As night fell, the city's outline gradually blurred in the distance, with only the dim yellow streetlights dotting the lonely streets. Chen Shanyi had been in the city for several days now, each day surrounded by an invisible pressure. The closer she got to the truth, the more she felt herself sinking deeper into a vortex she couldn't escape. Everything here seemed to be part of an intricately woven web, and no matter how much she struggled, she couldn't break free.
Tonight, she once again found herself at a place she had once avoided—the "Red Moon Bar." It was a place where her father had once made connections with important figures, and a place she had heard about many times as a dangerous location. The bar's entrance was lit by neon lights, casting a blurry glow. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and alcohol, as if every corner was filled with invisible temptations, hinting at desires people could not resist.
"Care for a drink?" A low voice came from behind her. Chen Shanyi's heart skipped a beat. She turned around and saw the man she was all too familiar with—Lin Hao.
"What are you doing here?" Chen Shanyi furrowed her brow, unease rising within her.
Lin Hao smiled slightly, his eyes gleaming with something difficult to decipher. "I could feel you'd come," he said, lightly touching the rim of his glass with his finger. His voice was low and magnetic. "You didn't come for a drink, did you?"
Chen Shanyi paused for a moment, her heartbeat quickening. Although she didn't fully trust Lin Hao, she knew that the man before her was not as simple as he seemed. He was inscrutable, always appearing when she needed him most. Every time they met, he carried an inexplicable charm that made it hard for her to keep her distance.
"You know why I'm here," Chen Shanyi said, her voice calm yet resolute. "I'm here to find out the cause of my father's death."
Lin Hao's smile faded slightly, and the playful gleam in his eyes disappeared. He put down his glass and looked at her intently. "Do you think you'll find the answer here?"
"I don't know," she answered, meeting his gaze. Her eyes were firm. "But I won't stop."
"Do you think you can bear the truth?" Lin Hao suddenly took a step closer, his voice deep and magnetic. "You think you're only after your father's cause of death? You're wrong, Shanyi. Once you step into this world, there's no going back."
Chen Shanyi's heart trembled, and she couldn't help but recall the words Lin Hao had once said to her: "You will face an unprecedented trial." At that time, she hadn't paid much attention to them, but now, those words felt like a sharp needle, deeply piercing her heart.
"I know," she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "No matter what, I must know."
Lin Hao's gaze deepened as though he was considering something. After a moment of silence, he smiled lightly, as if everything had already been decided. "In that case, let me tell you a few things." He gestured for her to follow him.
They walked through the bustling bar, weaving through the crowd, until they stopped in front of a door without any sign. Lin Hao opened the door and motioned for her to go in. Chen Shanyi hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she stepped inside.
The room was dimly lit, with a damp, moldy smell in the air. Chen Shanyi felt a wave of unease, but she didn't turn back. She knew she was getting closer to the truth.
"Your father's death isn't as simple as you think," Lin Hao's voice rang out again, low and gloomy. "He was involved in a world far deeper and more dangerous than you can imagine. It's a world controlled by an organization, and you, Shanyi, are the missing piece they need."
"What organization?" Chen Shanyi's heartbeat quickened as she felt herself falling into a more complex situation.
"Your father's death was just the beginning. This organization holds countless secrets, and you, you are the one who can uncover them." Lin Hao's eyes were like still water, calm on the surface, but each word struck her heart like a heavy blow.
"What are you trying to tell me?" Chen Shanyi's voice grew more urgent.
"You must be prepared, Shanyi." Lin Hao gazed at her, no trace of a smile on his face. "The truth is deadly, and you can't turn back."
Chen Shanyi's thoughts instantly fell into chaos. She had thought that searching for the truth behind her father's death was merely about solving a mystery, but now, Lin Hao's words made her realize that she had already stepped into a much larger vortex. The organization and her father's death were somehow connected to her own life.
"What can I do?" She whispered, the weight of uncertainty pressing on her heart. She had never felt so lost.
"The only thing you can do is move forward," Lin Hao said, a mysterious glint flashing in his eyes. "You have two choices: continue pursuing the truth or exit this game. But you must understand that whichever path you choose will change your life forever."
Chen Shanyi closed her eyes, her father's face appearing in her mind. She had once believed that her father's death was an accident, but now, she understood that it was no accident. Behind every mystery was a deeper conspiracy, and she was destined to become a part of it.
She opened her eyes, took a deep breath, and finally made her decision. "I will move forward, no matter the dangers ahead."
Lin Hao's lips curled up slightly, a strange light flashing in his eyes. "You haven't disappointed me," he whispered. "Then, welcome to the true trial, Shanyi."
With Lin Hao's words echoing in the air, the door slammed shut, and the darkness seemed to swallow everything around her. This decision pushed her toward a destiny far deeper than she could fathom, and there was no turning back.