Cyberpunk:Gained a body of steel

"What you're saying is that Kangtao's Americas Director is on the same level as Araba Laixuan?"

V rolled her eyes and sighed, deliberately ignoring Peter.

"Don't be so tense. Just treat her like someone who's coming over for dinner," Peter said with a smirk as he wrapped his arm around V's waist.

"Tsk, behave yourself. Lucy and the others are home too."

V was about to enjoy Peter's embrace when she noticed Sasha and Lucy standing at the top of the stairs, smiling down at them.

Immediately, she swatted away Peter's wandering hands and pushed him toward the kitchen.

"Alright, alright, whatever you want to eat—I'll make it."

"I want braised pork ribs," Lucy chimed in.

"Then I'll take braised pork with preserved vegetables," added Sasha.

"I want spicy chicken!" V said, not to be left out.

Peter shook his head with a helpless smile. "You three are really something. The dishes you picked have nothing to do with one another."

He turned and walked into the kitchen. Recalling some intel from his past life, Peter remembered that Ling Xiaohan was from the northern region, so he figured pasta would make a good staple for the meal.

---

Meanwhile, inside a floating car hovering atop Kangtao Company's headquarters...

"Aunt Ling, do I really have to go to Peter's place? I'm so done with seeing that guy."

Xu Xinyue frowned, clearly reluctant. She had already eaten at Peter's house several times over the past few days. It was starting to feel like he'd been sent from heaven to conquer her.

"Are you okay with me going alone to the house of a man you say you hate?" Ling Xiaohan asked gently.

"Don't worry. According to the records, as long as you don't provoke Peter, he's very kind to his friends."

Ling Xiaohan felt powerless. Lately, the old fox Xu Shiming had been pestering her constantly, always inquiring about Xu Xinyue and Peter. Even though she had repeatedly explained Xu Xinyue's current mental state, it seemed like Xu Shiming didn't listen at all.

Honestly, she was just plain unlucky.

"Sigh… fine."

Xu Xinyue finally gave in. After all, Ling Xiaohan had always been close with their family. She'd held her in her arms as a baby and was the one who helped her settle when she first came to America for school.

"Aunt Ling, be honest with me—is Peter's case part of a secret file in Kangtao's headquarters?"

Xu Xinyue hesitated before asking. The car grew quiet.

Ling Xiaohan gave her a side glance and then pressed a button next to her seat.

A translucent divider rose between the driver's seat and the rear, giving them privacy.

"Xinyue, it's not that I want to hide things from you… but it's not something you should know just yet," Ling Xiaohan said solemnly.

"I can only tell you that Peter's case is classified under the highest level of confidentiality in all of Kangtao."

"Huh? That guy is that important?"

Xu Xinyue was stunned. No wonder she had been denied access when she tried to look him up in the company's database. Even Ling Xiaohan admitted it was the highest level of secrecy.

Just how much influence did Peter have to be treated this seriously?

"Xinyue… Peter might be at the forefront of all human advancement."

With that, Ling Xiaohan leaned back and closed her eyes, clearly indicating she could say no more.

Her words, however, left Xu Xinyue deep in thought.

"The forefront of all mankind…"

---

About twenty minutes later, the floating car descended in front of Peter's house.

"Xiao Lin, drop us here. I'll call when we're done," Ling Xiaohan told the driver as she stepped out.

"But Miss Ling, if there's any danger…"

"You don't need to worry about that."

"Yes, ma'am."

The bodyguard's concern wasn't without reason, but truthfully, if Peter couldn't guarantee her safety, then no bodyguard could.

As the vehicle floated away, Ling Xiaohan rang the doorbell.

Inside the villa, Peter—dressed in casual clothes—called out, "Let the guests in," to the voice-activated system.

The door swung open. Ling Xiaohan and Xu Xinyue stepped into the warmly lit house.

"Mr. Peter, I've heard a lot about you," Ling Xiaohan greeted with a smile, spotting him half-reclined on the sofa while Lucy fed him grapes.

"I'm flattered that someone of your caliber knows my name," Peter replied, standing and stretching.

"And thank you for sharing your biotech data with our group."

"It's nothing. You offered me a top-tier lab in return, didn't you? A fair exchange."

"I hope you won't mind a simple meal today—I didn't have much time," Peter added.

---

As Peter conversed with Ling Xiaohan, Xu Xinyue glanced around at Lucy, V, and Sasha in the living room.

Only then did she fully understand why Peter had always treated her so indifferently.

These three women—all stunning, charismatic, and clearly close to Peter—were no less impressive than herself.

"What are you doing standing there? Come join us. Assistant Xu, you too. I made plenty."

Peter's voice pulled her from her thoughts.

Once everyone was seated at the table, Peter turned his attention to Kangtao's top executive.

In his mind, he mused, If Prime Minister Cao were still alive, he might start another battle at Wancheng over someone like her…

He chuckled inwardly. Of course, he didn't quite have the ambitions of Prime Minister Cao.

---

"Mr. Peter, your Chinese cooking is unbelievably authentic! It's better than the chefs I brought over from Huaguo," Ling Xiaohan exclaimed.

She had originally intended to use the dinner to discuss further collaboration with Peter. The meal itself had seemed secondary—until she tasted it.

Even Xu Xinyue, seated next to her, was eating with enthusiasm. She hadn't had Chinese cuisine this delicious since arriving in America.

Actually, she had never tasted anything this good, even back home in Huaguo.

I can't believe this bad guy cooks so well… she thought as she shoveled more food into her mouth.

"As long as you enjoy it," Peter smiled. "Why's Assistant Xu so quiet all of a sudden?"

"Uh—haha, no, Mr. Peter. You two go ahead and talk…"

Xu Xinyue stammered and quickly looked down at her plate.

Ling Xiaohan sighed quietly to herself as she observed the scene. But honestly, she couldn't blame her. Even she had to fight the urge to keep eating and ignore business altogether.

Still, she reminded herself that discussing cooperation came first.

"I'm curious, Mr. Peter—what kind of experiments are you conducting in the lab we provided?"

"Nothing major," Peter said casually. "Just working on some external prosthetic bodies."

Xu Xinyue, upon hearing that, almost snorted. External prosthetics? That was ancient tech. Nowadays, the cutting-edge trend was internal prosthetics—far more efficient and compact. Why waste time studying outdated concepts?

She kept her opinion to herself, but the look in her eyes was hard to miss.

---