The Master’s Mask Unveiled Again
Chapter 926 - 925: Lu Mian: What I Like is a Pig?

Chapter 926: Chapter 925: Lu Mian: What I Like is a Pig?

The engineer was very anxious.

"Miss, what should we do now? We have to get it back!"

Lu Yutian bit her lip and made a decision, "Forget it."

"Huh? But the cost of this robot is almost 100 million!"

Lu Yutian was furious and snapped irritably, "I said forget it, can’t you understand? A robot with tampered data—what difference is there between it and scrap metal? Bringing it back will only mean dumping it in the recycling bin!"

The engineer sighed and nodded his head.

Everything that happened today was nothing short of fantastical. If he reported back to the company, no one would believe him!

Meanwhile, Lu Yutian stared at Lu Mian’s departing figure, growing increasingly bewildered and uneasy.

She silently repeated Lu Mian’s name in her heart several times.

No, she had to investigate everything about Lu Mian!

——

Lu Mian strolled towards Xiao Qimo and Xiao Jianli.

Leading the welcome party, Xiao Jianli stood at the front, flanked by Mo Si and Mo Nie on either side. The trio waved in unison, celebrating Lu Mian’s victorious return with enthusiastic fervor.

Beside them, Xiao Qimo stood with one hand in his pocket, his stern face scanning his surroundings with an air of vigilant menace, like a predator ready to strike a lethal blow at any moment.

Lu Mian approached leisurely, saying nothing, yet intuitively grasping his thoughts. She proactively slipped her hand into his pocket.

She moved her hand slightly, intertwining her fingers with Xiao Qimo’s.

The refined man’s eyes darkened as he glanced at Lu Mian, a subtle but compelling storm of emotions swirling within.

This little troublemaker always had her own way of disarming him, forcing him to lower his defenses and surrender.

The man shifted slightly as though to conceal something.

At the same time, he asked, "Had your fun?"

"Mm." Lu Mian nodded.

"And what about that little thing behind you?" Xiao Qimo cast a territorial glance at 823, narrowing his eyes with unmistakable jealousy. "Did you already anticipate this outcome?"

Lu Mian shook her head with an amused smile.

She wasn’t a deity; how could she predict such events?

"It was an accident," Lu Mian explained helplessly.

Back when Lu Yutian was inputting the code and she went on stage out of interest to examine the robot’s system, she unexpectedly discovered—

Half of the system used by these robots was her invention.

Specifically, it was her discarded Second-Generation System.

After all, she was now working on the Fourth-Generation System.

As someone very familiar with her own research, she knew the vulnerabilities of that system like the back of her hand. With little effort, she breached the internal network and altered the robots’ data, amplifying their emotional responses.

The robots lost to her largely because their emotions were indeed disrupted.

As to why one of them developed depression—Lu Mian had no idea, knew nothing, and took zero responsibility.

With feigned indifference, Xiao Qimo kicked away the clingy and obstructive robot. He tightened his grip on Lu Mian’s hand in a gesture bordering on punishment, saying, "Plenty of guys were staring at you today..."

Lu Mian pursed her lips, her small hand still tucked into Xiao Qimo’s pocket. Genuinely, she offered, "Why don’t you squeeze harder? The book says releasing emotions can help."

Xiao Qimo: ... Thank you, Mianmian, but perhaps you could use your hand to confirm my gender, hmm?

Lu Mian had been comforting Xiao Qimo since she returned, yet Xiao Jianli—feeling neglected—raised his hand and slapped Xiao Qimo on the back.

"Behave! Keep acting up like this and Mianmian might leave you!"

"Grandpa???"

Lu Mian couldn’t help but smile helplessly; the old man really was filled with vitality, like a mischievous child.

Xiao Jianli lifted his chin. "Whether she wants you isn’t the important part. The important part is that we can’t lose Mianmian."

Xiao Qimo: ... He was long weary of the word "humble."

While they spoke, Master Jing also came rushing down from the stage. Agile and nimble, he approached Xiao Jianli swiftly. "Oh, old Xiao."

Xiao Jianli nodded coolly. "Mm."

The two men reached out and shook hands.

They had known each other for years and maintained a good relationship, but now, because of Lu Mian, a faint undercurrent of rivalry sprang between them.

"Old Xiao, what’s this situation?" Jing Pei asked while shaking hands, staring at Lu Mian and Xiao Qimo’s intertwined hands in the pocket—a sight strange enough to deform the pants leg. He was perplexed!

"As you see—Lu Mian, my granddaughter-in-law."

This protective reaction was even fiercer than Xiao Qimo’s.

Jing Pei’s expression quickly shifted, his fan in hand trembling as he muttered in half-disbelief, "Already found a pig so fast..."

As direct as always, his words, though quiet, were still caught by Xiao Jianli and the others.

Xiao Qimo: So I’m a pig?

Lu Mian: Does this mean I have a thing for pigs?

Mo Si & Mo Nie: Surely this is Mo Ye’s first time being called a pig...

Xiao Jianli cleared his throat. "Old Jing, let’s not word it like that. Mianmian and my grandson are the epitome of true love!"

"But wasn’t your grandson against relationships?"

"Times change. Mianmian is already a member of our Xiao Family." Xiao Jianli declared firmly, implying there was no room for Jing Pei to claim Lu Mian—she belonged firmly with them!

Jing Pei felt deeply shaken. Suddenly, he realized his importance in Lu Mian’s social orbit was dwindling, and a strong sense of crisis overtook him.

His fan began flapping faster and faster until he blurted out, "Well, I’m her friend’s mentor, so there’s that!"

Lu Mian tilted her head in confusion, then glanced over to see Master Jing enthusiastically waving at Su Luo from a distance. Amid the crowd, he raised his voice, shouting, "Su Luo girl! Do you want to become my apprentice? And Li Wenwen, little one—you should consider it too!"

Suddenly called out, Su Luo jerked in surprise.

Li Wenwen’s eyes were still gleaming with admiration for Lu Mian, but when she heard the proposal, she froze in place.

The other students couldn’t believe their ears.

Master Jing recruiting apprentices?

And the way he bluntly solicited Su Luo—a tone almost pleading?

Xiao Jianli rolled his eyes, irritated. Even the composed elder himself couldn’t resist becoming childish.

This scheming old scoundrel, Jing Pei, was stooping to everything imaginable just to build a connection with Mianmian!

Shameless! Annoying!

"Su Luo! Li Wenwen! Have you two thought it through?" Jing Pei urged impatiently.

Su Luo: ...

Li Wenwen: ...

The front-row siblings Zhuge Heng and Zhuge Lin were left in shock, unprepared for this development. Master Jing, someone they’d always tried to cozy up to, was now openly flattering Lu Mian—going so far as to recruit Su Luo and Li Wenwen for her sake?

Zhuge Lin stomped her foot in frustration. "Annoying! Why don’t I have a friend like Lu Mian!"

Lu Yutian felt the sting and sensed the subtle implication this carried. Her resentment deepened even further.

By now, the whole chess institute was in an uproar. The students were shooting envious looks at Su Luo and Li Wenwen.

"Hurry up and give Master Jing your answer already!"

"If you won’t agree, then let us have the chance!"

"Master Jing, take us as your apprentices! We’ll even call Lu Mian Dad!"

"Lu Mian Dad! Dad!"