Chapter 163: Coming Online

“Where were you today? Even if you don’t want to attend class, at least check in! If you keep this up, you’ll lose your credits,” Takeda grumbled loudly as he removed his shoes at the entrance.

As he walked into the living room, he noticed someone else was there—a young woman.

She was striking. Her semi-long, sleek hair fell naturally over her shoulders. She wore a pair of silver, thin-framed glasses, a light silk dress in pale white, and elegant heels, exuding an indescribable air of intellectual beauty. Despite her young age, there was a refined and cool allure in her expression, carrying a hint of maturity. However, her slightly aloof demeanor added an unapproachable distance and an air of mystery.

“Masashi, is she your girlfriend?” Takeda whispered as he walked over to Lei Yin.

Ignoring him, Lei Yin turned to the girl. “Kazumi, let’s go eat outside. You can invite your classmates too.”

Kazumi hesitated, glancing at him. “Brother, I’m still not used to this.”

“It’s fine; you’ll get used to it gradually.”

Under his insistence, Kazumi finally nodded.

Meanwhile, Takeda, overhearing their conversation, had a look as if he’d seen a ghost.

“Mas-Masashi, is that really Kazumi?” Takeda suddenly pulled his friend aside as they walked and asked in disbelief.

“Hey, there’s a limit to how slow you can be. It’s been this long, and you’re only asking now?” Lei Yin said, shaking his head.

“But the difference is too much!” Takeda exclaimed, still unable to reconcile this elegant young woman with the plain and awkward girl she used to be.

“Really?” Lei Yin glanced at Kazumi ahead, her still somewhat distant expression making him pause in thought.

Compared to Takeda’s reaction, Takeshima Shinobu’s response upon seeing Kazumi was far more dramatic.

After a round of shrill screaming that even Takeda found grating, Takeshima began circling Kazumi like a curious pet, examining her from every angle.

“Have you had enough?” Kazumi finally snapped, unable to bear it any longer.

“Oh, it really is Kazumi!” Takeshima cried out in excitement and hugged her tightly.

Kazumi sighed, feeling powerless.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Yoshikawa and Shiraishi Akira were already waiting.

Yoshikawa’s reaction to Kazumi’s transformation rivaled Takeda’s. Shiraishi Akira, however, only showed a brief flicker of surprise before returning to his usual composed demeanor.

Perhaps uncomfortable with the attention, Kazumi remained unusually silent throughout the meal, even quieter than before. Lei Yin noticed everything.

After the meal, Lei Yin turned to her. “Kazumi, come to my apartment. I want to talk to you.”

Kazumi looked up at him and nodded.

“I want to…” Takeda began, but Lei Yin’s sharp glare cut him off.

“Akira, could you take Kazumi’s classmate home?” Lei Yin still hadn’t bothered to learn Takeshima’s name.

“You owe me one,” Shiraishi Akira replied with a faint smile.

“We’ll head out first.” After Takeshima bid farewell to Kazumi, Lei Yin led his sister away.

Once they left, Takeda stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Who would’ve thought Kazumi was so beautiful? If I’d known, I would’ve treated her better.”

“Seriously, why did she dress like that before? What a waste,” Yoshikawa agreed.

“It’s my first time seeing Kazumi like this too, but she didn’t seem very happy tonight,” Takeshima added.

“Maybe she’s just not used to it yet.”

“Hey, Masashi’s sister’s classmate, let’s go,” Shiraishi Akira interrupted, cutting off their gossip.

“Right.” Though reluctantly, Takeshima followed him.

***

Back at the apartment, Lei Yin poured a cup of tea and set it in front of Kazumi.

“Thanks,” Kazumi said, starting to relax as she picked up the tea and took a sip.

After she set the cup down, Lei Yin suddenly spoke. “Kazumi, I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing all of a sudden?” Kazumi asked, puzzled.

“I thought you’d gradually adjust, but I didn’t expect you to feel so uncomfortable. I guess I was too impatient.”

Kazumi stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled and leaned her head gently against his shoulder.

“Brother, do you know what your biggest flaw is?”

“What is it?” Lei Yin asked, a bit confused by the question.

“You’re too kind to women. That’s not a good habit.”

“Hey, don’t make me sound like some kind of playboy.”

“Silly, that’s not what I mean. Actually, I didn’t act that way because I was nervous. How should I put it? It’s more like I suddenly felt like I wasn’t myself. I really don’t like that feeling,” Kazumi murmured after some thought.

“Kazumi, even if your appearance changes, you’re still you. You should know that better than anyone else. Your previous style wasn’t just about keeping people at a distance—it was more about rejecting your own past self.”

Lei Yin felt her body trembling slightly.

He gently turned her toward him, and as expected, her eyes were brimming with tears.

“Listen to me. It might be painful, but you can only grow by facing your past head-on. What’s done is done; you should try to make changes for yourself. Only you can step out of the shadow in your heart—no one else can help you.” Lei Yin decided to voice the thoughts he’d kept to himself.

Kazumi, now sobbing in his arms, soaked his shirt with her tears.

Lei Yin said no more and simply held her tightly.

***

It was unclear how much time had passed, but when Kazumi woke up, she found herself lying in a bed with a blanket draped over her.

For a moment, she didn’t know where she was. After glancing at the surroundings, she remembered—this was Lei Yin’s room.

Where’s my brother? She sat up slowly.

When she walked into the living room, she saw Lei Yin working on a laptop resting on his lap.

“Awake?” Lei Yin turned his head to look at her.

Kazumi walked over and sat down on the sofa next to him.

“Are you hungry? Want me to order something?” Lei Yin asked, brushing her slightly messy hair with his hand.

“I’m not hungry,” Kazumi shook her head.

Just like that night two years ago when he bid her farewell, Lei Yin noticed the same drowsy look she had after waking up—like a child still half-asleep.

“What time is it now?”

“Not quite 11 PM. You can sleep here tonight and head back tomorrow.”

Kazumi nodded. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing much, just looking up some information online,” Lei Yin replied, casually closing his MSN window.

Kazumi didn’t press further and quietly watched him work on the computer.

After a while, she suddenly said, “Brother, I want to take a part-time job.”

“Are you short on money?” Lei Yin turned to her, puzzled.

Kazumi rested her head on his shoulder and spoke softly, “No, I just want to try interacting with more people. Like you said, I should make some changes for myself. It’s just a part-time job—no big deal.”

“Really?” Lei Yin’s tone carried a hint of surprise and joy.

“Yes, but I might not even last a week before getting fired,” Kazumi joked with a smile.

“Do you want me to help you find a suitable job?”

“Please! If I can’t even manage something like this on my own, how will I find a job after graduation?”

“Just be careful. If anyone bullies you, let me know,” Lei Yin said. He wasn’t too worried, knowing that part-time jobs were common for university students, and this could be a positive step for her.

“You’re starting to sound like one of those mobsters. If you don’t change that, no girl will like you,” Kazumi teased, her tone lighter now.

Hearing her playful remark, Lei Yin knew her mood had improved.

“How about we go shopping for some clothes in a few days? Honestly, you look great in dresses,” Lei Yin suggested tentatively.

“Let me get used to this for a few days, okay? I’m still not entirely comfortable with the change,” Kazumi replied, hesitating.

“Alright, I won’t push you. But you shouldn’t wear those old glasses anymore.”

“Hey! Didn’t you say you wouldn’t push me?” Kazumi protested.

“If you don’t even change your glasses, what’s the difference? At least give me a little consolation,” Lei Yin countered.

After some back-and-forth negotiation, Kazumi finally agreed.

※※※

Before Ayano Eiko even opened the door, she could already hear Yajiro’s grating laughter coming from inside.

She cursed inwardly. This man is like a persistent leech. It’s been less than three days since they moved here, and he’s already followed them.

“Eiko, you’re back,” Yajiro greeted her enthusiastically from the couch, where he was watching TV, as she stepped inside.

Hearing his voice, Ayano Akiko quickly came out of the kitchen.

“Eiko, you’re back. Have you eaten?”

“I already ate,” Eiko replied curtly, heading straight to her room.

“Eiko, I need to talk to you about something,” Yajiro suddenly stood up and called out to her.

The police inspector had no interest in humoring him. “Sorry, I’m busy.”

“Eiko, can’t you at least listen to what Mr. Yajiro has to say?” Akiko interjected, unable to hold back.

“If there’s something to discuss, you can talk to him yourself. I have a lot to do. Excuse me,” Eiko responded and walked directly to her room without acknowledging Yajiro further, leaving him awkwardly standing there.

“I’m sorry. She’s so rude,” Akiko apologized profusely.

“It’s fine. I’ll find an opportunity to have a proper talk with her. Don’t worry,” Yajiro reassured her.

Inside her room, Eiko grimly pulled out her laptop from her bag.

As it booted up, she began to regret snapping at her mother. Under normal circumstances, she would have controlled her temper better, but her mood had been particularly bad these past few days—bad enough to drain her patience entirely.

The main reason was the mysterious person who hadn’t contacted her for days.

Since that person had scolded her on MSN for acting recklessly, they had cut off all communication.

Normally, she wouldn’t care if someone ignored her, but this person was her only lead for crucial information—an essential key to making progress on her case. If they truly cut ties, she wouldn’t know how to proceed. After all, she wasn’t dealing with an ordinary criminal, but potentially a high-ranking government official with significant power.

Once connected to the internet, she immediately opened MSN.

Upon entering the interface, the first thing she did was check if the person was online. To her disappointment, their icon was dark, and there were no new messages.

Are they really not going to contact me anymore? A wave of unease surged through her.

Just as she was about to take a bath to calm down, she noticed the person’s icon light up.

Finally. Eiko’s heart leapt with joy. She quickly sent a message:

You’re here.

The person didn’t reply immediately. After a moment, they sent a message that made Eiko’s heart race:

Listen carefully. I’ve found out where the lab is.

Are you serious? Eiko typed back at lightning speed.

Yes.

Hurry and tell me where it is. Eiko pressed on eagerly.

After a moment, the other person didn’t reply.

Why aren’t you answering? Tell me where the lab is! If the person were in front of her, she would’ve grabbed them by the collar to demand answers.

Still, there was no response.

Growing increasingly anxious, Eiko fired off several more messages.

Nearly two minutes later, the person finally replied:

I’m busy right now. I’ll talk to you in detail tomorrow night.

With that, their icon immediately dimmed, indicating they had gone offline.

“You moron! Would it kill you to say one more sentence?” Furious, Eiko yelled out in an uncharacteristically unladylike manner.