{"id":14861,"date":"2021-06-14T12:00:22","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T16:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/?p=14861"},"modified":"2021-08-30T12:05:37","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T16:05:37","slug":"death-progress-bar-115","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/death-progress-bar-115\/","title":{"rendered":"Death Progress Bar 115"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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After waking up the next afternoon, Shi Jin was rounded up by Gua Two and forced to get on a ship. Tarantula\u2019s cargo ships would be leaving the port in the wee hours of the morning and Gua Two wanted to watch the fun\u2026 no, no, to <\/span>keep an eye<\/span><\/em> on the situation. As punishment for staying up late, Shi Jin was sent to be his minion.<\/span><\/p>

Dressed as cargo workers, the two sat on the deck of a reconnaissance vessel disguised as a cargo ship, anchored not far from the shipping route, and chatted while waiting for news from Tarantula.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cToday\u2019s task is relatively simple. The situation can develop in two ways: first, Snake Fang attacks Tarantula\u2019s ships. In this case, we\u2019ll follow behind and watch the excitement, rescuing Tarantula\u2019s members if there\u2019s a need and helping Tarantula beat Snake Fang. Second, Snake Fang doesn\u2019t attack Tarantula\u2019s ships. If this happens, we\u2019ll wander around looking for Snake Fang\u2019s ship to ambush. Understand?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin nodded solemnly. \u201cYes\u2014in short, whatever we do, we\u2019re going to thump Snake Fang.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou show promise, young man, you\u2019re worthy <\/span>of my teachings,\u201d Gua Two acknowledged sagely, stroking a non-existent beard. \u201cHere, I shall reward you with a candy.\u201d He took out motion sickness medicine and passed it to Shi Jin.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin took it, speechless. \u201cDon\u2019t you think it\u2019s a little late for this?\u201d he asked, shaking the box at Gua Two. \u201cIn general, motion sickness medicine should be taken <\/span>before<\/span><\/em> traveling.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201c<\/span>Tsk<\/span><\/em>, spoilsport. Not like you got seasick anyway,\u201d Gua Two said with mock exasperation. He moved his camping stool closer and squeezed Shi Jin\u2019s shoulder. \u201cOkay, now be honest: what\u2019s the matter with you? These past few days, you\u2019ve been so unlike yourself that I almost invited a Taoist priest to see if you\u2019ve been possessed by evil spirits.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin eyed him. \u201cDo you really want to know?\u201d he asked mysteriously.<\/span><\/p>

Gua Two nodded eagerly.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou guessed it\u2014I really am possessed,\u201d Shi Jin confessed, his big, guileless eyes radiating sincerity. \u201cActually, there are someone else\u2019s memories in my head, and that person deeply hates Rong Zhouzhong. I was affected by these memories and it caused me to be out of sorts for a while. Ah, why is my life so hard\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Gua Two looked as if he was forced to eat shit, and let go of Shi Jin with disgust. \u201cDude, pull the other one. You aren\u2019t seriously telling me you have multiple personality disorder.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin gave it serious <\/span>thought. \u201cYou know, that actually isn\u2019t out of the realm of possibility\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Gua Two hurriedly took out a lollipop from his pocket and stuffed it in Shi Jin\u2019s mouth. \u201cPooh<\/em>, pooh<\/em>, pooh<\/em>, don\u2019t be silly! Children shouldn\u2019t talk nonsense. Be careful that I don\u2019t send you to Uncle Long for electrotherapy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI\u2019m serious, it really isn\u2019t impossible,\u201d Shi Jin muttered, slightly unintelligibly due to the lollipop in his mouth. He turned to watch the sea, deceptively tranquil and beautiful under the dimly lit night sky. A thought crossing his mind, he asked Xiao Si, \u201cJust now, Gua Two reminded me\u2014maybe I really have multiple personality disorder? Perhaps, the one that I call the \u2018original Shi Jin\u2019 is in fact me. What he suffered was so traumatic he couldn\u2019t bear it, so he created a strong and bold subpersonality, me. Perhaps I\u2019m just someone mentally ill who thinks he\u2019s a normal person that has been reborn, and you and the progress bars are nothing but my hallucinations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Hearing his hypothesis, Xiao Si nearly broke down. < No! > it denied vehemently. < No, JinJin, you\u2019re not mentally ill, your mind is completely healthy! Multiple personality disorder won\u2019t make you suddenly change from a spoiled young master to a trained policeman. And I, I really exist, I\u2019m not a hallucination. ><\/span><\/p>

\u201cHmm, you have a point. I do know a lot more and have more skills than the original \u2018Shi Jin.\u2019 And \u2018he\u2019 hates eating cucumbers, but I don\u2019t, though I don\u2019t exactly like them very much.\u201d Shi Jin sank in thought for a while, then nodded. \u201cYeah, mental illness as an explanation doesn\u2019t quite add up. Well, it was just a theory I thought of just now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Xiao Si breathed a sigh of relief and fell silent again.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou know, I wondered why you were so quiet recently or pretended not to be here. What you\u2019re trying to do is to let me get used to life without you as soon as possible so I won\u2019t be sad when you really leave one day, right?\u201d Shi Jin asked abruptly.<\/span><\/p>

Startled, Xiao Si let out a frightened duck-like squawk.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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If you’re seeing this notice, you’re reading this chapter on pirate site – the original translator of Death Progress Bar is Betwixted Translations.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cThis reaction\u2026 I knew it! You jerk, you really planned to <\/span>cut and run,\u201d The lollipop crunched as Shi Jin bit down on it hard, crushing it. Darkly, he continued, \u201c<\/span>\u2018<\/span><\/i>Leniency to those who confess, harsher punishment to those who resist\u2019<\/span><\/em>\u2014if you refuse to tell me the truth, I\u2019ll tell on you to your Darling!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

< N-no! I didn\u2019t plan to run! I\u2019m innocent! > Xiao Si rebutted at the top of its metaphorical lungs, its demeanor practically screaming \u201cguilty conscience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin pulled out his phone and began scrolling through his contact list for Lian Jun\u2019s number.<\/span><\/p>

Xiao Si was so scared it choked. It was only when Shi Jin\u2019s finger was about to touch the dial button that it overcame fright and bawled, < I, I don\u2019t want to leave you, either! I haven\u2019t seen you making monkeys with Darling yet, how can I be willing to leave! <\/span>Wah wah waaaaaaah<\/span><\/em>\u2026 ><\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>

< Every time you lock me in the small black room, <\/span>waaaaaah<\/span><\/em>\u2026 <\/span><\/i>><\/span><\/p>

A throbbing vein popped out on Shi Jin\u2019s forehead. \u201cOh, so <\/span>this<\/em> <\/span>is why you don\u2019t want to leave? Okay, never mind, you can go! Goodbye, so long, bon voyage!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

< No! JinJin, I don\u2019t <\/span>waaaaah\u2026 Boohoo, wah wah waaaaaaah<\/span><\/em>\u2026 > Xiao Si dissolved in violent sobs, crying to the point of hiccups.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin listened, stony-faced, but the expression in his eyes softened. He supported his chin on his hand, closing his eyes to better enjoy the sea breeze with the accompaniment of the system\u2019s wailing. Only after the sobs began to weaken, he continued, \u201cYou really are the most cute when you\u2019re noisy. Anyway, let me guess: you will leave when the progress bars are eliminated, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

The only reply he got was sniffles.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThis seems to be another one of the questions you can\u2019t answer, but it\u2019s okay. No matter what, if you don\u2019t want to leave, no one can make you leave. In the worst case, I\u2019ll just live with the progress bar for the rest of my life, no big deal!\u201d Shi Jin comforted, putting on the demeanor of a powerful big boss.<\/span><\/p>

< N-no, <\/span>hiccup<\/span><\/em>, you can\u2019t. > Xiao Si\u2019s words were interrupted by hiccups, but it pressed on with seldom showed persistence, < They have to be eliminated as soon as possible, Darling\u2019s and yours. If the progress bars don\u2019t disappear, you may be <\/span>dragged\u00a0back into the darkness one day. You\u2019re both my beloved darlings, I don\u2019t want this to happen. ><\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin was taken aback\u2014he hadn\u2019t expected the bars to hold such hidden danger. Glancing at Lian Jun\u2019s progress bar in his mind, which had been slowly but steadily declining, he said, \u201cI need to eliminate Lian Jun\u2019s progress bar, but mine should be fine since it\u2019s already so low. I mean, didn\u2019t you say I don\u2019t need to be <\/span>anxious to get\u00a0rid of it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

< That\u2019s not the same\u2026 JinJin, there\u2019s no guarantee you\u2019ll be fine. Have you forgotten about your abnormality these past few days? > Xiao Si countered.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin frowned. \u201cOf course I haven\u2019t, but I actually let this happen on purpose\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>

< No, JinJin, > Xiao Si interrupted him, voice serious. < The resonance between mind and memory is not something you can make happen at will. The last part of the progress bar was unlocked. As long as those <\/span>dark\u00a0emotions lay buried inside of you, they remain a time bomb that will be set off by the right stimuli. Unless you clear them up, they might swallow you at any time and you will never be able to escape them. They\u2019re bona fide lethal factor\u2014they may really kill you. ><\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin suppressed a shiver. Remembering the out-of-control deluge of emotions in the cinema room, as if the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 memories had taken over his soul, he couldn\u2019t refute Xiao Si\u2019s words.<\/span><\/p>

During the military training, his progress bar suddenly dropped 20 points. After racking his brains, he finally figured out it must\u2019ve had something to do with Xiang Aoting and the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 memories.<\/span><\/p>

To verify this conjecture, when he encountered Rong Zhouzhong this time and felt the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 memory stirring, he decided to take a gamble. With barely any hesitation, he chose to let himself be overwhelmed by \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 memories, forming a kind of empathic resonance, and experiment to see if the progress bar going down was really related to the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 <\/span>feelings about\u00a0his brothers.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations<\/a>. Read on the original translator’s site to get the fastest updates!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The experiment could be considered successful\u2014not only did he verify his guess, but also lowered his progress bar\u2014but it turned out to be much harder on him than he expected. The original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 memories and emotions had taken control over his mind to a degree greatly exceeding his estimate; he truly wasn\u2019t sure that if a similar situation occurred in the future, he would be able to break free from them in time or, in fact, at all.<\/span><\/p>

He could not deny it\u2014those memories really could kill him.<\/span><\/p>

He had also speculated why the resonance was so deep. Was it because he had the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 memories sitting in his mind for too long and came to know it too well? Or maybe \u2018his\u2019 obsession had been carved into \u2018his\u2019 body? He even wondered if \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 soul was still sleeping inside this body, trying to take advantage of the opportunity to seize back control. However, Xiao Si said that the resonance between mind and memory was not something that could happen at will.<\/span><\/p>

If he interpreted this statement correctly, it wasn\u2019t that he could choose some random memory stuffed in his head and let it control him\u2014it was because the memory was \u201cspecial\u201d that the total immersion he experienced could happen.<\/span><\/p>

Not for the first time, Shi Jin wished that he really was a fool, because a fool wouldn\u2019t <\/span>think about too many things. Alas, reality refused to bend to his will.<\/span><\/p>

All of a sudden, he remembered the moment when his progress bar dropped last time. It was during the military training when Xiang Aoting and he were bringing water for the rest of the squad. As they walked side by side, with the bright sun overhead and lively cadets all around, he was suddenly overcome with a feeling that his life was finally getting on the right track. At that moment, even the sweat pouring from him had a smell of hope and every breath he took was a symbol of rebirth.<\/span><\/p>

It felt as if a brand-new future was in front of him, within his reach. It was then that all of a sudden, the progress bar dropped, and that very night, he dreamed of those memories from the perspective of the original \u2018Shi Jin,\u2019 and was gradually affected by the feelings in them. After examining the order of events, it was clear that the progress bar dropping was the prerequisite for the special memories to appear, rather than the other way around.<\/span><\/p>

Just now, Xiao Si said that the last part of the progress bar was unlocked. \u201cUnlocked,\u201d what a peculiar choice of words. This made it sound as if the last part had been locked until one day, the progress bar judged the conditions had been fulfilled so the lock disappeared, giving him access to whatever had been hidden.<\/span><\/p>

Remembering the time when the progress bar dropped and his mental state at that moment, he was almost certain that the unlocking condition was him reaching a certain kind of illuminating realization, and what was behind the lock were the special memories that could affect him.<\/span><\/p>

To sum it up: when the progress bar determined that its host had embarked on a completely different path than the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019 and judged his heart to be strong enough, it opened the hidden gate, forcing him to face the final, most difficult crisis which actually originated in his own soul.<\/span><\/p>

This was \u201csaving yourself\u201d in the most literal sense.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIn other words, the source of all my current troubles is the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 memories\u2014the memories you stuffed into my head in the first place,\u201d he said in his mind. Earnestly, he continued, \u201cXiao Si, can you take them back?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

With Shi Jin asking this after being silent for a long time, Xiao Si realized he must\u2019ve guessed something. < No\u2026 it\u2019s impossible, > it whispered haltingly.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWhy is it impossible?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Again, his only reply was silence.<\/span><\/p>

But Shi Jin had already learned how to glean information from the system\u2019s silences. Calmly, he asked, \u201cXiao Si, who am I?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Xiao Si still kept silent, but Shi Jin could feel its panic and helplessness.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe same face, the same mole, the same name, memories that can\u2019t be taken back and make me go out of control\u2026 What\u2019s more, the progress bar is forcing me to relive them in order to save myself\u2026\u201d As Shi Jin recounted all the problematic issues, but rather than following with the logical conclusion they led to, he asked instead, \u201cIs the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019 another me in a parallel world?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

< JinJin\u2026 > Xiao Si finally whispered, its voice weak with worry and anxiety. < Don\u2019t think about it. You are JinJin, just JinJin. ><\/span><\/p>

\u201cAre you getting some ridiculous notions in your head again? Don\u2019t be afraid, I\u2019m completely calm right now.\u201d Shi Jin gathered his thoughts and looked at the calm sea surface. \u201cMy father\u2019s name is Shi Lei and my mother\u2019s Lan Xiao. They were already quite old when they adopted me. I was their only child. They were proud of me when I graduated from a police academy and continued to work as a policeman. Their lives reached their end without illness or pain. I wore the police uniform to their funerals. They were good, wonderful people, and my biggest regret is that I wasn\u2019t able to find my other half before they died.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

That was his last life, short but blessed, enough to support him through all the difficulties. Moreover, he had Lian Jun by his side, so no matter what the truth was, he would go on living the life he had now\u2014filled with happiness, sunny and without hatred.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cForget it, it\u2019s meaningless to pursue this matter now. What\u2019s important is to find a way to get rid of this emotional resonance. You know, I like playing games with a third-person view better\u2014FPSes make me dizzy!\u201d Concluding the conversation in his head, he spat out the lollipop stick, sat up straight, and glanced back to see what Gua Two was doing.<\/span><\/p>

Gua Two had his back turned to him and was talking on the phone in a stage whisper, voice panicky: \u201cI\u2019m serious! There\u2019s something wrong with Shi Jin. His expression is changing all the time as if he\u2019s talking to someone, but I\u2019m the only one here! Uncle Long, could he really have some mental disorder? Will he go psycho if I interrupt him right now?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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At two o\u2019clock in the morning, the Tarantula\u2019s three cargo ships set off from the harbor and headed for Formosa. About half an hour into the voyage, more than a dozen speedy, maneuverable trawlers suddenly approached the cargo ships, surrounding them.<\/span><\/p>

Once Tarantula notified them of the attack, Gua Two immediately sprang into action.<\/span><\/p>

Ten minutes later, the four Annihilation\u2019s vessels stealthily approached the attack site, stopped behind Snake Fang\u2019s lines, and launched a surprise attack.<\/span><\/p>

Snake Fang and Tarantula clashed in the center of the battlefield, the sound of gunfire and artillery barrage filling the air. Shi Jin stayed by Gua Two\u2019s side, happily sniping at the enemies with a little help from Xiao Si\u2019s buffs.<\/span><\/p>

Seeing him fire one shot after another, without pausing or taking aim properly, Gua Two said with a painful wince, \u201cYou\u2019re not shooting blind, are you? Shooting from a moving ship is difficult, but you\u2019re taking barely a few seconds to aim. Are you sure you aren\u2019t hitting friendlies? Dude, you <\/span>do<\/span><\/i> know how to identify targets, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin stiffened. \u201cMy marksmanship is excellent, don\u2019t worry,\u201d he replied slightly sheepishly.<\/span><\/p>

\u201c\u2018Don\u2019t worry,\u2019 my ass!\u201d Exasperated, Gua Two slapped Shi Jin on the head. \u201cRestrain yourself a little, will you? If you accidentally shoot our allies, your ass will be toast and I won\u2019t be able to protect you\u2014Lu Shan is no less protective of her people than Jun-shao!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin docilely accepted the rebuke, even while the gun in his hands spat out another bullet. It unerringly hit a Snake Fang member who was about to stealthily throw a Molotov cocktail on the board of Tarantula\u2019s cargo ship.<\/span><\/p>

Gua Two hurriedly raised the binoculars to check Shi Jin\u2019s target, breathing with relief when it turned out to have been a Snake Fang\u2019s ship. He looked at Shi Jin\u2019s focused expression and hesitated for a moment, but in the end, chose to trust the younger man rather than force him to put the gun down.<\/span><\/p>

After more than half an hour\u2019s struggle, Snake Fang decided they were unlikely to win and tried to withdraw. However, Tarantula\u2019s members were determined not to let them go and redoubled their efforts, successfully stopping their retreat.<\/span><\/p>

Seeing this, Gua Two immediately ordered the Annihilation\u2019s ships to stop attacking and pull back to the edge of the battlefield.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWe\u2019re not going to thrash Snake Fang more?\u201d Shi Jin asked, disappointed.<\/span><\/p>

Gua Two shook his head. \u201cNo. Tarantula\u2019s follow-up forces are coming\u2014Snake Fang no longer has any chance to run away. The show here is over, the next part will take place on Formosa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin nodded to show he understood and reluctantly put his gun down.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations<\/a>. Read on the original translator’s site to get the fastest updates!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Just as Lian Jun predicted, Snake Fang\u2019s intended robbery of Tarantula\u2019s goods was just a cover. Their real purpose was to attract Tarantula\u2019s forces and tie them down at sea, then launch a surprise attack on Tarantula\u2019s bases on Formosa.<\/span><\/p>

In the early hours of the morning, shortly after Gua Two\u2019s retreat and the arrival of massive Tarantula\u2019s reinforcements at the site of the naval skirmish, several of Tarantula\u2019s strongholds and warehouses on the other side of Formosa were attacked by Snake Fang. Fortunately, Lu Shan had long been prepared and, aided by Gua Three and Gua Five, successfully resisted the attack. By a stroke of luck, Tarantula even captured Xi Fan, Snake Fang\u2019s deputy leader, who was commanding the attack in person.<\/span><\/p>

This made Lu Shan very happy. The moment the battle ended, not even waiting for the sun to rise, she called Zhang Zhuoyuan to kick up a fuss about her miserable situation because of Snake Fang\u2019s attack and Xi Fang\u2019s attempt to kill her, and requested an explanation for \u201cSnake Fang\u2019s viciously targeting the life of the organization\u2019s leader.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Zhang Zhuoyuan didn\u2019t expect Snake Fang to be so bold as to target not only Tarantula\u2019s goods but also their most indispensable bases on Formosa and even Lu Shan\u2019s life. When Lu Shan demanded an explanation from him, quoting the very document he issued to use against Tarantula not too long ago, he almost passed out from fury and started silently cursing at Snake Fang.<\/span><\/p>

Idiots! Fucking idiots! Not only stupid but also useless! Being greedy is one thing, recklessly targeting Tarantula\u2019s lifeline is quite another! And if it wasn\u2019t enough, you were so damn incompetent while at it that Lu Shan has completely become the side that\u2019s in the right!<\/span><\/em><\/p>

The deputy leader was captured\u2014that was simply the biggest joke Zhang Zhuoyuan heard this year! No matter what Xi Fan\u2019s actual intentions had been, now that Lu Shan had him in her hands, she could spin the truth to be whatever suited her, and she was certain to claim he was there to kill her!<\/span><\/p>

When Tarantula did the same thing, to gain favor with Annihilation, he cracked down on it hard. If he let Snake Fang off, that was simply asking Tarantula to kick up a big stink. However, Snake Fang was already lacking resources and now suffered heavy losses at Tarantula\u2019s hands. If it was subjected to the government\u2019s suppression on top of that, it was likely to directly collapse. What about the balance of power then? What about the \u2018bad apple spoiling the whole bunch\u2019? Wouldn\u2019t all their plans be ruined?<\/span><\/p>

Zhang Zhuoyuan had no idea how to proceed. He squeezed his phone, watching time trickle down with torturous slowness until he judged Lian Jun had gotten up and finished eating breakfast, then called him to ask for advice.<\/span><\/p>

When Lian Jun received the call, he\u2019d been carefully watching over Shi Jin, who was so sleepy he could fall asleep at any moment but still insisted on having breakfast with him. He was in no mood to listen to Zhang Zhuoyuan rambling.<\/span><\/p>

He endured until the other man finished explaining, then said concisely, \u201cContact Snake Fang\u2019s leader and make Lu Shan and him talk face-to-face, on the grounds that there\u2019s no proof Xi Fan was truly targeting Lu Shan\u2019s life. You should just watch from the sidelines and mediate. I have something to do now, we\u2019ll talk more later.\u201d Not waiting for the reply, he hung up and stretched out a hand to stop Shi Jin\u2019s head from falling into the soup bowl.<\/span><\/p>

Zhang Zhuoyuan sat still for a moment, stunned. After thinking for a while, he sprang to his feet, exclaiming excitedly, \u201cYes, that\u2019s right! The truth can\u2019t be decided with just Lu Shan\u2019s words as proof! What an ingenious move, Lian Jun is brilliant!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201c<\/span>A-choo<\/span><\/em>!\u201d Shi Jin woke up with a sneeze. Feeling a familiar palm touching his forehead, he rubbed against it instinctively, then struggled to make his eyes open. When he succeeded, he turned to look at Lian Jun and announced, \u201cI dreamed that someone praised you for being brilliant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun moved his wheelchair over to him and put a hand over his forcibly wide-open eyes. \u201cThe breakfast is finished, now go to sleep,\u201d he coaxed.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou\u2019re done already?\u201d Shi Jin asked, unconvinced. He felt as if he had just sat down at the table. He pulled down Lian Jun\u2019s hand and tried to turn his head, wanting to confirm the situation on the tabletop.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun hurriedly held his head, stopping him. \u201cI\u2019ve forgotten a document in our bedroom. Could you go and get it for me? I haven\u2019t finished eating yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin frowned and blinked, forcing himself to wake up. Getting to his feet, he said, \u201cOkay, I\u2019ll get it for you. You should finish your breakfast properly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun waited until there was a few steps\u2019 distance between them, then got up from the wheelchair and followed him quietly.<\/span><\/p>

They entered the bedroom one after another. A few minutes later, Lian Jun walked out alone, his lips much rosier than when he went in.<\/span><\/p>

As it happened, Rong Zhouzhong was entering the living room from the walkway outside at that very moment. The two stopped at the same time and stared at each other in silence. Rong Zhouzhong\u2019s eyes widened little by little as his gaze moved from Lian Jun\u2019s face to his apparently fully functioning legs. A moment later, his mouth dropped open and the packages of snacks he was holding fell to the floor.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Extra:<\/span><\/em><\/p>

The brothers\u2019 chat group:<\/span><\/p>

Silence.<\/span><\/p>

Silence.<\/span><\/p>

Dead silence.<\/span><\/p>

Rong Zhouzhong [suddenly appearing]: Ah ah ah ah aaaaaaaaaah!<\/span><\/p>

Xiang Aoting: What\u2019s wrong?<\/span><\/p>

Shi Weichong: Have you finished your work, Third?<\/span><\/p>

Rong Zhouzhong: OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng: \uff1f<\/span><\/p>

Fei Yujing: Did your stans corner you?<\/span><\/p>

Rong Zhouzhong did not respond.<\/span><\/p>

A few minutes later.<\/span><\/p>

Rong Zhouzhong [suddenly appearing again]: FUCKING HELL!!!<\/span><\/p>

Shi Weichong [frowning]: Don\u2019t swear.<\/span><\/p>

Rong Zhouzhong: Lian Jun is standing! He can walk!<\/span><\/p>

Xiang Aoting: Huh?<\/span><\/p>

Fei Yujing: What?<\/span><\/p>

Shi Weichong: What do you mean?<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng [immediately figuring it out]: How do you know Lian Jun can walk? Are you with Xiao Jin? Weren\u2019t you supposed to be busy working? Have you been so silent recently because you\u2019ve been trying to hide from us that you and Xiao Jin are together?<\/span><\/p>

Rong Zhouzhong did not respond.<\/span><\/p>

A few seconds later.<\/span><\/p>

System prompt: Rong Zhouzhong has left the group chat.<\/span><\/p>

The others: ???<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Translator: Eques<\/em>
Editor: –
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Eques:<\/h4>

\u00a0The plot thickens… \ud83d\udc40<\/p>

———-<\/p>

I’m sorry for missing the last update but my brother was getting married asdfghgefsashjjkl. I promise to do my best not to fall behind schedule from now on. \ud83d\ude47\u200d\u2640\ufe0f<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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