"This is the 'photo taker' you mentioned."
Yingying calmly analyzed the data. "Luo Nan, 16 years old. He enrolled at Acumen College on September 1st this year. His academic results are average. His evaluations from elementary and middle school teachers are unremarkable. Overall, he appears to be very ordinary."
Xie Junping only cared about one thing. "So… it's unlikely he's a paparazzi or anything like that?"
Yingying didn't answer directly. She continued, "What's worth noting is that his guardian is listed as his aunt. As for his parents—I checked. His mother died during childbirth, and his father has been missing for years. Strange… does 'death during childbirth' still happen these days?"
"You mean…"
"His upbringing was quite unusual. His personality might be somewhat eccentric. We'll need to observe him further. For now, unlock your vehicle permissions and activate the surveillance system. I want to monitor him as well."
Xie Junping immediately complied. Not long after syncing the data, Luo Nan's jogging figure appeared at the far end of the viaduct.
The sky was only just beginning to brighten, and the distant figure was still blurry. Fortunately, the Phantom flying car's surveillance system had been professionally modified, with strong detection and counter-detection capabilities. Xie Junping had only noticed Luo Nan earlier thanks to the AI's automatic alert.
He carefully observed Luo Nan's every movement, but couldn't discern anything unusual.
Meanwhile, Yingying had already reached a preliminary conclusion.
"Congratulations, Sheepdog. You can basically confirm that he wasn't targeting you."
"Huh?"
"Can you hear his breathing?"
With the surveillance system's enhanced audio capture and filtering, even faint sounds fifty meters away could be reproduced clearly. Luo Nan's breathing was no exception.
"Huh… that buzzing sound. Is he panting?"
"It sounds more like a bee, doesn't it? It's probably some kind of special breathing technique. There's also a unique way he's forming words. I'm not sure what effect it has—maybe none at all. His lung capacity is just slightly better than average. But his concentration is remarkable. Look at his eyes—there's a certain intensity there. Would someone with malicious intent train this seriously right after committing something suspicious?"
Xie Junping finally relaxed, a smile appearing on his face.
But in the next moment, as Luo Nan descended from the highest point of the viaduct, his gaze suddenly shifted. From the surveillance feed, it looked as though Luo Nan was staring directly at him.
Even with the one-way privacy shielding, Xie Junping still felt a jolt of alarm.
"Did he notice us?"
"Your vehicle's illusion is too conspicuous. And he's more perceptive than I expected."
Yingying sounded intrigued. "He must have sensed something, but his expression didn't change at all. He's not someone who shows emotions easily. People like that usually think a lot—and plan ahead. But the fact that he maintained focus means his willpower is above average. Speaking of willpower, I just discovered something interesting. Want to hear it?"
Xie Junping watched Luo Nan approach step by step, too tense to care about side remarks.
But Yingying continued anyway.
"According to school records, Luo Nan lives in Blue Bay Community, River Wu District. The straight-line distance to Acumen College is nearly forty kilometers. Of course, it's not far by public transport—but running that distance is practically a daily marathon. Based on his breathing method and muscle structure, each run is like peeling off a layer of skin. And if he does this every day… my god, he's a complete masochist."
"Damn…" Xie Junping felt his scalp tingle just imagining it.
Yingying continued, "From this, we can infer he's not impulsive. He won't act rashly without understanding a situation. But if you leave a bad impression or make him feel threatened, the outcome could be unpredictable… Get out of the car."
"Huh?"
"Don't tell me you came all this way just to watch him run? That'll only make you look suspicious. Hurry up—get out and talk to him. Don't you always claim to be a social expert? Or are you just all talk?"
Xie Junping knew she was provoking him, but no man would willingly lose face in front of a woman.
He took a deep breath, slapped his cheeks lightly to clear his head, and stepped out of the car.
This time, he truly faced Luo Nan.
They were about forty meters apart. Xie Junping adopted his usual confident demeanor and waved in greeting.
Yingying's voice echoed in his earpiece. "Good. Keep it natural. Don't act arrogant. Right now, your image is that of a shameless but straightforward playboy. Be honest—he's smarter than you think."
As Luo Nan slowed down, his gaze fixed steadily on Xie Junping. His expression remained calm, unreadable.
Xie Junping decided to take the initiative.
"Junior, sorry to bother you. I'd like to talk."
When the distance closed to less than ten meters, Luo Nan nodded. "Senior Xie."
Xie Junping's heart skipped a beat. "You know me?"
Yingying immediately snapped, "Why are you panicking?"
Luo Nan replied calmly, "Number 24. I attended the society recommendation session you hosted."
"Oh… right, that did happen."
Cursing himself inwardly, Xie Junping forced a smile. "What's your name, Junior?"
"Luo Nan."
"Alright, Junior Luo Nan. Sorry to interrupt your morning run. There's something I'd like your help with… about what happened earlier. It's a bit embarrassing. I'd prefer not to be seen too much right now… Shall we talk in the car?"
Yingying praised lightly, "Nice self-deprecating tone."
After a brief pause, Luo Nan nodded and agreed.
He got into the car and sat in the front passenger seat, placing his notebook neatly on his knees. His posture was upright, like a well-behaved student.
Xie Junping followed, leaving the door slightly open as instructed to avoid creating pressure.
He took out an energy drink and handed it over. "Have some water."
"Thank you, Senior." Luo Nan accepted it politely but didn't open it.
Yingying whispered again, "Don't beat around the bush. Be direct—he thinks fast."
Xie Junping nodded and went straight to the point.
"Junior, forgive me for asking, but about ten minutes ago—around five o'clock—were you on the eastbound conveyor belt between the Twin Towers?"
"Yes."
"And… you saw me come out of the nightclub?"
"I did."
Xie Junping slapped his forehead, putting on a vexed expression.
Yingying guided him, "He answers only what's asked. Likely not very social, but careful about his image. Don't pressure him. And don't bring up money."
Xie Junping immediately understood.
He gave a bitter laugh. "Junior… I've really embarrassed myself today. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't care. But right now, I'm in a crucial stage—I'm applying for the Honor Society's senior medal…"
He clasped his hands and bowed slightly.
"I know it's not appropriate to ask this, but could you overlook what you saw? My reputation isn't important, but that medal really matters to me."
His performance was convincing—humble, slightly self-mocking, but not overly serious.
Luo Nan remained calm. "Senior, there's no need to worry. I don't gossip, and I won't spread rumors."
"I trust you. But in this day and age… photos and videos can be risky…"
"I didn't take any photos," Luo Nan said simply. "I just found the scene interesting and made a quick sketch."
He opened his notebook and displayed the rough drawing.
Seeing the chaotic lines, Xie Junping felt relieved.
Just as he was about to speak, Yingying suddenly said, "Ask to see the notebook."
Xie Junping froze for a moment, then improvised, "Junior, isn't it inconvenient to carry this around all the time? Does it have a special use?"
He extended his hand cautiously.
To his surprise, Luo Nan handed it over without hesitation.
"This kind of notebook was popular during World War III," Luo Nan explained. "During wartime or in remote areas, electronic devices often became useless. Traditional paper was more reliable. With sufficient resources, efficiency could be improved again. The flexible screen can also be replaced easily and cheaply."
"A relic from the war… and it's still around?"
"My grandfather liked them. He bought over a thousand at once. This is one of them. He also made hundreds more himself, all filled with notes. Most of them are no longer accessible."
"An antique, huh…" Xie Junping flipped through it casually.
Most pages were blank. A few contained formulas, sketches, and scattered notes.
But as he browsed further, he began to notice something.
There were many sketches—classrooms, streets, bars, nightclubs. Though rough, they captured scenes vividly.
Through simple lines, he could sense emotions—excitement, exhaustion, madness, despair.
It was as if the drawings stripped away appearances and revealed something deeper.
Xie Junping felt a chill run down his spine.
Did I just discover a new Picasso?
As he flipped to the latest sketch—the one of himself—he froze momentarily.
Yingying's voice snapped him out of it.
"He reacted strongly when talking about his grandfather. I checked—there's something interesting. Keep flipping. Don't stare too long."
She continued:
"His grandfather, Luo Yuandao, was once a researcher. Not particularly distinguished. But thirteen years ago, someone accused him of conducting illegal human experiments in the wilderness after the Third World War…"
What the hell…
Xie Junping's hand trembled slightly.
For a moment, he felt as though Luo Nan was watching him closely.
But now wasn't the time to stop.
He could only grit his teeth and keep going.