Arriving at the prison gate, Qian Wu saw Saturday blocking the man at the entrance.
The man showed no sign of displeasure, simply standing quietly with a book in hand.
Hearing footsteps, Saturday lowered the iron rod in her hand and glanced back at Qian Wu.
Qian Wu gave her a slight nod and said, “Go to his room first.”
Saturday understood immediately, patting Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin on the shoulders.
“Huh?” Both of them looked puzzled.
“Tsk, might need you later,” Saturday muttered before turning and entering the prison.
By the corridor window, Saturday hid to the side and whispered, “This is a test. Do not respond. If you hear this, look to your left rear.”
Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin simultaneously glanced back at her position. Saturday nodded at them before heading to Chen Junnan’s room.
“Yo? Weekend?” Chen Junnan smirked. “What’s up?”
“Tsk, I’m Saturday, not Weekend.”
“Saturday is the weekend, isn’t it?”
“Tsk, stop messing around.” Saturday pulled Chen Junnan to the window and said gravely, “Look at that guy… recognize him?”
Officer Li and Zheng Yingxiong also moved closer to the window.
A man with black-rimmed glasses stood by the gate. Though somewhat disheveled, he appeared amiable.
“How the hell could I not know him?” Chen Junnan frowned. “Isn’t that ‘Tian She’?”
“Tsk! Tian She?” Saturday’s eyes widened.
Chen Junnan looked at her and said, “Weekend, you know what? I have three wishes in life.”
“Tsk, what?” Saturday snapped impatiently.
“First, world peace. Second, no more suffering. And third…” He sighed. “I wish my friend Weekend would stop starting every sentence with ‘Tsk.’”
Saturday pursed her lips, about to retort, but found she couldn’t speak without the habit.
“Tsk! How I talk is none of your business!” She punched Chen Junnan hard. “Can we focus? You know Tian She?”
“Yeah.” Chen Junnan nodded. “Weekend, tell those guys to never look Tian She in the eyes. If they’re worried about suspicion, have them stare at his nose instead.”
“Tsk, why?”
“Because that bastard can read your thoughts through eye contact.” Chen Junnan grinned. “Luckily, I’m smart enough to figure out a workaround.”
Saturday sensed trouble. Qian Wu probably knew Tian She, but Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin held too many secrets. If an “Heavenly” discovered them prematurely, it’d spell disaster. She immediately sent a mental message.
The two behind Qian Wu subtly adjusted their gaze upon hearing it.
Qian Wu, recognizing the visitor, silently pulled out an old pair of sunglasses from his leather jacket and put them on.
“Hey, come on…” Tian She forced an awkward smile. “‘Twin Flowers,’ what’s this about? We’ve known each other for years, and this is my first time here. Is this how you treat a guest?”
“Tian She, you may be a ‘guest,’ but I can’t fully trust you.” Qian Wu smirked. “You can’t control your ability—other people’s secrets are just too tempting for you.”
“Ah…” Tian She chuckled nervously. “Yeah… you’re right. It’s rude, but I really can’t help myself…”
He then glanced at Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin behind Qian Wu.
“Forgive the intrusion, but… who are these two?”
“Do you need to know?” Qian Wu replied. “They’re friends staying with me for now. More importantly, you and I have no ties, and you don’t seem here for business. What do you want?”
“I… I was actually…” Tian She rubbed his hands anxiously. “I’m looking for someone…”
“100,000,” Qian Wu stated. “For 100,000, we’ll find anyone within one cycle—except ‘Natives.’”
“100,000…?” Tian She paused, then laughed awkwardly. “Hah… it’s been so long since I’ve even heard of ‘money.’ Where would I get that?”
“Then we can’t help you.” Qian Wu feigned regret.
“How about this…” Tian She stepped closer, whispering. “I’ve made a breakthrough—getting ‘Natives’ to trigger ‘Echoes.’ If you’re interested, I’ll trade this discovery for your help.”
Qian Wu stiffened, considering the implications—then quickly realized the danger.
“Hold on…” He shook his head. “‘Natives’ have almost no sanity left. Sure, they can trigger ‘Echoes’ at a high rate, but they don’t know what they’re doing. Everything’s driven by instinct. That sounds way too risky.”
“But ‘Natives’ are easy to trick!” Tian She grinned. “Don’t you think? A few sweet words, and we can lure them like children, then use their ‘Echoes’ to our advantage…”
“But they’re *people*.” Qian Wu pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a drag. “The only difference between you and me is that I don’t treat them as tools.”
“People… why can’t they be tools?” Tian She looked genuinely confused. “They can be weapons, shields, research material, test subjects… They’re the cheapest resource here!”
“Ha…” Qian Wu scoffed, spitting on the ground. “I don’t want to hear your nonsense. But fine—who are you looking for?”
“Chen Junnan!” Tian She shouted. “I want to make that bastard suffer!”
Qian Wu’s expression turned icy. “Tian She, you could’ve come here for anyone else. You could’ve kept experimenting on ‘Natives’—none of my business. But you just stepped on a landmine.”
“Landmine…?” Tian She blinked, uncomprehending.
“Daring to say you’ll make ‘Big Baby’ suffer in front of me…” Qian Wu advanced step by step. “Do you even know why ‘Cats’ exist?”
Before Tian She could react, Qian Wu grabbed his arm.
In the next instant, Qian Wu’s body rapidly shrank, his height matching Tian She’s exactly.
“You—”
Qian Wu tried to speak but suddenly struggled to breathe—this body seemed severely compromised.
“What are you doing…?” Tian She asked, baffled. “Did you copy my body?”
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