Secret Conversation

After dinner, the sunset was no longer visible in the sky, but the trains on the Elevated Railway still roared past at full speed.

The Gu Yi Mai Residential Area was far from downtown. When Night Sky fell, there were no colorful neon lights, only the scattered glow of bulbs from little shops along the street.

Ji Minghuan walked forward with his left hand in his pocket, playing on his phone as he went.

Voices on the street were gentle and unhurried. Children laughed as they chased one another past him; an old man sat outside a convenience store in a rocking chair, fanning his face, while the occasional bark of a dog drifted out from deep within the alleys.

In this environment, even keeping the Restraint Belt Senses active did not place much burden on his hearing.

When he heard Su Zimai's footsteps stop in the park, Ji Minghuan retracted the Restraint Band into his sleeve.

His eyes were lowered as he focused intently on the Snake game that came with his phone.

Just then, a text message popped up on his screen. He tapped it and pulled up a small window, continuing his game while occasionally glancing at the message.

Gu Qiye: Aren't you worried I'll have someone trace the address you sent that message from?

Is there any need? You'll only trace it back to your own home anyway. With that thought, Ji Minghuan began typing in the chat box.

Black Cocoon: Can you avoid making people lose the desire to talk with your very first sentence? Where was all that eloquence you had when you were flirting with that Green Wing in the plaza? Listening to you two talk, anyone would think you actually had some kind of kinky relationship.

Gu Qiye: You know I needed to stall for time then.

Black Cocoon: Back to the point. I suggest you don't investigate me recklessly.

Gu Qiye: Why?

Black Cocoon: Because I still have control over your identity. I know your objectives, every little thought in your heart. Perhaps I am the person in this world who understands you best... Of course, you might be wary of me. After all, I know who you are. If I were to reveal your identity publicly, it would affect your family. You have so many enemies, don't you? No one knows whether they might do something to your family.

Black Cocoon: Besides... if the Association found out that you and I were in private contact, the outcome probably wouldn't be too good, would it?

Gu Qiye: Despicable.

Black Cocoon: I never wanted things to become this hostile.

Gu Qiye: Then let me give you some advice too. You'd better make sure I never find out who you are.

Black Cocoon: That's good advice. I also think you wouldn't want to know who I am.

After sending the message, Ji Minghuan looked up from his phone. He was already very close to the park where Su Zimai was, and an electric scooter carrying a couple drove past him.

Gu Qiye: Still, you're right. My Old Man does seem a little strange.

Black Cocoon: I never deceive my partners.

Gu Qiye: How much do you know about him?

Black Cocoon: Presumably more than you imagine. But I need to emphasize one thing to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings: I know a great many people, just as I know you. None of you are exceptions.

Gu Qiye: What has he been hiding from me?

Black Cocoon: Perhaps when our cooperation goes a step further, I'll consider telling you. If certain mysteries are revealed too early, the script loses its tension.

Gu Qiye: One last question.

Black Cocoon: Ask.

Gu Qiye: Are you... my Old Man?

At that moment, Ji Minghuan tore his eyes away from Snake and looked at the message Gu Qiye had sent in the small window. As if he had forgotten he was playing, the green snake crashed headfirst into the wall, and a "GameOver" Prompt Box popped up.

Ji Minghuan fell silent, thinking, I treat you like a good big brother, and you treat me like your dad?

Only after a long while did his expression return to normal. He lifted a finger, symbolically tapped out a few ellipses, and hit send.

Black Cocoon: ...Not impossible.

Gu Qiye: I guessed right?

Black Cocoon: Uh, although I don't know whether there's some misunderstanding between us, I'll hear why you think that for now.

Gu Qiye: The time you appeared was the same time he returned to Li Capital. Then, the day after you appeared, he came home. And he had just walked away from me when you sent me a message.

Black Cocoon: Please. Can you imagine your own father wandering around outside dressed like a moth?

Gu Qiye: All right, I was joking.

Black Cocoon: It seems you really have no sense of humor.

Gu Qiye: My younger brother and sister often say the same thing. But after I put on my Battle Suit, I was rated the most talkative Esper. I'm really curious which assessment is the correct one.

Black Cocoon: Mr. Blue Arc, is it possible that being talkative and having no sense of humor aren't mutually exclusive?

Gu Qiye: So what do you need from me?

Black Cocoon: Secrecy. I only want you to know that if I wanted to become your enemy, I would have done so long ago. As long as I revealed your identity, your younger brother and sister would become your greatest weakness. But I didn't do that.

Gu Qiye: That's true enough. Although I still don't trust you, from the perspective of mutual interests, I can cooperate with you for now.

Black Cocoon: That's a wise decision. I won't disappoint you.

At the same time, inside an apartment building in another corner of the Gu Yi Mai District.

Let's leave it at that. I'm in a terrible mood right now, so don't let me see another message from you anytime soon.

Gu Qiye had just finished editing this text in the chat box and tapped send when an exclamation mark suddenly popped up before him: "Message failed to send. You have been added to the recipient's blacklist."

He raised an eyebrow, only then realizing that Black Cocoon had blocked him before he had even sent the message.

It was as though... the other party had anticipated what he was about to say.

"Heh..." Gu Qiye shook his head and laughed.

Whether from helplessness or anger, he took a deep breath, put his phone back into his pocket, tied on an apron, and began clearing the dishes and leftovers from the dinner table.

Meanwhile, near Guyimai Park.

After unilaterally blocking Gu Qiye, Ji Minghuan devoted himself wholeheartedly to playing Snake on his phone.

If he hadn't received that shocking text just now, he would have cleared the game long ago. Instead, he had failed halfway through and could only block Gu Qiye to vent his frustration.

Suddenly, he stopped walking.

He yawned, sleepiness tears welling in his eyes, and looked toward the red-and-black panel floating in midair.

Main Quest 1 (Phase Two) completed: Form a cooperative relationship with the Esper "Blue Arc," then develop interpersonal connections within the Esper Association.

Quest rewards obtained: 1 Split Point, 1 Skill Point, 1 Attribute Point.

Main Quest 1 updated: Complete your first cooperation with the Esper "Blue Arc" and deepen his trust.

Ji Minghuan stared at the rewards on the panel, closed Snake on his phone, and slipped the phone into the pocket of his school uniform jacket.

He murmured softly, "So... I've already collected three Split Points."

With that thought, he summoned his personal panel.

Attribute Points currently held: 2

Skill Points currently held: 2

Split Points currently held: 3

Prompt: You have collected 3 Split Points. Open the "Create Game Character" option to enter the character creation stage and create your second Game Character in the real world.

There will be another chapter later tonight. Please vote.