At nine in the evening, Zheng Zha materialized precisely in the main hall. He stood silently against the wall, utterly still. Several minutes later, Zhan Lan approached slowly, dressed in casual resort wear. The small woman looked refreshed and invigorated. She greeted Zheng Zha before heading toward the hotel exit, and Zheng Zha could only follow her with a wry smile.

“It’s wonderful to have five days here to rest. Honestly, after enduring two horror movies back-to-back, my nerves are completely frayed. If I don't unwind now, I might actually lose my mind in the next one…” Although it was night, the area outside the hotel still blazed with light. For a resort destination like Hawaii, nine in the evening was merely the prelude to nightlife. The streets teemed with revelers, and local girls swayed in hula performances. Everything was novel to the pair.

“Zheng Zha, come on, let’s check over there. It looks like a crowd has gathered.”

Zhan Lan tugged Zheng Zha’s hand, saying cheerfully.

Zheng Zha subtly withdrew his hand, offering a faint, strained smile. “I told Li’er about the matter I needed to see you about, so I can’t stay long. Zhan Lan, whatever you need to say, just say it plainly… It’s better if we’re clear with each other.”

Zhan Lan paused, studying him intently for a long moment before finally letting out a soft laugh. “Did you… misunderstand something? Don’t worry. While I am quite fond of you, violating my boundary against hurting other girls is something I won’t do. So even if you planned to betray little Li’er, I wouldn't agree to it… I asked to see you about something else entirely.”

“Is that so? I thought…” Zheng Zha scratched the back of his head, slightly embarrassed.

Zhan Lan chuckled lightly, a sound that seemed to carry an undertone of something else. She then continued, “I don’t know why, but I feel a strange oppression within our team. It started… well, ever since I first enhanced my mental fortitude. The feeling became even more pronounced after I learned two new spells. It’s like we are being watched or monitored by something.”

Zheng Zha replied with confusion, “Isn’t that just the ‘Main God’ monitoring us? I sensed it when I unlocked the first layer of the Gene Lock, and it’s definitely stronger now… But it shouldn't be a major issue, right? The ‘Main God’ has always been watching us anyway.”

Zhan Lan sighed softly. “Ah, I don’t know how to put this… But whatever I say, please don’t think I’m trying to sow discord. Don’t you think one of us is acting strangely?” Zheng Zha grew more perplexed. He asked curiously, “One of us is strange? What exactly are you trying to say? If you have something to convey, just say it outright. Even though we are partners, if one of us truly has ill intentions or is acting oddly, we certainly won’t let him off lightly…” Zhan Lan opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing, only exhaling in resignation. “I can’t be certain; it’s just a vague feeling, perhaps due to the mental enhancement… Zheng Zha, do you remember the final day in Ju-On? Why did I suddenly end up in that hotel room? Our protective talisman didn’t burn. If the Ju-On ghost had moved me, the ward would have ignited immediately… Haven’t you truly noticed anything amiss?” Zheng Zha slowly calmed down. He considered it. “To be honest, I found that very strange at the time—why something like that would happen… Ha, don't laugh, but I thought about it for a long time and couldn't figure out the reason. So, are you suggesting you’ve guessed the truth?” “It’s not exactly the truth; I merely have suspicions. Because they are only suspicions, I can’t casually name the person, as we are all members of the same team… Zheng Zha, if I die, please be wary of the person in the team whose demeanor has the greatest contrast from start to finish…” Their brief “date” concluded there. Upon returning to the hotel, both maintained a subtle distance. Only when they exited onto separate floors in the elevator did Zhan Lan, just as the doors slid shut, turn back with a smile that seemed terribly sorrowful. “Li’er… I have always loved you deeply. Since I was small, I promised I would protect you until we were both old and gray… Li’er, I absolutely will not, absolutely not… Nothing happened between me and Zhan Lan.”

At night, Zheng Zha lay holding Lolita, murmuring those words to her.

“…Of course nothing would happen. Sister Zhan Lan is such a good person, xixi. I actually noticed that Sister Zhan Lan likes you, but Sister Zhan Lan would never steal the Big Pervert away from Li’er… And the Big Pervert would never abandon Li’er, right?” Lolita yawned, saying with a cheerful giggle.

“Of course…” (If I set aside the emotional aspect, what Zhan Lan meant was… the person in the team with the greatest difference between their initial and current behavior—was she referring to Chu Xuan? Or Zero Point? They weren't initially part of the team. If she meant a newcomer who had just joined, then Zhao Yingkong is also suspicious, going from ice-cold at the beginning to becoming one of our members… Who exactly was she talking about?) The night passed without incident, and Zheng Zha held Lolita as he drifted into a deep sleep. After an indeterminate amount of time, a peculiar, sharp anxiety woke him from his slumber, as if something was about to happen. This feeling intensified as time crawled by.

Zheng Zha could finally bear it no longer and sat upright on the bed. He carefully covered Lolita completely, then pulled on his clothes and shoes while sprinting toward the main door. Without hesitation, he bolted out of the hotel and ran desperately toward the location the premonition indicated.

It was around four or five in the morning, the quietest and coldest hour. Zheng Zha raced toward the beach. The feeling of dread grew ever more intense, yet simultaneously more distant… “Zhan Lan!” The moment he reached the shore, Zheng Zha spotted a small black speck bobbing in the distant sea. Inexplicably, he bellowed Zhan Lan’s name, and without another thought, he plunged into the water toward the speck. When he reached it, it was indeed Zhan Lan, unconscious! She was nearly drowned by the waves! —————— (Recommendation: Jipin Pizi, Book ID: 11254) Click to view image link: cmfu/smenhu.cn?bl_id=11254 Jipin Pizi jumps to