Volume 1 Chapter 38 The Red-Robed Arch-Bishop

"?"

The security guard shot him a look that clearly signaled, "Are you an idiot?"

Qin Shang immediately pivoted to a different explanation.

"It’s like this—a friend of mine asked me to come find someone, but I don't actually know the person's real name. They’re just an online friend of his."

"Yes, an online friend. Their screen name is 'Red Cult Leader.' Officer, do you happen to know if any of the residents here go by that name?"

The security guard’s mouth twitched, his expression shifting into something remarkably abstract.

An online friend? Looking for someone? Could "Red Cult Leader" be a gaming handle? What kind of eyes do you have, kid, that you think a security guard would have access to a resident’s personal information?

Seeing the guard’s reaction, Qin Shang felt stuck. Old Man Niu had been taken by the "Divine Punishment" so abruptly that he hadn't been able to provide much information. This was a real headache.

He offered a sheepish grin. "Are there any villas here with names, then? Like, the Red Villa? Or a 'Red Old Man Niu'? Or maybe a Red Red-Grandpa...?"

"Friend, are you just here to mess with me?"

The guard’s patience had completely evaporated. Seeing Qin Shang wandering aimlessly, he began to shoo him away.

"Go on, get out of here. If you have nothing else to do, stop loitering. I thought you were from the police department checking on a resident, and it turns out you're just looking for an online pen pal. How would I know what their screen name is?"

"To run off to meet someone in person without even knowing their real name... you’ve got some nerve, kid." The guard spat on the ground.

Just then—

*Rumble—*

Accompanied by a roar of an engine, a red Ferrari suddenly veered around the corner, emerged from behind the greenery, and without slowing down, screeched to a halt right at the entrance.

A moment later, a stunning, exquisite face leaned out from the driver’s side. Her features were as delicate as a painting, her expression alluring and captivating.

She spoke in a melodic voice. "Lift the barrier, would you? Handsome..."

The security guard immediately plastered on a sycophantic smile. "Ms. Pei, you're back? You’ve changed cars again? I’ll open the gate for you, just a moment!"

The woman in the red Ferrari nodded lightly, then asked as if in passing, "Oh, by the way, I saw a police car when I was coming over. Is something going on in the complex?"

"No, that’s just this young man here. I’m not sure what he’s after—he says he’s looking for someone called 'Red Cult Leader,' claims it’s his online friend. I figure he probably mistook this place for some kind of tourist attraction."

"Judging by his accent, he’s from out of town. It’s nothing to worry about..."

Upon hearing this, the woman in the Ferrari paused slightly, finally turning her gaze toward the young man standing by the security booth.

A backpack, casual clothes, sneakers—the boy looked thoroughly travel-worn. He really did look like a tourist who had wandered into a high-end complex by mistake.

However, the woman known as Ms. Pei did not leave immediately after the gate was raised. Instead, she kept one hand on the steering wheel while her other hand, adorned with bright red nail polish, reached up to remove her sunglasses.

Her beautiful eyes scanned Qin Shang, a hint of contemplation in their depths.

The security guard noticed this and froze. His gaze darted back and forth between Ms. Pei and Qin Shang for a moment. *Holy crap, no way,* he thought. *Is Ms. Pei actually interested in this kid? Does the owner of the most luxurious villa in the complex really have a thing for pretty boys like this?*

In the next moment, under Qin Shang's confused stare, Ms. Pei’s red lips curled slightly. She looked him up and down for a long time before saying coolly, "Hey, get in the car."

"What are you waiting for?"

*Huh!?*

She... was she talking to me?

Qin Shang was stunned. The red Ferrari, the red dress, the red nail polish, the dark red dyed hair, the red sunglasses. Wait, why were her sunglasses red, too? Was she that obsessed with the color red?

*Hiss!*

*Red Cult Leader?* Could the woman in this Ferrari be the Red Cult Leader?

Qin Shang’s eyes widened. He scrambled over and pulled open the car door. As soon as it opened, a deep, heavy scent of perfume rushed out to meet him.

Qin Shang had once read a post about how to identify a woman by her scent. It basically said that women who liked delicate orchid scents tended to be introverted and quiet, while women who preferred rich rose scents were usually more mature and alluring.

The scent in the car wasn't rose, but it was certainly heavy and dense. A woman who favored a heavy scent was usually generous, mature, alluring, and enchanting—the kind of woman who had lived a bit and gained some life experience.

*She looks like she’s in her twenties, but she must be in her early thirties, right?*

***

Once he was in the passenger seat, before Qin Shang could even speak—

*Rumble—*

A violent roar echoed in his ears. Qin Shang instinctively grabbed the handle.

The Ferrari turned into a streak of red, surging into the complex.

The security guard at the gate watched the scene, jaw dropped, his mouth twitching in sheer disbelief. "S-so Ms. Pei actually likes this type?"

"Are young people these days really that bold? They just exchange a few words and she takes him home?"

*Gulp.*

The guard swallowed hard, his voice filled with indescribable envy. "Damn it, if I’d known Ms. Pei liked this style, I would’ve cut my hair short, too..."

Working as a security guard in a high-end complex paid a bit more than elsewhere, but not enough to change his life. And the residents here were much harder to serve than in average neighborhoods. The wealthy could be fickle; if you lifted the gate a second too slow, you might get an earful of abuse.

So, who working in a place like this didn't have a few wild thoughts? Being a security guard in a luxury complex was a shortcut—if a wealthy woman took a liking to you, you could skip forty years of struggle.

Ms. Pei was young, wealthy, beautiful, and had a decent temper. An enchanting, gorgeous, rich woman. She was the absolute top tier, the ultimate choice.

Of course, it wasn't just men. Young women wanted to find wealthy men to marry into luxury and skip thirty years of toil. Why shouldn't young men do the same? Everyone grew up reading fairy tales; who didn't have their own "Ugly Duckling" dream?

Besides, there was no shame in a young man from an ordinary background working hard to make money. In this world, the only thing shameful was being broke.

A girl willing to suffer with you might not be willing to suffer with someone else. But... she would definitely be willing to enjoy the good life with someone else. As the saying went, don't let yourself suffer if you don't have to.

While the security guard silently vowed to get a haircut and try to snag Ms. Pei, the "golden brick" of his dreams, Qin Shang and Ms. Pei had already arrived at the parking lot of the Xiangya Villas.