Chapter 34 THIRTY-FOUR

Chapter 34: Chapter THIRTY-FOUR

If only Xin Linhua had known...if only his instincts had told him beforehand, he’d have rejected that project right off the bat!

It’s going to take a while for the project to go through, teams have to be formed, tests have to be carried out and a bunch of other stuff.

So, whenever a low level rift appears, Xin Linhua and Rong Yizhan are called to deal with it.

While the on-site Sentinels control the situation from outside, they bring down the source of monsters from the inside. Wipe out the monsters and make new discoveries that’ll be useful to the institute.

Tired doesn’t cut it– Xin Linhua feels wring out and left to dry. Sooner or later, he might drop!

It’s not like the institute cares about that anyway, so he can’t do anything about it. Just a little bit longer and he’ll be on a well deserved break.

_____

"I swear to heavens, I’m turning off the communication feed." Xin Linhua taps a few keys on his ra?ar "It’s been weeks now, are they trying to get us killed!?"

They had just returned from a rift. Grotesque monsters with limbs the length of a pole. He barely sleeps these days and that has caused him to slow down a bit. If Rong Yizhan wasn’t quick on his feet, Xin Linhua might have suffered a major blow.

"Fuck, it’s cold!" Xin Linhua shivers "Damned winter. They say it’s going to snow this year."

Rong Yizhan raises his head slightly. He turns his head back and forth for a while before walking towards a destination.

"Hey! Wait for me!" Xin Linhua runs after him.

The two walk into the shop, a bell jingling above them to announce their arrival.

"Were you cold?" Xin Linhua glances around the shop "Then let’s get a thicker coat and some gloves."

Rong Yizhan walks towards an aisle. His hand runs through the pile of scarfs and coats, but none seem to be to his liking.

"Can’t decide on one?" Xin Linhua walks towards him "It’s fine. Let’s check another aisle."

Thus, they check different aisles. Xin Linhua keeps verifying which one Rong Yizhan wants until they finally settle for one; a black and white scarf.

"This is good." Xin Linhua nods and drags him to the cashier "We’ll take the scarf...and the black coat behind you."

Xin Linhua grins happily as he pays and takes the bag. He pulls out the scarf and turns Rong Yizhan towards him.

"You should wear it now, you’re freezing." He carefully wraps the scarf around his neck.

"Your hands are cold." Rong Yizhan points out.

"That’s just how my body is." Xin Linhua laughs softly "Your skin is always this white, just a little bit of cold and it’s turning red. Even the long sleeve turtleneck is not helping."

Xin Linhua properly adjusts the scarf around his neck.

"C’mon. We can change into these coats when we get back."

Xin Linhua grabs his wrist, intending to drag him out, but Rong Yizhan doesn’t move an inch.

"What?"

"Your hands are cold."

"Oh. Don’t read into it, my body is like that. Unlike you, my skin is not as white as flour."

Rong Yizhan retracts his hand. He walks back to the aisle, fiddling with a few scarves.

"Okay, okay." Xin Linhua grabs a random one "I’ll take this one. No need to turn the store upside down again."

Rong Yizhan nods. Xin Linhua pays for the scarf and wraps it around his necks, guiding them outside.

"It’s still early." He checks his phone "Let’s–"

The sound of a sharp ringtone cuts his word off. He swipes across the screen.

"Where are you?" Zhao Xi asks almost immediately.

"Yes, good afternoon to you too." Xin Linhua rolls his eyes "I’m outside. What’s up?"

"I’ll send you a location. Meet me there as fast as you can."

"Sure, but–"

The line goes dead. Xin Linhua stares at the lock screen in confusion. Zhao Xi barely ever panics. What’s up with him?

Xin Linhua pockets his phone and shrugs it off. He unlocks the car doors.

"Yaras?. Wanna grab lunch first?"

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Xin Linhua pulls over at the underground garage.

Spring Tea restaurant. His favourite place to go back then. Now he just prefers junk food and fried chicken with beer. The old Xin Linhua sure did have a refined taste.

"We’re here."

The two alight and step into the elevator. They soon found the private room Zhao Xi had booked. They walk in.

"Finally! You’re here–" Zhao Xi stops in his tracks.

Xin Linhua walks in with a blindfolded figure beside him. The man’s attention immediately locks onto Zhao Xi who’s staring at him with wide terrified eyes.

"Why do you look so spooked?" Xin Linhua playfully slaps his friend’s back.

"Dear ancestor..." Zhao Xin mechanically turns to him "Is this by any chance, your Sentinel?"

"Yeah. I told you about him before." Xin Linhua pulls Rong Yizhan forward.

Zhao Xi staggers back, grabbing the edge of the table to stabilize himself.

"Dude, what’s wrong?"

"Nothing." Zhao Xi fixes his stance "I’ve been feeling sick lately so it’s a bit difficult to stand."

"Oh..." Xin Linhua nods "Anyway, Yaras?, this is Zhao Xi. My best friend."

Rong Yizhan nods at Zhao Xi and the youth returns the greeting by bowing deeply.

"Are you sure you’re alright?" Xin Linhua frowns.

"I’m sure."

The three settle down. Almost immediately, food is brought in and the aroma fills the room. Xin Linhua forgets all about his friend who’s acting weird.

"Oh right!" He suddenly raises his head "You called me for something, right? What is it?"

"Yeah..." Zhao Xi passes him a file "There’s still something else I have to tell you but I’ll text you when i get home."

Xin Linhua raises an eyebrow. He places the meat on Rong Yizhan’s food, focusing on his friend.

"Now I’m worried about you. You don’t seem like yourself. You’re acting like you’ve seen a ghost. You know those things aren’t real, right?"

"Humans tend to be more terrifying than ghosts..." Zhao Xin mutters.

"Okay, fine. Text me when you get home."

"Sure..."

For the rest of the afternoon, Xin Linhua is surprisingly the one who makes small talks.

Zhao Xi has been acting, stealing glances at Rong Yizhan and lowering his head almost immediately in fear. The once loud and noisy friend is suddenly quiet, even Xin Linhua can’t make sense of things.

The moment lunch ends, Zhao Xi stands to his feet and grabs his bag.

"Hey." Xin Linhua grabs his arm "Lemme drop you off."

"No need, no need!" He waves his hands "I brought my bike."

"But you don’t look good. You’ve been acting strange all afternoon."

"I’m good. Just call me the moment you get back."

"Sure..."

Xin Linhua watches as his friend flees the room, almost stumbling down the hallway.

"What’s wrong with him?" He ponders.

Rong Yizhan quietly sips from his glass, his grip a bit tight around the fragile object. He doesn’t say anything, but the atmosphere around him has shifted.