False evidence

Chapter 481 The Vanished Number 23

Pidan and I were just joking around, but then again, makeup, as one of the three great "tricks" of China, isn't it also about "painting" on a person's face?

To paint on the skin is tantamount to—painting a mask.

This was still a joke, but after Wang Xi was "transformed," in addition to living a life of luxury and having everything taken care of, she spent most of her time every day taking care of her skin and putting on makeup.

She remembers these things most clearly because this behavior continued for two years, repeating itself every day.

When you can't control your own body, you not only watch helplessly as your body is manipulated, but you also see yourself become someone else.

The consequences of this "makeup" are even more terrifying than the original "Painted Skin".

That's why, when Cao Xinyun mentioned "Painted Skin," my nerves involuntarily tensed up again.

I finally couldn't help but ask Cao Xinyun why he was taking the night bus to Sanhe County. Also, who is Xiao Feng?

This guy has fallen silent again.

Just as I was about to punch him, Old K, who was driving, said, "We've got Tanjiaqiao."

Gao He got out of the car without an umbrella, walked quickly to our car, and looked at me through the car window.

I was already soaked when we got to the restaurant, but I still gave the umbrella to Old K and only took my backpack when I got off the bus.

As soon as Cao Xinyun got out of the car, he started cursing: "Damn it, I should have worn slippers!"

Actually, I noticed it last night. Although he is the young manager of the century-old Cao Furui brand, he is not only unrefined in his attire, but even a bit sloppy. When I saw him at the small restaurant last night, although he was wearing Chinese clothing, the workmanship was very exquisite. Not only was his clothing smart, but he was also wearing a new pair of thousand-layer soles.

He gave the impression that he was going on a blind date. His attire certainly suited his status.

He was wearing the same outfit as yesterday, except he changed his shoes.

The rain had lessened a bit, but he hadn't used an umbrella, so not only were his clothes soaked, but water had also gotten into his rubber boots, making it even more uncomfortable.

As soon as I got off the car, I walked quickly into the alley.

Gao He followed closely beside me and asked another pointless question: "What exactly happened on the 23rd?"

I wiped the rain off my face, but it was pointless.

"Stop asking!" I said, getting a little impatient.

My understanding of certain situations is not simply based on listening to Wang Xi's remnant soul's account, but rather through clairvoyance, a kind of half-hearing and half-seeing, and occasional visual images appearing before my eyes... In short, it's a combination of hearing and seeing.

What Wang Xi provided were only fragments that could not be combined.

It is precisely this disjointed yet dangerous and terrifying semi-physical message that makes people feel more urgent and more restless.

Li Meizhi and I are not exactly friends, but Liang Kaiyuan, and Liang Yuan in reality, have a very special relationship with me.

Currently, one of them is still asleep inside my body, and the other is nowhere to be found. What they have in common is that if something really happens to Li Meizhi, they will both go crazy!

Tanjiaqiao Lane is narrower than Sanfenzhong Street where I live, but it is also more secluded.

I hadn't gone far inside when I saw the kindergarten next door.

The fairytale-themed exterior walls and cartoon signs are still new; it's a kindergarten run by Li Meizhi.

I glanced at the address – No. 8, Tanjiaqiao Lane.

In my mind, I asked Lü Xin, "Where is Liang Kaiyuan?"

“I haven’t seen them at all!” Lü Xin added, “Neither have the others.”

Apart from the time I went back to my hometown, and the time when Tong Xiangnan hypnotized me, I rarely confront those 'friends' in my mind.

Even now, apart from Kunlun Silver Four being an 'unknown,' I can't sense the state of the other 'people' unless they speak up.

Lü Xin was one of them, but he was actually quite similar to me.

Hearing from Lü Xin that Liang Kaiyuan was "missing," I felt somewhat relieved. Liang Kaiyuan felt guilty towards Shen Fangyun, but he still deeply loved Li Meizhi. Having a keen business sense and a sharp mind didn't necessarily mean he wouldn't be confused by concerns for his loved one's safety.

Rather than causing trouble, let him continue to be "unaware of his surroundings in the wine country".

7号、9号……17、19、21、25……

25?

What about the 23rd?

I turned to look at Gao He.

The house numbers are always one odd number and one even number. I counted the odd numbers all the way through, and I never missed any.

However, after the 21st, it went straight to the 25th; there was no 23rd at all.

The key point is that there is not only no partition between numbers 21 and 25, but there are also no extra houses at all!
Gao He stood silently under the eaves of the building at the entrance of No. 25, and took out his cell phone to make a call.

Less than two minutes after hanging up the phone, I received a message.

Seeing him staring at his phone, his brows furrowing into a knot, I snatched the phone away and examined the screen closely; all I could do was frown.

The screen shows a floor plan, marked Tanjiaqiao Lane, with houses on both sides marked.

After 21 comes 23, and then 25.

But the truth is, there is no such thing as number 23 in reality!
Gao He walked to the middle of the alley, braving the heavy rain, and looked at the house numbers on both sides again, "Where's 23?!"

Old K and Cao Xinyun also saw the floor plan clearly. Cao Xinyun had the same reaction as Gao He, standing in the rain and looking around, "Why isn't number 23 there?"

He wasn't slow-witted to begin with, but after two nights of this, coupled with his own worries, he was probably quite upset right now, so he simply reached out and pressed the doorbell for number 25.

Tanjiaqiao Lane, as its name suggests, is an old alleyway. People in the south are not used to having large courtyards. With such heavy rain at this hour, would the family be willing to open the door?

If it were me, and I was woken up from my sleep on a rainy night, I'd probably bang on the doorbell first.

Unexpectedly, just as the first doorbell rang and Cao Xinyun was about to press it a second time, the gate opened.

Inside the door, three men of different heights and dressed in different ways were staring at the outside.

The first man squinted and glanced outside, then reached out and turned on the light under the eaves.

"What do you do?"

"What number is this?" Cao Xinyun asked, bewildered. "Is it 23?"

Before he could finish speaking, the shortest man inside the door pushed aside the man who had asked us the question, mumbled profanities, and kicked Cao Xinyun in the stomach.

"Holy crap!"

Cao Xinyun was not one to be trifled with. He raised his leg as well, and with a swift and decisive strike, kicked the opponent's hip.

I had barely touched him with my heel when I reached out and pulled him back.

The shorter man inside the door wasn't kicked down, but he became enraged, yelling, "I'll fuck your mother..."

"Pork skin!" The man who first questioned us pulled him back. "Don't do anything rash!"

He then frowned and asked us, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just knocked on the wrong door." I nodded slightly to him.

The other person frowned even more, stuck out and curled their tongue, spat out a mouthful, and tried to close the door.

I braced myself against the door and stared at him, asking, "Didn't you come to work today?"

(End of this chapter)