The year 1930 of the Republic of China, in Shanghai, the Shanghai International Settlement, the Qin Residence.
"Miss has been sitting there for half an hour, Wu Nanny, why don't you go over and take a look?"
The gardener called out to the old servant hurry across the path, and nodded towards the other side.
Wu Nanny stopped in her tracks, looking in the direction he was pointing. A young lady was sitting in front of the rose bushes, in her early twenties, with striking looks.
It was none other than their young miss Qin Wei.
"What is with this Dr. Xu, going away for so long without even a letter to let us know he is safe. With a girl as pretty as our miss pining for him day and night, he doesn't show an ounce of care? If I could..."
Before the gardener could finish, Wu Nanny glared at him. She picked up the envelope in her hand, waved it towards the gardener, then walked over to the rose bushes.
"Miss, a letter from Dr. Xu!"
Hearing Wu Nanny's words, the light returned to Qin Wei's eyes. She turned around and lifted her hand eagerly,
"Let me see!"
She took the envelope and tore it open impatiently. But soon her excitement turned to disappointment as she sank back into her chair.
It was his handwriting no doubt.
But there was not a word of concern or even a simple greeting.
The ivory stationery contained nothing but a series of numbers, and that's all.
After nearly half a year without a word, finally there was news from him. How was he doing? Where was he? She had been waiting for his return for so long, why did he suddenly disappear as his return approached?
And what could these numbers mean?
Wu Nanny stood to the side, unable to read but able to see the disappointment on her young miss's face. She tried to comfort her,
"He must be delayed on his trip back. As you know, it's turmoil out there. I shouldn't have...I'm terrible with words. Dr. Xu has always been steady and careful, he will be alright..."
Qin Wei did not pay much attention to her words. She put the letter into her pocket, and as she got up to go back to her room, Wu Nanny stopped her again:
"The reporter from Shanghai News is here for an interview with you, Miss. The master has agreed. He is waiting for you in the living room."
"I'm not in the mood..."
Qin Wei turned to leave, but suddenly changed her mind.
"Wu Nanny, ask the reporter to wait. I'll be right there."
...
Thick dark green curtains, French brass floor lamps, Rococo style high-back armchairs, Burmese teak liquor cabinet...
Seeing is believing. Being inside the magnificent Qin Residence made one realize just how opulent it was. From furniture to ornaments, everything you laid eyes on was custom made overseas then shipped across oceans to get here. In these chaotic times, only tremendous wealth could afford such extravagance and attention to detail.
Qiao Sixiao ran her hand along the back of the armchair, feeling the silky texture and flowing lines. Intricate carvings adorned the arms, crest rails and everywhere...
"If you like it I'll have it delivered it to your home. Just let me know."
A pleasant voice came from the doorway, not too high or low, very soothing to listen to.
Qiao looked up to see a young lady entering the room.
If she guessed correctly, this must be Qin Wei whom she was here to interview.
"Miss Qiao?"
Qin Wei looked at her with a faint smile on her face,
"So you are a lady reporter...studied abroad?"
Qiao was taken aback for a moment before admitting plainly:
"Yes, I studied in France for a few years when I was younger..."
Realizing she hadn't introduced herself properly, she quickly added:
"Pleased to meet you Miss Qin. I am Qiao Sixiao, reporter from Shanghai News."
"Qin Wei."
She took a seat and invited Qiao to sit as well, murmuring softly to herself,
"France...he also studied in France..."
"I'm sorry Miss Qin, what did you say?"
"Oh nothing."
Qin Wei shook her head,
"I see Miss Qiao comes from a well-off family. A friend of mine had to sell off his ancestral home in order to study abroad in France."
The reporter didn't crack a smile for quite some time. Qiao came from very humble beginnings, her family background couldn't compare to the Qins' in the slightest. From an unknown rural backwater in Yinxian to Shanghai and then France, she had given so much...
"Miss Qiao?"
Seeing her lost in thought, Qin Wei called out to catch her attention again. Only then did Qiao lift her head,
"Just a stroke of luck I guess, giving me a chance to go out and see the world."
Qin Wei didn't seem to care much for her story. She glanced at the doorway then leaned in to whisper:
"Since you want to interview me, help me sneak out and I'll give you something good."
Qin gestured at the servants by the door,
"Get rid of them and take me out."
[Ding dong!]
[Story Progression Triggered, Quest Unlocked!]
Qin looked around, where was that sound coming from?
"Miss Qiao, did you hear that? What if I've been bound to some gaming system? "
Qin kept pointing at her own head looking incredulous.
Qiao rolled her eyes at her:
"I told you TikTok is fine but don't watch too many weird videos. You've been watching too many dramas!"
Then she pointed to the rock-disguised loudspeaker behind the tree and the well-hidden cameras all around them.
"I don't know anything about the system you mentioned. All I see is a whole set of filming equipment here on standby."
24/7 all-angle coverage to avoid disrupting immersion with a camera crew tailing them.
"I see, you gave me quite a scare!"
Qin breathed a sigh of relief. She had seen videos lately of people getting bound to some system forcing them to complete quests to survive.
Thank goodness she could still be a slacker potato.
A staff member came over to hand them quest cards, reminding Qin before she opened it:
"Miss Qin, there was some ambiguity around your earlier self-introduction that could lead viewers to form misconceptions. Let's clarify that here."
He handed Qin a card to re-introduce herself:
"My father Qin is the Deputy Director of the Economic Committee of the Nan Country Government, and business tycoon Kai Baidu who trades with Britain and America. I am his only daughter Qin Wei, character profile: youthful, rich heiress..."
Qin smacked her lips looking towards the staff.
"Miss Qin, did you want to say something?"
Qin pointed at the quest card and asked softly:
"We won't have me sneaking into intelligence to steal Enigma machine schematics next right? Because I'm already very familiar with that storyline since I wanted to write fanfiction on it."
"Miss Qin you've gotten things mixed up..."
The staff urged them to open up their quest cards.
They opened the cards together and read:
"Evade pursuit."
