This Is My Planet - Chapter 18

In the group chat, the discussion went on: [ We’ve surveyed, and it seems like the most significant energy reaction is near the eastern outskirts where you are. ]

[ Emmm…] Yin Xiaoru inputted ambiguously, [ Well, that’s not bad. I can cooperate more. ]

YanYan: [ Most prominent energy response indicates proximity, but that doesn’t mean this area is the best excavation point. If it’s truly a demonic path relic, this direction might have strong restrictions. We need more detailed surveys; excavating relics isn’t our top priority—ensuring the safety of Sangyu City is most important. Don’t be impatient. ]

Yan Wuyue explained in detail and her intentions were commendable. Xia Guixuan nodded approvingly. If all leaders had such considerations, the nation would thrive.

Yin Xiaoru had her own thoughts but respected her friend’s views. After much hesitation, she sighed, [ You can survey around my area, and I’ll provide cover for you. But Sister Yan, if there’s really an evil relic underneath, will the military confiscate my land? ]

[ It depends. Even if they do develop your land, the military won’t treat you unfairly. You’ll definitely receive compensation. ]

What’s the use of that compensation… Xia Guixuan felt like the little fox was whimpering like that.

Yin Xiaoru sniffled, [ Fine. You took the bat-like person away. What was the result of the interrogation?]

[ Zhou Pengcheng is secretly researching modified humans… It’s one mess after another. We haven’t determined yet if Zhou Pengcheng did it himself in Sangyu City or if the entire Zhou family is involved… The Zhou family’s influence is troublesome. We can’t take them down with just the testimony of the bat person. We need more evidence to take action. ]

Yin Xiaoru’s eyes flickered. [ So have you considered why Zhou Pengcheng chose to do this in Sangyu City? Do they have some clue about the relic? ]

Yin Xiaoru didn’t know if the Zhou family had any information about the ancient relic, but she knew about the various modification researches in the Zhou family’s secret research institute. Once Yan Wuyue saw it with her own eyes, all the evidence would be there.

Leading the disaster eastward, driving away tigers and devouring wolves; even if her land was lost in the end, she would ensure the Zhou family lost everything too.

Xia Guixuan glanced at her; this fox was also using her friend. Not exactly a good person…

Over there, Yan Wuyue said, [ I’ve considered that too. Originally, I planned to secretly check Zhou Pengcheng’s villa area tonight to see if there’s anything hidden below. But since I captured the bat-person, the Zhou family is trying to pull strings everywhere. It would be foolish if Zhou Pengcheng himself wasn’t prepared; most likely, the research site has been destroyed or relocated. Do you have any clues?]

[ How could they relocate so quickly? It’s only been a day; there should be some traces left. Moreover, if they really have an entrance to the demonic relic or something, they wouldn’t just up and leave.]

[ That’s true, but they’d also be heavily guarded… Well, this is something you also wanted to do, right? Can you cooperate a bit? ] Yan Wuyue suggested.

Yin Xiaoru was stunned. [ How do I cooperate with that? ]

[ Zhou Pengcheng approached your family to propose marriage, indicating he has intentions toward you. How about inviting him out tonight for dinner?]

[Yan Wuyue, go to hell!]

Alright, neither of the two best friends was a good person.

As a result, Yan Wuyue’s wicked provocation blew up her own hornet’s nest. The group chat exploded: [ Team Leader Yan, you’ve gone too far! You keep us hidden, but send her out to seduce others? ]

[ In novels, this is called setting a ‘honey trap’, don’t you know? It’s cringe-worthy! ]

[ Nonsense! Setting a ‘honey trap’ is done by the protagonist’s woman. Are you the protagonist? What does the fox’s business have to do with you?] Yan Wuyue activated a group-wide mute.

Xia Guixuan: “…”

Yin Xiaoru angrily retorted, [ Just because they’re not the protagonist doesn’t mean I can be sent away. I’m the protagonist myself, okay? You, as a woman, don’t even have such awareness. Be fierce and cold! ]

[ When did I send you away? It’s just a dinner date. Isn’t acting your forte?]

[ Zhou Pengcheng isn’t a fool. How could he possibly come out now?]

Amidst all the chaos and arguing, a guard’s voice was heard from outside, “Miss, someone from the Zhou family is here to deliver an invitation.”

Yin Xiaoru was bewildered. An invitation? Zhou Pengcheng knew that his research had attracted the military’s attention, and at such a critical moment, he had the time to invite guests for dinner?

As she went outside, a man in a black suit stood there, politely handing over an invitation, “Today is my young master’s 25th birthday. We invite all the distinguished ladies and gentlemen of Sangyu City to attend, and we hope Miss Yin can grace us with her presence.”

Yin Xiaoru accepted the invitation in confusion.

At a time like this, he still had the leisure to host a birthday banquet? With a large amount of energy and manpower devoted to the banquet, the security of his other hidden things would inevitably be less strict. Moreover, he couldn’t manage everything personally, increasing the likelihood of oversight.

Wasn’t this giving Yan Wuyue a golden opportunity to investigate the case?

Was Zhou Pengcheng really foolish? Or was he absolutely confident that there was nothing to be found?

Yin Xiaoru told Yan Wuyue about it in the group chat, and Yan Wuyue was quite surprised.

Instinctively, she felt that there was definitely something fishy, but no matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out what the problem was.

Who would capture guests under the pretext of a birthday banquet? Even if they were prone to fighting, this was a modern rule-of-law country. Doing something like this in broad daylight, would the Zhou family still have a foothold in the Great Xia?

Yin Xiaoru would definitely go; no problem.

Perhaps the issue lay in deliberately luring Yan Wuyue into a dangerous situation? This seemed more plausible.

But as the head of the Special Operations Division and the captain of the special forces, Yan Wuyue was used to such tasks. She’d charge into enemy territory without hesitation. Frankly, with her strength, there were very few people on the entire planet who could pose a threat to her. Why would she be afraid of this?

Moreover, a scion of a family, in a remote city, plotting against a national figure, and still against a specialized forces team focusing on such events—no matter how you look at it, it’s all very nonsensical.

After pondering for a while, Yan Wuyue said, [ It seems more like he genuinely believes he’s cleaned up all traces, assumes I have nothing to find, so he’s deliberately showing off? ]

That actually seemed like the most reasonable answer. That was all Yin Xiaoru could think of and said, [ Well then, I’ve mapped out the terrain of his secret research institute. I’ll send you the diagram. But be careful, my map might only serve as a reference. He could change mechanisms and routes at any time.]

Yan Wuyue didn’t think it would be difficult for her at all. [ Even without your map, I’ll be fine.]

After closing the group chat, Yin Xiaoru asked Xia Guixuan, “Are you coming?”

Xia Guixuan intended to secretly go and take a look, but upon hearing her words, he was a bit startled. “Are you suggesting I can openly follow you?”

“Of course,” Yin Xiaoru said, hands on hips. “Is it abnormal to bring along a bodyguard? What were you thinking?”

Xia Guixuan didn’t bother about the identity he would use; if he could go and have some fun, that’s what mattered. There must be more to this than meets the eye, and he was interested.

Then, Yin Xiaoru furrowed her brow and said, “For the birthday banquet, I have to bring a gift. I don’t want to give him anything good, but I also don’t want to give something embarrassing in front of others and lose face… What do you think I should give?”

Xia Guixuan suggested, “Something that looks good on the surface but becomes trash after a while; that’s quite simple. Illusions could work, or actual transformations.”

Excitedly, Yin Xiaoru grabbed his arm, “Hey, if you have this ability, can you create an item that looks real but explodes in his face when used?”

Xia Guixuan was also interested, “Do you want something with harmful effects, or just a prank that leaves him with a blackened face? Or maybe something like tying him up, with a certain pose…”

“That’s the best! How about tying him into a turtle shape? But what about the surface appearance…”

“That’s for you to decide; I don’t know what kind of things you usually give.”

The two of them enthusiastically huddled together, brainstorming pranks and mischief, surprisingly quite interested in these sorts of things. The guards outside, watching from a distance, felt powerless to comment. Somehow, they felt that these two were actually quite compatible.