Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Xiao Huai had no desire to bully an honest employee. But they had ventured deep into enemy territory, so caution was necessary.

“What’s your name?” Xiao Huai softened his tone, trying not to frighten the employee too badly.

The man answered cautiously, “You can call me Sato. Or Michael, if you prefer.”

Hmm… Either way, it was an exceedingly ordinary name.

Xiao Huai nodded. “Hello, Sato. I’m a journalist invited by the general manager, and this is my partner. We’d like to visit the manager’s office, but your factory is enormous. Could you take us there? Or perhaps give us a map?”

Sato breathed a sigh of relief. When he first saw them, he had assumed they were important figures. Fortunately, they were only journalists.

Reporters often came to interview people at the factory, though few of them were this attractive.

“I see. My shift just ended, so I’ll take you there.”

The corners of Xiao Huai’s mouth rose. He shot Lu Yuanshi a meaningful look, a touch of smug delight enlivening his expression.

Lu Yuanshi met his eyes. For the briefest instant, his gaze went blank, so fleetingly it might have been an illusion. Then the faintly false smile returned to his face.

The general manager’s office was on the third floor. Xiao Huai took out a pen and paper in a show of professionalism and began chatting with Sato along the way.

“You seem accustomed to journalists visiting. Do many reporters come here?”

Xiao Huai’s tone was gentle, allowing Sato to relax further.

He smiled. “Yes. Our factory produces the finest diamonds in the world. Many reporters from around the globe come to interview us. But it’s rare for the general manager to invite one personally. You must be very influential, sir.”

Xiao Huai gave an awkward laugh. He had not expected Sato to be so diplomatic, praising the factory’s products and flattering him in the same breath.

“More or less,” he replied.

For now, he had to commit to the identity. Afraid Sato might ask more questions, he added, “Huaxia News. We’re a new company, but your general manager has a good relationship with us.”

“Ah. I see.”

Sato nodded. Though he had never heard of the company, the last sentence told him everything he needed to know, and he stopped asking questions.

From the corner of his eye, Xiao Huai glanced at Sato’s neck. Sure enough, there was a puncture mark three finger-widths from his collarbone.

A puncture mark. A quarantine laboratory…

The Diamond Factory was not only producing diamonds. It was conducting biological research as well!

Xiao Huai’s stride faltered for a beat. Then he asked slowly, “How far has the research progressed?”

Sato froze and looked at him in surprise.

Xiao Huai thought he had asked the wrong question. Then he saw tears glimmering in Sato’s eyes.

“Is a newspaper truly willing to report on this?” Sato asked in disbelief.

Xiao Huai knew he had struck the right target. He immediately caught Lu Yuanshi and pulled him over, righteous conviction written across his face. “We are journalists with consciences. Exposing the darkness of this world is our duty.”

The more he said, the more moved Sato became.

Sato looked so pitiful that even Xiao Huai’s conscience began to trouble him.

Lu Yuanshi, by contrast, wore an amused smile and made no attempt whatsoever to play along.

Life was a stage, and survival depended on acting. Lu Yuanshi was bound to suffer in future games if he kept this up.

Xiao Huai sighed inwardly. They would never meet again after this anyway. They had become roommates and partners only by chance in the same game.

“But would the general manager really agree to…”

Before Sato could finish, Xiao Huai pressed an index finger to his lips and hushed him. His dark red eyes lowered slightly, dazzling Sato so thoroughly he could scarcely keep his eyes open.

Xiao Huai whispered, “No. He doesn’t know. We’re investigating in secret. Once the report is published, his relationship with us may collapse, and I may destroy my own career.”
Sato’s blood surged at those words. He had never imagined that this young man would risk his career and future in the name of justice.

Deeply moved, he rummaged through his briefcase. Crushing pressure had left him unable to breathe for far too long. Given the slightest outlet, he was ready to pour out everything without reservation.

Sato pulled out a stack of photographs and furtively pressed them into Xiao Huai’s hands. Lowering his voice, he said, “I actually work in the underground laboratory. The residents of our town are suffering terribly. I couldn’t help taking these pictures. It would be wonderful if the truth could be exposed.”

Xiao Huai quickly slipped the photographs into his pocket, catching a glimpse of their contents as he did.

The Westerners in the photographs were covered in puncture marks. Their bodies seemed to have been drained of blood, their gazes hollow and lifeless.

Sato sighed. “If the manager hadn’t made that deal with an evil god and led the Count astray, making him so greedy… If there were only more diamond fiends, perhaps the rest of us wouldn’t be so unfortunate.”

Xiao Huai arched a brow. Sato’s words contained two useful clues.

A deal. An evil god.

Without realizing it, they had arrived outside the manager’s office. Seeing the lock on the door, Sato scratched his head. “I’m very sorry. The manager may be meeting with the Count. Would you like to wait in the reception hall?”

Xiao Huai shook his head. “That’s all right, Mr. Sato. You’ve already helped us a great deal. You should go home and rest. Thank you.”

A faint, gentle smile rippled across his lips.

Sato’s ears immediately turned red. He could not understand why, but the handsome young man before him seemed exceptionally warm and approachable.

He bowed twice before finally leaving, swaying as he walked.

Xiao Huai assumed the man was simply exhausted. The dark circles beneath his eyes were severe enough to make his lack of sleep obvious.

Once Sato was gone, it was Xiao Huai’s time to work. He approached the general manager’s office. “Lu Yuanshi, keep watch.”

Then he jammed a paper clip into the keyhole and began working it with a series of alarming scrapes. Anyone else might have expected the clip to snap off inside.

But Lu Yuanshi could hear every tumbler turning with mechanical precision.

Click. The lock opened. Xiao Huai glanced calmly at Lu Yuanshi. “Come on. Let’s see what’s inside.”

Lu Yuanshi’s raised brow carried a hint of teasing. “Impressive.”

At the praise, Xiao Huai rubbed his neck. “Maybe I used to be a locksmith?”

“You don’t remember who you were?” Lu Yuanshi leaned forward slightly, his shadow falling over Xiao Huai.

The space between them vanished. Xiao Huai could make out every one of Lu Yuanshi’s eyelashes.

Those deep eyes seemed to possess a magic that drew in every living thing.

Xiao Huai looked away. “I don’t.”

“Do you want to know?” Lu Yuanshi asked.

Xiao Huai glanced up at him. “You make it sound as if you do.”

Lu Yuanshi narrowed his eyes in a smile, once again treating the question like a joke.

Xiao Huai had not known him for long, yet something told him they were the same kind of person.

Liars, or perhaps simply bad men?

Xiao Huai walked into the office, his voice languid. “Of course I want to know about my past.”

Then he smiled and continued softly, “But it isn’t an obsession. I am myself. That has never changed from beginning to end. So what if I’ve lost my memories? Besides, perhaps forgetting certain things is for the best.”

His left hand trembled faintly at his side, as though blood had suddenly rushed to his fingertips.

The wound on his left wrist had scarred over long ago.