Chapter 402
Olive raised her middle finger to him. Jean finally met Olive in person! She was still in disguise, expressionless, simply carrying a medicine box, chest puffed out, as she walked past him. For four days, Jean had searched the entire Imperial, turning it upside down, yet still couldn't find her. A premonition struck him: was Olive hiding in the most dangerous, and therefore safest, place? He went to the hospital to see Crystal.
Jean walked steadily toward the ward, ignoring passersby. Olive passed him; his steps halted. He turned, seeing her still disguised as a man, thin, a cap concealing her hair. His blue eyes narrowed in scrutiny. "Hey you, stop!"
Olive heard him but continued walking, unfazed. Jean's blue pupils sharpened; he moved to apprehend her. A nurse in a wheelchair bumped into him, blocking his path. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she apologized quickly.
Jean looked up; Olive had vanished around the corner. "Scat!" he barked, shoving the nurse aside and pursuing her. He reached the elevator; Olive descended. He pressed the button, but the elevator was out of service and stalled. He ran down the corridor, reaching the hospital gates just as he glimpsed the rear of a black nanny car speeding away.
He grabbed his phone. "Go check a car, the license plate is XX X XX…" Before he finished, the back window slid down, revealing a small white hand. Olive extended her middle finger. Jean's pupils constricted. He was certain: it was Olive! His hunch was correct; she'd hidden in the most dangerous, safest place, a chameleon amongst the crowd.
She'd not only raised her middle finger but also offered a gesture of utter disdain, a blatant provocation of the "loser" she clearly saw him as. She was laughing at him. The car disappeared.
Jean gripped his phone. For days, Olive had been a toy, a mouse he'd played with, but she'd turned the tables, biting him when he was off guard. A dark smile touched his pale face. Excellent. She'd finally piqued his interest. Years had passed since he'd had a worthy opponent; she was the first.
He returned to Paulo's house, spending the night tracking Olive's nanny car. It seemed shielded by a powerful, mysterious force, eluding all his efforts. He found it odd: during the daytime chase in the hospital, doctors and nurses had inexplicably blocked his way, the elevator even malfunctioning. Could Olive have manipulated the hospital? Who was she? Certainly no ordinary person.
Red lanterns adorned Paulo's house; it was Marvin and Charlotte's wedding day. Charlotte was preparing, excited to become a princess. After a sleepless night, Jean received a call.
"Master Paulo, we've found the nanny car!"
"What? Already?" Jean stood. "Speak."
"It belongs to the scientific research center. The owner is Professor X, a medical legend who once shook the Imperial. Her car can travel anywhere within it!"
Jean knew of Professor X, the enigmatic successor to Academic Dickson, soon to head the research center. He hadn't expected her involvement. Were she and Olive connected?
"Where's Olive?"
"Master, the car arrived at the underground research facility. Olive should be inside."
Olive had hidden in the underground base. No wonder the search had been fruitless. "Understood. I'm going to find her." He hung up and left, encountering Charlotte.
"Bro, where are you going? It's my wedding!"
"I have work to do," he replied, hurrying off. He had to find Olive; the wedding could wait.
He arrived at the research center; the doors were open, deserted. This mirrored the Hart family incident. "Master, an ambush?" his subordinates whispered, looking around the advanced facility.
Jean entered, stopping abruptly. Olive stood before him, in a black suit, hair in a low ponytail, her beauty striking. Her eyes met his, a slow smile curving her lips. "Jean, you're finally here. I've been waiting."