This Fruit’s Pretty Expensive, Huh

Le Qiao took a bite of toast and calmly replied, "Tomorrow."

Le Yan nodded solemnly, his tone fierce: "That bastard Shang Lu—just wait till Big Bro and Little Third get back. We'll make him pay."

...

After breakfast, Le Qiao returned to her room and picked up her phone, only then realizing she'd forgotten to turn it back on after shutting it off the night before.

The moment the screen lit up, she felt like her phone had exploded.

There were over twenty messages on WeChat—all from Tang Yiting.

Tang Family's Little Ting: Did I dial the wrong number? [Confused]

Tang Family's Little Ting: No way! I know your number like the back of my hand!

Tang Family's Little Ting: Le Xiao Qiao, you heartless woman. The security guy said you left with some ridiculously powerful big shot.

Tang Family's Little Ting: Am I not your most beloved person anymore?

Tang Family's Little Ting: Why won't you answer…

Tang Family's Little Ting: [Heartbroken.jpg] You actually turned off your phone. My heart hurts. I can't breathe.

After scrolling through all the messages, Le Qiao's lips twitched twice.

She could almost picture Tang Yiting standing outside the finance office, cheeks puffed with anger, furiously messaging her.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Le Qiao poked out a few words on the screen: Something did come up.

Then, she logged onto Chanel's official website, found the latest released handbag, took a screenshot, and sent it to Tang Yiting with a note: I'll bring this to you tomorrow.

Tang Family's Little Ting replied instantly: Thank you, Boss! Boss, carry on with your business. [Eager hand-rubbing.jpg]

...

That afternoon, Le Qiao returned to the club to retrieve her car, then swung by a Chanel boutique.

After tossing the gift box into the trunk, she climbed into the driver's seat. Tapping her fingers on the steering wheel, she seemed deep in thought.

After a moment, she started the engine and headed straight for River View Manor Apartments.

This was her cousin Le Shaoquan's residence.

As the car neared the intersection, Le Qiao caught sight of a roadside fruit stand. She pulled over and casually bought a bunch of bananas.

You couldn't visit your cousin empty-handed, after all.

The apartment was a duplex. Le Qiao carried the bananas and pressed her fingerprint to the scanner on the door.

As it opened, a wave of acrid smoke billowed out.

Le Qiao, used to it by now, pushed the door open and strode straight up the stairs to the second-floor study, her long legs moving gracefully.

Le Shaoquan was seated in front of his computer, hammering out code. Heavy dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his hair—somewhere between long and short—clearly hadn't seen a trim in ages.

He had the looks of a refined gentleman but lived like a scruffy tech nerd.

Le Shaoquan was the only child of Le Qiao's second uncle. He came from wealth, but at twenty-six, he still didn't have a proper job.

His life's ambition? To become the godfather of the Red Hackers Alliance—aka "The Daddy of All Hackers."

"Red Hackers" was just a codename. Years ago, South Yang had been the center of a cyberwar. After that, many young locals had banded together to form the Red Hackers Alliance, defeating a group of foreign hackers attempting to destabilize the economy.

Le Shaoquan was eighteen then, and from that moment on, he became obsessed with joining that righteous force.

Le Qiao squinted as she walked to his desk and laid the three bananas in front of him. The smoke in the room was thick, and she wrinkled her nose in disgust, glancing at the open floor-to-ceiling window.

And then at the overflowing ashtray. How hadn't the guy smoked himself to death yet?

At that moment, Le Shaoquan raised his head with a cigarette dangling from his lips, rubbed his eyes, and mumbled, "This fruit… must've cost a fortune."

Three bananas—what a grand gesture.

Le Qiao leaned lazily against the edge of the desk, eyeing the yellowed wallpaper around them. Then she withdrew her gaze. "It's the thought that counts. Help me check on someone."

Le Shaoquan's fingers paused over the keyboard. He took a drag, exhaled a puff of smoke, then picked up a banana and waved it. "You're telling me the future godfather of the Red Hackers is only worth three bananas?"