Dual Worlds: I Have a Doomsday World

Lin Qi had thought it was just a normal fluctuation of the Suppressor. He never expected he was the one who caused it.

’I’m such an idiot! I knew Liu Xuan had cyber psychosis, and I still didn’t reply to her email...’

Guilt washed over him. ’If I had known, I would have replied the second I saw it in the middle of the night!’

For a moment, Lin Qi didn’t know what to say to Liu Xuan, so he could only repeat, "I’m sorry..."

Nearby, Xu Qinghe was watching with gleaming eyes.

She held a cup of hot tea in her hands, taking a sip from time to time as her eyes darted about mischievously.

Liu Xuan frowned and said, "Ah Li, stop it. It’s just a small matter. Our guest is still here, don’t be rude."

Hearing this, Liu Li immediately looked at Liu Xuan with an expression of disbelief.

’Did I say something wrong?’

’My dear sister! I’m sticking up for you here!’

’How could you side with an...’

’Forget it. My sister’s loyalties have always been with Lin Qi. This isn’t anything new.’

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"I’m fine, don’t mind me. Please, continue! Continue!"

Xu Qinghe quickly put down her teacup and said this politely.

’As a guest, how could I possibly interrupt the hosts’ important business!’

’Hurry up and continue!’

’Start fighting!’

’This is great!’

’I love it!’

’Fam, who gets it! This is the joy of watching a good show!’

The silly girl couldn’t hide her happiness. After she spoke, she quickly picked up her teacup to hide her smile.

Lin Qi looked at Xu Qinghe, then at Liu Li, and finally at Liu Xuan. He was even more at a loss for words.

Thankfully, Liu Xuan was considerate enough to save him. She said, "There’s no need to talk about these little things anymore. We can talk about the arrangements. Little Sister Qinghe, are you satisfied with this afternoon’s itinerary?"

Liu Xuan had changed the subject.

Seeing that the show was over, Xu Qinghe put down her teacup and said, "Of course I’m satisfied! I’ve always been interested in machines and Prosthetic Bodies, but my dad absolutely forbids me from touching them. He’s afraid I’ll go down the ’crooked path’ of Prosthetic Engineering. Now that I finally have a chance to get out, I definitely want to see some Prosthetic Bodies up close!"

Lin Qi was stunned by her words.

’She likes Prosthetic Bodies?’

’And she’s a Native Extraordinary?’

’Does that add up?’

’And aren’t people from the Eastern Alliance supposed to be against Prosthetic Bodies?’

Lin Qi’s gaze shifted back to Liu Xuan. It seemed Liu Xuan had long known about Xu Qinghe’s little hobbies; otherwise, she wouldn’t have made these arrangements.

Meanwhile, Liu Li’s expression turned very serious when she heard this answer.

’Oh no!’

’This Xu Qinghe actually has the same hobby as Lin Qi!’

’She likes Prosthetic Bodies!’

’And just like Lin Qi, she’s an S-Class Pharmaceutical Researcher!’

’Won’t she be a threat to Liu Xuan?’

Liu Xuan’s attitude was the same as ever, her tone gentle. She said, "It just so happens that Ah Li is here today too. We’ll have her give our little sister a proper introduction. Ah Li is a very outstanding researcher."

Liu Li’s mind was racing when, a second later, she suddenly heard her own name.

Her eyes widened instantly.

’Sister, who are you talking about?’

’Me?’

’Are you sure?’

’A half-baked L-Class Prosthetic Engineering researcher who only got certified through connections?’

Liu Li quickly started to speak, "Sis, in front of you, how could I be worthy of..."

Before she could finish, Liu Xuan cut her off. "Besides, Ah Li is also the designated heir of Liu’s Heavy Industries. According to the new Big Business Alliance Successor Bill, she will inherit management rights of the company in nine years."

Liu Li was stunned. Her sister was clearly trying to shut her up!

At the same time, Liu Xuan continued, "Ah Li knows all of the Liu Clan’s products like the back of her hand, including the stories behind the prototypes. We’ll have Ah Li accompany Little Sister Qinghe and tell you all about them."

"Also, Ah Li has always loved formula dogfighting. Later, we can have her sit next to Little Sister Qinghe and watch the race together."

Liu Li’s eyes grew wider and wider.

’Sister!’

’Are you even listening to yourself?’

’Prosthetic Engineering?’

’Formula dogfighting?’

’Since when were my hobbies so violent?’

’I’m not familiar with them!’

’I’m really not!’

Soon, Liu Li seemed to realize something.

Her gaze fell upon Xu Qinghe, then shifted to Lin Qi, before finally taking in Liu Xuan’s smiling face.

In that moment, Liu Li understood!

’So Liu Xuan didn’t just bring me out for fun today. Her motives weren’t pure!’

’She wants to sell me out!’

’She wants me to keep Xu Qinghe company and act as a solid barrier between Xu Qinghe and the two of them!’

’Oh, my dear sister! How could you set me up like this!’

Liu Li wanted to cry but had no tears. But seeing the silly girl’s expectant gaze, she couldn’t bear to tell the truth.

After Liu Xuan finished speaking, Liu Li had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Yes! I absolutely love formula dogfighting! And Prosthetic Bodies, too! I know lots of parts for Prosthetic Bodies! Screws, wrenches, and stuff... I know all of them!"

Seeing Liu Li’s expression, Lin Qi just blinked, not saying a word.

’Hmm!’

’The food and drinks from these big businesses really are something else. Even the tea is fragrant!’

...

The meal didn’t take long, ending at around nine-thirty.

The four of them took a comfortable flying vehicle arranged by the Liu Clan to the Nocturnal District Alliance Racing Arena.

This was an industry managed by the Big Business Alliance, with a presence in almost every Cyber City.

However, the business hadn’t expanded into the Eastern Alliance’s territory.

For this very reason, this feast of violent mechanical aesthetics was added to today’s itinerary.

The four entered an exclusive VIP viewing room.

"So, the rules of this race are: one hundred flying vehicles follow a randomly generated flight path for a set number of laps, and the first to finish wins? That doesn’t sound too hard!"

Xu Qinghe looked at the scene outside, finding it all very novel.

Beside her, Liu Li braced herself and explained, "Actually, it’s not that simple. These flying vehicles carry a lot of weapons. Most of the time, not many vehicles make it to the finish line—around twenty percent or less."

Although Liu Li wasn’t interested in formula dogfighting, the Liu Clan was the managing enterprise of Red Fruit City. When the Big Business Alliance held races in Red Fruit City, the Liu Clan got a cut.

It was one of the Liu Clan’s business ventures, so Liu Li had at least some basic knowledge of it.

Xu Qinghe’s face lit up with understanding. "Now that’s exciting! You’re making me want to pilot one of those and give it a try."

This statement gave Liu Li quite a scare. She quickly said, "Piloting one of those is too dangerous. The death rate for the races is very high, over fifty percent for every event."

Hearing this, Xu Qinghe’s brows twitched slightly.

Liu Li thought that Xu Qinghe, coming from the Eastern Alliance, couldn’t stomach a game that showed such a blatant disregard for human life.

Just as she was about to offer an explanation, she suddenly heard Xu Qinghe say, "That many people die?"

After speaking, Xu Qinghe looked toward Liu Xuan and Lin Qi.

"Chairman Liu, how about we make another bet? We’ll wager an S-Class Potion."

"We each guess a number for the death toll in this race. Whoever’s guess is closest wins. How about it?"

Hearing Xu Qinghe say this, Liu Li froze for a moment.

It wasn’t just Liu Li who froze; across from them, Lin Qi and Liu Xuan were also stunned.

Then the three of them realized: the silly girl wasn’t really silly, nor was she as naive as they had imagined.

The top corporations of the Cyber World were all the same. Profit always came first, and the lives of those at the bottom were never important in their eyes.

Lin Qi didn’t know what Liu Xuan and Liu Li were thinking, but in any case, he found this sort of thing distasteful.

Although Lin Qi could be cold himself, he wasn’t about to find amusement in something like this.

Liu Xuan turned her head to glance at Lin Qi, seemingly with some hesitation.

In truth, Liu Xuan didn’t care about these things either.

But she cared about Lin Qi, and she understood his thoughts very well.

The faint blue light in Liu Xuan’s left eye suddenly grew a little brighter.