Chapter 48.1 – Lovestruck (1/3)

Translator: Xena

Hi everyone! Xena here, I’m sorry I was late! Things got a bit hectic irl but I’m back. I will be making up for the lost time. This chapter has 9k character count in raws so I split it into 3 chapters. Here’s the update sched, still every 12 noon GMT+8:

August 24 – Ch48.1
August 26 – Ch48.2
August 28 – Ch48.3
August 31 – Ch49 (from this point forward, we’ll go back to regular Sunday updates <3)

“Actually, the main reason I came here was to carry out another mission.”

Xu Yujin first gave a soothing smile to the homeroom teacher and students, then he turned his head and whispered to Jian Xie who was standing beside him, “As for the content of the mission… there’s nothing I can’t reveal—I’m looking for someone and you’ve had contact with him before, maybe you can provide me with some clues.” 

Hearing this, Jian Xie frowned.

Xu Yujin then nodded to the homeroom teacher who was walking towards him.

“The preliminary judgment points to a hallucinogen.” He lied without blinking and took out an ID from his windbreaker. “Luckily, you didn’t run around. I’ve been in this business for so long, and I often see people accidentally fall down from buildings or even jump off them because they think what they saw was real.” 

“……”

“My companion will be doing the record-taking and follow-up on the case later.”

He took back the ID. “Just stay where you are. It’s better for all of us, understand?” 

After saying that, he ignored the other party’s skeptical expression and took Jian Xie to the side.

Jian Xie could see the English class representative and several of his friends stealing glances at him, as well as other classmates wanting to ask questions but not daring to. They were still reeling from what they had just seen, especially since Jian Xie had been so calm from beginning to end, and even the insects had scattered in his presence.

“Hallucinogen?”Jian Xie said. 

 Are you treating people like fools? If that was the case, then everyone’s illusions should’ve been different.

It was clear that even though he smiled sincerely at everyone, he wasn’t making any effort to reassure them.

【Conceited guy.】

Qin Zhuo hit the nail on the head with a contemptuous tone.

It directly pointed out the other person’s true character hidden under his approachable personality.

“I’m not good at lying, which just shows that I’m sincere. As for how to make things look reasonable, that’s the [Logistics Department]’s job. They can’t just be paid for nothing. After all, the Bureau doesn’t want to keep useless people.”  Xu Yujin said sincerely, “That’s all taxpayers’ money.”

Then, he paused, clearly not giving up on the previous topic. “If you agree to my previous proposal, I’ll change my line of argument in the future, how about that?”

Jian Xie: “…”

Stop talking now, or you’ll have to find another excuse in your next life.

On the way down with him, the topic of partnership had already been brought up at least ten times as he attempted to get Jian Xie to agree in a roundabout way.

If it were a different time, he would really admire his perseverance, but…

Qin Zhu sneered in his ear.

“I don’t need a partner.” Jian Xie directly refused, “Don’t mention this again.” 

Taking advantage of the fact that Qin Zhuo was probably in a good mood or else Xu Yujin would not be alive, he asked again, “Your mission… who is that person you’re talking about?” 

So far, Jian Xie didn’t know many people in the Bureau.

“……”

“Didn’t Cheng Li tell you?” Xu Yujin put his hands in his windbreaker pockets, shrugged and casually said, “Yu Jinghe and Liu Qi disappeared a few days ago and I’m tracking them. But it’s possible that we’ll only find a body, after all, chances of survival are slim after forty-eight hours.”  

He hadn’t heard messy-tie introduce himself, so the name Liu Qi was probably referring to him.

If the time estimate was correct, the two people disappeared exactly after the subway station incident.

Jian Xie raised his head. “A body?” 

“Liu Qi has been confirmed dead.” Xu Yujin paused. “As for what happened, I’m afraid only Yu Jinghe knows.”

……

Once you ask for leave, you would end up taking countless days off.

Jian Xie thought solemnly: If I keep taking leave like this, I might not be able to go to university.

As someone who used to be careful with avoiding scheduling part-time jobs during school hours, he now feels increasingly guilty every time he asks for time off. But he couldn’t help it, because his intuition was telling him that Yu Jinghe’s disappearance was closely related to him.

An unprecedented motivation was born in Jian Xie’s heart.

——Getting rid of all these monsters would be good for everyone, especially for his out-of-control and increasingly extraordinary school life.

“I’m glad you’re coming with me.”

However, Jian Xie encountered Xu Yujin, who had arrived earlier than him, downstairs in the residential area where he lived. He looked suspicious, but when the other noticed his presence, he immediately greeted and said cheerfully, “This is great, I knew you would come too! With you here, this would be a lot easier.”  

“The cameras along the way captured Yu Jinghe disappear here.” He said, “I’m just checking it out.” 

He didn’t dare risk his life alone and casually enter the building. He didn’t expect to meet Jian Xie here.

“I’m just passing by.” Jian Xie glanced at him and said, “My home is right here.” 

Jian Xie was the one who should be asking why the other person was here.

Hearing this, Xu Yujin couldn’t help showing a surprised expression before asking tentatively, “Are you sure…? It’s not another building, but this one?”  

His eyes fell on the building inside the old neighborhood. He saw the dark green ivy covering the entire outer walls and the steps leading to the corridor covered with slippery moss. Because of the leaking pipes, it looked as if half of the building had been soaked in water.

“Why do you ask?”

Jian Xie looked indifferent and just frowned slightly.

“Because it’s really weird!” Xu Yujin couldn’t help but blurt out. He took a step forward and pointed at the deep corridor. “Five investigators had died here. They didn’t even enter the building. They were dragged directly into the elevator.” 

That was a Special A-level containment object, and if he hadn’t been there, things would have spiraled out of control.

The Bureau could remove the elevator away as protocol, but this time it was different, the entire building was…

After the incident, the Bureau sent someone to seal off the entire building, and used A-level props to turn the entire building into an “invisible object that does not pose a problem” to ordinary people. They also marked it and asked the logistics department and colleagues at the Eye to monitor the situation here at all times until they could find a way to completely destroy it.

But now Jian Xie was saying that he lives here? With a bunch of alienated containment objects and possible lurking monsters? 

Oh my god, it can’t be that bad, can it?

He was a Special A-level, but he thinks he would still be dead if he broke in!

“Did you just move in during the past two days? Even if you did… there’s no need to be so arrogant.” Xu Yujin couldn’t describe his mood and his impression of Jian Xie dropped a little. “Liu Qi was in charge of this area. If it was just these past two days, that’s acceptable.” 

After all, the person has been confirmed dead, so it was understandable that he had not reported it…

“I’ve lived here for a year.” He interrupted him, “That’s it, don’t ask any more questions.” 

Interesting.

Looks like it was targeting him.

Jian Xie glanced at Xu Yujin, not caring about his mood at all, and walked straight into the dark corridor with his schoolbag.

“Wait a minute—”

Xu Yujin didn’t have time to react before the other person disappeared from his sight, leaving him no time to raise any objections.

His back view was very free and at ease. The meaning was very clear; whether you want to follow or not, with or without you, it doesn’t matter, because I’m already in.

“……” So cool.

Xu Yujin stared blankly at his back and placed a hand on his heart.

…Help, help, why do I feel like I’ve been hit hard?

“Qin Zhuo.” Jian Xie deliberately lowered his voice. 

The familiar cold and damp air enveloped him as he entered the hallway, giving him the feeling of falling into an ice cave. Almost as soon as he spoke, black mist immediately enveloped him, tightly wrapping him up and dispelling the last bit of cold from his body.

Fortunately, no one could see It. Otherwise, with the way It was hugging his waist and following his every step, they would’ve looked like a pair of lovers.

【Do you need me to get rid of him?】 Qin Zhuo’s voice sounded amused, 【I also think he’s too much of a hindrance.】

He glanced at Xu Yujin who was following with a troubled look on his face, and then looked away.

“That’s not what I meant.” Jian Xie’s expression darkened as he placed his hand on Qin Zhuo’s, It’s cold breath sending a shiver down his spine. “You know what I want to ask.” 

【Oh.】 It didn’t hide It’s disappointment. It’s cold eyes glanced sideways at the investigator behind him.

Not far away, Xu Yujin felt a chill all over his body and shivered.

Could it be that the residual energy here is too dense, so… ? He immediately focused his full attention. 

【If you mean this building——】

Qin Zhuo said lazily. Jian Xie could feel the force on his waist loosening, while his shoulders became a little heavier, as if the evil god had deliberately leaned against him. 【He’s right, the whole building isn’t clean. But no matter what they want to do, it’s just like living in a food warehouse for us, isn’t that great? 】 

Jian Xie turned his head to look at It, but found that the other party was looking at him with slightly raised lips, full of contempt.

In the face of absolute strength, all conspiracies and tricks were futile.

What was more, Jian Xie really needed to eat constantly, so it seemed that there was nothing better than living in a food warehouse.

Jian Xie paused: “…”

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