Chapter 16: Unwelcome Truths & Unexpected Calls

Xinyi: A Call That Should Have Never Been Made

The voice on the other end of the line was smooth, almost amused.

"I was wondering when you'd call."

Xinyi's grip on the phone tightened. She should have expected that.

"Save the dramatics," she said, her voice calm but firm. "You already know why I'm calling."

A low chuckle. Too knowing.

"Of course I do," the voice replied. "It's happening again, isn't it?"

Xinyi didn't answer.

Because they already knew.

The person on the other end had always been too aware, yet never touched by the curse. An outlier. A shadow walking parallel to both the Zhangs and Liangs, but never crossing into their fate.

And yet—they knew things no one else should.

"You're not the type to reach out unless you're desperate, Xinyi," they continued, their tone laced with amusement. "So, tell me… what finally made you believe?"

She let out a slow breath, eyes closing briefly before opening again. "I don't believe in things I can't control," she said. "But I do believe in patterns. And this one is breaking its usual cycle."

A pause.

Then, a hum of interest.

"That," the voice murmured, "is very bad news for you."

Xinyi's fingers drummed lightly against the armrest of her chair. She hated that they sounded entertained.

"If you know something, talk," she commanded. "Or I'll find someone else who will."

Another chuckle.

"Oh, Xinyi. We both know I'm the only one left who still cares enough to answer."

Silence stretched between them.

Then—

"Meet me in two days. Usual place." And just like that, the line went dead.

Xinyi lowered the phone, the weight of it suddenly heavier in her palm.

Two days. And yet, she wasn't sure if she wanted to hear what they had to say.

...

Wei: Gathering the Pieces

The factory felt different now. The unease hadn't lifted, but it had shifted.

After his conversation with the workers, Wei had moved into action.

"Feng," he called, his tone steady but sharp.

His assistant was already waiting.

"Get food sent in for the night shift. Make sure it's from somewhere they trust," Wei ordered. "Bring in a medic to check on anyone else, even if they say they feel fine."

Feng nodded. "And the police?"

Wei's jaw tightened slightly. He didn't like involving them unless necessary. But something about tonight felt… different.

"Call them," he finally said. "I want an official statement on record."

Even if it led nowhere, it sent a message.

That Zhang Wei was paying attention.

...

The Workers: Fear Takes Hold

By the time Feng returned with updates, the factory had quieted.

Too quiet.

"Sir," Feng said, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "We have a problem."

Wei looked up. "Which one?"

Feng exhaled. "One of the collapsed workers—he hasn't woken up yet."

Wei stilled.

"The doctors say his vitals are stable, but…" Feng hesitated. "They don't know why he won't wake up."

A pause.

"And the others?" Wei asked.

"One of them quit." Wei's brow furrowed. "Quit?"

"Effective immediately." Feng nodded. "Didn't even finish the shift. Said he wouldn't risk it. Whatever 'it' is."

Wei's fingers tapped against the desk in thought.

First delays in response.

Then workers refusing to talk.

Now one unconscious, and another abandoning the job entirely.

This wasn't just about safety.

This was fear.

And fear was contagious.

...

Friendly reminders

Wei was in the middle of reviewing Feng's notes when his phone vibrated again.

His friend from the party.

He almost ignored it. Almost.

But something told him to answer.

"Zhang Wei, you alive?" Her voice was light, but there was something underneath it.

Wei leaned back in his chair. "What do you want?"

A soft chuckle. "Straight to business. Good, because I have something you might want to hear."

He glanced at the reports in front of him. "Make it quick."

She didn't waste time.

"I heard what happened at your factory," she said. "And I heard about the collapses at the Liang factories too."

Wei's eyes sharpened slightly. "You've been paying attention."

"People talk," she said simply. "And when two major players in the city start dealing with the same problem? I listen."

Wei said nothing.

"I asked around," she continued. "A few people in medical circles think you should bring in a chemist and a medical auditor. See if anything environmental is triggering these collapses. Or better yet—"

A pause.

"A forensic investigator. Someone who doesn't care about corporate reputations and just looks at the facts."

That caught his attention.

Wei turned his chair slightly, eyes narrowing in thought.

"Interesting."

"Thought you'd think so," she replied. "I can send you a name. Just in case you're feeling… cautious."

Wei let the silence stretch for a moment.

Then, finally—

"Send it."