茶杯狐 -CUPFOX

When Tan Lulu and Peng Xiaogang asked Xie Jun about any interesting experiences in the car evaluation industry, Xie Jun subconsciously recounted this deeply impressed incident. He hadn’t fully made sense of it himself, and didn’t try to convince them. He just thought of it as a hearsay story to share.

However, upon hearing Xie Jun’s “story”, Xiang Kun, who was driving, had a vague guess. The incidents that Xie Jun and others experienced might have something to do with mutants.

There were a few key characteristics:

The wolf had horns, a deviation from normal biological form.

It had a high physical strength, quickly fleeing after being hit by a car.

The residual body tissue mysteriously disappeared without trace.

If the horned wolf really existed, it could very likely be a mutant.

Based on Xiang Kun’s prior understanding of non-humanoid mutants, such as Giant Owls or mutated spiders, they all have high intelligence. They consciously stay away from human settlements, deliberately avoiding crowds, evidencing their awareness of the threat humans pose.

Mutants usually possess stronger sensory abilities; they wouldn’t stupidly crash into a convoy of cars.

So Xiang Kun speculated that if the horned wolf was a mutant, its reckless charge into the convoy and subsequent hurried escape could have been a result of hunting or being hunted. The target of its hunt, or the creature hunting it, could also be a mutant. After all, vampires and mutants inherently tend to hunt and devour each other.

Based on Xie Jun’s description, the horned wolf was more likely the prey rather than the predator.

All footage captured by the convoy’s driving recorders, as well as photographs and videos taken by their cameras, were completely lost. This was most probably the work of the mutant hunting the “horned wolf”.

Considering the results, if the predator was a vampire, they should also be a mutated human.

As mutants that originated from wild beasts or insects usually adopt the method of “silencing” to stop information from leaking, just like the mutated spider that killed Host Xue and the two others. Asking them to erase videos and images from various electronic devices is simply too difficult for them.

Through some subtly pointed questions to Xie Jun, Xiang Kun inferred the person (or vampire) hunting the horned wolf had tampered with their electronic equipment while they were fixing a car breakdown on the way back to camp.

As for how they did it, Xiang Kun estimated two possibilities. One, they have some ability or device to operate those electronic devices remotely. The other is that they stealthily approached without alerting anyone and tampered with the devices.

Considering the difficulty, Xiang Kun tends to believe that the latter method was used.

Xiang Kun thought of “Divine Technology”. Did they do it? If so, they should have caught the “horned wolf” by now, right? He wondered whether it had already been “eaten” by a vampire, or was being used as a research subject in some lab.

Of course, it’s not yet established with certainty that the “horned wolf” is a mutant. The assumptions are still in the speculation stage. But at least, based on Xiang Kun’s model of Xie Jun’s psyche, Xie Jun didn’t bluff or fabricate his narration. These were details Xie Jun truly believed in.

Perhaps it would be worthwhile to visit that place he mentioned in the future? However, according to Xie Jun, the incident occurred two years ago, so it’s doubtful there would be any clues left.

After dropping the three of them off at the hotel and settling them into their rooms, Xiang Kun immediately left. There was still much to be done the day before the wedding, especially since he was driving Chang Bin’s car.

Subsequently, Xiang Kun spent the day as a chauffeur, repeatedly driving people around. Sometimes he went to check on wedding arrangements, or buy things. At other times, he picked up relatives and friends of Chang Bin or Wang Han who had just arrived.

In the meantime, Chang Bin was slightly worried about Xiang Kun getting worn out, and considered replacing him with someone else.

However, Xiang Kun assured him that he was perfectly at ease and energetic. Since no one suitable was available to help for the time being, they had no choice but to continue relying on him. After all, many tasks involved more than just driving; he also had to assist with hosting and confirming details. No one else was as suitable for these tasks as Xiang Kun.

By nine in the evening, Xiang Kun was still driving Chang Bin’s car around the city. However, the person now seated next to him was Tang Baona.

As Wang Han’s maid of honor, Tang Baona and her sister had been helping as well. Now, she was going to a shop with Xiang Kun to get items needed for the wedding tomorrow morning.

Since they had been busy during dinner time and only ate a little, Tang Baona was now nibbling on a tuna sandwich while in the passenger seat.

The tuna sandwich was actually bought by Xiang Kun. When he saw Tang Baona at Wang Han’s house earlier, he immediately sensed through his cognition model that she was still hungry. So, after they left, he bought her this sandwich from a nearby bakery. It was also at this time that they needed someone to go to the store to pick up some customized items, and Xiang Kun directly asked Tang Baona to come with him.

“How did you know I like tuna sandwiches?” asked Tang Baona, still eating bite by bite.

“Who doesn’t?” Xiang Kun laughed. He didn’t just buy anything random. What Tang Baona liked to eat, her taste preferences, it was unlikely that anyone in this world knew her better than he did. Even Tang Baona herself might not have such a comprehensive understanding.

“Not necessarily. Zhen’er doesn’t like tuna sandwiches. She says she hates the taste.”

“You don’t have to eat in such small bites. I’ve seen you wolfing food down. No need to carry on with this ladylike act!” Xiang Kun joked while driving.

Tang Baona gave him a side glance but did stop her “act” and started eating the sandwich more heartily. Yet, she was still cautious enough to use the wrapping bag to catch any crumbs from getting onto the car.

Once she finished her sandwich, Xiang Kun casually handed her a bottle of mineral water. After she took a couple of sips, the car came to a smooth stop.

“We’re here?” Capping the bottle, Tang Baona looked somewhat surprised at Xiang Kun, “It’s as if you timed it perfectly. Did you estimate when I would finish eating?”

“Of course, I have divine calculations.” Xiang Kun confessed that he calculated quite deliberately, pressing for time to reach their destination.

Tang Baona didn’t buy it though, and scoffed, “Show off.”

In the store, they confirmed with the store clerk that the custom order was still under production and would take another half hour to forty minutes to complete.

Since they needed it for early tomorrow, naturally they chose to wait in the store.

They sat on the sofas in the store to rest. Initially, each of them occupied a long and a single sofa respectively. But as soon as they sat down, Tang Baona thought of something. While taking out her phone and smiling, she asked Xiang Kun to sit beside her: “Come here, I have something to show you.”

Xiang Kun moved over, curiously looking at Tang Baona’s phone. If it had been Zi Cheng who had said this, Xiang Kun would have guessed it was likely some funny video or something like that. But even though he knew Tang Baona very well and had established a very complete cognitive model of her, he still couldn’t guess what she meant by “something.”

What Tang Baona opened was an audio file. She originally wanted to play it directly, but thinking for a moment, she took out some earphones from her bag and handed them to Xiang Kun: “You listen.”

Is this a new cover or a song she wrote herself? As Xiang Kun took the earphones, he looked at Tang Baona and immediately judged that this audio couldn’t be her singing, otherwise she wouldn’t be feeling so expectant and proud. It seemed she was deliberately showing off to Xiang Kun.

Seeing Xiang Kun put on the earphones, Tang Baona played the audio and asked: “Is it too soft? You adjust the volume yourself, eh?”

The volume was set at one level, but that was enough for Xiang Kun. He even had to deliberately shut down most of his hearing ability, otherwise, it would be too loud.

“Shot through the heart,And you’re to blame,You give love a bad name…”

Upon hearing the beginning, Xiang Kun knew this was an old song “You give love a bad name” by Bon Jovi, but it was indeed Tang Baona singing, which contradicted his previous judgment.

Of course, Tang Baona’s singing was quite good, very tasteful, with a sense of aggression and fierceness. If Xiang Kun didn’t know her and only heard her singing, he would imagine a tall, cold-looking, rock diva in a performance costume studded with steel nails, singing and tossing her hair.

At the first chorus, it wasn’t Tang Baona’s voice anymore, it had turned into a cute girl’s voice. The words “Shot through the heart” seemed to pop out one by one, yet each was perfectly in tune, like a little girl bouncing up and down, giving a very lovely feeling.

Xiang Kun paused for a moment before immediately realizing whose voice it was.

Seeing that he should have reached the chorus according to the progress of the audio file, Tang Baona had been watching his face. On seeing the unexpected expression on his face exactly as she had anticipated, she couldn’t resist a triumphant smile.

After Xiang Kun finished listening and removed the earphones, Tang Baona immediately asked: “How is it? Did you recognize who was singing?”

“You and Xiao Pingguo,” said Xiang Kun.

Yes, the sweet voice in the chorus was Xiao Pingguo’s.

Before heading to QiCheng City, he had left “Gold Sparkle” with her. After obtaining the consent of Tang Baona and the others, he added Xiao Pingguo to their WeChat group involving Tang Baona, Yang Zhen’er, and Xia Libing. Sensing her loneliness and longing for friends from the way she behaved with the creature she thought was the “Eight-Armed Monster”, he decided to introduce her to his friends.

Under Xiang Kun’s guidance, Tang Baona and the others quickly accepted Xiao Pingguo. During his days in QiCheng City, their group chat was lively.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Pingguo was coaxed by Tang Baona into singing.

Honestly, the difference between Xiao Pingguo’s singing voice and her normal speaking voice was quite significant. In day-to-day conversation, her voice was noticeably lower and slower, giving her a more mature demeanor. Xiang Kun knew that she was deliberately trying to make herself appear more mature and sensible.

When she sang, she couldn’t hide her natural voice. This natural and unrestrained voice was much more pleasing to the ear than deliberate voice modulation. The goofy feeling was very distinctive too.

Moreover, considering the few lines she sang, her musical aptitude seemed pretty good, as if she had a natural talent. Of course, Tang Baona must have made substantial contributions to this.

The song choice was interesting too. Tang Baona’s aggressive and attacking voice, coupled with Xiao Pingguo’s serious and goofy voice, created a unique contrast. Yet it also felt strangely harmonious and slightly hilarious, making Xiang Kun want to laugh.

“When did you guys record this?” Xiang Kun asked curiously.

“Just a few days ago. This version has a few flaws. Later, I’ll send my old recording equipment to Xiao Pingguo through express delivery for a re-recording. The effect will likely be much better,” Tang Baona stated with some pride.

“Impressive, impressive. Knowing Xiao Pingguo for so long, I never found her singing voice…so fascinating. Boss Tang truly has discerning eyes,” Xiang Kun complimented with a smile.

“Of course!” Tang Baona replied, then asked somewhat curiously: “By the way, I heard from Director Zhang before that the project their company is collaborating with you on hasn’t required you to travel. So, did you go out of town for something else during this period?”

Xiang Kun casually replied: “I went to confirm some things, nothing major.”

“Oh.”

“Are you and Director Zhang getting along well?”

“She voluntarily invited me and Zhen’er out a few times,” Tang Baona replied with a nod, pausing for a moment before adding somewhat hesitantly: “But I don’t really like her.”

“Oh? Why?”

“I always feel that she’s been trying to probe for information about you through me and Zhen’er, either intentionally or not. She even mentioned trying to invest in you and asked if I wanted to join…” Tang Baona frowned, “I feel there must be something wrong if she doesn’t discuss these matters directly with you.”

Xiang Kun laughed, understanding why Zhang Qian was acting this way. He had previously held several online meetings with Director Lin, Ma Hongguo, and key members of the team built by Ma Hongguo. He had also sent them almost all the components of what he had developed. The project was progressing at a rapid pace and was already in the internal testing phase.

There was no doubt that the results of this project would surprise Zhang Qian, and she probably wanted to collaborate with Xiang Kun on another venture. But in light of Xiang Kun’s eccentric demands during their previous collaboration, she was likely trying to go about it in a roundabout fashion, roping in his friends in the meantime.

“It’s okay, if you don’t want to pay attention to her, then you don’t have to,” Xiang Kun told Tang Baona.