Chapter 24: Young Master Lu: I was really extorting you, why did you give me all your private money?
Lu Family Manor, the attic at the end of the third floor.
This place was originally a storage room for miscellaneous items, but now it had become Lu Anran's secret base.
Dozens of black cables snaked across the floor like serpents, converging into the two workstations that emitted a faint blue light.
The air was filled with a faint smell of electronic components heating up, as well as Lu Anran's unique, cool scent from long-term lack of sunlight.
Lu Shixuan kicked open the half-closed door, the golf club in his hand clanging loudly against the doorframe.
"Lu Anran! What are you doing here, sneaking around?"
He squinted, pointing the club at the flickering screens, his face clearly saying, "I'm looking for trouble."
"Are you peeking at the Lu family's business secrets? I knew you, you little lunatic, didn't come back with good intentions!"
Lu Anran sat in an ergonomic chair, the hem of her black and white checkered skirt falling to the floor.
She was intently staring at the screen, her fingers typing a series of dull thuds on the keyboard, not even turning her head.
Lu Shixuan secretly rejoiced at being ignored.
Yes!
This is the attitude!
Give me the silent treatment!
Ignore me!
It would be best if you hacked into my bank account right now, took all my retirement money, and left me on the streets!
This little girl, her eyes are almost glued to the screen, isn't she afraid of getting nearsighted?
Judging by the code, is she tracking the signal source of Ye Chen's miniature satellite phone?
Tsk, that idiot Ye Chen is using a'stepping stone protocol' provided by the Dark Web. An Ran going head-on like this will get her IP reverse-tracked.
What a reckless fool, This Young Master will have to personally'sabotage' her.
Lu Shixuan snorted coldly, walked over quickly, and with a sweep of his large hand, roughly grabbed a black USB drive on the table.
"What is this? Is it a confidential document you stole?"
He yanked it hard, pulling out the USB drive with such savagery that he almost knocked over the monitor.
"Give it to me! This Young Master is confiscating this kind of thing!"
He stuffed the USB drive into his pocket, pointed at Lu Anran's forehead, and threatened her fiercely.
"Lu Anran, I warn you, in this house, only I can keep secrets."
"If you dare to touch the keyboard again, I'll throw all your 'junk' out the window!"
Phew, pulled it out just in time.
The opponent's 'Honeypot Program' was about to activate; a second later, the host of An Ran's new computer would have been burned out by the opponent.
This USB drive must be full of her ill-gotten private money or the deposit Ye Chen gave her.
If I snatch it away, she'll surely be heartbroken and go to Big Sister to complain that I stole her things.
Then I'll be an animal who 'extorted and blackmailed his own sister,' and my reputation will be secured!
Lu Anran slowly turned around, her large eyes showing no anger, but rather an extremely strange fanaticism.
She crunched the lollipop in her mouth, making a crisp "crunch" sound.
"Big Brother, were you... saving me just now?"
Lu Shixuan's face stiffened, and his eye twitched.
"Saving you? Are you out of your mind? This Young Master is extorting you! Do you understand extortion?"
He patted the USB drive in his pocket, laughing wildly.
"What's inside is mine now! Want it back? Bring ten million to redeem it!"
Lu Anran suddenly stood up, a sickly blush appearing on her pale face.
She approached Lu Shixuan step by step, and the oppressive feeling actually made Lu Shixuan instinctively want to retreat.
"Big Brother, that USB drive indeed contains my 'entire fortune'."
Lu Anran's voice was very soft, yet it carried a chilling obsession.
"That's Brother Ye Chen's... oh no, that bastard Ye Chen's ledger from all the years he made me help him launder money overseas."
"A total of thirty-five million US dollars, and just now, I've transferred all of it to Big Brother's secret account."
Lu Shixuan was completely petrified on the spot.
Huh?
Thirty-five million... US dollars?
You transferred it to me?
Lu Anran, are you crazy?
That's dirty money!
That's Ye Chen's lifeline!
Are you giving it to me so I can go to jail?
Lu Anran suddenly reached out her cold little hand and gently stroked Lu Shixuan's cheek.
Her eyes were full of admiration, even a hint of infatuation.
"Big Brother's action of pulling out the USB drive just now was really cool."
"You saw at a glance that the other party was tracking me, didn't you?"
"So, as a return gift, not only did I give you this money, but I also implanted a 'Self-destruct Trojan' into Ye Chen's satellite phone."
"As soon as he dials that number next time, his phone will go 'bang' and turn into a piece of scrap metal."
Lu Shixuan felt his legs trembling.
System!
Help!
This plot isn't just broken, it's taking off!
I came to extort her, but she gave me all her private money?
And this money is Ye Chen's dirty money?
If Big Sister finds out, how do I explain?
Am I supposed to say that I, this bully, am engaged in anti-money laundering work?
Just then, the attic door was pushed open again.
Big Sister Lu Qingwan, Second Sister Lu Zhirou, and Third Sister Lu Hongyi, all three stood neatly at the doorway.
Lu Qingwan held a newly printed transfer record, her eyes extremely complex.
"A Xuan."
Lu Qingwan's voice was a little hoarse.
"An Ran just told me the whereabouts of that thirty-five million US dollars."
"She said that you, in order to cut off Ye Chen's overseas black industrial chain, risked your life to personally receive this dirty money, intending to hand it over to the state?"
Lu Shixuan: "..."
Big Sister!
Listen to me explain!
I really wanted to extort her!
How was I supposed to know there was money in this USB drive?
I thought it was her selfies or Ye Chen's love letters!
Also, An Ran, you little lunatic, when did you tell Big Sister?
Lu Anran hid behind Lu Shixuan, peeking out her small head, and gave a pure and harmless smile to her three sisters.
"Big Sister, Big Brother was so fierce just now. To prevent me from being targeted by the Dark Web, he bravely took all the risks upon himself."
"He also said that all this money should be donated to the stray dog shelter in Xijiao."
Lu Shixuan suddenly turned his head, staring fixedly at Lu Anran.
When did I say I was going to donate it?
That's my retirement money!
Lu Anran, you brother-betrayer!
Lu Hongyi walked forward and patted Lu Shixuan's shoulder hard, her eyes full of admiration.
"A Xuan, well done!"
"I've had the tech team verify the source of that money; it is indeed illegal overseas funds."
"This time, you not only got An Ran out of trouble but also cut off Ye Chen's retreat."
"I will handle the thirty-five million US dollars for you under the name of an 'anonymous warm-hearted citizen,' and Big Sister will approve additional funds for the shelter."
Lu Zhirou pushed up her glasses, took out a special soothing patch from her medicine box, and without a word, stuck it on Lu Shixuan's back of the neck.
"A Xuan, your heart must have been racing when facing the hacker attack, right? Don't force yourself, Big Sister knows you're under a lot of stress."
Lu Shixuan was like a puppet, letting his sisters manipulate him.
He turned his head, looked at the two top workstations, and then at the heavy USB drive in his pocket.
Despair.
An unprecedented despair enveloped him.
Ding!
Detected host has completed the 'Extort Sixth Sister' mission.
Because the host successfully received and processed a huge amount of overseas dirty money, completely crushed Ye Chen's overseas expansion plan, and gained Lu Anran's unwavering loyalty.
System judgment: The host is not only a bully but also a profound strategic master.
Reward: 15 million cash.
Reward: God-tier Hacker Technology (Advanced Version: The host can now invade any non-encrypted electronic device with a thought).
villain points: -5000 (System prompt: host, due to your personal charm, Lu Anran has decided to hack all of Ye Chen's backup plans for you. Please enjoy your 'group favorite' life).
Lu Shixuan sat down on the floor, looking at the flickering green code on the screen, and let out a silent scream.
"Ye Chen, you good-for-nothing! Why don't you resist?"
"All your trump cards have been revealed by my sister, what are you waiting for?"
In the unfinished building in Xijiao.
Ye Chen was furiously roaring at the smoking satellite phone.
"Broken? How could it be broken?"
"Lu Anran! How dare you trick me!"
He violently smashed the phone, a hint of extreme madness flashing in his eyes.
"Since the cyber war is lost, I'll use the most primitive method!"
"Lu Shixuan, tomorrow's 'Campus Belle Selection' at school, I will let you know what it means to be betrayed by everyone!"
Meanwhile, in the Lu family's attic, Lu Anran was sitting on the carpet at Lu Shixuan's feet, typing on the keyboard.
"Big Brother, Ye Chen just smashed his phone, and his heart rate spiked to 140."
"He seems to be planning something for tomorrow's school event."
She looked up and gave Lu Shixuan a sweet smile.
"Shall I help Big Brother replace his presentation PPT for tomorrow with the video of him taking selfies in the bathroom last night?"
Lu Shixuan looked at this innocent-faced crazy sister and silently covered his face.
"An Ran, please, be a human."
But... can you send me a copy of that selfie video first?
I want to see it.
Lu Anran smiled even more brightly.
"Okay, Big Brother."
At this moment, Lu Shixuan finally realized that his path as a villain had completely turned into a one-way road to becoming the "Head of the Lu Family."