Chapter 112: Exposure

"Brother Jiang, Brother Jiang, what’s wrong?"

Guo Xuanying’s delicate, fair hand waved in front of Jiang An, finally snapping him out of his reverie.

"I’m sorry, I was distracted."

"Hehe, I never thought you could be absent-minded too," Guo Xuanying said with a bright smile. "I thought you were always that cool, collected person."

Undeniably, Guo Xuanying looked beautiful when she smiled, but Jiang An suddenly lost any desire to continue playing along. He felt a sense of listlessness, and even sitting there brought a faint pang of guilt.

"Miss Guo, I’ve booked a flight back to the capital for this evening. We need to hurry, or I’ll miss my flight," Jiang An said abruptly, his tone noticeably colder and more distant than before.

Guo Xuanying’s expression shifted instantly. "Brother Jiang, are you in such a rush to leave? Could it be... could it be that you dislike me that much?"

"Let’s just lay our cards on the table, Miss Guo. How do you feel about me? Is it just gratitude? If so, your intentions are enough," Jiang An said calmly.

Guo Xuanying’s face flushed like the evening clouds. She couldn't even meet his eyes, feeling deeply wronged. She stammered, "Can’t you see my heart? Do you really think it’s just about repaying a debt?"

"Hehe, don’t tell me you fell for me at first sight? How long have we even known each other?"

"Yes! I did fall for you at first sight! I didn't believe in such things before, but now I’m trapped in it!" Guo Xuanying looked up suddenly, courageously admitting the truth.

Jiang An was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "Should I be touched? I’m sorry, I already have a family."

"I know! I’ve investigated you. I know you’re a unique and extraordinary man, and only such a man is worth my devotion!" Her answer was unexpected, her eyes filled with a resolute determination. "That’s why I intended to pursue you if I liked you, even if it meant being your mistress in Hong Kong! Don’t be surprised. With my Western education, I’m open-minded about these things. Don’t you find me attractive? I am still a virgin. I’m like a bright red apple, alluring yet poisonous. Do you dare take a bite?"

At this moment, Guo Xuanying seemed almost manic. She leaned forward, bringing her pretty face so close to Jiang An’s that he could smell the fragrance of her breath. Her words were both terrifying and provocative.

*Can you handle my wild side?* This was clearly a challenge.

*Conquer her!* That was the natural thought for any normal man.

Jiang An looked into her beautiful eyes, inches away. Within them lay an unyielding firmness—the sacrifice of one willing to give everything for love.

"Sigh, I almost believed you."

Jiang An gave a light smile. "Miss Guo, what terms did the Same-Boat Society offer you to make you willing to pay such a price?"

As he spoke, he grasped her delicate hand and placed his fingers on her wrist.

Guo Xuanying froze for a fleeting half-second before Jiang An spoke again: "Don't bother hiding it; your pulse told me the truth."

"You two?"

The waiter arrived with their food, only to find them with their faces nearly pressed together. He asked, slightly embarrassed.

"It’s fine, go ahead and serve it," Guo Xuanying said, sitting back in her chair with a smile.

The waiter quickly served the meal and retreated, leaving the man and woman alone once more.

"How did you figure it out?" Guo Xuanying asked, her face suddenly expressionless. That single sentence confirmed everything.

"Well, since we have time, I’ll tell you. I can’t deny your performance was excellent. Your movements, expressions, tone, and details were perfect—even your gaze was spot on. Anyone else would have been fooled. Unfortunately, my spiritual perception is a bit sharper than most. The first time I saw you, while nothing seemed off on the surface, I felt something strange. Then, the second time we met, it was too coincidental—so much so that it was hard to believe. Having made many enemies, I might have a touch of paranoia, so I decided to accept your invitation to investigate your background and see if there was anyone behind you..."

"And the result?"

"The result was that your background was impeccable. The eldest daughter of the Guo family, low-key, living independently since eighteen, working as a flight attendant. Add your beauty to the mix... haha, for such a perfect person to fall for me at first sight, I was truly flattered."

"Everything you said is just speculation. I’m curious, what exactly made you think I was the problem? There wasn't a single trace on me."

"True. I am absolutely certain that you don't know any cultivation techniques, nor have any masters cast secret arts on you, and there wasn't anyone suspicious around..." Jiang An spoke effortlessly, then paused, his voice turning into a mutter: "But Miss Guo, do you know what a gaze truly looks like when someone is genuinely in love?"

Guo Xuanying’s expression shifted. After a long silence, she sighed, "Sigh, as expected, in front of experts like you, no matter how well you mimic a gaze, you’ll reveal flaws. And I suppose you’ve seen that kind of gaze before, haven't you?"

Jiang An fell silent.

"But how did you know I was from the Same-Boat Society and not some other faction?" Seeing that Jiang An didn't want to answer the previous question, she asked another.

"Hehe, I was bluffing," Jiang An sneered, not revealing the real reason. His eyes grew mocking. "Rather than worrying about that, you should worry about your own life. You should know that I kill without hesitation, especially when it comes to enemies. Even being as beautiful as a celestial being won’t save you."

Guo Xuanying stopped speaking. Her face betrayed no emotion, but Jiang An could feel her fear and trembling.

Except for those who are truly dead inside, no one is unafraid of death, especially those living better than most.

Even without looking into Jiang An’s eyes, Guo Xuanying could feel his gaze like two sharp swords piercing her heart, cutting through her defenses and masks to expose her most vulnerable core.

"Tell me, what was your purpose in approaching me? Don’t force me to use methods," Jiang An said, cutting a piece of lamb chop and putting it in his mouth.

Guo Xuanying knew there was no escaping now. The files said Jiang An possessed techniques to control the mind; even if she didn't speak, he had ways to make her.

"Approaching you this time wasn't to kill you, but simply to obtain your... your DNA!"

"My DNA? Hehe, your 'Re-Evolution' project?" Jiang An said casually.

At this, Guo Xuanying’s face truly changed. She blurted out, "How do you know that!"

"Don’t worry about how I know. I assume you don't even know the specific details of this project?"

"Yes, I’m just a peripheral operative. If I didn't have my status, I wouldn't have even heard the words 'Re-Evolution'," she said with a bitter smile.

"Fine, topic closed. Now, let’s talk about why I shouldn't kill you."

Hearing this, Guo Xuanying’s body tensed instantly. Her mind raced to organize her defense, clutching at the hope that he wouldn't kill her—she was the eldest daughter of the Guo family, and this was a public place... Whoosh! Just as she was thinking this, Jiang An stood up. The movement scared her half to death; she instinctively recoiled in terror.

But Jiang An simply stood up to wipe his mouth. He walked out from behind the table, stood by her side, and said softly, "Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. Good-looking people are entitled to some privileges. I’m full, so I’m leaving. Enjoy your meal. Don’t let it happen again."

With that, he patted her shoulder and walked straight out.

Guo Xuanying was stunned. It wasn't until he had been gone for a while that she snapped back to reality. This unexpected outcome was completely beyond her capacity to process. She instinctively reached for her phone to make a call, but hesitated, wondering if this was a ploy by Jiang An to lure out her handlers. She didn't make the call, then worried if the pat on her shoulder had been a lethal internal strike that would explode later. Should she go to her organization? But what if it was a trap?

She was, after all, only a girl in her twenties. Even with natural intelligence and training that made her superior to the average person, facing such a complex and eerie predicament, her mind was a blur of indecision.

Outside the restaurant.

Seeing Jiang An emerge so casually, Fan Jun, who had been waiting, was dumbfounded. "Why are you out so quickly?"

"When words don't find a common ground, half a sentence is too much. Let’s go, to the airport!"

Jiang An got into the car and said directly.

As the car pulled away, Jiang An fell into deep thought.

Guo Xuanying was likely still struggling back there. He had accepted her invitation just to unearth her motives, and now he knew: they wanted his DNA. It seemed he had been added to the list for that so-called "Re-Evolution" project.

He knew of this top-secret plan of the Same-Boat Society because he had glimpsed fragments of it in the memories of the hacker Aiden before he killed him. To go deeper would mean touching upon the very foundation of the Same-Boat Society's existence in the United States.