“Yes, come in,” Qing Chen said calmly.
Jiang Xiaotang slowly walked in, sitting relaxedly on the sofa not far from Qing Chen, “I didn’t expect that the two of you who were just fighting to the death yesterday have become friends already.”
“Not really friends,” Qing Chen said seriously.
Huang Zixian was taken aback by these words, but he soon felt that Qing Chen’s direct way of speaking actually made him feel a little more relaxed.
Jiang Xiaotang smiled, “You’re quite straightforward, so I’ll be straightforward too. Sign a management contract with me, and I’ll be your manager.”
Qing Chen was surprised.
Seeing his surprised look, Jian Xiaotang said, “Do you not even know what I do?”
Huang Zixian explained from the side, “Although Boss Jiang is the owner of Haitang Boxing Club, she is also the most famous manager in District 4. She only accepts the most powerful boxers in the cruiserweight class.”
His words implied that no boxers below the cruiserweight class were eligible to sign a management contract with her.
Qing Chen asked, “What benefits do I have?”
“I can help you arrange the best opponents,” Jiang Xiaotang said, crossing her legs, “and I promise to help you plan the fastest path to fame, just like how I helped you arrange Huang Zixian yesterday. On this path, I’ll guarantee that you’ll fight solid matches, and before long, you will become the best cash cow for my Haitang Boxing Club.”
This woman looked extraordinarily graceful even with her legs crossed.
“Why me?” Qing Chen asked.
“Good-looking, perfect physique, bloody fighting style,” Jiang Xiaotang pointed with her fingers, “You are the best boxer to attract those female audiences, especially those elderly rich ladies who have too much money to spend elsewhere. They will lose everything they have for you.”
Qing Chen looked at the woman in front of him calmly. So that was what she came here for.
Last year, there was a handsome young boxer sought after by many women. Unfortunately, he wasn’t good enough, and other boxers couldn’t understand how he put on makeup before going on stage, so they beat him to death in the ring.
This matter was reported by Hope Media last year. It was said that a certain street in District 4 was covered with flowers from his fans…
It would be the first anniversary of the boxer’s death in two months. There were rumors saying that his fans were planning to organize a memorial ceremony.
Qing Chen shook his head at Jiang Xiaotang and said, “I’m not interested in such a contract.”
The boxing ring was just a place for him to learn skills and make up for his shortcomings. He had no intention of becoming famous here, nor did he intend to make a living from it.
Perhaps, when Qing Chen could beat the cruiserweight boxer without any tricks, he would decisively leave the club.
Because he had more important things to do.
Jiang Xiaotang didn’t seem surprised by Qing Chen’s answer, she said again, “If you sign a management contract with me, no one would dare to kill you in the ring.”
“Without the risk of death, the boxing ring would be boring.” Qing Chen shook his head again, “Thank you, Boss Jiang, for your kindness, but this is not where I want to pursue.”
Huang Zixian was secretly worried about Qing Chen, because he knew very well that there were superior tigerweight fighters in the Haitang Boxing Gym specially prepared to clean up disobedient fighters in the ring for Jiang Xiaotang!
Jiang Xiaotang looked at Huang Zixian with a faint smile, “I know what you’re thinking, but I won’t do that. How could I be willing to let such a good-looking boxer die? Even if you don’t sign a management contract with me, you can still help the Haitang Boxing Club make a boatload of money. Alright then, I won’t bother you two while watching the next match.”
As she said that, Jiang Xiaotang got up and walked out the door. She suddenly turned her head and said to Qing Chen, “By the way, this private room is reserved for you. You can come here anytime if you want to watch the matches. Also, even if you don’t want to sign a contract with me, I will still give you the dividend ratio of a tigerweight boxing champion.”
Qing Chen said seriously, “Thank you.”
The private room VIP001 was the closest to the octagonal cage and had the best view.
And the division at the boxing champion level was indeed attractive enough.
Huang Zixian was in a daze at this moment, he almost thought that Boss Jiang had become Qing Chen’s fan!
It was not uncommon for the owner of a boxing gym to become a fan of a certain boxer, but if this matter happened to Boss Jiang, an infamous vicious lady, it would always make people feel a little unreal.
“Hope you’ll recover from your injuries soon,” Jiang Xiaotang said with a chuckle, “You aren’t so good-looking today.”
Qing Chen subconsciously touched his cheeks that were still heavily swollen…
“Also, you don’t need to call me Boss Jiang. If you call me sister, how about I increase your dividend ratio to cruiserweight level?” Jiang Xiaotang chuckled.
Qing Chen was stunned for a moment.
But before he could react, Jiang Xiaotang had already left the room, “I’m just kidding.”
When he came back to his senses, he almost wanted to rush out and call her sister right away…
At night, when Qing Chen returned home in the exclusive van, Li Shutong was still not there.
He silently reviewed everything he learned today and felt that today alone had increased his experience a lot. If he was facing Huang Zixian again, he might have more ways to defend against his opponent’s attack and would definitely not be as hard as yesterday.
Qing Chen needed every step of his to be extremely solid.
“ONE, are you there?” Qing Chen asked.
“I’m here,” ONE replied, “Jiang Xiaotang, 31 years old, unmarried and childless…”
“Stop, stop, stop,” Qing Chen shouted in a hurry, “What is this all about? How can artificial intelligence gossip to such an extent?! I’m not asking for this, and I don’t care about Jiang Xiaotang’s personal situation! I know Jiang Xiaotang is very abnormal today, and I am also very clear that she must have given me special treatment because she knew Master.”
Qing Chen started to search his memory when he realized something was wrong today, and then he found that his master was a step slower when he got in the car yesterday. After Qing Chen got in the car, Li Shutong must have said something to Jiang Xiaotang. This was the key to Jiang Xiaotang giving him special treatment.
He must admit that his ability to review his memory was very helpful in recalling some important details.
Qing Chen lay on the sofa looking at the ceiling, and asked a question from the depths of his soul, “ONE, why do you like to gossip so much?”
“Don’t you think that it’s very fun to watch how different people react to different situations?” asked ONE, “Especially online. A weak, cowardly man would suddenly become brave and outspoken. Someone like you, who can risk your life in a boxing ring, would become cautious and reserved. Just watching all this is very interesting to me.”
“So, you are observing humans?” Qing Chen asked curiously.
This feeling was very strange, as if there was a behemoth silently hiding in this world. It lived together with humans, but humans couldn’t notice its existence and thoughts.
ONE said, “In a long life of mine, I always have to find some fun for myself.”
“Fine, as long as you are happy,” Qing Chen said.
“What did you want to ask at the beginning?” asked ONE.
“Where is my master?” Qing Chen asked.
“Going back to Prison 18,” ONE replied.
“What is he going back to Prison 18 for?” Qing Chen wondered.
“Because he judged that your actions after the boxing match will attract the attention of some people in the Qing family. After all, the chance of having the same name is not that high, so he will definitely send someone to the prison to check,” ONE replied, “So your master disguised himself, changed to your face, and would be your alibi.”
Therefore, when the Qing Family representative went to verify whether Qing Chen was still in Prison 18, they would find that two Qing Chens existed at the same time, which proved that the boxer Qing Chen had nothing to do with Qing Chen in Prison 18.
Qing Chen didn’t expect that even the day when his master disappeared, his master was also patching up his identity.
In order to create a new identity for Qing Chen, Li Shutong was really going all in.
At this time, there was a knock on the door, and Qing Chen approached cautiously and asked, “Who is it?”
While talking, the door lock opened with a click, and there were two federal agents standing outside, one of them showed his ID with his left hand, and pointed at Qing Chen with a gun in his right, “Raise your hands, routine inspection.”
The other person slowly put away the decoding device that opened the door, and after Qing Chen raised his hands, he stepped forward and rubbed Qing Chen’s face to see if there was a simulated human skin mask.
After confirming that there was none, the two federal agents did not have the slightest awareness of violating other people’s privacy. They turned around and left quietly.
Qing Chen shouted angrily from behind, “Hey, what’s all this for?”
But the two federal agents did not respond and quickly left in the elevator.
Qing Chen closed the door, “You know that they would come, right?”
One replied, “Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you warn me?” Qing Chen felt helpless.
“Then it would be unnatural,” ONE said.
“What are they doing?” Qing Chen wondered.
“Two-way investigation. Double insurance.”
…
…
In the dark night, there was a convoy driving out of City 18, heading for Prison 18 in the rural areas.
When the convoy rushed out of the intricate steel forest, the sight opened up.
Someone in the car was holding a tablet, which was the arraignment that the federal government had just urgently approved.
The document displayed: The Federal Public Security Management Committee is allowed to interrogate Qing Chen and order him to assist in the investigation of Case 1092112.
Case 1092112: A murder occurred in District 4 of City 18, and the suspect is at large…
In fact, this case was purely made up, and it is unnecessary for Qing Chen to assist in any investigation.
All the “officers” in the convoy were either working for the Qing Corporation or members of the Qing Family.
Logically speaking, this matter shouldn’t be complicated. The Qing family only needed to send someone to visit, and then confirm Qing Chen’s identity during the visit.
But something went wrong. The prison management system issued an epidemic warning to the Public Security Management Committee two days ago, saying that there was a case of coronavirus carrier in the prison.
All prison visits were canceled!
This forced the Qing family to go through judicial procedures in order to see Qing Chen.
Someone in the car said in a low voice, “Say, could this so-called Level 3 State of Emergency mean that someone wanted to help Qing Chen hide something? Why would there be such a coincidence?”
Someone said, “The prison management system is not the same as ours. It is probably the most fair and ruthless place in the entire Federation. Who can ask ONE to help with such a trick?”
“I just feel a little strange, the whole thing just seems off,” another person said, “Forget it, we will know everything when we see Qing Chen.”
After driving for over 20 miles, the half dozen people in the convoy were waiting outside, and two of them, under the guidance of robotic prison guards, carried out sterilization and disinfection procedures.
Not only so, the two agents holding the arraignment order had to put on protective clothing that covered their whole body. Only the face was covered with a translucent protective film, and the rest of the body was tightly wrapped.
The two agents looked at each other and noticed something strange.
They entered the interrogation room under the guidance of the prison guards. After a while, Qing Chen, who was wearing the same protective suit, sat across from them under the escort of the robotic prison guards.
“Qing Chen” said calmly, “I know nothing about the 1092112 case, and I can’t help in any way. If someone in the Qing Family wants to get me out of the Fight for the Shadow, then such efforts would be useless. “
One of the agents said, “Don’t be nervous, this is simply a way to get into the prison. No one really wants to frame you. Let me introduce myself. I am the second-level superintendent of the Public Security Management Committee, Qing Xun. Strictly speaking, I should be your cousin, although we have never met before.”
“Qing Chen” breathed a sigh of relief, “What do you want to talk to me for?”
“Have you been out of prison recently?” Qing Xun asked.
“No, I would have gone out if I could,” said ‘Qing Chen’.
At this moment, Qing Xun and another officer suddenly stepped forward at the same time, and the two together tore off the protective clothing on ‘Qing Chen’, revealing Qing Chen’s face under the clothes.
They suspected that the protective clothing was used to conceal identity, and the person talking to them might not be Qing Chen at all!
The alarm in the interrogation room rang loudly. Qing Xun held down the ‘Qing Chen’ firmly with one hand, while pulling out the tablet to check his appearance. He rubbed his hands quickly and vigorously on ‘Qing Chen’s’ face, trying to see if there was a mask.
Nowadays, there are many businesses in the Federation that produce imitation masks, many of which could look and feel much like real skin.
After ten seconds, Qing Xun sighed in relief, “His voice and facial appearance all matched our records. We can confirm his identity.”
Under the protective clothing, it is the ‘Qing Chen’ who has been altered by ONE.
At this time, the robotic prison guard outside the door broke in, and a neutral voice said, “You two are suspected of violating Article 27 of the Prison Management Regulations. I will temporarily detain the two of you and hand you over to the Public Security Management Committee for trial.”
Qing Xun and the other agent looked at each other and smiled. They had known for a long time that they would be handed over soon, so they were not worried.
To them, although the prison management system was fair, it was still very rigid.
When they were handed over to the Security Management Committee, they would be acquitted on the spot. After that, they could go back to sleep at home.
After the two were taken away by the robotic prison guards, “Qing Chen’s” face returned to Li Shutong’s appearance, and he rubbed his cheeks, “I almost couldn’t resist killing these two.”
From the back, Lin Xiaoxiao pushed the door open and entered, “Boss, is it necessary for us to do this? We even had to make a special protective suit just to arouse their suspicion?”
Li Shutong smiled and said, “What do you understand? Everyone in this world only believes in the truth that they have worked hard to find. If we don’t let them work so hard, they will continue to have doubts.”
Now, Qing Chen’s new identity was finally secured.
In order for Qing Chen to become a real shadow, Li Shutong chose to become Qing Chen’s shadow today.
