Chapter 62: The End of the Cultural Festival and a Looming Threat

The Taisan High School Cultural Festival had officially concluded. Thursday would mark a return to the usual academic routine. He wondered how long it would be until the next school sports meet.

After tidying his hair, Zhong Tian settled onto his bed.

He turned onto his side, opening BiliBili to scroll through videos.

As he scrolled, Zhong Tian came across a news report.

It detailed an incident from the typhoon days prior.

A fishing boat from Moyong Town in Taisan City, unable to return to port for shelter, had capsized at sea, claiming the lives of a couple.

Moyong Town. He recalled it being close to Li Jianren’s home.

It was a small town, seemingly specializing in seafood sales; the strong fishy scent he’d noticed when passing through before had left a deep impression on Zhong Tian.

Speaking of Li Jianren’s home, Zhong Tian was reminded of their planned weekend beach gathering.

The thought of the gathering, in turn, brought Bai Ruijin to mind.

He wondered if they had chatted since adding each other on WeChat.

Given Zhong Tian’s understanding of their personalities, it was highly probable they hadn’t exchanged a single word.

Zhong Tian suddenly felt no different from Zheng Qiao, or even a matchmaker, constantly trying to set them up, not for any personal gain, but simply to see them get together.

Li Jianren, despite having many acquaintances, had only Zhong Tian as a true confidant, a friend who would go to bat for him.

It would be wonderful for him to find a suitable partner and experience a meaningful romance.

Yet, he claimed he didn’t want to be in a relationship.

Zhong Tian found this hard to believe.

Without resolving this, Li Jianren wouldn’t be able to make progress with Bai Ruijin, which meant Zhong Tian would have to subtly probe him during the weekend gathering.

If all else failed, he’d just ask him outright and then resort to reading his mind.

His thoughts flitting about, Zhong Tian suddenly lost all traces of sleepiness, deciding instead to get up and fetch a glass of water.

****

At this hour, Su Linxi was still awake, sitting on the sofa in her pajamas, fiddling with her phone.

Seeing Zhong Tian emerge from his room, she looked up and asked, “‘Can’t you sleep?'”

“‘Mm,'” Zhong Tian hummed in response, entering the kitchen to retrieve his mug and filling it halfway with warm water. “‘What about you?'”

“‘I feel it’s still early…'”

It was true; it was only half past eleven.

For young people who didn’t have school or work the next day, this hour marked merely the beginning of their nightlife.

“‘Oh, right, Zhong Tian. Could you help me fill in the detailed address?'”

Su Linxi said, handing her phone to Zhong Tian.

“‘Are you shopping online?'”

The app displayed on the screen was Taobao.

Zhong Tian filled in their home address in the only blank field, then saved it and returned the phone to Su Linxi.

He had initially intended to ask Su Linxi what she was buying, but feeling it might be impolite, he simply sat down, took a sip of water, and let the thought pass.

“‘Thank you.'”

After placing her order, she put her phone down.

Su Linxi seemed to rarely use her phone.

Typically, whenever he saw her at home, aside from writing, she was occupied with simple household chores; even during her evening downtime, he never saw her engrossed in her phone.

Unlike Zhong Jing, who would often neglect to wash her dishes after meals, instead rushing off to scroll through videos or play games on her phone.

Su Linxi, he mused, felt far more mature than Zhong Jing.

With half a glass of water consumed, Zhong Tian had been about to chat with Su Linxi for a bit, but remembering his early start the next day, he decided to put aside his thoughts and return to his room to sleep.

Otherwise, if he slept too late, he’d be drowsy again tomorrow.

“‘I’m heading back to sleep,'” Zhong Tian announced, placing his mug back in the kitchen. “‘Linxi, you should get to bed early too.'”

“‘Goodnight.'”

“‘Mm, goodnight.'”

After exchanging goodnights, Su Linxi turned her head, continuing to gaze out the window, lost in thought.

Yet, as she stared, a sudden unease swept over her—a fear that Yu Naixi might be lurking there, waiting for her to look—and she quickly averted her gaze.

Although she had left numerous notes as a precaution, she still felt unsettled.

Yu Naixi’s ability, after all, was terrifying.

If Yu Naixi truly intended to harm her, no amount of countermeasures would suffice.

Perhaps even Yu Naixi herself didn’t fully realize the extent of her own capabilities.

But Su Linxi knew—she had experienced it once and was absolutely unwilling to go through it again.

Fortunately, in the current situation, Yu Naixi likely held no hostility towards her, allowing for proper communication at the very least.

With effective communication, there was hope of resolving her dissociative identity disorder.

Su Linxi rose, returned to her room, and intended to write her daily entry—another safeguard against her memories being erased.

[September 15, 2022.

Today, I followed His advice and returned to Taisan High School with Zhong Tian.

The cultural festival was quite interesting, though the snacks were a bit lacking in taste, perhaps a butterfly effect from my not enrolling in high school this time, or perhaps due to the changes in taste caused by this perpetually young body.

Regarding Yu Naixi’s condition, her original personality must be overwhelmed; if she doesn’t cease maintaining some of her abilities soon, even without external stimuli, she will be replaced by her second personality.

Her greatest burden is likely the alteration and deletion of Zhong Tian’s memories as an ability user.

When we next meet, I must persuade her to restore Zhong Tian’s memories.

While they may not be pleasant memories, past pain is past.

It is better to remember than to forget, and I hope she can understand this.

To the person reading this diary: This diary was written by Su Linxi, and Su Linxi is you, opening the file lock with the password on the note and now reading this diary.

If you find the preceding words confusing, please believe that your perception and memory have been altered by the person named Yu Naixi mentioned in this diary.

Please believe that people with special abilities truly exist in this world.

Next, please contact Uncle Li by phone (his number is recorded in the second book on the desk); he is your family’s butler and will explain everything in detail.

You must use every possible means to find Yu Naixi at Taisan High School and make her reverse the alterations.

This is truly important; please believe what is written here.]

After finishing the diary, Su Linxi closed the file, reset the password to one she couldn’t easily recall, transcribed it onto a new piece of paper, and placed it beneath her pillow.

‘Time to sleep early.’

****

The night passed without dreams, feeling as though she had merely closed and opened her eyes.

Today, she slept until almost ten o’clock.

Checking her phone, she saw that the two express deliveries she had expedited yesterday were already out for delivery.

They should arrive by noon.

Su Linxi had purchased a pair of glasses with one-way mirrored lenses and a bottle of pepper spray.

Both were for self-preservation.

****

She gazed at the doorway, lost in thought.

****

It was lunchtime, dismissal hour for school.

Having finished her lunch, Yu Naixi decided it was time to seek out the woman living with Zhong Tian.

Leaving the school, she hailed a ride-sharing car, and once inside, she gently held her still throbbing head, resuming the thoughts from the previous night.

For now, she could assume Su Linxi possessed mind-reading abilities, and at a level superior to Zhong Tian’s.

In such a scenario, attempting to modify Su Linxi’s perception would place a far greater burden on Yu Naixi than modifying Zhong Tian’s, potentially overwhelming her entirely.

Moreover, there was a risk of her own mind being read in return.

Thus, she absolutely had to avoid making eye contact with her.

She also hoped Su Linxi would be willing to engage in a proper conversation.

Upon arriving at Zhong Tian’s residential compound, she exited the car and subtly altered the gatekeeper’s perception, allowing herself entry through the main gate.

Before entering the compound, she deliberately glanced at the convenience store beside it, noticing that the staff had changed.

****

That disgusting person—though she hadn’t taken his life at the time—she had erased his affection for Zhong Tian and simultaneously altered his sexual preferences, making him interested only in those who resembled her.

That, she supposed, was a resolution.

****

She entered the compound and, with practiced ease, walked to Zhong Tian’s doorstep.

In front of his door, a young woman was receiving a package.

As the young woman accepted the delivery, her peripheral vision seemed to catch sight of Yu Naixi.

****

Bang!

Su Linxi retreated into her home with incredible speed, slamming the door shut and startling the delivery person outside.

‘She came so fast…’

With trembling hands, she quickly tore open the package, put on the one-way mirrored glasses, tucked the pepper spray into her pajama bottoms, and only after checking herself in the mirror to confirm their effect, did she nervously return to the front door.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.