The human brain, in order to avoid confusing reality and dreams, simply can’t remember what happens in dreams—only the faintest impressions are left behind.
Lin Yu was now benefitting from this mechanism… Or rather, in his case, he might be the victim of it.
“Hiss… Just what kind of dream did I have? How does it end with my waist hurting?”
Morning.
In the kitchen, Lin Yu flipped the eggs in the pan with one hand, while the other hand rubbed his lower back.
“This feeling is just like… just like…”
As he spoke, his expression grew strange, because this sensation wasn’t exactly familiar—just something he felt he might often experience, whether in the past or… the future.
“This can’t be right…”
He racked his brain for ages but still couldn’t figure out why this was happening. In the end, he could only blame it on not closing the window last night and being chilled by the wind.
Once breakfast was ready, he turned on the television.
Ever since his Rebirth, he’d been watching TV frequently to see if the general course of current events matched his memories.
He’d just switched to a channel when the scene on screen made him put down the remote. It was a live interview, and the interviewee was none other than his older sister.
The host was a dignified-looking middle-aged man, tilting his head back and holding up the microphone with some effort to reach his tall interviewee.
“Chief Lin, may I ask about the current progress of the Mother Nest eradication?”
Lin Mowei was already tall, and now, clad in that set of Biological Armor, she was over two meters—her whole presence radiated an overwhelming sense of oppression.
“We expect to eliminate the Mother Nest today.” Her calm voice sounded almost cold as it came through the helmet.
Despite her clearly standoffish attitude, the host kept a pleasant smile. But his next question was nowhere near as friendly as his expression.
“Chief Lin, I have another question, one the public is eager to know. According to an inside source, this Mother Nest incident was actually caused when the Elimination Division let a Rift Beast escape. What’s your take on that?”
Seated before the television, Lin Yu raised his eyebrows at that.
Are you for real, man? Is that the sort of thing you can just ask on live TV? Are you sure you’re not some mole sent by a subversive group?
You’re done for.
Just as Lin Yu finished this thought, Lin Mowei on TV moved.
No one saw when the blade appeared at the host’s throat.
By the time the host realized what was happening, he was so terrified he couldn’t speak, his face frozen with fear.
Only Lin Mowei’s icy interrogation echoed from the television: “The Elimination Division has never let a single Rift Beast escape. Where did you hear that? What’s your purpose in spreading such rumors? Who put you up to this? Speak!”
“Pfft…” Watching the host on the verge of passing out with fear, Lin Yu couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
This was exactly how his sister Lin Mowei treated outsiders—overbearing and utterly ruthless.
“Click.”
The sound of the door unlocking came from the entrance. Lin Yu turned to look—Xia Yanran walked in as naturally as if returning to her own home.
“Yo, Lin little brother, what’s got you laughing? Let your Sister Xia in on the joke.”
Xia Yanran had a key to his house—given by Lin Mowei.
Of course, she probably hadn’t remembered this fact yet, or she’d have found some excuse to ask for it back by now.
Today, since she was going out, Xia Yanran’s outfit wasn’t as breezy as yesterday’s.
Over her white sports vest she wore a light sun-protective jacket. She still wore shorts, but at least their length was within the normal range.
He gestured at the television. “See for yourself.”
Xia Yanran turned her head to watch the interview on TV, then gave a look that said she’d seen it all before.
“Oh, I thought it was something special. What did that guy do to tick off Sister Lin this time?”
Lin Yu recounted what had just happened on TV.
“I see. Well, he had it coming, talking nonsense like that.”
Xia Yanran plopped down next to Lin Yu, her gaze drifting to the breakfast he’d made.
“What’s this? Let me try some.”
“Didn’t you eat already?”
“I did, but what’s that got to do with wanting your breakfast?”
“…”
Lin Yu stared at Xia Yanran in disbelief, amazed that such flawless logic could come from the mouth of his airheaded childhood friend.
Fine. Since her brain had finally worked for once, he decided to share a little with her.
Definitely not because she was looking at him with those desperately yearning eyes—absolutely not!
He couldn’t possibly go soft…
“Wait, I’ll get you some chopsticks.”
He’d just taken a step when he turned and saw Xia Yanran already picking up his chopsticks, ready to dig in.
“Put them down! Or you won’t get any.” He knew her too well.
“Hehe.” Xia Yanran, not in the least embarrassed at being caught, sheepishly set the chopsticks down.
After breakfast, the two of them headed out.
While waiting for the elevator, the door of Xia Yanran’s apartment opened.
Lin Yu knew who it was, but when he actually saw Qin Wuyue, he couldn’t help shivering.
“Mom, are you taking out the trash? Here, let me.”
Seeing the trash bag in her mother’s hand, Xia Yanran stepped forward to take it.
“Alright, I’ll leave it to you then.”
Qin Wuyue then turned her gaze to Lin Yu. “Lin Yu, is your sister doing well these days?”
Lin Yu, suddenly a bit shy, avoided her gaze. “She’s doing fine. Thank you for asking, Aunt Qin.”
“Heh, no problem.” Qin Wuyue smiled in reply.
At that moment, the elevator arrived, and Lin Yu and Xia Yanran stepped inside.
“Mom, we’re off.”
“Take care on the way. And keep an eye on Lin Yu.”
“I know.”
“Goodbye, Aunt Qin.” Lin Yu bid her farewell politely.
“Mm, goodbye.”
Until the elevator doors closed, Qin Wuyue’s gaze never left Lin Yu.
With the two of them gone, the corridor fell quiet.
“Something’s not right…”
Lin Yu still acted just like before, always so awkward when he saw her, not knowing where to look.
But she couldn’t shake the feeling that this kid… was putting on an act.
For no reason at all, with no evidence—just a hunch.
The moment I opened the door and saw him, did he shiver, almost like he was scared?
It was just for an instant, so Qin Wuyue wasn’t sure if she’d imagined it.
She lowered her head, looking at her mature and alluring figure. Though she was old enough to be Lin Yu’s mother, she was confident her charm was second to none.
Why would that boy be afraid of me?
This vague, hard-to-pin-down feeling, as if shrouded in fog, left her extremely frustrated.
“First he used that excuse to reject Yanran, and now he seems afraid of me. Little Lin Yu, just what are you hiding?”
A smile curled on Qin Wuyue’s lips—the delighted smile of a hunter spying its prey.
Downstairs.
“Lin Yu, were you checking out my mom’s legs again? Out with it!”
Faced with her mother’s lack of confidence, the girl acted a little jealous.
Xia Yanran pouted unhappily at Lin Yu.
He twitched his lips. He wanted to say it wasn’t sneaking a look—it was blatant, on-purpose staring.
“Of course not, don’t make things up. Aunt Qin has always looked out for me and my sister. How could I look at her that way?”
“Hmph, you better not. Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
Sunlight shone on the two of them, but Lin Yu felt a chill down his back, as if someone was thinking about him. He glanced over his shoulder instinctively.
Qin Wuyue, huh…
When it came to that woman, Lin Yu’s opinion had always been: mysterious, dangerous, and brimming with fatal allure.