Chapter 2176 - 2174: True Love (Woke Up at 8 AM)

"Umbrella Withdraws Investment from Sindora, Questions Safety, Virtual Reality Game Faces Major Setback!?"

"Didn’t expect foreign countries to be so skilled at playing the shock value game."

Sipping tea while reading the newspaper, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but sigh. To him, this wasn’t a big deal, but for Sindora Company, it was different. As a giant in the IT industry, Sindora had been planning for this for a long time. In fact, Umbrella’s divestment didn’t really affect Sindora’s R&D and manufacturing, but the important impact was... public opinion.

That’s right, it’s fine for everyone to talk nonsense in the papers, but betting with real money draws attention. In fact, under the heavy promotion by Sindora, almost everyone believed that virtual reality was the future of the gaming industry, and many big corporations and enterprises in Japan joined in.

And in the midst of all this applause, Fang Zheng, the "contrarian", particularly stood out.

It’s like when everyone thinks the stock market is booming and investing money is a sure win, but you’re the only one who thinks it’s about to crash, so you sell and short.

This makes people feel strange.

Moreover, given Japan’s social tendencies, such countercurrent behavior is generally unwelcome. In fact, the media had quite a few reports mocking Umbrella both openly and subtly. Fang Zheng just acted as if he didn’t see them, thinking that those who are jumping around now will have to settle accounts eventually.

"So, if you didn’t say anything, there wouldn’t be an issue now, right."

Hearing Fang Zheng’s muttering, Little Ai gave him a helpless look and pointed to the invitation letter beside him.

"If you hadn’t said anything, this wouldn’t have happened, right? Are you going?"

"I’m not going."

Glancing at the invitation, Fang Zheng snorted coldly.

"Sindora’s big boss specifically invited you, you know. Your comments in the media probably pissed him off."

Little Ai looked at Fang Zheng with a playful smile, obviously enjoying the show. No wonder she said this; Fang Zheng dared to call it unsafe because he had evidence. He was referring to this virtual game’s "gaming pod". According to Sindora’s plan, what they were doing was no different from what Kayaba Akihiko did in SAO, but they went a step further. Kayaba just put a helmet on people, while this gaming pod locks everyone in and is even sealed?

Moreover, the gaming pod has no safety disconnect system and cannot be opened from the inside. Even without knowing the plot of "Undead on Baker Street", Fang Zheng could see dozens of safety hazards at a glance.

Of course, any early-stage construction won’t lack safety hazards; airplanes were the same. Initially, as long as they could fly, it was enough... Modern airplanes certainly aren’t that simple now.

But frankly, this thing is even more dangerous than the Perfect Stealth System. At least the Perfect Stealth System maintains vital signs after one loses consciousness, but if this thing malfunctions, you’re just waiting to die inside—yep, the coffin’s already prepared, and it’s high-tech! Just find a place to bury it.

Perhaps the CEO of Sindora was so pissed off by Fang Zheng that he wanted to invite him to the first public presentation of the virtual reality game system at Beika City Hall tonight.

Naturally, Fang Zheng... is not going!

He’s already sick of playing in the death game and wants to do it again? No way!

"If he invites me, I have to go? Do I not care about face? You’d better not join the excitement; there’s nothing fun about it."

"No problem, I plan to go see a movie with my sister tomorrow."

At this, Little Ai paused and looked at Fang Zheng.

"Would you like to come along? My sister has an extra ticket..."

"What kind of movie? I’m not watching a romance."

"Neither am I, it’s a sci-fi film."

"Fine, just as long as it’s not something about love, love, oh mom, don’t be mad at me...

"Whew..."

Hearing Fang Zheng agree, Little Ai sighed with relief.

The reason she invited Fang Zheng to a movie was all part of Little Ai’s plan. The reason was simple... she wanted to set up her sister and Fang Zheng!

Little Ai could tell that her sister liked Fang Zheng, but for some reason, she never confessed to him. This made Little Ai anxious. She knew that Fang Zheng was quite popular. Since Megumi was often working, Little Ai spent more time with Fang Zheng, so she observed more carefully.

In fact, according to Little Ai’s observations, it was perfectly normal for women to be attracted to Fang Zheng. He was young, handsome, rich, and didn’t have those annoying show-off traits. Though sometimes he could be quite rude, unexpectedly, it didn’t annoy others but gave off a carefree, unrestrained vibe.

Not to mention, he’s actually a very gentle and caring person, so it’s normal for girls to like him.

Little Ai was aware that the Shimokasa Sisters at home looked at Fang Zheng in a peculiar way, not to mention Kimi Shima, Kousaka Natsumi, and Yoko Okino, who appeared during the movie casting. Little Ai could swear by her woman’s instinct that they also had feelings for Fang Zheng!

Although Little Ai believed her sister was quite a beauty, others were no less so. Kimi Shima was gentle and sweet, Kousaka Natsumi was cheerful and lively, and also a mixed-blood, while Yoko Okino had the added advantage of idol appeal. Her sister stood little chance against them, with the only advantage being that she spent more time with Fang Zheng...

But her sister never seized the opportunity...!

Little Ai felt exhausted.

Even though they lived together, Fang Zheng treated Little Ai and Megumi just like his own sisters. Little Ai was really worried that if things continued like this, Fang Zheng might end up saying he only saw Megumi as a sister...

"Oh, right, Mr. Fang Zheng."

With this thought, Little Ai took a deep breath and decided to be her sister’s advocate for now.

"Do you have a woman you like?"

"Yes."

However, to Little Ai’s surprise, Fang Zheng admitted it without hesitation or stammering, still looking at the newspaper, as if he was asked, "Did you eat today?"

"You do... you do?!"

Hearing this, Little Ai instantly became tense.

"Who is it?"

"Oh, you don’t know her."

So, it’s not any of those previous women... Hmm... Wait, now isn’t the time to relax!

"When are you going to introduce us?"

"We’ll see. It’s unlikely for now. Once we’re done with the Black Organization, I can introduce them to you."

As Fang Zheng casually replied while flipping through the newspaper, Little Ai nodded, then suddenly froze.

Wait... what does he mean by "them"?

"What do you mean by ’them’? Do you have more than one girlfriend, Mr. Fang Zheng?"

"Isn’t that obvious?"

Fang Zheng’s expression was like Little Ai asking if the Earth is round.

"With someone as handsome, suave, young, and wealthy as me, how could I have only one girlfriend?"

".........."

Meow meow meow?

At this moment, Little Ai looked at Fang Zheng, completely bewildered.

You make a really good point, but why do I still feel something’s off?

"So Mr. Fang Zheng, you’re really quite a playboy, aren’t you?"

"You could interpret it that way."

Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders.

"They like me, I like them, so we got together. I don’t see any problem with that."

"But isn’t love supposed to be different...?"

Little Ai felt like her worldview was being led astray.

"You’re referring to Shinichi Kudou and Ran’s kind of love? Frankly, I understand it, but I can’t fully empathize."

Fang Zheng shook his head, flipping another page of the newspaper.

"Honestly, I think it’s quite romantic that Shinichi Kudou likes Ran, Ran likes Shinichi Kudou, and they see each other as their one and only. I understand their mutual loyalty and trust, but... I just can’t do that."

Although Fang Zheng would grumble every day about giving Shinichi Kudou a metaphorical green hat, he was just saying it. It’s evident to anyone that Shinichi Kudou and Ran are deeply in love and willing to sacrifice everything for each other. Fang Zheng wouldn’t destroy a true love like that.

On the other hand, with people like Kato Megumi and Aki Tomoya... well, don’t blame Fang Zheng for using his divine-level excavation skills learned from Lan Xiang Technical School.

Not only will I dig up your walls, but I’ll also collapse your entire house!

"Why, isn’t this just being a playboy?"

"I never said it’s not. I’m just treating people with what I believe to be my way of love."

Saying this, Fang Zheng lifted his head and glanced at Little Ai.

"Or do you understand what love is?"

"..............."

At this point, Little Ai said nothing, her pre-shrunk life revolving around experiments and lab mice. Love? Was she supposed to have romantic feelings for the lab mice? Or amino acids?

"You don’t have a boyfriend, do you?"

Seeing Little Ai remain silent, Fang Zheng chuckled.

"So to talk about love, you’re still a bit too young... especially at your age."

That was a real blow, old friend!

Hearing this, Little Ai gave a cold humph, then with a cold face, walked straight out of the room. It’s not like she wanted to shrink! If she hadn’t shrunk, she would have been a blossoming eighteen-year-old girl, looking for a boyfriend... Thinking of this, Little Ai suddenly felt disheartened.

Within the organization, who could have romantic relationships?...

I might as well talk to my sister.

Thinking of this, Little Ai remembered her sister again.

Maybe tonight I’ll just sleep with my sister; it’s been a while since we’ve had a sisterly chat... perhaps this is a good opportunity?

Fang Zheng didn’t care much for Little Ai’s thoughts, as kids talking about love—well, okay, strictly speaking, among Fang Zheng’s girlfriends, some were younger than her, but being young doesn’t mean they haven’t experienced love, right? When it came to views on romance, there might be a few young girls in the Fang Family who understood more than Little Ai.

Of course, Fang Zheng knew that several of those girls were interested in him, but this world, like the World of Love, made Fang Zheng wary of opening a harem.

Why? The reason is simple, just look at how many episodes in Conan revolve around women killing scumbag men?!

Moreover, compared to the World of Love where women come at you with a kitchen knife, this world’s women have all kinds of skills, with various ingenious murderous methods constantly emerging. If Fang Zheng were to start a harem here, he wouldn’t just worry about whether it’s life-threatening, but how it’s life-threatening...

But honestly, holding back for so long is tough.

Fang Zheng considered assisting some impoverished girls, JK, forced to make a living, but this world simply offered him no options; this profession doesn’t exist... leaving Fang Zheng with a lot of unexpressed enthusiasm, bottling it up to the point he might become perverse...

But if he were to date someone in this world, he’d easily end up facing various murderous methods...

Just as Fang Zheng was contemplating a little spree in Silver Seat, suddenly his phone rang. He put down the newspaper and answered the call.

"Hello, Officer Megure, what’s the matter?"

"Ah, Brother Fang, are you busy right now?"

Officer Megure’s voice on the phone sounded somewhat heavy.

"Not too busy. What’s up?"

"It’s like this, there’s been a problem at Beika City Hall..."

At this point, Officer Megure lowered his voice.

"Could you come take a look?"

".........."

Hearing this, Fang Zheng already knew what Officer Megure wanted him to do.