Chapter 27
1554 Words
Handed Over to the State
Sheng An's face remained a mask of calm as she spoke:
"Not much, really. He just managed to shatter all the testing machines during the inspection and nearly injured the researchers."
Song Linwei inhaled sharply.
Li Xin squatted on the floor, looking wounded:
"It's not my fault! The guy in the white coat asked me to put my hand in and manipulate the metal elements. They were doing all sorts of things, and I couldn't hold back. The elements went out of control, and those machines broke..."
His tone was innocent, but under Sheng An's unwavering gaze, his voice dwindled and grew more guilty.
Sheng An watched him silently.
He instinctively averted his eyes.
Seeing this, Song Linwei had a good idea of what had transpired.
He knew Li Xin well.
Li Xin probably hadn't rested since yesterday and had been subjected to repeated tests, which made him impatient.
Seeing that Sheng An wasn't around, he deliberately caused trouble and refused to cooperate.
This kid had been calling himself the "Chosen One" and "Hero" ever since he awakened his abilities, becoming insufferably arrogant.
Destroying machines and nearly injuring people!
Thinking of this, he glared at Li Xin.
Song Linwei had guessed correctly.
Li Xin hadn't slept all night and was now thrown into the interrogation room, leaning against the wall, growing more and more agitated.
Feeling guilty, he decided to go all out, stubbornly saying, "I already apologized to them. What more do you want? It's just a few broken machines. I'll compensate you if that's what you want."
His tone was defiant.
Hearing this, Song Linwei's heart tightened.
But Sheng An smiled.
With a smile on her face, her eyes curved, she slowly said, "You want to compensate? Alright, let's do the math."
Hao Jingye quickly flipped through the tablet and soon pushed up his glasses, raising his hand—
"Li Xin, the machines you broke were the latest laboratory-specific instruments, not available for sale outside. We'll calculate the cost price for you, which totals ninety-seven million. How would you like to pay?"
Li Xin nearly jumped up.
He raised his voice in disbelief, "What? Those things are worth a hundred million?!"
"What did you think?" Sheng An looked at him. "Actions have consequences. Deliberately causing damage requires compensation. Of course, since you are a minor, I'll have to find your guardians."
This time, Li Xin really jumped up.
His parents were businesspeople and fairly wealthy, but they didn't have a hundred million.
Moreover, how could he ask his family to go bankrupt to compensate for something he destroyed on impulse?
Li Xin refused, jumping up and down, "Why should I compensate? I was cooperating with your research. Any loss can't be blamed on me!"
Sheng An said, "If the loss was due to cooperation, of course, we wouldn't blame you. But you deliberately broke these machines and nearly injured people. The nature of this incident is extremely serious."
"How was I supposed to know they were so fragile? I just extracted the metal inside!"
"Oh, so you admit it was deliberate? Then we can ask the Song family for the ninety-seven million."
"Sheng An! You, you, you... You say it's ninety-seven million, and it's ninety-seven million? Who knows if you're inflating the price? On what basis—"
"Don't worry, when it comes to compensation, we'll provide an itemized bill."
Li Xin ground his teeth in anger, "The apocalypse is coming soon, the world is about to be destroyed, and you still want compensation?!"
"Isn't it here yet?" Sheng An replied calmly.
Li Xin: "..."
He clenched his fists, his teeth grinding with rage, wishing he could pounce on her.
But no matter what he said, Sheng An always had a rebuttal.
Moreover, since he had indeed deliberately caused the damage, he was both furious and a bit terrified.
Sheng An repeated, "Li Xin, actions have consequences."
Li Xin's shoulders suddenly slumped.
He shrank back against the wall, lowering his head, his voice muffled, "Don't involve my parents. I'll pay it back myself."
"Oh? How do you plan to do that?" Sheng An asked with a half-smile.
How could he pay it back?
At sixteen, he was practically penniless. The most money he ever had was during the New Year, but that never lasted long.
Ninety-seven million?
He couldn't even come up with ninety-seven hundred!
After thinking for a while, he suddenly said, "I'll write an IOU?"
The apocalypse was imminent.
Even if he wrote an IOU, who would still enforce it after the apocalypse?
By then, money wouldn't even matter!
Li Xin's eyes lit up, thinking this was a great idea.
Sheng An smiled slightly, "Li Xin, do you think I'm stupid?"
Li Xin: "..."
The light in his eyes dimmed, and he slumped down again.
Sheng An suddenly said, "Three months."
"What?" Li Xin was confused.
Sheng An walked over to him, squatted down to meet his eyes, and said calmly:
"You work for the state for three months. After three months, the ninety-seven million will be written off. How about that?"
Her voice was calm, but her eyes were full of temptation.
Work for three months?
Li Xin was still a bit confused, not fully understanding.
Sheng An's voice was soft, "It's equivalent to thirty million a month, with food, housing, and clothing provided. Even Iron Man wouldn't get such a deal. Do you still think it's not worth it?"
Li Xin snapped out of it, his eyes suspicious, "Really just three months? No forcing me to join you?"
Sheng An smiled warmly and nodded affirmatively.
Behind her, Hao Jingye instinctively took a step back, feeling that Sister Sheng was digging a big hole...
Li Xin's eyes darted around, and he said, "I also want—"
Sheng An stood up, her expression cold, "Song Linwei, let's discuss the compensation."
"Wait!" Li Xin grabbed her sleeve, pouting, "Fine, fine, I agree, okay?"
This woman was impossible to negotiate with!
It's just three months, right?
Li Xin thought it through. Since he was already caught by the state and his parents were in Sheng An's hands, he couldn't escape.
Just working for three months didn't seem too bad.
He had thought Sheng An would force him to join the Doomsday Special Affairs Department...
Just three months, not too bad.
Li Xin emphasized, "You promise?"
Sheng An nodded, "I keep my word. I'm also worried you won't be able to do it. Let's sign a contract."
Li Xin quickly nodded.
Sheng An looked at him.
Li Xin: "What? Is there something else?"
Sheng An glanced coldly at the hand clutching her sleeve and smiled slightly, "Shouldn't you let go?"
Li Xin awkwardly withdrew his hand.
Song Linwei watched the whole process, rubbing his head helplessly.
This foolish kid...
Did he really think it was just three simple months?
There were 18 days left until the apocalypse, and the 18 days before the apocalypse and the two months after were the most dangerous and critical times.
Sheng An had calculated this timing precisely.
This foolish kid was even pleased, thinking it was just three months of work?
Moreover—
Song Linwei sneaked a glance at Sheng An.
She didn't seem like someone who would let him go after three months.
Song Linwei understood.
But he said nothing.
After a day of observation, their family had decided—to hand Li Xin over to the state.
They couldn't control him and didn't know what he might do.
With the apocalypse coming, it was better to let the state manage him.
Since he was special, the state wouldn't let him die.
And Sheng An had even let him witness the "coercion" of Li Xin, showing her sincerity.
Song Linwei saw it clearly.
*
Hao Jingye drafted the contract while Sheng An sat nearby, and Li Xin sat across.
Hao Jingye said, "Li Xin damaged laboratory equipment worth ninety-seven million. He will work to repay the debt for three months. After three months, the debt will be written off. If he fails, then—"
He looked at the two of them.
Clearly unsure how to continue.
Li Xin raised his chin, snorted, "It's just three months. If I fail, I'll pay the money!"
Sheng An glanced at him, her lips curling, "Three months later, who knows what the world will be like? Getting money then won't be easy. If you fail, you won't need to pay."
Having dug such a hole, how could she allow him to renege after the apocalypse?
This kid was a minor, very immature, and his thoughts were changeable.
"Then what?" Li Xin was puzzled.
He couldn't think of how to write the contract to ensure he was bound.
Come the apocalypse, with the world in chaos, he, as a "superhero" with immense power, could easily leave with his family. What could they do?
Thinking this, Li Xin chuckled inwardly.
When the time came, he'd make this woman beg for mercy!
Sheng An's eyes glinted with a smile as she slowly spoke—
"Write that if Li Xin fails, he won't deserve to be a hero. He'll be an untrustworthy coward, a piece of trash, a monster beaten by Ultraman, an enemy of Iron Man, and... a defeated underling of the Doomsday Special Affairs Department."
- Writer
