Li Tongyun was with Jiang Xue at this time.
After Kun Lun sent the message informing all registered time travelers of the potential danger, Jiang Xue went to school to pick up Li Tongyun and stayed in the mall.
She was thinking about a plan.
Jiang Xue had also bought a phone for Li Tongyun so she could keep in contact.
A phone would be very convenient, knowing that the world has become more dangerous.
Li Tongyun forwarded Qing Chen the message that Kun Lun sent to Jiang Xue.
Qing Chen read the text word by word, trying to understand what happened.
In the message, Kun Lun warned that the three time travelers that disappeared in Luo City all had their identity information accidentally exposed online at some point.
Of the two hundred known Luo City time travelers, around a fifth was in such a position. Kun Lun wanted everyone to be careful not to let others know their whereabouts if possible.
Kun Lun didn't mention offering protection for anyone, most likely because they didn't have enough people.
I never expected that there were already so many registered time travelers. There are definitely more hidden.
The criminals came to Luo City in a hurry and didn't have enough time to investigate everyone's detailed information, so as long as the time travelers stayed away from their homes, they would be safe.
For example, the criminals knew about Jiang Xue's home address, so they would come to Jiang Xue's home.
But if Jiang Xue wasn't at home, then they couldn't do anything about it.
Li Tongyun's thought process was logical and accurate. Qing Chen even wanted to praise her decision.
Now… Is it appropriate to let them live in his home…?
Now was not the time to think about that. Since Li Tongyun requested, and they were still in a long-term cooperative relationship together, he still wanted to help.
Qing Chen had to admit that even if he wouldn't cooperate with her in the future, he would still help, "It's Friday today, I'll go home early. Let's meet in front of the neighborhood entrance at 5:40, and I'll go in first to see if there's anyone suspicious."
Before school ended that day, Liu Dezhu suddenly messaged Qing Chen, "Boss, I have made some breakthrough progress here with the transfer students. Although we haven't gotten into the specifics, they already promised a gold bar in advance as sincerity… So, Boss, I won't need any commission, but can you please improve my living in the confinement room? I'm about to crazy in that place."
Qing Chen took a glance at the device while no one was around, and replied, "That'll depend on the results." before training the rest of his classes.
…
Neighborhood 4 on Xingshu Road was still as quiet as ever, with very few people walking around.
Qing Chen had some glossaries in his hand and walked slowly on the small path. It was just past early autumn, and the leaves from the parasol tree along the sides were falling. This was probably the most beautiful time of the year.
This time, the nine suspects at large acted very differently from the criminals before. They seemed to plan and organize their actions well, which made it hard for law enforcement to find any trace of them.
Such a criminal organization was the most dangerous of all.
Qing Chen looked straight ahead and remembered every person that was caught in his vision. So far, they were all his neighbors.
No strangers yet.
He quickly took a glance at Jiang Xue's balcony. Everything was where it was, even the folds on the curtain were still the same from this morning.
No one was in the house.
Qing Chen stood in the hallway and messaged Li Tongyun, "It's safe. My door's open, so come in when you're here."
Soon, Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun quietly entered his apartment.
Finally, Li Tongyun relaxed a bit, and her expression looked very adorable.
Qing Chen smiled, "I'm not a time traveler, so they wouldn't even have any interest in coming here. They're criminals, after all, and probably don't want anyone else to know."
Li Tongyun glanced at him, thinking that Brother Qing Chen could lie so naturally without any change in facial expressions!
Jiang Xue smiled, "Thank you for helping us. I just don't feel safe anywhere outside. Go ahead and watch some TV with Xiaoyun while I make dinner."
After saying that, she walked off into the kitchen.
Jiang Xue’s ability to be always so gentle impressed Qing Chen.
Li Tongyun suddenly said quietly, "My mom's pretty amazing, right?"
Qing Chen rubbed her head and said, "Do you know about Li Shutong? Can you tell me what the corporations think about this?"
"There's nothing interesting," Li Tongyun said, sitting on the sofa with her legs dangling around, "I heard from my sister in the Inner World that Li Shutong went away for many years, and his sudden reappearance caused some expected surprise."
Qing Chen took out a futon from the cupboard. His home had two bedrooms and a living room, but one of the bedrooms didn't even have a bed in it. He had been just using it as a storage room.
He said to Li Tongyun, "You and your mother should sleep in my room tonight. The bed is a little small, but it's still good. I'll sleep in the living room."
"That's so nice of you," said Li Shutong with a smile, "Right, Brother Qing Chen, where are you when Li Shutong was eating in the Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant?"
"Me?" said Qing Chen looking at her, "I'm on a bullet train, and I only saw the large flying ship circling around the Eternal Tower."
"Oh," Li Tongyun didn't question him further, "The corporations had a vague standing on his topic. They all seem to be waiting for the others to act first."
Qing Chen asked, "So why did Li Shutong end up in prison in the first place?"
Li Tongyun looked at him and said, "I don't know. A kid my age, asking to look at Li Shutong's files, would stand out too much. Now that I shared so much with you, it's time for you to exchange me some information."
Qing Chen thought about it and said, "I can tell you some insight about the Outer World. I think we need to join He Xiaoxiao's group chat, but before that, I have to get the program for the data fortress of the Inner World, so my identity can be protected. I believe He Xiaoxiao is not a single person, but rather an organization. They intend to assemble all the time travelers. That is, of course, just my guess…"
Li Tongyun said while tilting her head, "Brother Qing Chen, you only told me information about the Outer World because you think I might guess your identity through what you tell me about the Inner World, right?"
Qing Chen smiled, "What do you think?"
As they were chatting, they suddenly heard a sound from above… It was a chair falling down onto the floor.
This building was so old that sound insulation was almost nonexistent. The sound of something hitting the floor couldn't be more obvious.
Qing Chen and Li Tongyun clearly knew that the room above shouldn't have anyone in it.
—