Unease Lingers

　　Wu sighed. "Our line of work… things can go wrong easily. You know the head of our department resigned a few months ago? Apparently, it was because he almost died from overwork."

　　"Yeah…" Lin mumbled, his mind elsewhere.

　　As they were chatting, a loud crash sounded from outside, like a car accident. 

　　The barbecue restaurant was located right on the street, and diners turned their heads to look or even got up to see what had happened. 

　　Wu, whose seat was by the window, glanced outside and exclaimed, "Woah, there's been an accident."

　　Lin got up and followed the others to the door. 

　　They saw a mangled car crashed into a tree.

　　 It wasn't hard to imagine how fast it had been going. 

　　The front of the car was completely crushed.

　　The people in the driver's seat were probably in bad shape.

　　Someone had called 120. 

　　Soon, police cars and an ambulance arrived.

　　Wu, seemingly unfazed by the scene, continued to munch on grilled pork skewers. 

　　"That guy must have been speeding," he said through a mouthful of food. "For the car to be that smashed up… he must have been going at least 100."

　　"That's impossible." Lin disagreed. "We're in a busy area, how could he go that fast?" 

　　It was Friday evening rush hour; the streets were packed with cars.

　　"Who knows?" Wu shrugged. "Anyway, come on, let's sit down. The grilled fish we ordered is here."

　　Lin nodded. 

　　Before turning away, he took one last look at the accident scene. 

　　The sight made him doubt his own eyes. 

　　The police were just pulling the driver from the wreckage. 

　　The person was a bloody mess, but their clothing seemed… familiar.

　　He thought hard for a moment and then it clicked. 

　　He had seen those clothes before. 

　　When they had first arrived in the village, back when they were still wearing their fall attire, one of them had been wearing a similar outfit…

　　 Lin racked his brains, trying to remember the name…. Zhang, that was it.

　　A chill ran down Lin's spine.

　　 He couldn't bear to look any longer and quickly turned back. 

　　He'd completely lost his appetite.

　　"What's wrong with you tonight?" Wu asked, noticing Lin's distracted state. "You've been a million miles away all night."

　　Lin simply shook his head, not knowing what to say.

　　"And when did you get your ear pierced?" Wu reached out to touch the earring, but Lin instinctively dodged his hand. 

　　"Hey! What's the big deal? You used to let me touch it all the time."

　　"Like hell I did!"

　　"Don't you remember that night…"

　　Lin knew Wu was about to launch into another one of his embellished stories and quickly cut him off. 

　　He told him he just got it pierced and it was still a little sore; he didn't want it to get infected.

　　Wu let it go, but couldn't resist asking, "So, why'd you get your ear pierced anyway? Seeing someone special?"

　　"I live with a bunch of guys, who am I supposed to be seeing? You?"

　　The two of them joked around some more as the sky darkened. 

　　Normally, Lin wouldn't think twice about nightfall, but after what he had just experienced, darkness now filled him with a sense of unease. T

　　he words on the paper strip also lingered in his mind. 

　　He told Wu he wasn't feeling well and wanted to head home early.

　　Wu didn't object. 

　　He told Lin to get some rest and commented that he was looking a bit under the weather.

　　They parted ways at the entrance of the complex, and Lin hurried back to his apartment.

　　Unlocking the door and stepping inside, Lin heaved a sigh of relief. 

　　He flipped on the lights and saw his cat, Chestnut, sitting obediently by the door, mewing at him.

　　"Chestnut!" Lin rushed over for a cuddle, but Chestnut swiftly turned away, giving him a look of disdain before strutting off.

　　"Chestnut… Come give daddy a hug!" Lin pleaded.

　　"Meow~" The cat gracefully leaped onto its cat tree and looked down at its owner, seemingly indifferent to his pleas.

　　Lin sighed dramatically. 

　　Chestnut was a two-year-old Maine Coon.

　　 Despite his imposing appearance, he was a gentle and affectionate cat. 

　　At least, he usually was.

　　Lately, something had changed. 

　　For reasons unbeknownst to Lin, Chestnut had become distant and even hostile towards him. 

　　Not only did he refuse to cuddle, he would hiss and flatten his ears. 

　　Attempts to pick him up would result in a flurry of claws.

　　Lin couldn't for the life of him figure out why.

　　Today, at least, Chestnut's attitude seemed to have softened a bit. 

　　At least he hadn't been subjected to a swatting. 

　　With a sigh, Lin decided a hot shower might help him make sense of everything.