The Pieces Shift
The Black Lantern's destruction has set things in motion, but Gerard has little time to breathe. At the Wei estate, the dinner continues as Madam Wei tightens her psychological grip, pushing him toward a mistake. Meanwhile, Wei Meiying's investigation edges closer to the truth, and the unknown force lurking in the shadows finally makes its first move. The game is no longer just about revenge—it's about survival.
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22:50 – The Wei Estate – A Second Test
The wine flowed, the food untouched.
Gerard could feel the weight of Madam Wei's gaze as she traced the rim of her glass with one finger, considering him.
The silence was intentional.
A well-practiced power play.
Gerard didn't rush to fill it.
Instead, he leaned back slightly, mirroring her ease.
Finally, she spoke. "Xian, tell me, do you ever think about the past?"
Gerard's fingers rested lightly on the stem of his glass. "Depends on what you mean by 'past.'"
Wei Meiying smirked, but her mother remained expressionless. "You were always a dreamer, weren't you? A boy who got lost in his own thoughts."
Gerard chuckled softly. "Perhaps. But people change."
Madam Wei's eyes narrowed just a fraction.
"Do they?"
Another test.
She was probing for inconsistencies.
Gerard met her gaze, holding firm.
"I would think you, of all people, would understand that best."
A moment of stillness.
Then—Madam Wei smiled. "Yes. I suppose I would."
Wei Meiying's eyes gleamed with interest.
Gerard knew he'd passed this round.
But there would be more.
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23:10 – Wei Meiying's Investigation Tightens
Across the city, a high-rise apartment complex.
Wei Meiying sat across from one of Li Xian's former university professors, her expression polite but sharp.
The old man adjusted his glasses, clearly nervous.
"It's… surprising to see you, Miss Wei. What exactly did you want to discuss?"
Meiying's smile was slow, deliberate. "My brother."
The professor's hands tightened slightly on his cup. "Li Xian? I haven't spoken to him in some time."
Meiying didn't blink. "Tell me about his habits. His… behavior."
The professor hesitated. "He was… quiet. Kept to himself. A good student."
Meiying leaned forward. "And yet, I've spoken to others who recall something different. Sudden disappearances. Unexplained injuries."
The professor swallowed.
She pressed. "He was hiding something, wasn't he?"
The old man rubbed his temple. "Miss Wei, I don't—"
"What did he talk about when he thought no one was listening?"
The professor froze.
Meiying's voice was quiet. "I know he spoke to you."
Finally, the man exhaled. "He was… troubled. He spoke about feeling like he was waiting for something. That he had dreams he didn't understand."
Her brows lifted slightly. "Dreams?"
The professor nodded. "Memories, maybe. Of things that didn't make sense. Like he'd lived a different life before this one."
Meiying's heartbeat quickened.
This was more than she expected.
"Did he ever say what those memories were?"
The professor shook his head. "Only that he thought he was someone else. And that one day, he would remember."
Meiying leaned back slowly.
Her mind raced.
If Li Xian had these thoughts before his "suicide attempt"…
Then what was sitting across from her at the dinner table now?
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[Ding! Meiying's Investigation Progresses]
- New Lead Unlocked: Li Xian spoke about past lives before his hospitalization.
- Suspicion Level Increased.
- Next Action: Compare findings with previous sources and test Li Xian directly.
---
23:30 – The Hidden Force Makes Its Move
A dark room. A single monitor glowing in the dim light.
The man from the private airstrip watched as lines of data scrolled across the screen.
Next to him, the woman in tactical gear crossed her arms. "Well?"
The man smiled. "He's doing well so far. Better than I expected."
She frowned. "And if he figures out the truth?"
The man leaned forward, eyes reflecting the screen's glow.
"Then we accelerate the plan."
A pause.
Then—a single command was typed into the system.
[Deploy Asset: Phase One.]
---
[Ding! Unidentified Asset Activated]
- A hidden force has deployed an operative.
- Their objective is unknown.
- Next Move: ???
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23:45 – Back at the Dinner Table
The conversation drifted toward controlled territory—business deals, investments, politics.
Gerard played his role perfectly.
But beneath the surface, the tension was rising.
Madam Wei's gaze never softened.
Wei Meiying's interest only grew.
And then—
The final strike.
Madam Wei's voice was light. "Tell me, Xian, what do you fear most?"
Gerard didn't hesitate.
"Irrelevance."
Wei Meiying's brows lifted slightly.
Madam Wei's expression didn't change.
But something in her eyes sharpened.
Gerard leaned forward slightly. "Why? What do you fear, Mother?"
A long pause.
Then—she smiled.
"Losing control."
And just like that, the real battle had begun.
---
[Ding! Dinner with the Devil Mission Progresses]
- Psychological tension has reached its peak.
- Madam Wei is no longer testing—she is analyzing.
- Next Move: Control the conversation while preparing an exit strategy.
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00:10 – The Safehouse – Connecting the Dots
Back at the safehouse, Gerard sat in front of the decrypted data core, the information laid bare before him.
Jian leaned over his shoulder. "So? Who's really pulling the strings?"
Gerard's fingers drummed against the table.
"The same people who erased me."
Jian's face darkened. "You're sure?"
Gerard nodded once.
Then—a notification flashed on his system interface.
[Ding! System Alert: Unidentified Asset Deployed. Status: Tracking.]
Gerard's blood ran cold.
This wasn't just about Madam Wei anymore.
Someone else had just entered the game.
And they were watching him.
---