Director Zhou Zhengyang of the Anomaly Management Bureau sat silently on the plane.
Opposite him was a burly old man, the very embodiment of vitality in old age.
This was none other than Lin Huai'an, one of the strongest handlers in the Dragon Nation, respectfully known as Elder Lin.
However, at this moment, even this robust elder was silent.
His eyes were vacant, staring blankly at the cabin ceiling.
After a long while, it was Elder Lin who broke the silence: "Zhengyang, are you saying that this young man named Su Ming not only keeps a Disaster Level ghost but is also in a romantic relationship with it?"
Zhou Zhengyang nodded, his mind still echoing with Gu Yan's words: "Director, do you believe in love?"
Elder Lin's Adam's apple bobbed as he reorganized his thoughts: "What I mean is, a bona fide Disaster Level aberration, in love with a human?"
"Is it genuine love?"
"A kid and a twisted ghost, is that what you call love?"
"Are you sure it's not just one-sided captivity, manipulation, exploitation, possession? Is it love in the literal sense?"
Zhou Zhengyang's eyes were confused, unsure how to respond.
Elder Lin continued to articulate: "Do you understand what I mean?"
"What I mean is, even if a ghost has gained intelligence, its emotions are not the same as a normal person's."
"To call it love is more like a pure, perverse possessiveness, a twisted, pathological obsession."
"It's like that," Elder Lin thought for a long time, pounding his fist into his palm, and confidently said: "Like those sickly adorable characters in novels, super enhanced."
"Deadly sickly adorable, insane sickly adorable, completely blackened, mad, by any means necessary."
"Taking a hatchet to kill your whole family, love me or hate me, trying to forget me is a daydream."
"Then imprisoning, detaining, spying, forced love, hiding him in a place only they know."
"Even breaking legs, turning him into a vegetable, even if it means killing him, they want to keep the corpse by their side."
"They'd even sleep with the corpse every day, sing, laugh, and comfort it."
"Occasionally, they'd use a knife to cut off a piece of flesh to eat, claiming it's to become one."
"Do you get what I mean?"
Zhou Zhengyang rubbed his swollen temples: "Elder Lin, could you read fewer of those perverse novels?"
"And besides, you've asked me about this all the way here."
"I know you're shocked, but I don't know the specifics."
"I only heard it from that girl Gu Yan."
Elder Lin leaned forward, staring intently into Zhou Zhengyang's eyes: "Repeat exactly what that girl Gu Yan said, don't leave out a single word."
Zhou Zhengyang was speechless.
He had repeated it many times.
He even sent the recording of his conversation with Gu Yan to Elder Lin.
But this guy insisted on hearing it from him.
With no choice, Zhou Zhengyang repeated it once more.
Ten minutes later, the usually unflappable elder, who remained calm even in the face of a collapsing mountain, fell into a deathly silence once again.
Zhou Zhengyang looked out the window.
At least it would be quiet for ten minutes.
Ten minutes later, Elder Lin would start questioning him again.
It was understandable, really.
Elder Lin, who had spent half his life dealing with anomaly incidents, was as shocked by this as if a comet had hit the earth.
He was just trying to find a reason that could convince himself.
Ten minutes later, Elder Lin spoke again: "Zhengyang, are you sure that young man named Su Ming is really in a relationship with a Disaster Level aberration..."
An hour later, the plane arrived in Jiangping City.
Jiangping City had already been sealed off.
The official announcement stated: A sudden top-level public safety incident has occurred in the city, and comprehensive emergency control and risk investigation are underway. All personnel and vehicles are prohibited from entering or leaving without authorization. Residents are advised to stay at home, remain calm, and refrain from spreading false information.
After getting off the plane, Zhou Zhengyang and Elder Lin moved at full speed.
In just ten minutes, they arrived at Lanyue Residential Complex, where Su Ming lived.
"Zhengyang~"
"Stop." Zhou Zhengyang raised his hand: "Elder Lin, we're here."
"If you have any questions, ask Su Ming directly."
"I don't know anything."
Five minutes later, the door to Su Ming's home was pushed open.
As soon as they entered, Zhou Zhengyang and Elder Lin saw Su Ming violently beating the Jumper Ghost.
He shouted while hitting: "Are you out of your mind?"
"Why do you think I'd have any ulterior motives towards you?"
"Have you looked in the mirror?"
"Every time I look at you, you cover your mouth?"
"Every time I call you, you cover your chest?"
This outburst, filled with expletives, left Zhou Zhengyang and Elder Lin stunned.
They had no idea what was happening in the room.
All they knew was that as soon as they entered, they saw Su Ming beating the Jumper Ghost.
The Ghost School Belle stood with her arms crossed, her black hair floating, coldly watching the Jumper Ghost.
Gu Yan stood respectfully to the side, holding tissues, wet wipes, towels, and face cloths.
The scene in the room was bizarre yet harmonious.
According to later accounts, the moment they entered, their worldview collapsed.
After tiring himself out, Su Ming flexed his wrists and then kicked the Jumper Ghost.
The Jumper Ghost stiffened, clenched its rear, and flew out from the balcony.
Gu Yan quickly handed over tissues, wet wipes, towels, and face cloths.
Zhou Zhengyang had to cough twice.
Only then did Su Ming notice the visitors in the room.
He looked puzzled at the square-faced middle-aged man and the burly old man at the door.
"Where did this Steve and white-haired gorilla come from?"
"Go, go, play somewhere else, don't block my doorway."
Seeing Su Ming's shooing gesture, Zhou Zhengyang and Elder Lin were speechless.
When people are speechless, they tend to laugh.
For instance, Elder Lin looked at Zhou Zhengyang.
Steve.
Indeed, it was fitting.
A square face, perfectly standard.
Zhou Zhengyang looked at Elder Lin.
White-haired gorilla.
Over two meters tall, burly, with abundant hair.
Since Elder Lin was an elder, he had white hair, white eyebrows, white beard, and most notably, a full beard.
Gu Yan couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.
Noticing the sharp gazes from the door, she quickly stifled her laughter and introduced: "Mr. Su, the gentleman on the left is our Anomaly Management Bureau's Director, Zhou Zhengyang."
"The one next to him is one of our nation's strongest handlers, Elder Lin, Lin Huai'an."
Su Ming was taken aback.
He immediately put on his brightest smile: "Ah, so it's Director Zhou and Elder Lin."
"Pleasure to meet you."
After shaking hands, Su Ming called out: "Xiaolou."
With a swoosh, the Jumper Ghost jumped back up.
"Hurry, hurry, make tea for Director Zhou and Elder Lin."
Zhou Zhengyang and Elder Lin watched as the Jumper Ghost eagerly ran into the kitchen to boil water and make tea.
Their eyes were vacant.
It was an Extreme Danger Level aberration.
But they'd never seen anything like this.
When the Jumper Ghost brought the tea over, Zhou Zhengyang and Elder Lin's eyes still hadn't focused.
Gu Yan covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.
So everyone was the same; she thought she was the only one who hadn't seen the world.
Both men picked up their tea simultaneously, looking at Su Ming on the sofa like well-trained robots.
What had they witnessed?
When Su Ming moved closer to where the Ghost School Belle sat, she would move in the opposite direction.
One moved, the other retreated.
Until there was nowhere left to retreat, the Ghost School Belle stopped.
She was pushed to the very corner of the sofa, with Su Ming squeezed in beside her.
A two-meter-long sofa, and they managed to leave a meter and a half of space.
Su Ming then explained: "Director Zhou, Elder Lin, don't just watch, drink your tea, it'll get cold."
The two of them drank their tea in unison, remarkably synchronized.
Su Ming explained again: "I'm a person who lacks a sense of security and is quite timid."
"If I don't sit next to the School Belle, I tend to have nightmares at night."
"You understand, right?"
Zhou Zhengyang nodded in agreement: "Understand, completely understand."
"To be honest, we also have small hearts and lack a sense of security."
In contrast, Elder Lin crushed his cup with a snap, grabbed his hair, and shouted: "Ah~ I can't take it anymore!"
In full view, Elder Lin smashed through several walls and ran off.
Su Ming was left dumbfounded and shocked.
Zhou Zhengyang quickly pointed to his head and said: "Mr. Su, don't mind him."
"Since we handlers often deal with anomalies, our minds are a bit off, you know?"
Su Ming looked at the human-shaped hole with sympathy: "I understand, I understand."
"It's not easy, it's really not easy."
Zhou Zhengyang seized the opportunity to signal Gu Yan.
What are you waiting for? Quickly contact the best psychologist in the country for Elder Lin.
He's been under too much stress today, and his mental state wasn't great on the plane.
Now that he's met Su Ming, his worldview and common sense might have collapsed.
If we don't treat him soon, he might really go mad.