Simultaneous Transmigration: From Douluo Continent to the Pinnacle

Lin Yao's calm breathing came from the other end of the phone, without any unnecessary pleasantries, as if he had already expected him to call.

Lu Ziqiao swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing twice, before he spoke with difficulty, "I...I'm sorry to Meijia." His words were broken and hesitant, filled with deep guilt, yet also tinged with a cowardly desire to escape. "I'm too ashamed to see her. I'm already in the Northeast, staying with my godfather. I'll hide for a while." As he spoke, his gaze drifted to the swirling snowflakes outside the phone booth. The snowflakes piled up on the ground in a thick layer, just like the guilt that had accumulated in his heart, so heavy that he dared not turn back.

Lin Yao remained silent for a few seconds on the other end, his tone devoid of emotion, only conveying a sense of "I knew it": "I should have thought of that. This is so typical of Lu Ziqiao." He knew Lu Ziqiao's personality all too well. When faced with thorny relationship problems, his first reaction was always to run away, like a frightened rabbit, only ever seeking safety, never considering a direct confrontation. "How long are you planning to hide?" Lin Yao pressed, a hint of helplessness in his voice.

Lu Ziqiao scratched his head, his tone vague: "I don't know, I'll tell you when I've thought it through." After saying that, he hurriedly said "Hang up" and pressed the end call button, as if talking for even a second longer would crush him under the pressure of the questioning on the other end of the line. Only his heavy breathing remained in the phone booth, mingling with the howling wind outside the window, creating an atmosphere of profound loneliness.

Meanwhile, in apartment 3601 of the Love Apartment, sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting dappled shadows on the floor. Meijia sat on the sofa, clutching a plush toy in her hand, her fingertips unconsciously stroking its soft fur. Her face was filled with conflict and unease. Ever since learning that Lin Yao and Wanyu were together, she felt a weight on her heart. She was happy for Wanyu, yet couldn't help feeling guilty about her past, vague feelings for Lin Yao, constantly feeling like she had betrayed her best friend.

Wanyu walked over with two glasses of juice, handing one to Meijia. She sat down beside her, looking at her gently. "Meijia, there's something I want to tell you." Her voice was soft, tinged with a hint of caution. Meijia looked up, her eyes full of confusion. "What is it, Wanyu?"

"Lin Yao and I are actually just pretending to be a couple," Wan Yu said slowly, her tone honest. Mei Jia's eyes widened suddenly, and she almost dropped the plush toy in her hand. Her astonishment was obvious: "Pretend...pretend?" She couldn't believe her ears. She had thought they were really in love when she saw how intimate their interactions were.

Wan Yu nodded and sighed softly, "Yes, we decided to pretend to be a couple at the last minute to help Lin Yao avoid some unnecessary trouble." She looked at the gloom gradually fading from Mei Jia's face and continued, "I know you may have had some misunderstandings before, so I've always wanted to tell you that I didn't want this to affect our relationship."

Upon hearing this, Meijia felt a weight lift from her heart, her tense shoulders relaxed, and a relieved smile appeared on her face. A slight moisture even welled up in her eyes. "So that's how it is..." she murmured, the heavy sense of guilt melting away like snow. She reached out and took Wanyu's hand, her voice sincere. "Wanyu, I'm sorry. I was overthinking things and almost misunderstood you."

Wanyu smiled and gently patted the back of her hand: "It's okay, I know you didn't mean it." The two girls smiled at each other, and the small misunderstanding from before disappeared in the honest communication.

In the past few days, Love Apartment has undergone tremendous changes.

Lu Zhanbo became a police officer, and at the same time, a new member joined the apartment: Guan Gu Shenqi, a cartoonist from Japan.

Double happiness.

At this moment, Lu Zhanbo rubbed his hands together, his eyes sweeping over everyone present, his tone excited:

"I've become a police officer! And we have a new neighbor joining us—this is double the joy, we definitely have to celebrate!"

Lin Yao leaned back on the sofa, nodded, and smiled in agreement when he heard Lu Zhanbo's suggestion:

"It's definitely time to celebrate. Zhanbo has realized his dream, and Guangu has joined our big family. We should have a good time."

Wanyu sat to the side, resting her chin on her hands, and said with a smile, "So where should we go to celebrate?"

Zhanbo's eyes lit up, and he immediately suggested, "How about going to Xiao Nan Guo? The food there is especially delicious, and I've been wanting to take everyone there to try it for a long time!" As he spoke, his eyes were full of anticipation. After all, this was a very important milestone in his life, and he hoped to share this joy with his closest people.

Everyone agreed. Although Guan Gu Shenqi had just arrived in China and was not yet familiar with his surroundings, he smiled and nodded, saying in slightly broken Chinese, "Okay, I'm looking forward to having dinner with everyone."

As evening fell, the Little South Country restaurant was brightly lit and bustling with activity. The group found a large round table by the window, which was quickly filled with a variety of delicious-looking dishes. The steaming food emitted an enticing aroma, making everyone's mouths water. Zhanbo raised his glass, his face beaming: "Come on, everyone, cheers! The first toast is to celebrate becoming a policeman; the second toast is to welcome Guan Gu into the Love Apartment family!"

"Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses, which clinked together with a crisp, pleasant sound. Guan Gu Shenqi held his glass, a shy smile on his face. "Thank you for the welcome, everyone. I'm very happy to join you." He took a small sip of his drink, his eyes filled with anticipation for the future.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Lin Yao put down his chopsticks, looked at Zhanbo, and said with seriousness and expectation in his eyes, "Zhanbo, becoming a policeman is just the beginning. The road ahead will not be easy, and you have to be prepared for a tough struggle." He paused and continued, "Your computer skills are so high, which is your advantage. Why not try to combine technology with crime-solving, use technological crime-solving techniques, and slowly become a true crime-fighting expert?"

Upon hearing this, Zhanbo's eyes lit up instantly. He nodded vigorously and said firmly, "You're right! How come I didn't think of that? I will definitely make good use of my professional knowledge and live up to everyone's expectations!" His face was full of fighting spirit, as if he could already see himself making great strides in the police force in the future.

"Well said!" Zeng Xiaoxian immediately chimed in. He patted Zhanbo on the shoulder and said sincerely, "Zhanbo, don't worry, we'll all support you! Don't worry too much about Yifei, she's all bark and no bite, she's actually doing this for your own good." As he spoke, he winked at everyone, which made them laugh.

Everyone nodded in support. Meijia picked up her chopsticks and said with a smile, "Zhanbo, you'll be a police officer from now on, so you have to protect us!" Guan Gu Shenqi added, "I believe you can definitely become an excellent police officer."

During the meal, Lin Yao and Wan Yu interacted intimately. Lin Yao would carefully serve Wan Yu her favorite dishes, and when she spoke, he would gaze at her intently, his eyes full of tenderness. Wan Yu, in turn, would glance at Lin Yao from time to time, a sweet smile on her lips. When their eyes met, she would lower her head shyly, her ears turning slightly red. A subtle affection was quietly blossoming between them, and Wan Yu's feelings for Lin Yao deepened with each interaction.

Just as everyone was chatting animatedly, a familiar figure flashed past the restaurant entrance. Hu Yifei, dressed in a smart casual outfit, stood with her arms crossed, a hint of anger in her eyes. She had been at home preparing her thesis when she overheard her downstairs neighbor saying they saw the cast of "iPartment" having dinner at Xiao Nan Guo restaurant, and no one had invited her, which annoyed her. So, she quietly went to the restaurant to see what these people were up to.

She tiptoed to the door of the private room, and just as she was about to push it open, she heard Zeng Xiaoxian's voice from inside: "Don't you guys think Yifei is too domineering? Sometimes she's really hard to stand."

Hu Yifei's face instantly darkened, her brows furrowed tightly, and her hands unconsciously clenched into fists. She took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and continued listening.

"You can't say that. Yifei is actually a very nice person, she's just too straightforward," Lin Yao's voice came through, carrying a hint of objective evaluation.

"That's true, but sometimes her temper is really hard to handle," Zeng Xiaoxian's voice rang out again, with a hint of complaint in his tone.

"Zeng Xiaoxian! You're asking for it!" Hu Yifei couldn't hold back any longer. She pushed open the door to the private room and stood angrily at the door, glaring at Zeng Xiaoxian with fierce eyes, as if she were about to breathe fire.

The room fell silent instantly, everyone's faces showing astonishment. Zeng Xiaoxian was so startled he nearly dropped his chopsticks. He stiffly turned to look at the furious Hu Yifei, forcing an awkward smile: "Yi...Yifei, what brings you here?"

Hu Yifei ignored Zeng Xiaoxian, her gaze sweeping over everyone present before finally settling on Zhanbo. When she saw Zhanbo in his police uniform, his face beaming with pride, the anger in her eyes gradually subsided. Zhanbo's heart skipped a beat, expecting Hu Yifei to object as she had before. He clenched his fists nervously, awaiting her accusation.

However, Hu Yifei did not object as he had expected. She remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Becoming a police officer is your dream. Since you have made up your mind, then do it well." Her tone was calm, revealing little emotion, but those who knew her well could sense that she was not at ease.

Zhanbo was stunned, then a look of surprise appeared on his face: "Sis, you don't object?"

Hu Yifei forced a smile, said nothing, but picked up the wine glass on the table, poured herself a full glass of wine, and drank it all in one gulp. Her brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of difficulty appeared on her face, as if she wanted to say something but swallowed it back.

Seeing Hu Yifei's unusual behavior, everyone was puzzled, but no one dared to ask any questions. Over the next few minutes, Hu Yifei drank glass after glass of wine, her face gradually flushing, and her eyes becoming somewhat unfocused; she was clearly drunk.

"Actually... it's not that I don't want to support Zhanbo..." Hu Yifei said, her tongue slightly tied, as she held her wine glass, "it's just that our family... has a history of mental illness..."

These words struck like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, leaving everyone present stunned and their faces filled with astonishment.

Hu Yifei shook her head and continued, "This illness... might affect Zhanbo's future work... What if... what if something happens and it implicates others..." Her voice carried a hint of helplessness and worry, and her eyes dimmed.

A deathly silence fell over the private room. Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to say. Zhanbo's smile vanished instantly. He stared blankly at Hu Yifei, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He had never known there was such a medical history in the family, nor had he imagined that his sister harbored such concerns.

Lin Yao sighed softly, looked at Hu Yifei, and said sincerely, "Yifei, don't overthink it. Medicine is so advanced now, and this is only a possibility, it may not happen. Zhanbo is a responsible person. Since he has chosen this path, he will definitely be able to overcome all kinds of difficulties."

Wanyu nodded and said softly, "Yes, Sister Yifei, Zhanbo is very outstanding, and we all believe in him."

Hu Yifei didn't speak, but silently drank her wine, her expression complex and hard to decipher.

The dinner ended in a slightly somber atmosphere. Back at the Love Apartment, everyone went to their rooms to rest. Lin Yao escorted Wan Yu to her room; the streetlights cast their shadows, creating a particularly warm and intimate scene.

"Thank you for today." Wan Yu looked up at Lin Yao, her eyes full of gratitude. "Also, don't forget you promised to take me sightseeing."

Lin Yao smiled, reached out and gently ruffled her hair, his tone tender: "Don't worry, I won't forget. I'll take you there when I have time in a few days."

Wan Yu's cheeks flushed, and she nodded gently, saying softly, "Then I'll go back to my room first. Goodnight."

"Good night." Lin Yao watched her walk into the room, and only after the door closed did he turn around and go back to his own room.

Back in her room, Wanyu leaned against the door, a sweet smile still on her face. She recalled Lin Yao's gentle gaze and affectionate gestures, and her heart skipped a beat. That feeling of being cared for warmed her heart, deepening her affection for Lin Yao.

The next morning, the first rays of sunlight streamed into the room through the gap in the curtains, gently falling on Wanyu's face. She slowly opened her eyes, stretched, and the intimate scene with Lin Yao from the previous night immediately flashed through her mind. Recalling the tenderness with which he ruffled her hair, and the earnestness with which he promised to take her on a trip, a sweet smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.

She sat up in bed, walked to the window, drew back the curtains, and looked out at the bright sunshine and clear blue sky, her heart filled with anticipation.

She looked forward to Lin Yao keeping his promise and taking her to experience the beautiful scenery of the city, and even more so to a further development in their relationship.