Chapter 1 The Sound

Donghai City Public Security Bureau, central control room. Lin Xian sat at his desk, flipping the psychological consultation notebook to the next page.

He didn't look too closely, nor did he really care what was written inside.

At this point, it didn't matter what it said.

In truth, it didn't contain anything truly important to begin with.

When he went to see the psychologist with Gao Yang, he was already prepared. He didn't tell the psychologist anything about his dreams, nor did he mention anything about the Genius Club or the future world.

Besides, now that Zhou Duanyun and Ji Lin were dead, all the members of the Seven Deadly Sins were gone except for Hollywood actress Angelica.

The notebook had returned to his hands, and there was nothing to worry about.

Except...

Clearly, everything had been resolved.

The enemies were all dead.

The plan was executed perfectly.

Why did he feel a sense of loss, and why was he unhappy?

Lin Xian couldn't understand.

Creak—

The door to the central control room opened, and Officer Liu walked in, looking at Lin Xian.

"Lin Xian, we've investigated everything. Zhou Duanyun had already returned to the country a while ago. But he was very cunning and didn't use his real identity... He had several complete sets of ID documents. This time, he used a set under the alias Chen Le when he returned, which is why we didn't find his entry information."

"I have to say... Lin Xian, your plan was truly brilliant."

Officer Liu clicked his tongue, amazed.

"At first, I didn't understand why you wanted us to remove Zhou Duanyun's criminal information from the reports. Now, I completely understand—"

"You deliberately provoked conflict between the two of them, using Ji Lin to draw out Zhou Duanyun!"

"Now, besides the two of them, Ji Xinshui has been sentenced to death, and all the other criminal members are dead. Ji Lin and Zhou Duanyun are the only two who were released without charge and whose crimes weren't pursued."

"But both of them knew very well that they held each other's criminal evidence and could reveal this information to the police at any time. Whether Ji Lin reported Zhou Duanyun or Zhou Duanyun reported Ji Lin... They were originally in the same boat, but now they were both holding onto each other's weaknesses."

"And Zhou Duanyun's situation was clearly more unfavorable. His mother is in the country. After Ji Lin was released without charge, it's hard to guarantee that he wouldn't use some means against his mother... Or perhaps Ji Lin held some secret that Zhou Duanyun had to kill him for. In any case, Ji Lin, this bait, did lure Zhou Duanyun in."

"It's just a pity... Ji Lin's investigation and counter-investigation abilities were very strong, so in order not to let him discover our plan, we didn't send anyone to track him nearby, maintaining a very long security perimeter. So we waited until the electronic anklet sent a death alarm before we moved out from afar, but that was unavoidable... There's also good news. From Zhou Duanyun's phone, we did find a lot of criminal evidence, not just related to Zhou Duanyun, but also to Ji Lin."

After Officer Liu finished speaking, he gave Lin Xian a thumbs up.

"Lin Xian, you really are a genius!"

Clap.

Lin Xian closed the notebook on the desk without a word.

What Officer Liu said...

Only guessed a part of it, but not all of it.

The police all thought that he deliberately let Ji Lin go in order to lure out Zhou Duanyun.

But that wasn't the case.

In Lin Xian's original plan, Zhou Duanyun, Ji Xinshui, and Ji Lin all had to pay the price for their crimes.

A life for a life.

That day, in Ji Lin's interrogation room.

With no evidence proving that Ji Lin was involved in the murders... Lin Xian asked him twice:

"Were you involved in the deaths of Xu Yun and Tang Xin?"

Lin Xian only asked about Xu Yun and Tang Xin, without asking about Academician Lyon, Dr. Ponsmaic, or even... without asking about their plan to kill him.

If Ji Lin still insisted he wasn't involved the second time,

Perhaps Lin Xian would hesitate about whether to continue with this cruel plan.

But.

There were no ifs.

Faced with Lin Xian's second question, Ji Lin was silent.

At that time.

Silence was affirmation.

Ji Lin used silence to admit to Lin Xian that he participated in the murders of Xu Yun and Tang Xin.

Then.

From that moment on.

There was no need to consider anything else.

Their positions were destined not to stand together.

One crouched in the dark, the other stood in the light.

Lin Xian couldn't possibly sympathize with or forgive a murderer.

That would be unfair to the dead.

Even if it was Ji Lin.

Even if... Lin Xian truly, for a moment, for an instant, hoped that Ji Lin really hadn't participated in these two murders.

Even if that moment was fleeting.

In short.

The deaths of Ji Lin and Zhou Duanyun, although somewhat unexpected to Lin Xian, were generally within the plan.

It was just a matter of who died first, who died last, whether they were killed by the other, or sentenced to death by law.

Except...

The only thing Lin Xian couldn't understand was...

This plan was too smooth, and it was realized too quickly.

He didn't know why Ji Lin or Zhou Duanyun were in such a hurry to resolve this matter.

And, as if it were intentional, they gathered at the psychologist's villa.

During this period.

What exactly happened?

Presumably, it would never be clear.

Dead men tell no tales, and both of them were now unable to speak.

Officer Liu blinked.

He walked over.

Looking at Lin Xian, who was deep in thought.

"Lin Xian, what's wrong? Why do you look so down?"

Lin Xian raised his head and shook it.

"Maybe... I'm just too tired from this."

Officer Liu patted Lin Xian on the shoulder very seriously.

"Your complexion really isn't good. You weren't like this last night... Perhaps you were stimulated by seeing the bloody scenes? You should go home and rest."

Lin Xian nodded, took the brown notebook, left the Donghai City Public Security Bureau, and took a taxi to MX Company.

He didn't go home.

Because the company's receptionist had just sent him a message saying that a lawyer from the United States was looking for him.

A lawyer from the United States?

What

matter?

Lin Xian went to his office on the 20th floor, sat down, and then asked the receptionist to bring the American lawyer waiting in the VIP room to his office for a meeting.

"Hello, Mr. Lin."

When the lawyer came in, he had a pure Dragon Kingdom face. He was either a Chinese American or a Dragon Kingdom person working in the United States.

He shook hands with Lin Xian while introducing himself.

"My name is Wang. I have a private law firm in the United States that specializes in serving successful people. I'm here to see you today... as Mr. Ji Lin's lawyer."

"What is it?"

Lin Xian was listless and replied perfunctorily.

"You want to sue me?"

"No, no, no... You misunderstand."

Lawyer Wang quickly explained.

"The day before yesterday, Mr. Ji Lin called me and said he wanted to make a will. He said that if he died for any reason, all his assets would be inherited by you."

"What?"

Lin Xian felt like he had misheard.

He raised his head from the chair.

": Ji Lin wants to give me his inheritance?"

He laughed, feeling it was absurd.

"Why give it to me? Do you know what crimes he committed? Do you know what his legal status is now?"

Lawyer Wang smiled.

"Mr. Lin, please let me explain first."

"I'm very clear about Mr. Ji Lin's situation, but these assets are all Mr. Ji Lin's legal income, not illegal income. Even if Mr. Ji Lin is convicted of murder, these properties are still protected by law... Moreover, most of Mr. Ji Lin's assets are in the United States, and this method of handling the will complies with relevant laws."

"Mr. Ji Lin's asset distribution is quite complicated, including real estate, copyrights, stocks and bonds, film and television dividends, etc... These assets are all in the United States, and cross-border processing would be very troublesome, so I hope Mr. Lin can come to the United States when you have time. It would be simpler for us to handle it in the United States."

"Then... as for cash deposits, this envelope contains a Citibank check for $12 million and a note written to you by Ji Lin. I personally suggest that you spend this $12 million in the United States... It would be very, very troublesome to transfer it to China—"

"Stop." Lin Xian reached out to stop Lawyer Wang's rant and looked at him impatiently.

"Lawyer Wang, am I not being clear enough? You can do whatever you want with Ji Lin's assets, donate them or whatever. It has nothing to do with me. I don't want his money, and I don't lack that bit of money."

"Mr. Lin."

Lawyer Wang said patiently.

"Don't get excited, Mr. Lin. I know it may be difficult for you to accept it for a while, but Mr. Ji Lin has designated all his inheritance to you... which means you must be very good friends, and you should accept his kindness."

"Friends?"

Lin Xian leaned back in his office chair, smiling wearily.

"Sorry, I never considered Ji Lin to be my friend."

His tone became heavier.

"Not even for a moment."

Lawyer Wang was stunned.

After a few moments of silence, he placed the white envelope he was holding on Lin Xian's desk, and also left his business card on top.

"Mr. Lin, please consider it again. Although a cash check for $12 million may not be a lot of money to you, it is also Mr. Ji Lin's good intentions. What's more... those copyright revenues, dividends, and stocks are worth hundreds of millions of dollars..."

"In short, this is my business card. When you have time, I am available to meet with you in person at any time."

With that, Lawyer Wang bowed slightly and left Lin Xian's office.

Lin Xian rubbed his forehead.

He had a headache.

He was really a little irritable today.

He casually picked up Lawyer Wang's business card and threw it in the trash can.

Then he picked up the white envelope and took out the contents...

The first thing he saw was a Citibank check for $12 million.

And below the check, there was a handwritten note.

Lin Xian picked up the note and saw Ji Lin's handwriting—

I owe you a life, and now I'm returning it to you.

"This..."

He pinched the note between his thumb and forefinger, his fingertips gradually turning white.

This was a suicide note.

Ji Lin knew he was going to die!

But the question was, how did he know he was going to die?

How did he know that Zhou Duanyun would definitely kill him, and not that he was going to kill Zhou Duanyun?

I owe you a life.

Now I'm returning it to you.

Lin Xian read the delicate, almost girlish handwriting again...

Suddenly.

He understood.

Thump.

His left hand, which was pinching the note, fell weakly on the table.

His eyes stared straight ahead.

Looking at the office door that the lawyer had just closed when he left.

Perhaps...

It was because he had successfully deceived Ji Xinshui that Lin Xian had become somewhat "arrogant."

Ji Lin.

What a smart genius he was.

Even Officer Liu could half-guess his plan... let alone Ji Lin?

As smart as Ji Lin.

He probably guessed his plan when he saw that Zhou Duanyun's name was not on the police's external announcements.

No wonder...

No wonder Zhou Duanyun took the bait so quickly.

Looking at it now.

It was likely that Ji Lin deliberately led him to take the bait!

And the bait that Ji Lin used to lure Zhou Duanyun was not only the criminal evidence he had about Zhou Duanyun, but also the psychological consultation notebook about him!

This was a plan that killed two birds with one stone...

It could both help him lure Zhou Duanyun to take the bait.

And remind himself to take back the psychologist's consultation notebook.

"It seems that Ji Lin did it on purpose, deliberately falling into my trap."

Lin Xian had a strange sense of unease.

Just now at the Public Security Bureau, he wondered why this plan was so smooth and so efficient.

It turned out...

Ji Lin was deliberately cooperating with him.

Ji Lin said he owed him a life, probably referring to the fact that he had planned to kill him.

And what he returned to him... was his own life, using this life to help him lure out Zhou Duanyun.

This was also a gamble for Ji Lin.

He certainly wasn't sure that Zhou Duanyun would definitely kill him, but there was such a possibility, so he took precautions and made a will in advance.

This was in line with Ji Lin's style.

He was always like this, planning everything tightly, considering all situations.

Perhaps, according to his original intention, he could have handed Zhou Duanyun over to him cleanly.

It's just a pity...

This time, although Ji Lin won the bet, he won somewhat embarrassingly, drawing the worst possible outcome, being shot and killed by Zhou Duanyun.

"Sigh..."

Lin Xian sighed inexplicably.

It wasn't for Ji Lin.

He just felt all the things that had happened during this period.

The death of Xu Yun, the death of Tang Xin, the cat-and-mouse game, the death of Zheng Chenhe, the deaths of Ji Lin and Zhou Duanyun.

So many lives lost, so many fresh lives, finally, all the dried-up blood merged together to form...

Only a dark red invitation card...

Lin Xian's hand touched the back of the note, where there was more writing.

He picked up the note again.

Turned it over.

In the lower left corner, there were three equally delicate, but deeply engraved characters—

Sorry

……

……

……

Chi!

New Donghai City, entry checkpoint, beside the garbage truck.

Lin Xian raised his knife and dropped it, skillfully slitting the male inspector's throat and draining his blood.

He was very skilled now.

Not only could he ensure a fatal strike, but he could also precisely control the direction of the blood spray, so that not a single drop of blood would fall on the inspector's uniform, ensuring that it would be comfortable to wear later, not sticky at all.

Today, at the office, Lin Xian was really too sleepy.

He didn't even bother to go home.

He directly locked the office door, went to the rest room, and fell asleep.

Entering the dream, like a robot following a script, he numbly found CC, joined the Face Gang, sneaked into the junkyard through a human ladder, hid in the garbage truck, cracked the password door, and came to the checkpoint with CC to ambush and assassinate the male and female inspectors.

He couldn't even remember how he got here along the way.

Just

like that, he arrived here.

Even when he smeared the knife on the male inspector's neck just now, he completed it as a conditioned reflex.

Like a machine.

A machine without emotion.

Thump.

When the blood was drained and no longer gushing out, Lin Xian threw the male inspector's body on the ground and began to strip off his uniform.

At this moment, he noticed a different gaze.

He raised his head.

And found CC was stunned in place, motionless, looking at him.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Xian looked at her.

CC just stared at him quietly, her eyes seeming to dodge, but finally, she pursed her lips and said softly.

"In the small woods behind Li Cheng's house this afternoon, you told me you weren't VV."

"Of course, I'm not." Lin Xian replied casually, "Didn't you say yourself that I couldn't be VV?"

"But..."

CC looked at Lin Xian.

"The current you is really like VV."

Hehe.

Lin Xian couldn't help but laugh.

He threw away the dagger in his hand and turned to look at CC.

"I know what you want to say. You said before that VV is very cold-blooded, very ruthless, and very cruel."

"So... you think I was very cold-blooded and ruthless when I killed just now, so you said I was like VV—"

"No." CC shook her head, interrupting Lin Xian.

"It's not because of that, it's because of the expression on your face, the feeling you give people..."

"The same sadness..."

Lin Xian looked at CC in confusion.

He turned to look at the window of the garbage truck next to him, and in the glass, his reflection slowly turned around to look at him—

It was a...

Familiar face,

Unfamiliar face,

Sad face.