As Lin Xiao eavesdropped on the conversation, he picked up more details about the unsettling situation.
"...seems like they target random people," one student remarked, their voice low but urgent.
"Yeah, I heard they've been operating for months now, and the police are clueless," one student whispered.
"The weird thing is, they always leave those creepy balloons," another student chimed in. "It's like some sick game to them."
Lin Xiao's heart raced as he absorbed the chilling information. The culprits' pattern was clear: a week of balloons, followed by the victim's disappearance. It sent shivers down his spine.
Soon the lesson ended.
Lin Xiao approached the group of students, his curiosity driving him forward. His newfound confidence, buoyed by his success in the basketball match, emboldened him to seek more information about the mysterious case.
"Hey, guys," he greeted them, trying to sound casual despite the urgency gnawing at him. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation earlier about those kidnappings with the balloons. Do you know any more about it?"
The students glanced at each other, seemingly hesitant to divulge more details.
However, Lin Xiao's earnest expression and the camaraderie forged during the basketball match seemed to sway them.
"Yeah, it's been all over the news lately," one of them began. "The police are stumped. Nobody knows who's behind it or why they're doing it."
"They say the victims receive balloons every day for a week," another added, his voice lowering to a hushed tone. "Then, poof, they're gone without a trace."
One of the students leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper as he shared a chilling detail. "There's this guy, an office worker, right? He's been getting balloons delivered to his workplace for the past five days. The police are practically camping out there, saying they won't let him get kidnapped."
Lin Xiao's eyes widened at the revelation. The gravity of the situation hit him like a ton of bricks. "Do they have any leads on who might be behind it?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
The student shook his head solemnly. "Nah, not a clue. But they're taking it seriously. They've got undercover cops everywhere, trying to catch whoever's behind this before it's too late."
Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat as the realization sank in. "Wait, where is this office worker?" he asked, his mind racing with the implications.
The students exchanged glances, their expressions grim. "We don't know his name, but we know where he works," one of them replied quietly. "It's at the Huaqiang Building, on the corner of Main Street and Maple Avenue."
Lin Xiao's eyes widened in shock. "That's... that's near my house," he blurted out, his voice trembling slightly. "I pass by there every day on my way to school and back."
The gravity of the situation hit him like a ton of bricks. The thought of danger lurking so close to home sent a chill down his spine.
He couldn't shake the feeling that their quiet neighborhood was no longer safe.
As the next teacher entered the classroom and began their lesson, Lin Xiao found himself unable to focus.
His mind was consumed by thoughts of the serial kidnappings, his imagination running wild with worst-case scenarios.
He worried for his family's safety, especially as the only male member since his father's passing. It was a heavy responsibility, one that weighed heavily on his young shoulders.
With each passing minute, his anxiety grew, overshadowing any other concerns he might have had.
As the end of the school day approached, he resolved to speak to Lin Meiying and his mother, urging them to be extra cautious and to notify him immediately if they encountered anything suspicious—particularly if they came across any balloons.
As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Lin Xiao gathered his belongings.
As Lin Xiao gathered his belongings and prepared to leave, Zhang Wei approached him with a reminder about their plan to visit the Internet cafe.
Lin Xiao hesitated for a moment, his mind filled with thoughts of the recent serial kidnappings.
But after a moment's consideration, he pushed those worries aside, realizing he was probably overthinking things.
"Yeah, I'll come," Lin Xiao replied, mustering up a smile.
He knew he needed to step out of his comfort zone, spend more time with his new friends, and not be like the old overcautious him.
With his decision made, Lin Xiao joined Li Na, Zhang Wei, and Wang Lei as they made their way to the internet cafe.
...
Inside the bustling internet cafe, the atmosphere buzzed with the hum of computers and the chatter of excited gamers.
Lin Xiao settled into his seat alongside Li Na, Zhang Wei, and Wang Lei, trying to focus on the conversation about their favorite games.
"Have you guys played the latest update of 'Legends of Ping Pong'?" Zhang Wei asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Yeah, it's awesome! The new characters are OP," Wang Lei chimed in, nodding enthusiastically.
Li Na added, "I'm more into 'Mystic Pong Realm'. The graphics are insane, and the storyline just keeps getting better."
Lin Xiao nodded along, but his mind was elsewhere. As his friends discussed their gaming experiences, he found himself opening a new tab on his computer, searching for recent news about the serial kidnappings that had been troubling him.
As he skimmed through the articles, Li Na noticed his distraction and leaned over to peek at his screen. "Hey, Lin Xiao, what are you looking at?" she asked, curiosity evident in her voice.
Zhang Wei and Wang Lei glanced over as well, their interest piqued. "Serial kidnappings? Dude, why are you searching for that?" Zhang Wei asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's just...something that's been on my mind," Lin Xiao admitted, feeling a bit sheepish. "I can't help but worry about it, you know? Especially with everything that's going on."
Wang Lei chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Man, you're so weird sometimes. We're here to relax and have fun, not to stress about stuff like that."
Hearing Wang Lei call him weird, Lin Xiao felt a pang of anxiety. He quickly calmed himself and apologized. "Sorry, guys. I didn't mean to bring that up. I just got a little worried," he said, trying to brush it off with a smile.
His friends exchanged glances but didn't seem too bothered. Li Na patted him on the back. "It's okay, Lin Xiao. We all have our moments. Just try to relax and have fun with us."
Lin Xiao nodded, grateful for their understanding.
He didn't want to appear weird in front of his new friends; the fear of being abandoned, like his father had left him all alone, always lurked in the back of his mind. He couldn't bear the thought of losing the friends he had just made.
"Thanks, guys," he said, genuinely relieved. "Let's get back to gaming."