Meeting

When Bai Yanliang woke up, it was already eight o'clock in the morning.

He didn't go out that morning, choosing instead to stay in his hotel room and meticulously organize his brother's belongings.

Bai Yanren had been a private investigator. As Bai Yanliang searched his memory, he realized how little he actually knew about his brother. He only remembered that Yanren would often disappear for days at a time, though he would always leave money with the landlady to look after him—even if Bai Yanliang felt he didn't need any looking after.

Sifting through the documents preserved by Yang Wanlong, Bai Yanliang failed to find anything of value.

Most of these files were contracts signed with clients: investigating infidelity, hiring help to find lost relatives, legal debt collection, or even searching for missing cats and dogs. In short, they were all very ordinary, standard private investigator cases.

But... for someone as normal as Bai Yanren, it was strange that he had left behind a peculiar silver key among his possessions.

And that key was capable of opening the door to the Mist Gathering.

What exactly was the Mist Gathering?

Although he had already survived one mission, Bai Yanliang still had no clue. He didn't even know if he had returned to the real Past World, and if so, what impact it would have on the present reality. If... if it truly could affect reality, the space-time paradoxes involved would be far too complex.

But if it couldn't affect reality, what was the purpose of the Mist Gathering sending people like him to that strange space-time?

He didn't believe this was just a prank played by some unknowable entity out of boredom.

If such entities truly existed, humanity might not even qualify as their toys.

Bai Yanliang finished organizing all of Yanren's files and quietly cast his gaze out the window.

Regardless, he had already entered the Mist Gathering. According to Zhou Li, the next time he would enter should be in a month's time.

As long as he could keep surviving, one day he would know everything, and one day, he would find the truth behind Yanren's death.

He would make whatever killed Yanren pay the heaviest price, no matter what... that thing was.

Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Bai Yanliang took a shower, changed his clothes, ate a leisurely lunch, and headed out to keep his appointment.

The hotel he was currently staying at was near Rongqiao Sky Street, and after asking for directions along the way, he quickly found the Log Coffee Shop.

It was the lunch hour, and the Log Coffee Shop was sparsely populated with office workers from the nearby area.

At a window seat, Bai Yanliang spotted her.

She was wearing a pure white designer coat, and a pair of oversized sunglasses covered most of her face.

She seemed to be lost in thought, her head tilted slightly toward the window. From where Bai Yanliang stood, he could clearly see her long hair pinned up high and her exquisite yet cold profile.

Seeming to notice his gaze, she turned her head and looked at him.

"Am I late?"

Bai Yanliang walked over to her, pulled out a chair, and sat down. At the same time, he politely declined the coffee recommended by the waiter and ordered a glass of plain water.

"I was the one who was early."

Feng Xiuxue replied softly.

Her voice was somewhat unexpected to Bai Yanliang. Having seen her in person, he had assumed her voice would be colder, but he hadn't expected her tone to be exceptionally gentle.

"What did you want to see me for?"

Bai Yanliang didn't bother with pleasantries. After accepting the plain water under the waiter's slightly strange gaze, he asked his question directly.

Feng Xiuxue suddenly sat up straight and watched him quietly.

Although her sunglasses hid her eyes, Bai Yanliang could still sense the complex emotions in her gaze.

After a long while, Feng Xiuxue took a photograph from her handbag and placed it in front of Bai Yanliang.

"You should recognize this person."

Bai Yanliang, who had been as calm as a stagnant pool, felt his hand tighten around his glass. He looked at the photo. It was quite old, the edges slightly faded, but it was clear that the owner had kept it well.

The photo showed a man in white casual clothes, grinning broadly. His appearance was seventy percent similar to Bai Yanliang's, though his temperament was more easygoing, approachable, mature, and steady.

How could he not recognize him?

But he had never imagined that he would see a photo of Yanren in the hands of a nationally famous actress.

However, something was wrong.

Yanren had met with his accident ten years ago. Even if he had a connection to the Mist Gathering, that was ten years ago. But... Feng Xiuxue was still in the Mist Gathering today. Could it be that she had already spent ten years inside?

"Where did you get this photo?" Bai Yanliang asked after a long silence.

Feng Xiuxue kept her eyes on Bai Yanliang. She prided herself on the fact that few men could hide their true inner thoughts in front of her, but she had to admit that she had hit a wall with him.

She couldn't see any emotion in Bai Yanliang's eyes. The only thing that had caused him to lose his composure was the subconscious tightening of his right hand on the water glass when he first saw the photo.

But that was enough.

"Bai Yanliang, Bai Yanren... you two really are brothers..." Feng Xiuxue said thoughtfully, appearing to let out a sigh of relief.

"You haven't answered my question yet." Bai Yanliang watched her quietly.

Feng Xiuxue looked at him, dropping any pretense, and said earnestly:

"Your brother was my brother-in-law."

"Huh?!"

For the first time, a look of surprise appeared in Bai Yanliang's eyes. He looked at Feng Xiuxue as if he hadn't heard clearly, and asked again, "Yanren... is your brother-in-law? He was married?"

At this moment, Feng Xiuxue took another photograph out of her handbag and placed it next to the one of Bai Yanren.

The photo showed a young woman. She was very beautiful and possessed an intellectual charm. The Feng Xiuxue before him looked quite similar to her, though their temperaments were vastly different.

"This is my sister, Feng Yiru. I've been working in the entertainment industry using her name." Feng Xiuxue took a sip of her coffee; it was the most bitter black coffee, with nothing added.

"Ten years ago, my sister suddenly went missing. My family was frantic, and while searching for her tracks, we accidentally discovered that she had already gotten married. Her husband was your brother, Bai Yanren."

So, it turned out he really did have a sister-in-law?

Bai Yanliang felt his mind was a bit muddled. Such a thing happening to him was extremely rare; after all, there was almost nothing that could affect his emotions.

"Bai Yanliang, there is something wrong with your brother's death, and there is also something wrong with my sister's disappearance." Feng Xiuxue set down her coffee and spoke to Bai Yanliang earnestly.

In truth, she had noticed him the moment he entered Mist Gathering. They looked so much alike, and their names were so similar—there couldn't be that many coincidences in this world. But... if Bai Yanliang hadn't managed to survive his first mission, there would have been no need for her to tell him these things.

Fortunately, Bai Yanliang did not disappoint Feng Xiuxue, or rather, Bai Yanliang's abilities had far exceeded her expectations.

He should be able to help her, help her... find them.