

The young girl's eyes were red, and she was gripping Jiang Chen's sleeve so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. She lowered her voice, her tone carrying a sense of despair and determination, like someone about to "sacrifice family for the greater good":

"Brother, don't I know what our family's situation is?"

"Dad just passed away, Mom is still in the ICU, and we couldn't even afford next month's rent. But look at these past few days! You suddenly have money! And you're driving such an expensive car!"

She extended a trembling finger, pointing at the circle of "passersby" sitting stiffly with sharp eyes, her voice shaking:

"And these people! Look at that grandpa sweeping the floor; he's hiding a knife in his broom! That uncle selling grilled sausages—there's something bulging at his waist, it must be a gun! Who has this kind of security for a normal business?"

"Only... only those black-market businesses where you risk your life would have this kind of setup!"

At this point, Jiang Qianqian's tears fell "pitter-patter," and her voice became even more choked:

"Brother, I know you're doing this to save Mom, and to pay my tuition. But... but we can't go down this path! This will get you shot!"

"While you haven't gone too deep yet, let's turn ourselves in! We can strive for leniency! Even if I have to quit school and go to work, I'll wait for you to come out!"

Listening to this girl's logical, well-reasoned analysis, Jiang Chen was completely numb.

With an imagination like this, it's a waste not to write novels.

He looked up at the "sanitation grandpa" who had just inserted a military dagger back into his broom.

The old man clearly heard this too, and was so embarrassed that his face turned red. He swung the broom like a fire wheel, wishing he could bury himself in the trash pile next to him.

Then he looked at the special forces soldier selling grilled sausages.

This guy was even more extreme. To prove he was a good person, he was trying hard to squeeze out a smile he thought was kind, but actually looked worse than crying, while holding up a burnt sausage and waving it at Qianqian:

"Um... little sister, don't misunderstand, Uncle really is just selling sausages. This sausage is a bit burnt, do you want to try one? It's free."

Qianqian was so scared she shrank into Jiang Chen's arms and cried even harder: "Brother, look! He's trying to bribe me! He wants to drag me down with him!"

Jiang Chen: "..."

This is just making it worse!

He sighed helplessly and reached out to flick Qianqian on the forehead.

"Pop!"

The crisp sound made Qianqian's crying stop abruptly. She covered her forehead, looking at her brother with teary eyes, full of grievance.

"Are you awake now?"

Jiang Chen pulled out a tissue, gently wiping the tears and snot off her face, his tone filled with helpless indulgence:

"Do I look like that kind of desperate criminal to you?"

"And drug dealing... If I really had that ability, could I have been cornered at home by that bastard Zhao Tianba for debt? I would have already dumped him into the sea, okay."

Qianqian sniffled, her eyes still filled with deep suspicion:

"Then how do you explain this money? And these people? This just doesn't make sense!"

"These people..."

Jiang Chen glanced at the group of plainclothes officers nearby, pricking up their ears to listen, and a wicked smile curved his lips, "They are indeed bodyguards, but not for the mafia; they were sent by the state."

"The state?" Qianqian's eyes widened.

"Yes, the state."

Jiang Chen spouted nonsense with a straight face, "Your brother is now a top scientist certified by the state, holding core technology. These people are here to protect a 'national treasure' like me."

"Pfft..."

Qianqian couldn't hold it back and burst into laughter, but then immediately straightened her face, looking disbelieving:

"Brother, can you at least draft your lies before telling them? You even failed advanced mathematics, and you're a scientist? What are you researching? How to make instant noodles chewier?"

"..."

The damage wasn't high, but the insult was extremely strong. Jiang Chen felt like he'd taken an arrow to the knee. The original owner's academic failure status was truly an un-washable black history.

"Hey, looking down on me, are you?"

Jiang Chen got temperamental and slammed his chopsticks on the table, "Fine, since you don't believe me, talk is useless. Today, your brother will show you what's really going on."

He stood up and pushed away the bowl of wide noodles he hadn't finished.

"Not eating anymore! Let's go!"

"Where to?" Qianqian was still stunned, clutching that ball of wet tissue in her hand.

"To the company!"

Jiang Chen pulled his sister's hand and strode out. When passing by the special forces soldier selling grilled sausages, he didn't forget to snatch two sausages.

"These sausages are grilled well, but next time use a lower heat, they're all burnt."

The special forces soldier was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously stood at attention: "Yes! Will definitely pay attention next time!"

Under the bewildered gazes of a group of agents, Jiang Chen dragged his sister into the Hongqi H9 parked at the intersection.

"Brother, do you really have a company?"

Sitting on the luxurious leather seat, Qianqian touched the thick bulletproof glass, her heart beating even faster.

This car... it looks even more high-end than the principal's ride, and has an indescribable sense of majesty.

"Of course I do."

Jiang Chen fastened his seatbelt and smiled mysteriously at his sister, "Not only a company, but also a big base."

"I originally wanted to get along with you as an ordinary person, but all I got in return was suspicion."

"I'm not pretending anymore, I'm a billionaire, I'm laying my cards on the table."

The engine roared.

The black sedan cut through the night of Tianhai City like a bolt of lightning, speeding toward the mysterious restricted area in the Western Suburbs guarded by heavy troops.

Watching the street scenery flying by outside the window, Qianqian bit her lip, her heart in turmoil.

Scientist? Future technology?

These words really couldn't be connected to her loser brother who only knew how to play games and skip classes. But looking at her brother's confident and determined profile, she vaguely felt that maybe... this time, her brother was really different.

"Brother, where are we actually going? Why is it getting more and more remote?"

Half an hour later, looking at the increasingly desolate scenery around them, where even the streetlights were gone, Qianqian got a little panicked.

This isn't going to be some place in the middle of nowhere, is it?

Just then, Jiang Chen slammed on the brakes.

The car stopped in front of a huge, sci-fi-looking alloy gate.

Several blinding searchlights instantly enveloped the car, illuminating the surroundings like daylight.

"We're here."

Jiang Chen pointed to the red warning sign on the gate that read "Military Restricted Area, No Entry," and the two rows of fully armed, stern-eyed sentries at the entrance.

He turned his head and looked at his sister, who was dumbfounded and completely speechless, revealing a bright smile:

"Welcome to... my sweet potato patch."