Indeed!
This matter was clearly someone deliberately trying to create an illusion!
Given the system's usual behavior, the prize money of five million for option B would likely come out of her own pocket anyway, perhaps awarded by her father after she informed him.
Since that was the case, she might as well choose option A.
Moreover, Xia Shang had already investigated and confirmed that this project involved massive expenditures. If it were stopped now, the money already spent would be irrecoverable, and the Xia Corporation, even if it didn't collapse, would be severely weakened.
[I choose A.]
[The host has selected the more difficult option, and an additional assistance bonus is hereby activated.]
[With divine aid, please have the host sign for it promptly.]
Divine aid?
What on earth was that?
Before Xia Qingtian could ponder this, she saw a black private car approaching from a distance.
"Someone's coming!" Little Fatty immediately pointed at the approaching private car.
"I'll go tell the adults!" Xiao Ni jumped up and said.
"You all go together and run! I'll hold them off!" Xia Qingtian nudged the three children, "Run!"
The three children didn't have time to think and bolted.
Only after the three children had run far away did the private car stop. The car door opened, and a familiar face emerged.
"Mobius?" Xia Qingtian was stunned to see the person and secretly exclaimed that the system was reliable, having truly arranged a divine teammate for her!
"Qingtian?" Mobius seemed surprised to encounter Xia Qingtian here.
"There's no time to explain, get in the car!" Xia Qingtian immediately pushed Mobius back into the car and then patted the driver's shoulder in the front, "Back to the city center."
Receiving a nod from Mobius, the driver turned the car around and headed towards the city center.
Not long after this car left, the three children returned, leading adults with them.
Upon their return, everyone was dumbfounded by the empty construction site.
Where did everyone go?
The three children were also dumbfounded.
Where was their big sister who drew pictures?
On the other side, Xia Qingtian, sitting in Mobius's car, gathered her long hair with her hand, casually tying it into a low ponytail at the back of her head. She then removed her unfashionable black-rimmed glasses before asking, "I haven't asked you yet, what were you doing there?"
"Gu Shi Entertainment had invested partially in this resort project of the Xia Corporation. Recently, I heard it hasn't been going smoothly, so I... I came to check on it on Mr. Gu's orders," Mobius said, looking at Xia Qingtian.
The driver in front glanced at Mobius through the rearview mirror.
Never mind, it was their boss, and as long as he was happy.
Xia Qingtian understood.
Since Gu Shi Entertainment had also invested in this, she and Mobius were now teammates on the same side.
As comrades, Xia Qingtian didn't hold back and directly relayed the information she had gotten from the children to Mobius.
Mobius listened, his brows furrowing deeply.
He knew that the Xia Corporation's project had been encountering difficulties and had caused a lot of trouble for the Xia Corporation later on. His initial investment was merely out of politeness.
Recently, it was his curiosity about Xia Qingtian that made him pay more serious attention to this project.
He hadn't expected such an inside story.
"Deities in the sacred mountain?"
"That's all superstitious nonsense, meant to deceive people," Xia Qingtian waved her hand and said, "Someone must be playing tricks. However, it's not easy to infiltrate now. But I've bribed a few children. You can change into casual clothes next time, and we'll come again."
"Bribed a few children?" Mobius's lips curved into a subtle arc.
Noticing Mobius chuckling, Xia Qingtian snorted and said, "Don't underestimate children, they're very smart!"
"Smart, and yet you bribed them?" Mobius found a flaw in Xia Qingtian's statement.
"They just haven't become *that* smart yet." Xia Qingtian justified herself, ultimately having set a date for their next meeting.
Three days later, Xia Qingtian met Mobius, dressed in casual attire, at their agreed-upon location.
This was the first time Xia Qingtian had seen Mobius in casual wear.
Before, she had only thought that Mobius was very suited for the elite style of suits, ties, and white shirts.
She hadn't expected that he would look so good in simple casual wear like a white hoodie paired with dark jeans.
"We'll take the bus," Xia Qingtian explained after pulling Mobius onto the bus, "They are very wary of outsiders, and are more accepting of people who arrive by bus." m..oΓg
This was evident from the fact that after she got off last time, the three children didn't immediately run to call the adults.
"Also, just tell them you're a student from the Z University's Fine Arts department," Xia Qingtian took out two decent-looking student IDs from her backpack, "I borrowed them from a classmate in the Fine Arts department. Don't lose them."
"You've prepared quite thoroughly," Mobius chuckled.
"Of course! Our goal today is clear: find a way to see that sacred mountain," Xia Qingtian clenched her fist.
She had planned all night yesterday and hadn't slept much.
The direct consequence was that while she was chatting enthusiastically with Mobius for the first half hour after getting on the bus, she slept soundly for the next three hours, leaning on Mobius's shoulder.
Xia Qingtian: "Huuu..."
Mobius: "..."
Upon arriving at their destination, Xia Qingtian slowly woke up and then, with the urge to find a hole to crawl into, was helped out of the car by Mobius.
"I'm so sorry, was my head very heavy?" Xia Qingtian's cheeks flushed.
"It's fine, I can still manage," Mobius said, flexing his slightly numb shoulder, "Treat me to a meal when we get back."
"Leave it to me," Xia Qingtian patted her chest in assurance.
At this moment, the three children also spotted Xia Qingtian and came running over, "Sister! Are you alright?"
"It's you guys!" Xia Qingtian smiled at the three children and said, "I'm fine. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye last time."
"Did the bad guys kidnap you?" Xiao Ni asked nervously.
"No bad guys, just people returning to the city. They gave me a ride," Xia Qingtian explained.
"Oh, I see." The three children's heads drooped.
"Why does it feel like you're disappointed that I wasn't kidnapped by bad guys?" Xia Qingtian asked, blinking her eyes.
It was then that the three children told her what had happened after she left.
Apparently, the adults hadn't seen anyone from the city or the big sister they mentioned, and thought they were lying. They were scolded for playing around and not staying at their posts, and for making false reports.
"Where are the snacks you guys had left over?" Xia Qingtian asked.
"They're gone," Little Fatty said with a mournful face, "That's why everyone believed us even less."
"What should we do about this..." Xia Qingtian said, "Should I go explain things to them?"
"Forget it, it's useless. Today they're going to the sacred mountain for blessings and rituals, so no one is home," Xiao Ni said.
Xia Qingtian exchanged a glance with Mobius, then said, "Then I'll go to the sacred mountain to explain. You guys come with me, then they'll surely believe you! I want them to know that you aren't children who lie and shirk responsibility!"