"Hmm~ hmm~ hmm~"
"Can I go now? You're just bowing your head and staying silent~"
"Love is like a cup of tea left overnight, but I still want to drink it~"
"There's always some kind of bond between you and me, it can still go on, even if it's just an illusion~"
"Let me protect it too, don't let this connection fade away~"
"Half amusement, half fear, can you ask me this? It's scary~"
"My heart is willing to let you treat me as her… just to love you~"
"Hmm~ hmm~ hmm~"
The music from the radio echoed through one of the community buildings in the Yunzhao Capital District.
On the third floor, inside a small apartment with a bonsai tree on its balcony, thin wisps of steam drifted lazily out of the kitchen window.
A tall young man in a black T-shirt and gray shorts was dancing in the kitchen.
The wall clock showed eleven in the morning, but judging from his damp hair, it seemed he had just gotten out of bed and taken a shower.
He didn't bother drying his hair—just boiled water and tore open a cup of instant noodles.
As he hummed along to the music, his phone suddenly rang.
Pouring what little water was left into the cup noodles, he lazily pressed the call button.
"Hello?"
"Hello? Xiao Wang, listen—"
"Huh?!"
"Listen outside!"
"What?"
"Hah?!"
The young man, called Xiao Wang, was actually named Wang Xin.
But the aunties in this community often called him Xin-Xin or Xin'er like he was a little girl.
Only a few uncles, including the security guard Uncle Sun, ever called him Xiao Wang.
"Uncle Sun, speak clearly! I'm not some kind of superhero who can hear an ant whisper—"
"You idiot! Turn off your damn radio first!" Uncle Sun yelled so loud that Wang Xin rubbed his ears.
The young man quickly walked over to the table near the TV and pressed the power button on his radio. The room fell silent.
He sighed and looked at his phone again.
"Alright, Uncle, talk. What's up? This better be important, you just ruined my luxurious breakfast!"
Uncle Sun clutched his chest, taking several deep breaths before speaking patiently.
After a long sigh, his voice dropped to a whisper.
"A group of men in military uniforms just came looking for you!"
"A group of uniformed men?" Wang Xin immediately dashed to the window. "Where are they now?"
"Walking toward your place!"
He peeked through the balcony window—sure enough, a dozen men in dark green uniforms that looked suspiciously like soldiers were climbing the stairs to his door.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?!"
"Hey, you brat! What do you think I've been trying to do?!"
Clicking his tongue in frustration, Wang Xin thanked Uncle Sun, ended the call, and ran to the balcony.
Just as he was about to jump and escape, the door suddenly burst open.
A man stepped in without hesitation, smiling politely.
"Mr. Wang, where do you think you're going?"
Wang Xin froze and slowly turned back. Behind him stood a man with narrow eyes gleaming behind thin glasses.
He chuckled awkwardly, leaning lazily against the balcony railing as if he'd never intended to flee.
"Oh, nowhere. Just wanted to dry my hair in the sun. Anyway, you guys must have a good reason for breaking into someone's home, right?"
The man stepped closer, chuckling softly.
"Oh, forgive our rudeness. I'm Ling Xi, deputy commander of the Special Forces Department for Central Yunzhao District."
Wang Xin nodded like he understood, smiling politely.
"Right, but I don't recall signing up for the military. You must have the wrong guy."
Ling Xi smoothed his gelled hair and stepped even closer, making Wang Xin narrow his eyes cautiously.
"Ah, Mr. Wang, perhaps you've forgotten what happened a week ago."
That forced smile on Wang Xin's face froze.
"Ah… maybe you're right. My memory's been pretty bad lately…"
The ten men behind Ling Xi exchanged glances.
Ling Xi moved closer until he was only a meter away and adjusted his glasses.
"Well then, let's go. Now."
Wang Xin choked on his own breath. Seeing the soldiers charge toward him, he instantly leaped off the third-floor balcony—landing on his neighbor's second-floor balcony.
At that moment, Old Man Li was watching morning news about an earthquake abroad when Wang Xin landed with a loud thud.
Startled, the old man looked around nervously.
"No alarm? Must've been my imagination…"
Without a second's thought, Wang Xin jumped again—this time straight to the ground floor.
Thud! He landed perfectly, shot a glance back at Ling Xi's men, and bolted.
"Help! I'm being kidnapped!"
Ling Xi snorted. "Catch him!"
The soldiers jumped off the balcony one after another, following Wang Xin like a pack of wolves.
Old Man Li's entire building shook, his balcony nearly collapsing.
The poor man crawled under the table with his fat yellow cat and screamed, "Earthquake!"
The dozen men sprinted as if they had wheels under their boots, closing the distance with terrifying speed.
Wang Xin looked athletic, sure—but in truth, he was a lazy shut-in who spent most of his time watching live streams and eating instant noodles.
Three laps around the community later, his legs already felt like noodles.
He stopped, gasping, and glared at the soldiers. "Heh, do we really have to fight?!"
They didn't even sweat. Standing a meter away, they faced him coldly.
"We could," one of them said flatly.
Wang Xin raised both hands in surrender.
"Can't we talk about this? I promise I'll be a good, civilized citizen!"
One soldier stepped forward. "Mr. Wang, please cooperate and—"
"Aunt Tong!" Wang Xin suddenly shouted.
The dozen soldiers instinctively turned to look toward the residential row.
Using that split second, Wang Xin slipped sideways, pretending to wave at his imaginary Aunt Tong.
"Oh, you need help? Sure, I'll be right there!"
And off he went—activating maximum escape mode!
Within seconds, he'd left them in the dust.
Satisfied, he muttered to himself, If they still catch me now, I'd be the dumbest man alive!
Just as he sped down the street, a black luxury car screeched to a halt in front of him.
The door opened, revealing a cold-faced bald man who looked vaguely familiar.
"Stop doing useless things. Get in."
Wang Xin froze, then slowly turned to run the other way—only to find more soldiers blocking his path.
Cold sweat trickled down his face. He forced a smile and looked back at the bald man.
"Ah… Director Chen! Long time no see! Your burns healed nicely! Don't worry, men's hair grows fast, though a bald—"
Director Chen's face darkened. He glanced at Ling Xi, who had caught up, holding a strange white pistol.
"Shoot."
Before Wang Xin could react, a sharp gust pierced his left arm. Pain exploded through his body—and everything went black.
---
When Wang Xin finally woke up, his head throbbed painfully.
He blinked, dazed, finding himself in a small white room, hands cuffed to a table.
"Am I seriously being kidnapped?!"
"No. Just a short interview."
The white wall behind him slid open silently.
Director Chen walked in, followed by two beautiful women in suits. The wall closed behind them as if it had never opened.
Wang Xin glared at him.
"Didn't know short interviews required handcuffs on the guest!"
Chen Zhou flipped through the papers calmly.
"If you were just a normal human, we wouldn't need spiritual restraints."
"Spiritual what?!"
Wang Xin flared his wrists, summoning fire around them—but a blue seal with ancient symbols appeared on the cuffs, extinguishing his flames instantly.
He sneered.
"Unbelievable. Where did you even get this kind of seal?"
Chen Zhou met his eyes coldly.
"Enough nonsense. Let's begin the interview."