Twelve o'clock in the middle of the night.
Chloe lies on the sofa in Leo's dormitory, cracks in the ceiling twisting into bizarre shapes in the moonlight. Her eyes were closed, but she didn't feel sleepy.
Whenever she tried to fall asleep, she felt a tearing pain.
The feeling is hard to describe, like countless thin needles weaving through the depths of her soul, and every breath is carried with a piercing pain. Her body was shaking, and fine cold sweat was oozing from her forehead.
"Sister, are you okay?"
Leo's voice came from the bed, with a heavy sleepiness.
"It's okay, keep sleeping."
Chloe's voice sounded calm, but only she knew how much willpower it took to maintain that calm.
The phone screen lit up.
12:15 a.m.
Thirty-six hours have passed since her rebirth, and her symptoms are deteriorating dramatically. At this rate, she can last up to forty-eight hours.
Chloe turned over and picked up her phone on the coffee table.
The blue light of the screen was particularly dazzling in the dark, and she squinted her eyes and skillfully opened the academy forum.
The homepage of the "Trinity Lookout" is being refreshed.
The hottest post caption instantly woke her up:
Appreciation of #天才画家瑞安 Smith's new works, please respect yourself for some porcelain dogs #
Chloe's pupils contracted suddenly.
She clicked into the post, and a colorful oil painting appeared on the screen. The picture shows a lonely teenager standing on the street on a rainy night, with blurry city lights behind him. The brushstrokes are delicate and the color layers are rich, which is indeed a superior work.
But Chloe clearly remembers that the creative idea and composition of this painting are completely Finn's style.
Even the back of the teenager was the same as Finn's study three months ago.
The comment area is even more infuriating.
"Ryan's painting skills are really getting better and better, this artistic conception is so beautiful!"
"Some people don't touch porcelain, when will it be your turn to point fingers?"
"It's ridiculous to hear that Finn Miller is feeling sorry for himself in the studio again."
"Plagiarism dogs still have the face to come out? It is recommended to expel directly. "
"Senior Ruian is too gentle, I would have sued him for defamation long ago."
Chloe's fingers clenched her phone, and the screen curved slightly at her fingertips.
Anger burned in her chest, and the burning sensation overwhelmed even the pain of tearing her soul. These people don't know the truth at all, but they trample on a real genius here.
She wanted to rush to the studio to find Finn immediately.
But her physical weakness reminded her that it was difficult for her to even stand firm now.
Chloe gritted her teeth and forced herself to calm down.
Now is not the time to be emotional.
She needs to conserve her strength and wait for the right opportunity.
The time on my phone jumped to one in the morning.
Leo's breathing gradually became smooth, and he was clearly in a deep sleep. The entire dormitory building was quiet, with only the occasional sound of a car engine coming from the distance.
Chloe sat up from the sofa lightly.
She needed to go out to breathe, and this oppressive space made her symptoms worse.
The door of the dormitory creaked slightly.
Chloe held her breath and waited for a few seconds before quietly walking out of the room after confirming that she hadn't woken Leo up.
The hallway was dim, with only the red light for the safety exit flashing.
The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant water, and there was an inexplicable musty smell. Chloe slowly walked forward against the wall, each step requiring a lot of effort.
Just as she passed by the next room, a faint voice came from inside.
Chloe stopped.
At one o'clock in the morning, who will be on the phone?
She carefully identified the source of the sound.
Room 301.
Alex Chen's room.
Out of instinctive vigilance, Chloe gently leaned against the door. The sound insulation was good, and she could only hear intermittent words.
"Archive... has been activated..."
"Permissions... The highest level..."
"Miller... Confirm your identity..."
Chloe's heart raced.
These words are connected together to reveal a dangerous message.
Alex is investigating her.
And, judging by his tone, this is not a simple curiosity, but a premeditated action.
Chloe forces herself to stay calm and continues to eavesdrop.
But the room suddenly fell silent, and it was clear that the call was over.
She quickly left the door and continued to walk forward as if she were passing by.
There were faint footsteps behind him, and the door of the room was gently pulled open by a crack.
Chloe could feel a gaze wandering behind her back, a feeling that made her hair spin all over.
But she didn't look back and continued to walk at a normal walking speed.
It wasn't until she turned the corner that she breathed a sigh of relief.
Alex Chen.
This man is more dangerous than she thinks.
Not only did he know about her return, but he even secretly investigated her identity. And she knew very little about him.
Chloe leaned against the wall, trying to sort out the information she had just heard.
"File has been activated" means that someone is consulting her student status file.
"Highest level of permission" means that this is not an ordinary query, but a special channel.
"Confirm your identity" exposes Alex's true purpose.
He did not simply suspect, but had basically determined her identity.
But how is this possible?
She is now using Lin Yue's body, and all the physiological characteristics are completely different. Even the closest family members need to confirm her identity through memory, how can a stranger be...
Unless, he mastered some special means.
A terrible thought flashed through Chloe's mind.
What exactly is Alex Chen's ability?
Official information shows that he is a "spirit" superpower, but his specific abilities have been kept secret. If his abilities are related to souls or consciousness, it is not impossible to see through her true identity.
Thinking of this, Chloe felt a deep sense of crisis.
She originally thought she was well hidden, at least until she got used to this body. But now it seems that her every move is under someone's watch.
And what makes her most uneasy is, what is the other party's purpose?
If you just want to expose her identity, you can report it directly or make it public. But Alex chose to investigate secretly, which shows that he has other plans.
Chloe took a deep breath and forced herself to analyze calmly.
The most important thing now is to confirm how much information Alex has and his true intentions. Only by knowing oneself and knowing the enemy can appropriate countermeasures be formulated.
And now, she needs to go back to the dormitory to rest first.
Although you can't sleep, lying down can at least give your body some relief.
Chloe turns to go back, only to find a figure standing at the end of the hallway.
The man had his back to her, slender and wearing a dark dressing gown.
Alex Chen.
He didn't look back, but Chloe could feel an invisible sense of oppression.
The two confronted each other at both ends of the corridor, and there was an eerie silence in the air.
After a few seconds, Alex slowly turned around.
Even in the dim light, Chloe could see his expression clearly.
There was a meaningful smile on that perennial cold face, and there was a certain light in her eyes that she couldn't understand.
"Insomnia?"
His voice was soft, but particularly clear in the quiet hallway.
Chloe did not answer immediately, but carefully observed his expression and movements.
The man gave her mixed feelings. On the surface, he is polite, but there is a dangerous aura in his bones. What's more, there was an indescribable familiarity in his eyes when he looked at her, like...
It's like looking at a lost treasure.
"Yes." Chloe finally spoke, "Maybe it's a bed." "
"Recognize the bed?" Alex's smile became deeper, "Or recognize people?" "
This sentence is very informative.
Chloe's pupils shrank slightly, but the surface remained calm.
"I don't understand what you mean."
"It's okay." Alex walked slowly towards her, "You'll understand soon." "
His footsteps echoed through the hallway, each step to the beat of Chloe's heartbeat.
When the distance between the two was shortened to three meters, Chloe instinctively took half a step back.
Alex noticed the slight movement, and a glint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
"We'll talk about the dormitory tomorrow night." He stopped, "Eight o'clock, downstairs in Building 7 in the East District." "
"If you don't mind, I'd prefer to solve it now." Chloe looked him in the eye.
"Now?" Alex raised his eyebrows, "Are you sure?" "
His gaze lingered on Chloe's face for a few seconds, and the scrutinizing look made her feel uneasy.
"You don't seem to be in good shape."
This sentence made Chloe's heart sound like a wake-up call.
How obvious is her weakness? Or does this man know more than she thinks?
"I'm fine." She said stubbornly.
"Really?" Alex's smile became a little weird, "Then why are your hands shaking?" "
Chloe looked down and realized that her hands were indeed shaking slightly.
She immediately clenched her fists, but it was too late.
"It looks like you really need a good rest." Alex's tone was filled with a hint of concern, but that concern made people feel even more dangerous, "See you tomorrow night, Miss Lin." "
He turned away, and the footsteps faded away.
Chloe stood in place, her heart mixed.
This man knows too much.
Not only did he know her physical condition, but he even knew how weak she was. It felt like being stripped naked and displayed in the sun, without any privacy.
What made her even more uneasy was Alex's expression just now.
It wasn't politeness between strangers, but something deeper.
Familiarity, possession, and a morbid tenderness.
Chloe walked slowly back to Leo's dormitory, recalling the conversation in her mind.
Every word, every look, reveals a dangerous signal.
She pushed open the door, and Leo was still asleep.
The moonlight shone through the curtains on his face, and the young face looked particularly serene.
Chloe lightly returned to the couch and pulled up the blanket to cover herself.
Although you still can't sleep, you can at least give your body some rest.
She closed her eyes and tried to organize her thoughts.
Tomorrow night's meeting is not destined to be simple.
And before that, she needs to know as much as possible about Alex Chen's background.
Only by knowing oneself and knowing the enemy can one be invincible.
Time passed minute by minute.
Three, four, five in the morning.
Chloe was still sleepless, and the pain of tearing her soul became stronger and stronger.
Just when she was about to take it too long, the phone vibrated.
An anonymous text message:
"Finn's studio has a surprise, go and take a look."
Chloe stared at the text message, feeling uneasy.
At five o'clock in the morning, who would send such a message?
Moreover, how does the other party know that she is worried about Finn's situation?
But in any case, Finn's current state does worry her.
If there is really any accident...
Chloe didn't dare to think about it any longer.
She got up gently, left a note for Leo on the note, and quietly left the dormitory.
The campus was quiet in the early morning, with only cleaners cleaning up the fallen leaves.
The air is filled with the fragrance of dew and a faint floral scent. The sky in the east is starting to turn white, and a new day is coming.
The building of the art department looks particularly peaceful in the morning light.
Chloe walked to the third floor, and Finn's studio door was still closed.
She knocked on the door a few times and did not respond.
"Finn, it's me."
There was a rustling sound behind the door, and a few seconds later, the door lock clicked open.
Finn stood behind the door, his hair disheveled like a bird's nest, and his eyes bloodshot.
Apparently he didn't sleep all night.
"Sister, why are you here so early?"
"I'm worried about you." Chloe pushed open the door and walked into the studio, "You last night..."
Before she finished speaking, her eyes were drawn to a painting on the wall.
It was a work she had never seen before.
The picture is a silhouette of a woman with long flowing hair and deep eyes. The whole painting uses a special technique, with rich and harmonious color layers, giving people an indescribable sense of tranquility.
The strangest thing is that when Chloe saw this painting, the pain of tearing her soul was relieved a lot.
It feels like meeting an oasis in the desert and feeling the spring breeze in the cold winter.
"Where did this painting come from?"
Finn followed her gaze and looked confused.
"I don't know. I woke up in the morning and found it hanging there. "
"Has anyone been in your studio?"
"No." Finn shook his head, "The door is locked tightly, and the window is closed tightly." "
Chloe approached the painting and carefully observed every detail.
The frame is in a classic style with a beautiful wood texture. The material of the canvas is also very special, not ordinary linen, but some kind of fiber that she has never seen before.
Above all, the whole painting exudes a faint fluctuation of energy.
This is not an ordinary work of art, but a special item that has been processed with supernatural abilities.
"Finn, did you feel it last night... Relaxed? "
Finn thought for a moment and nodded.
"Yes, there is. I had always been irritable, but after seeing this painting, I felt much calmer. "
"I even had the urge to continue creating."
Chloe's pupils constricted.
The role of this painting is not a coincidence, but someone deliberately did it.
And there are only a handful of people in the entire academy who can make such sophisticated supernatural items.
Alex Chen.
Anonymous text messages at five o'clock in the morning, mysterious paintings that suddenly appear, and that highly targeted therapeutic effect.
All the clues point to a conclusion:
Alex not only knew her identity, but also her physical condition, and even prepared a "treatment plan" for her in advance.
But what is his purpose?
If you want to help her, why not come forward directly?
Why offer this benefit if you want to control her?
Chloe stood in front of the painting, mixed emotions welling in her heart.
Gratitude, vigilance, confusion, and an indescribable fear.
She felt like she was caught in a huge net, and every move was within someone's calculations.
And that person is secretly controlling everything.
"Sister, what's wrong with you?" Finn noticed a change in her expression.
"It's okay." Chloe withdrew her gaze, "Keep this painting for now, it may be helpful for your creation." "
"But be careful not to let anyone know about its existence."
Finn nodded, although he didn't understand why, he chose to trust his sister's judgment.
"By the way, you said yesterday that you wanted to help me clarify the plagiarism..."
"Don't worry, I'll give you an answer within three days." Chloe's tone was firm, "Now all you have to do is keep creating." "
"Prove your strength with your work."
Finn's eyes rekindled their fighting spirit.
"I see, sister."
Chloe glanced at the painting on the wall one last time, turned and left the studio.
The hallway was quiet, and the morning light spilled through the windows on the floor.
Her phone vibrated again.
This time it was a normal text message with the sender showing "A.C." :
"Are you satisfied with the gift? I'll wait for you at eight o'clock tonight. "
Chloe stared at the text message, a sneer curled up on the corner of her mouth.
Alex Chen.
Since you can't wait to meet so much, then do as you wish.
It's just that when the time comes, it's hard to say who is the hunter and who is the prey.