With several pairs of eyes fixed on him, Lin Shiming adjusted his glasses. There was not a trace of guilt or embarrassment in his expression as his calm gaze swept over Li Xian and Ji Xie.
The moment Li Xian heard Fan Zhe say the name "Lin Shiming," his mind stalled with a click. It was not because he was surprised that the two were connected-he had already suspected as much when he sneaked into the building and overheard their conversation.
What truly surprised him was that Fan Zhe seemed utterly certain Lin Shiming would identify Ji Xie. His tone even suggested that Lin Shiming was the reason their entry into the dump had been exposed.
Li Xian stared intently at the expressionless Lin Shiming. His face betrayed nothing, making it impossible to guess whose side he would take or what he would say:
"I..."
The first word slipped slowly from his lips, making Li Xian's heart rise into his throat-
"saw the two of them."
As he finished speaking, Lin Shiming extended a well-defined finger and pointed first at Ji Xie, then at Li Xian.
Ji Xie said nothing. Instead, he carefully looked Lin Shiming up and down, and Lin Shiming met his scrutiny without the slightest hesitation, sizing him up in return.
An eerie silence settled over them. Lin Shiming and Ji Xie stared each other down as though locked in a contest, while Li Xian lowered his head, his expression unreadable. Lu Ye wanted to say something but had no idea where to begin, breaking into a cold sweat from sheer anxiety.
"Ha."
Fan Zhe broke the silence with a soft, seemingly triumphant laugh, then turned sideways and gestured toward the door.
"Then I'm afraid I'll have to ask you two to come with me."
Li Xian