He Shun and Luan Xie were sitting on opposite couches, facing only one man—He Shun's friend who worked in the police. His name was Mire, and he had been friends with Shun since high school.
He Shun told Mire everything truthfully, not even hiding Luan Xie's real identity. The two were sure that Mire would not take them seriously. Luan Xie even told He Shun that.
"Look, I know I sound crazy, but it is true," He Shun tried to explain himself. He looked at Mire with a worried gaze, trying to read the latter's mind.
Luan Xie was the same as He Shun, but he was not as obvious as the actor. He still kept some decency inside him, but he was scared that Mire might not take them seriously.
Mire did not have any expression. It was hard to know what was in his mind. His gaze flickered on Luan Xie, and then on He Shun. After a few minutes of pure silence from Mire, he finally said,
"I understand."
He Shun seemed taken aback at first, believing that Mire was saying this just for the namesake. Knowing how Mire was, He Shun thought the latter would take him to a mental asylum and Luan Xie to the police station for trickery.
"I am really being serious," He Shun frantically said. Luan Xie looked at He Shun, feeling something softening inside him upon seeing the latter diligently trying to help him.
Mire sighed, "I know. I might also have gotten myself in a bit of a similar situation."
This one took both of them by surprise. "What do you mean by that?" He Shun asked, sounding curious with his tone of voice.
"You already know that I like painting canvases, don't you?" Mire said as a matter of fact to He Shun, who nodded in response. He was curious to know where this was going and how this was related to Mire's similar situation.
Luan Xie was a bit confused by the new term he came across, like canvases, but he picked the meaning up by 'painting'.
"Well, I painted a man who often appeared in my dreams when I suddenly saw the person in my studio the night I finished my work," Mire explained.
He Shun's eyes widened, and so did Luan Xie's. This new encounter was completely different yet to similar to Luan Xie. They did not expect that there would be another situation like this, and that too to someone close to He Shun.
"At first, I thought it was just a coincidence because there was no way my mind could make up a person's face so vividly in my dream if I never saw them before. However, I checked everywhere and there was no person like that. So, I had to come around it in the end."
He Shun did not know what to say. On one hand, he was glad that his words were taken seriously because Mire had a similar experience, but on the other hand, he did not know what to do. He was confused about the whole thing. Honestly speaking, He Shun was trying to avoid the fact that Luan Xie came from a novel and tried his best to see Luan Xie as a real person, but he knew he could not escape the reality anymore.
"Did he figure out a way to go back?" For the first time since Mire came, Luan Xie spoke up.
Mire shook his head. "No, he did not," he answered.
Luan Xie nodded in disappointment. He sighed, feeling confused and disheartened once again, but that was not the main issue right now. The focus should be on the bracelet, nothing else.
He Shun took the initiative to bring the topic back again. Surprisingly, ever since Luan Xie opened up to him about the story behind his bracelet, He Shun had slowly but successfully been able to read Luan Xie's mind.
"So, about the bracelet now, you told us that the mafia has it," He Shun said, the atmosphere turning serious.
Mire nodded. "Yes, an insider informed me. When you approached me with the sketch, I made a copy and sent it to them. They confirmed it," he said.
"I know it is confidential, but do you have any clue what they might do with the bracelet next?" He Shun asked.
Mire sighed. He reflected on it for a while. Luan Xie turned his head towards He Shun in the meantime, wanting to see the latter for some reasons he was not sure himself were. He Shun looked desperate for Mire to say something about the bracelet. Luan Xie felt warmed in his heart, something he had not experienced at all. The way He Shun was trying so hard to help Luan Xie made him grateful and happy (though he would never accept it).
It was no doubt that He Shun slowly started to make a place in Luan Xie's heart.
"Fine, but if someone asks where you got this information, we do not know each other. In two weeks, there will be an auction at The Vice. The bracelet is the showstopper and will be put out to auction at last. The whole hotel will be booked, and the guests are supposed to arrive there a week earlier to supervise them. If someone is suspicious of any activities, they'll deal with them right away, and I hope you know what kind of dealing I am talking about, Shun."
He Shun nodded. He knew very well what it meant. The mafia was powerful and cruel. If someone is suspicious, they'd kill them at night, and despite knowing who did it, nobody dared to speak up.
From the way Mire and He Shun tensed up, Luan Xie figured it out, but that was still not enough to stop him. He needed his bracelet back, even if it meant death.
"Can you ask your insider if they can get us in?" He Shun asked after some deep contemplation. It was clear about his intention. He was going to bring back the bracelet to its true owner.
Mire was shocked, his face crumpled in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind? Of course not. It is dangerous, Shun. They are not some petty criminals."
He Shun sighed. He understood the concern behind Mire's words, but the bigger concern was Luan Xie's bracelet. He glanced at Luan Xie, the latter looking hesitant. He Shun did not know whether it was because he offered to go to the mafia or because he might decide not to go after hearing Mire out.
But He Shun had already set his mind onto it.
"I know they are not, but we need to get the bracelet back. Is there really no way to get there?" He Shun asked.
Mire sighed in defeat. He was aware that he might be pushing He Shun and Luan Xie to death, but he also knew that He Shun would get in no matter what.
"There is a way, but if you get caught, there is no Mire in your life once again."