On the weekend, Lin Zhao lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Something felt off. Very off.
Normally, within two minutes of waking up, 101 would be buzzing in her mind, chirping and bouncing around.
She tried calling it in her head several times, but her mind remained as still as dead water—no response whatsoever.
Frowning, Lin Zhao sat up and ruffled her messy hair, a strange mix of emotions swelling in her chest.
She couldn’t tell if it was relief or disappointment.
That annoying system had been a pain, but when it suddenly disappeared, Lin Zhao felt strangely empty, as if something was missing.
She threw off the blanket and walked to the window, yanking open the curtains. Blinding sunlight poured in, forcing her to squint.
Yet Lin Zhao felt restless all over.
Staying home was boring. With the system gone and no one to bicker with, she didn’t know whether to sit or stand. She finally grabbed her coat, planning to step outside for some air.
As she reached the entrance, hand just about to touch the doorknob, Lin Zhenhai’s cold voice echoed from the living room:“Where are you going again?”
Lin Zhao froze. Without turning around, she could already picture his expression. She faced him and tugged at the corner of her mouth.“I’m going out for some fresh air.”
“Fresh air?” Lin Zhenhai put down his newspaper and glanced at her sharply.“Stay at home properly. Don’t wander around all day.”
Lin Zhao frowned, feeling an inexplicable irritation.“I’m only going out for a little while. I’ll be back soon.”
“Not even for a little while,” Lin Zhenhai said firmly. “Feeling itchy, huh?”
Seeing Lin Zhenhai’s expression grow darker, Lin Zhao reluctantly let go of the doorknob.“Fine, fine. I won’t go. Happy now?”
She turned to head back to her room when Lin Zhenhai snorted coldly and spoke slowly:“A few days ago, that kid from the Gu family got beaten up.”
Lin Zhao’s heart skipped a beat. Her feet froze in place as if nailed to the ground.
Her heartbeat raced, blood rushing to her head, her mind buzzing.
No way… they traced it back to her already?
She forced herself to calm down and turned around slowly, plastering a carefully measured look of shock on her face.“Beaten up? Gu Zhuoxiao? By who?”
“They haven’t figured it out yet.”
Lin Zhenhai lifted the teacup from the table and took a sip.“That kid has a cocky personality. He’s bound to offend people. Being beaten was only a matter of time.”
“I just didn’t expect him to get beaten so badly. Heard he’s still in the hospital.”
He set down the cup and looked at Lin Zhao.“I’ve already told you not to get too close to him. You didn’t listen. Now do you believe me? Hanging out with people like that never ends well.”
Lin Zhao secretly exhaled in relief.
Good, they haven’t found out. That’s good.
She blurted it out before thinking.“That’s a relief.”
“What did you just say?” Lin Zhenhai’s eyes instantly turned sharp.
Panicking, Lin Zhao quickly covered, putting on a righteous expression:“I meant… they need to find out who did it! Beating someone in broad daylight is outrageous!”
Lin Zhenhai’s expression softened a little, and he nodded.“Gu Jia is investigating thoroughly. He’s using a lot of connections; they’re determined to find the person responsible.”
Lin Zhao’s heart tensed again. The Gu family was really pulling out all the stops?
She forced herself to remain calm, showing no hint of her anxiety.
Lin Zhenhai studied her for a few seconds before asking:“You weren’t involved in this, right?”
“Of course not!” Lin Zhao raised her voice, pretending to be terribly wronged.“Am I that kind of person? I’ve been at school every day recently. You can slander me, but don’t insult me!”
She was really going all out to cover her tracks.
After scrutinizing her for a while, Lin Zhenhai waved it off, satisfied with her composure.“Alright. Remember this—mind your own business, especially when it comes to the Gu family. Don’t get involved, understand?”
“Got it,” Lin Zhao replied perfunctorily.
She hurried back to her room, locked the door, and pulled out her phone to message Pei Lezhi:“Are you free now?”
Pei Lezhi almost instantly replied:“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“Come to my place. It’s urgent.”
“Okay, I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Lin Zhao set her phone down, leaning against the door with a long sigh.
Where had 101 gone?
She called it again in her mind—still nothing.
Irritated, she ran her fingers through her hair and sat at her desk, flipping through the error corrections Xu Ning had helped her organize.
Seeing Xu Ning’s neat, delicate handwriting, she felt a little steadier.
About ten minutes later, the doorbell rang.
Lin Zhao’s eyes brightened as she rushed to open the door.
Pei Lezhi was about to ask what happened, but Lin Zhao beat her to it:“Lezhi, weren’t we supposed to go to the library? Why did you come here instead?”
Pei Lezhi froze, then instinctively replied:“Weren’t you the one who asked me to come?”
Lin Zhao winked at her and subtly gestured toward the living room.
Quick-witted as ever, Pei Lezhi immediately realized. She smacked her forehead in embarrassment.“Ah, right! I came to call you to the library!”
Lin Zhenhai in the living room frowned at the noise:“You’re going to the library?”
“Yes, Uncle Lin.”
Pei Lezhi smiled obediently.“Lin Zhao’s been studying seriously lately. She said she wants to do some research in the library and asked me to go with her.”
Lin Zhenhai’s expression softened, and he nodded:“Since it’s for studying, then go ahead.”
“Got it!” Lin Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed her backpack, and dragged Pei Lezhi outside.
Pei Lezhi rubbed her red wrist, scolding her helplessly:“Miss, what on earth are you up to? You called me in such a hurry. What’s going on?”
Leaning against the wall, Lin Zhao said gravely:“The Gu family is investigating that day’s incident.”
Pei Lezhi’s smile froze. Eyes wide, she asked:“No way… There was no CCTV in the alley that day! How are they investigating?”
“Who knows.”
She paced nervously:“What should we do? Maybe we should go apologize to Gu Zhuoxiao first, say it was too dark and we didn’t see clearly.”
Gu Zhuoxiao was vindictive. He’d been beaten badly that day and could barely walk. If he caught her, Lin Zhao would be in serious trouble.
Lin Zhao’s steps stopped suddenly, and she turned to Pei Lezhi.“Apologize? No way.”
“I was the one responsible for this,” Lin Zhao said firmly, her eyes fearless.“Even if the Gu family finds out, it has nothing to do with you. You don’t need to worry.”
She had never been a good person; once she threw a punch, there was no taking it back.
Pei Lezhi froze, then panicked:“How can it have nothing to do with me? Aren’t we friends? If they find out about you… with Gu Zhuoxiao’s vindictive nature, you’ll—”
“I’ll what?” Lin Zhao arched an eyebrow, cutting her off.
Pei Lezhi couldn’t finish her sentence.
Watching Lin Zhao, she realized this girl seemed… different from before.
Then Lin Zhao suddenly burst out laughing.
Pei Lezhi frowned.“I’m talking to you seriously. Why are you laughing?”
“Nothing,” Lin Zhao said, stopping her laugh.“You just remind me of someone.”
“Who?”
“A friend of mine,” Lin Zhao replied calmly.
Pei Lezhi’s curiosity piqued. She hurried to keep up, gossiping:“You have other friends? Why have you never told me? You should introduce them! Maybe we’d get along really well.”
In Pei Lezhi’s memory, Lin Zhao only ever had her. Lin Zhao’s strong personality and family influence had kept her isolated at school.
Lin Zhao didn’t reply, walking ahead at an even pace.
The wind lifted her hair, revealing her smooth forehead.
Pei Lezhi kept chattering behind her.“Lin Zhao, answer me! Who is this friend? How did you meet?”
Lin Zhao slowed down, lost in thought.
A vague image appeared in her mind:
A girl with twin ponytails, whose eyes curved like moons when she smiled, always following Lin Zhao and sweetly calling her “ZhaoZhao.”
Her childhood best friend—the only friend she ever had.
Lin Zhao thought she had forgotten her, but now, her image was crystal clear.
“Lin Zhao?” Pei Lezhi’s voice pulled her back.
Lin Zhao stopped, not turning around.“She’s gone.”
“Ah?” Pei Lezhi froze, then realized:“I’m sorry, I didn’t know…”
“Just kidding.” Lin Zhao turned to Pei Lezhi, who looked guilty, and laughed.
Pei Lezhi exhaled in relief.“Lin Zhao! You tricked me again!”
Lin Zhao smiled silently and looked at the street, bustling with people.“Let’s go sit somewhere,” she said.
Pei Lezhi nodded, and the two wandered aimlessly. No one mentioned the earlier episode.
At an intersection, just as they were about to cross, Lin Zhao’s gaze fell on the other side of the road. Her steps froze.
Across the street stood a familiar figure.