The first thing Xu Zhihan did after returning to his room was shut the door.
Lu Wenchuan was left outside, his nose nearly hitting the door.
He stared at the closed door for two seconds, then raised a hand and knocked.
"Young Master Xu, isn't it a little soon to burn your bridges?"
There was no sound from inside.
Lu Wenchuan knocked again. "I did shield you from Xu Chengyuan just now."
At last, Xu Zhihan's voice came from behind the door.
"He's not as noisy as you."
Lu Wenchuan grinned.
"Then I'll keep my voice down?"
"No need."
"Fine." Lu Wenchuan leaned lazily beside the door. "Then I'll talk through the door."
Inside, Xu Zhihan sat on the edge of the bed, his fingertips pressed against his chest, his breathing somewhat unsteady.
He didn't want to let Lu Wenchuan in.
Not because he was afraid of being seen in a weakened state.
He just didn't want the hassle.
Lu Wenchuan was too perceptive. One glance was enough for him to work out part of the truth. If Xu Zhihan let him in, he might start asking another pile of annoying questions.
Yet the man outside had no self-awareness whatsoever.
Lu Wenchuan said, "I've already had the things in the basement sealed off. The Xu family will be under watch for the next few days. Xu Chengyuan won't dare tamper with the scene for now."
Xu Zhihan said nothing.
Lu Wenchuan continued, "But he'll come after you."
Xu Zhihan looked up toward the door.
As though he knew Xu Zhihan was listening, Lu Wenchuan's tone grew more casual. "You humiliated him today and brought the Special Investigation Bureau into his home. A man like him won't start by looking at what he did wrong. He'll start by getting rid of the person who embarrassed him."
"I know," Xu Zhihan said.
"And you came back to the Xu house anyway?"
"The basement is here."
Lu Wenchuan fell silent for a moment.
He had been about to say that Xu Zhihan was surprisingly responsible.
But he swallowed the words before they left his mouth.
Xu Zhihan didn't like being painted as a good person.
He might well reply with an icy expression, "Don't get the wrong idea. I just hate the noise."
Lu Wenchuan was starting to get a feel for his temperament.
Cold.
Unyielding.
Sharp-tongued.
And not entirely honest.
Lu Wenchuan smiled. "All right. As long as you know what you're doing."
The room went quiet for a moment.
Then Xu Zhihan suddenly spoke. "What will you do about Xu An?"
Lu Wenchuan straightened a little. "Keep him near the basement for now. His soul has been bound to the formation for too long. We can't forcibly take him away. The bureau's people will watch over him. Once I've figured out the formation's core, I'll find a way to send him on."
Xu Zhihan frowned. "How long?"
"Three days at best. A week at worst."
"Too long."
"Rushing won't help," Lu Wenchuan said. "Interfering recklessly could scatter his soul."
Xu Zhihan said nothing more.
Lu Wenchuan heard a faint cough from inside.
It was heavily suppressed.
He frowned. "Xu Zhihan, open the door."
There was no response.
Lu Wenchuan knocked again. "I brought medicine."
It was quiet behind the door for several seconds.
"I won't take medicine from the Xu family."
"Who said it was theirs?" Lu Wenchuan clicked his tongue. "It's from the bureau's medical team. Proper medicine. Nothing added."
The door opened.
Xu Zhihan stood behind it, his face very pale, his eyes still cold.
"Give it here."
Lu Wenchuan looked at him. "You just opened the door like that?"
"Didn't you say you brought medicine?"
"Aren't you afraid I'm lying?"
Xu Zhihan held out his hand. "You can try."
Looking at that pale hand, Lu Wenchuan couldn't help smiling.
"With that temper, you really aren't suited to being a patient."
As he spoke, he handed over the medicine, along with a bottle of water.
Xu Zhihan took them, glanced at the pills, then looked at Lu Wenchuan.
Lu Wenchuan raised an eyebrow. "What, want me to take one first to test for poison?"
Xu Zhihan said flatly, "You don't have long to live. Don't waste it."
Lu Wenchuan nearly laughed aloud.
"Thanks for saving my remaining lifespan."
Xu Zhihan ignored him and swallowed the medicine.
There really was nothing wrong with it.
After he took it, the dull ache in his chest eased a little. Xu Zhihan leaned against the doorframe, still looking pale, but his breathing was steadier than before.
Lu Wenchuan watched him for a while.
Xu Zhihan frowned. "What are you looking at?"
"Trying to figure out what you resemble," Lu Wenchuan said.
"A patient," Xu Zhihan said coldly.
"Patients don't make evil spirits kneel, unlock doors from a distance, or see someone's lifeline at a glance."
Xu Zhihan remained expressionless. "You haven't seen much."
Lu Wenchuan smiled. "I've been in this line of work for eight years. I've seen a fair amount."
Xu Zhihan didn't respond.
Lu Wenchuan's gaze settled on his face, his tone a little more serious than usual. "Xu Zhihan, you don't seem human."
It sounded deeply insulting.
But Xu Zhihan wasn't angry.
He hadn't really been human to begin with.
At least, his original self hadn't been.
Xu Zhihan looked up. "So?"
Lu Wenchuan leaned against the wall, his expression casual but his eyes clear and alert.
"So I ought to put you on the threat list."
Xu Zhihan looked at him.
Silence lingered between them for a few seconds.
Xu Zhihan asked, "Have you?"
Lu Wenchuan smiled faintly. "Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because you saved Xu An tonight, and you didn't kill Zhou Man."
Xu Zhihan's tone was cold. "I just didn't want the hassle."
"Right." Lu Wenchuan nodded. "That's a pretty kind way to avoid a hassle."
Xu Zhihan's expression grew colder.
Lu Wenchuan immediately corrected himself. "All right, I won't use that word."
Xu Zhihan looked at him and suddenly asked, "Aren't you afraid?"
Lu Wenchuan paused.
"Of course I am."
He said it very casually.
"I don't even know what you are. How could I not be afraid?"
Something shifted faintly in Xu Zhihan's eyes.
Lu Wenchuan continued, "But being afraid doesn't mean I have to hide. You're dangerous, but the Xu family is dirtier. Right now, I know who I should be watching."
Xu Zhihan watched him quietly.
Lu Wenchuan really was different from most people.
He was afraid, but he didn't panic.
He was suspicious, but he didn't rush to act.
He weighed things up, and he dared to admit he was doing it.
That clearheadedness was more troublesome than blind trust, but also a little more believable.
Xu Zhihan lowered his eyes. "You can watch."
Lu Wenchuan raised an eyebrow.
Xu Zhihan added, "Just don't be too noisy."
Lu Wenchuan smiled.
"You've got quite a few demands."
Xu Zhihan was about to close the door when an argument suddenly broke out downstairs.
Xu Chengyuan's voice was kept very low, but the anger in it was still audible.
"He's mentally unstable right now. Keeping him at home will only cause bigger problems."
An unfamiliar man's voice answered.
"Rest assured, Mr. Xu. We have a professional team. As long as a family member signs, we can take him away tonight."
The smile faded from Lu Wenchuan's face.
Xu Zhihan looked up as well.
He had heard it.
A private care facility.
Xu Chengyuan wanted to send him away.
Lu Wenchuan looked at Xu Zhihan. "Your dad moves fast."
Xu Zhihan said calmly, "He isn't my dad."
Lu Wenchuan nodded. "Fine. Xu Chengyuan moves fast."
The voices downstairs continued.
Zhou Man lowered her voice. "But the bureau's people are still here."
The unfamiliar man chuckled. "Mrs. Zhou, we'll follow medical procedures. Mr. Xu has only just left the resuscitation room, and he's shown signs of mental disturbance and attacked family members. Sending him to a care facility is perfectly reasonable."
Lu Wenchuan's eyes turned cold.
Xu Zhihan, however, gave a soft laugh.
Lu Wenchuan looked at him. "What are you laughing at?"
Xu Zhihan set the water bottle back on the table, his tone flat.
"He's picked a good place for himself."
"What do you mean?"
Xu Zhihan glanced downstairs.
"Places like care facilities are the easiest places to hide debts owed to the dead."