Chapter 614: Chapter 360: The Chairman’s Identity, Lake Hunting’s Fourth Member (Two-in-One Requesting Monthly Votes)

August 18th, ten o’clock in the morning, China Li Jing, the site of the Old Jingmai District, inside an abandoned train station. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Su Zimai, Gu Qiye, and Gu Zhuo Case stood silently on the empty platform.

The summer heat nearly twisted the distant city into a mirage, beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads, and the open-air platform felt like a gigantic steamer, exposed to the full brunt of the sun.

Yet, the three of them were silent, each lost in their thoughts as if unaware of any of this.

It was obvious that Gu Zhuo Case still held a grudge about You Ruirui’s abrupt visit to their home earlier.

He couldn’t imagine how he would support his son if he fell in love with, or even married and had children with, someone from Rainbow Wings.

At that moment, he suddenly understood Su Wei’s feelings.

Back then, perhaps Su Wei had the same emotions watching Su Ying and him come together? Thinking of this, Gu Zhuo Case took a deep breath, often sighing internally about how difficult it is to be a father.

Then, Su Zimai elbowed him, "Speaking of, how’s grandpa? I didn’t get a chance to talk properly with him before he left."

Gu Zhuo Case leaned against a pillar, crossing his arms, "Grandpa said he wants some peace and quiet, and unless it’s urgent, we shouldn’t seek him out for now."

"Alright..." Su Zimai pondered, asking nonchalantly, "If he truly cares about us, why hasn’t he ever come to find us over the years?"

"Grandpa said he’s been silently protecting you," Gu Zhuo Case said, "From the moment you became an Exorcist, he knew. There are many people in the association he knows who can update him on your whereabouts at any time."

"Really?" Su Zimai was shocked, and immediately felt a chill run down her spine, "That’s just terrifying... Who would like being secretly watched like that?"

She shook her head, frowning, "I can only accept being secretly followed by a big flapping moth; I don’t need anyone else, not even grandpa..."

As she spoke, she suddenly froze, her words trailing off into silence.

Su Zimai blinked, realizing she shouldn’t have mentioned that name here, so she slowly turned her head, cautiously checking the expressions of the father and son.

Gu Zhuo Case showed no reaction, likely having grown numb over these days, too tired to think much;

Gu Qiye leaned back against the pillar, still with his head down, dazing off, probably his mind full of thoughts about You Ruirui, Su Zimai guessed inwardly.

She looked away silently, feeling somewhat melancholy as the only one among the three.

It’s funny, recently Su Zimai would hug her pillow every night, browsing her phone until late.

Because she couldn’t help thinking, maybe her brother isn’t actually dead, maybe he’s wandering around somewhere in the world dressed in that "big flapping moth battle suit"?

Maybe, just maybe, some kindhearted bystander would spot Black Cocoon, photograph him, and then upload the pictures onto Weibo or some other social media?

That way, her brother would reveal that he’s still alive.

If that were true, no matter how far Gu Wenyu fled, she would definitely find him, bring him back home, and give him a good talking to for daring to toy with her.

Every time she thought of this, Su Zimai couldn’t help but curl her lips into a slight smile, just the thought made her happy.

But reality is always cruel, most discussions about "Black Cocoon" on Weibo ended at the last time Black Cocoon appeared in Li Jing.

At that time, Black Cocoon had sat on Li Jing Iron Tower, setting off a grand fireworks display towards the sky, then waved goodbye to everyone, and never returned.

Even knowing this, though she understood it all in her heart, whenever she thought of his face in the middle of the night, even when heavy with drowsiness, eyelids barely lifting, she’d climb out of bed.

She’d hug her pillow with her head down, pick up her phone, raise her fingers, and absentmindedly type out "Black Cocoon" in the search box, repeatedly searching for information about him.

She wished to see many people still discussing him, wished to see his figure appear somewhere in the world, wished to know he was alive, she thought to herself.

Once, Su Zimai dreamed of Gu Wenyu smiling at her on a train.

She struggled to open her eyes in the middle of the night, the room lights were still off, hugging her pillow, she opened Weibo, chaotically searching her brother’s name, scrolling through information she’d already read.

Staring at those unchanging texts and pictures, suddenly, tears started to roll down, blurring her vision. She didn’t even know what she was doing, like a fool... Sometimes, she wondered if she was sick.

Su Zimai was silent for a very long time, then looked up, gazing at the clear sky washed clean outside the station eaves.

"How did you meet Ke Qirui?" Gu Zhuo Case suddenly asked, interrupting her thoughts.

"Me?" Su Zimai raised her eyebrows, "The captain approached me then, said I had talent, wanted me to join her Ghost Train Corps."

Gu Zhuo Case thought for a bit, musing, "It could very well be your grandpa who had Ke Qirui approach you, after all, he knows Ke Qirui quite well, having you join the Ghost Train Corps is likely his idea."