Chapter 45 – Following 跟踪

Thanks to Lin Wanqing's introduction, Lin Yuan got the chance to interact with Li Xingchen. In an old-fashioned teahouse, the three of them were having what seemed like an ordinary lunch.

While sipping tea, Lin Yuan observed Li Xingchen. He noticed that although Li Xingchen was warm and cheerful, she would occasionally reveal a hint of inescapable loneliness. As a beautiful mixed-race woman with an exotic air, every gesture of hers exuded a unique elegance, yet she seemed to deliberately keep a certain distance from others.

Li Xingchen noticed Lin Yuan staring and joked, "Mr. Lin, is there something on my face? Why are you looking so closely?"

Lin Yuan smiled faintly and said casually, "No, no. I just think Miss Li has an unfathomable mystery about her... By the way, your folding fan is really special. Can you show it to me?"

At the mention of the "folding fan", Li Xingchen's expression froze slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. She gently unfolded the folding fan in her hand. It was a fan with dark brown fan bones decorated with black metal and silver threads. The fan bones were engraved with delicate patterns, emitting a faint glow under the light.

"Oh, this folding fan is said to be kind of magical, but I haven't looked into it much." Li Xingchen twirled the fan, casually changing the topic.

Lin Yuan felt something was off. He secretly probed with his spiritual power and sensed a faint spiritual fluctuation from the folding fan. He remained calm on the surface, but in his heart, he was already certain: This folding fan was indeed related to the "Star Spirit Dew" as the Jiuchong Ring had said...

A few days later, Lin Yuan approached Li Xingchen under the pretext of "work needs", hoping to get more clues from her folding fan. However, an accident came faster than expected.

One night, Lin Yuan happened to pass through a wilderness area and saw from a distance that Li Xingchen was standing in front of a huge meteorite. Holding the folding fan, with her clothes fluttering and eyes glimmering, she seemed to be conducting a special ritual.

Lin Yuan crept closer, but suddenly felt a powerful spiritual force fluctuation, which even made his heart palpitate. And in the air around Li Xingchen, there seemed to be a faint golden glow.

Li Xingchen seemed to sense Lin Yuan's approach and said coldly, "Lin Yuan, are you following me?"

Lin Yuan walked out pretending to be relaxed. "I just passed by accidentally. I didn't expect Miss Li to be so mysterious... But you don't seem like an ordinary person."

Li Xingchen didn't deny it. Looking up at the starry sky, she sighed and said, "True. I'm not ordinary. I'm from the Half-God Race, an ancient race ignored by interstellar civilizations."

Lin Yuan was slightly taken aback. "The Half-God Race? That name sounds really powerful..."

Li Xingchen chuckled. "Powerful? Maybe. But we're just lonely outsiders, struggling to survive in this vast universe. Lin Yuan, who are you? What's your purpose for getting close to me?"

Lin Yuan didn't answer directly but changed the subject. "Your folding fan seems to be related to something important. I'm just interested in it."

Li Xingchen narrowed her eyes and gave Lin Yuan a half-smile. "You know more than I expected. But I'm warning you, if you try anything with the folding fan, I won't hold back."

Just as Lin Yuan and Li Xingchen were gradually establishing a subtle relationship, a serious accident occurred in the energy company where Lin Yuan's father, Lin Tiance, worked.

An accident happened during the new energy experiment that Lin Tiance's company was in charge of, causing a huge explosion that affected a nearby residential area. This accident shocked the entire Kepler-4b. The government intervened in the investigation, and Lin Tiance, as a senior executive of the company, was pushed to the center of the storm.

When Lin Yuan arrived at the accident scene, he only saw a devastated scene, and the air was filled with a pungent smell. His father, Lin Tiance, stood expressionlessly in front of a hovering car. Facing media questions, he said calmly, "The cause of the accident is still under investigation. Please stay calm and await official results."

After the crowd dispersed, Lin Yuan walked up to Lin Tiance and asked in a low voice, "Dad, are you okay?"

Lin Tiance turned to look at Lin Yuan, his eyes deep and cold. "Xiaoyuan, remember, only the result matters. The process is just a prelude."

Lin Yuan was shocked. He knew what his father was hinting at. Someone might have caused this accident on purpose.

=====================

在林晚晴的引荐下,林远得以与黎星辰接触.在一家风格古朴的茶馆里,三人正在进行一场看似普通的午餐.

林远一边喝茶,一边观察黎星辰.他发现黎星辰虽然热情开朗,但偶尔会流露出一丝无法掩饰的孤独感.作为一个异域风情的混血美女,她的举手投足都带着一股与众不同的优雅,却似乎刻意与人保持一定的距离.

黎星辰注意到林远的目光,开玩笑道: "林先生,我脸上有什么不妥吗?你看得这么认真?"

林远微微一笑,随意地说道: "不不不,倒是觉得黎小姐有种让人看不透的神秘感...不过,你的这把折扇倒是挺特别的,能让我看看吗?"

听到 "折扇",黎星辰的表情微微一滞,但很快恢复了自然.她轻轻将手中的折扇展开,那是一把扇骨呈深棕色,由黑色金属与银丝装饰的扇子,扇骨上刻满了精细的纹路,在光线下散发出幽幽的光辉.

"哦,这把折扇据说有些神奇之处,不过,我也没怎么研究过." 黎星辰淡淡地说道,将扇子转了一圈,故意岔开了话题.

林远感到一丝异样,他用精神力悄悄探测,却在折扇上感知到一股隐约的灵性波动.他不动声色,但心里已经有了计较:这把折扇,果然和九重戒说的 '星灵露' 有关...

几天后,林远假借 "工作需要" 接近黎星辰,希望从她的折扇上获取更多线索.然而,意外来得比想象中更快.

某天夜里,林远偶然经过一片荒野区域,却远远看见黎星辰正站在一块巨大陨石前.她手持折扇,衣袂飘动,双眼泛着微光,似乎在进行某种特殊的仪式.

林远悄悄靠近,却猛然间感受到一种磅礴的精神力波动,这种力量甚至让他感到一阵心悸.而在黎星辰周围的空气中,仿佛泛起了淡淡的金色光辉.

黎星辰似乎察觉到林远的靠近,冷冷地开口: "林远,你跟踪我?"

林远故作轻松地走出来: "我只是偶然路过,没想到黎小姐这么神秘啊...不过,你的样子可不像是普通人."

黎星辰没有否认,而是抬头望向星空,叹了口气: "没错,我确实不是普通人.我属于半神族,一个被星际文明遗忘的古老种族."

林远微微一愣: "半神族?这名字听起来很厉害啊..."

黎星辰轻笑了一声: "厉害?或许吧,但我们也只是孤独的异类,在这浩瀚宇宙中苦苦求存.林远,你又是什么人?你接近我,到底有什么目的?"

林远没有直接回答,而是岔开了话题:"你的折扇,似乎和一件重要的东西有关,我只是对它感兴趣."

黎星辰眯起眼睛,似笑非笑地看着林远: "你知道得比我想象中还要多.不过,我警告你,如果你敢打折扇的主意,我绝不会手软."

就在林远和黎星辰逐步建立微妙的关系时,林远的父亲林天策所在的能源公司发生了一次严重的事故.

林天策公司负责的新型能源实验发生意外,造成了一场规模巨大的爆炸,波及了附近的一片居民区.这起事故引发了整个开普勒4b的震动,政府介入调查,林天策作为公司高管,被推上了风口浪尖.

林远赶到事故现场时,只看到满目疮痍的景象,空气中弥漫着刺鼻的气味.他的父亲林天策面无表情地站在一辆悬浮车前,面对媒体的追问,不紧不慢地说道:

"事故原因尚在调查中,请各位保持冷静,等待官方的调查结果."

等人群散去后,林远走到林天策身边,低声问道:"爸,你没事吧?"

林天策转头看了林远一眼,眼神深邃而冰冷: "小远,记住,只有结果才有意义,过程不过是铺垫."

林远心中一震,他知道,父亲在隐晦地表达什么.这场事故,或许是有人特意让 "它"发生的.