Three days before the operation. Violet finally spoke.
The three of them sat inside a small noodle shop near campus. The lunch crowd had mostly passed. Only a few students remained.
The owner was watching television behind the counter.
Rain tapped softly against the windows.
Qiū Huà Bǐ was eating.
Yè Yī was reading.
Violet was staring out the window.
Normal. Mostly.
Then she said:
"The exhibition is a trap."
Yè Yī didn't look surprised.
Qiū Huà Bǐ nearly choked.
"Which one?"
"Both."
"..."
"..."
Qiū Huà Bǐ slowly lowered his chopsticks.
"Can we stop having multiple traps at the same time?"
"No."
"Thought so."
Yè Yī closed his book. Completely attentive now.
"You knew."
"Yes."
"Since when?"
"A while."
Qiū Huà Bǐ stared.
"A while? Define 'a while.'"
"The moment Huáng Nián Qīng started talking to Lú Zhèngyáng."
The table became silent.
Qiū Huà Bǐ but his lips so as not to swear.
"You watched all of this happen?"
"Yes."
"And said nothing?"
"Yes."
Qiū Huà Bǐ could barely hold it in now.
"That feels important."
"It wasn't."
Qiū Huà Bǐ pointed at her.
"That is absolutely important."
'In destroying my mental heath!'
Violet ignored him.
"The operation has already begun."
Yè Yī nodded once.
"Capture."
Violet agreed.
"Capture."
He confirmed once more.
"No killing."
Violet nods.
"Preferably."
Qiū Huà Bǐ frowned.
"That doesn't sound reassuring."
Violet and Yè Yī spoke in unison.
"It wasn't intended to."
Silence.
Then Violet finally looked at both of them.
"So..."
The rain tapped softly against the glass.
"Let's spring the trap."
Both boys looked at her.
For the first time—
There was a faint smile on her face.
Not warm nor amused.
Dangerous.
"If they're expecting prey..."
She folded her arms.
"Let's give them hunters."
---
Meanwhile.
Lú Zhèngyáng was beginning to regret everything. Not because he knew the truth. He didn't.
Not because he knew ET existed. He didn't.
Not because he knew Huáng Nián Qīng was manipulating him. He didn't.
The problem was simpler.
Nothing felt right anymore.
The conversations.
The timing.
The invitations.
Everything suddenly felt...
Manufactured.
He sat alone in his dorm room staring at his phone.
The latest message from Huáng Nián Qīng remained unread.
For the first time—
He didn't want to answer.
He couldn't explain why.
Only that every instinct kept telling him:
Stop.
Walk away.
Forget this.
Unfortunately—
It was already too late.
---
Saturday
1:17 PM
THE HISTORICAL SCIENCES EXHIBITION.
The engineering building was quieter than expected. Almost too quiet.
Yè Yī noticed immediately.
Not enough people.
Not enough movement.
The entire atmosphere felt wrong.
A normal student would've ignored it.
Yè Yī wasn't normal.
His hand slipped into his pocket.
Touching the gold plaque.
Waiting. Watching.
The exhibition hall doors opened.
Yè Yī stepped inside and smile.
Very slightly.
Because there were far too many people pretending not to watch him.
Good.
The trap was here.
Exactly where Violet said it would be.
---
A Few Hours Ago.
11:54 AM
Elsewhere
Qiū Huà Bǐ arrived at the technology showcase.
Far too early.
Because free things waited for nobody.
The hall buzzed with activity.
Displays.
Prototypes.
Presentations.
Everything looked legitimate.
Which honestly made it more suspicious.
Qiū Huà Bǐ wandered through the booths.
A representative approached.
"Interested in AI-assisted systems?"
"No."
"..."
"..."
"I'm interested in the free laptop."
The representative blinked.
"Honesty is refreshing."
"Thank you."
Hours passed.
No attack. No ambush.
Nothing.
By 2 PM—
Still nothing.
By 4 PM—
Still nothing.
By 5 PM—
Qiū Huà Bǐ began wondering whether ET had simply forgotten.
Then his phone vibrated.
One message from Violet.
Stay where you are.
Qiū Huà Bǐ frowned.
Why?
The reply arrived instantly.
Because they're waiting for you to leave.
"..."
He hated when she did that.
5:42 PM
The sun was beginning to set.
The exhibition crowd had thinned.
The parking structures outside had become quiet.
Too quiet.
Qiū Huà Bǐ finally stood and walked outside.
Exactly as planned.
Exactly as expected.
Somewhere nearby—
Several pairs of eyes locked onto him.
The hunt had begun.
And hidden throughout the city—
Pieces were already moving into place.
Pieces neither Yè Yī nor Qiū Huà Bǐ knew about. Not yet.
---
Flashback
Two nights earlier.
Factor IV.
A secure conference room.
Violet stood before four people.
Ān Bái.
Ān Shēn.
Ān Tiān Qǐ.
And Mù Xiāo Xiāo.
A map of the city glowed behind her.
Several locations highlighted in red.
"The operation begins Saturday."
Mù Xiāo Xiāo immediately raised a hand.
"Can I bring snacks?"
"..."
"..."
"Yes."
"Good."
Ān Shēn sighed.
"We're supporting from the shadows?"
"Yes."
"No direct intervention?"
"Not initially."
Ān Bái folded his arms.
"And if things escalate?"
For the first time—
Violet smiled.
Then pointed toward the highlighted locations.
"Then we remind ET."
The room became very quiet.
"Why they stopped moving in the first place."
---
Present
Inside the exhibition hall—
Yè Yī finally stopped walking.
Outside the technology center—
Qiū Huà Bǐ finally stopped walking.
---
Across the city—
Several members of the Sì Faces Of Doom moved simultaneously.
---
And somewhere in the distance—
Violet closed her phone.
The board was set.
The trap was ready.
Now came the part everyone had been waiting for.
The counterattack.