After leaving the venue, Gao Ming found Wan Qiu standing blankly outside the milk tea shop.
The shop was crowded, so the boy stood motionless in the pouring rain in his raincoat, like a penguin nobody wanted.
"Been waiting long?" Gao Ming bought two cups of milk tea and handed one to Wan Qiu.
Sipping his iced milk tea, Gao Ming couldn't help thinking of someone from his past. He took out his phone and, after a moment's hesitation, called Xuan Wen.
Wan Qiu sucked up taro balls and coconut jelly, watching Gao Ming curiously.
After a few rings, the call connected, and Xuan Wen's puzzled voice came through the phone. "Who are you looking for?"
"You haven't gone to kill those eight female leads yet, have you?"
The call ended, leaving a rapid series of busy tones.
Gao Ming put his phone away and gazed into the distance for a while, then calmly patted Wan Qiu on the shoulder. "Believe it or not, I've already left a deep impression on her."
Wan Qiu nodded, only half understanding, as though he had learned something very useful.
The phone in Gao Ming's pocket suddenly vibrated again. He immediately took it out and saw that Wei Dayou was calling. "Hey, man. Run into any trouble?"
"The police sealed off my apartment building. As the only survivor, I was approached by the Investigation Bureau too." Wei Dayou's voice was low and somewhat weary. "I did what you told me. They referred me to the East District Investigation Bureau and said I was a promising recruit who'd survived a level-two anomaly event."
"You're already at the East District Investigation Bureau?"
"I just finished the interview and got into the Queen Investigation Office, but..." Wei Dayou lowered his voice further, until it was barely audible