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墨書 Inktalez
After hanging up the phone, I couldn't help but think of Jack. I wondered how he had been lately.
I needed to find a way to get in touch with him. The losses I incurred from the Lop Nur Yadan Geomorphological Group's miniature model were significant, and I had to ask him about it.
However, I couldn't contact Jack through Cao Mingzhe. Although Cao Mingzhe would definitely have Jack's contact information, I wasn't ready to face him yet. I decided to reach out to AE instead; it was a good opportunity to inquire with their higher-ups. They had been hiding too much from me, using me without ever revealing the truth.
I also needed to come up with an excuse for the funding. The amount of money I wanted from Cao Mingzhe was substantial, but there was no way I could ask him for hundreds of thousands or even millions just for an Inflatable Doll. Inflatable Doll? I almost slapped myself for letting Fatty lead me astray.
After eating a few buns, I returned to the shop, where Xiao Ting was already in the yard.
I led her into the living room. There was no bed in the room; A San had spent the night on the sofa.
I took the USB drive and plugged it into the computer, gesturing for Xiao Ting, "Let's watch together."
After my conversation with Cao Mingzhe, I learned that Xiao Guolin's dream had been experienced by others as well. This time felt different from the first time I watched it. I quickly immersed myself in it, hoping to find a thread that connected all the fragmented dreams.
I must have watched for quite a while because my eyes began to feel dry and swollen. I tilted my head back and rubbed my eyes. When I looked at Xiao Ting, I noticed her gaze was strange, and she didn't seem fatigued from staring at the screen for so long. It appeared that her focus had not been on her father's message but rather on me.
This made my heart ache a little, and I couldn't help but ask her, "Do you know what your dad once told me about Lop Nur?"
Xiao Ting's face flushed, and she awkwardly scratched her brow—a subconscious gesture that revealed her lack of confidence and perhaps guilt.
"He mentioned you several times before. I hadn't even graduated high school then. In my dad's mind, I was already destined to be Zhang's daughter-in-law."
"You rebellious girl! Ignoring your father's wishes and deciding on your own future—let's see how you face Old Xiao later. I'm just curious; what does Fatty have that makes him so appealing to you?"
"He gives me a sense of security."
Great. The moment I heard that, I knew there was no chance for me anymore.
Indeed, if Fatty has one advantage, it is this. Don't worry, Xiao Ting, I feel very safe with him. No matter how dangerous the place is, as long as he is there, I can sleep soundly.
Xiao Ting never had a mother and grew up with Old Xiao. Now that Old Xiao has gone missing again, what she lacks most is a sense of security. At an inappropriate time, an inappropriate person appeared— Fatty. Undoubtedly, his presence has pushed me, the son-in-law designated by Old Xiao, out of the competition. I think as long as Fatty is around, no matter who comes, they won't stand a chance in front of Xiao Ting. Not even the handsome guy Jack.
I smiled at her and skipped over this sad topic.
One hand rubbed the back of my neck while the other pointed at the computer. “Cao Mingzhe has had a similar experience. He shared the same dream as your dad.”
Suddenly, Xiao Ting's expression changed. She looked at me as if I were a monster.
I didn't know which nerve I had touched with my words, but it definitely struck something. I immediately leaned forward, using body language to create a sense of psychological pressure on her.
“Xiao Ting. We are going down soon. You, me, Gangzi, and of course many others. Every piece of information will impact our actions. Similarly, every missing piece of information could lead us to make irreversible mistakes. I, Cao Mingzhe, and others are doing everything we can to find any possible clues and information to increase our chances of success. What do you want to say to me? If you have something to say, now is the time. I think you should trust me.”
Xiao Ting looked tense, her hands gripping her clothes tightly as if she were a drowning person clutching at a lifeline. However, she was holding on too tightly; her fitted shirt was being pulled down severely, exposing her neck and the whiteness of her chest, which seemed ready to burst out from the confines of her shirt.
I knew she was engaged in a fierce internal struggle. I needed to give her a little push; otherwise, the secrets in her heart would never be revealed to me. Just like before, they would remain buried within her.
“For your dad's sake, you must tell me. He might still be alive.”
“What! How do you know?! What do you know?!”
I thought my words had struck her hard. Xiao Ting suddenly grabbed me with both hands, digging her nails into my arms so deeply that it made me break out in a cold sweat.
Damn it, self-inflicted trouble.
I played it cool. Even though it hurt so much that I almost jumped up and beads of sweat were clearly forming on my forehead, my expression remained unchanged. I managed to speak to her in a calm yet cold tone: “Tell me what you know.”
I have always thought of Xiao Ting as a stubborn girl. This was evident not only in her insistence on personally participating in the search and rescue for Xiao Guolin, but also in her unwavering determination in the Underground Cavern of the Hakka People. The experiences she endured were not something an ordinary girl could handle. At this moment, her stubborn nature was once again on display.
"You go first."
Xiao Ting's expression resembled that of a protective mother leopard, though what she was guarding now was a secret.
In the almost suffocating air, we locked eyes for a moment. It was I who made the compromise; her nails were too long, and if she didn’t let go soon, while it wouldn’t cost me my life, it would certainly rob me of sleep for the next few nights.
"Alright. But you have to promise to tell me what you know."
Xiao Ting nodded.
"Then can you please loosen your grip? My arm is going numb."
"Brother Qiang, you're bleeding."
I glanced down and sure enough, blood had stained my shirt sleeve red. Fortunately, I was wearing an undershirt; otherwise, it wouldn’t just be the sleeve that was stained.
A flicker of unease crossed Xiao Ting's face.
I teased, "I hope I didn't ruin your nails."
Her long nails were covered in blood, resembling a vampire's. Upon hearing my words, she immediately hid her hands behind her back.
"According to Cao Mingzhe's method, he and your father are dreaming of the same person—Song Guilong. Oh, and Cao Mingzhe experienced something similar to your father; he also saw Song Guilong in his dreams. He believes it’s not just a dream—Song Guilong is still alive and is communicating through dreams. This is my method; Cao Mingzhe's method involves some peculiar form of information transmission.
Regardless of the method, the reality is that Song Guilong is conveying information about Lop Nur to both your father and Cao Mingzhe. Do you understand the deeper meaning? It means that Song Guilong is still alive and is continuously sending messages to your father and Cao Mingzhe, especially regarding his location. He wants them to find him.
"With the location information provided by Song Guilong, your dad might be found underground in Lop Nur. Even if we can't find Song Guilong, at least there is a chance for survival. Since Song Guilong has managed to survive underground in Lop Nur for years, your dad can too."
"How can you be sure that Song Guilong is still alive?"
"If two people have the same dream for a long time, then there must be something wrong with that dream. I can't be certain that Song Guilong is alive, but I believe the chances of him being alive are greater than him being dead."
"So when do we go down?" The sudden glimmer of hope made Xiao Ting excited.
"This matter is no longer up to us to decide."
Just as Xiao Ting was about to stand up in her excitement, I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Tell me what you know."
The flush of excitement on Xiao Ting's face immediately vanished. She replied calmly, "My dad is not Left-Handed."
(To Be Continued...)
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