Phone Call to M Hotel

No matter how much Su Ting hates tech, the fact stands that this world is a technology-based world. She does have a few of the most necessary technologies. It's just that she reduced her connection to the main network to a minimum.

She ran across her yard and through a grove of trees before she came to a clearing. Her steps around and on the dirt path were adept and familiar. All those years living in the area gave her a certain level of expertise. The average onlooker may mistake her proficiency for an expert low-hoverboard user.

In the clearing, she unlocked a shed and hopped on a bike. She ignored the layer of dust on the seat. She tapped the bike three times to activate the voice command. "Power on. Auto drive activate. Set destination to downtown." Su Ting gave a string of commands to voice activation. The bike powered on and started slow. After leaving the forest it sped up and its wheels left the ground to curl up inside. Su Ting mentally knocked on her biochip, "He Ku, Connect to the main network."

"Master would like to connect to the main network?"

"Yes, and update whatever you want." Su Ting had previously refused to allow both of these things as much as possible. Now it was a nuisance not to have access. Going the long way wouldn't work today.

"Connecting to the main network. Updating… Due to Master's settings, the update may take more than 30 seconds. We apologize for the inconvenience. Update complete."

"Call Mu Fang."

"No Mu Fang in contacts. Divert to most likely associate?"

"Yes, just call him."

"Permission required. Would Master like to add a note?"

Some people could buy 'privacy' by blocking callers this way. It's like sending a friend request on a social media platform. Most people have this feature active.

Although one technically didn't need someone's number to call someone, their name and identity--or being on intimate terms with a close friend--was required to make contact. She just so happened to be on intimate terms with someone Mu Fang was on intimate terms with. This barely satisfies the requirements.

Intimate terms means they have a special nickname or title in their contacts. For example, Su Ting labeled Chen Lijun as 'fiance' and her sister as 'fake empress'.

Mu Fang was close to Chen Lijun. Because the three of them all had a title for one another in some way, she could call Mu Fang without knowing his number. So Mu Fang and Su Ting could be considered indirectly connected through Chen Lijun. Therefore, it allowed Su Ting to reach out and contact him. Or vice versa.

Up until now, they had never spoken to one another. In fact, he may not even know she knew he existed. However, she didn't know exactly what she was jumping into. She needed help. Someone who would come running that she could trust enough to leave her back to.

Even she didn't know why she was willing to show her back to him. He probably hated her.

"He Ku, tell him that Su Huiqing is scheming against Chen Lijun. He should check room 418 of the M Hotel in B City."

According to her memories, Mu Fang was out of the country for work when this happened. However, with his connections, he should be able to do something. Su Ting didn't know the full reach of Mu Fang's hands. She didn't bother finding out in her previous life. All she knew was that his influence spread wide and deep. He'd be able to take care of whatever problems were about to be thrust upon them. She knew that the people she was about to meet would not be easily dealt with. She had a feeling her sister wouldn't give up easily. Who knew what she'd pull out of her back pocket this time? If Mu Fang could send in security to back her and Chen Lijun up, that would be the best.

"What time is it?"

"It is 19:51:34 PM."

She tapped her bike three times, "Reset course-"

"This is Mu Fang. You better-" interrupted a low voice.

Su Ting was surprised, she hadn't expected him to accept the call right after she'd sent the permissions. Was he not busy? She didn't think he was so free that he would stare at his permission notes all day. She figured he had many people reaching out to try and contact him every day. Did she overestimate him?

"-course to M hotel." She finished resetting her destination. She had missed a few of Mu Fang's words.

Mu Fang continued talking on his end. He didn't seem to notice the situation on her side. "-is a threat."

Su Ting didn't know what he'd said, but one thing was confirmed. He didn't like her. It didn't matter. They had a common enemy.

She spoke up over the wind in her ears, "Mu Fang, leave threats for later." She slightly regretted calling him now. "She's going to feed him an aphrodisiac with hallucinogenic effects. All I know is that it will leave him sick for a few days and that it's very strong. If you have anyone you can send over, send them! I'm pulling up now. I don't know if I'll be able to stop her on my own."

Her bike left the highway and lowered its speed. Vehicles of this day and age were fast and M Hotel was still in B city so it was only a few minutes away from her place. She was only a few kilometers away now. She'd be in the door by the time they hung up.

The other end was silent for a moment, "My people won't arrive for another two minutes, and we will need a relative to open the door."

Su Ting frowned. The authorities should have a way around that in case of an emergency. She thought about it. It must be because her words can't be used as evidence.

"I can't mess with M hotel without a war breaking out. I'm on my way now. I'll take care of Lijun. But remember, if something does happen to Lijun I have no qualms about starting that war. And you will be at its epicenter."

His voice sent cold shivers down her spine. She couldn't hold back a bewildered curse from slipping out. "Pervert" Her eyes widened. Did she just say that on the call? She was wishing for another set of jade earrings when she pulled up to the hotel. Just as she was about to hang up to run away she heard a raspy chuckle. If it was any other woman on the phone she would cry that her ears had been impregnated.

"Don't hang up. Turn on the video."

She pressed her lips together. She understood his meaning immediately. This comment affirmed her curse's veracity. But she didn't dare to call him a pervert again. She didn't even dare to mute her mic and gave a verbal command to the biochip, "He Ku, turn on the video chat."

Mu Fang was so controlling, he needed to see the situation Chen Lijun was in. But, in public, video calls wouldn't show the faces of people the callers didn't have on their contacts. When the caller entered a private establishment the videos automatically blackened. A hotel was considered a private establishment. So she wasn't sure what he intended to get out of it.

However, she didn't care about his intentions or what he could or could not see of the situation she was about to walk in on.

She swore she heard someone laugh when she called her biochip's name.

She added, "Forward facing." Now he wouldn't be able to see her face. He would just get the blackened screen of the hotel. She didn't want to interact with this weirdo anymore than she had to, let alone give him a good chance to study her facial expressions.

Su Ting quickly stepped into the lobby.