The city skyline glimmered under the moonlit night, a blend of glass and steel rising against the star-speckled sky. Lin Yuxi crouched on the edge of a high-rise rooftop, her figure a silhouette against the faint glow of neon lights below. Dressed in sleek black combat gear, her face was partially obscured by a silver mask, revealing only her piercing brown eyes. A small device in her hand blinked steadily as her fingers danced across its keypad.
A faint breeze ruffled her long dark hair as she concentrated, her fingers flying over the small keyboard. The thrill of the moment coursed through her veins, but her expression remained calm, calculating. She was close to uncovering another piece of the puzzle—another step closer to the man responsible for her family's ruin.
A family she wasn't bonded to by blood, but by loyalty and trust.
The device emitted a soft beep, signaling the successful extraction of data. Lin Yuxi tucked it into her pocket, her lips curling into a satisfied smirk. "Too easy," she muttered under her breath, standing up with the grace of a predator.
But then, an unsettling sensation prickled at the back of her neck—a silent warning that she was not alone.
She stilled for a fraction of a second, her sharp eyes sweeping the darkness. The city hummed beneath her, oblivious, yet the weight of an unseen gaze pressed against her like a phantom touch. Nothing moved. No sound betrayed another presence.
Still, she trusted her instincts.
Without hesitation, Lin Yuxi pivoted, dashing toward the rooftop's edge. Her movements were swift and soundless, a whisper against the night. With a graceful leap, she soared through the air, landing on the next building in a perfect roll before rising to her feet in one fluid motion.
From the shadows of a distant building, a lone figure watched. Cloaked in darkness, he remained unseen, yet his eyes gleamed with an intensity that seemed to strip away every illusion. He had been following her movements, observing the way she moved—like a phantom, precise and untouchable.
His lips curved, not quite a smile, but something close.
"Interesting." He murmured, his voice barely audible over the night breeze.
Miles away, inside a dimly lit warehouse, the soft clicking of a keyboard filled the air. A little boy, no older than nine, sat cross-legged on a couch, a lollipop wedged between his lips. His dark brown eyes, wide and sharp like a hawk's, stayed glued to the laptop screen, fingers typing with impressive speed.
Multiple surveillance feeds flickered across his screen, showing various street angles through the city's security cameras. He tilted his head slightly, analyzing the data.
"Take the next left turn, and in 800 meters, make a U-turn," he murmured into his headset.
"How much more time?" Lin Yuxi's voice came through his earpiece.
"Ten more minutes. It's the fastest route. No suspicion, no tails."
"Hmm…"
Lin Yuxi disconnected the call and tossed the earbud onto the passenger seat. She pulled off her mask, throwing it beside her. Her sharp brown eyes darkened as she gripped the steering wheel, thoughts swirling.
'I am so close to finding the person responsible for Yeye's death, yet it feels so far away. They say it was natural, but nothing about his death was natural. I'll make sure the one responsible suffers a fate a thousand times worse.'
A mist settled over her gaze, glistening like stars in the dark night. Yet she refused to let them turn into tears. Her porcelain-doll-like face, so delicate and refined, was etched with grievance and anger—emotions she could only afford to show when she was alone.
Lin Yuxi pulled up to the warehouse, the car's headlights briefly illuminating the large steel structure before she switched off the engine. The building stood on the outskirts of the city, appearing abandoned—rusted metal doors, cracked concrete walls, and stacks of old shipping crates littered around the perimeter. But inside, it was a different world.
She stepped out of the car, her boots making soft echoes against the cold floor as she entered. The scent of oil, dust, and faint cigarette smoke lingered in the air. Dim, flickering lights cast long shadows across the space, where a few old monitors hummed softly, showing streams of data and security footage.
At the center of the room, a small figure was curled up on a tattered couch, laptop balanced on his lap. The glow from the screen reflected in his wide, bambi-like eyes—big, round, and framed with thick lashes. His cheeks were slightly flushed, making him look even more adorable. His dark, slightly messy hair fell over his forehead, adding to his innocent appearance.
Lin Yuxi smiled slightly. "You didn't even greet me, Xuanxuan?"
Lin Xuan didn't look up, too focused on his screen. "Jiejie, I'm in the middle of hacking into a government database. Do you know how serious this is?" he huffed, his voice slightly muffled by the lollipop in his mouth.
She raised an eyebrow, feigning disappointment. "Oh? Then I guess you don't need this."
Lin Yuxi pulled out a small bag of brightly wrapped candies from her pocket and dangled it in front of him.
Lin Xuan's big eyes immediately lit up. His pride forgotten, he snatched the bag and beamed. "Jiejie, you're the best!"
A deep chuckle came from the far side of the room. "You spoil him too much, Lin Yuxi."
Lin Yuxi turned to see Kai reclining in a chair near a bank of servers, one leg crossed over the other, arms folded. He had sharp features, tousled dark brown hair, and a perpetual smirk that made him look both lazy and dangerous. His black-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, making him resemble a bored office worker—if office workers were elite hackers who could bring down entire corporations with a few keystrokes.
"He's a kid, Kai. Let him have his fun," Lin Yuxi replied, sitting down beside Lin Xuan.
Kai shrugged. "A kid who can break into government systems while sucking on a lollipop. If he weren't my apprentice, I'd be worried."
Lin Xuan pouted, crossing his arms. "I'm not your apprentice! Jiejie is my only boss."
Kai smirked but didn't argue. Lin Xuan's loyalty to Lin Yuxi was absolute.
Just then, a soft beep echoed through the room. On the table beside the monitors lay a thick envelope, its surface pristine except for the elegant golden crest stamped onto it.
Lin Yuxi's gaze sharpened as she walked over and picked it up. Flipping it over, she immediately recognized the name embossed on the front.
"Royal Crest University."
Her breath caught slightly as she carefully tore it open, pulling out the letter inside.
"Dear Miss Lin Yuxi,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been granted admission to Royal Crest University, an institution dedicated to the brightest and most influential minds of our generation…"
Her fingers tightened around the letter as she read, excitement flickering in her eyes.
Royal Crest University. An elite institution for the children of the wealthiest and most powerful figures in the world. This wasn't just a university—it was an entryway into the very world she needed to infiltrate.
A slow, knowing smirk curled her lips.
'Step one of my plan… complete.'