Luo Wei couldn't fathom what role Xiao Qinxian's smoking played in the overall clue.
Why would Hua go to such lengths to conceal it?
Just then, they arrived at the buffet restaurant.
Qin Ci stopped and looked at Luo Wei: "While it's still relatively bright, let's show everyone the animal marks on their faces again, and see if there's been any change compared to last night."
Actually, there was no need for a close look; everyone's faces had been in front of Luo Wei the whole time, and he had already memorized every detail: "Nothing's changed, almost identical to last night, except Zhao Yanbao's red mark appeared suddenly today, and the color is gradually deepening."
"What shape is it?" Zhao Yanbao couldn't help but ask.
"It's not very sculptural, just a smear, like a brush dipped in cinnabar," Luo Wei described.
Zhao Yanbao nodded, saying nothing more. As night fell, it would be a lie to say she wasn't afraid—although the most important person to her was gone, it didn't mean the living were widowed. There are many ways to remember the dead; it doesn't necessarily mean following them in death.
Therefore, Zhao Yanbao also feared death.
If Zhao Yanbao was already in such a state, the fear among others was even deeper.
Xiao Qinxian even began to use a cold laugh to cover up her nervousness: "You still have the mood to eat? Instead of wasting time, why don't you all find a way to move in together? That way, we can defend ourselves together even if danger comes!"
"Yes, yes, I think their detective agency is quite big. We could all move in and there would be enough room!" Yu Ji nodded vigorously in agreement. His face had been slightly pale, and it grew even paler as night fell. "I'm really scared. My roommate who slept with me last night is... I can still see Zhi Chun's face when I close my eyes."
Lion also said, "If we could live with Dr. Qin, I feel safer! If someone's internal beast really causes trouble, maybe Dr. Qin can find a way to help them."
Qin Ci smiled bitterly: "I'm just an ordinary surgeon, not a god. I can't do anything about beasts. Besides, the accommodation arrangements are predetermined. This is one of the rules of this game. If anyone violates this rule, they might die from some other unfortunate accident before the beast even has a chance to retaliate."
"Retaliate?" Ke Xun sensitively grasped this word.
Qin Ci further explained, "Beasts originate from the human mind. Initially, it might just be a thought, but with persistent and repeated contemplation, it slowly takes root within the body and grows into a beastly form—being killed by what's in one's own mind, calling it a backlash isn't an exaggeration, is it?"
"I was just wondering if such thoughts could be dispelled to make the beast smaller or disappear." Ke Xun looked at Qin Ci, still unable to hide his worry for his old friend, "For example, Chi Lei, her inner knot was only untied after her death. If she had been able to let go before she passed away, would the beast have faded?"
"There aren't any relevant cases in the materials I've read. After all, in this city, no one can see the red marks on the faces of the living, so there's no way to prevent them in advance. Even if those beasts faded, there's no one who can prove it." Qin Ci's expression was full of regret.
Zhu Haowen had already finished a cigarette in front of the restaurant, stubbed it out, and placed it in the designated spot in the city's trash can. "Don't block the way, let's all go inside and talk while we eat."
Although everyone had their own thoughts, they still needed to eat; only by being well-fed could they possibly withstand various dangers—even though this food might only be feeding the beast within them.
Luo Wei walked beside Zhu Haowen. "Did you hear what I just said?"
Zhu Haowen asked, somewhat puzzled. "Was it about smoking?"
"Yes," Luo Wei nodded. "Many public places here have smoking areas, like in the hospital, but unfortunately, there are very few smokers among us. You'll have to go to the smoking area alone."
Luo Wei spoke carefully, afraid that Zhu Haowen would use a completely unrelated remark to shut him up.
Zhu Haowen heard him clearly: "Firstly, it seems like I'm the only smoker in our group, and secondly, I don't like going to the smoking area with people, especially those I don't know well."
Luo Wei was secretly delighted. It was like exchanging secret codes; some key words couldn't be said, but other language could be used cleverly in a roundabout way: "Are those areas separated by gender? Just curious."
Zhu Haowen found it even stranger, feeling that these questions were completely out of character for Luo Wei, but still answered: "Logically, they aren't separated, but people usually keep their distance from the opposite sex, especially women. They seem to prefer being in groups—the hospital's smoking area here doesn't have a women-only section."
Luo Wei felt a surge of excitement, wanting to say something but becoming somewhat incoherent. Looking back, he saw Mu Yiran observing him, as if he had seen a lifeline.
Mu Yiran strode closer to the two, his gaze sweeping lightly over Xiao Qinxian in front of him: "I also saw her smoking last night, and quite a lot at that. Considering her behavior during the day, this is indeed a question worth considering."
Perhaps because there were too many things happening during the day, and Xiao Qinxian wasn't someone Mu Yiran was interested in observing, he temporarily ignored her.
Luo Wei felt so moved he almost cried: "So, all this stuff we've been talking about... you won't forget it in a few minutes, will you?"
Mu Yiran chuckled: "I don't think so. It's probably the rule; any secret that someone in the city actively discovers and mentions shouldn't just disappear into thin air."
Zhu Haowen, completely bewildered, looked at Luo Wei: Is this guy going to turn gay...?
Luo Wei decided to blurt out his thoughts all at once: "Actually, last night when I came out of your room, I saw her in the hallway. She seemed really strange, and she mentioned someone calling her room..."
Mu Yiran suddenly turned his gaze forward: "Hopefully, that spot from yesterday won't be taken by someone else; it's the quietest and most secluded place."
Luo Wei: ...This is what it feels like to have a bottle of ice water suddenly poured into a pot of bubbling instant noodles.
Something seemed to be going on at the cashier. Several members were arguing loudly with the cashier, with Xiao Qinxian's voice being the loudest: "33 transactions left?! How is that possible? We've only used it twice!"
The cashier smiled and patiently explained: "Your card has a limit of 39 transactions. You've already used it twice, so you have 33 transactions left."
"Damn it..." Xiao Qinxian couldn't help but swear, "Can't you do math? 39 minus 2 equals 37! How did it become 33?! Your store really knows how to rip off customers. You use the free first-time purchase as a gimmick to attract repeat customers, and then you rip them off with the card! But your methods are so low-class that it makes one question your intelligence and emotional intelligence!"
Ke Xun gestured for Xiao Qinxian to shut up and handed his card to the cashier, whose face was equally displeased: "Miss, could you take a look at my card?"
The cashier looked at this sunny and handsome athletic young man, her mood improved slightly, and she took the card to process it: "Sir, your situation is the same. You still have 37 purchases left. After this swipe, you will have 33 remaining."
"Why is that, Miss?" Ke Xun continued with his sunny smile, "We're new here, and there are some rules we don't know yet."
"This is Heart City, and the dates are all even numbers," the cashier explained to Ke Xun in a sweet voice. "Yesterday was April 6th, today is April 8th, and tomorrow is April 10th."
"Ah..." Ke Xun was momentarily speechless. This was simply divine rule, even more divine than the Women's Kingdom, the Rectal Kingdom, or the Black Teeth Kingdom.
The other members were stunned. Lion even blurted out a string of complaints in English before clearing his throat and saying, "What Ni means is that one day is equivalent to two days. Even though our bodies experience 24 hours, this city counts it as 48 hours. Although we only ate three meals, this city counts it as six meals."
Wei Dong couldn't help but interject, "In other words, in this city, a 40-year-old is actually 20 years old."
"You guys are all confusing me," the cashier couldn't help but laugh. "That's roughly the idea. I was born in this city and am used to this pace of time, so I don't have as many philosophical thoughts as you all. —I think that's the romance of this city; everything should come in pairs."
"Alright, alright, whatever, let's grab a seat first." Wei Dong pulled his childhood friend towards the table from yesterday. "Ke'er, you have to keep an eye on me, I want to drink again..."
Mu Yiran followed behind, stopping at the cashier to ask, "I'm just curious, are there many people from other places in this city?"
The cashier felt particularly fortunate to see so many people today, and her mood brightened accordingly. "Many people have moved to our Xincheng from other places. After all, the scenery here is beautiful, and the city planning is excellent."
Mu Yiran further inquired, "Do people from other places need to apply for a temporary residence permit here? In this case, are they considered locals, or are they still considered outsiders?"
"Don't worry about that, our city is never xenophobic. If your ID card has our city's stamp, then you're a brother or sister from the same city!" The cashier said, her face slightly flushed. "Moreover, people from the same city who marry each other receive a lot of benefits."
"What if someone from the same city marries someone from outside the Xincheng area?" Mu Yiran's gaze deepened as she pondered.
The cashier became even more talkative because of that look: "I've never seen anyone from outside the Heart City area. Our city is so safe; they couldn't possibly be illegally entering. If people in the city want to leave, they'll never be able to come back. Similarly, if outsiders move here to settle down, they can't leave again." "Ca
n't leave again?" Mu Yiran emphasized, asking again.
"Our city is so wonderful, why would anyone want to leave?" the cashier countered with a smile.
Mu Yiran smiled faintly as well: "Yes, it truly is a magical and beautiful city, one that many people linger in."