Chapter 17: Plans for the Future

Wei Yi.

It is said that he and Xu Yingcai have been close friends since childhood. Unlike the elder Xu, who continued his studies smoothly, Wei Yi’s high school performance was less than ideal. He dropped out hastily and entered the workforce. It wasn’t until a few years ago, after years of hard experience in the school of life and with a bit of minor assistance from influential contacts, that he gradually became a small but promising business owner.

At the same time, he is one of the few people officially authorized to travel back and forth between Dongcheng and the satellite city.

This is reportedly related to the industry he oversees.

“Uncle Wei is busy all year round. It’s only these few days that he can rest. Soon he’ll have to leave again. He came to sit with your uncle for a bit.”

Xu Mingsong had some impression of Wei Yi.

But as soon as this cheap uncle came up with, “Hey, I used to hold you when you were little!” Xu Mingsong couldn’t help but stiffen a bit.

Young and spirited, he couldn’t quite get along with these two middle-aged men full of complaints. Fortunately, old Xu knew his son’s personality well and didn’t force him to drink or continue the conversation. He waved his hand and told him to grab a soda and sit aside.

On the television, news from Dongcheng had just started playing.

Xu Mingsong sat upright, his gaze fixed on the beautiful female anchor’s face as she delivered the news. Most of it was trivial, easily skimmed over, but a missing persons notice caught his attention.

[Urgent Missing Person Notice.]

[A seven-year-old girl went missing at her doorstep on Linjiang Road, Jiang District. She has been missing for over 48 hours.]

[Name: Fang Li; age: seven; height: 1.3 meters; bangs on forehead; double eyelids...]

He paused, suddenly remembering that he had seen this missing person notice on the bus yesterday.

He paid extra attention to such matters—several classmates had disappeared when he was young, still missing to this day.

“A missing person notice?” Old Xu looked over and said, “Oh, that one? It’s from our neighborhood.”

“Ah?” Xu Mingsong was taken aback.

Old Xu shook his head: “The day before yesterday when I went out, I ran into their parents. The child’s mother was crying nearby—it was quite heartbreaking, really. It’s hard not to feel sympathy. They’re still searching, but it’s been so long, I doubt they’ll find anything.”

Wei Yi shook his head too: “The world’s in chaos. Mingsong, don’t wander around too much. If you run into danger, it would be troublesome.”

Old Xu chuckled: “That kid is smart. We don’t need to worry.”

It was quite strange.

Now, when Xu Mingsong heard such news, his first thought wasn’t about kidnappers but rather whether some supernatural force was at play.

He sat thoughtfully for a while, then cupped his hands to bid old Xu goodbye, carrying his many bags into the bedroom.

“Aren’t you staying a bit longer?” Old Xu called after him. Xu Mingsong declined, and once the door closed, there was no more response.

Wei Yi glanced at the TV, where the couple was crying in front of the reporter’s camera. He popped a peanut in his mouth and said, “Your kid seems pretty anxious, huh?”

“Maybe he’s enjoying himself,” old Xu replied.

Wei Yi clapped his hand loudly: “Acting bravely, huh?”

“Exactly!” Proud of his son, old Xu laughed heartily.

—Acting bravely.

It was only after talking with old Xu that Xu Mingsong learned that Yuan Jing had indeed helped handle the matter.

Last night, Xu Mingsong had sent a message to his parents that sounded like a suicide note, nearly terrifying them to death. Until he was detained and interrogated, and Yuan Jing searched his phone. After uncovering some inappropriate anime-style images harmful to a young mind, Yuan Jing also found his message history.

Yuan Jing then sent an ambiguous message to his parents assuring them he was safe. Once it was confirmed he would join the Fourth Team, Yuan Jing even stamped it as “acting bravely,” unilaterally informing his parents: We’ve figured it out. Your son acted bravely this time. We’ll send you a banner of appreciation soon!

I mean, what’s going on with old Xu and Mrs. Yi? Your son’s been missing for a day! One is here drinking and eating peanuts; the other still has the heart to play mahjong!

But this...

Slap!

Xu Mingsong covered his face with his hand.

“My browsing history...”

Yuan Jing had gone through it all!

In the bedroom, Xu Mingsong knelt on the bed, crying out in despair, sinking deep into emo despair.

“Tsk tsk tsk, it’s just your browsing history. Let me have a look...”

“Get lost! No peeking!” Xu Mingsong snatched his phone back and stuffed it into his pocket.

“Oh? There’s a secret, huh?” For some reason, Ming suddenly grew excited. “Let me see if your mind is normal or not!”

“Don’t say that! That was a friend borrowing my phone to look something up!”

“Alright, alright. Then show me your friend’s little secret hobbies, huh? I won’t laugh at your friend, don’t worry.” Ming nodded seriously, then grinned: “I’ll only laugh at you, little virgin who conjures friends out of thin air.”

Red with embarrassment.

Mainly because his lifelong reputation was ruined, and he was mocked by this lousy cat!

“The virgin didn’t do anything to you!” He smacked the mattress hard.

Ming just shook his head: “What a fierce outburst.”

Xu Mingsong deflated immediately. He rolled his eyes and got down to business.

First, he obediently tidied the books Yuan Jing had given him, placing the moderately thick “Monster Hunting: Newcomer’s Manual” on the desk, and stuffed the rest into a transparent storage box—the bookshelf was already full!

Then, with a nervous heart, Xu Mingsong opened his WeChat contacts.

[Sis Ming, are you there?]

Not a single reply for a full forty minutes.

Tsk, look at this person, playing dead...

It’s really okay, my friend.

I can watch over our chat window doing nothing at all until you decide to reply after you’re reborn!

Xu Mingsong gave a thumbs-up, just about to say, “If you keep playing like this, then your sword is going to be thoroughly toyed with by me! I’ll wait until this elder sister remembers she has a dear little brother and returns it!”

But when he reached back, his hand found nothing.

“You didn’t bring any sword?”

Right, Ming’s borrowed—no, stolen—sword had been confiscated by Yuan Jing. When he returned home, he was handed a pile of books, but the bronze sword was left behind, probably returned to its rightful owner.

Xu Mingsong rubbed his hands in frustration and typed: [Thanks in advance, sis.]

Beside him, Ming had already picked up the Newcomer’s Manual and was reading with keen interest.

“You’re even more studious than me?”

“Hmph, how else would you be wise if you don’t read?” Ming snorted lightly, leisurely flipping the pages. “Besides, I don’t remember much right now. There’s so much reference material here—shouldn’t I study it well? So when things happen, I can explain them to you.”

“You’re helping me study?”

“You have to study too!”

Ming firmly refused to let him slack off.

Xu Mingsong sat down in front of Ming.

“There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

“Oh? What is it?”

The white cat flew onto his bed and lay down near his pillow, holding the manual in its paws, casually glancing at him.

Xu Mingsong hesitated a moment, then confessed, “The future.”

“The future?” Ming frowned.

Once the topic was opened, Xu Mingsong felt some relief from the pressure. He spoke solemnly: “I have very important intelligence, but I’m not sure how to handle it or what the right course is. So I want to discuss it with you.”

Ming was surprised: “You trust me that much?”

“Don’t I deserve your trust?” Xu Mingsong countered in surprise.

“Hah! You’re slandering your cat sister’s character!” Ming proudly puffed up his chest and snorted coldly. “Tell me, and I’ll give you advice. Even if it’s the end of the world and meteorites fall from space, your cat sister will slap them back!”

He nodded.

“The end of the world, if it really comes.”

“Ah?”