I’m Really Scared
Chapter 211: The Unopenable Door

“Li Li? Uh, cough, cough cough…”

Guan Shan froze for a second, awkwardly remembering the significance of that name.

Or rather… that cat.

The cat that Guan Shan, mistaking it for a stray, sent to a pet store for breeding and then neutering—a female cat (male inside).

Among all the black marks in his history due to misunderstandings about the simulator, this was the only one done on his own volition, making it particularly embarrassing...

So much so that he neither wanted to mention it nor think about it and had almost forgotten.

But now, Lin Shuman’s mention of it forced the memory back.

Guan Shan coughed a few times, trying to remain composed. “Him… what about him? I remember he joined the Youhao Team, right? Is there a problem?”

Lin Shuman explained, “Yes, that's correct. But after the ‘Death Hive’ was wiped out, he said he felt relieved and found being human too tiring. He wanted to continue living as a cat, raising kittens or something. So, he doesn't want to use his abilities anymore and hopes to serve his sentence quickly. This request has recently been approved.”

Guan Shan was dumbfounded. He’s… enlightened?

“Wait, how is he going to serve his sentence? Just because he says he won’t use his abilities doesn’t mean he can’t. As a criminal, isn’t he still dangerous?”

Lin Shuman replied, “Special Security Group has a method for dealing with criminals who voluntarily serve their sentence and renounce their Esper status. You don’t need to worry about that.”

“As for serving his sentence… that's why I'm here. Because of the significant psychological shadow you left on him, the higher-ups believe that being with you reduces the risk. So, they want him to join you on your next mission. Be prepared.”

Guan Shan: “...”

What do you mean, significant psychological shadow?!

I swear I'm not a pervert. I really thought it was a stray cat and wanted it to leave offspring out of humanitarian concern, which is why I sent it to the pet store…

Alright, no one’s going to believe that.

Guan Shan sighed, giving up on explaining. “Alright. Is he still at the pet store?”

Lin Shuman shook her head. “He's in the base now. Also, Director Xia wants you to come to the base on the 15th for a comprehensive strength evaluation.”

Guan Shan squinted. “The evaluation should be done by someone from the central adjustment team, right?”

Lin Shuman nodded.

Guan Shan sighed inwardly, knowing he couldn't avoid it.

Since joining the Youhao Team by accident, he had been under Xia Lei’s protection and was a non-staff member, mostly left alone. His initial level was low, indicated by his B-prefix in the archives.

—Espers’ initial levels are usually adjusted upwards, based on their highest potential as evaluated. Guan Shan’s B-prefix meant he was considered to have a maximum potential of B-level.

Of course, this didn’t mean they were wrong. Initially, Guan Shan had only shown physical enhancement and basic storage space abilities. It was hard to see higher potential from that alone.

Who could have guessed he relied on a simulator?

Now, having fully destroyed the ‘Death Hive,’ Guan Shan finally came under the Special Security Group’s higher-ups’ radar.

Xia Lei’s protection was no longer enough…

Guan Shan now needed to think about how to hide part of the simulator’s existence.

He wasn’t worried about being exposed but was more concerned about potential hostility from others if the simulator activated suddenly.

That would be a disaster.

Based on the Special Security Group's initial observations, he needed to present himself as a physically strong space-ability Esper.

Most of the time, he had displayed items in front of ordinary people, and no one paid much attention to the details.

If he had to team up with other Espers of the same level in the future, he would need to explain the source of some of his items.

There would likely be a mole from the central adjustment team among his future teammates…

However, the fact that he took down the ‘Drone Bee’ should be well-known. He could push the blame onto ‘Drone Bee’!

Guan Shan fell into deep thought, while Lin Shuman, seeing this, focused on eating the cake.

When Guan Shan finished thinking, he looked up to see Lin Shuman licking the plate…

They locked eyes, creating an awkward silence.

“…”

Lin Shuman quietly put down the plate, then crouched under the table, holding her head.

Guan Shan’s mouth twitched. “Uh… actually, I didn’t see anything.”

As soon as he said it, he wanted to slap himself. This was just making it worse! Lin Shuman said nothing, probably wishing to disappear entirely.

Guan Shan tried a different approach, saying, “I mean, are you really that hungry?”

Oh great, that sounded even more like an insult! Just as Guan Shan thought Lin Shuman might have left, she emerged from under the table, acting nonchalant. “Not really hungry… but I’ve eaten energy bars for so long, and it’s been a while since I had real food. I couldn’t help it.”

Guan Shan, surprised, pushed the remaining cake towards her. “Then take all this. By the way, you haven’t had any tasks recently, right? Don’t you eat regular food?”

Lin Shuman shook her head. “No tasks, but I’m used to it. Eating like this keeps my weight within my ability’s range. More importantly, if I eat normally all the time, I might not last during missions… so I have to adapt.”

She looked at the cake, showing a happy expression. “But it’s okay to indulge occasionally!”

Guan Shan smiled, then asked, “By the way, does the Special Security Group have annual leave? Don’t you go home for the New Year?”

Lin Shuman hesitated. “You can apply, but most Espers don’t want to go home. As for me… I can’t go back. I spend every New Year on missions with my brother.”

Guan Shan pondered. “Your brother… he seems like a decent guy, hates evil.”

“Yeah, he’s like that. I joined the Special Security Group because of him!”

Lin Shuman clenched her fists, confused. “I thought you might dislike him. After all, it was his mistake that got you involved in the restaurant incident.”

Guan Shan was speechless. “He was a victim too, wasn’t he? Including Zhao Hong and his wife, they were all victims. The real culprits were the ‘Death Hive.’”

“At least they’re gone now.”

“Yes, thanks to you.” Lin Shuman smiled. “Actually… he’s not my real brother. He found me during a mission.”

Guan Shan: “Found you?”

Lin Shuman said sadly, “Yes. I have my own family, I know where they are, but I can’t go back… In my last year of middle school, I awakened my ability, ‘Invisible Presence.’”

“At that time, I didn’t realize my ability and couldn’t control it. Gradually, people started ignoring my existence. I was angry and tried doing weird things to get their attention.”

“But it was futile. Until one day…”

Lin Shuman smiled faintly. “I came home as usual, but my mom didn’t set a place for me at the table.”

“I stood in front of my parents, watching them eat, chat, wash up, go upstairs, and turn off the lights…”

“I stood in the living room for a long time, not knowing what to do. I thought they were joking with me, so I got really mad and ran away from home.”

“I thought they’d come looking for me, but…”

Lin Shuman used her fork to poke the cake. “I wandered for a month. With ‘Invisible Presence,’ I survived well, eating what I wanted, unbothered by anyone. When high school was about to start, I went back.”

“But when I got to my front door, I found my key couldn’t open it… my parents had changed the locks.”

“The key in my hand couldn’t open my own home.”