C2 Codename Assassin

Can't sit still, always busy.

Shu Ann, feeling bored, decided to head home and prepare for the task at hand. Unlike most girls, Shu Ann wasn't interested in dressing up or makeup. She spent the first half of her life struggling to make ends meet, and the latter half too busy to relax.

When she first submitted her resume, she did some preliminary research. Jingtai was on the brink of bankruptcy, drowning in debt, but it had a solid foundation. The Lih family’s young master took an interest and acquired it. In just five years, it was revitalized, and the young master, not yet thirty, was starting to make a name for himself. This success likely attracted some envious eyes.

No big deal.

Rebuild the system, track the intrusion, erase the leaked data. The rest was the Lih family’s business. Just keep it under wraps.

It seemed their team had done a good job with their public image. If people knew their so-called secrets were trashed by those two reckless individuals, they’d probably be running for the hills.

But none of that concerned her. The system would definitely be encrypted and reorganized immediately. She just needed to upgrade it. As for what was lost, she had her ways to retrieve it.

She’d handle it tomorrow, before her internship started.

Shu Ann logged into the chatroom and sent a private message: “Taking care of things tomorrow.”

Feeling her phone vibrate with a special chatroom alert, Mooh Yang sped up his speech, condensing it to the essentials. The students below still thought he was impressive, but he had already wrapped up the lecture, bid farewell to his mentor, and logged into the chatroom to check.

“Taking care of things tomorrow.”

Tomorrow, huh? Such urgency wasn’t Shu Ann’s style. It was the first time she’d requested such a long break, taking on fewer tasks. Shu Ann, what are you up to?

The best way to kill time was browsing the web and scrolling through forums. Shu Ann went to bed early, knowing tomorrow would be a busy day.

At seven, the alarm clock’s incessant ringing made Shu Ann restless. She tossed and turned, refusing to get up. Someone kept ringing the doorbell non-stop. Annoyed, Shu Ann turned off the alarm and went to answer the door.

"Here's your breakfast." Knowing that Shu Ann isn't a morning person, Mooh Yang had already bought breakfast early. As expected, seeing the food, Shu Ann stopped talking, rubbed her eyes, and went to freshen up without acknowledging Mooh Yang.

Mooh Yang chuckled helplessly, closed the door, and went to the kitchen to set the table, placing the buns neatly and sticking a straw into the soy milk, waiting for her to eat.

Shu Ann soon returned to the living room, fully awake after washing up. She gave Mooh Yang an apologetic smile. Mooh Yang tilted his head, "It's fine. Pretending to be a lady must be exhausting. You can drop the act around me."

He grinned mischievously.

Shu Ann rolled her eyes, too lazy to respond. After breakfast, Mooh Yang drove them to the Lih family estate.

The Lih family estate was a bit out of the way. Just as Shu Ann's patience was wearing thin, they finally passed the red light, but there was still a long road ahead.

"Have some yogurt." Mooh Yang handed her a box of yogurt from the back seat. "We're almost there. Don't worry, have a snack."

Shu Ann took the yogurt. "What if this turns into a big hassle?"

"As long as it doesn't involve me, they can do whatever they want."

Shu Ann shook her head. "The Lih family is complicated. Make sure to leave yourself an out with any agreements."

"Don't worry, Ann. Just follow the host's instructions, and trouble won't find us," Mooh Yang reassured her.

They stopped at the Lih family gate, and Mooh Yang rang the doorbell.

The Lih family estate was an old mansion, exuding the grandeur of an 18th-century palace while incorporating modern diversity. As the black gate opened, Mooh Yang imagined the wealth rolling in.

"Mr. Hei, I presume? Please, come in." The butler, an elderly man with a straight posture and the demeanor of a European court butler, greeted them.

He represented the host's image.

Mooh Yang nodded politely. "Thank you."

The old butler, unsmiling, gestured for them to enter. "Please, the master is waiting in the living room."

The garden stretched on for quite a distance, and no one spoke along the way. Once they reached the living room, the sight of the spirited old man sitting there commanded respect. He was a veteran, having experienced the trials of war, and was worthy of admiration.

"Old Master Lih, you're still in great shape," Mooh Yang laughed heartily as he greeted the old man, showing none of his usual carefree demeanor.

"You rascal, calling you Mr. Hei is not as fitting as calling you young Hei," the old man chuckled warmly.

These two were not just acquaintances; they were well-acquainted.

Mooh Yang was always the one handling external affairs for the team. He managed all sorts of relationships, ensuring they could complete their missions and walk away unscathed. Indeed, no matter the task, Mooh Yang always ensured they came out on top, making a handsome profit in the process.

Shu Ann didn't dwell on it much. Perhaps they knew each other from previous missions, as she had joined midway.

"I'm too handsome to be associated with darkness, but if Old Master Lih wants to call me young man, I'll gladly oblige," Mooh Yang joked with a grin.

"Haha, you sweet talker. Let's get down to business," the old man said, waving his hand and adopting a more serious expression.

"My family isn't to be trifled with. Young man, I want you to investigate thoroughly. If anything happens, I'll take responsibility."

The old man seemed quite upset.

"Don't worry, sir. Once I catch the culprit, you can vent your anger however you wish. I'll make sure they lose all face, and their family won't be able to show themselves in public again."

Their relationship seemed quite deep.

When the conversation turned serious, Old Master Lih finally noticed Shu Ann, who had been so quiet she was almost overlooked. "I didn't expect Mr. Hei's people to be so young. I'm really getting old."

"You're too kind, sir. You're still as vigorous as ever."

"Haha, if my grandson had half your charm, I wouldn't worry about finding him a wife."

Worry about finding him a wife? There are probably enough people wanting to marry him to circle the city three times! Shu Ann thought helplessly. Just based on Lih Jingyan's looks alone, there are plenty who would want to keep him. However, he's always been low-key, and before he took over the company, no one had even heard of him.

Wait a minute, is this Lih Jingyan's house? What if he comes home? She still wants to work at his company!

Shu Ann was taken aback. In their line of work, they had made quite a few enemies, and they usually stayed out of sight. If it weren't for the potential fallout from this deal, Shu Ann wouldn't have come.

Someone as wealthy as Lih Jingyan probably has several homes and might not return to the old family house. Hopefully, he won't come back today. But deep down, Shu Ann knew that with such a significant issue, as the current head of the Lih family, Lih Jingyan would definitely return. For now, she could only play the ostrich.

Old Master Lih shifted the conversation, "I won't tolerate this. Go ahead and do what you need to do. Gu, bring the computer."

The butler, Gu, placed the prepared laptop on the coffee table. The sleek silver laptop immediately caught Shu Ann's eye; it was custom-made and distinctly different from the usual ones.

Shu Ann quickly found the program's vulnerability. The traces of intrusion were subtle, and the perpetrator was clearly skilled, erasing all evidence after the breach. It was a bit troublesome.

After some effort, Shu Ann managed to track down a clue. Just as she breathed a sigh of relief and looked up, she was startled by three pairs of eyes intently watching her.

Shu Ann blinked at them.

Old Master Lih was the first to laugh, "Look at how you've scared this young lady. Go on, give her some space."

As if she could be scared! Shu Ann smiled and said, "I've traced the intrusion and am pinpointing the address."

"Good girl!" Old Master Lih laughed heartily. "Mr. Hei's people are truly talented. This must be the 'Assassin' everyone's been talking about lately."

"'Assassin' is just a nickname others gave me, Old Master Lih. No need to pay it any mind."

As her skills became more apparent, she had made a name for herself in this circle. "Assassin" was the code name given to her, as anyone who crossed her path would be taken down silently, like an assassin's target.

"That's a testament to your skills, kid. No need to be modest."

Old Master Lih didn't wait for Shu Ann's response. She exuded a powerful aura, her focused demeanor making everyone around her instinctively serious. Her slender fingers danced across the keyboard as if they were flying. Lih Jingyan walked in just in time to witness this scene.

Surprised by the girl's uniqueness, he glanced at the computer in front of her and understood everything.

Jingyan quietly sat down, waiting for the outcome.

It was hard to tell how much time had passed when Shu Ann finally lifted her sore neck and realized it was already dusk.

The opponent was worthy of respect, but unfortunately, they were a step behind.

She thought she might challenge him again sometime.

Shu Ann was clearly enjoying herself.

"How was it, kid?" Old Master Lih asked.

Shu Ann, still lost in the thrill of the match, looked around confusedly until she recognized a somewhat familiar man. His gaze brought her back to reality.

"Have some tea," Mooh Yang offered, concerned. Whenever Shu Ann faced a worthy opponent, she seemed to shine with a captivating light that drew him in.

"Thank you." She took a sip of the hot tea, feeling a bit more grounded.

"I found the opponent's address. It's in a gated community. He was too confident that no one would track him down, so he didn't even bother changing locations," Shu Ann remarked, somewhat pitying his overconfidence.

"The stolen content was copied onto another computer. I wiped it clean and planted a virus. Any USB or computer that downloads this content will crash."

She took another sip of tea, feeling exhausted but satisfied.

"The younger generation always surpasses the old. Mr. Hei, it's been a pleasure working with you," Old Master Lih said, more than pleased. Compared to the losses the stolen content could have caused, the hefty reward they received was a small price to pay for a businessman.

"Pleasure working with you," Mooh Yang replied, standing up to shake Old Master Lih's hand.

"Thanks to Mr. Black and Miss 'Assassin,' it's getting late. Why don't you stay for a simple dinner before heading out?" Lih Jingyan stood up as he spoke. Despite not being a naturally friendly person, he put on a show of hospitality that Shu Ann found both strange and amusing.

One of Mooh Yang's principles for avoiding trouble was to keep personal boundaries with clients outside of work.

Mooh Yang politely declined, saying, "She's used to eating at home, so we'll pass this time."

Old Master Lih understood and didn't insist, though Lih Jingyan seemed a bit displeased.

He looked Shu Ann in the eye and said deliberately, "I hope we have the chance to meet again, Miss 'Assassin.'"