Am I really hallucinating?

Chapter 432 Discussion and Investigation

After the performance, backstage, officers from the disciplinary bureau came and took the man, who wasn't quite dead yet, away. Gao Song, however, showed mercy, having noticed something amiss about the man, and spared his life.

After Hong Yijia asked Lin Yilin to help her get an autograph, she quickly followed up to handle it.

Meanwhile, the monastery band was meeting their benefactor, whom they had never met before, for the first time.

Doris then met Lin Yilin, the "Unit One" that Mr. Music had mentioned the most.

The atmosphere was a bit awkward, and they didn't know what to say. Lin Yilin looked at them with a blank expression, making her seem unapproachable.

"What? Are you two on your periods?" Zheng Fan turned around and made a surprising remark after taking off the metal sheet next to him.

“We don’t have menstruation,” Doris answered honestly. “But that just means we don’t experience any physical damage or impact from this physiological factor; otherwise, we have no problems.”

What are you doing? Is the subtext implying that you are still fertile?

"Seeing is believing, Miss Doris is really beautiful." Lin Yilin touched the scar on her face and then stepped forward to reach out her hand.

Doris shook hands with her, saying, "Miss Lin Yilin is very beautiful. We have received so much care from Miss Lin Yilin in Dadu so far, and we are very grateful."

She was very sincere. Without Lin Yilin and her group, who knew nothing except their childhood memories, most people would just be blindly searching everywhere.

Even Tickman couldn't possibly have settled down so quickly with so many people in an unfamiliar, gray neighborhood.

The other members of the monastery band also expressed their gratitude, knowing how much Lin Yilin had helped them.

Lin Yilin nodded and let go of his hand: "If anyone should thank someone, it should be Mr. Illusion."

The two stood facing each other, the atmosphere was a little strange, not confrontational, but not exactly harmonious either.

"You guys keep chatting, we'll just wander around Xixi Keke. I heard there's a biting toast that appears here in the middle of the night, I wonder if we'll run into it." Gao Song waved and led the others away quickly.

"Heh heh, I'll show you around this mysterious neighborhood. Besides the bite-biting toast, I'll also give each of you a new pair of shoes and a good night's sleep." Zheng Fan followed along lightly.

Suddenly, only Lin Yilin and Doris were left.

"Let's go for a walk too," Lin Yilin suggested, noticing Doris's somewhat reserved demeanor.

Doris naturally had no objections.

The performance was held in the closed community area, which happens to be the liveliest place in Xixi Keke at night. The crowd had not yet dispersed. Doris simply covered her face and the two went to a relatively quiet park in the closed community.

“If you came here a few months ago, you might have seen some shady underground transactions in this secluded place, but the recent crackdown has been going smoothly and it’s become quite rare,” Lin Yilin said.

“Miss Lin Yilin seems to know everything,” Doris couldn’t help but say. “Even though she’s in Xixi Keke, she can still give us remote guidance on Stanley Street.”

"While the gray neighborhoods may be different in their own way, the underlying logic is pretty much the same, so there's nothing to praise. Just call me by my name, there's no need to be so formal. Doris."

"Yes, Lin Yilin."

Lin Yilin asked, "You've been here for so long, how do you feel about Dadu?"

“It’s very different from what I remembered, but it’s still better than the monastery,” Doris answered truthfully. “It’s a complicated place. Although it feels terrible everywhere, many people consider it their safe haven.”

"Humans waste their energy on meaningless sentiments and seem to enjoy it immensely. I don't have a good impression of this place. What's great is the people here, not the cold city," Lin Yilin said somewhat indifferently.

“Lin Yilin has a point,” Doris said with a slight smile. “Lin Yilin is also a very great person.”

"I'm not great, in fact, I'm far inferior to you," Lin Yilin said calmly.

"I'm just playing in a band," Doris said, puzzled.

"Your music truly empowers the people of this city, and your performances inspire countless people. Those who choose to persevere after the disaster may have their lives altered as a result. This is the influence of public figures and the charm that music can bring. Compared to you, I am far inferior," Lin Yilin said frankly.

“But Lin Yilin, you are... a detective-like person, right? You’ve helped many people solve many problems. You’ve even cracked down on a lot of evil. Mr. Music even said that you are the biggest underworld boss in Xixi Keke, but you never do anything out of line. That’s already amazing.” Doris tilted her head and said.

Lin Yilin looked away. Even as a girl, she had to admit that Doris's face was striking. No wonder that guy named Mora kept staring at Doris, even during performances. Doris should be wary of the big golden retriever in the band.

"Is that how Mr. Illusion described me in your place? That's an exaggeration. He just knows a little more than I do." "Mr. Music really likes Lin Yilin," Doris said gently, looking at Lin Yilin.

"..." Lin Yilin looked at her with some surprise.

“Mr. Music said that it was the first time he had felt so strongly that he felt ‘needed,’ so he would follow you until you gave up your current persistence.”

“That’s exactly what he would say—straightforward, seemingly optimistic, but actually pessimistic.” Lin Yilin sighed. “No matter how passionate things are now, he believes that people will change eventually. Just like he never hides the fact that he might suddenly lose interest in us and choose to leave.”

"If Mr. Music were gone, I probably would cry uncontrollably and even want to end my life," Doris said, but a smile remained on her face.

"But ultimately, we don't live for Mr. Music."

“Indeed. To live as a human being is much more difficult than to die as a human being. But I exist here now because of Mr. Illusion,” Lin Yilin said frankly.

"If Mr. Illusion leaves, I will do everything in my power to bring him back."

“Okay,” Doris agreed. “Please be sure to call me for help when the time comes.”

After leaving the park, Doris went back to her hotel, and the two parted ways.

Lin Yilin walked alone on her way back to the firm, still somewhat lost in thought.

What you hear from others is bound to differ from the truth. The Doris we know from Zheng Fan is quite different from our actual experience of meeting her.

Little lamb, she can be a holy and pure leader, and she can also be a wolf in sheep's clothing.

It's really cute, but also scary.

"To live as a human being is more difficult than to die as a human being. Why is that?" A voice suddenly rang out in front of him.

Lin Yilin's pupils dilated, and she abruptly stopped in her tracks. In the blink of an eye, a white figure suddenly appeared before her.

The stark contrast between the all-white body and the grey-black eyes was quite striking. If such a person appeared around her, Lin Yilin would definitely notice them immediately, even in the dark. But the result was that Lin Yilin didn't even realize the person was right in front of her.

Who is she?
Lin Yilin quickly examined the other person from head to toe, trying to gather as much information as possible while preparing to call Mr. Illusion.

Surprisingly, there wasn't much information...

Aside from the fact that the uniform is the same as the one worn by the Bureau of Investigation, there is absolutely no information about the other person that can be deduced.

This woman seemed to have been created out of thin air.

"Who are you?" Lin Yilin asked calmly.

“My name is Shang Xia, and as you can see, I'm from the Bureau of Handling Cases. I came here from Nolan Street with Miss Doris. Of course, she might not know, or perhaps she knows but isn't sure. I'm sorry I overheard the last part of your conversation when I arrived. Anyway, I'm a little curious, Miss Lin Yilin, are you the head of a small local agency in Xixi Keke? How did you get to know Miss Doris, who lives all the way on Stanley Street? Was it because of someone you both know?”

Shang Xia flicked her long coat and asked Lin Yilin directly.

Several pieces of information flashed through Lin Yilin's mind.

An investigation into the black tree branches in Jiangwen Street.

The response from the central government.

Secret weapon.

I see……

So they've finally come? And they've already locked onto Doris. Doris probably sensed it, but she also knew she might be being watched, so she didn't bring up any particularly deep topics.

Even Doris couldn't detect her presence. This bizarre ability to hide is even more troublesome than Mr. Illusion.

Looking at Shang Xia with her innocent and curious expression, Lin Yilin immediately raised her guard to the maximum.

(End of this chapter)