The VIP ward of the City Hospital was quiet, save for the rhythmic humming of the air purifier.
**Grandma** lay semi-reclined on the hospital bed. Her face was pale, but her eyes held a rare moment of clarity today. **Ren** sat by the bedside, peeling an apple with a silver fruit knife, the red skin spiraling down in one long, unbroken ribbon.
Opposite them, **Vera** sat on the plush sofa, radiating the satisfaction of a woman who had finally secured her place in society. The praise for **Faye** at the parent-teacher conference had washed away her earlier anxieties.
"Mom," Vera said, putting down her tea cup. "You really should have seen Faye's teacher today. She said Faye is a prodigy. Her talent in music is being recognized by experts in the Capital."
Grandma blinked slowly. "Is that so?"
"Yes," Vera continued, not glancing at Ren. "Faye's aunt in the Capital used her connections. They've managed to get in touch with the legendary **Master Wei**. If Faye performs well at the Founder's Day assembly, she could become his closing disciple."
At the mention of the name, the knife in Ren's hand paused for a fraction of a second.
Grandma's brow furrowed. "Wei... **Victor Wei**? That name sounds familiar."
"Of course it does," Vera laughed. "He's famous internationally. We never had access to such high culture back in the village."
Grandma shook her head slowly. "No... I think I met him. Three years ago. In the village."
Vera rolled her eyes. "Mom, you're confused. Why would a master musician go to that mud-hole?"
"He came," Grandma insisted. "He stayed in our guest room for a month. He followed Ren around. He kept begging her to take his violin."
"Grandma," Ren interrupted, her voice cool and crisp.
Ren stood up and placed a piece of apple directly into Grandma's mouth. "Eat the apple. It's sweet."
Grandma looked up and saw the dark, warning look in Ren's eyes. The old woman swallowed the words along with the apple. She remembered now. That eccentric old man who had pestered Ren every day to become his student. And Ren had just been annoyed, treating the legendary master like a pest until he finally left.
"It's good," Grandma said softly.
Vera, oblivious to the silent exchange, continued to boast. "Anyway, Faye is working very hard. I'm sure she'll succeed. Unlike some people."
She shot a pointed look at Ren. Ren ignored her, wiping the knife clean.
"I'm going back to school," Ren said. "I have a shift at the milk tea shop."
"Wait," Vera stood up. "I'll walk you out."
***
As soon as the ward door closed, Vera grabbed Ren's arm near the elevator bank.
"I saw him," Vera hissed. "The man at the parent-teacher conference. Who is he?"
Ren pulled her arm away. "A friend."
"A friend?" Vera scoffed. "Don't lie. I saw the way **Joey** looked at him. Joey is the heir to the Qiao family, yet he was acting like a servant. Is he from the Capital?"
Vera's eyes shone with suspicion and greed. She hated the idea that Ren had access to circles she couldn't enter.
"Ren," Vera softened her tone. "I'm your mother. Men like that don't date girls like you for serious reasons. Don't let yourself be used."
Ren looked right through the fake concern. "You're overthinking it. He's just the school doctor."
"A school doctor doesn't drive a car with military plates," Vera snapped.
"Believe what you want," Ren pressed the elevator button. "And stop following me. Focus on Faye. She's your ticket to glory, isn't she?"
The elevator doors opened, and Ren stepped in, leaving her mother fuming in the hallway.
***
Ren walked out of the hospital lobby. A familiar black sedan was already waiting at the curb, the engine purring.
The passenger window rolled down. **Alpha Juan** sat in the driver's seat, one arm resting on the window frame.
"Get in," Juan said.
Ren sighed and climbed into the passenger seat. Juan immediately handed her a thermos cup. "Warm water. Drink."
Ren took a sip. It was perfect. "What did you want to give me?"
Juan reached into the back seat and pulled out a heavy stack of books. He dropped them onto her lap.
Ren looked down. There were five thick books bound in dark covers.
*Foundations of Advanced Particle Physics.*
*The Mathematical Architecture of Spirit Power.*
*Tactical Analysis of Global History (Classified).*
Ren blinked. She looked at Juan.
"**Mr. Gordon** gave me a little notebook," Juan said casually, merging into traffic. "He said your foundation is weak. He said you need to study hard to catch up."
He glanced at her, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "So, I picked out some 'basic' reading for you."
Ren picked up the top book. It was a doctoral-level thesis. "Basic? This is basic?"
"For you? Yes," Juan murmured. "Stop pretending you're stupid, Ren. It's boring."
Ren stared at him. He knew she was faking her grades. Instead of exposing her, he was playing along by giving her work that actually challenged her.
"I don't need a tutor," Ren grumbled, though she didn't push the books away.
"I'm not a tutor," Juan said. "I'm an investor. Consider this an investment in your future."
He reached over at a red light, his hand brushing against her hair. "Read Chapter One. If you finish it, I'll take you to eat hot pot tonight."
***
Sunday afternoon. The dorms were empty.
Ren sat at her desk in Room 402. The physics books were pushed to the side. Her laptop was open, the screen a waterfall of green code.
She adjusted her headset. "Connecting to encrypted server..."
"Boss!" A male voice exploded in her ear. It was **Charlie**, the head of **Agency 129**. "You're finally back! I thought you died in a ditch!"
Ren activated her voice changer. "I'm alive. Keep your voice down."
"The whole underworld is looking for **'Lone Wolf'**," Charlie said excitedly. "Do you know what the bounty is for your location? Are you taking a job? We have a request from the International Police."
"Pass," Ren said. "Too much paperwork."
"Then what do you want?" Charlie asked, exasperated.
"Money," Ren said. "I need cash. Fast. Find me a job that pays well, requires zero physical presence, and takes less than an hour."
"Fine," Charlie sighed. "There's a request to crack a firewall for a bank in Switzerland. Payout is five million."
"Send it," Ren said. Her fingers began to fly across the keyboard.
"By the way," Charlie asked, his voice serious. "When are you coming to the Capital? The annual ranking tournament is coming up."
Ren paused. She looked at the physics book Juan had given her.
"Next year," Ren said.
"Why next year?"
"I have an exam," Ren said deadpan.
"What exam? The Grandmaster Trials?"
"No," Ren said, hitting the 'Enter' key. "**The College Entrance Exam.**"
There was a long silence on the other end.
"You..." Charlie sounded like he was choking. "You, the Lone Wolf, the most dangerous investigator in the world... are taking a high school exam?"
"Yes," Ren said. "I need a diploma. My mother thinks I'm going to vocational school."
"Your mother..." Charlie couldn't finish the sentence. The absurdity was too much.
"Job done," Ren said, watching the 'Success' notification pop up. "Wire the money to my secondary account."
She cut the connection, took off the headset, and stretched. Her phone buzzed.
**[ Unknown Idiot (Juan): ]** *I bought beef for the hot pot. Come over.*
Ren smiled. A real, genuine smile that reached her eyes. She grabbed the physics book.
"Coming," she whispered to the empty room.
**[Chapter 22 End]**