Main Story Chapter 14-12: The Angel who Crossed Boundaries (越界天使） | Light and Night 光与夜之恋

Please consider reading Chapter 14-10 before proceeding~

Charlie and I sat in the car, and the started engine has sounded for a couple of minutes.

The conversation between him and Sun TaiZhong still lingers in my mind.

The upcoming intense atmosphere suffocates me, is this because of the disagreement in opinions when saving Yangyang's grandmother and Xiao Zhen? Or are there actually, more reasons that I can't understand?

Charlie: What are you thinking about?

Thoughts interrupted, I shook my head.

You: I'm thinking... I don't think I want to go home yet.

Charlie: Oh? Are you hinting that you wanted to go on a date with me?

Charlie places an arm over my seat, and his purple eyes exudes some cynical smile.

I stared into his eyes for a while, until the faint smile wavered a little, and crystalized into icy seriousness.

You: Are you going to do something on your own later?

Charlie: Yeah.

You: Related to Sun TaiZhong?

Charlie: It's related to him, and the medicine DEA. I have no way to perform autopsy, but I believe Xiao Zhen's death is highly likely because she's injected with DEA.

You: I've searched about it after hearing you saying so, but there aren't any information on the internet.

Charlie: DEA is a psychotropic drug, it has never been sold in the market, so it's considered to have never existed most people. Although it might not be the case after today.

*Charlie talked about it in Chapter 13-05 as well.

You: After today? Could it be the type your father just said--

Charlie: NOVATEN has been researching this type of medicine for many years, it's not my first time to have smelled it in the laboratory. Sun TaiZhong is the strongest suspect on the operation table. Jill has also examined large amounts of DEA from medical waste after the incident. And there shouldn't be many ways for Sun TaiZhong to have his hands on it.

Charlie is still thinking, his right thumb is subconsciously rubbing against the tip of his middle finger, it's a soundless snap.

You: You weren't willing to tell me all of these before this, why are you suddenly willing to tell me?

It's as though there's a highly tensed string finally managed to relax, Charlie lifts his face up and leaned against the seat, placing the back of his hand to his forehead.

Charlie: You saved her with me, the girl named Xiao Zhen. The feeling of watching someone you wanted to save dying to an unknown reason, it's terrible. So you should also know the truth.

These words are so serious that they are almost unlike him. I nodded, and in a click, I buckled up my seatbelt.

You: Let's go then.

Charlie: Go?

You: Since you believe that I should find out the truth, then I should search for it with you too.

Charlie: How could I ever stop you, fiancee?

A moment later, he smiles as he shook his head.

Charlie: Ever since you ran away (from the engagement), I should've known-- Regarding this question, I'll only receive a single answer even if I were to ask you a hundred times.

By the time the car stopped once again, it's right before a villa.

You: Where's this?

Charlie: My father's residence in Guang Qi City. Don't worry, he's not here. The socializing after the press conference should keep him busy for a while. I've investigated about Sun TaiZhong, there aren't anything suspicious about his experience. So we can only investigate from the perspective of his industrial relationship with NOVATEN.

You: So you're saying, we're going to investigate his contacts with NOVATEN secretly at this place.

Charlie: That's correct. One point for fiancee.

Charlie walked towards the door, and a ray of light scans Charlie's face, it's probably a certain type of facial recognition device.

With a click, the brass doorknob made a turn, and the entrance of the villa opened, followed by a gentle female voice.

Gate: Welcome home with your friend, Charlie.

Charlie frowned a little.

You: What's wrong?

Charlie: Why doesn't it say, "welcome home with your fiancee, Charlie"? 

You: ......

I followed him and entered the door, and my visual is immediately impacted by a scene full of black and gold.

You: Is this really your father's home and not yours?!

I can't help but to widen my eyes, even the display are almost similar to the house Charlie usually lives in Guang Qi.

Charlie: The perfect people are always being impersonated. Yet the impersonator could never grasp onto the essence.

You: You're saying even if it's by your father?

Charlie: That's right.

Charlie looks around his surroundings, and clicked his tongue in disdain.

Charlie: The interesting thing is, I have never invited him to my house.

Before I can understand what he said, my body has already shivered subconsciously, as though there's a pair of eyes watching our actions right now.

I turned around only to see Charlie walking into the depths of the villa.

You: Wait for me!

Charlie seemed to have jolted because of me.

Charlie: Fiancee, you don't have to be so agitated, I'm not going to abandon you.

You: I didn't mean it that way, it's just that... I find this house a little cold.

A warm pair of hands are placed on my shoulders, and Charlie moved me in front of him.

Charlie: It's probably because the windows of the living room aren't closed properly, so it's windy. I've blocked it off for you, it's not cold now, right?

Although there's some distance between us, I could still feel the heat radiating from the chest behind me. I looked back from the corner of my eyes, and met right into a pair of smiling purple eyes.

You: It's not cold anymore, let's go.

Charlie: Go up the stairs, that's right, towards left, mhm, turn right. Can you open it?

I held onto the poppy-shaped doorknob, and noticed that can be turned easily.

Charlie nodded at me, reaching his arm out, and opened the door.

This room looks like an office, and also like a study. There's a wide office desk with several ceiling-height bookshelves.

It feels like the room is of a completely different world compared to the outside. The interior style is no longer like Charlie's house, but extremely similar to the NOVATEN building.

Charlie: The mezzanine on the third layer of the second row of bookshelf.

You: What?

Charlie: He will place documents over there. Even though NOVATEN has a complete internal system, he still doesn't trust recording everything digitally.

I had a look at the second row of the bookshelf, but I can't see anything special.

You: How did you know?

Charlie: No matter how the arrangement changes, the furnishing placement in this villa is the same as the one at home.

He took a deep breath.

Charlie: When I was little, he always opens that cabinet in front of me, and pulls the mezzanine out. He would then say, everything here will be all yours, arrogant things like these.

Perhaps it was just my misperception, but the complaint sounded oddly sad. I punched the edges of his palm softly to express comfort.

I can't help but to have some scary thoughts, if NOVATEN is really related to Xiao Zhen's death--

???: You're back? 

???: Yeah, I'm back. How did your day go?

???: Pretty good.

You: What sound is that?!

Charlie: My father's home.

Perhaps it was because my subconscious panic that looked overly funny, not only Charlie was nervous, but he smiled instead.

You: Why are you still laughing? Aren't we stealing? What happens if he finds out about it?

Charlie ended up laughing even more.

Charlie: We don't plan to take anything away, how can we call that stealing? It's more logical to call it a tryst. Fiancee, how about we make that true? 

I glared at him, signaling him to first solve the important matter, and Charlie finally looked serious again.

Charlie: I'll have a way to explain it, otherwise I wouldn't bring you here just like this anyway.

You: But you'll still need a while to read the documents. What happens if your father come straight up? How about this, I'll go downstairs and greet him, and buy you some time.

Charlie stunned for a moment, his hair nuzzled on my cheek.

Charlie: My fiancee is so impressive, that I am getting unwilling to let you go downstairs anymore. 

You: Well of course.

I carried and adjusted my sling bag. There's a measuring tape that I've always kept with me. I had an idea as soon as I saw it.

I trailed backwards along with the staircase.

I saw the figure of Charlie's father. He's now taking off the suit, and hanging the hat onto the rack.

You: Hello, Mr. Zha.

Before my tone of speech dies off, the man in black hair has quickly turned around, with an alertness that he has yet to put off in his gaze.

Eyes like a venomous snake, I suddenly recalled what Charlie said.

Zha ZhaoPeng: Miss Y/N, what brings you here? Where's Charlie?

By the time I looked towards him again, to my surprise, I noticed the alertness in his eyes has already disappeared, it was as though it's just my misperception.

Purposely avoiding his last question, I took out my measuring tape.

You: You see, you have commissioned me to alter Charlie's suit previously. He also wished to customize one for you, so he brought me here to take your measurements. We came here while you were absent without informing you in advance, because he wanted to give you a surprise.

I spoke as cold sweat filled my palm. What I said was not completely logical, so if he insisted to ask Charlie to come up, or to go upstairs--

Zha ZhaoPeng: Is that so? Why don't I think that's the truth?

You: Well of course it's true, aren't you willing?

I forced myself to look natural.

Charlie's father squinted his eyes, and my heart is about to leap out from my chest. But--

Suddenly, he clapped and laughed.

Zha ZhaoPeng: "Let my father to also have a taste of having arrangements made by others". Rather than giving me a surprise, I'm afraid that this is what he actually said.

You: ??!

Zha ZhaoPeng: You don't have to cover it up for him, Miss Y/N. I understand Charlie. There are always phases like this for every parent who are in the progress of raising their children, do you agree?

You: I... am not too sure.

Zha ZhaoPeng: Mm, this is normal too, you two probably don't have much experience for that.

You: Well that isn't really the case--

Although I don't really wish to participate in parental talk, but every second I could buy is valuable, and I don't wish for the topic of conversation to end here too. Hurry, think, say something for him to keep going.

Zha ZhaoPeng: Miss Y/N, don't be nervous. I will not force you to fulfill that engagement.

You: Eh?

Zha ZhaoPeng: You are just as cautious as how you met me in this afternoon. So I dare to make assumptions, that it is perhaps related to how you once rejected the engagement with Charlie.

Well this topic works too!

You: Yeah, that's correct. I'm sorry.

Zha ZhaoPeng: No need to apologize, I think you made a very courageous choice.

I'm suddenly unsure of how to respond to the sudden praise, and I stunned at it.

Charlie's father smiled a little, caressing the ring finger on his left hand. There's a purple jeweled ring on it.

The ring gleams bright and clear under the sunset, reminding me of a certain pair of clear eyes.

Zha ZhaoPeng: But the two of you still met under the arrangement of destiny. When I saw the two of you standing together, I can always recall the times I spent with my wife. That was the most wonderful period of my life. I truly apologize if that has offended you.

You: Yeah... it's fine.

Zha ZhaoPeng: She passed away when Charlie was very little. It's also very difficult for me to accept a truth like this even until now. Did you hear the voice of the villa door lock?

You: I heard it. This voice sounds very different from normal digital voices, it's very...

Zha ZhaoPeng: Very gentle. That is a voice that imitates my wife. If it's anything of hers, as long as there's a way to retain them, I would be willing to give it all a try.

He sighed, and the corners of his eyes seemed a little dampened.

Everything Charlie told me about his mother, about how she wasn't able to step out of the courtyard, about the manipulativeness, everything immediately surfaced altogether in my mind.

I opened my mouth overcautiously, but I wasn't able to make any sound.

However, Charlie's father did not mind my response, his gaze looked behind me, and showed a pleasant smile.

Zha ZhaoPeng: Charlie, where were you? You're customizing a new suit for me, we should have a celebratory drink for it. With Miss Y/N too, okay?

Charlie didn't know I looked for such an excuse, so I quickly turned my head backwards.

You: Yeah yeah, I was just about to take measurements for your father--

I couldn't finish what I say, because I saw Charlie's expression.

Charlie: Next time then.

I saw a rich darkness veiling his eyes, it's so deep that it is as though it can swallow everything.

.

.

.

.

You can now read Chapter 14-14 here!

Main Story Chapter 14-10: The Angel who Crossed Boundaries (越界天使） | Light and Night 光与夜之恋

Please consider reading Chapter 14-07 before proceeding~

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, guests and media will be able to visit the NOVATEN building freely, and participate the indoor press conference an hour later.

The action of Charlie's father giving out his main cutter position has been deciphered into many meanings in the guests' eyes.

The most direct evidence is how Charlie will be obstructed for small talks in every other step throughout his way out from the backstage.

At last, he reached me, and lets out a deep sigh.

Charlie (sighing): All I want to do now is just to bring fiancee to escape from this boring ceremony.

You: I'm fine with that, but wouldn't it be difficult to explain it to your father if you leave all of a sudden?

He sighed again, and in agreement this time.

You: Let's go, we'll simply stroll and visit around.

We walked into the main hall in the first floor. The main color scheme of the building is white, and the design is very futuristic.

The mushroom-shaped pavilion is a self-service registration area for visitors, and it's unopened for now. 'For Future' is written on the screen in the center of the hall.

A few other smaller screens on the side are playing the development history of NOVATEN Pharmaceutical Group till date.

Different from many other pharmaceutical companies of long histories, NOVATEN Pharmaceutical Group has gained a certain amount of influence in merely a few years, the speed of its rise has gone against the general rhythm of this industry.

Charlie's father is one of the key person among them. Not only he's a successful entrepreneur in the video introduction, he has also acted as the chief of laboratory over decades, that he has only recently passed this duty to others.

In the video, the man in black hair ended his speech, and looked forward.

He looks much younger than now. After I look in detail for a while, I noticed that the similarities between Charlie and his father are mainly comping from the same well-defined jawlines. However--

You: Your eyes look completely different.

Charlie squatted slightly until our gazes are leveled. The pair of purple eyes are so clear that it's mirror-like.

Charlie: It'd be bad if they are similar. If he looks at you long enough, you'll feel like you're being targeted by a venomous snake.

You: Huh?

Charlie: This is reported in the magazines, he personally likes the description of him. But if I were to say it, that is a pair of eyes that belongs to a control freak.

Charlie's tone doesn't sound like a tease, and in addition to his attitude towards his father just now... but it's impolite to pry about his family matters, so I held myself back, and didn't voice out the doubts I have in mind.

Charlie: Fiancee, you forgot what I said again.

You: What is it?

Charlie: If there's something you worried about me, you have to ask me*. Also, for a relationship like ours, what's there to hide from each other?

*He said this in Chapter 10-20.

You: I'm just thinking, you don't seem to have a good relationship with your father. 

Charlie: I was once ill, when I was very little. Months after I recovered, he still didn't allow me to go out, and made me to take a bunch of medicine every day.

Charlie looks at the figure appearing frequently on the screen.

It wasn't difficult for him to say it out, as though these matters has always been there, where there's no need for him to dig deep into the depths of his memories for them.

Charlie: He treated his wife the same as well. My mother has been ill for a very long time, she almost never seen sunlight anywhere outside the courtyard. 

You: But why must that happen?

Charlie: He said, he loves us, so he will protect us with everything he have.

"Love", when Charlie speaks of this term, a mocking meaning exudes from his tone.

Charlie: He stopped my financial support when I was working as a firefighting volunteer. He forced me into an engagement that I had to follow after I've passed my exams as an attending doctor.

You: Engagement...

Charlie: Yeah, engagement.

Suddenly, I recalled the first time I met Charlie, the way he didn't allow others to intervene his speech and his arrogant expression, I can't help but to shake my head.

You: Back then, I found you very scary.

Charlie showed a pained expression.

Charlie: Then what about now?

You: Now, I think you are actually quite similar to me.

I winked at Charlie, he stunned for a moment, then pouted.

Charlie: It actually took you this long to realize it. Now that I look at it, the engagement is a rare good deed that my father made.

You: Wait, regarding this part, I'm still having some disagreements on it.

Charlie: Some? Okay, it's good that it isn't a lot. 

He smiles at me, and I suddenly became speechless.

You: I've finally understood now, after experience everything--

Charlie: Of course there's no way my relationship with him would be anywhere good.

As he speaks, Charlie frowned and massaged his forehead.

You: Are you okay? A headache?

You: Yeah, my head hurts when I mention him. Fiancee, can you accompany me to get a glass of water?

At the drinking area,  I made Charlie to sit down and rest and poured water for him. I suddenly  remembered something.

You: By the way, cold or warm?

As I speak, I turned my face towards him, but coincidentally saw Charlie taking out a small, unlabelled bottle, and poured out a few round tablets.

You: Does it hurt that much? How about checking up at the hospital?

Charlie: It's not that much, I'm just taking some vitamins.

I opened his quietly closed hands and looked in detail. A familiar letter 'N' is carved on the white tablets.

You: Is this a vitamin specially made by NOVATEN Pharmaceutical Group?

Charlie: As expected of my fiancee, you're about as sharp as I am. This is a custom-made medicine by the lab according to my body condition.

You: Body condition... do you always have headaches?

Charlie: Occasionally, but it doesn't affect normal life. It'd be even better if I took the medicine.

The brown medicine bottle rolled between Charlie's fingers, it's unlabeled, only with a white rubber strip over it.

I vaguely saw the writings on the rubber strip, the handwriting is just the same as the one on the invitation letter.

"For My Son".

When I spaced out, Charlie took the water from my hand, tilted his head up, and swallowed the tablets directly.

There's an odd feeling surging from my heart.

Perhaps I've thought about it wrongly. When Charlie spoke of "love", rather than calling the feelings contained within as a form of mockery, a feeling of being lost might be a better way to describe it. 

The crowd has reduced significantly in the press conference venue. This time, Charlie and I chose to take our seats at the back row, allowing our sight to be obstructed by the media's cannons of various types*. 

*Cameras, she meant cameras but not the brand Canon, it's because of the super long cameras that look like cannons

A gentle light brightens up, filling the space on the stage entirely.

Zha ZhaoPeng: Dear guests. The gratitudes and promises are all told by my colleagues earlier, so I do not intend to repeat them. I know, what you need here are information and news. Well then, allow me to show these to you as a way to express my gratitude.

He lifted an arm and waved it lightly, and soon a document is projected onto the black screen.

Zha ZhaoPeng: As everyone can see, NOVATEN will never be like other businesses, where we'll keep a secret of medicine that are yet to be released in the market. We will announce publicly, that our current experimental target is a type of medicine for the nervous system. It will possess minimal side effects, with incomparable universality--

He paused, then smiled.

Zha ZhaoPeng: Not only this, you can also begin to imagine a life without of propofol*, without butylphthalide**, and without dezocine***.

*A form of anesthetic and sedative. The drug that killed MJ.

**Or also called NBP. Compound with neuroprotective effects in stroke and brain injuries - study suggests that it might be useful for treatment of hypertension, or protect against cerebral ischaemic injury (lack of blood flow to brain to meet metabolic demands). Though more studies are actually required.

**A partial opiate drug for pain management, no longer used clinically in the west, but it's gaining popularity in China as an alternative medicine to relief moderate to severe pain.

After a few seconds of silence, a commotion sounded in the surroundings. I looked towards Charlie's side profile.

You: Are these few... medicine?

Charlie: Yeah. They are generally used in anesthetics, pain management, and ischemic stroke.

You: Replacing everything with only a single type of medicine?!

Charlie's lips pursed into a straight line, and the majority of the people in the venue are just like me, showing an expression of disbelief.

Zha ZhaoPeng: Leave the questions for later, I'll spare time for everyone. NOVATEN Pharmaceutical Group has achieved an agreement with GIN Neuroscience Research Institute for clinical testing. Now, allow us to invite the person in charge of the institute-- Chief Sun TaiZhong, to officially sign this agreement with NOVATEN Pharmaceutical Group.

A figure dressed in white cloak walked out from the back of the screen.

You: This is--?

A large hand grabbed onto my cuff.

You: Charlie?

I turned my face towards him with hesitance, but only to see a pair of dull eyes.

Charlie stared at the person on the stage, the cold lines of his features are slightly crooked in an expression that I can't tell.

The person standing beside his father is no stranger at all.

The chief of the burns department from the First Hospital, Sun TaiZhong. Right now, he is instead the person in charge of GIN Neuroscience Research Institute.

The Q&A between the media and Charlie's father gradually disappeared by my ear, and we are now walking on the corridor at a fast pace.

Charlie did not say anything, but I have a vague feeling about where he's heading to, and who he's looking for.

Hence, I slowed my steps when I saw Sun TaiZhong's figure.

Sun TaiZhong saw us, and he shows no signs of surprise from his face.

Sun TaiZhong: Dr. Zha--

Charlie interrupted him, speaking with a sharp tone.

Charlie: Dr. Sun, I've been thinking about a question throughout the press conference, I hope you can answer it for me. As a doctor in the burns department, how did you manage to become the person in charge of a neuroscience research institute?

Sun TaiZhong: Dr. Zha, you might not understand me, but I have a doctorate in neuroscience. I've been researching in GIN Neuroscience Research Institute since my graduation.

Charlie nodded. I stood by his side, and I can feel the body that is now very close to me is weirdly tensed.

Charlie: Well then, please answer another question for me. Such an important agreement-- Why did GIN Neuroscience Research Institute only allowed a burns doctor to be the signing representative?

Sun TaiZhong did not answer him directly.

Zha ZhaoPeng: This is the first time GIN Neuroscience Research Institute has achieved cooperation with NOVATEN Pharmaceutical Group. You are the son of the group's chairman, and also a leading person among the young doctors in my hospital. Why not we disregard our previous disagreements, and seek progress together?

The extremely unsettling feelings when I first met Sun TaiZhong has returned. I bit my lips tightly.

Charlie only shook his head.

Charlie: To Dr. Sun, this shouldn't be the first time cooperating with NOVATEN, right? Or should I say, my father.

Zha ZhaoPeng: Dr. Zha, you must've been overthinking.

He smiles and shook his head, but I can clearly feel that he's lying.

Charlie: It's you who imagined others being too stupid. I am only interested in the content in your agreement.

Main Story Chapter 14-07: The Angel who Crossed Boundaries (越界天使） | Light and Night 光与夜之恋

Please consider reading Chapter 14-05 before proceeding~

Perhaps being the world-famous pharmaceutical group is the reason, NOVATEN's market entry ceremony is exceptionally long.

People come and go on the stage, but what they said were about the same, either welcoming, progressing together, or to show great support.

The person represented NOVATEN's speech came from the group's CEO, and Charlie's father has never made an appearance.

You: Could he be a chairman that doesn't like to speak?

Recalling how Charlie is, if there are many similarities between the father and son, who knows this might actually be a possibility.

After this CEO has finally finished his speech, an hour has already passed. The host officially announces the commencement of the ribbon cutting ceremony.

A familiar yet unfamiliar figure appeared in my line of vision.

His strands filled with lights and shadows connected into a patch of silver of multiple tones with his suit, his slender figure is standing tall.

Although Charlie is a narcissist, but there's one thing he was right about, he's indeed the one that shines the brightest among a crowd.

He stood at the position as a secondary cutter, and the main cutter is his father.

Host: Well then, after counting down from five, everyone please cut the ribbon!

The venue is very quiet, and everyone are waiting while holding their breaths, even I am influenced by the atmosphere that I've fixated my gaze onto the stage.

When the host counts down to two, Charlie's father suddenly held Charlie's hand, handed the scissors to him, and took a step backwards.

Sounds of whispering commotion are heard from the seats behind me.

This isn't an arranged segment, my instincts and judgment are telling me so.

Because I saw Charlie's eyes, there's an unwilling form of expression despite he's been trying his hardest to suppress it.

The main cutter is generally the highest ranked leader of the company, and what Charlie's father did was an announcement, that he has already planned to hand NOVATEN to Charlie.

But he's unwilling.

A job as a doctor is his dream, it makes him overly busy. He will not be willing to take over such a large company, even though it will bring him endless wealth and glory.

Charlie doesn't care about these. I think he'd perhaps rather use times like this to conduct another operation, and save another person.

Just when I was in my thoughts, our gaze met once again. I saw his lashes blinking slowly.

As though he has read my mind at this moment, a comforting curve appeared across the corners of his lips.

It's as though he's saying, don't worry, the perfect Charlie will definitely be able to solve it. 

I nodded hard, and mouthed exaggeratedly towards him. 

You: Super handsome!

Snip-- The scissors closed, the golden ribbon falls to the ground.

Confetti and champagne are spraying all over. The water droplets and gold confetti reflects speckles of sunlight in the air, that the guests can't help but to look up in exclaim.

I think, no matter how life becomes, someone like him would probably be a warrior who would never give in.

I've witnessed it so many times in the past, so what's the reason for me to not continue believing in him?

At the same time, the rain in the outskirts has finally stopped.

Jesse stepped across a row of wet cobblestones, and walked into an old house.

Upon returning to Guang Qi, he will come back to this place every other time. But he has been busy previously, and turns out it has been almost two months since his last visit.

He only realized he forgot to pay for the bills last month when he pressed the light switch, the electricity has been cut off for the old house. He can only open the door and windows to make the room slightly brighter.

After simply cleaning for a while, Jesse walked towards a table.

There are a few pots of flower placed on the table, with a photo right in the middle. The man in the photo is dressed in a police uniform, looking all stern, and his gaze is a little similar to Jesse.

This is a photo he found on the top of the closet when he was cleaning the old house at one time. Come to think of it, after leaving Guang Qi, he has never seen his father in uniform anymore.

In the photo, his father was still very young, when did he turn from someone so high spirited to someone who is so stern, and already has white hairs over his temples in his memories? Jesse smiled, fingers caressing his father's face, and his tears rolled down too.

Listening to the dripping sounds of water from the eaves, he can't help but to speak, wanting to confide somethinh.

Jesse: I encountered the Strains again. But don't worry, this time, it won't be the same as the past anymore. I'm now--

As soon as he speaks, the light rays from the entrance suddenly darkened. Jesse immediately turned around to find someone standing there, looking into the house.

This person's clothes is stained with blood, with deep and light wounds covering him from head to toe. As their gazes met, Jesse stunned. He felt an odd sense of anomaly. 

Jesse: Who are you?

Osborn: Are you the son of this family?

The other party gazed over him, and averted a little towards the photo on the table. Jesse has instead became more doubtful, and more alerted.

Jesse: Do you know my father?

Osborn: I guess you can. He accepted a case I reported in the past.

"Oh," Jesse responded softly, expression relaxing a little.

Jesse: What are you looking for him for? He's already...

The man probably understood the situation, he then took another glance at the photo, expression looking a little saddened. After a pause, he nodded towards Jesse, and turned away, about to leave.

Looking at his back, Jesse squinted, and finally realized the source of the sense of anomaly.

Jesse: Wait, your soul doesn't look very stable. You might not believe in what I say, but if you keep this up, you won't live for too long.

Osborn: You can see it?

Out of surprise, the other party didn't get angry or afraid because of what he said, just turning around very coldly, as though the subject of discussion is someone unrelated to him.

Jesse: Yeah. Your soul is split into two parts, they are... fighting against each other.

Jesse seriously examined the other party's condition, and his frown deepes.

He has never seen someone with a soul split into two, what exactly has this person been through?

Jesse: How did you turn out this way?

The man stood outside the doorframe, his tired eyes are just like two deep wells, with undercurrents surging under the unreachable bottom of the wells.

Osborn: ... It's better for you to not know about it.

Jesse suddenly had an instinct, that this person before him has many secrets on him, and these secrets are related to his father's death.

He can't help but to look towards the photo on the table. "Is it how it is? Should he continue inquiring furhter?" he asked internally.

Nobody answer him. Jesse lowers his gaze, and but the time he looked up again, there's no longer hesitance in his gaze.

Jesse: I can help you to suppress the battle between your souls. But on the contrary, you have to tell me how you turn out this way. What is the case you reported to my father?

The man who was called out to stopped his footsteps, looking into the strings of rain in the air.

After a long time, he finally spoke slowly.

Osborn: Yu Da Academy, have you heard of it?

It seems like it has rained again. The rustling sounds on the cobblestone path suddenly loudened, and turned into a frustrating noise.

After helping the man to temporarily resolve his pain, Jesse immediately returned to LianShan Organization. His instincts are telling him, that Yu Da Academy is highly possible the cause of why his father has been chased after by the Strains.

But why is that? What relationship does Yu Da Academy has to do with the Strains? He desperately wanted to uncover the hidden truth behind it, but he really has no way to find more information from the past.

He suddenly remembered the filing room. If the Strains is really what's behind Yu Da Academy, then the inner departments of LianShan Organization would definitely find some investigation records.

However, he looked through all of the filing rooms, but it's still of no avail, with only the final confidential filing room left.

Jesse: There's no other way...

After 15 minutes, a man in grey-colored suit walked out from his office, and walked straight through the front hall.

With a beep, he bypassed the face recognition lock, walked into a narrow corridor, and finally stopped before a door.

"Confidential Filing Room" -- the bright red words in large fonts are hung above the door. This is one of the places with the highest rank requirements to visit, where it stores all of the confidential files of the organization.

The fully armored security guard stood up from their seats, and by the time they saw the visitor, they immediately showed a respectful smile.

Staff: Oh it's Chief Wang! Are you going in?

Chief Wang: Yes.

After the security guard enters the password, the metal door opens towards both sides. Chief Wang nodded at him, clenching tightly onto the yellow talisman paper in his pocket, and walked into the depths of the room.

At the same time, in another nearby room, Jesse is seated against the wall, eyes tightly shut, lips dark like the color of soil.

With the talisman as a medium, he can temporarily control Chief Wang's movements, and attain the other party's senses.

It just happens that this spell spends a humongous amount of energy from him, and 10 minutes is the limit he can pertain.

The confidential filing room is just like a dense forest made of steel. Jesse controls the man, quickly passing through the narrow slits between the racks.

Jesse: Yu Da Academy... found it.

Jesse's heartbeat subconsciously accelerated the moment he opens the file.

The yellowing papers exudes a faint moldy smell, he read it word by word, and suddenly saw a familiar name.

It's his father's name.

He originally thought he has made preparations for this, but he still can't help but to pause his breath at the moment he saw that name.

After forcing himself to calm down, he continued reading downwards.

Many things that he has never heard of turned into rows and rows of cold words. He frowned tightly, as though he has never truly got to know his father.

Jesse: Yu Da Academy used correcting teenagers' behavior as a cover, and behind the scenes it's... a human experiment by the Strains.

It felt like time has froze. The fragmented information in his head have finally linked altogether.

The phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated, reminding him that it has been past 10 minutes.

But Jesse is still stunned and unable to return to his senses, his messy thoughts are as though he has fallen into a whirlpool, still spinning quickly, thinking with all his might.

He knew that his father is the one that filed the case back then, so what kind of secret has he exactly found, that the Strains chased after him all the way overseas?

His stamina could no longer hold any longer. Jesse blacked out, almost collapsing, and luckily managing to hold onto the book rack in time.

Jesse: No... I'm already at my limit.

Jesse tiredly controlled the heavy body, and made him to leave the filing room as though nothing happened.

With the stinging pain and dizziness after the mantra, he can only bear through it without budging, and only to stabilize his breath after a while.

After a long time, until he can finally control his body freely, he can't wait to rush out from the door.

Right now, there's only one thing in his mind, to look for someone to clarify about Yu Da Academy, and the concluding report of his father back then--

As soon as he made a turn, someone walked into him, bumped into him that he stumbled, and thankfully the other party quickly supported him.

Yu Yang: Hey, Jesse? Where are you going in such a hurry? Wait, why are you looking so pale? What happened?

Jesse: Nothing.

Yu Yang: Really? But...

Yu Yang stared at him in concern, suddenly caught onto a smell at the tip of his nose. His expression instantly changed.

Jesse: The smell of this talisman burning... did you use that mantra?!

Jesse did not comment, only pursing his lips into a straight line.

Yu Yang: Are you crazy? It's a forbidden art to control souls of the living! You'll die if you use it overly!

Yu Yang, who has always been tender, is so agitated that his face has completely reddened, trying his best to suppress his voice.

Jesse: ... I'm doing this to confirm something.

Jesse clenched his fist tightly.

Jesse: 15 years ago, the Strains built an organization called Yu Da Academy. Project Eclipse has started since then...

He lowered his voice, and told everything he saw to Yu Yang.

Yu Yang was first confused, then widened his eyes in shock.

The dazzling sunlight pours onto them through the large windows of LianShan Organization, but they can only feel cold and chills in their bones.

Main Story Chapter 14-05: The Angel who Crossed Boundaries (越界天使） | Light and Night 光与夜之恋

Please consider reading Chapter 14-03 before proceeding~

After my body has finally managed to respond to the situation, I looked towards Evan in fear and asked him what to do, but he was actually unfazed, only to open his laptop calmly and began scanning the documents.

The scene of the city outside the windows are collapsing just like building blocks, with a wilderness appearing before my eyes, and when I looked out, the surface of the road is filled with a suffocating color of sands.

Trees on both sides grew upwards in a crazily crooked manner, as though they are about to occupy every single space between the skies and the lands.

You: No, isn't this that dream?!

Isn't it the dream I had in Evan's car when I met him coincidentally when I was having fieldworks on that day, where it suddenly rained heavily!?

The same car, the same lightning, the same sandstorm, the same wilderness, nothing changes. Goosebumps instantly crawled all over my body, and my heart drummed.

Am I actually in a dream now too?!

Calm down, come down for now. I tried to suppress my heartbeat that is beating vigorously, closed my eyes and reopened my eyes again, but the scene around me has shown no changes.

The touch of the leather sofa is so real, I can even hear Evan's breaths, this isn't a dream.

For a single instant, a ridiculous thought surfaced from my mind.

This isn't a dream, nor it's the real world.

Then where could it be? Does Evan know about it? But no matter how I ask him, even if I snatched the laptop angrily from his hands, he's been remaining quiet, and there's even a trace of casual happiness on his face.

What's wrong with him today?! Why is he so abnormal?!

Yet there's no more time for me to continue thinking, and it's difficult for me to maintain my calmness anymore, because I clearly remember from that dream, that coming next, the car will rush off a cliff.

The overwhelming fear surges, and my mind only had a single question left: if this isn't a dream, will humans really die?

Nobody can give me an answer. I can only control my trembling body, and reached myself towards the driver's seat throughout the bumpy journey, and stepped on the brakes as strongly as I can!

You: ...!

Just like the dream, the car shows no signs of stopping, and it's still speeding forward!

No matter where this place is, I don't want to die, definitely not the slightest bit! God of Death has already began counting down by my ear, that I angrily smashed onto the steering wheel for a few times.

Suddenly, I thought of a method. If I can't stop the car, then wouldn't I be able to escape if I crash the car's glass?! Encouraged by this thought, I calmed myself down again, and searched for the emergency hammer in the car.

You: It's here!

Crash-- I gripped it tightly with both hands and hammered it straight to the car window. The glass shattered with the sound, and the shards left some pain when it brushed over my wrist.

The strong winds welcomed my upon losing its obstacle, the dusts choked me so much I had to squint my eyes. I'll definitely injure myself if I jump out now, but there's no other choice. The most important thing to do now is to survive.

You: Evan, it's too late, we've got to jump out!

I handed the emergency hammer to him, making him to break the back window too.

But he only looked at me curiously, and his face is filled with an inquiring expression.

I don't care anymore! I pulled Evan's hand immediately.

My fear towards the incoming pain made me close my eyes. I gritted my teeth, and leaped out from the car window.

The hand I'm holding tightly is very warm, and I gradually don't feel that afraid anymore.

However, the anticipated pain did not arrive. The sounds of the winds stopped in an instant. Not only the winds, but there are no other sounds too. I feel like I'm currently in a vacuumed environment.

I opened my eyes in fear, but only to see the bright blue sky. The car, the cliff, the sand... they are all gone.

You: ...?!

A bright tint of color flowed across Evan's eyes, and in less than a second, we're both standing in a coffee shop, and it's still bustling despite being midnight.

You: !!

What's going on? Why has my surroundings completely changed in an instant?! I gave my face a strong pinch.

You: That hurts!

I'm finally certain that this isn't a dream, nor it's the reality, but a... place that I don't know.

Staff: What would you like to drink?

It's the coffee shop Evan and I first met. I stood before the counter, and the staff smiled, awaiting my response.

You: I...

Staff: You can try our new latte.

Customer: I'll still go with cappuccino, thank you.

Before I can answer her, voices of other customers sounded from behind. Only then, I noticed her gaze hasn't been on me, but instead behind me.

Staff: Certainly, please wait for a moment.

Could she not see me? I waved in front of the staff, but she's still unresponsive. I can't help but to search for Evan's figure, and noticed him sitting by the window.

A continuous bright red flows within his eyes, reflecting in my sight, bringing a scorching misperception.

You: Can you see me?

Evan: I can.

You: But they can't see me, and it seems like they can't hear me.

Evan: The person who has entered an illusionary world can only speak to the core person.

Illusionary world. These two words knocked gently on my heart.

You: Illusionary world?

Evan: It's a fake world. Everything you've seen, are things I've created.

You: So you're saying, the present moment is fake?

Evan: Yes.

You: So was the time in the car also fake? Was it also a illusionary world you created?

Evan: This is one of my Talents.

You: Illusionary world...

I digested these two words repetitively, it's as though everything suddenly made sense, but it's also making me confused.

You: What does the core person mean?

Evan: The creator of the illusionary world, or the protagonist of the incident in the illusionary world. You can converse with them. It's also the current me.

You: Then how about the others? Can't they hear us?

Evan: Yeah. Accurately speaking, they aren't real. They are just existence that makes the illusionary world to look more real.

You: But why are you suddenly displaying an illusionary world to me? Moreover, if you don't say it, I'll keep assuming that it's a nightmare.

I've finally grasped onto the key point of the question. Evan lowered his gaze and took a sip of coffee, and the ripples of the liquid blurred his tightly pursed lip line.

Evan: You can enter illusionary worlds that others have created, and also possessing the power to break through illusionary worlds.

You: Eh? You're talking about... me?

I suddenly couldn't understand the situation, only to stare at Evan in a blur, until he, out of unknown reasons, exuded a somewhat relieved expression.

Evan: The Pristine's matter has been solved successfully. I was right, without my help, you've walked out a better path. So, if we were to be on opposite sides because of some reasons, I don't wish for you to not understand your opponent at all.

Opponents. He spoke straightforwardly with such resolute, I did not hear him wrongly.

You: Why is that? Why do you think we might be opponents in the future?

I spoke without thinking. I clearly have many questions I can ask, for instance, what exactly is the power I have, or how I should break through the illusionary world. But right now, it seems like I can only hear this phrase.

Evan: Do you not want to be my opponent?

He didn't answer me, and only to ask me a question that seems like something he cares about the most.

You: I... of course. Even if you said you won't be helping me anymore, I'd still consider you as an important friend. When I've acknowledged someone, I won't change. I don't wish to stand on opposite sides with my friend.

Evan: Human relationships in this world are ever-changing, perhaps they are friends today, and they will be enemies tomorrow; Perhaps they are best friends today, and they will be strangers tomorrow. Of course I wouldn't hope for a day like that to come for us, where we'd become opponents. But once we become opponents, we require equal strengths.

You: So that's why you made me to understand all of these?

He nodded, yet uncertain of the reason, when I watched him smiling, I suddenly have a feeling that he's actually thinking that way. He didn't wish for me to understand any of these at all, that I can even feel that what he truly wants to see is for me to stay as far away as possible.

It's as though I'll understand many things as soon as I approached closer, including the parts he has never confessed to me, and it seems like, he'd be afraid of it.

Evan: Although illusionary worlds are fake spaces, but the real feeling it brings are usually difficult for humans to differentiate. Especially when you have desires. As soon as the creator of the illusionary world understands this desire, then this person will be lost within the world. They'll treat the illusionary world as reality. This is the power of illusionary world.

You: So it's equals to a mind control?

Evan: If there's insufficient alertness and determination, it's very difficult to break through.

You: Then did I break it through successfully?

Evan: Although you have the power to break through illusionary worlds, but you can't solely rely on your power to break through illusionary worlds. Some illusionary worlds aren't dangerous, they are even the same as your daily life. You have to first identify it as an illusionary world and look for its flaw in order to break through. 

Evan: You didn't manage to identify it in the first illusion, but your desire to survive made your power explode. In the second illusion, you were aware of its existence, but you didn't manage to find the flaw within. The third illusion, you have yet to even realize that your'e already in it. If you can break through the third illusionary world, then I'll return all of these documents to you.

You: The third?

I carefully recalled what he said. The first was the car earlier, the second one is probably now, as for the third... where's the third?

Evan: No rush, you still have time to discover and break it.

As soon as he finishes saying, he lifted his head up and looked towards a certain corner of the coffee shop. I looked towards his line of gaze. There's a television over there, hanging onto the wall, with a classic movie being broadcasted.

It's the one we watched when we first met.

I remembered that the female protagonist was found at home by her enemies back then, and a fierce battle exploded right away. Coincidentally, the screen is also playing this scene.

I suddenly thought of this, if it's said that everything in the illusionary world is created by the creator, then wouldn't the items inside also be reflecting the inner world of the creator too?

For instance, the never-stopping rain, or for instance, the deep, ink-like dark night, or for instance, this tiny yet cozy coffee shop, and for instance, this movie that seemed like we never had the chance to finish watching it.

I turned towards Evan. He's leaning against the chair, line of gaze has never left the screen. To him, it seems like a rare moment where he could relax.

Thinking of this, I've relaxed myself too, and immerse myself into the movie together with him.

The movie is about to enter its ending, the sparks from the explosion glowed out of the screen, shrouding Evan's face.

I thought we'd definitely be able to watch the ending this time, however, with a snap, the television screen darkened. Not only it's the television, but the entire coffee shop's lights are all extinguished.

Evan: Looks like the electricity got cut off.

But, isn't this an illusionary world? Shouldn't it be freely controlled by the creator of the illusionary world?

You: Why don't you allow yourself to finish watching it?

In the darkness, I heard myself asking very, very softly. However, despite so long have passed, so long that I thought Evan wouldn't be answering me, he suddenly spoke, and it's also a very, very soft answer.

Evan: Maybe, it's because I didn't want to finish watching it here. It's very late now, let's go.

We quietly waited for the car under the eaves, shoulder to shoulder. It's still raining, and the windchime on the coffee shop's wooden door is ringing softly.

Evan: Have you thought of the way to break it through?

I still shook my head.

You: There aren't any differences between this place and the real world, so I haven't found the flaw for now. Can you give me a little more time?

Evan: Sure.

Beep beep-- A sound of car honking is heard from not far away, and the taxi slowly stopped at the alley entrance.

You: I'll leave for now then. How will you go back?

Evan: My house isn't far, I can walk home.

You: Did you bring an umbrella? This rain doesn't seem like it'd stop anytime soon.

Evan: I didn't. It's just a drizzle, it's fine.

You: No, you'll catch a cold if you drench yourself under the rain.

I ran into the shop, and fortunately, there's an extra umbrella in the sop. I handed the umbrella towards him.

You: It's a little small, you can bear with it while using this.

Evan stunned a little, staring at the umbrella in my hand, and hasn't been taking it even after some time has passed.

Evan: You'll need it after you're out of the car too.

You: But I only had to walk very little, it's not the same case for you.

While he's distracted, I stuffed the umbrella into his hand, turned around and ran towards the taxt. The raindrop drips on my head, it's cooling, but it's not wet.

I suddenly stopped my footsteps, and realized something's wrong.

You: Wait, I didn't say I'm going home, nor I called the taxi, why would there be a taxi to pick me up?! Is this the flaw of this illusionary world?

The car behind me suddenly started. The tires brushed across the road, splashing into neon-colored splatters. I subconsciously dodged sideways, but noticed that the surrounding night scene has all disappeared.

Only the branches of the willow trees by Madam Qin's house that's behind me that are moving and rustling.

You: Is the second illusionary world, over...?

Evan: It's over.

You: So the flaw was that taxi?

He hesitated for a moment, and only shook his head in the end. Then what would the flaw be? I don't understand.

Rustling sounds are heard. Evan took out a yellowing letter from the stack of documents.

Then handed the remaining to me.

You: But I haven't broke through the third illusionary world.

Evan: That's unimportant anymore. My aim was solely this envelope.

I paused, and reached my arm out. I didn't expect Evan to open the envelope and placed it on the top, and handed it together into my hands.

Evan: If you're afraid that you're missing out on anything, you can confirm the contents of this letter.

You: Okay, thank you.

This is a letter to express gratitude, it's a letter from Xiao Lang to an anonymous named Mockingbird. It wasn't delivered out of unknown reasons.

According to the words from the letter, Mockingbird has financed him and Madam Qin throughout the period when Xiao Lang just left Yu Da Academy.

At the last part of the letter, it says: Now that I've understood your true identity from others who have also received aid, rather than helping us, I hope you will take more care of your safety.

True identity, ensure safety. These terms exudes a sense of danger, so I looked towards Evan.

You: This Mockingbird...

Evan: Is my mother, she passed away many years ago.

You: I'm sorry for making you to recall your sad past.

He paused a little, slender fingers caressing the folded corner of the letter.

Evan: But judging from this letter, it doesn't seem that way. I actually don't understand my own mother.

There aren't much changes in Evan's expression, but his gaze lingered a little longer on the letter, as though he's reminiscing; as though he's blaming himself; as though he's resistant.

I folded the letter carefully and returned it to him, and there's an urge that makes me want to speak.

You: But I think, she must be a kind and stubborn person. You see, the letter said that there are many people who have received her help for years.

I looked up, wanting to say more comforting words, but only to remain where I stood as soon as I met Evan's gaze.

That, is a rich patch of emptiness.

Evan: Perhaps, she's trying to atone certain sins. Even if those sins were actually unrelated to her.

As though Evan realized something, he shook his head.

Evan: Don't mind it.

I shook my head, still wanting to say something. But by the time I looked up again, the figure dressed in black trenchcoat has already walked far away.

I flipped through the pages of the documents in my hand. One page, two pages, three pages... suddenly, I stopped.

The touch of the papers are completely different from what I felt in Madam Qin's house. These yellowing papers are smooth to the touch, and they are fragile too. This is what old paper should feel like. In an instant, many details that I have neglected surged into my mind.

The grey-colored tiles that doesn't feel right when they were stepped on, the photo frame that I can't grasp onto, and the suddenly-changing weather when I left Madam Qin's house...

An answer surfaced in my ind, so I can't help but to yell towards Evan's figure--

You: Evan, I know the third illusionary world now! It's Madam Qin's house, right?! I've been in your illusionary world from the very start!

As soon as I finished speaking, a patch of whiteness lays before me. The sky and ground are entirely flowing softly, that I can't help but to close my eyes. By the time I opened my eyes again, I noticed myself standing under the eaves by the roadside.

The sky is drizzling, and it'll be Madam Qin's home if I walk a little further.

You: Have we... returned to the real world? So does it mean I actually haven't met Madam Qin?

Evan: What you saw was an illusionary world I've created. I've already met Madam Qin before your arrival. Those words were what she told me.

I nodded in a blur, feeling complicated, and I suddenly am at loss of words.

He said he wouldn't help me, but he still handed these documents to me in the end.

What kind of person exactly Evan is? I've been thinking that he's gentle and unpredictable, but sometimes I would feel that his gentleness seems to be coming from his indifference and ignorance towards everything.

Yet just now, it seems like I've seen another side of him, a completely opposite side.

Suddenly, I recalled the nightmare I had very, very long ago... No, I should call that an illusionary world. Now that I think of it, that's also something Evan made.

The boy who was pushed into the fountain but not struggling, the youth who stood under the heavy rains fully stained in blood...

I can't help but to think of the kind of thoughts he had when he set up these illusionary worlds.

No matter if what happens within are real or not, I instinctively believe, that the pain all placed onto him are all real.

Evan opens an umbrella and accompanied me to the subway station. I've been reading the documents in my hand on our way, and there's a paper that almost fell out, probably because it wasn't aligned with the rest.

I picked it up, but only to notice it's yet another rolled, yellowing envelope, with beautiful ink writing all over it.

Letter: :"Xiao Lang, I'm really sorry, there's so many folded traces on this letter. My son is recently very interested in origami, so any paper in the house are all ravaged by him. He's particularly skillful in folding little animals, so I asked him to fold a mockingbird and delivered it with the letter. He knows I love staying in the door, so he left after placing the finished mockingbird on the windowsill outside the window. Subconsciously, he has already became so tall. These are all unimportant words. Thank you for your concern from the pervious letter, I'm living very well, I hope you and also my child will be healthy and safe forever."

The date of the letter is even earlier than the one from Evan, and the signature of the letter is Mockingbird. This is a reply from the past!

Perhaps it has been too long ago, that I can no longer feel the emotions attached onto it.

But I can still see a gentle smiling face, where the woman looks at her child making handicraft under the windowsill, and couldn't help herself to write these words.

Didn't Evan see such a reply? I stopped my footsteps.

You: Evan!

Evan stopped, and looked towards me.

You: There's a replying letter from Mockingbird, you forgot it.

Evan: Reply?

You: Yes. It... looks like it spoke of something about you. Look.

Evan now became the one in hesitance. He reaches his arm out, and receives it.

But he didn't hold it well. Winds brushed over, and brought the paper away from his loose fingertips.

You: Ah!

It flew over railings, brushed across the trees, and before I could manage to chase after it, I watched it falling onto the river, and sunk very quickly.

You: It would've been great if I could let it go a little later...

Evan: I was the one who couldn't hold it well. It's fine, I didn't really want to know the content on it either.

I took a deep breath, and looked towards him a little nervously.

You: But I saw it. If you wanted to know about it, I can tell it to you.

Evan stunned, and slowly nodded.

Evan: Okay, next time the.

You: Okay, next time.

Next time, when will it be?

We looked at the water surface, until the last corner of the paper has also disappeared.

??: Fiancee, did you drop something into the water?

I couldn't respond all of a sudden, and answered in reflex.

You: No...

??: Oh, then you must've been helping others.

A silver head that has an oddly neat hairstyle leaned towards me.

You: Charlie?!

Charlie looks at the rippling surface, nodding thoughtfully, and took his phone out.

Charlie: Jill, please send a salvage team to SanXiang Rd. Yes, now.

My jaw dropped at the current scent. Within mere minutes, a few motorboats pulling large nets appeared on the river.

A man in black picked the letter where the writings are no longer seen among the fallen leaves and bottles, then handed it to Charlie.

And also within the same few minutes, the entire team disappeared without a trace.

Charlie nodded in satisfaction, turning towards the completely unfazed Evan, and handed the drenched paper to him.

Charlie: It'll be faster for professionals to do things like this.

Evan: Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Zha. It's is a cheque, you can fill the fee for the equipment for the salvage team on it, and send it to the receptionist of Warson group. They will know what to do.

Charlie's purple gaze darkens a little, dashingly removed his glove, and feigned a handshake with him.

Evan: Since you know me, looks like she has mentioned about me.

Evan: I will not force her to mention unhappy experiences.

Charlie: My fiancee has instead told me her unhappy experiences in the company.

Chirp chirp--

The atmosphere where the two seemed polite but actually about to break a fight is suddenly broken by a weird sound.

You: What sound is that?

Charlie: It's my alarm. The market entry ceremony is about to start in two hours. I was worried that you're stuck in the traffic jam, so I came to pick you up in advance. Dear mister, where are you headed to? Do you need me to be kind till the very end and send you home?

Evan: My car is parked right there.

Evan gestured towards the roadside, a classical black car is parked there, it's something I've never seen before.

You: How rare, you're driving yourself.

Evan: Yeah. Since it's a rare opportunity, want to have a ride? I'll send you to the venue.

Evan's tone sounded with a tender inquiry.

Charlie: This won't do. Sounds like you don't drive often, it's not too safe.

Charlie shook his head and opened his palm sideways. There's immediately a man in black handed a large yellow sticker into his hand.

There are four large words written on it: Newbie on the road.

Charlie: I'll gift you this newbie sticker, you're welcome. Yellow kinda matches with your car.

Evan: It might not be the case with your car. The place your car parked at doesn't look like a parking spot.

The three of us looked sideways together, and with a click, the police on a motorbike printed a yellow traffic ticket, and sticked it onto the window of the black and gold sports car.

Yet although the sports car is parked into a square frame drawn with chalk--

You: Pfft, isn't this the outline of hopscotch drawn by some child?

Charlie's expression paused for a second, then shrugged right after.

Charlie: To be able to make you smile so happily, the value of the traffic ticket has ascended. I hope I can still keep it after paying the fine. Alright, fiancee, let's go.

[Choice]

Light: Board Charlie's Car

Night: Board Evan's Car

[Light Choice: Board Charlie's Car]

You: Okay.

I apologized to Evan, but he didn't say anything.

[Night Choice: Board Evan's Car]

You: It's better for me to board his car.

I still wanted to ask Evan about illusionary worlds, so I declined Charlie.

The new building in Guang Qi's CBD has a glass screen wall supported with the latest technology, and the letters NOVATEN are flowing on the wall's surface that is adjusted to dark brown.

The lawn in front of the building is carefully trimmed, and right now, the place is set up with pure white seats and long sheds.

The message reminded me that my congratulatory flower basket has been sent, so I quickly headed over to have a look.

Charlie examined the flower basket of interchanging colors of purple, then asked me to take a few photos with the flower basket.

Charlie: Fiancee, why does it say "To NOVATEN & Charlie" on it?

You: I only know you from the entire group. This is also your family business, so it doesn't matter even if I write your name on it, right?

Charlie: Then there's one name that's still missing.

You: What?

Charlie: Of course it's yours, fiancee. I'm not forcing a marriage okay, it's just that there are indeed a little too many love rivals, I'm having a crisis awareness now. I've been telling myself just now, "Charlie, watch your image, don't lose your manners".

He spoke as he flicked his hair and tidied his collars.

Charlie: How do I look today? Did I make my fiancee proud?

You: Very handsome! But it's your main event today, why do you have to make me proud?

I showed him a thumbs up, then pressed the curled hair on the top of his head down.

Charlie: When everyone mentioned about today in the future, they will all say "Look, the one cutting the ribbon on the stage is Y/N's fiance." It's of utmost importance.

You: Okay, you've made me very proud! Speaking of it, where's my seat? It doesn't seem like it's written on the invitation letter.

Charlie turned the nameplate by his hand over, and my written is written right on it.

Charlie: Right beside me, a perfect angle.

You: The first row?!

Charlie: Whether onstage or offstage, it's guaranteed that you will not miss out a single detail on me.

I looked around the seats around me, those labelled on the nameplates are all important titles, as though many leaders of large corporate groups are here... as my gaze arrived the center, I paused a little.

You: Who's on that seat?Why isn't there a table plate on it?

Charlie is still measuring the flower basket without looking up.

Charlie: It's a busybody person.

You: Busybody?

???: How sad. I helped my baby son to invite his lover to the venue, only to have myself falling into receiving such a review.

I jolted in surprise, turned around, only to see a man standing behind us.

He's very tall, with black hair, doesn't look young, but it's difficult to tell his exact age. He has an imposing demeanor, and a familiar feeling exudes between his brows.

With "baby son" said... could he be--

Just when I was about to stand up as a polite gesture, but Charlie has instead grabbed onto my wrist and made me remain where I was.

Charlie: Old man, can you stop coming out and scaring people like this? You're making your own decision on everything. If you asked their opinion before doing that, you might perhaps receive gratitude.

Charlie spoke rather speechlessly, but the man doesn't seem to mind at all, and smiled at me after sitting beside us.

???: Miss Y/N, apologies for the sight of foolishness. Looks like he doesn't plan to introduce on my behalf, I'll do it myself then. I'm Charlie's father, and also the chairman of NOVATEN, Zha ZhaoPeng. 

*The original writing is 查兆澎.

You: Hello--

I nodded and greeted him politely, and suddenly recalled myself running away from the marriage.

Although it is already rarely mentioned between Charlie and I besides having the title of fiancee left...

But now that I'm facing his father, I still can't help myself to feel uncomfortable.

As though the man before me can see through my mind, he stood up, and pretentiously shook his head in disappointment.

Zha ZhaoPeng: I shall not be the old father that makes people hate me.

You: I didn't mean it that way--

Zha ZhaoPeng: Miss Y/N, please don't be cautious, feel free to look around. You've given Charlie a lot of care throughout the period he's in Guang Qi city. I sincerely express my gratitude to you.

 Leaving a sentence like this, Charlie's father nodded at us lightly, and left in large strides.

You: Actually, I didn't really take care of you either.

Charlie nodded pretentiously.

Charlie: Fiancee, I'm very glad that you've finally realized this problem. Am I able to receive more "care" from now on?

You: I've said it wrongly, I've actually managed to care for you.

Charlie: Yeah, then keep up with the good work.

I can't help but to laugh, he can always come up with a response no matter what I say.

After exchanging some chattering, a clear female voice sounded from the speakers.

Host: The market entry ceremony of NOVATEN Pharmaceutical Group will begin half an hour later, dear respected guests...

You: Didn't you say you're going to cut the ribbons? Won't you have to go to the backstage now?

Charlie: Yeah, I should be at the backstage now.

You: Then why are you--

Charlie: But there's something I have to confess to you, there shouldn't be anything hidden between husband and wives.

His expressions looked very serious, and it's a very rare sight if he's not wearing his white cloak, so I straightened my body solemnly.

Charlie: The invitation letter, and the suit, I didn't send them to you.

You: I've guessed it, it's your father who sent them to my home, right?

Charlie: You knew?

He seemed to be a little surprised, that his purple pupils widened slightly.

You: Didn't he just say he invited on behalf of you or something... I could still guess it okay.

Charlie lets out a breath of relief, and lets out a clear snap on his fingertips.

Charlie: But this seat, is indeed carefully selected by Charlie, and is arranged in person for you.

You: Then what happens if I say if I'm not free to participate the market entry ceremony?

You: ABout that...

Charlie stood up, leaned down slightly, and his warm breath lingered by my ears.

Charlie: Then I'll write "Charlie's fiancee" on the table plate.

You: Charlie!

I jumped up and covered my burning ears, but the culprit is already long gone, only leaving me with a figure of him waving at me from behind, and a laughter.