readytorunbook Chapter 199 Death is just the beginning
Chapter 199 Death is just the beginning
Seeing that Lu He's expression had become very serious, Lin Yingxin reached out and patted her shoulder: "Relax, the situation isn't that bad right now."
"How so?" Lu He wanted to see what other tricks she could come up with.
"Since the main storyline hasn't been triggered and no quests have appeared, there's no time limit, right?"
"Oh, it seems you know the rules of the time travelers quite well."
"After all, we've already fought three of them, so I know a little bit about it. That's not the point, don't interrupt me," Lin Yingxin said softly, displeased.
Lu He made a gesture to indicate that he had sealed his mouth.
“I can see that you, like me, are completely unaware of many plot points in this world,” Lin Yingxin continued. “Instead of wandering around like a headless fly, it’s better to gather as much useful information as possible now, and then observe the situation and have a plan when the main storyline is triggered.”
That hits the nail on the head. Lu He nodded in agreement: "But I actually triggered a side quest about Han Xi."
"What content?" This piqued Lin Yingxin's interest.
Lu He winked at her: "Let's talk outside after class."
To everyone's surprise, Lin Yingxin simply grabbed Lu He and swaggered out the back door of the classroom.
The students attending early morning classes were stunned. Was this a top student leading the school bully to skip class?
Lin Yingxin pulled Lu He all the way to the rooftop, then suddenly slammed her against the wall: "Speak, tell me the truth."
"Han Xi's family problems, the death of her biological mother is suspicious, my mission is to find out the truth." Lu He was suppressed and obedient.
I told Lin Yingxin some information I had obtained last night about Han Xi's family members and their relationships, including the phone call from her stepmother.
Lin Yingxin held a pen and carefully drew a relationship diagram on the draft paper, a smile appearing on her lips. This storyline is quite interesting.
Looking at her clearly outlining the character relationship diagram, Lu He couldn't help but praise her: "You really fit the female lead's academic genius persona; you're quite smart."
“Because I was originally a top student… The person I’m looking for once encouraged me, saying that with my talent I shouldn’t be subordinate to the male lead…” Lin Yingxin said meaningfully, her gaze falling on Lu He’s face, as if she were probing.
“Well, what she said is very good…” Lu He scratched her head, feeling that the scene was somewhat familiar. She also met Lin Yingxin’s burning gaze, as if she had seen that soul somewhere before.
"You...you should tell me your real name now..." Lin Yingxin pressed her for her real name again, her seemingly ruthless eyes filled with expectation.
"You...you are..." Lu He suddenly saw Xia Lan through those eyes, but how could this be? "This is impossible..."
"Your real name... tell me quickly..." the other party pressed.
“My real name is… Lu He…” In those eager eyes, Lu He could still see a clear reflection.
The words had barely left her lips when Lin Yingxin hugged her tightly. It was Xia Lan who had embraced her across countless worlds.
"Is it really you? Xiao Lan!" Lu He couldn't believe it. The girl who used to be like a little white rabbit seemed to have grown up a lot, matured a lot, and become more resilient and independent.
Her response was to hold on even tighter.
She knew it really was her; she had been looking for her all along.
Lu He gently stroked Xia Lan's head with trembling hands, her heart aching: "Xiao Lan, what have you been through..." She must have experienced a lot in those worlds to have such thick armor.
The little girl who used to only need protection can now protect others.
"Why were you killed by the time traveler? Was it Duanmu Xi?"
"That's right! It's him."
It turns out that after Wen Shiyu went to jail, Xia Lan took over the management of all his businesses. Since Lu He had set Xia Lan as the emergency contact in Wen Shiyu's phone, Wen Shiyu's phone was naturally handed over to Xia Lan as well.
Xia Lan quickly found Xiao Yang in her contacts and got in touch with him.
Having lost his employer, Xiao Yang naturally handed over everything he had left behind when he was working for Wen Shiyu to Xia Lan.
In particular, Xiao Yang emphasized the importance of the USB drive, instructing her to be sure to go back and watch it when no one was around.
Xiao Yang concealed the fact that he was being relentlessly pursued by Duanmu Xi. It was precisely because of this meeting that Xia Lan was killed.
When Xia Lan returned home that night, she played the USB drive, which contained the video of Duanmu Xi murdering Duanmu Cong.
They did indeed keep a backup and didn't completely delete it.
It had started raining outside the window, the sound of the rain grew louder, and night had fallen.
Xia Lan glanced out the window and dialed her lawyer's number. With this video, she could get Wen Shiyu released from prison. Without kidnapping and murder, the conviction wouldn't stand.
"Beep...beep..." Perhaps it was the middle of the night, and the lawyer was resting. The dial tone was particularly clear in the drizzling rainy night.
Just then, the sound of metal scraping came from the front door of the entrance hall.
Xia Lan was startled and put down her phone. Listening carefully, she heard what sounded like someone fiddling with the keyhole.
Her heart leaped into her throat; someone was picking the lock.
She was terrified and dialed the police.
A loud "crack!" rang out, and a bolt of lightning, accompanied by a deafening clap of thunder, shattered the already eerie silence.
All the lights in the room went out at once.
Was it a malfunction caused by lightning, or did someone deliberately pull the switch? Xia Lan groped her way into the dark, wanting to go to the living room to check, but suddenly heard the front door creak open and then click shut.
Was it a hallucination? Or did someone come in?
Xia Lan held her breath and strained her ears, hearing heavy footsteps coming from the living room.
Xia Lan covered her mouth, afraid that she would cry out.
The footsteps were heading towards the bedroom. Xia Lan was in the study at the time. If she could run out and ask for help while the other party was searching in the bedroom, she might still have a chance of survival.
There's nowhere to hide in the study. Once the intruder has checked the two bedrooms, they'll inevitably come to the study, and then we'll be doomed.
Xia Lan made a snap decision to rush out; rather than sit and wait to die, she might as well take a gamble. She took down the clarinet hanging on the study wall and held it in her hand as a weapon.
She tiptoed out of the study and cautiously made her way to the entrance hall from the living room.
The room was pitch black, and the other party couldn't see her either, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
The assailant, having failed to find anyone in the master bedroom, then went to the second bedroom to search. Xia Lan hid under the dining table in the living room, too afraid to move, waiting for him to approach.
Just as the person was about to enter with his back to Xia Lan, a bolt of lightning struck again, illuminating the entire room.
Through the full-length mirror in the living room, in a flash like daylight, Xia Lan saw Duanmu Xi with bloodshot eyes.
She was certain that Duanmu Xi had also seen her.
She suddenly got up and rushed towards the door, and Duanmu Xi rushed towards her as well.
On that stormy, rainy night, Xia Lan collapsed in her own home, stabbed multiple times...
Lu He listened with a chilling heart, unable to imagine how scared and desperate Xia Lan must have been, and what kind of pain she must have endured to be murdered.
All she could do was hug her tighter and comfort her.
"And then what happened? Where did you go?" Lu He stroked her head to comfort her.
"After being killed, I learned about my rules and your rules. The second time, I was a professional boxer. In the ring where I was fighting against the time traveler, I deliberately provoked her and got killed by her..." Xia Lan said the words that made Lu He feel the most heartache in the most relaxed tone.
She recounted her experiences and stories, and Lu He felt heartbroken and saddened each time she spoke.
She felt both happy and heartbroken; the girl she had protected had killed herself time and time again in order to see her again…
"I won't let go this time!" Lu He's arms tightened around Xia Lan even more.
“Although I know this encounter is short-lived,” Xia Lan wasn’t blinded by happiness, “I know that even if we try our best to prolong our time in this world, you will eventually be sent to another world by the system… I don’t regret it…”
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I didn't have a chance to tell you anything." Lu He hugged Xia Lan, feeling extremely guilty.
"It's not too late to tell me now." Xia Lan loosened her embrace, blinked expectantly, and looked at her.
Although this face isn't Xia Lan's now, the soul behind those eyes is hers.
"I like you. I never dared to admit that I like you before. I'm sorry, I should have realized my feelings sooner..." Lu He thought of her indecisive self back then and wanted to slap herself.
Xia Lan, with tears in her eyes, smiled and leaned in to gently kiss her lips: "Me too, I didn't even have a chance to tell you I like you~"