What It's Like Being a Vampire

From the license plate, one can determine the vehicle’s place of registration. The model and approximate age of the car can be deduced from its rear emblem and certain features. There was also a tiny row of advertising text under the license plate, which held the name and contact number of a 4S dealership. Even though it was half covered by mud back then and only a few numbers and two Chinese characters were visible, finding that Toyota 4S dealership or secondary distributor shouldn’t be difficult, given the fact that we know its location.

Subsequently, one could gain access to the customer data from the 4S dealership or distributor, hoping to uncover further information. This method is less risky and simpler than going straight to the vehicle administration office.

However, this is still a bit of a hassle. Xiang Kun was desperate to find a simpler and more direct way.

He continued to scrutinize the appearance and attire of the two individuals from that night, their conversation, and the various aspects of the car they were driving.

Then he recalled a row of half-peeled letters on the back of the car. Four and a half letters were left: CHEC, with a dot before the second C, and it was fairly evident that the half-letter following C was very likely an O.

So, that sticker was probably a website address ending in “.COM”, likely something like WWW….CHE.COM.

If a sticker is attached to the car, it could possibly represent the website of the company that originally purchased this car. Of course, it could also be a private car that, for some reason, has that website’s sticker.

From the conversation between those two men, it was obvious that they were heading out of town by plane. They were here on business for the “company”, and the Prado vehicle plate belonged to this city, making it clear that it wasn’t their usual car. It seems the car was arranged for them by the “company” after they arrived here, or they found it themselves.

Was it maybe from a car-hire platform?

Since there was still time before boarding, Xiang Kun started to search based on these conditions. After a while, he found a website that mostly fit the criteria. However, this turned out to be a website for auto maintenance and repairs with offline chain stores, not a car-hire website. These offline stores were primarily located in two cities within the province, and they did not cover a wide area. The total number of stores did not exceed two digits.

Given this, could it be possible that the car had been serviced at one of the franchised stores of this website, and the sticker was given as part of a promotion?

As Xiang Kun was examining the website, he stumbled upon some promotional photos. The photos were staged shots of a mechanic from the repair shop attending a roadside “rescue” to diagnose a client’s car problems. The mechanic was a handsome, fresh-faced young man, and the car owner was a beautiful, delightful woman. Clearly, it was a promotional photo setup.

However, what caught Xiang Kun’s attention was an SUV in the photo that the repairman used for transportation.

This was a white Prado. Even though its license plate was not visible, it seemed much newer than the one the two men were driving the other night. But judging from several marks at the lower part of the car’s C pillar, it was the same car.

In other words, that Prado didn’t receive its sticker from a repair service at the website’s offline maintenance store—it was a car belonging to the maintenance company itself?

So how did those men get to drive that car? How did they manage to borrow it?

However, given the tone of the man’s conversation, Xiang Kun thought it was unlikely that they would borrow a car through their personal connections. Considering they were on a business trip, it’s most likely that the car was arranged by the company, or they solved the issue with money.

The “company” they mentioned likely isn’t this auto maintenance company, as all the areas that the company covers can be reached without boarding a flight.

Xiang Kun remembered seeing several promotions and advertisements on the website’s homepage and then found out that this company was bought by “Divine Technology” last year.

No wonder there were so many advertisements on the homepage that had the vibe of an internet company, with various promotions such as, “Get a driving recorder with maintenance,” “Receive maintenance vouchers and cash prizes for participating in the driving habits survey,” “Join the ‘AI Car Butler’ recorder experience and get a gas card,” and “Participate in detailed fuel consumption statistics for a chance to win engine oil.”

Obviously, Xiang Kun was aware of “Divine Technology”. This company is notorious for its secretive development of high-end tech. While it may not be as recognized as other big-name corporations in the internet communication, gaming, e-commerce, or mobile manufacturing industry, they indeed have many products that are universally used and are a vital part of many electronic devices. They own unique technological patents that no one in the world possesses. Both their monopoly status and profit margins are incredibly high.

Not long ago, Xiang Kun saw a piece of news stating that “Divine Technology” was experimenting with a property management plan involving drones and AI. They had recently obtained a license and permission, and they were currently testing it out in a pilot community.

A while back, “Divine Technology” also published a variety of research findings, some of which have begun to be put into use.

However, they seldom produce consumer end-products. More often than not, they develop the technology and patent, then cooperate with other well-known and mature manufacturers to launch products. Thus, they have high prestige in professional fields, but lesser popularity among the general public.

Furthermore, Xiang Kun vaguely sensed that “Divine Technology” didn’t seem keen on becoming too famous. Following each product launch and research publication, they immediately disappeared from the public view. Their executives and boss seldom spoke out.

What reason could “Divine Technology” have for acquiring an auto-maintenance company?

If their sole objective was to obtain relevant data, they could have directly collaborated with such a company or purchased other app companies or, web companies to access large data sets. Could they believe that data obtained in this way would be more effective and comprehensive?

With that in mind, could those two people have been dispatched by “Divine Technology”?

When they mentioned their “company”, were they actually referring to “Divine Technology”?

Of course, they might simply not know how they got that car, and there may be no connection between that car’s original maintenance company and its backing from “Divine Technology”.

However, Xiang Kun was more inclined to believe that “Divine Technology” had discovered something about vampires or mutants.

The boarding call echoed through the departure lounge, signaling the departure of Xiang Kun’s flight.

Despite the lack of concrete evidence linking the two people that drove off in the Prado that night to “Divine Technology,” Xiang Kun didn’t plan to accuse anyone legally. He didn’t need solid proof, only circumstantial evidence.

So, if he suspected “Divine Technology”, he would just go ahead and investigate it.

Upon investigating, Xiang Kun was surprised to find out about the many diverse fields “Divine Technology” was involved in.

From AI drones to programmable robot toys, from VR and AR gaming devices to medical support equipment, from self-driving cars to emerging car manufacturers, from security equipment to courier services, they are involved in a wide range of fields. They have even moved into the automotive maintenance industry. The businesses they acquire and invest in are spread all across the country.

Moreover, “Divine Technology” is not a listed company, so there is not a lot of complete information available. Most of their information comes from news they’ve shared themselves. But the sheer number of ventures they are already involved in is quite astounding.

Xiang Kun is overwhelmed by the seemingly haphazard and unconventional growth and strategy of the company.

The plane was about to take off, and Xiang Kun switched off his phone while sitting in his seat. He glanced at the airport runway, thinking over the various companies “Divine Technology” has invested in and acquired.

Quite a few of these companies were ones he had seen or heard about in his daily life, but he was unaware that “Divine Technology” was behind them.

For example, there’s a courier company called “Really Fast”. Although Xiang Kun had never used their services, he is impressed by the brand. Its name stands out in a sea of express delivery companies with similar names. It’s memorable.

Xiang Kun had a strange feeling when he saw that company while searching.

At first, he thought it was just because he had known about the company before and was impressed with their name. But it soon dawned on him that there was more to it, there had to be another reason.

So, he tried to recall any related memories of “Really Fast”, and then he remembered passing by Guo Tianxiang’s clinic building in Yangcheng, where he saw a van bearing the “Really Fast” emblem.

Then, when he visited Guo Tianxiang’s residence in Yangcheng and hacker Mijoe’s place, he also saw “Really Fast” delivery vans nearby.

He knew that this company had very advanced sorting systems and storage management systems, but they haven’t expanded widely yet. They maintained a small number of operations in major cities across the country, mostly collaborating with businesses and rarely dealing with personal affairs. Their volume was far behind the big courier companies.

However, it’s not unusual for a “Really Fast” delivery vehicle to appear in Yangcheng, as it is first-tier city. Moreover, at that time, his attention was on the people under police surveillance, so he didn’t find it odd.

But now, in retrospect, Xiang Kun has come to realize that something is off. It’s abnormal for a “Really Fast” delivery van to appear in those three locations given their business volume. They mainly serve businesses. There aren’t companies of that size in those locations.

Considering that “Divine Technology” has long been researching vampires and mutants, it would make sense if they sensed the anomaly in Guo Tianxiang and the strange encounter of the three people, including host Xue, in Qinling. They could have sent people to monitor the places where Guo Tianxiang and Mijoe might appear and to the Qinling Uninhabited Area to collect samples and find the boar carcass.

So are all these sectors and places where “Divine Technology” operates primarily helpers in their investigation of the mutant creatures that have appeared everywhere?

From the conversation those two had that night, although they signed confidentiality agreements, they don’t seem to know much and aren’t clear about the purpose of their actions or the usefulness of what they’re collecting.

Given these circumstances, if “Divine Technology” is indeed the company conducting these investigations, how does the executive management know? Are they acting on the orders of their boss?

Xiang Kun previously checked that Lu Cheng’an, founder of “Divine Technology”, began his career in the manufacture of mechanical parts. He made a lot of money, and later gradually moved into the high-tech industry. A few years ago, this seventy-year-old boss was also listed on Forbes. And because “Divine Technology” is not a listed company, many people think that the media’s estimation of his wealth is too conservative.

However, Lu Cheng’an is even more low-key than his company. There is very little information and footage available about him. He hasn’t given an interview in almost twenty years, leaving corporate management to deal with the media.

Could Mr. Lu be a vampire?

Xiang Kun speculated in his heart.

Although there is no direct evidence to support this speculation, he has already listed “Divine Technology” and Lu Cheng’an as targets of major concern and vigilance.

No matter how sure he was, forming a conclusion first and then slowly verifying and adjusting is Xiang Kun’s usual method of handling things.

The flight landed safely in Star City, and finding Little Fatty Girl, he just had to locate the coin and the A4 paper.

But he arrived in Star City too late and Little Fatty Girl had been picked up from the kindergarten by her mother, so his originally planned rendezvous at the kindergarten could not take place.

Could he just stumble upon them somewhere else? Yes, as always, he sensed the constant movement of the coin and A4 paper. They seemed to have been kept with Little Fatty Girl.

But wouldn’t that be too much of a coincidence? If he bumped into them again at the kindergarten, he could just say that he passed by every time he came to Star City. But if he happened to meet them somewhere else, wouldn’t that be too much of a coincidence?

While pondering on how to “meet” them, Xiang Kun had already ordered a car to follow his sensed direction of the coin, which took him to a mall. Not long after getting off the car, from a distance, he spotted Shiling’s Mom shopping with Little Fatty Girl on the first floor of the mall.

Xiang Kun followed at a distance, observing them while listening to their conversation.

“Shiling, stop playing with the coin. Mummy will buy you ice cream. Do you want chocolate or strawberry flavor?” Shiling’s mom, who usually prevented her daughter from eating ice cream, was enticing her.

Looking up, Liu Shiling asked her mother, “Didn’t you always say that you shouldn’t eat sweet food before dinner? We haven’t had dinner yet, have we?”

“Uh….” Shiling’s mom didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know whether to be happy about her daughter’s maturity. After all, with the old Shiling, even if she was about to fall asleep, if you mentioned ice cream, she could bounce back to life.

Liu Shiling kept flipping the coin in her hand. Looking at the dessert shop not far away, she said, “Mom, let’s come after dinner. I want chocolate flavor. Mom, let’s have rabbit meat for dinner. I want the dry hot pot rabbit made by Bald Uncle. I have missed it for a long time. I really want to eat it.”

Seeing the gleam in her daughter’s eyes when she talked about food, and the familiar movement of unconsciously licking her lips and swallowing after talking, Shiling’s mom inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.

Standing at a distance, Xiang Kun, who had heard their conversation, immediately recalled the mall map he saw at the entrance. He quickly took an escalator in another direction to the third floor, where there was a chain restaurant famous for Sichuan-style rabbit meat.