Case 1.4 of the Puppet Master
Ten minutes, accurate to the second.
Yu Yan's car screeched to a halt outside Fan Jinci's residence. He jumped out before the car had even come to a complete stop, the hem of his trench coat fluttering in the night wind. He rushed forward, didn't ring the doorbell, and simply pulled out his spare key to open the door—
Fan Jinci stood at the end of the entrance hall, his back to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, the moonlight outlining a cold, silvery edge around him. He looked as calm and composed as ever, but Yu Yan immediately noticed his slightly curled fingers hanging at his sides and his face, which was paler than usual.
"Where is he?" Yu Yan's voice was as deep as a taut bowstring, his gaze sweeping over every corner of the room like a hawk's. At the same time, he quickly approached Fan Jinci, shielding him behind him in a protective posture.
"I'm leaving." Fan Jinci said succinctly, his gaze falling on Yu Yan's tense profile.
"Did I touch you?" Yu Yan turned his head sharply, a terrifying storm raging in his eyes, and reached out to check Fan Jinci.
Fan Jincige pushed his hand away, her brow furrowing slightly: "No."
He paused, then added, "I hit him."
Yu Yan paused for a moment, then seemed pleased, a ruthless and roguish smile curving his lips: "Good job! Next time, leave it to me, I'll dislocate the hand that touched you." He relaxed slightly, but the wariness in his eyes remained undiminished. He noticed the conspicuous doll on the table, and his face instantly darkened again.
“This thing…” He reached out to take it.
"Don't move," Fan Jinci stopped her. "There might be unknown risks."
Yu Yan withdrew his hand, his eyes fixed on the lifelike doll with a sinister gaze, as if he were looking at M-10 himself. "Damn it, pervert." He cursed under his breath, then gripped Fan Jinci's wrist tightly, with a force so great it was almost enough to crush his bones. "What did he say to you? Don't let him miss a single word."
Fan Jinci let him hold his hand and then repeated the code name of M-10, its twisted concept of "perfection," and the information that Yu Yan was clearly the primary target for elimination, in the most concise language.
Upon hearing this, Yu Yan didn't get angry but laughed instead, his smile filled with arrogance and ferocity: "Purge me? With that piece of trash who only dares to hide in the shadows and play with puppets?" He leaned close to Fan Jinci, almost nose to nose, his hot breath spraying on the other's face, "Fan Jinci, tell him, I'm your man, for life! Want to touch me? Let him try!"
His declaration was domineering and direct, like a wildfire trying to dispel the chill that surrounded Fan Jinci.
Looking into his eyes, which were so close and filled with possessiveness and protectiveness, Fan Jinci didn't push him away, but simply gave a soft "hmm".
This single sound reassured Yu Yan more than any lengthy discourse.
“We can’t stay here any longer.” Yu Yan made a quick decision, pulling Fan Jinci along as they walked out. “Come back with me; the command center is safer.”
“Wait.” Fan Jinci stopped, his gaze returning to the shadows of the corridor where M-10 had disappeared. “He knows this place well, he knows every one of us. Conventional defenses may be ineffective against him.”
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Yu Yan frowned.
Fan Jinci raised his eyes, a cold, calculating glint flashing in his gray-blue pupils:
"Didn't he want to 'collect' it?"
“Then set up a ‘booth’ for him that he can’t resist.”
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