Chapter 7: Puzzlement  Huh? Wait, Why Is It You Again  

Lin Yu drove back to his family’s old residence. Just as he was about to park the car, he spotted someone blocking the entrance and slammed on the brakes—  

Zhang Modu stood at the doorway, chatting cheerfully with his father. Lin Yu tapped the steering wheel and slowly pulled up beside Zhang Modu.  

Still dressed in the same clothes from the morning, Zhang Modu stood ramrod straight, smiling as he spoke with Lin Yicheng. From time to time, Lin Yicheng gestured invitingly, as if urging him to come inside.  

Lin Yu slowly rolled down the car window, staring expressionlessly at his father before turning his gaze to Zhang Modu.  

“Good evening, Mr. Zhang.”  

Zhang Modu gave him a polite smile and raised a hand in greeting.  

Lin Yicheng burst into laughter. “Oh, so you two know each other!”  

“Ah, that’s great! It’s good when young people have things to talk about.”  

“Xiao Zhang, why don’t you come in for a drink? You can chat with Xiao Yu while you’re at it.”  

Zhang Modu took a step back with a smile, his expression slightly reserved as he waved his hands. “Well, since you insist, I won’t refuse.”  

The night breeze brushed against his cheeks, lightly tousling his hair. Under the shifting wind, his features were indistinct, but the faint expression hidden in the darkness was still discernible.  

He remained perfectly still, his gaze lingering on Lin Yu as if waiting expectantly, maintaining a polite stance.  

Lin Yu glanced away, his eyes shifting from 001 to Zhang Modu before lightly pressing the accelerator and slowly driving the car into the parking lot.  

As he stepped out, the wrinkles in his clothes straightened with his movements, like an open palm that nonetheless exuded an inexplicable chill.  

Lin Yu strode forward, hands casually tucked into his pockets as he walked into the villa, stepping over scattered fallen leaves.  

The courtyard foliage had been neatly trimmed, marking the arrival of midsummer.  

—Right at the doorstep.  

The leaves were emerald green, vibrant, while the flowers in the courtyard bloomed boldly and unrestrained.  

Lin Yu glanced subtly out of the corner of his eye—sure enough, his father had already enthusiastically ushered Zhang Modu inside.  

Before Lin Yicheng could even instruct the housekeeper to pour tea for Zhang Modu—  

Zhang Modu turned his head slightly, giving Father Lin a meaningful look.  

That gaze held a trace of concealed anticipation, but it vanished just as Lin Yu’s eyes swept over him. He merely lowered his eyelids slightly, offering a perfectly measured smile.  

Father Lin’s eyes brightened in understanding, and he promptly left with the housekeeper, leaving the two young men alone.  

Zhang Modu lifted his arm, picking up the fine-spouted porcelain teapot to pour Lin Yu a cup of tea.  

The pale green tea liquor was exceptionally beautiful—premium leaves reserved for honored guests, resembling flawless, priceless jade.  

A misty haze drifted between them, rising and dissipating into the air.  

He didn’t seem like a guest—more like the host.  

Lin Yu raised his hand, taking a sip from the teacup with an indifferent expression, silently waiting for Zhang Modu to speak.  

Zhang Modu seemed momentarily at a loss, as if unsure where to begin, his gaze openly studying Lin Yu.  

Lin Yu frowned and placed the lid back on his teacup.  

“Is there something you need, Mr. Zhang?”  

Zhang Modu paused. “Didn’t you—say I should call you Modu from now on?”  

Lin Yu complied, though his tone remained nonchalant. “Alright then, Modu. What is it?”

His gaze remained fixed on the teacup before him, as poetic as a painting, never sparing a glance for anyone else. The faint mist still lingered, accentuating the paleness of Lin Yu’s face.

Zhang Modu took out a USB drive from his pocket and placed it on the table in front of Lin Yu with a soft “click,” then withdrew his hand.

Zhang Modu’s expression was focused, and the USB drive had even been carefully wiped beforehand. “You mentioned this morning that you wanted to look into someone. I had to leave early because I was busy with work.”

“Later, I found out you couldn’t find the information, so I took the liberty of bringing data from 90% of the hotels nationwide and granted you access.”

“Ayu—may I call you that?” Zhang Modu’s eyes held a faint, eager hope.

001 couldn’t hold back anymore. “Seriously, who is this person not recorded in the Small World, giving you nicknames right off the bat?”

It flew onto Zhang Modu’s head, as if trying to pry open his skull to see what was inside. “And you two have already met three times in one day, especially just now when he conveniently showed up right after you got home—”

“Is this normal?” 001 circled around Lin Yu anxiously.

Lin Yu took the USB drive and gave Zhang Modu a slight nod.

Zhang Modu stared into his eyes, silently clenching his fists. “Do you need help? There should be some Secret Keys in there.”

“Then I’ll trouble you for it.”

Lin Yu hesitated before nodding. “You’re really a good person.”

In his mind, he said to 001, “Go check the surveillance. See if he’s doing this on purpose.”

Lin Yu led him upstairs, walking ahead to guide Zhang Modu into his study.

The room was tidy, with little trace of work. The water cup had already been put away, suggesting the owner didn’t frequent the space often.

The curtains were drawn tightly, but the air seemed to flow freely, carrying a faint floral scent—evidence of meticulous care. Even though Lin Yu didn’t often stay at the old house, there was always a place ready for his return.

Lin Yu plugged the USB drive into the computer and politely gestured for Zhang Modu to sit.

Zhang Modu watched as the computer booted up, then leaned in to whisper a string of numbers into Lin Yu’s ear before stepping back, his movements restrained and controlled.

He gazed at Lin Yu’s profile, feeling slightly dazed.

The man’s features were smooth, his slightly furrowed brow evoking empathy. His near-perfect profile could rival that of a celebrity.

His slender fingers moved gracefully across the screen, their elegant joints accentuated by the motion.

Zhang Modu took a few more steps back, idly observing Lin Yu for a while before letting his eyes wander around the room—

His gaze drifted until it settled on the coffee machine in the corner.

The machine looked somewhat dated, not one of the newer smart models, more like something the owner had used frequently before placing it in the study.

Zhang Modu stepped forward and began operating the coffee machine with practiced ease. He lifted the lid, glanced at Lin Yu, who was still absorbed in his work, and continued.

When he gently placed a cup of richly colored coffee on Lin Yu’s desk, Lin Yu finally looked up from the screen, his eyes flickering down to the coffee.

Zhang Modu curled his lips into a smile. “Would you like some? My teacher praised my skills a few years back. I used the blend you usually drink.”

Lin Yu silently picked up the teacup and took a tentative sip.

“Cough, cough, cough…”

He couldn’t control the coughing fit, feeling the bitter taste rush straight to the top of his skull.

Seeing Lin Yu bend over violently, Zhang Modu snapped out of his daze and hurriedly patted Lin Yu’s back, helping him catch his breath with each gentle thump.

Zhang Modu pulled out a handkerchief, bending down to carefully wipe the coffee stains from the corners of Lin Yu’s mouth before looking at him with concern.

He lowered his head, a flash of confusion passing through his eyes before disappearing quickly. “Sorry… Ayu, it’s my fault.”

Lin Yu was nearly overwhelmed by the bitterness. This was his first encounter with the terrifying substance called “coffee,” which turned out to be as dreadful as traditional Chinese medicine.

He tilted his head in confusion. He distinctly remembered the original owner loving this drink, with memories full of its fragrant aroma…

001 fluttered around Lin Yu in a panic, chirping frantically, “Host is Little Dragon, never had coffee before, poor host wuwuwu.”

Lin Yu straightened up again, their gazes meeting, their concentrated eyes reflecting each other’s images.

—It was then that Zhang Modu noticed how light Lin Yu’s eyes were.

Unusually light.

His calm, undisturbed pupils now rippled like a lake disturbed by a tossed pebble.

The pebble slowly sank, scattering the lake’s surface.

And scattering the heart of the boy who threw it.

Zhang Modu guiltily took a step back, rubbing his nose awkwardly under Lin Yu’s gaze.

Lin Yu gave a light cough and turned his attention back to the computer screen.

001 circled the computer, its glowing orb pressed against the screen, flickering on and off. “These permissions are way too high, Total CEO Permissions and all…”

Lin Yu directed 001 to download the data and shut the screen. “I’ll take you back.”

Zhang Modu stared at Lin Yu, who remained expressionless, before nodding hesitantly.

…

Only when Lin Yu swiftly got into the car did Zhang Modu snap out of it, obediently taking the passenger seat.

The night had grown chilly, the wind making people shiver repeatedly.

The streetlights in the city center were sparse, as if echoing the night’s tranquility.

He turned to look at Lin Yu, who was fastening his seatbelt:

“I remember… this limited-edition supercar was auctioned off to the Li family last week?”

Unable to resist, he leaned closer to Lin Yu, whispering by his side, “Did Li Yide give this to you?”

Lin Yu released the handbrake and nodded.

Zhang Modu lowered his gaze, his eyes widening slightly as he clenched his fists. “I could give you one too—this car’s acceleration isn’t the best, and the interior design isn’t perfect either… I—”

He quietly retreated back into his seat, sitting upright with his hands properly placed on his knees.

Zhang Modu’s eyes looked moist as he lifted his eyelids, gazing at Lin Yu like a drenched little animal:

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to belittle your friend. What I meant was…”

“What?” Lin Yu said.

Zhang Modu lowered his head, remaining silent.

“Ayu, can you consider me your friend too?”

“Host, I’ve checked all the surveillance footage. Zhang Modu running into you at that spot was genuinely a coincidence—”

001’s voice overlapped with Zhang Modu’s.

The mechanical tone and Zhang Modu’s deep, slightly sullen voice crowded into Lin Yu’s mind simultaneously.

Lin Yu curled his lips, revealing the first genuine smile since arriving in this Small World. “Alright.”

Zhang Modu slowly widened his eyes.

Lin Yu’s voice rang in his ears like a sudden clap of thunder, though he still didn’t look up.

He heard Lin Yu’s amused tone.

Lin Yu seems happy, he thought silently.

…….

The luxury car in the parking lot today caused quite a stir on the campus forum.

Luxury vehicles were rare to begin with, but such an eye-catching one was even rarer. Add to that an extremely handsome guy stepping out of the driver’s seat, and it became practically unheard of—especially when said guy didn’t even get angry at being secretly photographed.

Posts flooded the campus network, with the Confession Wall adopting a uniform format. Photos of Lin Yu once again set the school’s online community ablaze, with countless users attaching his pictures to their posts.

Lu Yixing sat in his dorm, idly scrolling through his phone when he suddenly came across a trending campus notification. The photo looked familiar. He straightened up slightly and clicked into the post.

[Isn’t this the regular on the Confession Wall?]

[Come on, aren’t you exaggerating? Haven’t you seen handsome guys before?]

[Our school has plenty of good-looking people. Didn’t we just produce a big internet celebrity?]

[…Trust me, you won’t think that way after seeing Lin Yu in person]

[All you appearance-obsessed people should focus on studying instead. Is one guy really worth this many comments?]

[Lol]

[Can some people stop being so hostile? While Lin Yu’s looks contribute to his fame, I think his personality plays a bigger role]

[Do those who haven’t gotten his contact number even have the right to comment?]

Puzzled, Lu Yixing typed:

[Why no right to comment without his contact?]

Replies came quickly:

[Lin Yu has a personal fan group that shares updates about him… Never joined myself but sounds kinda creepy, stalking someone’s life like that]

Now more curious, Lu Yixing asked:

[There’s really such a fan group? How do I join, seniors?]

—[Group requirement is having Lin Yu’s contact info. Don’t even think about it]

Lu Yixing posted a screenshot:

[Would this be his personal contact number?]

—[Show-off! Get lost!]

—[Ugh]