After drinking the water, the person inserted the bottle into the side pocket of their backpack, pulled up their hood to cover their head, and walked out of the frame. Even from this small gesture, Chen Feng felt it was identical to Yin Feng's usual mannerisms.
The two put down their phones.
Chen Feng asked, "Do we need to look for other surveillance footage? Or should I have Guan Jun come up directly?"
Yin Feng, however, remained silent for a moment before saying, "No need." He lifted his gaze to look out the window, his dark eyes filled with mockery and coldness.
Chen Feng's heart sank. "Teacher Yin?"
But then Yin Feng said, "That person isn't me."
Chen Feng was taken aback. "How is that possible..."
Yin Feng looked at him, his gaze colder than the night itself. "Even if I don't remember, I can still recognize myself. No one understands me better than I do. Although that person deliberately imitated my posture and many small details—so accurately it could almost pass as real—that person isn't me. Everything about them feels off, and I can sense it clearly."
Chen Feng felt a chill rising from the depths of his heart and exclaimed, "Then who could it be?"
Yin Feng appeared exceptionally calm, leaning back in his chair with a composed expression. Yet Chen Feng couldn't help but sense an indescribable loneliness and desolation about him. For some reason, this impression struck Chen Feng strongly at that moment.
Yin Feng didn't delve into the question of who that person might be. He simply said, "Voices, text messages, surveillance footage... all of it could have been fabricated to avoid drawing your attention and retaliation. Chen Feng, it's possible that not long after I went to Guizhou, I fell into the hands of that group. What caused my memory loss and cognitive impairment might not have been Gu Tiancheng's cleverly orchestrated car accident, but something else entirely. They only discarded me when I was reduced to a near-helpless, mentally incapacitated state."
—
Late at night, You Mingxu didn't need to keep a constant personal watch on Luo Yu. At the police station, she reviewed updates from her colleagues: Luo Yu had remained well-behaved under police surveillance that day. She busied herself with other cases until the city lights began to glow in the deepening winter night, then dragged her weary body out of the station.
Stepping into the night, she looked up and saw snowflakes drifting down from the sky. The New Year was just around the corner.
She suddenly remembered how, just days ago, she had thought she wouldn't be spending the holiday alone this year—she would be with You Yingjun. She had imagined how lively it would be with him and Chen Feng, with their exaggeratedly elaborate meals and tacky candlelit dinners. On New Year's Eve, two people in love would surely stay up all night together.
But now, standing alone under the fine, drifting snow, You Mingxu's face was expressionless. She reached out and caught a snowflake, watching as it melted in an instant. Staring blankly, she felt an indescribable emotion stirring in her heart.
Amid the vast, snow-filled night, her phone rang.
She stared at the name "Yin Feng" on the screen, momentarily stunned, then answered, her voice carrying a weariness she hadn't even noticed herself.
"What is it?"
"What's wrong?" he asked instead, sensing her state. "Are you tired?"
This version of Yin Feng was far more perceptive than the clueless one from before. You Mingxu collected herself and said, "Cut the nonsense. What do you want?"
The man on the other end paused briefly before replying, "Could you come to my place? I've made some important discoveries about them."The word "home" pricked You Mingxu's heart faintly. Yet her tone remained perfectly normal: "Alright, I'll be there in 20 minutes."
He said: "Good, I'll be waiting."
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