Chapter 27: It’ll Be Alright
When Wei Langxing opened the freezer door, he certainly hadn’t expected to be met with the gaze of a severed head.
He stared at the lifeless, unseeing eyes, a chill running down his spine.
Then came overwhelming panic.
A complete lunatic, who knew where he had taken Tang Yu’an.
The thought of Tang Yu’an being scared, injured, or worse, filled him with dread.
Yu Liao, what were you trying to do? Why him…?
On the shelf above, Yu Liao’s homemade ice cream was still frozen solid.
He and Tang Yu’an had even tasted it. Tang Yu’an had praised it highly.
He had said, “You could open a shop with this.”
Yu Liao had chuckled, replying that it was just a hobby, he liked freezing things.
He hadn’t specified whether it was ice cream or human heads.
Wei Langxing closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
Aside from the head, the kitchen was actually quite cozy—
Matching tableware neatly stacked, sky-blue walls evoking calmness, spotless tiles decorated with cute ornaments and stickers.
Even the coat hooks were flower-shaped, blending seamlessly with the surroundings.
The sun was shining brightly, a gentle breeze wafting in through the open window, bringing what should have been a sense of coolness and comfort, but Wei Langxing felt like he had been slapped.
Hopefully, it would slap him awake, so he wouldn’t waste any more time.
Besides him, there was another person who had actually been slapped—
The guard who had been drugged, alerted by his message, entered the apartment, holding an ice pack to his swollen face.
He didn’t know what had happened. He had simply fallen asleep and woken up to a different world.
And unlike Tang Yu’an, who had woken up on his own, he had been punched awake.
The culprit was Xie Cun, who had barged in after sensing something was wrong.
Perhaps the dosage had been too high, as when Xie Cun shook him violently, he thought he was rowing a boat in his dream.
He hummed a tune, drifting peacefully on the calm lake.
But… where were these waves coming from? Why were they suddenly approaching?
With a thud, the boat capsized. He fell into the water in his dream, and also from the sofa in reality.
The sofa was too soft, and his position uncomfortable, his back aching.
His face hurt too… who hit him?
The next second, he was roughly pulled up from the floor, a panicked and anxious face coming into focus.
The drug’s effects hadn’t completely worn off. It took him a moment to understand what Xie Cun was asking.
“Tang Yu’an? He’s in the guest room…”
Xie Cun’s face paled, realizing he knew nothing.
He released his grip, and the guard slumped back onto the sofa.
After splashing cold water on his face, he finally woke up completely.
The other guards and Bureau officers were gone. This realization made him feel his career was about to end.
He hadn’t been completely unguarded, but he hadn’t expected to be betrayed by the person he was protecting.
Yu Liao’s disguise had been too perfect. He had truly believed him to be an optimistic and resilient young man who had overcome adversity.
But no matter how well he hid it, it was ultimately his negligence.
His face swollen, his spirits sank.
To atone for his mistake, he dedicated himself to the search.
He had expected Wei Langxing, who was close to Tang Yu’an, to blame him, but he said nothing.
Wei Langxing seemed to have become a machine, shutting out everything else, focused solely on the task at hand.
Seeing him like this, he felt even more compelled to do something.
So, when Wei Langxing messaged him to come quickly, his heart pounded.
Had they found a lead?
It had to be; the longer it took, the more dangerous it was for Tang Yu’an.
An entire day passed. Wei Langxing had mobilized every available officer, but they found nothing.
Following the surveillance footage, they only found the car Yu Liao had abandoned to cover his tracks.
They searched the car thoroughly, only finding a spare blanket.
Xie Cun’s reaction was particularly intense, cursing as he kicked the tires.
Zuo Tinghan, in contrast, remained almost silent. After the fruitless search, he turned to leave, getting into his car.
“Where are you going? Giving up already?” Xie Cun asked angrily.
Zuo Tinghan only replied with two words: “Finding him.”
“There’s no indication of which direction they went. There are roads everywhere, how are you going to find him? Use your brain!”
Zuo Tinghan said he would search every road, until he found him.
He checked the gun at his waist. If he found them, he would take Tang Yu’an by force. His training was for this very moment.
He was skilled at killing, not rescuing. He had never felt so useless.
He remembered assuring Tang Yu’an that there wouldn’t be a next time.
Back then, he had naively believed that as long as he returned, he could protect him.
Now, his words seemed like a cruel joke.
There was little information available about the road conditions here. He knew this aimless search was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
But he couldn’t stop. If he stopped, he might never see Tang Yu’an again.
If he couldn’t find him, if he couldn’t find him…
Xie Cun banged on his car window: “I’m talking to you!”
He had initially just been venting his frustration on Zuo Tinghan, but his unresponsiveness fueled his anger.
A master of sweet talk, he knew how to please people, and naturally, he also knew how to hurt them with words.
“Isn’t this all your fault? Who are you giving that attitude to?” Xie Cun said viciously: “If it weren’t for your carelessness, would Tang Yu’an be missing?”
There was no direct causal link. Even without the accident, Yu Liao might have had other plans. It wasn’t entirely Zuo Tinghan’s fault.
But Xie Cun needed someone to blame. With Yu Liao gone, he directed his anger at Zuo Tinghan.
And he didn’t think he was wrong. He was impulsive and unrestrained, used to getting his way, no one could control him.
When he was angry, everyone and everything around him became a target for his accusations.
As long as he could blame others, he rarely looked inward.
He glared at Zuo Tinghan, neither backing down.
Finally, Wei Langxing intervened, and for the first time since the team’s formation, he spoke with the authority of a captain.
“We can’t fight amongst ourselves now. Save your energy for when we find Yu Liao.”
In such critical moments, they couldn’t afford to lose their composure. Even if he was panicking, he had to be the one in control.
“Split up and search for any clues. I’ve contacted Pang Jin; backup will arrive soon.”
Xie Cun didn’t argue this time, only asking: “What about you?”
“I’ll go back to Yu Liao’s apartment and see if I can find anything.”
Wei Langxing’s eyes were dark as a dried-up well. The problem was with the person, so he would start at the source.
But instead of finding the source, he found a head.
For Wei Langxing, who had seen his share of gruesome scenes, it might not be a big deal, but for the less experienced officer, it was too much.
He rushed in after receiving the message, seeing Wei Langxing’s strange expression and Wang Wen vomiting into a trash can.
“Captain Wei, what’s wrong?”
Wei Langxing showed him a picture: “Remember this man?”
The officer nodded: “Isn’t he Yu Liao’s direct supervisor? We tried to contact him before, but there was no signal where he was.”
Wei Langxing pointed: “No need to contact him anymore. He’s here.”
The officer approached, following his gaze.
Then, as expected, he quickly found another trash can, joining Wang Wen in a symphony of vomiting.
By the time he recovered, Wei Langxing had already conducted a preliminary examination, taken photos, and notified the forensics team.
This made the officer feel even more inadequate.
Suppressing his nausea, he followed Wei Langxing’s instructions, notifying the relevant departments and raising Yu Liao’s threat level.
They didn’t find the rest of the body; it must have been disposed of elsewhere.
Disposing of a body was a delicate task. If done improperly, it would be easily discovered.
But Yu Liao was clearly audacious, leaving the head behind, frozen in his own freezer.
The thought of the ice cream he had eaten being taken from the same freezer made the officer’s stomach churn.
He started talking to distract himself, listing the evidence of Yu Liao’s unstable mental state and unpredictable behavior.
He stopped mid-sentence, seeing Wei Langxing’s expression.
He must be worried that something similar would happen to Tang Yu’an, he thought. If this happened to someone close to me, I would have broken down.
But Wei Langxing didn’t break down. He had to keep moving forward.
“He’s smart, he’ll be alright,” he muttered, repeating it like a mantra. “He’ll be alright.”
————
Waking up in the same unfamiliar place for the second time, Tang Yu’an calmly sat up and turned off the night light, almost admiring his adaptability.
He watched Yu Liao cook, clean, then bring out a basket of wild berries he had picked from somewhere.
Their dull colors reassured him; he subconsciously believed brightly colored things were poisonous.
He shared this theory with Yu Liao, who was washing the berries, skillfully removing the leaves.
“Not always. This one isn’t poisonous.”
He wasn’t referring to the berries, but Tang Yu’an didn’t realize it, pleasantly surprised by the fruit’s refreshing taste.
“What kind of berry is this? It’s so delicious!”
They were small and round, with dark red skin, like miniature apples, but with tiny seeds, making them easy to eat.
Yu Liao told him they were called “Devil’s Eyes,” that eating them allowed you to see the deceased, to walk between two worlds.
“Huh?”
He didn’t know if the berries truly had magical properties, or if Yu Liao was hallucinating again.
Xie Cun had told him about strange creatures on other planets, like three-eyed, four-tailed beasts, or indigenous people with unique languages who could shrink bones and store them in small jars.
He was quite interested in such strange things, absorbing all sorts of information.
In that case, perhaps… the existence of magical creatures in this world wasn’t so far-fetched.
Tang Yu’an held a mouthful of berries, unsure whether to swallow or spit them out.
Yu Liao, amused by his hamster-like expression, chuckled.
“Just kidding.” He sat beside Tang Yu’an, their knees touching, picking up a berry and taking a large bite.
Yes, the taste of his childhood.
“These are native to the planet where my mother grew up. I brought some seeds and planted them here. They are called ‘Devil’s Eyes,’ but that’s just a story mothers tell their children to help them sleep, saying that if you eat these berries, the devils won’t be able to see you and won’t snatch you away while you’re sleeping.”
Children were easily fooled, readily believing all sorts of fantastical tales.
Tang Yu’an was curious: “What about you? Did you believe that story as a child?”
“Of course I did!” Yu Liao leaned closer, his voice conspiratorial. “In fact, I still believe it.”
Tang Yu’an didn’t know if he was simply retaining his childlike wonder or truly believed in imaginary devils.
“Because I believe that sincerity brings miracles.” Yu Liao took his hand, placing the largest berry in his palm. “So, as long as you believe these berries have magical powers, you won’t be afraid at night.”
After such a long explanation, this was his intention. Tang Yu’an’s breath hitched, the berry in his hand suddenly feeling heavy.
Although he knew the story was childish, it was strangely comforting.
He was afraid of the dark, afraid of the night, because he was afraid of returning to that coffin, trapped in a confined, dark space, struggling in vain, his cries unanswered.
Ultimately, he wasn’t strong enough, afraid of being abandoned by the world.
A small berry wasn’t a cure, it couldn’t heal his wounds, but he had a sweet tooth; he could at least draw some strength from it.
If it were anyone else, he would have tried to reciprocate their kindness.
He didn’t like owing people anything, especially favors, so he always tried to repay kindness with kindness. He felt that was fair, that was clean.
But… the person showing him kindness was his kidnapper.
He had been looking for an opportunity to escape, but Yu Liao’s constant watch made it difficult.
With this dynamic, Yu Liao’s kindness felt like a burden.
He could only give a dry chuckle, accepting his words as a way to avoid the topic.
After dinner, Yu Liao asked if he was bored.
Tang Yu’an was immediately alert, wondering if he was planning something dangerous.
Taking him back was impossible. His movements were restricted to this small area. What if Yu Liao suddenly had an episode and introduced him to his “friends”? If he said something wrong, would he be eliminated?
So, he shook his head: “It’s nice here, relaxing.”
Yu Liao suddenly smiled: “I have a better way to relax. Want to try?”
His smile made Tang Yu’an uneasy: “Wha… what?”
It couldn’t be cleaning, could it? But somehow, it seemed plausible coming from Yu Liao.
As Tang Yu’an watched nervously, Yu Liao brought out a small projector.
Tang Yu’an: “…”
“Your idea of relaxation is watching a movie?”
He had been startled, not expecting such a normal hobby from Yu Liao.
As normal as making ice cream.
“Of course. No need to go out, no need to exert yourself. Convenient and hassle-free.”
He skillfully set up the projector, adjusting the brightness, and even brought out juice and homemade potato chips as snacks.
Tang Yu’an suddenly remembered a previous phone call: “Do you remember calling me and asking me to go to the movies? I had something else to do and refused, it was…”
He didn’t finish the sentence. It was right before he was hit by the car.
Only two days had passed, but so much had happened that it felt like a lifetime ago.
He had been on his way to his hypnosis session when he received Yu Liao’s call.
Yu Liao had asked where he was. He had said he was at the building. Yu Liao had paused, then asked when he was leaving.
Tang Yu’an had been surprised. He hadn’t told him about his plans. How did he know he was going for treatment?
Perhaps it was Xie Cun, the gossip, who had told him.
He had asked what he wanted, and Yu Liao had asked if he wasn’t going to the cinema, his tone slightly reproachful.
Tang Yu’an: “?”
So he didn’t know he was going for treatment? He wanted to ask him to the movies?
But it sounded like they had already made plans.
Perhaps people with special abilities thought differently.
Therapist Zheng’s schedule was difficult to change, so Tang Yu’an had to refuse.
“I already have plans today. If you want to ask me out next time, let me know in advance, so I can rearrange my schedule… Which movie did you mention? I think I’ve heard of it, it sounds interesting. Maybe next time… Yu Liao? Yu Liao?”
After a hasty goodbye, the call was abruptly disconnected.
Was he… upset that he didn’t go with him?
He seemed a bit petty.
He should have told him earlier. He would explain later.
But before he could, Zuo Tinghan’s out-of-control car arrived first.
Tang Yu’an clearly recalled that conversation, thinking that Yu Liao truly loved movies. Since their previous plan fell through, he kidnapped him to watch one together.
Yu Liao didn’t comment, simply asking if he wanted chili powder on his potato chips.
“Just a little. Did you make these yourself? How thoughtful.”
Yu Liao deliberately didn’t dim the lights, his heart skipping a beat as he looked at Tang Yu’an’s serene profile.
Tang Yu’an thought he was thoughtful because he didn’t know what he had done.
He can’t be afraid of me, he thought. As long as I hide it well, he won’t know.
His time was running out. Let him indulge in this carefully crafted dream.
He squeezed some ketchup onto a small plate, accidentally getting some on his finger.
He immediately got up and washed it off under running water, then wiped it three times with a tissue.
Tang Yu’an was used to his obsessive cleanliness, but he didn’t know that the color red triggered a memory Yu Liao would never forget.
Yu Liao wasn’t afraid of blood. In fact, due to his regenerative abilities, he was practically immune to it.
But there were two instances where the bright red color was etched in his mind.
One was when Tang Yu’an injured his arm, and the other… was the beginning of everything.
Time rewound. He had completed his work excellently, but his bonus had been withheld by his supervisor.
He couldn’t find him anywhere after work, finally encountering him, drunk, in the alley behind a bar.
His face was flushed, he could barely walk, his beer belly almost scraping against the wall.
He would have tolerated it if it weren’t an emergency, but Yi Xin Pharmaceuticals had suddenly stopped contacting him, his hallucinations worsening. He had to buy medication himself.
He needed money for treatment, he needed that bonus.
He caught up to his supervisor, asking him humbly, almost pleading, for his bonus.
The drunk supervisor, forgetting his usual pretense, chuckled, patting his face: “Yu Liao, Yu Liao, stop dreaming… Look at you, like a begging dog.”
He said that he was in a good mood, and if Yu Liao knelt and kowtowed, he might be charitable enough to give him some money for a collar.
Yu Liao remained silent for a long time, then asked calmly, wasn’t this money rightfully his?
The supervisor slapped his head with his greasy hand: “I’m leaving on a business trip tomorrow, so today, I’ll teach you a lesson… The most important thing is to know your place.”
He flipped Yu Liao’s employee badge, holding it before his eyes: “Look, do you see this? Level One Officer! What does that mean? It means even if I step on you, you have to polish my shoes diligently!”
Faced with such humiliation, Yu Liao only replied: “But you don’t treat other colleagues this way. Are you targeting me because I’m capable, afraid I’ll surpass you?”
The supervisor’s eyes widened, surprised by Yu Liao’s sudden change in demeanor, the dark look in his eyes.
Logic told him there was nothing to fear from a subordinate, he should just beat him up and put him in his place, but his instincts screamed at him to run, now or never.
The same scene, viewed from different perspectives, could be drastically different.
On the walls around Yu Liao, distorted faces appeared, their screams overlapping, like a constant vibration.
“Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!!”
Even the air seemed to be screaming, urging him forward.
The hallucinations returned, but this time, he didn’t want to control them.
He had suppressed them for long enough. Why should he live in this mire, constantly being trampled on?
This time, he wouldn’t hold back, because he had a weapon—
A small fruit knife he always carried.
Yu Liao loved fruit, whether eaten on its own or made into ice cream, so he always kept the knife in his pocket, small and practical.
And sharp enough that the supervisor didn’t even have time to scream before blood spurted out.
The supervisor clutched his throat, writhing on the ground like a fat maggot.
Yu Liao said, “Now, who’s stepping on whom?”
The supervisor, his voice choked with blood, pleaded for mercy, offering to return the money, promising to help him with anything…
Yu Liao looked down at him, apologizing, saying he felt like cutting something.
So he cut him open, like a tomato, splattering juice everywhere.
Afterward, he wiped his hands with a handkerchief, stood up, and looked at the concrete buildings around him.
The screams subsided. There was no one else here, but he felt every plant, every brick cheering for him, welcoming the rise of a new hero.
In that moment, he felt like the king of the city.
The memory was interrupted by a timid yet concerned face.
“Are you alright?” Tang Yu’an asked.
He had been wiping his hands for several minutes.
“I’m fine,” Yu Liao smiled, pushing the plate of potato chips towards him. “Try these, they’re thin and crispy. I made them myself.”
