Black Sky - Chapter 44

Bai Zi had never seen such a stereotypical image of an official—bald head, fat and big ears, fish-like eyes, and a face full of grease.

“Little Meng, it’s been so many years since we last met,” the fat bald man wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, and then smiled and extended his other fat hand to Meng Yilan, “Sorry, I tend to sweat easily.”

Standing behind the bald man was a young man in a black suit, with a buzz cut, small eyes, and a shallow scar on his left cheek.

He seemed to be the bald man’s secretary or…assistant.

Realizing this, Bai Zi unconsciously wanted to stand behind Meng Yilan.

But just as she raised her butt, Meng Yilan said lightly next to her, “Sit down.”

So, Bai Zi sat down again.

“I’m sorry, Minister Mai,” Meng Yilan, who was sitting opposite the bald man, didn’t extend her hand to shake his, only coughing lightly, “I’m still sick, so it’s not convenient for me to have physical contact with others.”

Hearing the word “Minister,” Bai Zi couldn’t help but be dazed. She felt that this title was out of tune with the current world.

“Sick?” Minister Mai withdrew his hand, looking worried. “Getting sick these days can be life-threatening. Why don’t you go back in my car? It has heating!”

At this time, Meng Yilan and Bai Zi were sitting in a rather luxurious modified RV, which had all kinds of equipment—an open kitchen, a bathroom with a wet and dry separation, a two-meter wide bed, a wall-mounted ultra-thin TV…

Bai Zi couldn’t help but think of the buffet she had eaten before. Like this car, it was something that had traveled from a parallel world to this one.

“My car can also travel on water,” Minister Mai said proudly. “It can cross the ocean!”

Bai Zi: “…”

“Thank you, Minister Mai,” Meng Yilan returned a polite smile. “But I’m not used to sleeping in a new bed, I’m afraid I’ll have insomnia and make my condition worse.”

“Don’t call me Minister, I only represent myself this time,” Minister Mai waved his hand. “Little Meng, don’t you really remember me?”

Meng Yilan didn’t reply, only raising her eyebrows in confusion.

“I even attended your tenth birthday party,” Minister Mai said with a smile, revealing two rows of yellow teeth. “At that time, you were standing next to your dad, and you were already so tall at the age of ten…”

Hearing the word “Dad,” Meng Yilan’s face suddenly turned cold. She lowered her eyes, trying hard to suppress her emotions.

But Minister Mai obviously didn’t have any tact, or was doing it on purpose: “When you first ran away from home, your dad asked me for help to find you…”

Meng Yilan was still looking down, seemingly without any reaction, but Bai Zi clearly felt her aura change.

“But who would have thought,” Minister Mai sighed, “Little Meng, you’re really capable. You’ve really done what ‘children and grandchildren don’t rely on their parents,’ but it’s a pity…” Saying that, he narrowed his eyes, seemingly hinting at something. “You have to be especially careful in the media industry, you know, Fengzi?”

Minister Mai turned his head to look at the scarred man behind him. The latter nodded: “Indeed.”

After receiving a satisfactory answer, Minister Mai continued to talk eloquently: “It’s not difficult to become famous. If you do too many sensational things, even a pig can become popular, but if you accidentally step into a pit, then this pig will be chased and beaten by thousands of people!”

Comparing Meng Yilan to a pig should be the first time anyone had done so.

But Meng Yilan herself didn’t have a special reaction, maintaining a calm face, and even calmly responding: “Yes, you’re right.”

Bai Zi noticed that only when she heard the other party mention her father did Meng Yilan have a momentary emotional fluctuation. At other times, she had a nonchalant expression.

“I’m not trying to take credit,” Minister Mai said, getting more and more excited, but suddenly revealed a meaningful expression. “Little Meng,it wasn’t just your boyfriend who went to jail. I was busy for a long time during that time, working on this matter for you.”

What he was busy with was self-evident.

But Meng Yilan’s focus wasn’t on this. She said lightly, “He’s not my boyfriend.”

After saying that, even she herself couldn’t help but be slightly stunned.

Denying that Lin Quwei was her boyfriend was normal, after all, the two hadn’t reached that stage.

But denying it so quickly and decisively, and the strange sense of resistance that appeared in her heart at the same time—Meng Yilan hadn’t expected it.

She still remembered that she had worked hard for Lin Quwei for several years, doing everything she could, just to get him freedom. She had even decided that since she knew that the other party admired her, she might as well spend the rest of her life with him.

That kind of feeling seemed a little strange to the current Meng Yilan, and even made her feel annoyed.

“Little Meng?” Minister Mai had called out several times, but Meng Yilan, who was lost in thought, didn’t react.

Bai Zi, who was sitting next to her, said softly, “I’m sorry, Minister Mai, Miss Meng should take her medicine.”

Hearing Bai Zi’s voice, Meng Yilan turned her head, and Bai Zi handed over the medicine and a glass of water.

In the past, Meng Yilan found it difficult to look directly at Bai Zi’s face, especially her dull left eye.

But now, she couldn’t take her eyes off her, and even felt that the burn wasn’t ugly at all, but like some kind of unknown mysterious totem, beautiful and flamboyant.

Meng Yilan was staring at Bai Zi’s left face, her thoughts wandering. It wasn’t until Bai Zi turned her head to make eye contact with her, her eyes showing a hint of confusion, that she finally came back to her senses.

“Sorry,” Meng Yilan turned her head, giving Minister Mai a slight smile. “I should rest.”

Minister Mai’s expression froze slightly, and then he forced a smile: “Okay, you should rest well when you’re sick. There will be more opportunities to meet in the future. I’ll call your father then, and we can catch up,” he paused, revealing a slightly awkward expression. “I haven’t seen him for more than half a year.”

Perhaps this was the purpose of his coming along to pick up Meng Yilan, but Meng Yilan didn’t care.

Bai Zi led Meng Yilan out of the car. Under Uncle Hong’s guidance, the two came to a truck that had been modified into an RV. This was a modified car that had newly joined the support team, specially arranged for Meng Yilan.

It wasn’t as luxurious as Minister Mai’s, but it was already quite good.

Bai Zi, carrying Mao Mao on her back, followed behind Meng Yilan and walked into the RV. Before she could finish touring the layout inside, the convoy had already started to set off, continuing to advance towards Bei City.

When Meng Yilan was taking her medicine, she suddenly said to Bai Zi, “Roll up your sleeves.”

Bai Zi was stunned, and then realized that the other party wanted to see her bite wound, so she rolled up her sleeves, revealing her right wrist.

There was no inflammation, and there was no pain.

Meng Yilan reached out and gently stroked the bite mark. After a while, she asked, “It’s been a few days since you…are you okay?”

Knowing that the other party was referring to the fact that she hadn’t drunk human blood for a few days, Bai Zi shook her head: “I don’t feel anything special.”

Meng Yilan looked at the bite mark carefully again. Without saying anything more, perhaps because of the low fever, her state was a little depressed. After taking the medicine, she directly lay down on the bed, quickly falling asleep.

Mao Mao was lying by the dining table, staring blankly out the dark window while chewing on bread.

Bai Zi was sitting next to Mao Mao, spreading the notebook and pen that she had gotten from Uncle Hong onto the dining table, intending to write down her plans after returning to Bei City.

First of all, I have to take care of Meng Yilan until her gunshot wound healed.

After all, this was something I had promised, and it was because of my negligence that the other party had been injured.

Thinking of this, Bai Zi couldn’t help but frown.

In her heart, whether it was in the past or now, Meng Yilan was a very excellent woman—but this still wasn’t enough for the current Bai Zi to regard the other party as her “light.”

While pondering this, Bai Zi unconsciously wrote Meng Yilan’s name and the word “light” in the notebook, and then drew a big question mark.

Then, for some reason, she drew a big X over what she had just written, and then started a new line, writing the word “warehouse.”

Bai Zi planned to go to the warehouse that Meng Yilan had mentioned, to take a good look at all the things she had once owned, hoping to find some forgotten memories from them, and based on these clues, return to Lingnan City to find her parents and brother.

She remembered that her father was a biology professor, and her mother was a music teacher. Thanks to their care, although she was frail and sickly, she had a very beautiful childhood—although her half-brother was a little indifferent to her, their relationship wasn’t bad.

But then…it was all empty.

Bai Zi couldn’t remember anything. She bit her lip tightly, and drew a big question mark next to the words “parents.”

That’s right, there was also…Bai Zi picked up her pen again, and scribbled the words “mysterious person.”

That person had appeared inexplicably twice, and each time, it seemed to be at a very important turning point for Bai Zi—either life or death.

Who exactly was this person? Was it a man or a woman? Why did they always suddenly appear at such important moments?

Another big question mark.

As Bai Zi was writing, the place name “Pingyang County” suddenly popped into her head, and she unconsciously wrote it down.

This was the information that You Yuyi and You Xin had left for her.

You Yuyi was the only person Bai Zi had met so far who was like her.

But despite this, she was very different from herself, especially in her familiarity with the identity of “mutants,” and she even collected so much “human blood.”

She should have a lot of information hidden on her.

At least, her understanding of the current world was much greater than my own.

Bai Zi couldn’t help but pick up her pen, writing You Yuyi’s name, and then drawing a five-pointed star around those three words.

There were so many doubts, so many events that needed to be explored, but Bai Zi wasn’t anxious at all, but very relaxed, like a child without any worries.

When Meng Yilan woke up, Bai Zi was frying eggs in the kitchen, and Mao Mao was lying on Bai Zi’s shoulder, drooling.

Just as she was about to open her mouth to call Bai Zi, Meng Yilan accidentally glanced at the notebook spread out on the table.

Then, Meng Yilan saw a big X drawn in the notebook, and what was covered by the X was her name.

Meng Yilan frowned. Before she could think too much, she saw the words “You Yuyi” surrounded by a five-pointed star on another page.

Looking at these two symbols with obvious emotional contrast, Meng Yilan couldn’t help but curl the corners of her mouth, but her eyes seemed to have a storm brewing in them.

The car was still moving forward, without any accidents.

However, Bai Zi felt very puzzled.

Meng Yilan had clearly recovered from her fever, and her appetite was completely fine. She ate whatever she made.

However, her expression was quite indifferent, and she wouldn’t look at her unless it was necessary, and she rarely spoke.

But Bai Zi didn’t ask, after all, she was currently Meng Yilan’s assistant, and should say less and do more.

When the car approached the outskirts of Bei City, Bai Zi found that dense protective nets had been erected on both sides of the highway, and there were many soldiers in military uniforms standing guard or patrolling.

The surrounding residential buildings or factory areas had become lifeless. Birds flew over from time to time, but they couldn’t make people feel a trace of vitality, but instead added a few traces of oppressive atmosphere.

And at this time, Meng Yilan was sitting upright by the bed, only looking down and fiddling with her watch, silent.

The two hadn’t chatted much these past few days. Apart from some necessary conversations, there was no other communication.

Mao Mao was sitting by the dining table, its forehead pressed against the car window, looking outside with Bai Zi.

Suddenly, a light appeared not far away, not like a lamplight, but more like a flickering fire.

As the car got closer, Bai Zi saw a piece of land surrounded by messy brick walls. Inside, a person wearing a protective suit was throwing a pile of plants that emitted various colorful lights into the fire.

Thick black smoke rose, quickly blending into the sky of the same color.

The car was still moving forward, but its speed gradually slowed down, and the surroundings became brighter and brighter, and there were more and more soldiers.

Suddenly, the car stopped. Bai Zi imitated Mao Mao’s actions, pressing herself against the car window, looking ahead, and found that soldiers were questioning something next to the leading truck.

Just then, Bai Zi saw a man and a woman walking past the RV. They were ragged and disheveled, and the woman was holding a baby that was a few months old, like a family of three.

But before they could walk to the front, they were stopped by two soldiers.

One of the soldiers pushed the man to the ground, and the woman, holding the baby, tugged at the soldier who had pushed the man, but the other soldier suddenly took out a handgun, pulling the trigger on the man who was kneeling on the ground.

The man fell instantly, and the woman shouted and screamed like crazy. The two soldiers dragged the woman forward extremely indifferent.

Seeing this scene, Bai Zi couldn’t help but want to get out of the car and stop the two soldiers’ cruel actions, but she was afraid that she would drag Meng Yilan down because of this.

Before Bai Zi could think too much, the car continued to move forward slowly.

Bai Zi peeked out again, and found that not far ahead, Uncle Hong, with Liao Yuting, had come out of the black car. They followed a man dressed as a military officer and walked into a three-story building across the highway.

After a while, the woman who was still shouting was also dragged into that building by two soldiers.

“Bai Zi,” suddenly, Meng Yilan, who was sitting by the bed, spoke. “Give me your watch.”

Bai Zi turned her head to look at Meng Yilan, and was about to lower her head to take off her watch, but heard a loud crash coming from outside the car.

She immediately turned her head back, and saw that the building that had been safe and sound just now had burst into flames. Before she could see clearly, there was another thunderous roar—the entire third floor was blown to pieces, and in an instant, gravel splattered everywhere.

Meng Yilan quickly walked to Bai Zi’s side, leaning out to look out the window.

She saw more than a dozen soldiers running towards the entrance of that building in a hurry. Soon, Uncle Hong was helped out by a soldier, but Liao Yuting was nowhere to be seen.

Just as Meng Yilan wanted to open her mouth, she found that Bai Zi next to her was trembling all over, her face completely drained of color.

“Bai Zi?” Meng Yilan called softly.

But the other party only stared blankly at the raging fire outside the car window, without responding.

A strong sense of suffocation rapidly pressed down from above Bai Zi’s head. In a daze, she heard several familiar but strange shouts in her ear.

Xiao Zi…fire…

Run…Xiao Zi…

Bai Zi trembled uncontrollably, but her whole body was stiff. She involuntarily closed her eyes.

In the darkness, Bai Zi felt that she seemed to be lying on a bed, with raging flames burning around her. She heard urgent knocking on the door and shouts coming from not far away.

Just as Bai Zi wanted to respond, she found that a person had suddenly appeared by the bed. In the darkness, she couldn’t see the other person’s face clearly, but the other person seemed to be looking down at her on the bed.

In the next second, that person reached out and tapped Bai Zi’s chin three times.

Then, that person walked to the door not far away, and kicked the door lock open with force.

Bai Zi suddenly opened her eyes, like a person who was about to drown reaching the shore, gasping for breath.

Blurrily, she saw Meng Yilan’s face close at hand. The other party was holding her cheeks, seemingly saying something anxiously.

But Bai Zi didn’t hear anything. Now, all she could think about was—

That person had appeared more than twice.