Chapter 44: The Chase
Chapter 44
Qian Lang glanced at the email on the computer screen, hesitated for a moment, and then asked:
"What if...we spend some money?"
Xu Mingchuan opened his eyes and looked up at Qian Lang:
"Do you have any ideas?"
Qian Lang scratched his head:
"I wouldn't call it an idea! Just a little suggestion...
The trickiest part of this matter right now is finding the virtual account where the money was transferred. Our domestic police can't handle it, and the UK side doesn't want to make too much effort either, but if we're willing to help out..."
He trailed off at that point.
Xu Mingchuan frowned:
"Since when did you learn to sell suspense? Just say it!"
Qian Lang nodded repeatedly:
"I have a friend who knows someone who's a hacker, does legal stuff if you pay him, doesn't do illegal stuff even if you pay him. I figured since our thing isn't illegal, we could..."
Xu Mingchuan slapped his thigh:
"Anything that can be solved with money isn't a problem!! What are you still hesitating for, go on!"
...
It was already dark in Rome. Today they went to the famous ancient Roman Colosseum, completed the task, enjoyed the sights, and ate authentic Italian pasta and pizza.
The six people were sitting in the car humming tunes on their way back, fully sated with food and drink.
Everything was going well until Qin Kaili said something she shouldn't have:
"Today's food was practically a carbohydrate bomb, but not caring about calories and eating until full felt so good."
As soon as she finished speaking, the other five people fell silent.
Nobody knew if she had been required by the company to watch her figure, but the rest of them did.
Sheng Lin and Li Hanming's agency Pioneer Entertainment was famously strict with their artists. Everyone who debuted from there was meant to be an idol, and the most important qualities for an idol were face and figure. They had to weigh themselves every week, and if they weren't required to bulk up, any unexplained weight gain over 50 grams would be questioned.
The two were reminded of this and immediately wiped the smiles from their faces, hanging their heads in shame.
Liu Xin also quietly patted her own little paunch. Before coming, she already showed signs of gaining weight. As a result, after being too tired these past few days to pay attention to her diet, the tight pants she brought could no longer fit this morning.
So she couldn't help but sigh.
The only two who didn't seem to care were Chen Chen, who had already become a wealthy wife, and Qin Wei, who was on the verge of leaving the industry.
The next morning, three people got up early without agreeing beforehand and put on workout clothes.
"Morning jog?"
Qin Wei was still in bed. Naturally, she rejected Liu Xin's invitation on instinct.
Yesterday they had walked all around the Colosseum and were exhausted. And now a morning jog?
Liu Xin pulled her arm:
"Weiwei, a woman in this industry can't neglect her image! Hurry up and get up, let's go for a morning jog! Women in this industry can't get fat!"
As annoying as it was, Liu Xin really needed someone to contrast with her. The two male artists couldn't keep up with her jogging at all, so she had no baseline for comparison.
Fortunately, the three female artists who came together were all sports dunces. Jogging together would give her an advantage.
She had a lot of experience filming variety shows. When you jog alone, the audience can't tell how fast you're going at all. You needed a reference point to demonstrate your speed.
Unfortunately, Qin Kaili said her back hurt too much to jog, and Chen Chen hadn't wanted to associate with her since they arrived in London.
The only one she could partner with was the estranged Qin Wei.
A pampered flower of wealth and nobility, how far could she jog?
Qin Wei pulled the covers over her head:
"My agent said I look better chubby. A flower of human wealth and nobility, how can I be wealthy without being chubby..."
...
"Achoo!"
Qin Wei zipped up her jacket. The Roman morning was surprisingly cool.
After much cajoling and persuasion, Liu Xin had finally dragged Qin Wei out of bed. The fresh air and lack of people on the streets now did make it suitable for a morning jog.
Sheng Lin adjusted his smartwatch and opened the map on it:
"We all have different paces, so let's just jog separately. We can loop around these two streets, and be back at the starting point after about an hour."
After saying this, he led his junior from the same company to start jogging first.
Liu Xin pulled Qin Wei's sleeve:
"The two of us can jog together. But I can't guarantee my speed, since I work out often and don't jog that slowly. You have to keep up with me, because I won't stop or wait for you."
Qin Wei didn't feel like talking to her and just gave an "OK" gesture before starting to jog.
Half an hour later.
Liu Xin had calculated many scenarios, but never imagined that she would be the one left far behind while Qin Wei raced ahead of her. How did Qin Wei manage to leave her in the dust like that!?
Qin Wei jogged smoothly, her breathing still even, but just looking at her she didn't seem like the athletic type at all.
Liu Xin hadn't seen Qin Wei for over ten minutes now. She had no idea where Qin Wei had run off to.
This wasn't a sprint, yet she was running so fast...
Why was she running so fast anyway...
Thinking back on her own words from earlier, Liu Xin felt like she had been slapped in the face.
In the distance, she saw a familiar figure standing under a tree. It looked like Qin Wei...
Liu Xin jogged over and found Qin Wei standing there eating a sandwich...
【Hahahaha!】
【Hahahahahaha!】
【Was big sis Qin running so fast just to buy breakfast? Liu Xin would never have imagined that in her dreams hahahaha】
【Did big sis Qin do it to annoy Liu Xin? Not only did she not jog properly, she went and ate more carbs】
【I just eat what I want, I'm still not fat. *sigh* I was just messing around】
【Big sis Qin is such a comedian】
【Liu Xin said she wouldn't wait, but couldn't even keep up. Her face got slapped so suddenly, she looked totally bewildered just now】
【Big sis Qin seems pretty naturally athletic hahahaha she can train for the next Olympics after retiring】
...
Qin Wei also felt that her body was quite athletic, it just hadn't been discovered because the original owner didn't exercise.
Now that it was her turn, persistently exercising scientifically, her physique and abilities in all areas rapidly improved.
Buying breakfast wasn't part of the plan, she was just genuinely hungry and didn't think that much about it.
Seeing Liu Xin come over, Qin Wei had just about finished eating and was about to jog with her, but Liu Xin had stopped.
She seemed a little angry.
Qin Wei wiped her mouth and explained to her:
"Um...this breakfast was 5 euros, it's within budget, don't worry..."
Liu Xin had her hands on her hips, still struggling to catch her breath:
"You brought money on your morning jog?"
Qin Wei nodded, taking out the change from buying the sandwich. A roll of euros lay quietly in her palm:
"Yeah...since I handle the money, I noticed we were out of small change last night. So I brought 500 euros to exchange into smaller bills...easier to use."
Before she could finish speaking, the money in her hand disappeared.
Looking closely, someone had actually snatched the money from her hand and was sprinting away. It happened faster than the blink of an eye, even the camera crew almost didn't catch it.
Qin Wei came to her senses, with an expression more murderous than ever before.
"Fuck!! That was 495 euros!!! Stand right there, you bastard!!"
Qin Wei yelled loudly and took off running.
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