The Tracker’s Revelation and a Terrifying Night

Lin Yiting frowned, her gaze fixed on her phone where the location tracker had abruptly vanished. This device, she knew, was remarkably advanced, designed to function even when submerged in water. For its signal to suddenly disappear now, could it possibly have been forcefully destroyed?

A faint unease stirred within her, prompting Lin Yiting to quickly dial Lin Ling’s number.

“Hello… The number you have dialed is out of service…”

Her heart plummeted, instantly chilled. Lin Yiting cast aside all other concerns. With a quick greeting to her current client, she immediately mounted her motorcycle and sped towards Lin Ling’s last tracked position, pushing the vehicle to its limits.

The surrounding scenery blurred into streaks as she raced, a fortunate circumstance that she was primarily navigating back alleys and less-traveled paths. At her current speed, any major thoroughfare would undoubtedly have led to considerable trouble.

****

On the other side of the bustling street, a group of individuals had scoured the area several times over, yet their search yielded absolutely nothing. As they pondered their fruitless efforts, one of their phones suddenly rang.

The man swiftly pulled out his phone and answered, a young girl’s voice, as gentle as a spring breeze, drifting from the other end.

“Hello, Uncle, have you found him?”

The man hesitated, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

“Ah… Miss, we… we lost him.”

A beat of silence followed on the other end of the line, then a hint of confusion entered her voice.

“Lost him? Doesn’t he have my tracker on him? How could you possibly lose him?”

The silver-haired girl frowned lightly, switching screens on her device. It was only when she saw the red dot, vanished without a trace, that the realization dawned on her.

‘I… was discovered? Lin Ling won’t hate me, will he?’

The silver-haired girl knelt on her large bed, her eyes vacant, as if she had suffered a profound shock.

“Lin Ling… please don’t hate me, don’t hate me, I…”

Her voice trailed off, becoming barely a whisper, before she abruptly ended the call.

****

His legs grew heavier with each step, Lin Ling having lost all sense of how long he had been running. Perhaps it was due to the jade pendant, but the entity behind the terrifying voice had not physically harmed him.

Even as the surrounding mist gradually dispersed, Lin Ling continued to run forward, driven purely by instinct.

*Thump~*

In his dazed state, Lin Ling felt as though he had collided with something soft. Before he could even register what it was, his body abruptly lost its balance.

Just as he was about to tumble to the ground, a slender yet surprisingly strong arm wrapped around him, pulling him gently into an embrace.

Lin Ling was still somewhat disoriented, unable to fully process what was happening. He simply registered the sensation of being held, and then, the soft sound of suppressed sobs near his ear.

“Silly boy, where did you run off to? You scared me half to death.”

The voice was faint, but Lin Ling could distinctly hear the effort she was making to suppress her tears.

“Sister… how did you manage to find me?”

In that moment, a prickling sensation rose in Lin Ling’s nose. There was truly nothing more comforting than to see a familiar face after enduring such profound terror.

“Silly boy, let’s talk about it once we’re home.”

With those words, Lin Yiting released her hold on Lin Ling. Deprived of his support, Lin Ling’s body swayed, nearly sending him sprawling to the ground.

Clasping his still-dizzy head, Lin Ling struggled to keep pace with Lin Yiting. Once he was settled on the motorcycle, the cool breeze gently brushing against him helped to clear his mind considerably.

Back home, Lin Ling collapsed onto the sofa. He felt utterly drained, a profound weakness pervading his entire body, more debilitating than even a severe cold or fever.

Observing his state, Lin Yiting prepared a cup of tea for him. When he saw the steaming beverage on the coffee table, Lin Ling painstakingly pushed himself upright. As he reached for the teacup, his hands trembled uncontrollably.

“Let me help.”

With that, Lin Yiting gently took the teacup from Lin Ling’s trembling hands, blew lightly across its surface, and then brought it to his lips. Lin Ling remained silent, taking a small, simple sip.

The tea tasted remarkably bitter, a flavor Lin Ling was not fond of. Yet, after that single mouthful, the icy chill that had gripped his body receded considerably.

“Xiao Ling, what exactly happened to you?”

Hearing Lin Yiting’s question, Lin Ling found himself at a loss for words. How could he possibly tell her he had encountered a ghost? Who would ever believe such a tale?

“It’s nothing. I just got a fright when I ran into that alley.”

In truth, Lin Ling had indeed been thoroughly terrified. Lin Yiting’s brows furrowed as she scrutinized him. Ultimately, she let out a sigh; if Lin Ling chose not to speak, there was little she could do to persuade him.

“Alright, get some good rest. I’ll be going now.”

“Wait a moment…”

Seeing Lin Yiting prepare to leave, Lin Ling instinctively reached out and grasped her delicate wrist. Apprehending the impropriety of his action, he awkwardly released her, his hand falling limply away.

“Uh… um… Sister, how did you manage to find me?”

“Oh, that? I installed a tracker on you, Xiao Ling.”

As she spoke, Lin Yiting playfully shook her phone, as if to boast. Lin Ling’s expression froze as he saw the red dot displayed on the screen.

‘He remembered that in the original novel, only the female lead would ever use a tracker on the male lead. How did Lin Yiting possess such a device? She didn’t seem like a yandere, did she?’

“Ah… um… Sister, where did you get this device?”

“Hmm?”

Lin Yiting tilted her head, considering for a moment.

“These things are sold by major corporations. They’re not particularly rare, you know? It’s just… the price is a bit steep.”

“I see…”

Lin Ling exhaled in relief, but upon closer thought, a sense of unease settled over him. Why would Lin Yiting place a tracker on him? And to do so without his knowledge?

“Alright, alright, Xiao Ling, I’m just protecting you. Didn’t I tell you before that you need to protect yourself? Those people outside might just do something reckless.”

“Mm…”

Lin Ling nodded obediently, the overwhelming fatigue once again seizing his mind. Lin Yiting dotingly stroked his head, and just as she was about to leave, she realized Lin Ling had already drifted off to sleep.

Seeing him tremble uncontrollably, Lin Yiting let out a helpless sigh. She gently carried Lin Ling to his bed, tucked him securely under the covers, and then settled onto the bedside, gazing at his peaceful, sleeping face.

She recalled how, as a child, she would watch her infant brother in much the same way, a tender smile involuntarily gracing her lips.

“Ah, Xiao Ling has grown up so much,”

she murmured with a touch of wistful sentiment. Gazing at the darkening sky outside the window, Lin Yiting simply decided she wouldn’t leave tonight.

Carefully closing the door to Lin Ling’s bedroom, Lin Yiting retrieved a folding bed from beneath the sofa, unfolded it, and gave it a quick wipe. She then fetched a quilt from her own bedroom and settled directly onto the folding bed.

In a daze, Lin Ling’s eyes fluttered open, still somewhat blurry, and the surrounding darkness felt rather unsettling. He struggled to sit upright, his gaze fixed on the doorway.

The bedroom door was securely shut, and a quick glance around revealed nothing out of the ordinary. Lin Ling pressed a hand to his still-muddled head, then switched on the bedside lamp.

The light instantly banished the oppressive darkness from the room, and Lin Ling immediately got out of bed. He pushed open the bedroom door, creating a narrow slit, revealing a pitch-black exterior that felt like an abyss capable of swallowing souls whole.

Lin Ling shivered, tucking his chin in fear, and instinctively reached into his pocket for his phone, activating its flashlight.

The faint beam illuminated the path before Lin Ling. The floor tiles were yellow, yet he distinctly remembered that the tiles in the living room and his bedroom should have been the same color.

Without dwelling on it, Lin Ling continued to move forward. The living room was in disarray, and a white sheet draped over the sofa lent an additional layer of eerie atmosphere to the scene.

A sudden chill pierced Lin Ling’s mind, and he quickened his pace, rushing into the bathroom. He pulled down his pants, and immediately the sound of rushing water filled the air.

He didn’t know how much time had passed, but the persistent urge to urinate continued to torment him. Lin Ling felt a pang of confusion; it had been such a long time, yet why did he still feel the need to go?

It was then that a sharp *clang* echoed through the room, sounding like something had struck glass. Lin Ling jumped, startled, and instinctively glanced towards the window.

It would have been better if he hadn’t looked at all. The moment he did, Lin Ling felt his urge to urinate completely vanish. A pair of hands, dripping with blood, was slowly sliding down the windowpane, leaving faint crimson streaks in their wake. He could just make out the distinct shape of human hands.

“Save… save me… why didn’t you save me?”

“Ah!”

A cry escaped him instinctively, and Lin Ling’s face turned ashen. It was at this precise moment that a disturbance emanated from the living room.

He whirled around instinctively, only to see the white sheet draped over the sofa begin to move on its own. Faintly, through the shifting fabric, he could discern the unsettling outline of a human figure.

Faced with such a horrifying spectacle, Lin Ling’s composure shattered. His eyes rolled back into his head, and with a soft *thud*, he collapsed to the floor.