NOVPUBCountdown, 3 minutes.
Carl had no time to understand the current situation before he was pulled into the black hole by Qiao Suisui the next second.
She held his hand and said, "Let’s go to Soter, to Zong Yan."
Carl looked at their tightly clasped hands and then at her serious face, swallowed, and asked, "Is this the ’urgent matter’ you mentioned in your message?"
27 minutes earlier, Qiao Suisui had sent Carl a message to be at the leader’s office exactly at 3:15 p.m., not a minute early or late.
Carl had sent several messages in a row, even tried calling, but couldn’t get through to her. Worried that something might actually happen to her, he anxiously watched the clock, counting the minutes.
And when he arrived, he saw a room full of dead bodies.
"What just happened?"
Seeing that the Breakthrough hadn’t started, Qiao Suisui knew Carl would insist on a clear explanation before obeying, so without another word, she tiptoed up and kissed him.
Her hand grasping the hair at the back of his head, the kiss left no room for refusal.
Carl was stunned, and then his eyes sparked with ecstasy, he closed his eyes, responding enthusiastically to her kiss, his smile reaching all the way to the roots of his ears.
"Do you want the little leopard?"
Qiao Suisui was still using her old tricks to get a grip on him.
"Ah?"
The man shyly touched his nose; in the darkness, his ears were already red as if they were bleeding. "Now? That might not be a good idea..." he said, beginning to take off his clothes.
Qiao Suisui stopped him, cajoling, "Go to Soter, handle the matter, and I’ll give you the little leopard."
Although Carl didn’t understand the connection between the two, he felt that even if Qiao Suisui wanted his life right now, he would give it to her.
So the next second, they emerged from the black hole, already in Soter.
From the moment Qiao Suisui’s foot touched the ground, she had fired two shots.
One bullet hit Zong Yan’s leg, the other hit the secretary next to him who was reporting; it wasn’t a fatal wound, but enough to knock him out.
Seeing this, Carl’s expression started to become serious.
It seemed that the person who had really killed the leader at Federation Central was her!
But why...
Carl couldn’t help but look at her, suddenly feeling that the person before him didn’t quite match the Qiao Suisui he knew.
She was supposed to be delicate and needing protection.
But the one in front of him now was strong, calm, and he couldn’t even guess what she was thinking.
"I’m done for. I’m really done for," Carl muttered, covering his heart, "What do I do if I’m falling even more in love with her?"
Qiao Suisui had no time for him; she was now pointing the gun at Zong Yan’s head, glancing at her wristwatch—
Countdown, 1 minute and a half.
"I can make you the head of the Federation," she said flatly.
Zong Yan, with the gun’s muzzle pressed against his temple, still remained composed due to his years of experience, and answered calmly, "But you don’t seem to be here to cooperate."
Qiao Suisui pressed the gun hard against his head and said coldly, "Don’t care about your son’s life anymore?"
Zong Yan clenched his fists, his brows and eyes lowering as he asked, "What do you want?"
"The leader has been killed, but no one knows yet. In one minute, you take charge of everything. This is your best chance to rise to power. In exchange, you clear the Rebel Army of its charges. I don’t mind if you pin all the blame on the deceased, but if you try any tricks, if I could kill the leader, I can kill you too."
After speaking, Qiao Suisui knocked Zong Yan out with the gun, then had Carl carry him into the space.
"Where to?" Carl asked.
Countdown 30 seconds.
"Leader’s office."
26 seconds.
Qiao Suisui placed the gun in Zong Yan’s hand, then fabricated the scene.
20 seconds.
She took out Carl’s Light Computer, took a photo, the image suggesting that Zong Yan was the prime suspect.
10 seconds.
"What is this for?"
"Just in case."
If Zong Yan disobeyed or had other intentions, she could directly cause him to fall into disgrace as well.
After doing all this, Qiao Suisui looked up, drank something, then turned around and pulled Carl into a kiss.
6 seconds.
5 seconds.
4 seconds.
She fed him the Forget Potion, making him forget everything that had happened within the last 30 minutes.
3 seconds.
"Carl."
2 seconds.
"See you in the future."
1 second.
Her voice was gentle, as if it held the magic of hypnosis.
Qiao Suisui tenderly stroked his lips with the pads of her fingers, her body gradually becoming transparent.
...
Auslan Empire, Imperial Court.
Qiao Suisui opened her eyes and found herself standing in front of a window.
She knew she had returned, but there was a moment of panic, the uncertainty of what lay ahead was too daunting to face.
In the past, when she used Time Retrospect, she would only change certain events of a specific moment in time, fearing that too many variables might derail subsequent developments.
However, the results from her previous two changes had not been satisfactory.
She was afraid, afraid she might not even see Ruka and Carl this time.
Because this time she really had exhausted every minute and second, done everything she possibly could... If it still wasn’t enough, she truly didn’t know what to do...
Qiao Suisui lowered her head, her hands subconsciously gripping the windowsill tightly.
"Why are you standing here alone? It’s chilly."
Hearing the deep male voice, Qiao Suisui’s heart trembled violently.
She slowly turned her head and saw Zong Fang coming over with a beautifully wrapped gift box, reaching out to close the window behind her.
"Let’s go, didn’t you say we’re running out of time?"
He took her hand naturally and led her towards the door, but Qiao Suisui’s eyes were fixed unblinkingly on the man before her.
"Zong Fang..."
"Hmm?"
The man turned to look at her, and seeing her dazed expression, stopped and touched her head, speaking softly, "I know you’re worried, but they need to go out and see the world. They can’t always be protected like this, remaining ignorant as young masters."
Qiao Suisui breathed a little nervously and asked, "What... what time is it now?"
Zong Fang, not understanding the reason for her question, said, "The banquet hasn’t started yet, they’re all waiting for you."
This obviously wasn’t the answer Qiao Suisui wanted, but she keenly picked up on the information and asked, "A banquet? Who’s attending?"
Zong Fang frowned slightly, a nervous expression crossing his face as he touched her forehead, "Qiaoqiao, do you feel unwell?"
Qiao Suisui shook her head, wanting to ask more, but her gaze then caught sight of her reflection in the mirror—a figure in a snug, gorgeous long dress, adorned with expensive jewelry, her hair put up revealing her slender and beautiful neck, and especially the delicate, small crown atop her head, symbolizing her noble status.
Before she had time to think further, she saw Leberli knock twice on the door and then enter.
His expression wasn’t very good, and after brooding for a few seconds, he raised his eyes to Qiao Suisui and asked, "Are you still angry with me?"
Qiao Suisui looked at him, also in a magnificently luxurious court dress, inexpressibly precious, but with a humble, bitter smile on his face at the moment.
Leberli stepped forward, took her hand, and knelt on one knee, saying, "Suisui, I promise you, the children will be alright. Ruka has also agreed to let them go out and gain experience. No matter how reluctant we are, we must learn to let go."
At those words, Qiao Suisui captured the information she most wanted to know and immediately relaxed, quickly asking, "Where is Ruka?"
