Chapter 190: Expected Guests

Time to go back.

Lu Xin got the feeling halfway through his chocolate-laced coffee.

He could clearly sense that someone was watching him.

It was a hard-to-describe sensation, like unseen eyes prying, constantly fixed on him. Yet no matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t find the source. The coffee shop was quiet; even the waitress in the black maid outfit had stopped arguing with him and returned to the counter, looking busy but perhaps doing nothing at all.

Most people would dismiss such a feeling as paranoia.

But Lu Xin knew it was real.

He still didn’t know exactly how he’d been targeted. But comparing it to the Drunkard’s experience, he suddenly understood why she’d been caught. The Drunkard thought she was targeted because her investigation into the organization exposed her. The truth however, was likely different. They hadn’t targeted her because they suspected she’d found something.

The reason might simply be that she put alcohol in her coffee.

She disrespected their coffee.

…

…

Having figured this out, Lu Xin slowly finished his coffee anyway.

It was expensive, after all.

Besides, he needed to make sure they were thoroughly fixated on him.

Only then did he get up, slinging the bag over his shoulder. His Sister kept grabbing at it, trying to find candy inside. Outside, Lu Xin usually pretended not to see his Sister, so he just hoisted the bag—and her along with it—onto his shoulder.

Pay, get change, leave.

After crossing the road, Lu Xin looked back and saw the coffee shop had an indescribably strange aura.

Even under the sunlight, it seemed dim, as if refracting light oddly.

Behind the glass window reflecting the street scene, the feeling of being watched intensified.

…

…

Lu Xin took a tram to the parking area next to the Satellite City No. 4 train station and retrieved the motorcycle he’d left there earlier.

Not knowing what would happen after being targeted by the organization, he and the Drunkard had agreed beforehand not to contact each other directly after he entered the coffee shop. This was to avoid alerting their watchers by having two targets interact.

After getting his bike, Lu Xin immediately boarded the high-speed train back to Second Satellite City.

The Drunkard must be watching him from somewhere. Seeing his actions, she would understand he’d successfully become a target. The moment he boarded the train, she would start preparing for the organization’s capture.

As soon as he confirmed the “invitation” was accepted, one phone call would be enough for the Drunkard’s side to move immediately.

“Will they lose track of me because I’m going back to Second Satellite City? It’s pretty far.”

This had been one of Lu Xin’s worries.

However, once on the high-speed train, he focused and felt the sensation of being watched grow even stronger, which put his mind at ease.

Once they locked onto a target, they stuck like maggots to bone.

When night fell, a Mental Monster would naturally come find the target and kill them.

It truly was a method of killing unseen…

Lu Xin sat on the train, holding his bag shut against his Sister’s attempts to open it, eyes closed in thought.

The moon turned red, and many things in this world changed with it.

…

…

After arriving at the main station in Second Satellite City, Lu Xin retrieved his motorcycle, carefully checked it for scratches, and then rode home. He’d brought the bike to Satellite City No. 4 expecting a fierce battle, wanting to be prepared, but things had unfolded so calmly that he hadn’t needed it. Seems he brought it for nothing…

He didn’t head straight home. First, he rode to the street market, bought some cucumbers and eggplants, half a catty of pork belly, and seeing some freshly caught clams, splurged on a catty of those too. He hung the groceries on the handlebars and ambled home.

The downside of riding this motorcycle became apparent: it was harder to haggle when buying groceries.

People would glance at his bike and instinctively raise the price by several mao.

He pushed the motorcycle into the hallway, locked it carefully, and carried the groceries upstairs. When he pushed the door open, he saw his Mom and Father sitting on opposite sides of the dining table. He didn’t know what they’d been talking about, but now they were silent, the atmosphere heavy.

Hearing Lu Xin return, both turned their heads simultaneously.

One face broke into a smile, while the other instantly grew darker.

Before they could speak, Lu Xin held up his groceries. “I bought some extra stuff for dinner tonight!”

Father, interrupted, didn’t know how to react and just let out a cold snort.

Mom, however, smiled gently. “Oh my, didn’t we just have a nice meal a couple of days ago?”

Lu Xin smiled back. “I just got back from a trip and received some allowance. Spending a tenth of it on groceries is fine.”

Mom looked at him, still smiling. “You’ve become quite generous lately…”

Lu Xin felt a bit embarrassed. “It’s mainly for you guys. Things were too hard before.”

Both Mom’s and Father’s expressions seemed to shift slightly.

Mom gracefully stood up. “Well, I’ll go cook then. It’s getting dark…”

Sister, meanwhile, clung tightly to Lu Xin’s bag, insisting, “I want candy! Give it to me now…”

Lu Xin held on tightly, refusing to let go, explaining earnestly, “There really isn’t any left…”

“So eager to work, rushing off to do dangerous things for others…”

After Lu Xin reluctantly pulled half a piece of candy from his pocket to appease his Sister and sat down on the sofa, his Father, who had been staring at him coldly, finally spoke. “Is it because you’re desperate to reach that damn Second Stage, to see that secret? Does your current life make you that uncomfortable? Just how… dissatisfied are you, to work so hard?”

Facing his Father’s gaze, which felt almost tangible, Lu Xin slowly looked up after a moment.

He looked at his Father and smiled. “Is there any alcohol left at home? I’ll have a drink with you tonight.”

A chilling glint appeared in Father’s bloodshot eyes, which always seemed to hold a drunken haze.

You could clearly feel the anger radiating from him intensifying.

After a long moment, he spoke with a cold sneer, “Aren’t you tired of always pretending to be so normal?”

“How can it be pretending if it’s how I like to be?”

Lu Xin smiled at his Father. “I really do want to have a drink with you.”

Father fell silent, like a volcano simmering with immense power, unable to erupt.

“Oh, right…”

Lu Xin seemed to just remember something. He chuckled lightly and addressed both his Father, whose oppressive presence nearly filled the living room from the opposite chair, and his Mom cooking in the kitchen. “Tonight, it won’t just be us eating. I’ve invited a couple of friends over… maybe two, possibly more. So, we’ll need to…”

“Heehee…”

Mom, cooking in the kitchen, suddenly let out a giggle but quickly covered her mouth.

Through the kitchen’s glass door, you could see her trying to stifle her laughter as she cooked.

“I want… I want one of the friends…”

Sister, who was meticulously scraping the candy with her teeth, immediately raised her hand happily.

“Hmph…”

Father snorted heavily. The lights in the room noticeably dimmed, and for a second, it felt as if the entire building was rapidly sinking—just a hallucination. A slight blink and everything was normal again. Faint streetlight glowed outside the window. Since the room lights weren’t on yet, Father’s figure had become somewhat blurry, resembling a shadow.

“Since you have friends coming…”

After the snort, Father didn’t explode in anger. Instead, a rare note of ease entered his voice.

“Then of course, we must entertain them properly…”

…

Looking at his Sister, whose eyes shone with excitement, so happy she practically twisted herself into knots, and then at his Mom in the kitchen, whose cooking posture grew increasingly elegant, flipping food with the wok spatula, her steps light as if dancing.

Finally, looking at his Father, silhouetted against the window, a faint smile seemingly gracing his face.

Lu Xin’s mood gradually brightened.

How wonderful, such a warm and kind family…