Four days had passed since Zhang Heng left the third level. In order to make sure that everyone thought he was dead, Zhang Heng did not contact anyone during this period. Meanwhile, the news stated that he had been killed in the fire at the hotel.
It was why Mr. G had hoped that Zhang Heng could continue to stay on the first level because once Shengtang Morgan realized that he was still alive, they would know that the memory encoder had returned to the first level. By then, the fragile balance at the first level would be tipped.
Zhang Heng did promise to help Xu Qian find out what happened to her, especially considering the latter’s boyfriend had now returned to New Shanghai 0297. Hence, Zhang Heng decided to go back to the third level with makeup as soon as possible after the tracking device was extracted from his head.
Instead of going to Xu Qian’s apartment immediately, Zhang Heng went to look for E-Goat first. The latter had gone to the fourth level to investigate Xu Qian’s boyfriend after Zhang Heng motivated him. Other than experiencing the difference in the gap between the two levels, they found nothing else. Before they separated, Zhang Heng promised to contact him once he acquired new updates. E-Goat, however, had not received a single email from Zhang Heng. Now, he felt what it was like to be taken advantage of.
At the same time, that trip caused him to completely give up on Xu Qian. He still felt sad after returning to the third level, but as time passed, E-Goat gradually got over the anguish of giving up on someone he loved.
Without relying on alcohol to dissipate his sorrows, E-Goat still looked taciturn. However, he did enroll himself in a Hulusi class for the first time ever. Seemingly planning on cultivating a new hobby other than programming, he wanted to get out of his sadness as soon as possible.
On this day, after he came back from his Hulusi class, someone tapped on his shoulder. E-Goat then turned around, and he saw a somewhat strange-looking man. Immediately, E-Goat dug through his memory, and he did not remember where he met someone like that. Just when he was about to ask what the other party was doing here, the strange-looking man spoke first.
“The time to test how deep your feelings for Xu Qian are has come.”
“It’s you!” Upon hearing the ghoulish voice, E-Goat shuddered, almost dropping the Hulusi that he held in his hand. “It’s the same trick again,” he growled in angst. “You are relentless, aren’t you? How does such a wicked person like you exist in this world? Why do you have to appear in my life every time after I crawl out of the abyss? You are going to push me off the cliff again. Don’t worry; this time, I will not trick you anymore.”
After E-Goat was done talking, he pushed Zhang Heng’s hand away from his shoulder, turned around, and continued walking towards the residential area.
Zhang Heng then talked to E-Goat again. “Well, I initially wanted to tell you your golden opportunity has arrived, but since you’ve chosen to give it up, I have to respect your decision. I hope you find someone you like as soon as possible.”
Zhang Heng also turned and walked to the other side of the road. However, when he stopped and waited for the traffic light to turn red, the expression on E-Goats’ face changed a lot. He then stomped the ground, turned around, and ran towards Zhang Heng. “You mentioned the golden opportunity. What do you mean by that?”
“I thought you were going to give her up?”
“You have complete control over me now. Are you happy now?” E-Goat gritted his teeth.
“I haven’t thought about it like that. I just wanted to try my luck with you. After all, you are one of the few people I know willing to help Xu Qian,” Zhang Heng said sincerely.
“But the fact is you are now controlling me!” E-Goat cried angrily.
“…”
“I didn’t want to run toward you in the first place, but I don’t know why my legs went completely out of control.”
“Anyway, since you are here, why don’t you hear me out. The good news is that I didn’t lie to you. You really do have a huge chance to win Xu Qian’s heart this time.”
“What do you mean by that?” After being repeatedly disappointed by Zhang Heng, E-Goat had learned his lessons by paying attention to Zhang Heng’s choice of words.
“You might be able to get into a romantic relationship with Xu Qian.”
Zhang Heng then saw E-Goat looking at him as if he was treating him like an idiot.
Zhang Heng then spread his hands, “What promise do you want me to give you? Will Xu Qian change her mind and like you? Would you believe this kind of thing? Don’t be stupid. I’m not Cupid. How can I tell Xu Qian who she should like?”
“So, this time, you still plan to use Xu Qian as an excuse to let me work for you for free?” E-Goat sneered.
“No, I will help you get rid of your biggest competitor. After that, Xu Qian will surely be affected. When that happens, she will be in her most vulnerable state. You, my friend, will happen to be by her side. If you still fail to win her heart, I would advise you to give up on her.”
Although E-Goat’s rational mind told him Zhang Heng was most probably trying to deceive him again, the irrational part made it difficult for him to refuse such a rare opportunity. And finally, he spoke.
“First, tell me what you want me to do?”
After E-Goat finished his sentence, he instantly regretted it because he knew he had lost.
“It’s very simple. First, send an email to Xu Qian to confirm her safety.”
“Why didn’t you do it?” E-Goat asked rhetorically.
“Dude, haven’t you watched the news recently? I’m already dead,” Zhang Heng said.
E-Goat was baffled. He wasn’t one to pay much attention to the daily news. The only thing that interested him was the technical stuff. He then searched the news with his bracelet and found the news that Zhang Heng was killed in a fire.
“What’s going on?”
“That’s not important. You are not pursuing me anyway,” Zhang Heng said. “Send an email to Xu Qian first.”
“But I stalked her not long ago, and she found out about me. Since then, we have not contacted each other. Will she call the police if I email her?” E-Goat asked, embarrassed.
“It depends on what you send her. You can tell that you know she is about to get engaged, and you decide to congratulate her. After that, attach 10,000 credits to her as a gift.”
“Isn’t that too generous?” E-Goat hesitated.
“How do you think she sees you? And don’t worry, she won’t take the money because her engagement is going to be a fluke.”
“Really?” E-Goat was suspicious.
Nevertheless, he still wrote an email according to what Zhang Heng said, with 10,000 credits attached, and sent it to Xu Qian. Then, about less than five minutes later, he received a reply. E-Goat clicked on the email, and the response surprised him.
“What happened?”
“She replied to me saying thank you and accepted the money. Didn’t you say that she would not accept the money?”
“She took it?” Zhang Heng also seemed a little surprised. “That’s not good.”
“What’s wrong? She just made 10,000 credits in the blink of an eye.”
“Because it means she is probably in trouble.”
