Chapter 44: Forty-third Chapter: Who is Pulling the Strings in the Shadows?
“How about this—I’m Qin Yanfeng, Qin Feng’s brother. We can find a time to meet and clear things up. We can still be friends, right?” On the other end of the line, Qin Yanfeng’s voice was low and magnetic, like a whisper in the ear, yet it carried an unquestionable pressure.
Gu Yunsheng couldn’t help but shudder. Qin Feng was already enough of a headache; now a brother had popped up, wanting to “clear things up.” What exactly did this family want? He looked toward Lu Jingheng for help, unease and anxiety written all over his face.
Lu Jingheng squeezed Gu Yunsheng’s hand, giving him a reassuring look.
He could feel Gu Yunsheng’s tension, but wasn’t his own mind also a mess?
Although the man on the phone was polite, he carried an undeniable dominance, as if staking a claim on territory.
He really wanted to snatch the phone and tell these two brothers to stay far away from Gu Yunsheng.
But logic told him now wasn’t the time. He took a deep breath, suppressing the roiling emotions in his heart, and took the phone from Gu Yunsheng. He tried to make his voice sound calm and natural. “Mr. Qin, hello. I’m Lu Jingheng, Yunsheng’s friend. You mentioned wanting to find a time to talk. I wonder what you wish to discuss?”
Qin Yanfeng seemed to chuckle on the other end. “Mr. Lu, hello. I simply want to be friends with Yunsheng. After all, it’s rare to find someone who makes Xiao Feng so ‘unforgettable.’ I’m quite curious about what kind of charm Yunsheng possesses.”
Lu Jingheng’s fingers tightened around the phone involuntarily.
Be friends?
He didn’t believe that excuse for a second. “Mr. Qin is far too polite.”
“How about this? I’ll ask Yunsheng what he thinks and get back to you, is that alright?”
As if he had expected Lu Jingheng to say that, Qin Yanfeng didn’t hesitate and agreed readily. “Fine. Then I’ll trouble you, Mr. Lu.”
Just then, Qin Feng’s voice could be heard faintly in the background. “Brother, stop worrying about me! I’ve already asked Sheng-sheng to go to the Lingnan Aquarium in three days to see the mermen. Apparently, there’s a blue-tailed Jiaoren that’s three meters long!”
The word “merman” struck Gu Yunsheng’s nerves like an electric current.
He felt a wave of dizziness, as if the entire world had stood still, leaving only those two unbelievable words from the background of Qin Feng’s call—merman?
How could such a creature, which only existed in the novel, exist in real life?
He even wondered if he was hallucinating or dreaming.
But Qin Feng’s voice on the phone was so real, clearly conveying information about a merman—a blue-tailed Jiaoren, three meters long!
An inexplicable excitement and anticipation surged in his heart. He yearned to know more about this merman; perhaps this could help him unravel the mystery of the strange events that had been happening lately.
He instinctively bit his lip, his heart struggling.
On one hand, he was full of curiosity about the merman and wanted to go and see for himself. On the other hand, Qin Feng’s overbearing pursuit and Qin Yanfeng’s oppressive call made him instinctively want to refuse.
He looked at Lu Jingheng for help, only to find his friend’s expression had turned somewhat ugly.
Right, how could he forget Lu Jingheng?
Lu Jingheng had been worrying about him, yet he had lost his composure just because of one sentence from Qin Feng…
“Yunsheng, don’t go.” Lu Jingheng saw Gu Yunsheng’s wavering and said in a low voice, “You don’t understand Qin Feng yet. He…”
“But, the merman…” Gu Yunsheng spoke with difficulty, his eyes full of yearning and conflict. “I really… want to go and see.”
Qin Feng seemed to sense the hesitation on this end, and his tone turned a bit more sly. “Yunsheng, don’t worry, I’ll arrange everything. I’ll pick you up in three days. Be there or be square.”
Without waiting for Gu Yunsheng’s answer, Qin Feng hung up the phone.
Gu Yunsheng felt a deep sense of powerlessness. He slowly let his hand drop, allowing the phone to slip from his palm. The phone hit the breakfast table with a muffled thump, sounding like a strike against his own heart.
He stared blankly at the breakfast before him, his thoughts like water in a stirred lake, impossible to settle. He didn’t know if agreeing to Qin Feng’s invitation was right or wrong; deep down, he felt a faint sense of unease.
However, his intense curiosity and desire for knowledge made it impossible to resist the temptation of the “merman.” He desperately wanted to solve the mystery and find out the truth.
The bowl of Doufunaо before him had gone completely cold, like plain water—tasteless and unable to stir even a hint of appetite.
Suddenly, Gu Yunsheng stood up, pushing his stool back with a piercing creak.
He looked down at the table, which was wobbling slightly from his movement, and the bowl of cold tofu still sitting there.
Gu Yunsheng took a deep breath, trying to calm his restless emotions. He knew he needed to be steady.
He slowly raised his head and looked at Lu Jingheng sitting across from him. Lu Jingheng looked somewhat despondent. Gu Yunsheng knew his loss of composure had worried his friend, so he offered a comforting smile and asked softly, “Are you still eating? I need to go to work at the pet hospital soon.”
“Look at you right now. You didn’t sleep all night, and the dark circles under your eyes are almost down to your chin.” Lu Jingheng looked at Gu Yunsheng with heartache, reaching out as if to touch the bruised-looking skin under his eyes. “And your mother is back in the country, yet you only went home once when you were discharged. Can you please wake up a little?”
Lu Jingheng’s voice was very gentle, like he was coaxing a throwing-a-fit child. “I know the things that have happened recently are a bit bizarre, but Yunsheng, you have to remember that the world in the book is fictional. You can’t go on like this.”
“Do you think I want to be like this? I’d rather none of this ever happened. And that mysterious call, the things that happened at Pet Love for Life—you experienced those too! Do you really think I’m just being unreasonable?” Gu Yunsheng swiped Lu Jingheng’s hand away and spoke excitedly. “I want this to be fake more than anyone, but the facts are right in front of us. What am I supposed to do?”
Hearing Gu Yunsheng’s suddenly raised voice, the diners at other tables turned to look at them.
The sound of clattering cutlery seemed to vanish as everyone’s gaze focused on them. Gu Yunsheng felt his cheeks burn.
“Kids these days, quite the temper…” A middle-aged man at the next table muttered, picked up a pan-fried bun, stuffed it in his mouth, and stopped paying attention.
Gu Yunsheng clenched his fists and took a deep breath, trying not to mind those gazes.
He just… just needed a little time to digest all of this.
He glanced at Lu Jingheng. Lu Jingheng remained silent, his head bowed, his expression hidden.
“I’m going to be late for work.” Gu Yunsheng dropped those words coldly and walked out of the breakfast shop without looking back.
He hit the bell on the glass door, making it jingle wildly as if venting his frustration.
“Yunsheng!” Lu Jingheng stood up abruptly, wanting to call him back, but not knowing what to say. He felt a sharp pang in his heart as he watched Gu Yunsheng’s lonely silhouette leave.
He grabbed his jacket, tossed a 50-yuan bill on the table, and chased after him.
“Young man, that’s too much money! Your change…” the breakfast shop owner called out urgently behind him, but Lu Jingheng didn’t care about anything now. His mind was full of Gu Yunsheng.
The streets were full of traffic and people, everyone wearing a hurried expression.
Gu Yunsheng walked aimlessly, Qin Feng’s meaningful words echoing:
“I’ll arrange everything. I’ll pick you up in three days. Be there or be square.”
What exactly did Qin Feng want? Why did he keep appearing before him over and over again?
And that mysterious “merman”… was it all a coincidence, or was there more to it?
“Yunsheng! Wait for me!” Lu Jingheng’s voice came from behind. Gu Yunsheng stopped, but didn’t turn around.
“Yunsheng, are you okay?” Lu Jingheng caught up, looking at him worriedly.
Gu Yunsheng shook his head. “I’m fine. I just… just need to calm down.” His voice was very low, as if he were talking to himself.
The two walked in silence and arrived at the pet hospital before they knew it.
Suddenly, a series of urgent and shrill barks rang out. “Woof! Woof! Woof!” The sound was like a sharp alarm, piercing the quiet morning.
Following that, a young girl in a white nurse’s uniform rushed out of the hospital entrance in a panic. As she ran, she shouted at the top of her lungs, “Dr. Xiao! Dr. Xiao! This is bad! That Golden Retriever is in critical condition!”
The tremor in her voice and the anxious expression on her face caused Gu Yunsheng and Lu Jingheng to tense up. They looked over simultaneously.
A young male doctor in a white coat and gold-rimmed glasses, looking gentle and elegant, strode out of the hospital at the sound. He frowned slightly, his voice carrying a hint of confusion. “What’s wrong, Xiao Li? Wasn’t he already out of the danger zone? There was nothing wrong when the owner brought him in for a check-up this morning.”
“I don’t know either, Dr. Xiao!” the nurse said with a sob of panic. “He was fine just a moment ago, but a few minutes ago, he suddenly started having full-body convulsions. Now his heart rate and breathing are very weak. He looks like he’s not going to make it!”
“What?!” Dr. Xiao’s expression changed. Realizing the urgency, he gave an immediate order. “Quick! Prepare for surgery! We need to resuscitate him now!”
Gu Yunsheng and Lu Jingheng stood there, watching the sudden turn of events. A bad premonition rose in their hearts. They looked at each other, seeing the same worry in the other’s eyes.
“Xiao Li, wait. What exactly is the situation with that Golden Retriever?” Gu Yunsheng couldn’t help but ask.
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