Morning arrived too quickly.
Gray light slipped through the thin hotel curtains, painting soft lines across the small room.
For a moment, everything was quiet and Peacefull.
Then Jun Wei moved.
He stretched under the blanket, blinked sleepily, and looked around the unfamiliar room.
"…Oh right," he murmured.
The mission...The traveling...The weird hotel.
Jun Wei sat up slowly and rubbed his eyes.
On the other bed, Lian Ziho was still awake, sitting against the wall with his arms crossed.
He hadn't slept much.Jun Wei noticed
immediately."Lian Gege?"
Lian ziho looked over.
"Morning."
Jun Wei tilted his head."Did you stay awake all night?"
Lian ziho shrugged.
"Someone had to guard the fortress."
Jun Wei seemed impressed.
"That's very responsible."
Lian ziho almost smiled.
Across the room, Suo Ran stirred in the chair beside the bed.He had fallen asleep sometime during the night.Jun Wei carefully climbed off the bed and walked toward him.
"Gege?"
Suo Ran opened his eyes slowly.
For a second he looked confused.
Then he remembered everything.
Jun Wei smiled at him.
"Morning."
Suo Ran rubbed his face tiredly.
"Morning."
Jun Wei looked thoughtful.
"I still have school today."
Lian ziho sighed quietly.
Suo Ran didn't answer immediately.
The question had followed them into the morning.
Jun Wei waited patiently.
Finally he asked again.
"Am I going?"
Cai Lang entered the room just then carrying two cups of coffee.
He handed one to Suo Ran.
"Morning."
Suo Ran accepted it silently.
Cai Lang looked at Jun Wei.
"And good morning to the smallest strategist in the room."
Jun Wei puffed his chest.
"Thank you."
Then he pointed at Suo Ran.
"He's still deciding about school."
Cai Lang raised an eyebrow.
"Ah."
Lian spoke first.
"It's risky."
Suo Ran nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Jun Wei frowned.
"But I already missed a lot of classes."
Teacher Liu's voice suddenly came from the doorway."Not as many as you think."
Everyone turned.Teacher Liu stepped inside carrying a small paper bag.
Jun Wei brightened instantly.
"Teacher!"
Teacher Liu smiled.
"I promised I'd come back."
Jun Wei ran over. "Did you bring breakfast?"
Teacher Liu handed him the bag.
"You know me too well."
Jun Wei peeked inside.
Steamed buns.
He gasped dramatically."You are the best teacher in the world."
Teacher Liu laughed softly."I'll use that compliment carefully."
While Jun Wei happily ate breakfast on the bed, the adults moved slightly toward the window.Lower voices.Serious expressions.
Teacher Liu spoke quietly.
"The school is normal today."
Lian ziho crossed his arms.
"That doesn't mean it's safe."
"No," Teacher Liu agreed.
"But it's crowded."
Cai Lang nodded.
"Crowds can work both ways."
Suo Ran stared at the floor.
"If they want leverage…"
Lian ziho finished the sentence.
"School is the perfect place."
Teacher Liu sighed."But keeping him away will raise questions too."
Suo Ran looked at Jun Wei.
The boy was happily chewing his bun.
Swinging his legs.Completely unaware of how complicated this decision had become.
Teacher Liu added gently,
"He deserves something normal."
The words landed heavily.
Suo Ran closed his eyes briefly."I know."
Jun Wei suddenly jumped off the bed."I heard that."
All four adults froze.
Jun Wei crossed his arms."You think I can't handle villains at school?"
Lian ziho blinked."That's not what we said."
Jun Wei pointed dramatically.
"You are underestimating me."
Teacher Liu tried not to laugh.
Suo Ran sighed."You're eight."
"Eight and a half."
"Still eight."
Jun Wei looked at Cai Lang."Tell them I'm brave."
Cai Lang shrugged."You are."
Jun Wei turned back proudly.
"See?"
Lian ziho rubbed his forehead."This child is impossible."
Jun Wei grinned."I learned from cartoons."
Teacher Liu laughed again.
After a long moment, Suo Ran spoke quietly.
"You can go."
Jun Wei's eyes lit up."Really?"
"But," Suo Ran added firmly, "Lian Gege will take you."
Jun Wei nodded immediately."Deal."
Lian ziho looked surprised."You're trusting me again?"
Suo Ran met his eyes."Yes."
Lian ziho nodded slowly."Then I won't lose him."
Jun Wei raised his hand dramatically.
"I promise not to chase balloons."
Cai Lang muttered,"Progress."
The small room suddenly became busy.
Jun Wei brushed his teeth at the tiny sink while Lian fixed his messy hair.
"Hold still," Lian ziho said.
"I am holding still."
"You are not."
Jun Wei looked in the mirror."I look cool."
"You look like a storm passed through your hair."
Teacher Liu packed Jun Wei's small backpack.
Suo Ran stood nearby watching quietly.
Cai Lang noticed."You're worried."
Suo Ran didn't deny it."Yes."
Cai Lang spoke calmly.
"We'll watch from a distance."
Suo Ran looked up."You're coming too."
Cai Lang smirked faintly."Obviously."
The morning air was cool.
Students walked along the sidewalks.
Parents talked quietly while holding coffee cups.
Everything looked normal...Too normal.
Jun Wei grabbed Suo Ran's hand.
"I'll be back after school."
Suo Ran knelt down."Be careful."
Jun Wei nodded seriously."Secret mission."
Lian ziho sighed. "We really need to stop calling it that."
Jun Wei grinned."It's fun."
Teacher Liu started walking toward the school.
Jun Wei skipped beside him.
Lian ziho followed a few steps behind.
Suo Ran and Cai Lang stayed across the street.Watching and Waiting.Protecting from the shadows.
Across the road…
Parked between two cars…
The black sedan waited again.
Inside the car, the same man held his phone.
A photo appeared on the screen.
Jun Wei walking toward the school gate.
Teacher Liu beside him.
Lian Ziho behind them.
The man typed a message."The boy arrived."
A reply came seconds later."Good."
Another message followed. "Phase two begins."
The man looked up from the phone.
Watching Jun Wei step through the school gates.
Then he whispered quietly.
"Let's see how protective your heroes really are."
Because inside the school…
Hidden among hundreds of students…
Someone else was already waiting.
And Jun Wei had just walked straight into the place they had chosen for the next move.
The school courtyard was already full.
Children ran across the open space with backpacks bouncing behind them. A few teachers stood near the entrance greeting students as they arrived.Jun Wei stepped through the gates and immediately slowed down.
For a second, he just looked around.
Then he smiled."I missed this place."
Teacher Liu chuckled softly."That's good to hear."
Jun Wei looked up at him."Do you think my friends missed me?"
Teacher Liu nodded."They asked about you yesterday."
Jun Wei's face brightened instantly."See?" he said proudly, glancing back toward Lian Ziho. "I'm famous."
Lian ziho walked beside them with his hands in his jacket pockets, eyes quietly scanning everything....Students...Teachers.
Parents leaving the gates.Nothing looked strange.But that didn't mean anything.
Jun Wei tugged his sleeve."Lian Gege."
"Yes?"
"Stop looking like a bodyguard."
Lian ziho blinked. "What?"
Jun Wei pointed at his face."You look suspicious."
Teacher Liu laughed."He does have a point."
Lian ziho sighed."I am suspicious."
Jun Wei nodded seriously."That's fair."
Jun Wei's classroom sat on the second floor.
The hallway was noisy, full of students greeting each other after the morning bell.
When Jun Wei stepped inside, several heads turned.
"Jun Wei!"His friend Chen Yu ran over immediately. "Where were you?!"
Jun Wei shrugged casually. "Secret mission."
Chen Yu gasped. "Really?"
Jun Wei leaned closer and whispered dramatically, "I can't talk about it."
Chen Yu looked impressed.
Meanwhile, Teacher Liu spoke quietly to the classroom teacher near the door.
"Thank you for understanding the situation."
The teacher nodded politely. "We're glad he's back."
Lian ziho stood in the hallway, arms folded.
Watching...Every movement...Every unfamiliar face.
Teacher Liu returned after a moment. "You don't have to stand here all day."
Lian ziho shook his head."I'm staying nearby."
Teacher Liu studied him."You really care about that boy."
Lian ziho answered simply. "Yes."
Across the street, Suo Ran and Cai Lang sat inside a parked car. From their angle, they could see the school entrance clearly.
Students continued entering.Parents left one by one.
Suo Ran's gaze never moved from the gates.
Cai Lang noticed. "You're going to stare holes into that building."
Suo Ran didn't answer.
Cai Lang leaned back in the seat. "He's fine."
"I know."
"But you don't believe it."
Suo Ran sighed quietly. "I just don't like this."
Cai Lang nodded. "Neither do I."
For a moment they sat in silence.
Then Suo Ran spoke again. "You think they're already inside?"
Cai Lang didn't hesitate. "Yes."
Suo Ran looked at him. "How many?"
"Unknown."
"That's not comforting."
Cai Lang shrugged."It's realistic."
Jun Wei sat at his desk, happily pulling out his notebook. Chen Yu leaned over again.
"So what was the mission?"
Jun Wei whispered, "Top secret."
Chen Yu looked disappointed. "But did you fight villains?"
Jun Wei thought for a moment. "…Maybe."
Chen Yu gasped again.
Meanwhile, at the front of the classroom, the teacher began writing the day's lesson on the board.Jun Wei tried to focus.But something felt strange. Not dangerous.Just… different.
He glanced toward the window.
A man stood near the school gate outside.
Jun Wei frowned slightly.He had seen that man before.
But where?
Outside the gate, the man lowered his phone slowly.Another photo taken.
Jun Wei sitting at his desk by the window.
The message was sent immediately.
"Target confirmed inside classroom."
Across the city, the reply arrived seconds later."Good."
Another instruction followed."Do not act yet."
The man slipped the phone into his pocket.
And kept watching the school.
Inside the parked car, Cai Lang's phone vibrated.He glanced down.An anonymous message.Just a photo.Taken seconds ago.
Jun Wei inside his classroom.
Suo Ran's blood ran cold. "They're already watching him."
Cai Lang nodded slowly. "Yes."
Another message appeared beneath the photo."Relax."Then another line."School is a very safe place."
Suo Ran clenched his fists. "That's not reassuring."
Cai Lang leaned back again."They're playing with us."
Suo Ran looked at the school building. "Why?"
Cai Lang answered quietly."Because they can."
Back in the classroom, Jun Wei shifted in his chair.Chen Yu whispered again."What's wrong?"
Jun Wei frowned."I feel like someone is staring at me."
Chen Yu looked around."Maybe the teacher."
Jun Wei glanced at the front.The teacher was still writing on the board. "No."
He looked toward the hallway.
Toward the window and Toward the door.
Nothing seemed wrong.
But the feeling stayed.
Jun Wei leaned back in his chair slowly.
Then whispered to himself,"…Villains are really weird."
Across the street, inside the black sedan, the man watched the school quietly.
Another message appeared on his phone. "Prepare for the afternoon."
He smiled faintly. Because the morning was never the real plan.
Children had routines.
Lunch.Recess.Dismissal.
And chaos always happened when children moved between those moments.
He looked back at the school building again.
Then whispered softly,"Let's see how well the heroes guard him when the bell rings."
Because inside the school…
Hidden among teachers and parents…
Someone else had just arrived.
The classroom slowly settled into its routine.
Chairs scraped lightly against the floor. Notebooks opened. Pencils began scratching across paper.
Jun Wei sat at his desk trying to focus on the math problem written on the board.But his attention kept drifting.He glanced toward the window again.
The man near the school gate was gone.
Jun Wei frowned slightly.That didn't make him feel better.
Chen Yu leaned closer again."What are you looking at?"
Jun Wei shrugged."Nothing."
Chen Yu grinned. "You're still thinking about the mission, right?"
Jun Wei looked down at his notebook. "…Maybe."
But the strange feeling still hadn't
disappeared.Like someone was watching.Even though he couldn't see who.
Across the street, Suo Ran hadn't moved for nearly twenty minutes.His eyes stayed locked on the building.
Cai Lang glanced at him."You're going to burn out before lunchtime."
Suo Ran exhaled slowly. "I can't help it."
Cai Lang checked the mirrors around the car.
Traffic moved normally, Parents walked past and Nothing suspicious Or at least nothing obvious.
Then he asked quietly,"You trust Lian Ziho, right?"
Suo Ran nodded."Yes."
"Then trust him now."
Suo Ran didn't respond.
Because trust didn't stop worry.
Inside the school, the first bell rang.
Students stood and began gathering their books.Jun Wei stretched his arms. "Finally."
Chen Yu grinned. "Recess!"
The classroom quickly emptied into the hallway. Children rushed toward the courtyard stairs.
Jun Wei followed with the crowd.
But as he stepped into the hallway.He stopped. At the far end of the corridor stood a man.Not a teacher and Not a parent. Just standing there and Watching.
Jun Wei tilted his head slightly.
He had definitely seen that face before.
Where? The man noticed him looking. Then smiled. Jun Wei blinked.
And suddenly remembered.
The amusement park.
The balloon stand.
His stomach dropped.
Downstairs, near the courtyard entrance, Lian Ziho leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. He watched the students pour outside. Groups of children laughing.
Running....Shouting...Normal.
But his instincts still refused to relax.
Teacher Liu stepped beside him."You've been staring at the staircase for ten minutes."
Lian ziho didn't move. "I know."
"Waiting for him?"
"Yes."
Teacher Liu smiled faintly. "You're worse than a nervous parent."
Lian ziho finally glanced at him. "I'm worse than that."
Upstairs in the hallway, Jun Wei stood frozen for a moment. The man at the end of the corridor was still watching him. Then the man lifted his hand slightly. And waved.
Jun Wei's heart started beating faster.
That was definitely not normal.
Chen Yu noticed him stop.
"Hey, aren't you coming?"
Jun Wei blinked. "Yeah."
But he kept glancing behind him as they walked toward the stairs.
When he looked back again..
The man was gone.
The courtyard exploded with noise as hundreds of children rushed outside for recess. Lian ziho immediately scanned the crowd. Then spotted the familiar red backpack.
Jun Wei.
Running toward the swings with Chen Yu.
Lian zyrelaxed slightly.
Teacher Liu noticed. "There he is."
Lian ziho nodded. "He's fine."
But something still bothered him.
Because as he watched Jun Wei laugh with the other kids...He noticed something strange.
Jun Wei kept looking over his shoulder.
Inside the parked car across the street, Cai Lang's phone buzzed again.Another anonymous message. Another photo.
Jun Wei in the school courtyard. Playing near the swings.
Cai Lang showed the screen to Suo Ran.
Suo Ran's jaw tightened."They're still watching."
Another message appeared beneath the photo."Children are unpredictable." Then another. "Especially curious ones."
Suo Ran frowned. "What does that mean?"
Cai Lang didn't answer immediately.
Because another line appeared.
"Let's see if he follows instructions."
Back in the courtyard, Jun Wei stood near the swings watching the other kids play.
Chen Yu ran ahead toward the slide.
Jun Wei followed slowly.
Then suddenly...
A voice spoke quietly beside him. "Hello again."
Jun Wei turned.The man from the hallway stood near the fence. Calm and Smiling.
Jun Wei frowned. "You're not a teacher."
The man chuckled softly. "No."
Jun Wei crossed his arms. "You're one of the villains."
The man seemed amused. "Is that what you call us?"
Jun Wei nodded. "Yes."
The man crouched slightly so they were eye level. "That's not very polite."
Jun Wei shrugged. "You shouldn't spy on people."
The man tilted his head."You're very observant."
Jun Wei pointed at him. "You were at the amusement park."
The man didn't deny it.
Jun Wei continued confidently. "My Gege says villains like to watch before they act."
The man smiled faintly.
"Your Gege is very smart."
Jun Wei narrowed his eyes. "So what do you want?"
The man stood up slowly. "Just a conversation."
Jun Wei looked suspicious. "I'm not supposed to talk to strangers."
The man nodded thoughtfully. "Good rule."
Then he gestured toward the far corner of the courtyard. "Maybe you should tell your brother something."
Jun Wei frowned. "What?"
The man leaned closer and whispered softly.
"Tell him the library door is already open."
Jun Wei blinked. "What?"
But when he looked up again...
The man was already walking away.
Disappearing through the gate.
The recess bell rang loudly across the courtyard. Students began running back inside.
Jun Wei stood still for a moment. "Library door…" What did that mean?
Chen Yu grabbed his arm. "Come on!"
Jun Wei followed him toward the building.
But as he walked up the stairs...
He felt that strange feeling again.
Like someone was watching.
Except this time…
It wasn't just one person.
Across the street, the black sedan engine finally started. The man inside watched the school quietly. He spoke into his phone.
"The message has been delivered."
A voice on the other end asked, "Did the boy understand?" The man smiled faintly. "He will." He looked back at the school building.
"And when he tells Suo Ran…"
His smile widened slightly.
"…the real game begins."
Because now there was a new question hanging over everything.