deltrittennovels #609 - The person Tang Yin was going to check
#609 - The person Tang Yin was going to check
Hua Lu lowered her head slightly, her thin figure appearing even more slender in the mist. She wore a slightly oversized beige coat, the sleeves drooping down and covering half of her palms. Her disheveled hair clung to the sides of her face, making her look somewhat disheveled. Her cheeks were red from the cold, and her lips trembled slightly, as if she hadn't yet recovered from the cold night.
“Oh, such a Hua Lu is truly rare,” Tang Yin assessed her, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. “Serious, a little angry, and actually speaking so fluently.”
Hua Lu raised her head, a hint of stubbornness in her deep brown eyes. She clenched her sleeves tightly, her tone unquestionable: “Yes, I know you're helping others—” she paused, raising her voice slightly, “—but you actually want to stop Qin Yi from recklessly throwing his life away, right? Using that kind of… that, despicable method.”
Under the cover of the mist, Tang Yin's expression couldn't be fully seen, but judging from the shrug of his shoulders, he clearly didn't care. His tone remained light: “Why is your understanding of the situation more detailed and accurate than ever before?”
Hua Lu tightened her coat, lowered her head and kicked the ground, as if trying to hide something: “—Because I couldn't find a chance to talk to you, so I hid in the thick fog and watched what was happening.” Her voice sounded a little unnatural, the end of her words trembling slightly, obviously frozen by the cold wind.
Tang Yin was slightly stunned, then his gaze fell on her frozen red fingers. “You must be very cold talking while shivering,” his voice lowered, with a hint of helplessness. “How long have you been waiting outside the cafeteria?”
Hua Lu raised her head, looking straight at him, without answering the question. She took a deep breath, as if gathering courage, and then said softly: “...Ah, sorry. Now that you mention it, that's right. It seems Wang Lina couldn't talk to you either, right?”
Tang Yin was stunned for a moment, then revealed a helpless smile: “About the banquet, I'm very grateful.”
“Hmm?” Tang Yin raised his eyebrows, tilting his head to look at her, appearing somewhat puzzled.
Hua Lu's voice lowered, as if talking to herself: “Clearly, all you had to do was vote for me.”
“...No, no, I don't want anyone to die,” Tang Yin's voice suddenly became serious, with less of his usual cynicism and more of a heaviness.
Hua Lu raised her head, a complex look flashing in her eyes: “What exactly are you thinking?”
Tang Yin was silent for a moment, then sighed: “...Ah, that, sorry, I lied. No, it should still be true. Actually, that's what I think—” he paused for a moment, as if carefully choosing his words, his voice a few degrees lower, “—I don't want to see you, Hua Lu, or Xiao Mie die.”
Hua Lu was stunned, a hint of shock flashing in her eyes: “...What do you mean?”
Tang Yin didn't answer, just shook his head gently, a meaningful smile on the corner of his mouth: “Who knows?”
Hua Lu opened her mouth, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately closed her mouth. She lowered her head, her eyes seeming to hide some kind of complex emotion. Tang Yin looked at her, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes, but soon he changed the subject.
“Ah, I have a question,” Tang Yin's voice sounded again, breaking the brief silence.
“What question?” Hua Lu raised her head, frowning slightly.
Tang Yin's tone was slightly light, but his gaze was unusually sharp: “If Xiao Mie is a wolf, what would you do?”
Hua Lu's body stiffened slightly, her voice low and firm: “I'll be hanged with her.”
Tang Yin's smile froze on his face, he looked at the girl in front of him, not speaking for a long time. The night wind passed between the two, stirring up the fallen leaves on the ground, making a rustling sound.
“It seems,” Tang Yin sighed softly, his tone carrying a hint of complexity, “you've made up your mind.”
The night wind grew colder, and the thick fog appeared even denser in the dim light of the street lamps. Tang Yin raised his head, his gaze falling on Hua Lu's face again, then he chuckled softly: “...What a crazy girl.”
Hua Lu ignored his teasing, just raised her head and looked directly into his eyes: “Mr. Tang Yin, I ask you—who will you vote for?”
Tang Yin was stunned for a moment, then revealed a meaningful smile: “Who knows?”
Tang Yin stood under the street lamp, his shadow stretched long, he tilted his body slightly, laughter spilling from the corner of his mouth, with his usual frivolousness: “...Anyway, it's all right now.”
He raised his hand, waving it casually, as if shooing away an overly persistent sparrow: “Go back and rest, I hope to see the dazed Miss Hua Lu tomorrow too.”
“Oh, oh, oh, oh?” Hua Lu's eyes widened suddenly, as if she had received some great stimulus, even her voice rose a few degrees. “Mr. Tang Yin, what are you saying? Me, dazed? How rude!”
Her cheeks were slightly red due to the cold of the night, and at this moment, due to the emotional fluctuations, they were even stained with a faint blush. Tang Yin looked at her appearance, couldn't help but chuckle, raised his hand and patted his forehead: “Hahaha, I'm going back, see you tomorrow.”
He turned around, just preparing to leave, but heard the stubborn and persistent voice chasing after him from behind: “What does 'I've already tried' mean.”
...Crap. Tang Yin's footsteps stopped, the smile on his face instantly froze, and in an instant, he returned to his usual carefree appearance. He turned his head, a crooked arc hanging on the corner of his mouth: “That, I was just talking nonsense, you know, this kind of mysterious words are most likely to fool people.”
However, Hua Lu's eyes were clear and firm, as if she wanted to see through all his disguises: “Mr. Tang Yin, I believe you are not someone sent by the Qin family.”
Tang Yin was stunned, his eyebrows slightly raised, a hint of probing flashing in his eyes: “And then?”
Hua Lu did not back down, her voice still gentle but firm: “And, how should I put it?” She bit her lower lip lightly, as if carefully choosing her words, “...Maybe you are a special existence that can dispel this thick fog.”
As soon as the words fell, the fog seemed to become thicker. The cold wind passed between the two, bringing a trace of bone-chilling cold. Tang Yin did not speak, his eyes fixed on her, as if waiting for her to continue.
Hua Lu lowered her head, her fingers tightening the lapels of her coat, her voice even lower: “...Perhaps you will find my dreamlike words disgusting.”
“Disgusting?” Tang Yin raised his eyebrows, his tone carrying a hint of casual laughter.
Hua Lu ignored his teasing, just continued: “But I also grew up under the influence of this tradition and belief.” Her voice trembled slightly, as if afraid of being laughed at, and as if making some kind of determination for herself, “Watching the science and stuff on TV, I always have a feeling that it's out of reach.”
“So?” Tang Yin's tone was still light, but his eyes became a little more serious.
“So, when threatened by superstition, maybe I also want to grab something, someone, to be superstitious about.” Hua Lu raised her head, her eyes full of mist looking straight at Tang Yin, her voice revealing a trace of fragility, and a trace of undeniable persistence.
“Hua Lu…” His voice was low, as if wanting to say something, but he swallowed the words back. He didn't know whether he should explain or remain silent.
Indeed, he completely ignored reason and logic, and stood here with the experience of dying several times. Was it for him to dispel this despair called the Huangquan Banquet? Was Tang Yin given such power because someone wanted him to do so? In his mind, it seemed that someone was whispering in his ear: “No matter how many times you die, you must stop this crazy ritual.”
“I also hope I am that person…” Tang Yin's tone was gentle, with a hint of candid helplessness, “Unfortunately, I am just an ordinary person.”
He lowered his head and sighed softly, a bitter smile on the corner of his mouth, as if responding to some ideal he couldn't reach. However, he quickly raised his head, his eyes with a bit more seriousness: “But, okay, I will try not to disappoint your trust.”
Hua Lu did not answer, just nodded gently, as if giving herself and him a tacit agreement. The fog moved between the two, with a damp and cold breath, as if hiding this short conversation in an unknown gap.
“Okay, let's end here today,” Tang Yin clapped his hands, trying to end the conversation with a relaxed tone.
Hua Lu didn't move, she stood in place, lowering her eyes, as if hesitating about something. After a moment, she slowly reached out her hand.
Tang Yin blinked, stunned for a moment: “...Handshake?”
Hua Lu raised her head, her eyes firm, and nodded.
Tang Yin looked down at the hand she extended, smiled slightly, his tone with a hint of playfulness: “...Well, a handshake is a promise. A promise to meet again no matter what tomorrow.”
His hand covered hers, his fingertips touching her cold palm. The palms of their hands were pressed together, and Tang Yin's smile gradually softened, as if in this short moment, the cold night was not so bone-chilling.
However, Hua Lu's voice sounded softly, breaking the silence of this moment: “...Not right.”
Tang Yin was slightly startled, raising his eyes to look at her.
“Even if we can't meet tomorrow, may we meet again in another life, a more peaceful life.” Hua Lu's tone was gentle but firm, her fingertips exerting a little force, then she let go of her hand.
Tang Yin opened his mouth, before he could say anything, Hua Lu had already gently stepped back, and said in a low voice: “Good night, goodbye.”
She turned around, her back quickly disappearing into the depths of the fog.
“Hua Lu…” Tang Yin shouted subconsciously, but the fog had already swallowed her, leaving only the sound of footsteps fading away. The footsteps were light but firm, disappearing into the endless white fog.
Tang Yin stood in place, staring blankly at the direction she left, and it took a long time to come back to his senses. He lowered his head slightly, a bitter smile on the corner of his mouth, his voice so low that it was like talking to himself: “...I hope so too.”
He stood still for a moment, making sure he didn't hear the sound of falling, then turned and left. The wind blew through his hair, bringing a trace of coolness. He suddenly realized that he hadn't heard the word "goodbye" for a long time.
“It seems I haven't made up my mind yet…” Tang Yin sighed softly, clenched his fists, his eyes becoming deep. He couldn't act on the premise of death regression—this was the only clear thought in his mind at this moment.
The others have already bet their lives, and if he doesn't have this awareness, he will never truly understand their persistence. Fight with everything and live through tonight. Those pessimistic wishes and helpless promises will eventually disappear with the wind.
Tang Yin's eyes gradually became firm. The appearance of Hua Lu's face flushed with anger appeared in his mind, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly: “After this is over, she will definitely be stomping her feet in anger because of me… that look must be very cute.”
He returned to the house, skillfully took out a notebook from his backpack, placed the notebook on the wooden table, tore off a piece of paper, and then threw the pen on the ground. He sat down quietly, resting his hand on his chin, and began to ponder.
Today, which person's identity should I check with the 'Snake's' blessing? Tang Yin's thoughts gradually condensed, and his gaze fell on the paper. His fingers tapped slowly on the table, making a slight "tap tap" sound.
The idea of investigating people who seem like wolves is the most natural, but there are also traps in it. Because there is currently no one who "seems like a wolf." His gaze slightly condensed, and several blurred faces flashed in his mind. If he had to say who's behavior "seems like a wolf", it would only be ambiguous and unfounded speculation.
Tang Yin closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and recalled everything that happened today. There were too few clues, even he, who retained the last memory, couldn't find any obvious doubts. Perhaps, this secret contest is far more complicated than he imagined.
He must think from a different perspective.
...There's no need to force himself to find the wolf, but rather check the identity of the person who would be troublesome if they were a wolf.
Fortunately, the leadership is in the hands of the clearly identified Old Gao and Qin Ming.
At the moment, they haven't led the scene in any outrageous direction.
...Tang Yin understood their cautious attitude last time.
Qin Ming was a wolf at the time, so he didn't actively lead the situation like this time.
And Old Gao remained silent and low-key, trying to report himself—most likely because he was the Spider's guardian.
However, it was precisely Qin Ming who saw through Old Gao's intention, and even in that situation, he could remain sharp and act calmly.
The problem is that although they are companions this time, they have not achieved the good effect of one plus one being greater than two.
Simply put, their personalities don't match.
Hopefully they can seek common ground while reserving differences in the future...
In that case, the key is still the identity of Zhao Gang, who is responsible for coordinating between their generation gap.
...Although his actions seem similar to last time, he can't directly conclude that he is human.
There is another person Tang Yin is a little concerned about, that is Qian Jin.
Although he is not very popular, he is always shouting and has a certain influence, so his existence cannot be ignored.
From the wolf's point of view, they should leave this poop-stirrer to the last moment...
Also, Tang Yin actually thinks he is the only person who is slightly suspicious at the moment. When voting today, Tang Yin didn't know how many people hesitated to execute him,
However, according to the order of voting, even without a runoff vote, it would not be difficult to execute him.
The first person to vote for Qian Jin was Qin Ming. Qin Ming might think he was a "suitable first sacrifice\
,"Then Mrs. Chen Xiang and Xiao Liang also voted for him.
After that, it was still the young people who had no goodwill towards Qian Jin. For them, he was just a suitable scapegoat.
However, after that, no one ever voted for him again...
How should this situation be understood?