In an instant, cold sweat broke out on the back of William Carter's head. Even though it was the middle of winter and the driver was reluctant to turn on the heater, William Carter still felt a large patch of cold sweat on his back.

At this moment, what surfaced in his mind was a sense of crisis he hadn't felt in a long time!

He hadn't answered the phone for so long—it's over, she's definitely angry, really angry!

What should he do? What should he do?! Is he going to die... In a flash, countless tragic memories from his childhood started playing in William Carter's mind.

He stared blankly at his phone. Just as he finally made up his mind and pressed the answer button, the call disconnected automatically because he had taken too long to pick up.

"Uh..." Staring dazedly at the missed call on the screen, William Carter lowered his head helplessly and sighed in despair.

It's over, this time he's definitely dead.

The next moment, his phone started vibrating wildly again, and the name ‘Emily Carter’ lit up once more, flashing repeatedly.

Fumbling, he answered the call, nervously brought the phone to his ear, and said in a low voice, "Hello, sis?"

Instinctively, he closed his eyes, bracing himself for the thunderous rage from the other end of the line.

But after a moment of silence, a slightly cold, deep female voice sounded: "Where are you?"

Chapter 9: Two Calls, One Result

"Where are you?"

Hearing the woman's voice on the phone ask this, William Carter looked around and stammered a bit, "I'm, uh, in a taxi, heading to the People's Hospital."

There was a brief silence on the other end, then she continued, "Oh, as long as you're not dead."

Although her tone was as cold as ever, William Carter somehow felt as if he heard a trace of 'relief'—maybe it was just his imagination.

Even though he knew her temper better than anyone, William Carter could only give a wry smile.

His sister, who had completely inherited their father's domineering style, could make anyone feel immense pressure, even when she spoke casually.

William Carter knew this all too well. Compared to his own utterly ordinary self, his sister was a genius and powerhouse who could look down on all manner of so-called prodigies and monsters.

Since childhood, he had been utterly suppressed by his sister, whose name sounded the same as his but was written with different characters.

Even the one time William Carter mustered the courage to resist—after his sister tore up a love letter he received—he was swiftly and ruthlessly subdued, beaten with joint locks until he couldn't even cry.

Fortunately, ever since his sister went to college, she rarely came home, and after graduation, her whereabouts became a mystery. Otherwise, William Carter's miserable childhood and adolescence would have continued into adulthood.

Perhaps because she had waited too long and was in a bad mood, Emily Carter's voice sounded a bit angry: "Why didn't you answer the phone?"

Even though he knew she couldn't see him, William Carter instinctively put on an innocent expression, and, like Little Thompson serving the Empress Dowager, gave a sincere smile: "No, I was just spacing out and didn't notice."

The call fell silent again, but in William Carter's mind, he could almost picture his sister sentencing him to death, and his eyelids started twitching uncontrollably.

Soon, her voice sounded again, not as cold as usual, and so gentle that William Carter could hardly believe it.

"I got it. Don't run around these days. If I need you, I'll call."

Just as William Carter was stunned, the call ended.

Listening to the busy tone in his ear, he put away his phone in disbelief and continued to space out.

A long while later, it wasn't until the car radio started playing the "Voice of the City" program at the usual 7:30 that he snapped out of it, took out his phone, and dialed another number.

After a moment of ringing, the call was answered, and a gentle, mature female voice said, "Hello? Who is this?"

William Carter said a bit awkwardly, "Boss, it's William Carter."

"Hmm, I don't know any William Carter. Is there such a person?" The gentle female voice sounded full of doubt as she asked someone nearby. He could vaguely hear another woman stifling a laugh and saying, "Nope, I don't know him either."

William Carter sighed helplessly, "Uh, boss, do you have to mess with me like this?"

The mature female voice laughed triumphantly, "Well, you haven't reported to work in ages. Did you secretly change jobs?"

William Carter rolled his eyes, "How could I... You still owe me half a month's wages, you know?"

"Alright, alright, if you still remember, then hurry back to work. There are people here who think about you day and night, hoping for William Carter to come back to work."

Before the mature female voice finished, someone on the other end shouted, "No way! Emily sis, you're making things up again! I just asked! Can't I care about a classmate? Just showing some concern for a classmate!!!"

Listening helplessly to the usual commotion on the other end, William Carter sighed and said, "Boss, I'm afraid I'll need a few more days off. Things are too busy at home, I can't get away."

Apparently not bothered by her employee's request, the woman called 'Emily' said cheerfully, "No problem, I'll give you another week off. But..."

William Carter paused, "Is there a problem?"