My childhood friend is in her mature, sophisticated form again today. - Chapter 41

“Yes. The pork rib soup has been simmering all afternoon; I’ll go heat it up.” A-You turned and went into the kitchen. Lin Jiqiu leaned back on the sofa with her eyes closed, her mind filled with the words the telescope had spoken—“Your father is a genius. But he’s too idealistic.” Idealistic, she murmured the word.

Cheng Ran sat down opposite her, placed the tablet on the coffee table, and pulled up the photos taken by the telescope. They were taken from an abandoned factory area; the light was dim, but the features were clear, especially the scar on the brow bone. “I checked this face against the Stargazers’ internal records. Telescope’s code name in the Stargazers is ‘Spyglass,’ his real name is unknown, and he’s about thirty-five to forty years old. His role in the Stargazers is ‘Field Supervisor,’ responsible for contact, recruitment, and, when necessary, elimination.”

Lin Jiqiu opened her eyes. “Clear it. Was he involved in my father’s death?”

“It’s not explicitly stated in the documents. But one report mentions that Lin Yuanzhou, the principal researcher of ‘Project Deep Sea,’ died due to ‘equipment malfunction,’ and Spyglass was subsequently responsible for sealing all related data.” Cheng Ran paused. “Sealing means ensuring that no one can access those technologies again.”

“Including the destruction of those who knew about it?”

“include.”

Lin Jiqiu remained silent for a long time. Ayou came out carrying a bowl of hot pork rib soup and placed it on the coffee table. The soup was still steaming, and the aroma of pork ribs filled the air. Lin Jiqiu picked up a spoon and took a sip. It was hot, but very flavorful.

“Chengran, why do you think the telescope asked to meet me? It wasn’t to give me a photo, nor was it to remind me.”

“He wants to see you,” Cheng Ran said. “The stargazers have always been interested in your abilities. Your abilities are a continuation of that project, the only successful test subject. The telescope may want to confirm—whether you pose a threat.”

“And then what happened?”

“He left. This means he doesn’t think you pose a threat right now. Or, he thinks he has other ways to control you.”

Lin Jiqiu’s fingers slowly traced the rim of the soup bowl. “Control me, or use me?”

“Perhaps both.”

She put down her spoon and pushed the soup bowl aside. Ah You came out of the kitchen, stood nearby listening for a while, and couldn’t help but ask, “Boss, will that telescope come back?”

“Yes. But not now.” Lin Jiqiu stood up and walked to the window. The flower shop across the street was already closed, but the lights in the café were still on, and through the glass window, he could see a few customers sitting inside. “He’s waiting. Waiting for my next move.”

“So, do you have a next step?”

Lin Jiqiu turned around and looked at Cheng Ran. “Yes. Go investigate the origin of that project. Those technologies—Chen Weisong said he didn’t know where they came from, Lin Xiao didn’t know either, the telescope might know but wouldn’t say. So let’s find someone who knows.”

“who?”

“The project’s funding representative,” Lin Jiqiu walked back and sat down. “Chen Weisong said that a few days before my father’s accident, someone spoke with him. Tall, thin, wearing glasses, with a scar on his left eyebrow bone—that’s the telescope. But the telescope isn’t the funding party; he’s one of the stargazers’ people. The funding party is someone else, perhaps the stargazers themselves.”

Cheng Ran tapped his fingers on the tablet a few times. “The Stargazers’ funding sources are very complex, including legal investments and gray channels. I’ve checked their accounts, and the core funds come from an offshore fund. That fund was established around 1998—which coincides with the project’s launch date.”

“Is it possible to find out who the fund’s holders are?”

“I can’t find it. Information about offshore funds is not publicly available and involves multiple layers of nesting. We need a more direct channel—for example, obtaining it from within Stargazer.”

Lin Jiqiu looked at him. “You have a solution?”

“Yes. But the risk is huge.” Cheng Ran put down his tablet. “When I was with Stargazer, I had a colleague. He wasn’t a core member; he was an outsourced technician responsible for maintaining their database. If he were still there, he might be able to help us get some internal information.”

“You trust him?”

“I don’t trust him. But he owes me a favor.”

Lin Jiqiu thought for a moment. “How do I contact him?”

“Through an old email address. If he’s still using it, he’ll reply.”

“Give it a try.”

Cheng Ran picked up his tablet and started writing an email.

Ah You, listening nearby, turned pale. “Boss, are you going to continue investigating?”

“Um.”

“But—that person said it would harm the people around you.”

Lin Jiqiu looked at him. “Ayou, are you afraid?”

Ah You hesitated for a moment. “I’m afraid. I’m afraid something will happen to you.”

“Nothing will happen,” Lin Jiqiu said calmly. “I promise you.”

Ayou looked at her, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded and turned back to the kitchen. Lin Jiqiu knew he didn’t believe her. But she had no other choice.

After sending the email, Cheng Ran closed his tablet. “Now, all I can do is wait.”

“How long?”

“Not necessarily. If he sees it, he’ll reply. If he doesn’t see it—or doesn’t want to reply—you won’t get a response.”

Lin Jiqiu leaned back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. Ahua jumped down from the windowsill, rubbed against her feet, then hopped onto the sofa and curled up next to her. She reached out and scratched Ahua’s chin, and Ahua made a gurgling sound.

“Cheng Ran”.

“Um.”

“What’s your colleague’s name?”

“Code name ‘K’. I don’t know his real name either. We only communicate via email and have never met.”

“what does he do?”

“Database maintenance. The Stargazers’ internal system has a massive database that stores all project data, personnel information, and financial flows. If we could gain access to that database—”

“Then you will know everything.”

“Possibly.” Cheng Ran looked at her. “But the Stargazers’ database isn’t accessible to just one person. It requires multi-level authorization, and every access leaves a record. K is just a maintenance worker; he doesn’t have query privileges. He can only help us get the system’s architecture information; he can’t directly extract the data.”

“That’s enough. With the architecture information, you can break in yourself.”

Cheng Ran did not deny it.

Ah You came out carrying two cups of tea and placed them on the coffee table. “Boss, Brother Cheng, get some rest. You’re all tired today.”

Lin Jiqiu picked up the teacup and took a sip. The tea was a little hot, but very fragrant. “Ayou, when did you learn to brew tea?”

“A-Zuo taught me. He said that brewing tea can calm the mind.”

Lin Jiqiu glanced at A Zuo. A Zuo was organizing files behind the counter, not looking up, but there was an almost imperceptible smile on his lips.

“Ah Zuo, when did you learn how to make tea?”

“Before the firm opened,” A-Zuo looked up, “you said back then that the firm should have a certain image. When clients come, there should be a cup of tea to drink.”

Lin Jiqiu didn’t remember saying those words, but A-Zuo did. He remembered everything. She put down her teacup and stood up. “I’m going to sleep. You all should go to bed early too.”

She went upstairs, entered her room, and closed the door. She changed into her pajamas, lay on the bed, and stared at the ceiling. The streetlights outside cast blurry patches of light through the curtains. The ball on her wrist vibrated gently, a very slow rhythm.

“Cheng Ran”.

“Um.”

“If your colleague, K, replies, how do you plan to contact him?”

“Use encrypted email. Let’s arrange a place to meet.”

Is it safe?

“It’s not safe. But it’s worth a try.”

Lin Jiqiu rolled over. “I’ll go with you then.”

Cheng Ran was silent for a few seconds. “Okay.”

She closed her eyes. The image of the telescope in her mind was striking—tall, thin, wearing glasses, with a scar on his left eyebrow. And his words—”You’re as stubborn as your father.” Stubborn. Perhaps. But she wouldn’t lose her life like her father, because of her idealism. She would live on, investigate, until she found the truth.

The next morning, Lin Jiqiu woke up very early. The sky was just beginning to brighten, and sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains. She picked up her phone and glanced at it—Cheng Ran had sent a message: “K replied. Willing to help. Let’s meet at a coffee shop in the west of the city.” The time was 2 PM the next day. She replied with an “Okay,” and got out of bed.

I washed up, changed, and went downstairs. Ah You was already in the kitchen, the pot on the stove steaming. Ah Zuo was behind the counter, files spread out in front of him. Ah Hua was leaning on the windowsill, Ah Mo was squatting on top of the bookshelf, and Ah Ju wasn’t there.

Good morning, boss! We’re having wontons today.

Lin Jiqiu walked to the sofa, sat down, and picked up the warm water on the coffee table, taking a sip. “Where’s Chengran?”

“They’re upstairs. They came down just now and said they’d be coming down to eat later.”

Ah You came out carrying two bowls of wontons and placed them on the coffee table. The wonton wrappers were thin, the fillings generous, and the broth clear with chopped scallions floating on top. “Brother Cheng said he’s going to the west side of the city this afternoon?”

“Yes. I’m meeting someone.”

Who is it?

“A former colleague of Stargazers.”

Ah You paused for a moment. “Is it safe?”

“have no idea.”

Lin Jiqiu picked up a spoon and took a sip of the soup; it was very flavorful. Ayou’s wontons were getting better and better. Cheng Ran came downstairs, wearing a dark, thin coat. His hair was still a little messy, but the dark circles under his eyes were lighter than yesterday. He sat down opposite Lin Jiqiu and picked up a spoon to eat some wontons.

“K met me at a coffee shop in the west of the city at 2 p.m. He said he would bring a diagram of the stargazer database.”

“What are the conditions?”

“Help him leave the Stargazers. He said he’s wanted to quit for a long time, but the Stargazers won’t let him. He’ll disappear as soon as anyone knows he wants to quit.”

Lin Jiqiu’s fingers paused on the spoon. “Can he be trusted?”

“No. But he had no other choice.”

After the two finished breakfast, A-You cleared the dishes, A-Zuo organized the files, and A-Hua jumped down from the windowsill and perched on the sofa armrest. Lin Jiqiu leaned back on the sofa, her mind replaying the afternoon’s meeting—the west side of the city, the coffee shop, K. She had never met this person, didn’t know what he looked like, and didn’t know if what he said was true or a trap. But this was currently the only channel she could use to delve deeper into the Stargazers’ inner circle.

“Chengran, when we meet, you go inside, and I’ll stay outside.”

“Are you afraid there might be an ambush?”

“I’m afraid. That’s why you’re in the open, and I’m in the shadows.”

Cheng Ran looked at her. “Did you bring your communicator?”

“Yes, I brought it. It’s always on.”

He nodded.

At 1:30 PM, A-Zuo drove them to the west side of the city. The coffee shop was on an inconspicuous street corner, with a small storefront and a faded sign. Lin Jiqiu and Cheng Ran got out of the car, and A-Zuo parked it a short distance away.

“I’ll wait for you outside,” Lin Jiqiu said.

Cheng Ran nodded, pushed open the door of the coffee shop, and went inside. Lin Jiqiu stood in front of a bookstore across the street, pretending to flip through a book, her eyes constantly fixed on the coffee shop window. Through the glass, she could see Cheng Ran sitting by the window, a cup of coffee in front of him, seemingly waiting for someone.

About ten minutes later, a man walked into the cafe. He was of medium build, wearing a dark jacket and a baseball cap, so his face was obscured. He sat down opposite Cheng Ran, and the two exchanged a few words. The man took an envelope from the inside pocket of his jacket and pushed it in front of Cheng Ran. Cheng Ran picked up the envelope, glanced at it, and put it in his pocket. They exchanged a few more words, then the man stood up and left the cafe. Cheng Ran remained seated, took a sip of his coffee, and then stood up and walked out.

When he came out, his expression didn’t change, but Lin Jiqiu noticed that his fingers were clutching the envelope in his pocket.

“Did you get it?” She walked over.

“Got it.” Cheng Ran handed her the envelope. “The database architecture diagram. And a list of access points for the Stargazers’ internal network.”

Lin Jiqiu took the envelope but didn’t open it. “Did he say anything?”

“He said the Stargazers are currently undergoing restructuring, with many old projects being moved or destroyed. If we want to get the data, we need to be quick.”

Why are you helping us?

He said he owed me a favor. Once he paid it back, we’d be even.

The two got into the car. A-Zuo started the car and drove towards the office. Lin Jiqiu opened the envelope; inside were several pages of printed paper, covered with dense architectural diagrams and network topologies. She glanced at a few pages and handed them to Cheng Ran. “Can we break in?”

Cheng Ran looked at it carefully. “Yes, it’s possible. But it will take time. The Stargazers’ network has multiple layers of protection, each with a different authentication method. This architecture diagram gives us a roadmap, but we still need to crack the keys for each layer.”

“how long?”

“At least a week.”

Lin Jiqiu leaned back in his chair, looking out the window. “Then a week.”

Back at the office, A-You was organizing files behind the counter—no, it was A-Zuo. A-You was busy in the kitchen. A-Hua was lying on the floor, her tail swishing back and forth. A-Mo was perched on top of the bookshelf, while A-Ju was stealing cookies that A-You had placed on the counter, only to be gently pushed away by A-Zuo.

“Brother Cheng, how did it go?” Ayou poked his head out from the kitchen.

“Successfully.” Cheng Ran placed the envelope on the counter and went upstairs. Lin Jiqiu sat on the sofa, and Ahua jumped up and curled up next to her. She reached out and scratched Ahua’s chin.

“Boss, is the person you’re investigating—K—reliable?” A-Zuo asked.

“I don’t know. But at least he gave me something.”

A-Zuo didn’t ask any further questions. He went back behind the counter and continued organizing the files.

Lin Jiqiu leaned back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. A week—in a week, perhaps the truth would be revealed. What technology had her father come into contact with? Where did that technology come from? And what was the nature of her abilities? And the telescope, the stargazers, the mirror society, the rusty bones—all of it intertwined.

She closed her eyes.

The ball on her wrist vibrated slightly, in sync with her heartbeat.