Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Black Cloak

“Do you still remember who I am?”

I slowly opened my eyes and saw a figure in a black trench coat standing beside my bed. A familiar scent of perfume drifted to my nose.

A fragmented memory struck my mind like a bolt of lightning.

“Who are you? Tell me!” I demanded sternly.

The figure let out a sorrowful laugh, then extended a delicate, pale hand from within the long sleeve and removed the hood.

I looked carefully—and beneath the hood was a back, turned to me!

“Ah!” I screamed, my mind shattering.

The figure’s woeful laughter ceased and was replaced by soft sobbing. Inwardly, they whispered, “I’m sorry,” their heart twisting in agony.

“Farewell—until fate brings us together again,” they said softly.

“Don’t go!” I called, but the black shadow vanished before my eyes as if it were a phantom.

At dawn, I awoke from my sleep. Mengya was already sitting on a chair beside me. When she saw me awake, she smiled, “Well, why are you up so early today? It’s just past five. Up earlier than the chickens, to bed later than them, too.”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

Mengya’s playful banter did nothing to lift my spirits. She glanced at my gloomy expression and asked, “What’s wrong?”

I sighed deeply. “I keep feeling as though I’ve lost a part of my memory.”

Mengya’s body tensed almost imperceptibly. She looked at me, forced a smile, and said awkwardly, “No way, you—you’re just imagining things, right?”

Seeing her expression, the note from Yu Tianhua flashed suddenly to mind, sending a chill through me. Could it be Mengya who’s harmed me? Impossible—she would never do that. But Yu Tianhua had no reason to lie.

“What’s the matter?” Mengya asked, her face now shadowed.

“I just feel…”

“What are you imagining? It’s enough that you still remember me.” Suddenly, her face contorted, wild and terrifying, as if possessed. I turned pale with fright, and the suspicion seeded by Yu Tianhua’s note grew stronger.

Mengya’s eyes filled with tears again, as though she were in great pain.

Seeing her cry, even though Yu Tianhua’s words seemed to point directly at her, I tried to convince myself that I must have misunderstood—she couldn’t possibly harm me. With that thought, I embraced her.

“Don’t leave me, please?” Mengya pleaded helplessly.

I patted her head and nodded. “I won’t.”

Knock, knock, knock.

“I’ll get the door.” I let Mengya go and opened the door to find Shao standing outside.

As soon as he entered, Shao saw Mengya wiping tears from her face and burst out laughing. “Oh my, I had no idea you two were up to something. Shame on me!” he joked, covering his eyes in mock embarrassment.

His teasing made me feel awkward, and I hastened to explain, “It’s not what you think—I didn’t bully her.” Mengya echoed my explanation.

“Oh, come on, we’ve all been young once—I know, I know,” he said, grinning mischievously.

Seeing it was hopeless to explain further, I changed the subject. “What are you here so early for?”

Shao’s face turned serious as he whispered, “Did you hear footsteps running in the hallway last night?”

“What?” I gasped. Could it be that person in black? I glanced at Mengya, but she shook her head.

Shao wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Last night, around two or three in the morning. I heard it clearly—‘tap, tap, tap, tap’—very rhythmic, very distinct. I looked through the peephole. Guess what I saw?”

“Well? What did you see?” I stammered.

“There was nothing outside the door,” Shao replied, his face breaking into a teasing grin.

I slapped him on the back. “Damn it, you nearly scared me to death!”

Shao chuckled. “I’m not making it up; it’s true!”

I nodded, thinking, Could it have been that figure from last night? But why would he be running in the hallway? I was thoroughly confused.

“Let’s eat. No point in talking about this nonsense all day,” Mengya interjected.

I nodded. “Should we call Xiaoxue?”

Mengya shook her head. “Better not. I’m afraid we’d just end up arguing again.”

I was never fond of Western breakfasts; milk with bread and jam simply couldn’t compare to the tofu pudding, wontons, and steamed buns at the market near the antique district. I took a few bites, lost my appetite, and sat with them in the dining room, bored.

“By the way, Shao, there’s a lead,” Mengya said between bites.

“Oh? Really?” Shao asked, face lighting up.

I shot Mengya a glance. Hadn’t we agreed to wait for Yu Xianzhi and not get Shao involved? Why was she telling him now? I cleared my throat.

But Mengya seemed unaffected, as if I didn’t exist. “We went out for a walk yesterday and heard about something strange from someone. I suspect it’s connected to your cousin, so we’re going to check it out today.” She recounted Xiao Wu’s story, omitting any mention of the attack.

Shao turned pale when he heard this. I teased him, “Better go change your pants.”

Shao spat, “No, really, we have to get to Xiao Wu’s place quickly. Something’s fishy about this Seventh Investigation Division business!”

His words jolted me. Why hadn’t I thought of it? The Seventh Investigation Division would never send just one person—if something happened, they’d have detained him already. There was definitely something wrong here. I looked at Mengya. “What’s the address?”

Mengya pointed to a building across the street. “Zone Three, Building Fourteen.”

I nodded and quickly got up. Together with Shao and Mengya, I walked out of the restaurant. The moment we stepped outside, I spotted a familiar figure—the black-coated person from last night.

My mind was in turmoil. I sighed, wanting to rush over and catch the figure, but Mengya held me back.

“Don’t act rashly. Let’s follow him and see where he’s going.”

I nodded. The three of us hid at the side of the restaurant, watching closely.

We saw the figure quickly enter the residential complex across the street. As soon as he went in, we followed—but he was nowhere to be found.

“This is bad,” I muttered, glancing at Mengya with suspicion and sighing. “If you hadn’t stopped me just now, I could have caught him. Now he’s vanished completely—we’ll never find him!”

Mengya, stung by my reproach, looked furious and was about to retort when Shao hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over. “Alright, enough. Let’s go find Xiao Wu before it’s too late.”

I nodded helplessly and ran toward Building Fourteen in Zone Three.

A bloodcurdling scream erupted from inside. We froze, then rushed in to find the black-coated figure pressing a sharp knife against Xiao Wu’s throat. Xiao Wu was struggling with all his might to resist.

I lunged behind the black-coated man, trying to grab his hood. But seeing us rush in, he swung at me with the knife.

A chill swept across my arm, and blood began to flow down my forearm.

Stunned for a moment, I saw him realize he was outnumbered. Sensing things had gone awry, he darted out of Xiao Wu’s home.

I turned to chase after him, but Mengya stopped me. “Let me go.” With that, she ran out the door.

I looked at Xiao Wu, who was sweating and pale, slumped on the floor. I reached out and pulled him to his feet.

“Did you see what he looked like?” I asked.

Xiao Wu caught his breath and nodded. “I saw him clearly—it was that delicate-looking officer from the Seventh Investigation Division.”

Shao and I exchanged glances. I handed Xiao Wu a glass of water.

He wiped his forehead and took a sip. “I was scared to death. Looks like I won’t last long at this rate. What should I do? I don’t want to die.”

I fell silent for a moment, then sighed. “Xiao Wu, why don’t you come back to Beijing with us once we’re done here? I could use an assistant.”

Xiao Wu hesitated, then nodded. “Alright. My parents are gone, and I have no wife or children.”

At that moment, Mengya returned, breathless and exhausted. She waved her hand. “I lost him.”

I nodded and smiled. “It’s alright—catch your breath.”

It was as if everything had played out just as I’d expected. I knew she wouldn’t be able to catch him, but my suspicion toward Mengya only grew stronger.