nycdaug Chapter 265: Needle Fright
Chapter 265: Needle Fright
Yang Xining secretly groaned.
Rong Tao never mentioned that he had such a difficult first love!
"People always grow up." She answered ambiguously.
"I heard you've been pursuing a divorced woman lately?" Hua Yan whispered sarcastically, "Your taste is getting worse."
Yang Xining distanced himself calmly: "Just friends.
Hua Yan suddenly spun around, her plump figure beneath the V-neck dress almost touching Yang Xining's arm. "So...do I have a chance now?"
Yang Xining almost took a wrong step.
Isn’t this woman too direct?
Five years ago, she ignored Rong Tao, but now that he's famous, she's throwing herself at him?
"You're joking," she said with a forced smile. "You shouldn't be short of suitors."
"But none of them are you." Hua Yan's eyes suddenly became affectionate. "After all these years abroad, I finally understand who treats me best."
Yang Xining rolled his eyes inwardly.
With such acting skills, it would be a waste if he didn’t become an actor.
Just as she was racking her brains to get out, a familiar voice came from behind her:
"Young Master Rong, can you please have a moment with me?"
Yang Xining turned around and saw Xiao Zongli standing at the edge of the dance floor, looking elegant and graceful in a lavender dress.
"Miss Xiao." She immediately let go of Hua Yan as if she had been pardoned. "Excuse me."
Hua Yan's expression darkened instantly, but after seeing that the visitor was the daughter of the Xiao family, she managed a smile: "Of course, you two can chat first."
Yang Xining walked quickly towards Xiao Zongli and whispered, "Thank you for helping me."
Xiao Zongli handed her a glass of champagne, a sly glint in her eyes: "You're welcome, Second Young Master Rong."
The lights on the dance floor suddenly dimmed.
The host's voice spread throughout the room through the speakers: "Please all guests move to the center of the banquet hall to witness the engagement ceremony of Mr. Rong Hao and Ms. Gao Xiaojuan!"
The crowd gathered towards the center like a tide.
Yang Xining took the opportunity to say to Xiao Zongli: "Excuse me, I have to go to my family."
The lights on the dance floor suddenly dimmed, leaving only a spotlight shining on the flower arch.
Rong Hao walked slowly into the light circle holding Gao Xiaojuan's hand, both of them with the same decent smile on their faces.
Yang Xining stood among the guests, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the purple crystal that Lanling Chi gave her.
She noticed that Gao Xiaojuan's eyes were empty and the jade bracelet on her wrist was emitting an almost imperceptible green light.
"Thank you all for taking the time to come and witness this important moment for Xiaojuan and me." Rong Hao's voice was gentle and polite, but it made the hairs on the back of Yang Xining's neck stand on end. "Today is not only our engagement party, but also the press conference for my latest scientific research results."
Rong Shicheng stood aside, his face full of pride.
Gao Jun had a blank expression on his face, his eyes drifting towards his daughter from time to time, his brows slightly furrowed.
"What scientific research results will be announced at the engagement party?" Yang Xining whispered in the same tone as Rong Tao, attracting the attention of several guests around.
Rong Hao smiled slightly and signaled his assistant to push forward a small device covered with a red cloth. "For many years, I have been dedicated to the research of developing human potential. Today, I am honored to show you the 'New Era' biochip."
The red cloth was removed, revealing a peculiarly shaped metal disc, its surface engraved with runes similar to those on the coffin.
Yang Xining's pupils suddenly contracted.
That is not a so-called "biochip" at all, but an ancient magical weapon of the Boa clan!
"This chip, implanted in the back of the neck, can significantly enhance human function." Rong Hao's voice held a bewitching charm. "The first trial users will include military special forces and senior leaders."
Gao Jun suddenly stepped forward: "Hao'er, we haven't yet-"
"Dad," Gao Xiaojuan interrupted her father, her voice soft but undeniable, "Brother Hao's research has been recognized by the Academy of Sciences. You should support him."
Gao Jun looked at his daughter in shock, as if he couldn't believe that she would say this.
Yang Xining quietly took a few steps back, hid behind a pillar, and pressed the micro-communicator on his collar pin: "Yan Tian, Rong Hao is promoting the Anaconda Tribe's magic weapon. His goal may be to control the top military officials."
There was a slight electrical buzzing sound from the communicator, but no response.
The signal is blocked!
"In order to give everyone a more intuitive understanding of the chip's effects," Rong Hao continued, "I invited several volunteers to demonstrate it on site."
The side door opened and three men in military uniforms walked in.
Their steps were stiff, their eyes were dull, and a strange green light was faintly visible at the back of their necks.
Yang Xining gasped - that was a puppet that was completely controlled!
"The first one is Colonel Li, the former special forces champion of the Southeast War Zone," Rong Hao introduced. "Please show us your strength, Colonel Li."
The man known as Colonel Lee walked over to a solid wooden table and lifted it easily with one hand.
The guests gasped in amazement, and only a few noticed that the bulging veins on his arms were an unnatural bluish-black color.
"The second one is the Air Force ace pilot, Major Zhang." Rong Hao pointed to another soldier, "Please show your reaction speed."
Major Zhang moved instantly to a position five meters away, so fast that he left an afterimage.
This time even Gao Jun changed his expression.
Yang Xining's hand quietly reached for the ring hidden in the inner pocket of his suit.
The situation was worse than she had expected - Rong Hao not only controlled Gao Xiaojuan, but also attacked military personnel!
"The last one," Rong Hao's smile widened, "I'd like to invite my younger brother Rong Tao to come on stage and experience it."
The spotlight suddenly turned to the pillar where Yang Xining was hiding, and the eyes of the whole audience followed.
"Taotao, don't be shy." Rong Hao's voice was sickeningly sweet. "Brother's new invention, don't you want to be the first to try it?"
Yang Xining froze in place.
Refusing would arouse suspicion, but taking office would be like walking into a trap!
"Rong Tao! Rong Tao!" The guests began to cheer and applaud.
Yang Xining took a deep breath, put on Rong Tao's signature smirk and walked onto the stage: "Brother, is this thing of yours safe? It won't turn me into a zombie, right?"
The audience erupted in laughter, and Rong Hao chuckled, "Don't worry, it's just a small demonstration."
He picked up a tiny syringe filled with fluorescent green liquid. "It's quick and painless."
Yang Xining stared at the tube of liquid and felt the boa venom contained in it.
Once injected, even she would find it hard to resist!
"Wait." She took a step back. "I'm afraid of needles. Can we try another method?"
Rong Hao's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes became more dangerous: "When did my brother become so cowardly?"
Below the stage, Lu Xinghan's fingers almost crushed the champagne glass.
He stood among the crowd of guests, seemingly nonchalant, but in fact his muscles were tense, ready to rush onto the stage at any time.
"Brother, calm down." Lu Tianlin beside him whispered, "The cup is about to break."
Only then did Lu Xinghan realize his loss of composure, loosened his fingers, and forced himself to take a deep breath.
His eyes swept across the various exits of the banquet hall, his brain rapidly calculating the fastest rescue route.
The waiter passage on the left front is 15 meters away, and the fire door on the right is 20 meters away, but they are both guarded by security guards.
"Damn it." He cursed in his heart, his fingers unconsciously touching the mini pistol in the inner pocket of his suit.
If Rong Hao dared to attack his brother, he wouldn't mind turning this engagement party into a murder scene.
Xiao Zonghe stood closer to the stage, his silver-gray suit making him look even more stern.
He keenly noticed the subtle changes in "Rong Tao's" neck line. The real Rong Tao would not have such a beautiful jawline.
Moreover, there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity about this "Rong Tao", and he actually felt a desire to protect "him"...
"Brother, what's wrong?" Xiao Zongli asked in a low voice.
Xiao Zonghe shook his head slightly, but his eyes were fixed on the two people on the stage.
Is it an illusion?
In the corner of the banquet hall, Qi Yuxiao stared at the stage blankly.
Ever since he ran into the black-haired woman at the mall, his headaches have become more frequent.
Looking at Rong Tao on the stage at this moment, that familiar feeling came back, as if something deep in my memory was about to break out.
"Yu Xiao, are you feeling unwell?" Xu Yanyan gently handed over a glass of water and two white pills. "Take the medicine."
Qi Yuxiao took the pill mechanically, but paused just before taking it.
He stared at Rong Tao's pale face on the stage, and an indescribable heartache rolled in his heart.
His instinct told him that this person was important.
"I don't want to take it." He pushed Xu Yanyan's hand away violently, and the pills fell to the ground.
Xu Yanyan's eyes flashed with a hint of harshness, but she quickly returned to her gentleness: "Okay, if you don't want to eat it, then don't eat it."
She bent down to pick up the pill, her nails quietly emitting a green fluorescence.
Lanling Chi leaned against the farthest pillar, his dark red Tang suit almost blending into the shadows.
He seemed to be playing with the wine glass in his hand nonchalantly, but in fact his magic power had already quietly spread out, ready to unleash the magic of the demon world at any time.
When he saw Rong Hao's syringe almost touching "Rong Tao's" neck, his fingertips trembled slightly and the red wine in the glass boiled silently.
On the stage, Yang Xining's situation became increasingly dangerous.
Rong Hao had already calmly pushed her to the edge of the stage, the syringe almost touching her skin.