On the screen, the girl's face was pale and luminous, her eyes curved like lakes under moonlight.
She seemed to be deliberately imitating Yan Qing's usual demeanor, but there was an awkward, forced dissonance to it.
"Do you need something?" Tong Yang asked.
"Sis Tong Yang, is anyone else with you?"
"No one."
Chu Shiyu paused her movements and gave her a dissatisfied look.
"Then let me introduce myself. I am Yan Qing from a parallel world. I've heard a lot about you."
Hearing this, Chu Shiyu's expression turned to one of surprise, and she held her breath.
"Is that so." Tong Yang's expression remained unchanged. "Heard from whom?"
Tong Yang's attitude stayed ambiguous, never directly addressing the implications hidden in their words.
Yan Qing said, "You're quite famous in our world. I didn't need to ask anyone specifically."
Tong Yang leaned back in her chair, looking somewhat languid. "Just say what you need to say. I don't have time to play games with you."
"Sis Tong Yang, don't be impatient. I'll tell you right now."
"Mhm, go ahead."
Tong Yang wanted to see what trick they were really trying to pull.
"Sis Tong Yang, do you know that many people in the parallel worlds want to kill you?"
Tong Yang countered, "Do you think I should know that?"
Yan Qing paused, then said, "You should know, right? Then do you know why they want to kill you?"
"Should I know?" Tong Yang still didn't give a direct answer.
Yan Qing frowned and looked towards Liang Xi, who was off-camera.
Tong Yang asked, "Liang Xi said you needed my help. With what? Tell me, and I might consider it."
"This..." Yan Qing hesitated for a moment. "It's hard for me to say. How about you just take us to a parallel world instead?"
Tong Yang raised her eyes, looking at the girl on the screen. After a few seconds' pause, she asked, "Did you finish the homework I assigned you this morning?"
Yan Qing's expression turned guilty, and she mumbled, "You assigned so much! How could I possibly finish it all in one day..."
Suddenly, her words cut off, and her face filled with fear. "You... you..."
Tong Yang chuckled. "Having fun?"
The camera shook from side to side, and soon, two panicked faces appeared on the screen.
Yan Qing said frantically, "How did you recognize us?"
"You guess."
"How... how would I know!" Yan Qing's face flushed red.
Tong Yang reminded her, "Do you want to check who I actually called?"
"Didn't you call me... Holy crap? You called me?!" Yan Qing exclaimed in shock, turning her phone around. "You figured it out this morning?"
Tong Yang gave a light laugh. "What do you think?"
"No wonder you never answered any of our questions about the parallel worlds!"
"Parallel worlds? What's that?" Tong Yang feigned confusion. "I thought it was just a prank you were pulling."
Chu Shiyu, sitting off-camera, rolled her eyes at her. What an act.
Though, when the other person introduced themselves over the call, she had genuinely thought it might be someone from a parallel world.
How on earth did Tong Yang see through it?
"Sis Tong Yang, how exactly did you figure it out?"
"I really thought you had believed us..."
Yan Qing and Liang Xi shared the same bewilderment.
Seeing their confused expressions, Tong Yang took pity and explained, "If someone from a parallel world wanted to see me, they probably wouldn't need to go through Liang Xi to relay the message."
Chu Shiyu thought about it and nodded. "That's true."
If they could travel between spaces, wanting to see Tong Yang would be a matter of coming directly to find her, even though there was an eighty percent chance they'd get killed.
"Now, tell me. Why were you asking about these things? And how do you know about parallel worlds?"
Yan Qing and Liang Xi looked at each other. "Sis Tong Yang, we really have met someone from a parallel world."
"Oh? When?"
Yan Qing said, "In fifth grade, we made a friend. We often played together in the residential complex. Then one day, she suddenly disappeared. We asked a lot of people in the complex, and they all said they didn't know her, that she never existed. Over time, Liang Xi and I thought we had just imagined her."
Tong Yang propped her chin on her hand. "And then? Why do you now think she must be from a parallel world?"
"Because on August 19th, we saw her again."
Tong Yang's brow furrowed slightly. "Saw her again?"
Yan Qing nodded. "Yes! After our start-of-term exams, we went to a nearby library to buy study materials and suddenly saw her."
"We had almost forgotten her name and what she looked like, but she greeted us first and brought up the old times. She said she was from a parallel world, and that if we didn't believe her, we could ask you!"
"Ask me? Why?"
Yan Qing said, "She said many people in the parallel worlds want to kill you."
"And you just believed her?"
"No! How could I easily believe her and suspect you!" Yan Qing declared earnestly. "I didn't believe parallel worlds could exist at all, so I looked up a lot of information online. I found out there were a few rumored cases related to parallel worlds in Yaocheng, and also the disappearance case of Ye Wen in Shuangbai District, the capital. And all these things actually have connections to you!"
"Don't you think that's a coincidence?"
Tong Yang laughed. "A coincidence? Yes, a huge one. So huge even I'd think it was a parallel world."
"Huh?" Yan Qing was stunned. "What do you mean? Aren't these things about parallel worlds?"
"What does it matter to you whether they are or not? If you're bored, go do some math problems. Build up your practice volume, it'll make things easier for you later."
"So... it's not a parallel world?" Yan Qing asked.
"It's none of your business. If you encounter that person you mentioned again, don't interact with her. Try to stay in crowded places."
Yan Qing blinked. "Sis Tong Yang, are parallel worlds real or not?"
"You guess."
"Is what she said true? Did you really kill many people from parallel worlds, so now people from there want to kill you?"
"Why ask so many questions?"
Yan Qing turned and exchanged a look with Liang Xi, then flipped the camera around. The screen now clearly showed an unfamiliar face.
The girl's skin was deathly pale, with a six-centimeter-long old scar on her forehead that marred her originally gentle features.
"Tong Yang, hello. I am Meng Xiao from a parallel world."
The girl sat on the other side of the tatami, one hand resting on the table edge, the other toying with a menacingly sharp silver dinner knife.
The blade's cold light reflected onto her sickly pale, eerily expressionless face.
"I said if I called you, they would naturally believe me. But it seems you won't admit it willingly."
Tong Yang narrowed her eyes. "Where are you?"
Yan Qing's voice came through. "At a Japanese restaurant."
"Is the door open?"
"It's open, why?"
Yan Qing said, "Sis Tong Yang, is there something you're worried about that you can't say? Don't worry, this is my dad's restaurant. There's no one else here now."
"Is that so?" Tong Yang's tone was indescribable. "Eating with people of unknown identity, feeling perfectly at ease—should I call you naive or foolish?"
Meng Xiao curved her eyes and let out a soft, "Heh heh," laugh. "Teacher Tong, how can you say that? Even though it's been years, we were once friends who played together."
She raised the dinner knife before her face, as if savoring a delicious meal, and extended her tongue to lick the blade. A moment of carelessness, and it cut her. Blood trailed from the corner of her mouth down to her chin, dripping one, two drops onto the dining table.
Yan Qing and the other were probably stunned by this sight, holding their phone dumbly, not making a sound.
The girl hooked up the corner of her mouth, swallowed all the blood in her mouth, casually wiped her lips, the crimson liquid staining the lower half of her face.
"You..."
After a long while, Yan Qing finally spoke, her voice trembling.
Tong Yang, looking at the steady camera feed, let out an almost imperceptible sigh and said, "What are you standing around for? Run, now."
"Ah..."
The girl, seeming not yet satisfied, licked the blood from the corner of her mouth, her eyes filled with a strong, invasive intent. She suddenly slammed the knife into the table with a "clang," then let go, revealing a mouth full of blood-red teeth.
"Holy shit..."
"H-help... help me..."
A series of "thump thump thump" sounds came from the other end of the phone, followed by the camera shaking violently as if falling from a height, finally settling on a brown ceiling.
"Help!"
The cries for help from Yan Qing and Liang Xi sounded through the phone. Tong Yang was utterly exasperated. Only now did they think to run? Had her earlier warning not been clear enough?
After the image remained still for a long time, a blood-smeared face appeared above.
Meng Xiao wasn't in a hurry to chase them. She stared at the camera for a long moment, then bent down to pick up the phone, pointing it at the fleeing backs of Yan Qing and Liang Xi as they scrambled away in panic.
The Japanese restaurant was located within a man-made small garden. Indeed, as Yan Qing had said, there was no one else besides them.
Meng Xiao, holding the phone, pulled the knife from the table and leisurely gave chase.
Tong Yang wasn't worried about the safety of Yan Qing and the other. She asked, "What do you want to do?"
If the other party wanted to harm Yan Qing and Liang Xi, there was no need to wait until now, after they had called Tong Yang.
"You help me, or I kill them." Meng Xiao's voice carried a trace of chill; it wasn't a tone of negotiation.
Tong Yang remained calm and composed. "Are you threatening me? With two insignificant lives?"
"Yes, I am threatening you." Meng Xiao answered decisively, as if certain Tong Yang wouldn't refuse.
() Chu Shiyu stood outside the camera frame, making eye signals at her, asking what to do, whether they should call the police.
Tong Yang gave a slight shake of her head to her, then said to the person on the phone, "You can try."
"As you said, the versions of you from parallel worlds want my life. If anyone can be used as a threat, my fate would likely be quite miserable."
"They are your students."
"So what? The one killing them would be you. What does that have to do with me?"
The other end of the line fell silent, as if weighing how genuine Tong Yang's attitude was.
"If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now. If we meet in the future, I'll avenge them for you."
"Wait." Meng Xiao interrupted her action. "I won't kill them. I want to talk to you."
She flipped the camera around to face her own face.
"Tong Yang, I want to ask for your help."
Tong Yang gave a light laugh and said, "Now that's the attitude one should have when asking for a favor. I'll consider it."
"You're willing to help me?" Meng Xiao's pupils dilated, showing a hint of disbelief.
"Tomorrow morning at nine, meet at the coffee shop about a hundred meters from the west gate of Peking University. I won't wait if you're late." Tong Yang paused for a moment. "You can get there yourself, right?"
Meng Xiao wiped the blood from her face and nodded. "Yes."
"Clean yourself up tomorrow. I don't negotiate with lunatics."
"Understood."
"Put the phone back and leave."
"Okay."
With that, Tong Yang proactively hung up the call.
Chu Shiyu, who had been holding back for half the conversation, finally had a chance to speak, saying in shock, "You just hung up like that? Aren't you afraid she'll harm those two girls?"
Tong Yang pulled up Liang Xi's number and called, explaining as she did, "She needs my help. She'll obey."
"You trust her that much?"
"It's not that I trust her, but that I trust my own judgment."
"The fact that she didn't come to me directly means she wanted to use Yan Qing and Liang Xi to force me to help."
"What does she want you to help her with?"
Tong Yang shook her head. "Not sure. I'll find out tomorrow when we meet."
After the call connected, Liang Xi's voice was very low: "Teacher Tong, we're okay. We're hiding."
Tong Yang said, "Don't dwell on it. What just happened was just me and her playing a prank on you."
Yan Qing's voice trembled. "That's nonsense! I'm not an idiot! How could that possibly be a prank!"
Tong Yang couldn't be bothered to explain to them. "Believe it or not. Anyway, don't think about all that nonsense. I've never heard of the existence of parallel worlds."
Tong Yang didn't want to drag the two of them into this. The less they knew about parallel worlds, the better.
"R-really?"
"I'm hanging up. She left the phone on the seat. Go back and get it yourselves."
Yan Qing and Liang Xi still seemed hesitant, but Tong Yang didn't give them a chance to ask questions, directly ending the call.
Afterwards, she entered the "Netizen Gossip 007" group and asked if there had been any bizarre incidents in the capital recently.
[Doesn't seem like anything lately, why?]
[Did something happen again? I request a live stream!]
[Sis Tong, you should buy one of those phone cases that hangs around your neck, then we could watch a live stream next time]
[I searched, nothing particularly special in the capital news these past couple days, though can't rule out sudden changes]
Studying is for Making Money: [Keep an eye out for me. If the news changes, call me directly.]
Studying is for Making Money: [Alright, I'll buy one. Next time there's a chance, I'll stream. Membership fee is 100.]
[Roger that!]
[Suddenly feeling a bit anticipatory, what's going on?]
[(Rubbing hands together) Hope the next time comes quickly! Just audio isn't enough for me anymore.]
Tong Yang didn't chat much longer, ended the conversation, and went back to reading.
Half an hour later, Yan Qing sent her a message saying they had retrieved the phone. She still insisted that Meng Xiao was from a parallel world and that Tong Yang must know about parallel worlds, even brazenly saying she would one day find evidence to make her admit it.
Tong Yang thought for a moment and replied: [If you want to die, then keep investigating this.]
Yan Qing: [Sis Tong Yang, will I really die?]
Yan Qing was someone with a tiny courage who responded to toughness, not softness. If you were gentle with her, she'd become more aggressive; if you were tough, she wouldn't dare make a peep.
[You'll die very horribly.]
Yan Qing: [Say 'Chinese people don't lie to Chinese people.']
[Piss off.]
Yan Qing: [Fine, don't say it then. No need to be so mean.]
Tong Yang didn't engage with her further, turned off her phone, and continued reading.
At eleven p.m., Tong Yang closed her book and looked back to see Chu Shiyu slumped exhaustedly in her chair.
"What's going on?" Tong Yang asked, puzzled.
Chu Shiyu glanced at her weakly and said, "Tong Yang, you're really something else. Aren't you tired after studying for so long?"
Tong Yang replied, "It's fine. Going to sleep now."
After saying that, Tong Yang burrowed into her blanket and pulled the bed curtain shut, all in one smooth motion.
Having followed Tong Yang's pace and studied all day, Chu Shiyu felt utterly drained. Fortunately, she had already washed up, so she could just roll over and go to sleep.
The first light of dawn broke, and the morning sun rose with the dew.
As usual, Tong Yang went out for a morning run, listening to English tapes through her sports earphones. On the way back, she bought breakfast for two.
At that time, Chu Shiyu was still curled up in bed.
"I brought you breakfast. Eat it while it's hot." Tong Yang placed the breakfast on their respective desks, then went into the bathroom for a shower. After coming out, she ate her own breakfast and left the school.
With the new semester approaching, more and more students were filling Peking University. Perhaps the influence of the incident that had trended on social media a while ago hadn't completely faded, as Tong Yang actually encountered two students on the way who recognized her and wanted to take a photo with her. Tong Yang refused without mercy.
Arriving at a café near the West Gate of Peking University, there weren't many people in the shop at nine in the morning. Tong Yang spotted the girl sitting in the corner at a glance.
"I'll have a coconut latte, please."
"Alright, please wait a moment."
After ordering, Tong Yang turned and walked towards the corner seat.
Meng Xiao looked up at her. Tong Yang had tidied herself up decently, but the scar on her forehead was very noticeable and hard to ignore.
"When did you get here?" Tong Yang asked casually as she sat down opposite her.
Meng Xiao gazed at her intently and said, "An hour ago."
"There aren't many people now. Just tell me directly, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Meng Xiao sat in her seat, a cup of coffee untouched in front of her, and said, "I want to beg you to save my sister."
"Your sister? Who is she?"
"Meng Ting."
Tong Yang asked, "What's wrong with her?"
Meng Xiao said, "Someone needs her bone marrow for a transaction."
The word "transaction" made Tong Yang frown.
"With whom?"
"People from the real world."
Tong Yang frowned deeply. "Wait a moment."
After saying that, Tong Yang went back to the front counter and booked a private room for one hour.
Leading Meng Xiao into the private room, the server brought in their coffee.
"Explain in detail," Tong Yang said.
She remembered what Dr. Luo from the 749 Bureau had once mentioned: the parallel world had already established connections with foreign black market industries.
Meng Xiao said, "You probably aren't aware, but in order to successfully integrate into the Shadow World, people from the Main World have been trying to make contact with your kind. The places least likely to attract attention are those not under state control."
"To curry favor with you, the Main World has started freely supplying expensive human organs. A wealthy family paid a high price to purchase suitable bone marrow, with a one-hundred percent guarantee of no rejection. My sister was chosen by them."
Tong Yang pondered and asked, "The person who needs the bone marrow is Meng Ting from the real world?"
Meng Xiao nodded. "Yes."
"But your sister's bone marrow must have issues too, right? After all, they are the same person across parallel worlds."
"Correct. But in the Main World, we are just ordinary people following orders, so..." Meng Xiao clenched her teeth, a trace of hatred flashing across her face.
Tong Yang finished her sentence, "So, your sister became a sacrificial pawn for making contact with the real world?"
"Mhm."
Tong Yang ran her fingertip around the rim of her cup, lost in thought. "They plan to cure your sister's illness with the gene medicine, then give the healthy bone marrow to the real world's Meng Ting?"
"You even know about the gene medicine? Yes. The Meng family in the Shadow World has very powerful influence abroad. If they can be won over, it would be a great thing for the Main World, but for your world, it would be a catastrophe." Meng Xiao clenched her fist. "For the safety of the Shadow World, you must help me."
Tong Yang didn't answer her immediately, instead continuing along her own train of thought. "You clearly have the gene medicine. You could just give her the medicine directly. Why go through the extra trouble?"
"I guess... the side effects of the gene medicine are very severe?"
Tong Yang wanted to gather as much information as possible.
Meng Xiao said, "Gene medicine is divided into inferior and superior quality. Inferior gene medicine can alter genes within the body, killing all harmful cells, but lifespan is drastically reduced after use. Superior gene medicine has no side effects, but it's only for the upper class, and the manufacturing process is extremely difficult."
"They don't care about my sister's life at all. They will definitely give her the inferior gene medicine, cure her illness, and then let the healthy bone marrow flow into the Shadow World. If this continues... my sister has at most one month left to live."
The more she spoke, the more pronounced the hatred on her face became. "We've already done so much for them, why won't they let my sister go!"
Compared to her emotional turmoil, Tong Yang remained much calmer. Her face showed nothing, but her mind was turning over one thing.
"As far as I know, when people from the two worlds die, their bodies return to their respective worlds within two minutes. Even if you deliver human organs here, wouldn't they still disappear in the end?"
Meng Xiao shook her head. "The bodies only disappear if they die in the other's world."
Tong Yang was taken aback. "You mean, if the organs are removed, as long as your sister dies in the parallel world, the organs won't disappear when they enter the real world?"
"Mhm. Also, bringing the body to the Shadow World after death won't make it disappear either."
Tong Yang's fingernails dug into her palm. "Is there any other method to prevent the body from disappearing?"
Meng Xiao had come to ask for help, so she naturally told all she knew. "Organs."
"To put it in your terms, if a person from the real world receives an organ from a parallel world human, the space's perception of them becomes confused. They won't disappear no matter which world they die in."
Tong Yang's expression grew increasingly grave. "Conversely, if a parallel world human receives an organ from the real world, their body won't disappear if they die in the real world either?"
"Yes, that's correct."
If that's the case, then Ye Tianlin, who fell to his death at Hailin International School, might not necessarily have been from the real world?
No, he fell to his death in the parallel world, and his body returned to the real world...
No! That's not right! Ye Tianlin didn't fall to his death in the parallel world!
When he fell, they heard the sound of his body hitting the ground, meaning he had already returned to the real world before the fall.
In that case, if the one who died was the parallel world's Ye Tianlin, as long as he had organs from a real world human inside him, his body wouldn't return to the parallel world.
Moreover, Ye Huai had congenital heart disease, which has a very high hereditary probability, yet Aunt Bai and Ye Wen don't have heart disease...
Tong Yang's gaze darkened. She decided to ask Ye Huai about it after leaving here.
Perhaps his origins weren't as simple as they seemed.
"So? How do you want me to help her?" Tong Yang asked.
Meng Xiao's eyes were venomous. "I want you to kill the Meng Ting in the Shadow World. As long as she's dead, my sister won't be threatened."
"No deal." Tong Yang refused cleanly and decisively.
After talking for so long, Meng Xiao thought she would definitely agree. Hearing her answer so abruptly, Meng Xiao was stunned for a moment, puzzled. "Why?"
"I don't kill people."
"You don't kill people? Haven't you killed plenty of people from parallel worlds?"
Tong Yang took a sip of coffee and said, "Parallel world beings are just a dangerous species to me, not 'people' in your sense. If the purpose of your words is to get me to kill the Meng Ting in the real world, I'm very sorry, I won't help you."
Meng Xiao's face turned cold. "What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. If there's nothing else, I'll head back first. I still have books to finish." Tong Yang made a move to stand up.
"Tong Yang! Do you think I don't dare to kill you?" Meng Xiao slammed the table angrily, pointing at Tong Yang as she stood up.
Tong Yang looked at her calmly. "You can try."
"However, instead of killing me, why don't you go kill the real-world Meng Ting yourself? I have no reason to stop you."
The parallel world making a deal with Meng Ting's parents had only downsides and no benefits for her and the real world. Even so, Tong Yang wouldn't sacrifice herself to commit murder.
"Do you think I haven't considered that? If I kill her, both my sister and I will be killed! Otherwise, why do you think I came to you for help?"
Tong Yang said, "I won't help you kill anyone."
Meng Xiao gritted her teeth and said, "I have another method. Only you can do it."
"Oh? Let's hear it." Tong Yang became somewhat interested, almost guessing that things weren't that simple. If killing the real-world Meng Ting could solve this, she could have found someone else to cooperate with. There was no need for this extra step of contacting Tong Yang; the gain wouldn't be worth the loss.
Meng Xiao breathed heavily. "You go to the parallel world and kill my sister, then bring her body to the real world."
Tong Yang said in surprise, "Are you insane? Do you want your sister dead or alive?"
Meng Xiao said, "Not really kill her."
"Put on a show?"
"Yes. It's no secret that you frequently enter the parallel world and conduct investigations. You can pretend to stop the deal between the parallel world and the Meng family by killing my sister, who is the traded item, and bring her body back to the real world after death. If you do this, almost no one would suspect."
"You're not planning to have your sister fake her death and live in the real world, are you?" Tong Yang pressed her lips together, her gaze sharp.
Meng Xiao pursed her lips and said, "I know you wouldn't agree. My father and I have already prepared a hiding place for her in the parallel world. It will absolutely not be discovered. So, you just need to cooperate with us in putting on a show."
Tong Yang pondered for a moment. "No, I'd be at a disadvantage. Once news gets out that I killed your sister and disrupted the black industry chain transaction, I'll become a target."
Not only would people from the parallel world come after her, but even those tied to the industry chain would see her as a thorn in their side, especially the Meng family.
Meng Xiao said, "That's right. But if you do nothing, their transaction will gradually grow stronger. The Meng family has immense international influence. Once their deal succeeds, it will absolutely be an irreparable loss for you all."
"You should know the parallel world's methods for dismantling you. Once the upper echelons of society get a taste of the benefits, you'll be completely finished!"
"Even with your existence limiting the parallel world's entry into the real world, it's hard to fight against overwhelming odds. You might escape once or twice, but do you know how many people in the parallel world want you dead?"
Tong Yang fell into deep thought. Being able to enter the loop was indeed her trump card, but the reason for the loop was the time anchor point and time displacement. Lately, the time flow difference between her and others in the gossip group had been growing larger and was continuously increasing. Perhaps in a few more years, she could completely catch up with the others.
Importantly, once the time displacement disappears, she would no longer be able to enter the time loop.
She really only had a few years left.
If she couldn't completely resolve the parallel world issue within this period, both she and the real world would be in grave danger later.
Meng Xiao didn't know about the time loop's existence, but she had accidentally hit the nail on the head.
"Tong Yang, as long as you're willing to help me, I'll tell you everything I know and can also help you secretly. Of course, the premise is that you agree to let my sister and my mother stay in the real world."
Tong Yang looked at her silently. Clearly, the current situation couldn't be resolved by her alone anymore.
"When is the transaction?"
"In three days, September 5th."
Tong Yang nodded. "Give me a day to consider. Tomorrow morning at the same time, I'll come here to find you."
"No problem."
After parting with Meng Xiao, Tong Yang immediately called Police Officer Lin.
"Tong Yang? Is something wrong?" Police Officer Lin's tone was surprised.
Tong Yang got straight to the point. "Contact Dr. Luo. I have very important things to tell them. I need to meet with them today."
"Today? But..."
"It must be today!"
Police Officer Lin hesitated for a few seconds, knowing Tong Yang was definitely not a rash or impulsive person, and replied, "I understand. I'll convey that to them exactly."
"Thank you."
After hanging up, Tong Yang immediately called Ye Huai.
Whenever entering the parallel world, Ye Huai was essential. Although Meng Xiao could take them in, if discovered, the consequences would be dire. Her existence might be very useful later.
So Tong Yang didn't plan to let her take the risk for now.
"Miss Tong."
The voice on the phone was still cold.
"How has your health been lately?"
Ye Huai was momentarily stunned and said, "Not bad, thank you. But, you probably didn't call just to ask about my health."
"Right." Tong Yang acknowledged. "In your current physical state, how long can you last without a ventilator?"
Ye Huai said, "I don't need to wear an oxygen tube anymore. It's fine as long as there's no strenuous exercise."
"Do you have medication?"
"Yes."
"You said you would try your best to cooperate with me. You won't go back on that, will you?"
Ye Huai seemed to let out a light laugh and said, "No, I won't go back on it."
"That's good. I'll need you to come to the Shuangbai District Public Security Bureau this afternoon or evening. Do you have time?"
"Yes."
"I'll contact you again once the time is confirmed."
"Okay."
On the way back to the dorm, she called Xu Junyue.
Xu Junyue was always clamoring about being bored. As one of the few informed individuals, and having decent combat skills, bringing her along as a helper wasn't a bad idea.
"Huh? Tong Yang? You actually took the initiative to call me? That's rare! You usually don't even answer when I call!"
Tong Yang ignored her sarcastic tone and asked, "Is your old Xu keeping a tight leash on you lately?"
"Tight? Why? Need something? I probably can't get out these next couple of days, let's talk later."
"Forget it then." Tong Yang didn't waste words with her and made to hang up after finishing. "Bye."
"Wait! You haven't even said what it is! Tell me first, let me consider if it's worth the risk of sneaking out."
Tong Yang said, "I want to go to the parallel world. I need your help."
"Great! Can I kill people freely? I mean those filthy things in the parallel world."
"No."
"Oh... Where are you? I'll come find you."
"Aren't you afraid of your old Xu?"
"Pfft! Afraid of what? Nothing's as fun as the parallel world."
"Alright then. I'll wait for you at the west gate of Peking University. Come straight over."
"OK! Ten minutes!"
After hanging up, Tong Yang found a spot to sit and wait for her.
What Meng Xiao said made sense, but following her suggestion would still leave Tong Yang at a disadvantage.
Even if she sabotaged the deal between the parallel world and the Meng family, the parallel world still had the high-quality gene serum. If pushed, they could directly hand the serum over to the Meng family, and their cooperative relationship would actually become more solid.
So, just putting on a show and killing "Meng Ting" wasn't enough. She needed to find a way to make continued cooperation impossible. This was absolutely impossible for Tong Yang to do alone; she needed to cooperate with Bureau 749.
Ten minutes later, Xu Junyue, with her head of pink hair, appeared punctually at the west gate of Peking University.
"Let's go! Are we going now?" Xu Junyue ran up impatiently, her opening words urging them on.
Tong Yang glanced at the time. Police Officer Lin wouldn't reply that quickly. She shook her head and said, "No need to rush."
Xu Junyue sniffed like a puppy and asked, "Just the two of us?"
"No."
"Chu Shiyu isn't coming with us?"
Tong Yang said, "Let's go back to the dorm first."
"Deal."
Since there was still time, Tong Yang took Xu Junyue back to the dorm.
By then, Chu Shiyu was already up and had finished eating.
"Junyue? What brings you here?"
Xu Junyue rested her hands behind her head, looking left and right like a leader on an inspection tour.
"The legendary prestigious university isn't much different from an ordinary school."
Chu Shiyu smiled. "It never was that different to begin with."
Tong Yang glanced at Chu Shiyu and said, "We're going to the parallel world. It's quite dangerous. Do you want to come?"
After all she'd been through, Chu Shiyu was no longer the weak woman who couldn't even hold a knife steady at the beginning.
"Since it's so dangerous, of course I can't just stand by and do nothing!" Chu Shiyu said, crossing her arms and holding her head high.
"Wow! A heroine! With you here, we'll definitely return safely!"
"Hahaha..."
Tong Yang didn't know what these two were so excited about, but she didn't pour cold water on it either.
Actually, she could have sought Police Officer Lin's help, but Tong Yang was worried about encountering unexpected situations that would require entering a loop to resolve. She didn't want the people at the police station to know. Besides, Chu Shiyu and the others had been through several loops with her; their teamwork would definitely be more tacit.
As for Ye Huai, that strange person, even if he knew all of Tong Yang's secrets, he probably wouldn't pay them any mind.
Before 11 a.m., Tong Yang finally received Police Officer Lin's reply.
"Tong Yang, Dr. Luo and the others won't be able to get to the police station until 9 p.m. Is the timing okay?"
"No problem."
"Then see you at nine tonight."
"Okay."
Tong Yang turned and told Ye Huai the meeting time. He replied with a simple "Okay."
"What exactly is this mysterious thing? Can't you just tell us directly?" Xu Junyue asked curiously.
Tong Yang sat at the desk, using her phone to look up information related to the Meng family. Strangely, there wasn't much news about them domestically.
Tong Yang said listlessly, "I can't be bothered to explain it the first time. I'll tell you all together tonight."
Chu Shiyu asked, "Is it related to the girl from last night?"
"Yes."
Xu Junyue looked confused. "Who? Who?"
"You don't know her."
"Hmph."
In the evening, the three of them picked up Tong Le and Yang Lin from school, had dinner with them, sent them home, and then took the subway to the Shuangbai District Public Security Bureau.
When they arrived, it was still fifteen minutes to nine. Police Officer Lin took them to the meeting room from that day.
"Have you eaten?"
"Officer Lin, we have."
"Good. Let me get you some water. Go on in first."
Pushing the door open to enter the meeting room, they were surprised to find two people already inside.
"Damn it! Are you blind? You can miss with your first skill?!"
"Trash! Trash! Trash, shut up!"
Tang Shuyan, the half-baked Taoist priest, was leaning on the sofa playing a game, passionately trash-talking with his teammate.
Ye Huai was wearing a black sweater that made his skin look as white as snow. He paid no attention to the commotion, reading a police bureau promotional pamphlet as if no one else was there.
"You're here? Have a seat." Tang Shuyan greeted them without looking up, as if he were the host.
Ye Huai, on the other hand, put down the pamphlet and nodded in their direction.
"Aren't people in your line of work supposed to avoid false speech?" Xu Junyue teased.
Tang Shuyan said with a frank expression, "I'm not ordained. Besides, he was asking for it. I was just obliging him."
"Are you sick? Taking my health pack at full health?"
"You better watch out. Tonight, I'll perform a ritual to curse you with a ten-game losing streak!"
"What are you doing here?" Tong Yang walked forward and asked.
Tang Shuyan had also been present at the last meeting with Bureau 749 personnel.
"I told you I'm an external affiliate. Dr. Luo asked me to come. Said I might be able to help... Give me the red buff!"
Tong Yang didn't press further. If Dr. Luo asked him to come, she had her reasons.
Tong Yang pulled out a chair and sat down, glancing at Ye Huai. "You look much better."
Ye Huai nodded. "Yes, so I won't hold you back."
Tong Yang didn't expect him to say that and laughed. "It's fine. If you hold us back, we'll just leave you behind."
Ye Huai didn't seem to mind. Instead, he nodded slightly. "You could kill me too."
"How has Ye Wen been lately?"
She hadn't seen Ye Wen since then and didn't know how he was doing.
Ye Huai lowered his gaze, his eyes resting on the reflective surface of the table. "He withdrew from Hailin International School. He's at an ordinary public school now."
"He was very sad after Ye Tianlin passed away, often crying and throwing tantrums at home. Mom tried to talk to him a few times, but it didn't work, so she just lets him be now. Because of the Ye Tianlin incident, he was bullied a few times at school. He fought back and had to pay some medical compensation."
Tong Yang paused. She had originally wanted to ask him about Ye Tianlin, but perhaps this wasn't the right place, so she didn't continue asking.
Nearly ten minutes later, Dr. Luo and the other two finally hurried in.
Police Officer Lin and Director Zhao also entered the meeting room.
Once everyone was seated, their gazes uniformly focused on Tong Yang.
Tong Yang didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point.
"This morning, I met someone from a parallel world."
"I've decided to work with her for the time being."
