Between Two Worlds
594 Words
Qian Ruiqing stepped out of Grandfather Zhen’s study, the quiet weight of his words still lingering in her mind. As she descended the grand staircase, she spotted a familiar figure waiting at the bottom.
Jiang Chengyu stood by the door, impeccably dressed, his expression calm yet purposeful.
“Madam, it’s time,” he said simply.
Ruiqing nodded without a word. Chengyu led the way outside, where a sleek black car waited. As the door opened, Ruiqing noticed Zhen Yichen already seated inside — his usual cold, unreadable expression firmly in place.
She slid into the seat beside him. The air was heavy with silence.
Jiang Chengyu took the driver’s seat and started the engine. For a few moments, none of them spoke.
Finally, Ruiqing broke the quiet.
“Secretary Jiang, you seem very dedicated. Where did you graduate from?”
Chengyu glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “Tsinghua University, MBA.”
Ruiqing smiled faintly. “I’m finishing my Master’s in Computer Science. Two semesters to go.”
“I reviewed your academic records,” Chengyu said. “Your thesis on algorithmic design was highly regarded.”
A small spark of surprise flashed in Ruiqing’s eyes. “I’m impressed you had time to look into that.”
Chengyu gave a faint smile. “It’s part of my job.”
The car hummed along the road as Ruiqing studied the stoic man beside her. After a pause, Zhen Yichen finally spoke, his voice cold and clipped.
“How did you accept marrying a stranger?”
Ruiqing met his gaze evenly. “Some decisions aren’t about choice. They’re about survival.”
He regarded her silently for a moment, then nodded slightly.
“I’ll arrange a car to pick you up this evening.”
“I’ll manage,” she replied firmly.
The car slowed, pulling up in front of the university. Ruiqing stepped out, the bustle of campus life immediately wrapping around her.
She barely had time to breathe before a familiar voice called out.
“Qingqing!”
Tang Lili waved enthusiastically, her curly hair bouncing as she approached with books clutched to her chest.
“Lili,” Ruiqing smiled. “Good to see you.”
“You look different,” Lili observed with a grin. “Busy?”
“Something like that,” Ruiqing answered lightly.
They walked to class together, chatting about trivial things — upcoming exams, campus gossip — though Ruiqing’s mind remained elsewhere.
—
The lecture hall was crowded, the professor’s voice a dull hum in the background as Ruiqing took notes mechanically.
After class, she made her way to the cafeteria, finding a quiet corner to sit alone. She pulled out her laptop, flipping it open carefully.
The screen flickered to life, and Ruiqing logged into a secure, hidden server.
Welcome back, FrostByte.
Her hacker alias greeted her, the name she rarely used outside the digital world.
An encrypted message popped up in her inbox.
Sender: Viper
Subject: Private job opportunity. Secure channel access enclosed.
Ruiqing’s fingers hesitated before opening the attached link. It led to a secure channel requiring special clearance.
The message contained instructions to check the security systems of a major corporation: E-Corp.
She read the brief carefully — a private cybersecurity audit, high stakes, and even higher pay.
Ruiqing typed a quick reply.
FrostByte: I accept.
The reply was almost immediate.
Viper: Welcome back. Details and access tokens sent.
A small, determined smile appeared on Ruiqing’s lips.
She wasn’t just a wife bound by a contract.
She was FrostByte — and the game was far from over.
- Writer
