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That is when Lin Qin and XĂź Beijin hear a knock on the door.
Xü Beijin goes to open the door, wondering who it could be, to see that it’s Mu Jiashi.
He ran all the way here, so he’s panting while greeting Xü Beijin. Then he almost audibly stops seeing Lin Qin in the bookstore.
Lin Qin “…”
He’s glaring at Mu Jiashi, thinking about why he’s here.
Xü Beijin can only act like he doesn’t notice the strange mood in the bookstore, and ask Mu Jiashi, “how can I help you?”
He also moves aside to let Mu Jiashi in.
Mu Jiashi enters under a piercing gaze, while saying, “it’s for… the Tower residents.”
Lin Qin moves to the side of Xü Beijin, and he’s about to speak when Xü Beijin tugs on his arm to stop him, giving him a smile.
The forgivingly gentle expression he has stuns Lin Qin, who, like a little animal being comfortably pet, immediately settles down where he sits and not say a word.
Ok. Beijin has business. He is going to be good.
Meanwhile, he’s casting a rather unfriendly face at Mu Jiashi.
Fortunately, the man in question has a heart of steel; he manages to organise exactly what he wants to talk about, telling Xü Beijin, “I want to ask about one thing. Are you providing clues of Nightmares to us, because of settings in the Tower?”
Xü Beijin is surprised by the question somewhat. He wasn’t expecting anyone to have figured it out already.
He cannot answer, though. With NE filtering out their words, Actors cannot enunciate the keyword of ‘Acting.’
It is only because that Nightmare with the crumbling building had elements of sticking to a script within, that the word is permitted, which XĂź Beijin took advantage of to relay information to Fei, Wu Jian and Mu Jiashi.
The fact that XĂź Beijin is remaining silent instead of reacting any other way is telling enough.
Mu Jiashi takes a deep breath. He says, “I ask because… I realised, that the ‘equivalent exchange’ you provide, isn’t simply the exchange of equivalent information that it looks like.”
XĂź Beijin, very slowly, blinks.
What… What do you think it is? What did I say?
Xü Beijin is currently stupefied by Mu Jiashi’s firm, confident tone.
He can’t help but suspect if he did something weird that sent the wrong signals without his knowledge to Mu Jiashi.
Mu Jiashi seems almost, if not more imaginative, than conspiracists like Fei and Wu Jian.
But well, regardless of how he drew that conclusion from this strange thing──Probably some insane logic Xü Beijin can never hope to achieve──
That Mu Jiashi now understands the Tower residents so well is a great relief to XĂź Beijin.
Mu Jiashi also has no idea what XĂź Beijin is thinking, of course, as all he could always see is how XĂź Beijin is looking calm and mysterious over there.
In fact, when facing XĂź Beijin, he finds himself mentally strained for some reason.
And the more he does so, the greater the stress.
Not from some physical or social position aspect, but simply because Xü Beijin knows much more than he does… At least, regarding the Tower.
Mu Jiashi gulps nervously, while asking, “so, can I ask if that is also the case, for your Nightmare?”
Xü Beijin “…”
He is looking at Mu Jiashi quietly, as he realises why Mu Jiashi is mentioning that Actors would reveal clues to Missiontakers.
What he’s doing, is trying to score free clues about his Nightmare from him, isn’t he?
XĂź Beijin finds himself a little speechless.
Although Xü Beijin thinks he shouldn’t pay it any mind, as Tower residents do need to convey clues one way or another, so it’s true;
While the ‘equivalent exchange’ Mu Jiashi mentioned, was itself an excuse to gather free clues on Xü Beijin’s part.
You might even call it a ‘karmic retribution.’
That said, Xü Beijin finds he is still curious about something else, so instead of answering, he asks, “I am interested in hearing what else you have found out, about the Tower residents.”
In the livestream earlier, worried about it being cut off again, XĂź Beijin did not dare keep the camera on Mu Jiashi, Ding Yi, Fei or Wu Jian much. He gave much more prominent showing to the Nightmare itself instead.
That’s why, he actually isn’t sure, how much they know right now.
Mu Jiashi has to take some time to organise his thoughts, and he says, “we now know that the Apocalypse is split into two parts, a mental illness that spread madness, and then, a physical Raining Hellfire.
But how it gave rise to this Tower and Tower residents is completely unknown for now.
It tends to be that the Tower residents who have Nightmares featuring the Apocalypse in any form, would likely reveal nothing about the Tower itself.”
Xü Beijin does not comment on Mu Jiashi’s guesses and possible probing of information from him.
He knows Mu Jiashi is quite curious about how humans ended up in the Tower. In fact, most Missiontakers and Actors are equally curious.
It remains a curiosity, only because they have never received an answer. It’s like a small obsession.
Some people might not want to know the truth, but more people, like Mu Jiashi said, would find themselves devastated if they were to never know the truth.
But even if Xü Beijin does know the truth, he can’t tell them easily either.
Partly because of restrictions and the attention he receives from NE. And also, because unlike Su Enya, he cannot bring himself to do something like drag others down with him solely because he is in pain having learnt the truth.
Where he can help it, Xü Beijin really is a traditionally ‘good person.’
The silence is somewhat disappointing Mu Jiashi, but then he recalls the question on NE.
He says, with this conflicted tone, “also, we are suspecting… Where NE stands on all this.”
XĂź Beijin is more than mildly surprised.
Mu Jiashi says, “there have been many rumours flying around recently, as I believe you are aware, such as one that says only NE is capable of pushing such things along… At least, my companions also believe in that.
They believe NE may really be helping us, or at least, is finally letting us into the truth.
And about Xie Ji… Su Enya, your neighbour, we think it’s also a deliberate move by NE to send her back down here.”
Xü Beijin finally speaks up, asking, “you said that is what your companions believe. So, what about yourself?”
“I… What I was originally suspecting, was…” Mu Jiashi is looking at Xü Beijin with this complicated gaze.
It makes Xü Beijin feel awkward, but he asks, gently, “and you think it is…”
“I suspected, that it was you.”
Xü Beijin “…”
Oho…
He narrows his eyes slightly at Mu Jiashi, while giving him an expression that reads ‘are you dumb?’
Mu Jiashi seems relieved he finally got that off his chest, however, and says with a forced chuckle, “you might find this ridiculous, but Su Enya, she was your neighbour, and it was you also guided me, to look for her before.
Then there was also the time a few years ago, you once provided a clue on the Nightmare with a building that’s about to collapse, and also featured… ‘Acting.’ I did not realise at all what you were trying to expose to me back then. I’ve surely disappointed you.”
Mu Jiashi seems quite embarrassed.