Chapter 2
"What's going on?" Lin Yuan said as she walked in, followed by Yuan Yu entering the dormitory of the Postal and Telecommunications Bureau.
The police car stopped in front of a building, officers lifting the cordon. Lin Yuan counted—it was Unit 7. What a coincidence.
There weren't many onlookers. Lin Yuan saw a person lying on the ground in front of the unit building, apparently having fallen. Yuan Yu said, "It's so bloody, don't look anymore."
Watching the busy police officers coming and going, Lin Yuan said, "I came to find someone, but the timing isn't great."
Yuan Yu asked, "Do you still need to go in?"
Lin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Forget it, I'll come back tomorrow. I'm going home."
The two left the old dormitory building and strolled down the street. Lin Yuan caught the faint fragrance on Yuan Yu, feeling somewhat intoxicated and dazed. After a long while, she remembered to ask, "Why did you suddenly disappear during the day?"
Yuan Yu said calmly, "You seemed captivated by the jade hairpin in the photo. You didn't hear me talking to you."
"Really?" Lin Yuan said doubtfully, "What did you say?"
Yuan Yu smiled but didn't answer. Lin Yuan was about to ask again when she saw him wave and leave. She then realized they had already arrived downstairs.
Watching Yuan Yu's retreating figure, the fragrance still lingered in the air. Lin Yuan stood there for a long time without turning around. She felt an indescribable attachment to Yuan Yu, but he, like the faint scent in the air, was elegant, charming yet melancholic, mysterious, and distant from herself.
Going upstairs and standing in the corridor, she saw Lin Rui in a suit and leather shoes. He leaned against the door, seeming to have been waiting for some time.
"Brother, why are you here?" Lin Yuan asked, opening the door and turning on the light to let Lin Rui in.
Seeing Lin Rui always gave Lin Yuan a sense of oppression. He was outstanding, with handsome features and an elegant demeanor, yet also shrewd and capable. He had taken over their father's company and was doing well.
Lin Yuan, on the other hand, had always been aimless, just living leisurely. Of course, with such an older brother, she didn't need to work hard.
Lin Rui sat on the sofa and said, "Why wasn't your phone reachable?"
Lin Yuan took out her phone and said, "The battery died and it turned off automatically. I went to the antique market in the morning and forgot to charge it when I came back to sleep."
Lin Rui's gaze swept around the room and finally settled on one end of the sofa. A jade hairpin lay quietly there. Lin Rui said, "Is this what you bought today? There isn't much left in your card, is there?"
Lin Yuan followed his gaze and saw the jade hairpin on the sofa. She quickly picked it up and took a photo from her bag, comparing it. They were identical. Lin Yuan was so surprised she was speechless.
"Xiaoyuan?" Lin Rui asked, noticing her strange expression, "What's wrong?"
Lin Yuan couldn't understand why the jade hairpin was at home. When she left, she hadn't noticed if there was anything on the sofa. But when she picked up the hairpin, her gaze was fixed on it, unable to look away.
"Xiao Yuan!" Lin Rui stood up, grabbed her shoulders, and said, "What's wrong with you!"
Lin Yuan suddenly snapped out of it and said, "What a beautiful hairpin. I really like it."
Lin Rui glanced at her and walked out, saying, "I'll transfer you some money later. Don't starve yourself buying hairpins."
Lin Rui didn't see it, but Lin Yuan's eyes were once again captivated by the hairpin, her face expressionless.
In the darkness, a click like a door closing woke the voice-activated lights. Lin Yuan found herself standing in a strange corridor, dim yellow light shining on the stairs from the corner. Rubbing her eyes, it felt as if a layer of fog obscured her vision, making everything blurry.
Reaching for the stair rail, Lin Yuan wanted to go down. A hand grabbed her arm. She turned her head and felt it was her brother. Though she couldn't see his face clearly, it made her feel relieved.
The light suddenly went out. Lin Yuan blinked. The feeling of damp mist was gone, and her eyes felt much more comfortable.
Lin Rui took out his phone and turned on the flashlight. The light it emitted wasn't the expected white, but a faint purple, somewhat eerie.
"Brother, where is this?" Lin Yuan asked.
Lin Rui replied calmly, "Just go downstairs and you'll know."
They walked down slowly in the dim light. Lin Yuan counted silently in her heart: first floor, second floor, third floor... ground floor.
So the floor they were on earlier must have been the fourth.
Exiting the building door, under the bright moonlight, Lin Yuan saw something lying on the ground ahead. Her hand instinctively tightened its grip on Lin Rui.
Lin Rui released her hand, signaling her to stay put. He walked over and, as expected, found a person lying on the ground—a woman who had fallen to her death. She had landed on the back of her head, her body soaked in blood. Perhaps valuing her appearance, even in death, she had protected her face.
In the moonlight, her face was as pale as a wall, a stark contrast to her bright red lips. Her eyes were open, the dark pupils unsettling.
Lin Yuan silently walked behind her brother and saw the fallen woman. Suddenly, she felt someone else beside her. Turning her head, she saw Yuan Yu.
"Yuan..." Lin Yuan meant to call out, but saw a cold smile on his face that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Lin Yuan..." Yuan Yu suddenly leaned in. Lin Yuan instinctively stepped back, bumping into Lin Rui. Lin Rui asked, "What's wrong, Xiao Yuan?"
Lin Yuan shook her head. Yuan Yu was gone, and she now held a jade hairpin in her hand. She raised her hand; under the moonlight, the hairpin emitted a purple light, blurring her vision further.
Lin Rui looked around and said, "We need to leave here first. This way, Xiaoyuan."
"Hehe..." Lin Yuan's lively laughter suddenly rang in her ears as she said, "The jade hairpin is truly beautiful..."
Lin Rui turned around, puzzled, and his eyes widened suddenly. He shouted loudly, "Xiao Yuan!"
Lin Rui woke from his dream, covered in cold sweat. He couldn't help but say, "Thank goodness it was just a dream!"
Getting out of bed to pour a glass of water, Lin Rui really wanted to call Lin Yuan, but it was the middle of the night. He would have to wait until dawn. Back in bed, he couldn't sleep. Lin Yuan's figure kept appearing in his mind, and in his daze, he seemed to hear her voice saying, "The jade hairpin, it's so beautiful!"
"Jade hairpin, jade hairpin... no!" Lin Rui shouted, sitting up abruptly. It was already dawn. He immediately called Lin Yuan. It rang for a long time before connecting, and Lin Yuan's sleepy voice came through. Lin Rui finally felt relieved.