Chapter 217: The Doll’s Interest

“This…”

The sudden change made the air around them seem to freeze solid.

Gecko who was just about to walk over with the two girls beside him and even Chen Jing who had just opened the car door all had their expressions change drastically.

They stared blankly as the girl so beautiful she didn’t seem real floated before Lu Xin smiling at him. Their hearts suddenly dropped revealing expressions of disbelief before tightening painfully, suspended high in their chests.

“Not good…”

Chen Jing was the first to react shouting in a deep voice, “The Doll left the safe house…”

“Everyone evacuate the area immediately…”

“Attention everyone do not look directly at the Doll! Retreat beyond a hundred meters immediately…”

…

While shouting these words Chen Jing herself immediately averted her gaze refusing to look directly at the girl and quickly retreated backward.

At the same time her shouts instantly alerted many staff members nearby.

They were all well-trained. Upon hearing Chen Jing’s words some didn’t even have time to fully comprehend their meaning before lowering their heads keeping their eyes fixed on the ground and rapidly retreating into the distance while loudly repeating her words to remind their colleagues.

Immediately after the broadcast personnel who received the notification began shouting over the loudspeakers, “Level 1 Alert now issued.”

“Establish a hundred-meter restricted zone centered on Donghai Hotel.”

“Personnel permitted should immediately withdraw beyond the hundred-meter radius or seek shelter in nearby hotel rooms. Do not observe the surroundings.”

“Please note this is not a drill. A Level 1 Alert has been issued. Everyone take cover immediately!”

…

Rustle, rustle— Following the broadcast the crowd began to evacuate more rapidly and orderly.

Gecko and the two girls who had just been heading in this direction paled instantly.

Gecko subconsciously looked up at the girl floating before Lu Xin holding a parasol.

However the taller girl beside him immediately slapped Gecko across the face.

Snapping him back to his senses she also covered his eyes and dragged him back towards the hotel.

Gecko looked like he wanted to struggle for a moment but quickly relaxed seeming quite content to be dragged away…

Meanwhile some staff members reacted slowly caught off guard and unable to leave in time. Those who were staring blankly at the Doll in front of Lu Xin were grabbed by faster-reacting colleagues and forcibly dragged away regardless of their reactions.

…

…

“What’s going on?”

Upon hearing Chen Jing’s words Lu Xin also closed his eyes immediately preparing to retreat.

But he only took one step back before his back hit hard metal—it was the Jeep Chen Jing had driven him here in.

He couldn’t back up any further. He only heard chaos erupt around him then suddenly couldn’t hear anything at all. He could only feel a slightly cool body slowly approaching him in front almost close enough to smell a faint fragrance.

This scent definitely wasn’t floral nor perfume or shampoo.

It was a unique fragrance somewhat cool and faintly sweet.

He didn’t even need to open his eyes to feel someone’s body gently drawing near almost touching his face.

…

…

“Quickly bring up all surveillance feeds around the hotel. Transfer broadcast control authority here too.”

“Attention personnel monitoring the feeds keep the surveillance active but do not look directly at the screens…”

“Armed personnel in protective suits establish a cordon line at a hundred meters!”

Meanwhile Chen Jing had already retreated outside the hotel and entered a temporary command vehicle.

Her brows were tightly furrowed her mind filled with confusion.

She couldn’t understand how the Doll who always followed instructions would suddenly appear before Lu Xin.

Especially since the Doll had broken through the special glass window of the rooftop safe house and jumped straight down.

Did this mean she felt… urgent?

Previously they had received Han Bing’s report that Lu Xin seemed to have said something to the Doll and received a response.

This made the Special Cleaning Department realize there was a possibility of communication between the Doll and the Mr. Lone Soldier.

But it was just communication.

This kind of intense reaction—seeking him out immediately upon seeing the Mr. Lone Soldier—was completely beyond their expectations.

…

…

On a row of computers in the command vehicle footage from various cameras at Donghai Hotel quickly appeared. Chen Jing ordered in a low voice, “Without my permission none of you are to look at the computer screens. If there’s a problem I will shoot you immediately.”

Hearing her words the other two staff members in the vehicle turned their heads sharply breaking out in a cold sweat.

The Special Cleaning Department had a set of strict and detailed regulations regarding the Doll:

One was: Do not look directly at the Doll.

This ‘direct gaze’ generally referred to looking at the Doll without any obstructions.

But by extension even viewing through surveillance footage there was no guarantee that someone wouldn’t be affected by the ‘Doll’s’ influence.

Chen Jing mentally reviewed all clues related to the Doll picked up the walkie-talkie and quickly gave instructions:

“Cordon line established. No one is allowed within the hundred-meter radius.”

“Snipers attention switch to special tranquilizer darts.”

“If anyone attempts to cause unusual harm to the Doll or exhibits abnormal behavior like hugging or chasing immediately open fire…”

“Lethal force is authorized if necessary.”

“…Excluding the Mr. Lone Soldier!”

…

…

As Chen Jing implemented all effective control arrangements news of the anomaly at Donghai Hotel reached many people.

Minister Shen currently in the City Defense Department office frowning as he reviewed materials related to their ‘Advanced talent training conference’ and the attendees was so furious upon receiving the call he almost slammed down the microphone roaring, “I knew it! Holding such a conference bringing so many Ability Users together would definitely cause problems! But I never expected…”

“…It would happen so soon!”

Saying this he immediately dialed another number, “Activate emergency procedures! Place the entire East District under lockdown!”

“Do I need to remind you what kind of defensive measures to prepare?”

…

“According to our previous strategy we’ve been trying to give the Doll the same treatment as other Ability Users. That’s why we built her a ‘safe house’ on the top floor of Donghai Hotel in advance. It was to give her a sense of participation in the Ability User conference…”

“Based on her previous behavior the Doll likes this sense of participation.”

“Furthermore with so many Ability Users gathered at Donghai Hotel no one can guarantee that some unforeseen problems won’t arise. Therefore arranging for the Doll to stay here also serves as a security measure to eliminate any factors that could harm the Main City at any time.”

“Another reason is that the Doll did indeed respond to the Mr. Lone Soldier’s words before.”

“So Professor Chen from the Special Cleaning Department was also preparing to find time during the conference for the Mr. Lone Soldier to interact with her.”

“It’s just that the Doll’s reaction to him was so intense it caught all of us completely by surprise.”

…

In a research lab of the Special Cleaning Department someone rushed in immediately to report to Professor Bai.

Professor Bai showed no signs of panic nor did he rush to conclusions.

He thought quietly for a moment put down the file he was studying and calmly said, “Continue observation!”

…

…

“Doll can you hear my voice?”

“You shouldn’t have left the safe house. Could I ask you to please go back now?”

…

Lu Xin leaned against the car with his eyes closed.

He quietly listened as the surrounding commotion gradually died down and also heard the tense announcements from the broadcast earlier.

He didn’t feel any danger so he just obediently kept his eyes closed leaning against the car and waiting.

Sure enough after a short while the surroundings gradually quieted down then a voice came through the broadcast.

This time it was Chen Jing’s voice coming from the broadcast.

Her words sounded very gentle; Lu Xin couldn’t recall her ever speaking to him in such a tone.

But after Chen Jing’s voice faded there was no movement around him.

Lu Xin could feel that slightly chilling fragrance still lingering near his nose.

After another moment Chen Jing’s voice sounded again through the broadcast, “Mr. Lone Soldier can you hear my voice?”

Lu Xin raised his right hand and made an OK gesture in the air.

Chen Jing said, “For reasons we don’t yet understand the Doll has suddenly taken a great interest in you. You don’t need to be nervous nor show any hostility towards the Doll. Now I will ask you a few questions. Assess your feelings and tell me using hand gestures…”

Lu Xin raised his hand again making an ‘OK’ gesture.

He truly didn’t feel nervous and certainly wouldn’t show hostility towards anyone without reason.

“Right now do you feel anything strange… like affection for the Doll or…”

Chen Jing’s question over the broadcast came slowly and carefully, “The urge to possess her?”

Lu Xin carefully assessed his feelings raised his hand and shook it vigorously.

He really didn’t feel anything.

“You don’t need to wave your hand so hard you’re scaring the Doll…”

Chen Jing’s voice sounded through the broadcast.

Lu Xin had no choice but to stop his movement.

Feeling awkward just standing there with his eyes closed leaning against the car he simply shoved both hands into his pockets.

“Second question. From the moment the Doll approached you until now have you noticed any significant emotional changes?”

Lu Xin waved his hand slightly.

“Third question. From just now until the present has the Doll said anything to you?”

He waved his hand.

“Fourth. I can see you have your eyes closed but did you see the Doll’s face earlier?”

OK.

…

…

In the command vehicle Chen Jing’s brow furrowed slightly. She glanced at her wristwatch then at the surveillance logs.

It was confirmed that about five minutes had passed since the Doll appeared before Lu Xin.

Although Lu Xin currently had his eyes closed he had already spent five minutes in close proximity to the Doll without any barriers. This was at least equivalent to the effect of having looked directly into the Doll’s eyes or face for over three minutes.

Especially since the Doll’s negative influence was currently intensifying.

Therefore the Mr. Lone Soldier should already be experiencing uncontrollable emotions by now.

But he had none…

This abnormal reaction made Chen Jing fall silent for a moment.

Then she said softly, “You can open your eyes now.”

…

…

“Hmm?”

Hearing Chen Jing’s words Lu Xin felt slightly curious and slowly opened his eyes.

Reflected in his eyes was a face with features so exquisite no flaw could be found. Her skin was almost unnaturally pale with no trace of makeup yet it was delicate her lips soft and pale red. Her eyes were large but vacant her eyelashes slightly curled upwards.

Her face was just looking at him like this her nose almost touching his.

“Thump thump…”

Lu Xin thought he could hear his own heartbeat.

Seeing this girl up close he felt as if his heart was melting an endless longing rising within him. It was as if all his emotions had solidified his entire being fixated on this girl.

This made his feelings grow stronger and stronger then…

…his head suddenly cleared the feeling vanished instantly leaving him feeling uninterested.

A friendly and calm smile appeared on his face. He extended his hand towards the Doll, “Hello. It’s our second meeting.”

“Let me formally introduce myself. I am Mr. Lone Soldier.”