Chapter 9 - 7: Keeping Secrets from Each Other

Chapter 9: Chapter 7: Keeping Secrets from Each Other

Inside a room.

A video was playing.

The woman was wrapped in a light blue down jacket, looking as if she were very afraid of the cold. From this angle, it was impossible to see the damaged spot on her chest.

"This is the first time Xia Yu has appeared on surveillance footage since the Mist Event."

The video ended, and someone began to explain.

Everyone’s gaze turned to the middle-aged man in the center of the room.

The middle-aged man’s name was Zhao Guohui, the head of the special task force assigned to this case.

He thought for a moment before speaking. "Send someone to her house. Bring back this down jacket and see if there are any traces on it. While you’re at it, bring her in to give a statement."

Someone questioned, "It would take us over ten minutes to rush from the location of the Mist Event to her home. This girl is just an ordinary university student. She even bought eggs and peppers. It’s unlikely to be her, right?"

Zhao Guohui said, "I only look at the evidence."

The person who had just raised the question fell silent and immediately went to carry out the order.

Zhao Guohui said, "Next."

The screen changed.

Another suspect appeared in the video.

Soon, the door to Xia Yu’s home opened.

A rich aroma of rice and cooked dishes wafted out.

The two people at the door unconsciously swallowed.

"How can I help you two?"

In the ensuing conversation, Xia Yu completely seized the initiative.

The key was, she even made them feel as if *they* were the ones in control.

A few minutes later.

The three of them left with the light blue down jacket.

Watching the three of them leave, Xia Tian’s brow furrowed slightly.

’She came home and showered, bought a new down jacket, and cleaned her boots. These unusual actions clearly meant his sister was hiding something.’

He picked up his phone and started looking up related news reports. There wasn’t much useful information, so he quickly typed in a URL and, after a series of manipulations, the screen suddenly changed.

Real photos and information about the Mist Event flooded the screen.

Half an hour later.

"Phew."

"It can’t be my sister."

"To survive a bizarre incident like this, you’d have to be a special forces soldier at the very least, right?"

Xia Tian breathed a sigh of relief and muttered to himself, "My sister is just a simple, pretty, slightly bossy university student who likes to bully her little brother."

As he spoke, an imperceptible, happy curve formed on his lips.

"RING RING RING."

His phone rang.

"Wang Zhe, what’s up?"

Xia Tian answered, the curve on his lips vanishing, replaced by a calm expression.

Wang Zhe had originally been a bad student who liked to bully his classmates, but ever since he tried to bully Xia Tian...

...his phone would constantly blast adult videos at full volume—whether he was in class, walking down the street, eating dinner at home, or even sleeping in the middle of the night—and it was impossible to turn off.

The same thing happened even when he changed phones.

Then, he went viral.

Oh, right, he was also a rich second-generation kid.

After that, the two became best friends.

"Brother Tian, I’ve already sorted things out with Yu’s internship company. It’s fine even if she doesn’t show up. She can start in a high-paying position right after graduation."

Wang Zhe continued, "By the way, Brother Tian, you make so much money. Why are you even letting Yu get a job? How much can she possibly earn?"

Xia Tian said calmly, "I’ve donated all my money."

"None of those aid organizations are any good."

Wang Zhe was full of disdain.

"Do you think I need to go through an aid organization to donate money?"

Xia Tian retorted.

Wang Zhe froze. He had almost forgotten that Brother Tian was a computer prodigy. He slapped his forehead and said, "How could I forget about that?"

Then, he changed the subject, his tone turning hostile. "Brother Tian, I heard Xie Shaokun and his gang were giving you trouble? You don’t have to lift a finger this time. I’ll personally take care of them for you. Give your bro a chance to flex his muscles."

"I’ll make sure he gets what’s coming to him in the next couple of days."

Xia Tian thought for a moment.

Xie Shaokun didn’t have any powerful background; he had established himself in the city purely through his ferocity and willingness to fight. Wang Zhe’s father, on the other hand, had just closed a huge deal, becoming the province’s top corporate taxpayer and was highly regarded.

Therefore, there probably wouldn’t be any trouble if Wang Zhe taught Xie Shaokun a lesson.

"Alright."

He added a warning, "Just don’t go overboard. Don’t let it get too big. You might be able to handle the fallout, but I can’t."

"And while you’re at it, help me tell Xie Shaokun to be a good person from now on."

Hearing this, Wang Zhe chuckled slyly. "Brother Tian has always possessed the fine virtue of persuading others to be good. You think I don’t know that? Don’t worry, Brother Tian. From now on, Xie Shaokun can *only* be a good person."

...

...

Night deepened.

When Xia Yu got home, her younger brother was already asleep.

Because he was frail and often sick, her brother always went to bed very early.

She had anticipated this, so she had messaged her brother beforehand to let him know she was safe and that he didn’t need to wait up for her.

Then, she tiptoed back to her own room and lay down on the soft bed, feeling a bit unaccustomed to it for a moment.

’So it really is Zhao Guohui in charge of this matter, just like in my previous life.’

She replayed her performance in her mind and only relaxed after confirming there were no issues.

’Zhao Guohui. He came from a background of old-school criminal investigation and had countless merits to his name, but he was still just a captain in his forties, apparently because he had offended a superior. Before the Apocalypse broke out, he was involved in a Mist Event and became a Spiritual Ability User. Every Spiritual Ability User has one superpower. His superpower: Insight into the Heart. Because of this ability, he was highly valued. Coupled with the fact that he was an extremely strong Spiritual Transformer whose talent for absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power reached the Upper Level, he eventually became the supreme commander of No. 9 Shelter.’

’I’ll have to be even more careful with my next moves.’

Thinking of this, she took out her phone and replied to Chu Quan: My brother is sick again, so I can’t make it.

Chu Quan replied instantly: Is your brother okay? Do you need me to find a doctor? Director Liu at the provincial hospital is my brother-in-law.

Xia Yu: No need, thanks. Going to sleep.

She turned off her phone.

She turned off the light.

She didn’t take off her clothes. She wasn’t used to it.

In the next room.

Xia Tian also turned off his bedside lamp and fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.

Faintly, he felt something enter his body. As always, he wasn’t surprised by it; in fact, he slept even more soundly. However, his face also grew a shade paler.

The next day.

"Cough, cough."

After breakfast, Xia Tian left for school, coughing.

Xia Yu chased after him, insisted on putting another layer of clothing on him, and urged, "You’re so weak. Take a taxi to school."

"There’s no need... Okay."

Xia Tian was about to refuse, but when he saw his sister’s stern face, he immediately changed his mind.

’It’s not like I’m short on money, anyway. As long as my sister is happy.’

After her brother left, Xia Yu went back to her room, slung on a pre-packed backpack, and flagged down another taxi. Her usual cold demeanor returned as she said, "Driver, to..."