Chapter 25: Truly Targeted

Back in her room, Shen Zhiyu spent a moment cursing the system, but once she finished, she couldn't help but smile.

Actually, this was quite alright.

If she truly had been targeted, then that beast was in for a stroke of bad luck. If anyone else had been singled out by such a monster, it might have ended in another tragedy, but since it was Shen Zhiyu—with a little creature like Yuanbao by her side—the beast was just walking straight into a trap.

Thinking of this, her mood improved instantly.

Time to cook. She even prepared a little extra for Yuanbao as an early reward.

Night fell. Shen Zhiyu went to bed early, but she couldn't stop herself from falling into a nightmare. As the saying goes, what one thinks about by day, one dreams about by night. When she jolted awake, she checked the sky outside; it was still pitch black. Yet, she could no longer find sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, those images would replay in her mind.

She didn't know how long she tossed and turned before she finally drifted off. By the time she woke, the entire compound was already buzzing with activity. Checking the time, she realized she was over ten minutes late. Fortunately, she had bought a bicycle, which saved her a significant amount of time on the commute.

She quickly fried an egg pancake for herself and tossed a few raw eggs to Yuanbao. "I'm in a rush. If you can't eat them, you'll have to stay hungry!"

No sooner had she spoken than Yuanbao opened its mouth, slurping down the eggs, shells and all.

"Woof!" (Delicious!)

"As long as you like it!"

Shen Zhiyu hurried out. The neighbors in the compound looked at her bicycle with eyes full of envy. There were other bikes in the compound, but they were all second-hand. Seeing Shen Zhiyu’s brand-new one, how could they not be jealous?

The young man who had greeted her yesterday now shrank back. That kind of bold, persistent, and thick-skinned approach was rare in this era. After all, people still prioritized status and background when it came to courting. If Shen Zhiyu were just an ordinary girl starting work at the textile mill with a modest family background, it would have been a fair match. But for someone who could afford a brand-new bike the moment she started work? She was clearly no ordinary person. Thinking back to those who had tried to approach her earlier, they retreated just in time.

Shen Zhiyu, meanwhile, felt much more comfortable.

***

Arriving at the textile mill by bike, she had barely stepped into the office when she saw the two police officers from yesterday already interviewing some of the senior ladies.

Shen Zhiyu pressed a hand to her forehead. Was this really going to become common knowledge? Would everyone end up having nightmares now?

However, she had underestimated the mental fortitude of those senior ladies. In their forties, they had been born in an era of war; some had even been to the battlefield. There wasn't much they hadn't seen. Upon learning that Shen Zhiyu had been so rattled that she hadn't even dared to look at the head, had spent ten minutes retching, and had suffered nightmares all night, they gathered around to comfort her.

"Little Yu, it's really not that big a deal!"

"You young people just haven't been through enough yet!"

"Sister, big sister, dear sister, can we please stop talking about it? If you keep going, I'm going to be sick again!"

Shen Zhiyu truly couldn't handle it. She had finally managed to purge those images from her mind, only for these ladies to turn up the intensity. Were they trying to increase the difficulty of her life just because she seemed too comfortable?

"Fine, fine, fine, we'll stop!"

"By the way, Little Yu, you said when you went back yesterday, you felt like someone was following you—was that real?"

"I'm not sure!"

When she saw the two officers earlier, Shen Zhiyu had mentioned what Yuanbao had sensed. Naturally, she hadn't been overly certain, framing it as a vague feeling. This was her way of laying the groundwork; if something happened later, it would be easier to explain.

"How about we walk you home after work?"

"No need, sister. The streets are full of people at that hour. I promise I won't wander off and will go straight home!"

"I must have been out of my mind to go looking at bird nests yesterday..." Shen Zhiyu said, looking annoyed.

The ladies in the office laughed. Everyone had their moments of foolishness. They had all climbed trees to raid bird nests in their childhood, but at most, they had encountered snakes. Shen Zhiyu’s bizarre experience was a first for them. Come to think of it, the murderer was surely deranged—why else would they hide a human head in a bird nest? It made no sense!

The ladies couldn't figure it out, and neither could the police. It was something no sane person could comprehend.

Shen Zhiyu spent most of the day drowsing in the office. Fortunately, no one gave her any trouble. Sister Zhao, the office director who knew what she had been through, even contacted the security department. The textile mill's security team was eligible to participate in such a case since it involved one of their employees. The security staff, currently bored, were quite enthusiastic once they heard the news.

***

Especially when they learned that Shen Zhiyu, who was involved in the case, was also quite beautiful, the single security officers transformed into strutting peacocks. Unfortunately, they didn't get to see her; the ladies in the office protected Shen Zhiyu very well.

During lunch, Shen Zhiyu biked home. Midway, Yuanbao sent a warning.

That person had appeared again!

"Master, that person has appeared again!"

"Very well, keep an eye on him. Don't make a sound!"

"Woof!" (Understood!)

Shen Zhiyu acted as if she were oblivious to the person lurking in the shadows and cycled leisurely back to the compound.

"Master, he has entered the compound!"

With Yuanbao’s updates, Shen Zhiyu was now certain that if this was indeed the killer, she had truly become a target. Yuanbao tracked the man’s movements until he confirmed which room was hers, then he slipped away. Throughout the process, he hadn't interacted with a single resident in the compound.

Hearing Yuanbao’s report, Shen Zhiyu realized this person was definitely a professional. Although it was mealtime, his ability to move through the crowded compound without alarming anyone showed he had some real skills.

"Yuanbao, if he tries to ambush me, can you handle him?"

"Master, don't you worry. Yuanbao is very strong!"

"Even so, I’d better make some preparations."

Shen Zhiyu immediately used the chili powder from the system's airdrop to make a bottle of chili spray. This would be her secret weapon. If Yuanbao faltered, she wouldn't be left without a way to fight back. She had trained in the past, but this guy was clearly a master, so she had to be prepared. She could not afford to capsize in the gutter.

After lunch, Shen Zhiyu biked back to the textile mill. On the way, Yuanbao gave another warning: the man had appeared again and followed her all the way to the factory gates. However, the textile mill wasn't a place just anyone could enter; the security team managed access quite strictly.