Chapter Twenty-Two

Yu Xingyue felt deeply anxious, his hands trembling as he typed. Although Lin Ling was not physically present, he could almost sense the murderous aura emanating from the other end of the phone. Beads of sweat dripped onto his screen as he swallowed hard and typed four simple characters: "I don't know." After sending the message, he began to worry about how to respond further without inviting suspicion.

A moment later, Lin Ling replied. Yu Xingyue’s nerves tightened as he read her message: "Are you lying to me? I have a feeling you aren't telling the truth." The words hit his brain like a shockwave. He forced himself to remain calm; as long as he continued to deny it, he wouldn't be caught.

Yu Xingyue replied, "Senior Sister, I really don't know. How could I possibly know Brother Wu's whereabouts from all the way here in Japan? If I truly knew, I would have told you long ago." By over-explaining, he hoped to deflect suspicion, though he knew it was a gamble. Whether Lin Ling would believe him was hard to say—it was a precarious situation.

"Are you really sure?" Lin Ling pressed for a final confirmation. Yu Xingyue replied, "I really don't know. If Brother Wu is hiding in Japan, would you like me to help you look for him here?" Seeing this, Lin Ling’s suspicion seemed to lessen, but Yu Xingyue knew that while he did have secret contact with Wu Guanzhong, it was infrequent. Secrets were bound to come out eventually; he just didn't know how much longer he could keep up the facade.

Lin Ling did not reply further, and Yu Xingyue finally let out a sigh of relief. The immediate suspicion had been cleared, but he knew he needed to prepare for the next time. Deception was wrong, but Lin Ling’s lifelong happiness couldn't solely revolve around Wu Guanzhong. Wu had once told him to let Lin Ling forget him and find a better man.

"Brother Wu, I’ve done all I can for the sake of our friendship. I don't know what will happen next time," Yu Xingyue muttered to himself. He sat idly on his bed, having no desire to play on his computer or touch his phone again. The surprise interrogation from Lin Ling had shaken him, and he needed time to recover.

He wanted to talk to Lin Zimo, but the timing was off. Because of the suicide incident at his school, classes were suspended, but Lin Zimo was still in school. It was impossible for the news of his school’s tragedy to cause her school to cancel classes for a week. Feeling a bit dejected, he longed for anyone to talk to, even if it were just a prank caller.

Suddenly, his phone rang. Yu Xingyue was startled: "This ringtone—it’s Lin Zimo! Isn't she in class?" He had set a special ringtone for her, distinct from everyone else. The sound filled him with excitement.

He answered, but hearing the noise on her end, he asked, "Zimo, why is it so noisy over there? Are you stuck in traffic?"

Lin Zimo retorted, "That’s a hairdryer, not traffic! Besides, it’s Saturday. You haven't called or messaged me at all—don't you love me anymore?"

"Uh, is today Saturday?" Yu Xingyue checked his computer. It was indeed Saturday. He felt embarrassed. "Zimo, I'm sorry. I thought you were in class, so I didn't message you. My school had a major incident, so we’re closed for a week."

"I heard about that. A friend of mine passed by your school and saw what happened. He told me personally, and he’s not the type to lie. By the way, if you want to meet him, let me know, and I’ll message him." Lin Zimo’s offer piqued his interest.

"Your friend—is he easy to talk to?" Yu Xingyue feared meeting someone difficult or confrontational.

Lin Zimo laughed, "Don't worry, he’s very enthusiastic. I’m sure he’ll want to be your friend. He has an incredible social circle; even local celebrities are his friends and confidantes."

"Is that even possible? How silver-tongued is he? If he keeps it up, he might even become friends with the mayor," Yu Xingyue teased. Lin Zimo didn't mind; she knew her friend’s charisma was indeed that potent.

"I'll call him later and tell him about you. You can pick a time to meet," she said.

"You haven't told me his name yet."

"Oh, his name is Song Haicheng. He likes hanging around Akihabara. I'll talk to him and arrange it."

"Alright."

After the call, Yu Xingyue sat on his bed. "Song Haicheng... that name feels a bit ominous." He couldn't help but think of the infamous "Cheng" from *School Days* who dated nine girls at once. He hoped this "Cheng" wouldn't cause any trouble.

Meanwhile, a man was sipping coffee at a cafe when his phone rang. "Zimo? Why are you calling? Haven't heard from you in ages. Are you busy fooling around with that guy named Yu Xingyue?"

"He's in Japan right now. I mentioned you to him, and he's interested in meeting. Set a time," Lin Zimo said.

Song Haicheng smiled faintly. "Oh? You know my tastes, Zimo. I don't just make friends; I like variety. I want to see if this lad from China will pique my interest."

Lin Zimo felt a chill. She knew exactly what he meant. Song Haicheng didn't have a weakness for girls; he was drawn to handsome men. If they weren't handsome, he would find ways to make them look the part before "capturing" them.

"I’m warning you, don't you dare have any twisted ideas about my Xingyue! If he comes back and says your name, we are through!" she warned.

"He's not with you right now, Zimo," Song Haicheng chuckled darkly. "No matter how much he likes you, I’ll prove I’m more charming than you in the end. Hahaha."

Yu Xingyue suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine. It felt inexplicable, but he sensed he might be facing a major ordeal. He shrugged it off as a physical reaction.

He noticed someone staring at the second-floor window of the internet cafe. The gaze was terrifying. Yu Xingyue felt a chill and looked out, but saw no one, wondering if he was hallucinating.

Soon, he received a message from Lin Zimo: Song Haicheng had agreed to meet tomorrow at nine in the morning at a cafe near the internet cafe.

After reading the message, Yu Xingyue collapsed into bed, exhausted. He muted his phone, needing deep sleep to recover from the pain of the past few days.

...

The man who had been watching the window disappeared when the crowd grew. He was not someone Yu Xingyue knew, but a man filled with murderous intent. Yu Xingyue, now fast asleep, remained oblivious to the danger.

After leaving the cafe, Song Haicheng spotted the man who had been watching the internet cafe. He wondered if the man was a burglar, but the stranger vanished instantly.

"Strange. I feel like I've seen him before," Song Haicheng mused. The man’s muscular build, his murderous eyes, and the Honda parked nearby... he suddenly realized who it was.

"Is it him? Why is he here? This is bad." Song Haicheng realized someone was in grave danger. The man was Honda Haoyun. Honda never appeared in public, but if he knew someone had rescued his target, he would eliminate that person. That was his motive.

Yu Xingyue had saved Ou Liqiaoyue, and Honda had tracked him down to this internet cafe. Honda wasn't planning to strike inside; he was waiting to catch Yu Xingyue alone outside.