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by ciubiincisuthefirst

by ciubiincisuthefirst

The next day
Wen Qing slept until he naturally woke up, got up to wash, and cooked noodles.
He made a simple bowl of scallion oil noodles.
Wen Qing held his chopsticks, sitting alone in the empty living room, forcing a few bites of noodles into his mouth.
He wasn't picky about food, but suddenly, the noodles tasted hard to swallow.
It felt like they were missing some seasoning, tasting bland and waxy.
Wen Qing ate a few more bites, put down his chopsticks, and picked up his phone.
His fingers seemed to have a will of their own, opening Yi Ou's chat box.
He quickly closed the chat box, and his phone started vibrating incessantly.
It was messages from the dorm group.
Song Qiang: 【@Wen Qing, when are you coming back today?】
Song Qiang: 【You should be coming back today, right?】
Wen Qing: 【Yes.】
Wen Qing: 【I just finished breakfast. I'm heading back now. Do you want me to bring you breakfast?】
Song Qiang: 【No need, Xu Fengfeng and I are already in class. I heard there might be roll call today.】
Xu Fengfeng: 【@Wen Qing, let's go for barbecue tonight.】
Xu Fengfeng: 【We haven't tried that barbecue place we mentioned last time, I'm craving it.】
Wen Qing: 【Okay.】
Song Qiang: 【Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! There's really a roll call.】
Song Qiang: 【@Yi Ou.】
Song Qiang: 【You! Are my! God!!!】
Wen Qing: 【...】
Wen Qing stared blankly at the dorm group chat. Did something happen while he was away?
He patiently waited, but Song Qiang didn't explain, and Yi Ou didn't reply to his message.
Wen Qing slowly typed a question mark: 【?】
Song Qiang: 【Yi Ou is a fortune-teller.】
Wen Qing: 【???】
Song Qiang: 【I'll be rich in my next life hahaha.】
Wen Qing: 【...】
Xu Fengfeng: 【...】
After a moment of silence, Wen Qing received a private message from Yi Ou.
Yi Ou: 【Yesterday, Song Qiang asked me if there would be a roll call today, then asked when he would get rich.】
【I told him there would be a roll call and that he'd get rich in his next life.】
Wen Qing: 【Oh.】
Yi Ou: 【What about you?】
Wen Qing: 【What about me?】
The next second, Yi Ou sent a voice message.
Wen Qing played it, and Yi Ou's lazy voice came through the phone: "Have you thought it over?"
After that, the phone automatically played the next voice message.
"About liking me."
The tone was casual but affirmative, as if certain that Wen Qing would like him.
It was just a matter of time.
Wen Qing's fingers froze, and two spots of heat rose on his cheeks.
He quickly typed: 【I think my phone is broken, I'm going to buy a new one.】
Yi Ou sent another voice message.
"Is it broken so you can't hear voice messages?"
Then, he chuckled lightly.
The phone clearly recorded Yi Ou's laughter, with a hint of breathiness, inexplicably tender.
Wen Qing's eyelashes trembled, and his heart skipped a beat.
Yi Ou: 【Alright.】
Yi Ou: 【When you get a new phone, I'll say it again.】
Wen Qing drank a glass of water, blushing as he went out to buy a phone.
The community was located in the city center, with several direct-sale phone stores on nearby streets. Wen Qing randomly walked into one.
A sales clerk immediately approached him to introduce the new phone models and features.
Wen Qing didn't understand electronic products and felt lost, so he randomly picked a familiar-looking black phone.
After the clerk transferred the data from the old phone to the new one, she handed the new phone to him: "Sir, you have a call."
Wen Qing took the phone; it was a call from Xuan Xuan's mother.
"Hello, Auntie."
Xuan Xuan's mother smiled and asked directly: "Xiao Wen, do you live in South City Community?"
"I think I just saw you there."
Wen Qing was stunned and replied, "Yes, I've been staying here for the past two days."
Laughter came from the other end of the line: "What a coincidence."
Wen Qing tentatively asked, "Auntie, how are your two nephews' homework?"
"I'll ask," she paused, seemingly talking to someone beside her, then continued, "It's fine, the teacher hasn't called, so they must have finished it properly."
Wen Qing said softly, "That's good."
Xuan Xuan's mother continued: "By the way, Xiao Wen, do you have a lot of classes today?"
Wen Qing truthfully said, "No classes today."
Xuan Xuan's mother cheerfully said, "That's even better."
"Xuan Xuan is in South City Community today. My sister and I have something to do. Which building and floor do you live on? My husband bought a batch of imported sea fish, I forgot the name."
"I'll have Xuan Xuan bring it to you."
Wen Qing was startled and quickly said, "No need, Auntie. Isn't Xuan Xuan not in good health?"
"No need to make him run an errand."
"He needs to. My sister and I might be out all day," Xuan Xuan's mother said slowly, "I'll have to trouble you to take care of Xuan Xuan for a while."
"He still has some mandatory homework to finish. Just tutor him like you did yesterday."
Wen Qing's eyelid twitched. Like yesterday?
Could it be that someone else will replace Xuan Xuan's identity?
Xuan Xuan's mother: "Don't worry, the tutoring fee will be paid as usual."
Wen Qing hesitated for a moment and then agreed.
Wen Qing studied his new phone while walking back to South City Community.
As he reached the flowerbed, a familiar voice came from ahead.
"Auntie, could you tell me which building is A Block, Floor 02?"
"I'm here to find a classmate and got a bit lost."
Wen Qing's steps halted abruptly. He carefully looked up and saw a familiar profile.
Zhou Zhou was smiling as he asked a resident for directions.
"That building right there," the resident kindly pointed him in the right direction.
Wen Qing's face changed, and he immediately turned around, putting on his hoodie and walking quickly towards the security booth.
He didn't dare look back and hurried into the security booth, seeing the young guard who had previously escorted him home. He breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "Hello, I saw a suspicious man in the community."
The guard's face changed, and he quickly asked, "What does he look like?"
Wen Qing blinked, "There's only one person."
The guard was puzzled but quickly gathered his thoughts. Yes, he had only mentioned seeing one suspicious man. Why did he assume there were two?
Wen Qing described Zhou Zhou's appearance: "About twenty years old, looks like a university student, wearing a hoodie and jeans."
"He seems to be heading towards A Block, Floor 02."
"I'll check the surveillance," the guard said, pulling up the footage for A Block, Floor 02, but the screen was dark.
He frowned and said, "Sorry, the surveillance for A Block, Floor 02 is under maintenance today."
The guard picked up the walkie-talkie and said, "Brother Wang, take a few men to A Block, Floor 02. There's a suspicious person."
"Oh dear, the surveillance is down, we can't see anything."
Brother Wang's voice came through the walkie-talkie: "Why does this sound so familiar?"
The guard scratched his head: "I thought so too, like I've said it before."
Wen Qing: "..."
The guard quickly repeated Wen Qing's description.
Soon, Wen Qing saw five or six guards in uniform running towards A Block, Floor 02 with batons.
The scene felt familiar.
Wen Qing remained silent, thinking that Zhou Zhou seemed to know where he lived. Hopefully, he wouldn't break in.
The guard noticed his expression and reassured him, "Mr. Wen, don't worry. Our community's guards are professionally trained. The captain is a retired police officer—"
His words stopped abruptly, and he scratched his head, asking Wen Qing, "Mr. Wen, have I told you this before?"
Wen Qing kept a straight face and said, "No, maybe you told someone else."
The guard didn't doubt him and continued, "My shift is over. Do you need me to escort you back?"
Wen Qing nodded in agreement and followed him to A Block, Floor 02.
Zhou Zhou was from the Guide's dungeon.
If he was here...
Would those three gods also come?
Xuan Xuan was just one person; he couldn't be played by those three.
Wen Qing's face changed slightly, worried that Xuan Xuan might run into them.
In the elevator, as the floor numbers rose, the guard spoke again: "Mr. Wen, don't you have a sense of déjà vu?"
"Why do I feel like I've done this before?"
Wen Qing was silent for a moment, then said dryly, "Maybe you dreamed about it."
The guard mumbled, "Maybe I did... and forgot."
"Ding—"
The elevator reached the 18th floor.
As the doors slowly opened, Wen Qing saw Zhou Zhou standing at the entrance, turning his head to look at him.
Zhou Zhou's eyes lit up upon seeing Wen Qing, and he smiled, "Qing Qing, long time no see."
The guard immediately pulled out his baton, shielding Wen Qing, and asked warily, "Who are you? How did you get into the community?"
Zhou Zhou didn't even glance at him, his eyes fixed on Wen Qing.
The guard quietly pressed the walkie-talkie, continuing to question, "What's your purpose on the 18th floor!"
Hearing the static from the walkie-talkie, Zhou Zhou squinted, glanced at the guard, and quickly stepped forward.
With lightning speed, he grabbed the guard's baton and smashed the walkie-talkie underfoot.
Now both were unarmed, and the guard was no match for Zhou Zhou, who knocked him down in the blink of an eye.
Wen Qing's eyelids twitched; even without any tools, Zhou Zhou was still very strong.
Wen Qing nervously took a step back.
"Ding—"
The elevator rang again.
It was another elevator.
Wen Qing watched as five or six burly guards in uniform rushed out, charging towards Zhou Zhou and shouting, "You've got some nerve!"
"Get him!"
"The police are on their way!"
Zhou Zhou effortlessly dodged their attacks, casually rolling up his sleeves, and quickly dealt with each guard, advancing towards Wen Qing.
Wen Qing couldn't help and immediately pressed the close button.
As Zhou Zhou reached him, the elevator doors closed.
Wen Qing exhaled, just typing 110 when he heard the deafening sound of police sirens outside the building.
By the time Wen Qing reached the first floor, the police had arrived in the community, kindly advising him not to go upstairs.
Perhaps the guard's report had sounded serious; a dozen police officers crowded into an elevator.
Wen Qing didn't wait long before seeing the police surround Zhou Zhou.
Zhou Zhou, handcuffed, looked calm, showing no awareness of being arrested.
Catching sight of Wen Qing in the crowd, he tilted his head and silently mouthed: 【Seeing you again is worth it.】
Zhou Zhou smiled.
Wen Qing lowered his eyes, pressing his lips tightly together.
The onlookers around him muttered, "So young, yet a thief."
"Is he a thief? Isn't it a home invasion?"
"I don't know, what's the situation?"
"He looks like a pervert, probably followed someone in."
...
Wen Qing took out his phone to message Yi Ou.
Wen Qing: 【The police arrested Zhou Zhou.】
Yi Ou: 【Good.】
Yi Ou: 【Send him in to reform.】
Wen Qing: "..."
"Mr. Wen."
Wen Qing turned; it was the young guard, along with other guards.
He quickly asked, "Are you okay?"
The guard smiled, "I'm fine, I'm tough."
"What about you?"
Wen Qing nodded, "I'm fine."
The guard hesitated, then whispered in Wen Qing's ear: "Mr. Wen, do you know him?"
"Did he just call you Qing Qing?"
Wen Qing opened his mouth to respond, but an old lady nearby spoke up: "I remember!"
"I saw him in the news; he's a stalker."
The old lady spoke with conviction.
The guard didn't doubt her, seriously telling Wen Qing, "Mr. Wen."
"Men need to protect themselves outside too."
"We'll tighten the community's security."
Wen Qing was silent for a moment and decided to go along with it.
He said dryly, "Thank you, I'll be careful."
"If there's nothing else, I'll head home."
The guard nodded, "Go rest, I'll get someone to fix the surveillance."
"Thank you," Wen Qing said softly, entering A Block, Floor 02.
As the elevator rose, Wen Qing looked at his reflection, recalling the crazies he had provoked in the other world.
Besides Ji Yu and Yu Xing, Zhou Zhou was the last one.
Now he had been arrested.
Wen Qing sighed in relief, exiting the elevator.
Reaching his apartment, he paused; the door was ajar, unlocked.
Was it Zhou Zhou earlier?
Or was someone else inside?
Wen Qing held his breath, carefully pushing the door open a crack and peeking inside.
He saw two people sitting on the sofa, more accurately, one person and one fish.
Ye Ye and Blacktail.
Wen Qing's eyelids twitched, remembering what Xuan Xuan's mother said.
Xuan Xuan.
Sea fish.
"Xuan Xuan" bringing "sea fish."
Wen Qing: "..."