Meanwhile, Lin Xiao was back at his home, But he was feeling restless.
He had spent the night regretting his actions, his mind plagued with guilt and worry. But now with the system mission, he was feeling hopeful.
The memory-wiping incident had opened his eyes to the dangers that lurked in the shadows, and he knew he needed to be prepared for whatever came next.
Suddenly, He heard a knock on the front door of his house, He quickly looked out of his window and saw two police officers and Major Li Jing downstairs knocking on the door.
Lin Xiao's heart raced as he made his way downstairs.
The knocking at the door was insistent, and the sight of the police, along with Li Jing, the woman he had seen at the apartment, filled him with dread.
He thought briefly of running, but he quickly dismissed the idea. He wouldn't make the same mistake again.
"Stay here and don't use your powers," he instructed Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie, his voice barely a whisper.
The cats, sensing his anxiety, curled up on his bed, their eyes alert.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he could hear his mother speaking with Li Jing. "It's just a normal check-up because of a terrorist threat," Li Jing was saying, her tone polite but firm.
Lin Xiao knew she was lying. He steeled himself and stepped into the living room. "Mom, what's going on?"
Mother Lin turned to him, her face a mask of concern. "These officers are just conducting a routine check, Xiao. There's nothing to worry about."
Li Jing's eyes locked onto Lin Xiao, and she gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Mr. Lin, we just need to ask you a few questions. It's all standard procedure."
Lin Xiao nodded, trying to appear calm. "Of course. What do you need to know?"
Li Jing gestured to the couch. "Why don't we sit down? This won't take long."
As they settled onto the couch, the police officers positioned themselves discreetly around the room, maintaining a presence without being overtly threatening. Mother Lin stood nearby, watching with a worried expression.
"We understand that you were friends with Zhang Wei," Li Jing began, her tone conversational. "Is that correct?"
Lin Xiao nodded. "Yes, we go to the same school."
"And you visited him yesterday, correct?" she continued.
"No," Lin Xiao lied, his face betraying no emotion. "I didn't visit him yesterday."
Li Jing's eyes narrowed slightly, studying him intently. "Are you sure about that, Mr. Lin? We have witnesses who saw someone matching your description at his house."
Lin Xiao maintained his calm demeanor. "I'm sure. I was busy with schoolwork and didn't go out."
Li Jing leaned back, her gaze still fixed on him. "Did you notice anything unusual about Zhang Wei recently? Anyone else around him, anything out of place?"
Lin Xiao shook his head. "No, nothing like that. Why? Is he in trouble?"
Li Jing's expression was inscrutable. "Someone attacked Zhang Wei yesterday. He is in a coma right now."
The words hit Lin Xiao like a punch to the gut. His mind raced, guilt and panic threatening to overwhelm him. "What? How? I mean, who would do that to him?"
"We were hoping you could help us with that," Li Jing said, her eyes never leaving his face. "Do you have any idea who might have wanted to harm him?"
Lin Xiao's thoughts were in turmoil.
He couldn't reveal his involvement or the existence of his powers, but he had to say something. "No, I don't. Zhang Wei didn't mention any enemies or anything like that."
Li Jing leaned forward slightly, her gaze intense. "Did Zhang Wei ever talk about anything unusual? Any concerns or fears he had recently?"
Lin Xiao hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "He did seem a bit stressed lately, but I thought it was just schoolwork. He didn't say anything specific."
There was a long, uncomfortable silence as Li Jing studied him. Finally, she nodded. "Alright, Mr. Lin. If you remember anything or think of anything that might help, please let us know."
She handed him a card with her contact information. Lin Xiao took it, his hands trembling slightly. "I will. Thank you."
Li Jing stood, signaling the end of the conversation. "We'll be in touch."
As the police officers and Li Jing left, Lin Xiao's mother approached him, her face etched with worry. "Xiao, is everything alright?"
Lin Xiao forced a smile, though his heart was heavy with guilt and fear. "Yeah, Mom. Everything's fine."
After they had gone, Lin Xiao hurried back to his room, closing the door behind him. Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie were waiting, their eyes reflecting his anxiety.
"Zhang Wei's in a coma," Lin Xiao whispered, more to himself than to the cats. "What have I done?"
He collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.
The memory of using Lil' Blackie's power to erase Zhang Wei's memory haunted him. He had thought he was protecting his friend, but now Zhang Wei was worse off than ever.
"We need to be more careful," he muttered, clutching the business card in his hand. "They're onto us. We have to figure out what to do next."
....
Back in the police van, Li Jing picked up her phone and dialed Wang Yong's number.
As the call connected, she could hear the faint hum of the vehicle's engine and the murmur of the officers in the back.
"Colonel," she said as soon as he answered. "Lin Xiao was lying."
Wang Yong's voice was steady. "How can you be sure?"
"I could hear his heartbeat fluctuating," Li Jing replied. "He was definitely hiding something."
There was a pause on the other end before Wang Yong spoke again. "This is the second friend of Zhang Wei who is lying now. First, it was Wang Lei, and now Lin Xiao. This is getting complicated."
Li Jing nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "What do you want me to do next?"
Wang Yong's voice took on a decisive tone. "Go check on Li Na. If both Wang Lei and Lin Xiao are involved, it's possible she might be as well. We need to cover all our bases."
"Understood," Li Jing replied. "I'll head there immediately."
As the call ended, Li Jing relayed the new instructions to the driver, and the van changed direction towards Li Na's residence.