SCOM - Chapter 67
Chapter 67
The eastern mine, where the collapse occurred, had been partially excavated, but only slightly. Sun Long had initially chosen the easiest point for the explosion, but it seemed they detonated all the explosives they'd brought in, making the subsequent cleanup incredibly difficult. It was a miracle that even one person survived.
Lu Hui had spent the past few days clearing the rubble and sending a sample of the blasted rock for analysis. However, before he could begin the actual mining, he had to hand over the site to the Western and Northern District armies.
So, when Zuo Luohuan and Ji Yuezhi arrived, he was there, along with Yan Yan's father.
"Classmate Zuo, Classmate Ji, aren't you heading back?" Yan Yan's father asked in surprise.
Zuo Luohuan replied, "Something came up."
She also wanted to ask Yan Yan's father about the situation again, but his account matched the report.
"Is there… something wrong with that incident?" Yan Yan's father hesitantly asked. He'd always found the premature explosion and collapse suspicious, but couldn't find a reason.
Zuo Luohuan shook her head. "We don't know yet."
She needed to review everything that had happened and retrace her steps.
Ji Yuezhi stayed by her side.
The next day, Fang Yong was called to the hospital to examine Yan Yan's mother. Zuo Luohuan and Ji Yuezhi went to the Hong family's residence.
The Star Lord was temporarily confined, Hong Tongdao had been escorted to the Capital City, and most of the Hong family members were detained. The entire residence was deserted, with only the Winter Army standing guard at the entrance.
"They used to hold banquets here frequently," Zuo Luohuan said, stepping around broken porcelain shards on the ground. She turned, subconsciously reaching for Ji Yuezhi's hand.
Ji Yuezhi stepped over the shards, missing her quickly retracted hand. He stepped onto the grass and looked up. "A year ago?"
"Yes," Zuo Luohuan said, waiting for him to walk beside her. "That adopted son of the Hong family often invited guests he liked. The entire residence was brightly lit night after night, with constant banquets. It was a bit like an underground casino."
Ji Yuezhi listened quietly, as if immersed in the scene. He imagined the young Alpha alone, standing in a corner of the garden, observing the drunken revelry.
"The innermost room on the third floor was Hong Tongdao's study," Zuo Luohuan said, looking up.
It was there that she had accidentally entered Hong Tongdao's study, discovered the document, been stabbed by Zhang Yongzhen, fallen into Hong Tongdao's hands, and ultimately escaped death.
Ji Yuezhi looked at her. "I'll go up with you."
"Okay."
They went upstairs and found the room empty; anything of value had been taken by the Winter Army.
Ji Yuezhi walked around the room, then looked at Zuo Luohuan. "You said you got lost and accidentally wandered into this study?"
"Yes."
"But you never get lost," Ji Yuezhi said. "Something must have distracted you, or there must have been another reason for you to open the study door."
Zuo Luohuan's memory was as impeccable as Ji Yuezhi's.
Zuo Luohuan froze. She had only considered getting lost as the reason, never questioning why she hadn't been lost before. It seemed like a subconscious justification.
"Did Hong Tongdao do something to you in the basement?" Ji Yuezhi didn't miss her momentary lapse.
"…I don't remember." Zuo Luohuan's memories contained a dimly lit basement and endless pain, both clear and hazy.
Now, prompted by Ji Yuezhi, she tried to recall why she had gone to the study, but couldn't, only remembering the impression of being lost.
Ji Yuezhi watched as Zuo Luohuan's face suddenly paled. She clutched her head and swayed, and he quickly stepped forward to support her. "What's wrong?"
Zuo Luohuan felt a stabbing pain in her head whenever she tried to recall the scene, as if the pain was returning.
Vaguely, she saw Ji Yuezhi. She managed a weak smile and touched his face. "I'm… fine."
Zuo Luohuan paused. "I might need a hypnotist."
Ji Yuezhi helped Zuo Luohuan leave. While they searched for a hypnotist, Fang Yong examined Yan Yan's mother and concluded that someone had injected her with a drug, causing her prolonged unconsciousness. Fortunately, they hadn't administered further doses, allowing her to survive.
…
Ji Yuezhi glanced at the message from Jiang Hong and looked at Zuo Luohuan lying in the chair. He pursed his lips. The incident was clearly more complicated than it seemed.
The hypnotist they found made several unsuccessful attempts to hypnotize Zuo Luohuan. Her defenses were too strong. Even when she tried to relax, her subconscious resisted.
"Are you sure you were hypnotized before?" the hypnotist asked. She considered herself competent, but this was the first time she'd encountered someone so difficult to hypnotize, even when they claimed to be relaxed.
"It was probably combined with drugs," Zuo Luohuan said, eyes closed.
The hypnotist sighed. "…Fine. One last try. Don't resist."
"I'll try my best," Zuo Luohuan said, aware of her resistance.
As the hypnotist prepared to begin, she looked at Ji Yuezhi, sitting beside Zuo Luohuan, and clasped her hands together, signaling him to hold Zuo Luohuan's hand.
Ji Yuezhi hesitated, but eventually took Zuo Luohuan's fingers in his hand as instructed.
The moment she was touched, Zuo Luohuan instinctively reacted defensively. Just as she was about to open her eyes and pull away, her mind registered whose hand it was. Her body stiffened, then relaxed, allowing Ji Yuezhi to hold her hand.
Seeing them holding hands, the hypnotist began her final attempt.
—This time, it worked.
Zuo Luohuan lay in the chair, completely relaxed, but her grip on Ji Yuezhi's hand remained firm.
Guided by the hypnotist's voice, Zuo Luohuan returned to the Hong family residence in her memory. It was as lively as ever, the night beautiful. She stood in a corner with a glass of wine, watching Zhang Yongzhen and the Hong family heir converse.
They were probably discussing the underground casino.
Zuo Luohuan looked away and caught a pair of eyes on the third floor.
Timid, yet yearning to be seen.
Zuo Luohuan took a sip of wine. Though curious, she didn't want to go upstairs; it wasn't a place for guests.
But perhaps fate was against her. The restrooms were crowded, and Zuo Luohuan grew impatient. A butler approached and suggested she use the facilities upstairs.
She followed a few guests to the second floor. As she left the restroom and prepared to descend, she glanced up the stairs and saw the same eyes again, this time with half a face visible.
Zuo Luohuan narrowed her eyes. He looks a lot like the adopted son downstairs. Are they really not related?
He stared at her for a moment, then ran upstairs, glancing back at her before disappearing.
Zuo Luohuan almost laughed. Is he trying to lure me up there?
Without hesitation, she ascended to the third floor. The hallway was empty. She walked slowly, passing room after room.
Finally, as she neared the end of the hallway, the person emerged from a side room, fully visible. He bore a striking resemblance to the man downstairs.
In the dream, Zuo Luohuan's mind flashed white:
— Hong Tongdao, the real Hong Tongdao.
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