When Lin Mo returned home, the night was already deep.
Only a single warm yellow wall lamp was lit in the living room.
Chu You was curled up on the sofa, absentmindedly rubbing the bracelet that Xia Ji had given her.
Upon hearing the sound of the door opening, she immediately looked up, her eyes questioning.
Lin Mo took off his coat and hung it up, then sat down on the other side of the sofa.
He briefly recounted his meeting with Gu Qiancheng tonight, especially those seemingly casual yet blade-sharp exchanges.
As Chu You listened, her brows knit tighter and tighter, her fingers unconsciously closing in, gripping the badge on the bracelet.
“…So, according to what you said,” her voice was a little dry, “Gu Qiancheng started investigating as soon as he was on his way to Binhai, and he suspects I might not be dead, right?”
This wasn’t a question, but a statement meant for confirmation.
Those probes Gu Qiancheng made at the dinner table about her past, about fox demons having nine lives and the like—the intent was all too obvious.
Lin Mo nodded at her words, the lamplight casting a faint shadow on his well-defined side profile.
His tone remained steady, but his gaze was more grave than usual: “He tested me more than once, about you…”
Lin Mo leaned back slightly, his eyes settling on Chu You’s tense face.
“Gu Qiancheng seems especially interested in my reactions when talking about you. Besides, he must have sources of information we’re unaware of.”
He paused for a moment, then continued, “For the rest, we’ll need more time to observe.”
Listening to Lin Mo’s words, Chu You’s heart sank bit by bit.
Gu Qiancheng was not Zhao Dongyuan.
He wasn’t just formidable in strength—he was meticulous and deeply shrewd.
And because of their past dealings, he understood her far better than others.
If he was determined to investigate, just how long could she conceal her identity, hidden behind the effects of the potion?
“Then about him inviting you to Haichang tomorrow…” Chu You raised her eyes to look at Lin Mo, a trace of worry still lingering in her gaze.
“Most likely, it’s yet another test,” Lin Mo said, tone certain.
“A more closed and unfamiliar setting makes it easier for him to observe my reactions. Or… to create some unexpected incidents.”
The room fell into a brief silence, with only the faint ticking of the wall clock breaking it.
Chu You lowered her head, looking at the badge on her wrist.
The cool touch helped clear her chaotic thoughts a little.
She took a deep breath.
When she looked up again, though her eyes still held unease, there was now a hint of determination.
“The more suspicious he becomes, the less we can panic.”
Lin Mo looked at her, forcing herself to remain calm.
His gaze lingered on her face for a moment—now a strange, ordinary face, with only those eyes faintly bearing a trace of her former self.
“Mn.”
He responded softly, yet his voice carried a reassuring strength. “I know what to do.”
He stood up.
“Rest first. As for Gu Qiancheng, leave him to me.”
Chu You watched his back as he walked toward the study.
She opened her mouth, but in the end, said nothing.
She knew this game with Gu Qiancheng had only just begun.
And for both of them, one in the open, one in the shadows, they’d have to muster all their wits to deal with this uninvited guest.
….
The next morning.
Dawn had barely broken, yet Lin Mo was already up.
He didn’t have breakfast at home, just washed up briefly, changed into comfortable casual wear suitable for movement, and drove to the Fenbu.
When he stepped into the lobby on the first floor of the Fenbu, Gu Qiancheng and several members of the investigation team were already waiting.
Gu Qiancheng still wore his usual easy-going look, slouching on a sofa in the lounge, sipping what must have been his umpteenth cola.
As soon as he saw Lin Mo enter, his eyes lit up and he put down the cup, rising to greet him.
“Good morning, junior!” Gu Qiancheng’s smile was dazzling, his tone light, as if they were really going on vacation.
“Let’s get going, shall we? Tsk tsk, this senior can’t wait to have fun at the seaside!”
Lin Mo shot him a glance, then looked toward the back—
Zhao Dongyuan, Fenbu’s Security Chief, was hurrying down the stairs, nodding slightly to Lin Mo.
Lin Mo nodded back, then turned to Gu Qiancheng, his tone flat.
“Alright, let’s go.”
Without any further small talk, the group left the lobby.
Three official vehicles were already waiting at the entrance, engines humming softly.
Lin Mo, Gu Qiancheng, and Zhao Dongyuan got into the middle car, while the investigation team members and Fenbu’s escorts took the front and rear vehicles.
The convoy started up smoothly, leaving the city behind and speeding toward the well-known private Haichang on the outskirts of Binhai.
As time passed, the scenery outside the windows changed from urban scenes to the guardrails of a coastal highway and the distant blue expanse of the sea.
Before long, Lin Mo and Gu Qiancheng’s party arrived at Haichang.
They got out of the cars one after another.
The sea breeze, salty and damp, rushed against them.
In the distance, the blue sea sparkled under the sunlight.
…
Meanwhile, Chu You was at home having breakfast.
She had just picked up a piece of fried egg with her chopsticks when a slow, unhurried knocking sounded at the door.
She paused, put down her chopsticks, and raised her voice as she walked briskly toward the entryway.
“Who is it?”
She looked through the peephole—outside stood a middle-aged man in a deep blue work uniform and matching hat, holding a toolbox that looked quite heavy.
Seeing someone inside answer, the man knocked on the door again, speaking in a normal tone: “Hello, I’m from the heating company… With winter heating about to start, I’m here to check and service the water pipes.”
Hearing this, Chu You’s slight suspicion was put to rest.
A pre-heating inspection was indeed standard procedure.
With that in mind, Chu You decisively turned the doorknob and opened the door.
But the moment she did, something unexpected happened.
Instead of stepping forward, the man in the repairman uniform quickly stepped back, clearing the way.
Right after, a slender, well-defined hand reached out from the side, pressing firmly on the door frame and blocking Chu You’s instinctive attempt to close the door.
In the next instant, a face wearing a warm smile appeared from beside the door, wavy wine-red hair especially striking in the corridor light.
Gu Qiancheng looked at Chu You, whose eyes had widened in shock, and said cheerfully, as if greeting an old friend, “Good morning… You must be Chu You, right?”
His gaze swiftly and carefully swept over Chu You’s now-plain features, his smile unwavering.
“Let me introduce myself, I’m Lin Mo’s colleague, surname Gu.”
He maintained his impeccable smile, but his tone left no room for refusal.
“Forgive me for dropping by unannounced, but I have a few questions for you. Would you mind?”
In the entryway, Chu You’s expression barely changed, but the slight tremor in her pupils betrayed her true emotions.
Gu Qiancheng…
Didn’t he invite Lin Mo to Haichang?
How could he be here?!
Quickly, Chu You pieced things together, looking at Gu Qiancheng now with added vigilance.
Among the investigation team that came to Binhai with Gu Qiancheng, there must be someone whose Oracle could alter their appearance and build.
What a perfect feint—what a clever sleight of hand!
“Mm, Miss Chu?”
Seeing Chu You remain silent, Gu Qiancheng rapped his knuckles on the door and smiled.
“Is there some inconvenience?”
At his words, the tremor in Chu You’s pupils ceased instantly.
She took a deep breath, and when she looked up at Gu Qiancheng again, she had already regained her usual calm.
Not only did she not try to close the door, but unexpectedly took a gentle half-step back, actively giving way.
“It’s not inconvenient…” Her voice carried just the right note of polite puzzlement.
“Just a little surprised… Please, come in.”
Chu You stepped aside in the entryway, her now-ordinary face wearing only a courteous, faint smile as she lowered her head in a gesture of invitation.
“Welcome, Mr. Gu.”
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