It's You, My Friend

Finally, Zhu Yan carried two full large shopping bags, struggling to free one hand to hail a cab.

This place was very close to the old town where he stayed, taking less than ten minutes by car.

However, as Zhu Yan dragged those two piles of things out of the car, he saw a figure that was almost impossible to see here.

Guan En...?

In the evening of August, the sun still hung high, and the hot air stagnated between the old tube-shaped apartment buildings.

Guan En stood exactly where Zhu Yan had gotten out of the cab the previous two times. In such scorching air, he wore long sleeves and pants, wrapping himself up tightly.

But his face was completely unshielded. He stood on the street quite leisurely, as if waiting for someone.

Damn it.

What was he doing here?

Zhu Yan cursed in his heart. Maintaining the appearance of Zhoo Yen, he walked past without looking sideways.

There happened to be a surveillance camera at this intersection, and Zhu Yan didn't dare to expose his new identity and looks.

Even if he wanted to find Guan En, he couldn't just go up and talk to him directly.

Otherwise, all his previous efforts would be in vain!

Zhu Yan quickly returned to the guesthouse. As he stuffed these things into his ring, he thought slowly.

Was Guan En here to scout the area or to lure the snake out of its hole?

...Impossible.

Because under normal circumstances, seeing Guan En would only make Zhu Yan raise his guard and take a detour, the farther the better.

The police station certainly knew this.

An abnormal circumstance would be that Guan En confessed about the [Plague Exemption Time].

If the police station had studied all the clues through Guan En's player personal center and guessed that Zhu Yan might need Guan En, they could certainly send Guan En out to stand here blatantly.

However, according to the original broadcast text, the [Plague Exemption Time] was an individual perk exclusively for players.

Guan En could remain safe and symptom-free for 10 days, but that didn't mean he wasn't a carrier of the virus.

It certainly didn't mean he wouldn't infect others and cause the people around him to fall ill!

One must know that [Carnival Paradise] had a completely different attitude toward non-players.

This was evident from that mutilated corpse in the [Cat and Mouse Game].

Would the police dare to gamble?

Gamble that [Carnival Paradise] would spare non-players and let Guan En stroll around freely?

Zhu Yan smiled.

He went out again, passing through the pitch-black, unmonitored stairwell.

In this situation, he was more inclined to believe that Guan En deliberately concealed the parts related to the Plague Demon in order to survive.

This guy stood there with such a big show, afraid that others wouldn't notice him. This was probably intentional, just to attract Zhu Yan's attention.

However, there should be plainclothes officers everywhere here.

If the police didn't want Guan En to alert the target, why didn't anyone stop him?

Zhu Yan changed back to his original appearance and wandered around the old town where the surveillance was incomplete.

Guan En was indeed still standing in the same spot.

Zhu Yan walked up and patted his shoulder.

You're looking for me?

Guan En smiled, still staring intently at his face, vainly trying to remember some features.

Yes.

Are there plainclothes cops here?

This question was beyond Guan En's expectation.

There were in the morning and at noon. He smiled. Not in the afternoon. Lead the way.

Zhu Yan led him through the old streets and alleys.

No plainclothes anymore?

Since you knew I came to find you, you must have guessed the matter of the [Plague Exemption Time].

Guan En got straight to the point.

He turned his head to look at Zhu Yan, finding that he couldn't even remember the shape of the bridge of the other's nose.

Mhm, Zhu Yan uttered a single syllable.

This time I need you, Guan En continued. Since you chose to meet me, it means you have the same need.

This time Zhu Yan didn't say anything.

He remained silent for a while and asked, What did you find out? What do you need me for?

And, why are there no plainclothes cops here?

Guan En followed him into a dark, old bicycle shed.

This place was obviously abandoned, piled up with broken shared bicycles.

The plague has broken out, Guan En said. The initial plague broke out from a police officer who came here for door-to-door visits.

That would be Captain Huang.

Zhu Yan nodded, thinking of the two who knocked on the door in the morning.

He looked at Guan En. The other's eyes were as bright as when they first met, but haggard redness had appeared under his eyes.

I transmitted it, Guan En said softly. But everyone thinks it was you.

Well, this wasn't the first or second time he had taken the blame.

Despicable, Zhu Yan commented. So you hid your part and watched me take the blame?

Guan En smiled.

If you don't take it, I can't come out, which does you no good either.

Zhu Yan couldn't refute it.

That made sense.

If Guan En couldn't come out, his plan really couldn't be completed.

He narrowed his eyes, waiting for Guan En to continue.

One of the police officers had contact with the captain in the morning, went to the hospital in the afternoon, and died suddenly on the spot.

Also infected in the early morning?

Yes. Guan En looked somewhat gloomy. That captain didn't ask for leave and was still in the task force until this afternoon.

It's said that he suddenly started rotting in the office. When he was sent to the hospital, blood flowed all over the hall.

He also died suddenly on the spot.

For a moment, Guan En showed a very sad expression.

But this expression was quickly hidden.

Many police officers and medical personnel developed the same black spots. It was then that the police station realized something was wrong, very wrong.

They know the name of the Plague Demon, so naturally they suspect that it was your transaction with the Plague Demon that brought some unknown infection to the old town...

How did they suspect that? Zhu Yan interrupted him again.

Things seemed to have spiraled out of control unexpectedly once again.

His danger level at the police station must have definitely upgraded again.

I don't know what rhetoric you used to coax the Plague Demon into transferring the [Cannibal House] to you.

Guan En answered very seriously and slowly.

According to my deduction, you entered the house as a thriller creature. I found your milk tea cup under the flowerbed.

Damn it, I was careless.

Zhu Yan cursed inwardly.

He would have to remind himself ten thousand times to pay attention to details in the future.

I think your strength is insufficient, making it easy for you to expose yourself.

Under this prerequisite, if it were just an empty shell, the Plague Demon couldn't have trusted you so firmly.

Therefore, you must have grasped more information, or proposed some kind of condition in exchange.

I lean more towards the former, but after what happened today, the police station leans more towards the latter.

Zhu Yan seemed to understand something.

They think that you likely used helping to spread the plague as a condition in exchange for keeping your life, teleportation, and so on.

Zhu Yan's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

Isn't this the end of the line?

I'm facing upgraded charges now?

Yes, Guan En said. Upgraded charges, and they won't rest until they catch you. Now the police station building has been locked down; no one is allowed in or out, and everyone is quarantined in place.

"The bloodstained security room and the office the police officers used have been disinfected and sealed off. No one is allowed inside."

Guan En explained the whole situation in detail, then let out a bitter smile.

"They can't check the surveillance footage anymore, and all the plainclothes officers have been taken away for quarantine and observation."

"So, that is why I dared to show up here."

He glanced at the peaceful, happy little street outside, taking a deep breath of the comforting aroma of cooking food that filled the air.

"It is hard to say. Later on, this place might be quarantined too."

"But I can't worry about that right now."

Guan En stared into Zhu Yan's eyes, and Zhu Yan finally saw the sheer misery and despair hidden beneath the man's calm facade.

"We are in the same boat."

"Just like you, I want to live."

"Once you die, everything is gone."