After Liu Yun's explanation, Li Qiao had a general understanding of the situation.
The young man who died was named Qing Yu, an engineer.
Before he turned twenty, he had already won a national gold medal in a collegiate AI competition. Later, he joined the Yanhuang Group's intelligence team and became the leader of their AI engineering subgroup.
But the frail man from the Emerald Garden had become addicted to drugs and betrayed Qing Yu to one of Yanhuang's rival companies in exchange for a supply of high-purity substances to feed his addiction.
In the end, because Qing Yu refused to divulge any core technologies of the intelligence team, the rival company, enraged by his silence, tortured him to death at the age of twenty-three.
As Li Qiao listened to Liu Yun's recounting, she couldn't help but think of Hui Zai.
They were both young, both outstanding.
Her eyes dimmed slightly, her voice low and heavy. "Sounds like that guy from the garden deserves death even more."
A chilling smile formed on Liu Yun's lips, his gaze fierce. "Even if he wants to die, it won't be that easy."
"Because he was sent to the Dark Hall?" she asked. That day she first met Shang Yu, she'd heard him mention that place, which now piqued her curiosity.
As soon as the words fell, Liu Yun's expression shifted slightly. A few steps later, he gestured to a nearby door. "Miss Li, this is your room."
Li Qiao didn't say anything. She gave him a glance and walked forward to push open the door.
So what exactly is the Dark Hall?
Even someone like Liu Yun seemed unnerved at the mention of it. It must be quite the mysterious place.
…
Half an hour later, Li Qiao walked out of the guest room's bathroom wrapped in a towel.
As she dried her hair, she glanced at her phone—two missed calls from her senior, Mo Qi.
She tossed the towel onto the couch and called him back.
"Xiao Li, where did you go? The staff at the villa said you left early, and it was raining. Was there something urgent?" Mo Qi's voice was slightly anxious.
Li Qiao wiped a drop of water from her chin with the back of her hand and replied calmly, "Yeah, something came up. Help me tell the teacher I'll visit him another day."
Mo Qi paused for a few seconds, then sighed. "Alright then, just take care of yourself. Also, the teacher asked me to tell you: Don't dwell too much on things. It's not that big a deal. Living well is more important than anything."
"Got it. Bye."
Li Qiao ended the call, her gaze falling on the pale gray wall across the room. She tugged the corners of her mouth into a faint smile and went back to drying her hair.
Once her hair was half-dry, she got dressed and went downstairs.
In the living room, Shang Yu sat on the couch in a simple, comfortable gray loungewear set, legs crossed as he spoke on the phone.
Hearing her light footsteps, he glanced sideways and ended the call with a quick, "That's all for now."
"Why didn't you change?" he asked, eyeing her still clad in the same black top and pants.
Li Qiao walked over and sat across from him, casually crossing her legs. Her voice was unhurried: "My clothes are at the management center. I didn't bring anything up the mountain."
Shang Yu rubbed his fingertips, picked up his phone and the cigarette box beside him, his gaze fixed on her. "What brand of clothes do you usually wear? I'll have someone bring some over."
A shimmer of amusement flickered in Li Qiao's eyes. Just as she was about to say it wasn't necessary, she saw him light a slim cigar. The thin smoke drifted between them as he added, "There usually aren't any women here. No women's clothes. If you don't mind the trouble, Liu Yun can take you back to the management center to get your things."
The words "no women's clothes" echoed in her ears. Li Qiao lowered her lashes, hiding the ripple in her eyes, and smiled faintly. "No need. I'm not that delicate."