Unexpected Surveillance and a Morning Routine

Guan Chenjie: “My dear sister, where have you been hiding out? How did you even get your hands on this thing?”

This person was Lin Yiting’s university classmate. He later transferred to a science major and began researching high-tech gadgets after graduation. Their relationship was quite good, maintaining frequent contact, and they knew each other well.

Lin Yiting: “Stop rambling. Do you know how to turn this thing off? My house is being monitored.”

Guan Chenjie: “Let me see. Flip it over and send another picture.”

Lin Yiting: [Image]

Guan Chenjie: “Got it. This is a new type of surveillance device. It has a built-in battery that can last about two months.”

“Furthermore, it can connect to both phones and computers, allowing for constant monitoring.”

Lin Yiting: “How do I dismantle it?”

Guan Chenjie: “Dismantle what? Just put it in a bag for now. Bring it to me tomorrow. I’ll see if I can pinpoint the phone it’s connected to.”

Lin Yiting: “Understood.”

Guan Chenjie: “By the way, have you stumbled upon something big?”

Lin Yiting: “Shoo, shoo.”

After sending the message, Lin Yiting irritably tossed her phone aside. She leaned back into the sofa, gently pressing her temples with both hands.

Her phone continued to buzz, but Lin Yiting ignored it, her full attention now on Lin Yi.

At that moment, Lin Yi was lounging on the sofa, a tiny, long-asleep kitten sprawled across his lap.

His fingers gently stroked the cat’s fur, the fine, silky sensation lingering on his fingertips as if he were caressing a piece of exquisite silk.

He wondered if the cat’s diet was too good; the tabby had grown noticeably plumper since arriving home, feeling more substantial to the touch.

Observing this, Lin Yiting offered a helpless smile.

“Xiao Ling, are you hungry? I bought some blood sausage today. How would you like it prepared?”

“Blood sausage?”

Lin Yi’s eyes lit up at the mention.

Blood sausage was a rare treat, typically only bought by his family during New Year celebrations; it was almost never available otherwise.

Seeing Lin Yi’s almost drooling reaction, Lin Yiting smiled knowingly.

“Alright, I’m going to cook now.”

With that, she carried the pickled cabbage and pork into the kitchen.

Northern stews were simple to prepare: process the ingredients, wait for the water to boil, then add them to the pot.

As she watched the soup boil in the pot, Lin Yiting couldn’t help but think of her parents back home. When she was a child, her parents cooked in the kitchen, and she would stand by and watch.

Now, she was the one cooking, and a bittersweet feeling settled in her heart.

Lost in thought, Lin Yiting turned to look at Lin Yi.

“Xiao Ling, are you going back home for the winter break?”

“Winter break?”

Lin Yi scratched his head, thinking, ‘Isn’t it summer now?’ He paused for a moment before realizing this wasn’t his original world.

The original novel mentioned that New City barely experienced winter throughout the year. In truth, the author had simply been too lazy to describe the distinct campus scenery across spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

However, the male lead’s hometown, a northern city, boasted four distinct seasons. This thought made Lin Yi genuinely want to visit the male lead’s hometown; after all, he hadn’t seen snow since arriving in this world.

‘Still, if I go back, I’ll need to be wary of another female lead mentioned in the original novel; her combat prowess was quite formidable.’

“I probably will go back,” Lin Yi replied. “I’ll see how things are, and I might even pick up a part-time job.”

“Alright, I’ll let you know when I head back home.”

****

Meanwhile, Chen Sishi, back in her small rented room, excitedly pulled out her phone and opened the surveillance feed, just as she always did. This time, however, the screen displayed only an inky blackness.

As if realizing something unsettling, the expression on her face slowly stiffened.

‘Was I discovered…?’

****

In the early morning, the sun, partially obscured by buildings, slowly revealed a corner of its radiant disc. Lin Yi, still asleep, frowned as the light disturbed him, instinctively reaching for something to cover his eyes.

His hand fumbled blindly beneath the covers, encountering a soft, plump paw pad, immediately followed by an indignant tail thumping against him. Feeling the smooth, delicate touch on the back of his hand, Lin Yi’s eyes slit open.

Blinding sunlight streamed through the narrow opening, making his vision momentarily blurry.

Turning his head, Lin Yi pulled a small black cat from beneath his duvet. The cat’s amber vertical pupils met his gaze, and it even lethargically yawned.

“Meow, meow, meow?”

Sighing helplessly, Lin Yi reflected on how, ever since its arrival, the cat would seize every opportunity to burrow into his bed. It always chose to do so in the middle of the night, while he was asleep, leaving him covered in cat hair.

The tabby cat angrily swished its tail, glaring fiercely at Lin Yi. It struggled a few times in his hands, and finding no escape, let out two more plaintive meows.

Lin Yi hadn’t intended to punish it, so he simply let it go. However, he hadn’t anticipated the kitten would then dart onto Lin Yiting’s bed.

“Hey, you naughty cat! Get down from there!”

Quickly dressing, Lin Yi once again picked up the tabby cat. He couldn’t let it develop such habits; what if it started peeing in the bed or on people in the middle of the night?

“Alright, alright, leave it be. Come and eat,” Lin Yiting said.

Lin Yiting, who had just finished reheating breakfast, happened to witness the scene. She took the cat from Lin Yi’s hands and gestured towards the dining table behind her.

Lin Yi had to obey his sister. He shot a stern glance at the tabby hiding behind Lin Yiting, then obediently took his seat at the dining table.

Today’s meal consisted of leftovers from last night, but Lin Yi wasn’t picky; as long as it was edible, he would eat it.

After breakfast, Lin Yi headed down the stairs. His luck seemed to hold today; he didn’t encounter Chen Sishi. It was possible the camera in their home had been removed, preventing Chen Sishi from monitoring him in real-time. Just a few days prior, Lin Yi would have been certain to run into her downstairs.

Walking alone on the slightly chilly street, Lin Yi considered that in his hometown, this season would undoubtedly call for a heavy winter coat.

Here, however, a simple long-sleeved shirt was enough to ward off most of the cold. This was even during the cooler part of the day; by afternoon, wearing long sleeves in the classroom would make one sweat.

Lost in a mix of thoughts as he walked, Lin Yi arrived at the classroom to find the door still closed. This was his earliest arrival at school; previously, he would only reach the classroom just before the morning self-study session.

There was no other way; he simply couldn’t wake up that early on his own. Meals were either yesterday’s leftovers or a quick trip to a breakfast shop for soy milk and steamed buns. Today, with his sister waking early to warm the food, Lin Yi saved a considerable amount of time.

After waiting outside the classroom for a while, Lin Yi grew bored and pulled out his phone to scroll through some videos. He wasn’t paying attention to the time.

When he next looked up, he happened to meet a pair of glittering golden eyes.

“How long have you been standing here?”

Qin Ruoxue stood directly before Lin Yi, their faces so close they were almost touching. Lin Yi was startled by her sudden proximity, initially mistaking her for Chen Sishi.

“About ten minutes or so.”

“Why are you here so early today?”

Lin Yi didn’t reply. He simply put away his phone, waiting for Qin Ruoxue to open the door.

Qin Ruoxue, sensing his intention, took out the classroom key and unlocked the door.

The classroom was still somewhat dim, and the empty desks and chairs lent it an eerie atmosphere.

Instead of returning to her own seat, Qin Ruoxue followed Lin Yi all the way to his desk.

“Hm? Why aren’t you going to your seat? Why are you following me?” Lin Yi asked.

He placed his backpack down, a hint of confusion in his mind.

“Don’t sleep in class today,” Qin Ruoxue warned. “I heard there’s an inspection. If the student council catches you, prepare for a school-wide reprimand.”