Chapter 612: Unexpected Demands
by xennovel“What is this thing?”
Han Bing’s sudden call left Lu Xin momentarily stunned as he listened, “Is Doll still expected to claim her payment?”
“Isn’t that something she never did before?”
“…”
“Of course she never did.”
Han Bing continued matter-of-factly, “Doll doesn’t even know how to spend money.”
“Before all this, it was Qinggang who cared for her and treated her. They set up a special fund for her, which included rewards she’d earned on missions as well as dedicated research expenses allocated by the Qinggang Cleanup Department. Everything from the nanny team’s commission to her everyday expenses was covered by that fund…”
“…”
“There’s actually a fund?”
Lu Xin, still a bit surprised, instinctively asked, “How much money does it have?”
“…”
Han Bing, startled by Lu Xin’s question, quickly added, “That’s not important, Mr. Single Soldier.”
“What’s important is that Doll has actually started asking for her payment.”
“Money represents worldly desire, and Doll had never shown any interest or longing for such things. So this sudden behavior makes everyone worry about the change in her…”
“…”
Lu Xin slowly began to grasp Han Bing’s intended meaning.
In no time, he managed to process it, his mind suddenly filled with conflicting emotions.
There was a hint of sentiment, a touch of amusement, and a bit of nervousness.
“Oh, so that’s it. I think you really don’t need to be so tense…”
After a brief pause, Lu Xin smiled as he explained, “Maybe it’s nothing big at all. Perhaps Doll just happened to have some urgent need?”
“Like, she found something she loves, or suddenly felt like going shopping for some snacks…”
“Or even maybe she wanted to lend money to a friend…”
“…”
On the other end, Han Bing fell silent for a moment as if deep in thought.
After a while she quietly asked, “Mr. Single Soldier, did you… borrow money from Doll?”
“Huh?”
Lu Xin, a bit flustered, lowered his voice and replied, “Are there others with you?”
On the other end, Han Bing glanced at the worried faces surrounding her and whispered, “No.”
“Oh.”
Lu Xin relaxed and explained softly, “I was just making a casual remark – thinking that since she’s been on missions for years and isn’t one to shop or do much else, she might have saved a lot. Why leave money idle?”
“It wasn’t that we wanted her money; it’s just that we’re a bit short on cash right now, so we asked if she’d be willing to lend us some.”
“And we’ll pay it back…”
“…”
After a long pause, Han Bing finally asked, “How much did you ask for?”
Lu Xin sighed and said, “I just asked whether she had three million. I’d feel bad asking for more…”
“Three million?”
Han Bing was visibly surprised, letting out a faint exclamation before her tone dropped.
With a touch of resignation she said, “It’s such a small amount. You could just apply to the Special Cleaning Department…”
“But wouldn’t that have to be repaid?”
“?”
“Oh, I mean, wouldn’t you have to pay interest?”
Lu Xin quickly laughed and explained to Han Bing, “With that much money, the interest would definitely be steep.”
Han Bing sounded somewhat exasperated, and after a pause she smiled, “Mr. Single Soldier, I think you might be misunderstanding. You are recognized as a Level 6 Special Talent in Qinggang and serve as a Senior Cleanup Officer in the Special Cleaning Department. With either title, you’re a heavyweight. Whenever you’re in need, you can apply for a loan either through the Special Cleaning Department or directly from the Administrative Main Hall. The interest…”
“It might even be negligible.”
“…”
“So it’s still available?”
Lu Xin detected uncertainty in Han Bing’s tone, shook his head, and cautiously asked, “Has Doll’s situation really become such a big deal?”
“It’s not that big a deal.”
Han Bing smiled as she explained, “The matter itself isn’t huge; it’s just the way it’s been displayed is alarming.”
“If Doll’s personality or behavior suddenly changes drastically, whether for her own sake or for the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan underway, it’s a serious issue. Initially, we were only worried about why she’d changed and even thought about leveraging your special bond with her to understand what was happening. But now, it seems manageable.”
“As long as there’s appropriate logic behind it, it’s just a minor issue.”
“…”
“Then that’s good, that’s good.”
Lu Xin exhaled in relief, saying, “I was really worried after hearing you just now.”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Single Soldier. If you need money, you can always just tell me.”
Han Bing laughed, “Also, if you’re in a rush for cash because of that renovation project, there’s no need – Mr. Su already mentioned that although the renovation costs a lot, it doesn’t require all the funds upfront. The acquisition and preparation of materials has already begun, and the earliest materials have arrived.”
“I was about to ask, when do you plan to start the work?”
“…”
Lu Xin, both surprised and amused, laughed, “I’m ready whenever you are.”
His Mom had specifically emphasized starting the renovation as soon as possible, so it was natural for him to be eager.
“Alright, I understand.”
After hanging up, Han Bing turned her attention to the others in the room.
There were Professor Bai, Professor Chen, Chen Jing, and the Nanny Team Captain, among others.
They had all heard the conversation between Han Bing and Lu Xin, and their expressions were noticeably peculiar.
Especially the Nanny Team Captain – a sturdy woman nearly 1.9 meters tall and weighing around 180 jin – who stood frowning in deep thought.
Muttering to herself, she said, “What is he…”
“What stage has his relationship with Doll reached?”
“Have they confirmed their relationship?”
“Such an innocent girl like Doll is so easily deceived…”
“How did it get to the point where she’s about to hand over everything she has?”
“…”
Meanwhile, Professor Bai looked at her curiously and said, “Borrowing just three million isn’t a big deal…”
“How much did Doll ask for from you?”
“…”
The Nanny Team Captain shot Professor Bai a cold look and said expressionlessly, “Three hundred million…”
“?”
Professor Bai was taken aback for a moment.
She continued, “After Doll regained her Mental Power, she immediately asked where her mission payment was. For the first time, she even inquired about the balance in her account—even though she doesn’t actually have one. We could only tell her that together with various investments, the fund had roughly three hundred million. Then she insisted we withdraw it all and had even prepared a small bag for it…”
The Nanny Team Captain shook her head with a sigh, “Her behavior was truly frightening. She seemed oddly elated and peculiar. Now I understand clearly—she was… deceived by a man, a naive girl ready to give up everything!”
“So you mean…”
Professor Bai’s expression grew even stranger as she asked, “Has their progress really been so rapid?”
“I don’t know how far they’ve gone, but word has quietly spread throughout Qinggang.”
Professor Chen Liqing snorted and remarked, “That scene where Doll embraced Single Soldier was seen by people along three entire streets in Second City.”
“Rumors started circulating that Qinggang now had a mesmerizing, fairy-like beauty…which isn’t far-fetched since we kind of expected it. The absurd part was that the rumor concluded she was actually out to find a partner…”
“Hmph!”
The Nanny Team Captain pounded the table so hard that even Professor Bai’s water cup trembled.
She furiously declared, “Even if it’s romance, it’s normally the man showing his interest, not the other way around!”
“Our Doll shouldn’t need money to win someone’s favor!”
“…”
“Calm down, calm down. It’s not that serious…”
Professor Bai quickly clasped her water cup with both hands and tried to console, “It’s not that grave. Strictly speaking, it’s merely a normal monetary transaction between two people. Especially for Single Soldier—he just wanted to borrow some money, and Doll was willing to lend it… Of course, the amount is a bit high, but that’s only because Doll isn’t very sensitive to numbers…”
The Nanny Team Captain listened, acknowledging a part of her reasoning but still sounding unconvinced, “It’s not about the money. Three million may be enough to overflow that little bag, but my worry is that Doll is far too naive. Her heart is as clear as glass, and while anyone can see that, no one can really figure out what to make of Single Soldier. If she ends up being deceived…”
Han Bing couldn’t help but interject, “Mr. Single Soldier’s character is assured; he wouldn’t default on his repayment…”
The Nanny Team Captain shot her a look and banged the table, “I’m not talking about money.”
“…”
Han Bing was suddenly at a loss for words.
“Honestly, even I don’t know what advice to give about these two…”
Professor Bai lifted her water cup and said with a hint of resignation, “Actually, if we consider this as Doll’s autism symptoms improving—her transformation to behaving like an ordinary girl and even developing feelings—it could be a good sign.”
“At her age, it’s hardly premature love…”
The Nanny Team Captain mused, “But first loves rarely end well…”
“That’s not always the case…”
Professor Bai had no choice but to steer the conversation back on track, “I know everyone cares about Doll, but it’s not something we need to overthink. Right now, whether Doll displays signs of romance or that seemingly indifferent young man appears unromantic, they’re both normal by any ordinary person’s standards. And this isn’t something we can block just from a parental standpoint…”
Professor Chen Liqing worriedly added, “Interfering might hurt Doll and even provoke rebellious behavior?”
“That’s one aspect.”
Professor Bai replied, “The other is that these two are beyond our control…”
“…”
Everyone around fell silent, exchanging glances at the seemingly absurd situation.
But thinking it through, they reluctantly acknowledged that there was some truth in it…
“So, let things take their natural course…”
Professor Bai smiled and said, “Ever since Doll first shattered the glass and appeared before Single Soldier, we should’ve anticipated this.”
“Perhaps this is indeed a complicated issue that leaves us feeling powerless, but we must admit that all the changes Doll has experienced so far are positive—exactly what we once hoped for.”
“If their feelings have truly developed, we should respect their wishes.”
“As for how far they go, that remains both an exciting and research-worthy topic…”
“Of course, your concerns aren’t unfounded either…”
“So, from now on, let’s have Doll watch movies rich in life philosophy instead of idol dramas…”
“…”
The others exchanged odd looks, their expressions strange, but in the end they could only nod.
This is indeed a complicated matter, so it will have to be dealt with simply.
Only the Nanny Team Captain remained visibly indignant, a mix of helplessness and envy—as if watching someone else’s pig barge into one’s own home and elope with one’s prized cabbage—until she finally pounded the table, “I don’t care about anything else. If he wants to borrow money, we can lend it to him outright. Doll can afford it.”
“But if he deceives Doll’s feelings, I swear I’ll come after him with a knife…”
“…”
“Ahem!”
Professor Bai cleared her throat, wiping the water off the table, “We’ll discuss that later. Later.”
“Right now, the most pressing matter is the renovation that Single Soldier proposed.”
“It’s clear he really cares about this project. We shouldn’t delay any further—even though Mr. Su’s fears of him resorting to crime from financial pressure haven’t materialized, we also can’t risk him developing a knack for fraudulent schemes…”
“The first batch of materials has already arrived. The renovation work can commence.”
“…”
At these words, everyone grew serious and nodded in agreement.
Professor Bai then looked at a man sitting on the outskirts, dressed in the new uniform of the R&D department and exuding calm authority, “Since Single Soldier is tasked with creating a large parasitic item, you’ll be responsible for selecting the right people for this renovation task.”
“This is an A-level task.”
“Since the job’s scope is in your hands, just follow the checklist step by step.”
“I must remind you that during this assignment, exercise extreme caution. Both the Special Cleaning Department and others in the Administrative Main Hall expect you to investigate what exactly is behind that old building—what Single Soldier’s true purpose is with this renovation. But remember, if you encounter any obvious signs of wariness or even warnings during the renovation…”
“…then immediately abandon any ideas of snooping!”
“…”
Observing Professor Bai’s stern expression, the R&D department’s engineer immediately rose up and saluted as if facing a major threat.
“Yes!”