Chapter 268
As the Tang family slowly returned to peace, Rong Yu was preparing to head to the Aerospace No. 4 Launch Base. The Fourth Aerospace Institute had assigned her an assistant, Dr. Wang Xiaoli.
Having witnessed what a true young genius was, Wang Xiaoli was more than willing to serve as Rong Yu's assistant.
The two left the Fourth Aerospace Institute and headed straight for the airport.
At this moment, the airport VIP lounge was bustling.
Si Lin leaned back on the sofa, his slender fingers swiping across his phone screen, a cynical, playboy smile playing on his lips.
On the screen was a photo of him with his arms around two models at a nightclub last night; the likes had already surpassed ten thousand.
He had originally made plans to take a newly acquainted internet celebrity to the Maldives, but his old man had called him bright and early, ordering him to come to the airport for some important arrangement.
Growing a bit impatient with the wait, he was just about to get up and leave.
Just then, the lounge door was suddenly pushed open. He looked up to see not only his own old man, but also Old Master Ji, Old Master Hai, and Tang Youyi, who had just recovered from a severe illness.
Alarm bells instantly went off in Si Lin's head. These active old men gathering together could mean nothing good.
He was just thinking about making a run for it.
When he saw Tang Mi and Hai Chang'an walk in.
Tang Mi pouted, Grandpa, what are we doing at the airport so early in the morning? I still have to go shopping with my bestie.
Hai Chang'an rubbed his eyes, So many people. Are we going somewhere to attend a banquet?
We called you all here today to announce an important decision, Old Master Hai spoke up. Starting today...
Halfway through his sentence, another old man burst into the lounge. Wait, there is also my granddaughter! Although the Zhou family is not one of the four great families, we also donated a sum of funds to the Fourth Institute. Take us along too.
Old Master Zhou dragged in a young girl with flowing curly hair.
The girl was fashionably dressed with exquisite makeup. Holding up a selfie stick, she spoke to her phone screen, Babies, I just arrived at the airport. I was supposed to go to Paris for Fashion Week today, but my grandpa made some last-minute arrangements. I have to go now, catch you later.
She turned off the livestream and asked curiously, Such a grand lineup, what on earth are we doing?
All you know is streaming this mindless nonsense all day, Old Master Zhou scolded angrily. Go stand over there in a line with the rest of them.
Under the strict glares of the old masters, Si Lin, Hai Chang'an, Tang Mi, and Zhou Shiyu obediently stood in a row. However, they all slouched carelessly, their faces full of indifference, looking thoroughly exasperating.
Old Master Hai took four flight tickets out of his briefcase and slapped them onto the table. Starting today, you four will be sent to the Aerospace No. 4 Launch Base. You will be assigned to the base special support team for a one-month base support program.
What?
The four of them exclaimed in unison.
Si Lin was the first to jump up. Are you kidding me! I am not going to some base. I have a ton of things to do. Whoever wants to go can go.
Tang Mi shrieked, A launch base? Isn't that in the desert? I am absolutely not going to a place like that!
Zhou Shiyu's hand trembled. Don't tell me that place doesn't even have internet? How am I supposed to livestream? I am not going either.
Hai Chang'an spoke up quietly, If they aren't going, I am not going either.
You don't have to go, Old Master Si said coldly. However, every single one of your bank cards, personal accounts, and assets under your names have already been...
These words didn't threaten Si Lin in the slightest.
After all, Old Master Si had frozen his accounts many times before. He would just play the fool and act spoiled, and the old man would always let him off lightly. He had long since figured out exactly how to handle the old man.
But then he heard Old Master Si say coldly, "All of your assets have been transferred to Old Ji for safekeeping until you return. Old Ji is highly experienced in this regard. If you don't believe it, go ask Ji Zhiyuan and Ji Zhouye if they aren't still suffering under economic sanctions to this day."
The four of them were horrified.
Back then, Ji Zhiyuan was already a powerful CEO who had taken over the Ji Group, yet he was still subjected to these controls. Rumor had it that he looked utterly disgraced during that time, running around borrowing money from everyone...
They would rather go to whatever crappy base this was than face economic sanctions!
Instantly, every single one of them fell into line.
Old Master Ji cleared his throat and said, "Don't worry, you're just going for a month of practical training. It's no big deal."
Tang Youyi shot a glance at the bodyguards beside him.
The bodyguards stepped forward and began to search them. They confiscated their luxury items first, then snatched their phones and emptied their account balances.
The four didn't dare to resist, much less think about what was going to happen next.
Just then, Old Master Ji's eyes lit up. "She's here."
Everyone's gaze snapped uniformly toward the door.
Rong Yu was dressed in a simple white button-down and khaki pants, her black hair tied up in a neat ponytail. She wore no delicate makeup and lacked any luxury accessories, yet she inexplicably exuded an aura that demanded attention.
She glanced at the four standing off to the side. "Are you sure it's them?"
"Yes," Old Master Hai said hurriedly. "We are leaving them in your capable hands, Miss Rong."
Tang Youyi added, "Please prioritize your work, Miss Rong. There's no need to go easy on them."
Old Master Si chimed in, "Beat them or scold them as you see fit. If anyone dares to resist, we'll strike them from the family register."
Old Master Zhou harbored some doubts about trusting such a young girl. However, since the other four major families were handing their children over to Rong Yu, he decided to just follow suit. Who knew, maybe one day they could expand to become the Five Great Families of Haicheng.
Tang Mi looked utterly incredulous. "What do you mean, you're handing us over to Rong Yu?"
Si Lin suddenly burst into laughter. "If the old man had told me earlier that I'd be following Rong Yu, I wouldn't have been so resistant. I couldn't ask for anything better..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Old Master Ji smacked him. "Put away your playboy thoughts, or I'll freeze your bank cards permanently."
Rong Yu looked at Old Master Ji. "The conditions out there are harsh. You shouldn't go. Just stay here and rest well in Haicheng."
Old Master Ji quickly and obediently nodded.
Rong Yu checked her watch. "It's time. Don't worry, everyone. Just come back here in a month to pick them up."
She made a hand gesture.
The bodyguards immediately herded the four of them toward the boarding gate.
Si Lin glanced back and noticed the old masters standing together. Their faces bore a mixture of worry, anticipation, and a hint of... relief.
He quickened his pace and caught up to Rong Yu. "Miss Rong, we still haven't exchanged contact information. How about we add each other on WeChat?"
Rong Yu replied indifferently, "I don't add useless trash to my friends list."
Si Lin was speechless. "..."
Her tongue was far too venomous.
Refusing to give up, he pressed on, "You added Ji Zhouye, so why can't you add me? Am I really more useless than him?"
Rong Yu smiled. "Barring any accidents, he'll be able to get into a top-tier university. Can you?"
She paused for a moment before adding, "I suggest you save your energy. Otherwise, you're going to have a very hard time adapting to what comes next."
At that moment, Si Lin didn't quite understand what she meant by that.
But he would understand very soon.
For the first time in his life, he realized that a person's knees could actually press right up against the seat in front of them. With his six-foot frame, he looked exceptionally cramped in the narrow space, and his expensive suit pants were already wrinkled beyond recognition.
Are these seats even meant for humans? Tang Mi was on the verge of tears. Flight attendant! I want to upgrade my seat!
The flight attendant, who was currently handing out meals, maintained her professional smile. I am sorry, ma'am, but this flight is completely full.
Zhou Shiyu looked at her meal box in absolute despair. Wait, why is this in-flight meal so pathetic? Is this yellow lump supposed to be curry or what?
Hai Chang'an had already given up the struggle, slumping entirely into his seat. I would honestly rather go to prison.
Sitting on the other side of the aisle, Rong Yu was calmly eating the food from her meal box.
Si Lin noticed that even her eating movements were meticulous. Holding a cheap plastic fork with her slender fingers, she somehow managed to eat with the refined elegance of someone dining in a high-end restaurant.
He could not help but lean closer to her. Is this the kind of treatment you scientific researchers get for serving the country?
Rong Yu could not be bothered to pay him any attention.
Wang Xiaoli looked up and said, This meal is perfectly fine. Once we arrive at the base, you are all going to deeply miss this in-flight food.