They met in the school's VIP reception room (apparently that was a thing).
The door opened.
A man walked in.
Military posture.
This was Kai Zhen.
Twenty-seven. Military General. One of Phantom's... associates.
Fuck.
"So," Kai Zhen said, his voice deep and commanding. "This is Lin Yuer."
He circled Lin Yuer slowly, studying him like a general reviewing troops.
Lin Yuer forced himself to stay still, to look nervous (which wasn't hard because he WAS nervous), to not fall into defensive postures.
"Yunlan says you have training," Kai Zhen said.
"Just... self-defense videos..."
"Show me."
"What?"
Kai Zhen gestured to the open space. "Your stance. Basic defensive position."
This is a test.
[HOST! If you show him Phantom's stance, he'll KNOW! (ﾟДﾟ;)]
I know!
Lin Yuer moved into a stance—intentionally sloppy, feet too close together, weight distribution wrong, hands positioned awkwardly.
Kai Zhen watched.
Then moved.
Fast.
He threw a punch—pulled, not meant to connect, just to test reaction.
Lin Yuer's body wanted to block, counter, disable.
Instead, he flinched and stumbled backward, falling on his ass.
Nailed it.
"Pathetic," Kai Zhen said.
But then Kai Zhen's eyes narrowed. "Do it again. And this time, don't fake it."
Shit.
"I'm not faking—"
"Your micro-expressions say otherwise. Your eyes tracked my movement perfectly. Your muscles tensed to counter before you forced yourself to fall. You have training. Real training." Kai Zhen leaned down. "Who taught you?"
Play dumb. Play scared.
"N-no one! I just—YouTube—"
"YouTube doesn't teach muscle memory." Kai Zhen grabbed his wrist, checking pulse.
He's too good.
Xie Yunlan intervened. "Kai Zhen, you're scaring him."
"Good. Fear reveals truth." But Kai Zhen released Lin Yuer's wrist. "You move like someone I knew. Someone I lost three years ago."
Lin Yuer's heart clenched.
"I don't know who you're talking about," he whispered.
"Don't you?" Kai Zhen's expression was intense. "Phantom. The world's greatest assassin. He died in Shanghai three years ago. But you... you move like him. Fight like him. Even your eyes—when you think no one's looking—they're his eyes."
Stop.
Please stop.
"I'm not—"
"I know Phantom is dead. I saw the reports. The cleanup. The closed case." Kai Zhen's voice dropped. "But if there was even a chance—if somehow, impossibly, he came back—I need to know."
The room was silent.
Lin Yuer could feel both men staring at him.
They can't know.
"I'm just Lin Yuer," he said finally, his voice steady despite everything. "A scholarship student who's had a really weird week. I don't know anyone named Phantom. I'm not anyone special. I'm just... me."
It wasn't a complete lie.
He WAS Lin Yuer now.
Phantom died three years ago.
This was a different life.
Right?
Kai Zhen studied him for a long moment.
Then nodded slowly. "Alright. If you say so."
But his eyes said: I don't believe you.
Lin Yuer escaped to the rooftop, needing air and space.
Wei Feng found him there.
"Yuer! Oh my god!" Wei Feng was waving his phone frantically. "You're EVERYWHERE! The photos with Xie Yunlan! The confrontation with Zhang Hao! There's even a SHIP NAME for you two!"
"A what?"
"YueLan! Or XiYu! The internet can't decide! There are FANFICS already!"
Kill me. Please.
"It's not like that," Lin Yuer groaned. "He's just... helping."
"Helping by giving you a black card and staring at you like you hung the moon?"
"He doesn't—"
"Yuer. I watched the videos. He looks at you the way my mom looks at her favorite drama leads." Wei Feng sat beside him. "Who ARE you, really?"
That's the question, isn't it?
"I don't know anymore," Lin Yuer admitted honestly.
"Well, whoever you are, I'm glad we're friends." Wei Feng smiled. "Even if you're secretly a hidden young master or a reincarnated assassin or whatever."
"WHAT?!"
"I'm kidding! Obviously!" Wei Feng laughed. "Though that would explain a lot. Like how you suddenly got so pretty. And how you scared off those bullies yesterday with just a look. And how you move sometimes like you know exactly where everyone is—"
[Wei Feng is more perceptive than expected! (゚o゚;;]
No kidding!
"Wei Feng—"
"I'm just saying! You're mysterious! It's cool!" Wei Feng handed him a dumpling. "Here. Eat. You barely ate yesterday."
Lin Yuer took the dumpling gratefully.
At least someone's treating me normally.
Then Wei Feng's expression turned serious. "But really, Yuer. If you're in trouble... you can tell me. I know I'm just a chubby nobody, but I want to help."
"You're not a nobody," Lin Yuer said firmly. "You're my friend. The only real friend I have."
Wei Feng's eyes got suspiciously shiny. "Yuer..."
Before either could say more, the rooftop door slammed open.
A man with silver-white hair and predatory eyes stepped out.
Oh no.
Shen Rui.
Underground king. Information broker. One of Phantom's... complicated associations.
"Well, well," Shen Rui purred. "The mysterious Lin Yuer. I've been looking for you."
Wei Feng immediately moved in front of Lin Yuer. "Who are you?"
"No one important." Shen Rui's smile was dangerous
He walked forward. Wei Feng held his ground.
Brave idiot.
"Wei Feng," Lin Yuer said quietly. "Go inside."
"But—"
"Please."
Wei Feng looked between them, clearly torn. Finally, reluctantly, he left.
Shen Rui waited until the door closed.
Then he moved—fast as a snake—and pinned Lin Yuer against the rooftop wall.
"Now," Shen Rui whispered, his face inches from Lin Yuer's. "Let's talk about who you really are."
Shen Rui had Lin Yuer pinned against the rooftop wall, one hand braced beside his head, the other gripping his chin to force eye contact.
"You know," Shen Rui murmured, his silver eyes gleaming, "most people flinch when I get this close. But you..." He tilted his head. "Your breathing is controlled. Your pupils aren't dilating in fear. Your muscles haven't tensed to flee."
Shit.
"I'm... frozen with fear?" Lin Yuer tried, making his voice shake.
"Liar." Shen Rui's thumb traced along Lin Yuer's jawline. "You're assessing me. Calculating escape routes. Identifying my weak points." His smile widened. "Just like Phantom used to do."
"I don't know who—"
"Don't insult my intelligence." Shen Rui leaned closer. "I'm the underground king. I trade in secrets. And you, Lin Yuer, are hiding the most interesting secret I've encountered in three years."
"Which is?"
"You're Phantom. Somehow. Impossibly. But you are."
Lin Yuer forced himself to laugh. It came out strained. "That's insane. Reincarnation isn't real."
"Isn't it?" Shen Rui's expression was unreadable. "Three years ago, Phantom died. Six months later, a boy named Lin Yuer suddenly got very sick—the original Lin Yuer. He recovered, but people said he was... different. Quieter. More observant."
He investigated that far back?
"Coincidence," Lin Yuer managed.
"I don't believe in coincidences." Shen Rui's hand moved from Lin Yuer's chin.