Zhang Yingying snapped her fingers. "It's good that you understand."
Such a frivolous and casual attitude was far from Luo Nan's impression of a lawyer. He felt that, compared to Xie Junping sending someone to help, the fact that he had sent this lawyer was truly shocking.
Zhang Yingying's explanation only confirmed that impression:
"You were there when the accident happened in the R&D district. You should know the military and the police are taking it very seriously. Because of the chaos over there, they don't have the energy to deal with small fries like you, and they can't screen everyone properly, so they temporarily escorted you onto the transport ship… Well, you could call it a blessing in disguise."
Luo Nan stared at her, dumbfounded. Where exactly is the blessing?
Zhang Yingying blinked. "It's a blessing not to fall completely into either side's hands! You're still underage, right? Good thing we intervened in time on the transport ship. Otherwise, if you'd been taken to the police station and processed strictly, there's no way your family wouldn't find out. Hehe."
"… "
Luo Nan was speechless.
He had to admit—she hit the mark perfectly. If his aunt found out about this, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Zhang Yingying looked satisfied when she saw his expression change. "That's not all. Did you notice the chaos on the warship just now?"
"I felt it," Luo Nan replied plainly. The Shadow Mist still filled the confinement room. Even a fool would know something was wrong.
"You've got guts," she said. "I saw the surveillance footage they sent over. Smoke everywhere, and you're alone, yet you're calm—still writing and drawing. That's rare. I like young people like you the most…"
She reached out and slapped his shoulder, making his already stiff muscles loosen.
Ignoring his reaction, she continued, "I got on the ship two hours ago. I couldn't meet you because the government and military were being overly cautious. They were worried there was someone problematic among you, so they didn't allow outside contact. But once this mess broke out, they realized isolating you was stupid and changed their strategy."
It really was difficult to contain a Darksider life form.
Luo Nan's thoughts drifted slightly.
Zhang Yingying cleared her throat theatrically. "So you need to be careful. That so-called 'isolation' looks like tight security, but it's actually just laziness. They didn't care about small fry like you before. Now that they're loosening things up, it doesn't mean they're giving up—it means they're going to screen more seriously."
Luo Nan nodded silently.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. The captain returned. "Lawyer Zhang, please prepare."
"It's finally my turn!"
Zhang Yingying stood up. In her high heels, she was half a head taller than Luo Nan. She had an imposing presence at first glance, but her youthful face and lively smile clashed oddly with her formal attire.
She glanced at Luo Nan's tense expression and blinked. "Nervous? Do you watch movies?"
He paused before answering, "Occasionally."
"In movies, what do villains say when facing the police?"
"… Please speak to my lawyer?"
"Bingo!"
She slapped his shoulder again and walked out first.
Luo Nan watched her slender figure and came to a clear conclusion:
No matter what her true intentions were, this Lawyer Zhang was not someone Xie Junping could control.
"Why are you standing there? Let's go," she called.
He smiled faintly and followed.
The interrogation area was busier than before.
Since Xie Junping had hired a lawyer for Luo Nan, the other rich kids and detainees had done the same. According to Zhang Yingying, their lawyers had formed a temporary alliance to negotiate with the police.
Technically, she was part of that group—though she clearly didn't take it seriously.
Once inside, the military withdrew, leaving everything to the police. Tests, sampling, questioning—Luo Nan cooperated fully, speaking only when necessary.
Zhang Yingying's earlier claim of a "quick resolution" turned out to be wishful thinking.
There were endless procedures, interrogations, and legal back-and-forth. Li Xuecheng was still in the medical bay, and his family wouldn't let things go easily. There were undercurrents Luo Nan didn't understand—but Zhang Yingying handled them.
Despite her casual demeanor, she showed frightening competence. From Luo Nan's perspective, all the pressure seemed intense at first, but in the end, it dissolved quietly.
He repeated his story seven or eight times.
Then… it was over.
"Oh my, what a waste of time!"
Zhang Yingying strode out of the interrogation room, ignoring the police officers' expressions. She stretched and adjusted the sapphire-blue scarf at her neck.
Ten hours had passed.
Luo Nan felt drained, but he had managed to endure it.
She clapped her hands. "Alright, it's done. The police will just keep a file. The main focus is still the R&D district. As for injuries here—don't worry, nothing will come of it."
The world of the rich… Luo Nan snorted inwardly.
"Can I leave now?"
"Not yet. The warship won't land just for you. You'll have to wait until everyone else is done."
"So I'm…"
"First one out, yeah. So you wait."
He sighed.
At that moment, he sensed something and turned his head.
A transport vehicle passed by, carrying several dismantled exoskeleton armors. A dark-faced man with a buzz cut stood atop it, staring coldly at Luo Nan.
Luo Nan met his gaze briefly, then looked away.
Weirdo.
His eyes swept over the armor. No markings—but the blue paint said everything:
Deep Blue Walkers.
And not military ones.
Most belonged to the military, but as the developer, Quantum Corporation had experimental models—lighter, stripped-down, with auxiliary equipment.
Luo Nan immediately spotted one he recognized—the second from the left.
The Field Controller.
His eyes narrowed.
He wanted to take out his notebook and record every detail—
But the dark-faced man operated something, and an invisible membrane sealed the equipment.
Luo Nan shrugged.
Petty.
"He's from Quantum Corporation, right?" Zhang Yingying asked.
"I don't know him."
"Then stop staring. Let's go."
Back in the room, Zhang Yingying stretched lazily. "Dealing with bureaucrats is exhausting."
Luo Nan stood there awkwardly.
She pointed at him and grinned. "You did well. I'll give you a gift—communication access."
The ship had partially lifted restrictions.
Luo Nan checked his wristband.
Dozens of missed calls.
Most were from Mo Ya.
His scalp tingled.
He quickly called back.
After enduring Mo Ya's furious scolding and explaining the situation, he managed to calm her down—though she showed zero sympathy.
"Serves you right for hanging out with Xie Junping," she snapped.
Still, she had covered for him with their aunt.
Luo Nan felt a bit warmer inside.
After hanging up, he braced himself and called his aunt, sticking to Mo Ya's excuse about an exam.
Somehow… he got through it.
Finally, he relaxed.
Turning around, he saw Zhang Yingying flipping through his notebook, studying his distorted sketch.
He frowned and coughed.
She looked up, completely unbothered. "This is a fantasy diagram, right? Why draw it? What do these distortions represent? And these outer lines…"
Luo Nan hesitated, then casually said, "I just felt like drawing it."
"Feeling it. That's good."
He took the notebook back and sat down, deep in thought.
Then she suddenly asked, "Want to play a round?"
Hours later, after over 200 matches, the sky outside was nearing dawn.
Luo Nan, instead of resting, picked up his pen and began sketching.
Zhang Yingying leaned over—
And froze.
Flowing lines, like drifting clouds, curled around the figure he had drawn—capturing something intangible, something she herself had never seen.
She instinctively touched her body.
Nothing.
But her senses told her otherwise.
"…My 'White Rainbow'… This is what it looks like?"
Ten seconds passed.
Then she snapped her head up, eyes locked onto him.
"You… Psychic!"