「……」

Lin Xian was speechless.

What the hell was going on?

It was already difficult enough that Chu Anqing and Tang Xin had each given him a ticket, inviting him to the same concert...

But fortunately, both of them were performers on stage, so he only needed to sit in the audience and watch. There was no conflict, so it was still manageable.

At most, he could bring Gao Yang along and occupy both seats, which would be perfectly reasonable—

"Because I had an extra ticket, I brought a friend."

What was wrong with that?

But now things were bad...

Zhao Yingjun also wanted to give him a ticket, and it was clear that she would be watching the concert too!

There was no way to avoid it!

And he couldn't refuse in the current situation, because he had already promised Chu Anqing and Tang Xin that he would go to the concert. If Zhao Yingjun went by herself and ran into him, that would be truly awkward.

Sigh.

What was all this about?

Lin Xian felt wronged.

He hadn't done anything, so why did he have the troubles of a scumbag?

But...

"Okay, I don't have anything to do tomorrow night anyway."

Lin Xian took a ticket from Zhao Yingjun.

Sure enough, it was still a VIP seat, as if she was deliberately teasing him.

He'd agree for now and figure something out later.

Zhao Yingjun smiled contentedly:

"Then I'll see you tomorrow night."

...

"Hahahaha hahahaha!!!"

At the stir-fry restaurant, Gao Yang laughed heartlessly:

"A shura field! I want to see blood flow like a river!"

He slapped the table, as happy as a baboon that had successfully mated:

"It's too ridiculous to receive three tickets at the same time! It seems being too popular isn't a good thing after all!"

Lin Xian looked at the three tickets laid out in a row on the table, feeling the drama of life.

"So what are you going to do? Where are you going to sit?" Gao Yang watched Lin Xian like he was watching a play:

"There are three tickets, but only one ass. You can only sit in one seat."

"That's why I'm here to borrow your ass."

"Huh?"

Gao Yang suddenly stopped smiling, his *molihua* tightened, and he quickly understood Lin Xian's intention:

"I see, you mean you want me to sit in two seats for you."

"Yes." Lin Xian nodded:

"It would be best if you could bring another person. Since I promised to go with Zhao Yingjun, I have to sit next to her."

"And Zhao Yingjun is very familiar with Chu Anqing. I definitely can't lie between them, and there's no need to. I'll just be straightforward. If I run into Chu Anqing, I'll just tell her that the company arranged a ticket, so my ticket is for a friend... which is you."

"As for Tang Xin's ticket... well, I feel bad. Of the three of them, it was probably the most difficult for Tang Xin to get a VIP seat, since she's just an ordinary person. But fortunately, she's not familiar with Chu Anqing or Zhao Yingjun, so you can bring any friend or colleague to occupy her seat. When they ask, I'll figure out an explanation."

...

"Impressive." Gao Yang gave a thumbs up, admiring Lin Xian:

"You really are a scumbag, with clear thinking, careful operation, thorough planning, and consideration for everything."

"Scumbag my ass." Lin Xian covered his forehead and sighed:

"There's no better solution. Otherwise, I'd have to find an excuse not to go tomorrow night."

"But I have a clear conscience, so what am I afraid of? I have no relationship with any of these three, so why am I falling into a self-proving trap?"

"That just means you don't think there's *no relationship*.】" Gao Yang pointed at Lin Xian and said earnestly:

"If those three gave me tickets, I wouldn't have any worries about where to sit. I'd sit wherever I wanted! That's what I call having a clear conscience! Since you're worried, that means you have a guilty conscience!"

Gao Yang became a life coach again:

"They say onlookers see more than players, and in my opinion... besides being purely innocent with that little girl Chu Anqing, with no lustful thoughts or daring to act, you definitely have impure feelings for your boss Zhao and Tang Xin."

"You might not even realize it yourself, which is why I say onlookers see more clearly... People's hearts are made of flesh, not machines or computers. It's obvious that those two are interested in you, and they're both great beauties. What man wouldn't have some thoughts? Especially since you're not a monk, there's no need to reject such a normal thing."

"That's true..."

Lin Xian looked at the spicy chicken dish that the waiter had just brought up, the rising steam and heat igniting his senses, vivid and fiery.

That was true.

But in his current situation, he had no mind to think about these things.

He knew that he might be in danger, that perhaps an unknown killer, an invisible "cat," was lurking in the shadows, watching him.

Remembering Xu Yun, who had died tragically in the street, and the baby daughter who had died with the big-faced cat father in the first dream...

Lin Xian didn't want to repeat the same mistake and cause others to be implicated because of him.

That was why he didn't want to tell Gao Yang about what had happened recently, and he didn't talk about the dreams at all, so as not to drag those around him into danger.

"Anyway, you should give Tang Xin a definite answer."

Gao Yang lowered his head, picked up peanuts with his chopsticks, and put them into his mouth one by one:

"We're not kids anymore. Pretending to be stupid isn't appropriate. Besides, we're all adults, so what's there to be so scared of? Even if you tell Tang Xin you don't like her, she won't cry her heart out like a little girl... Based on my impression of Tang Xin, she'd probably just smile generously and move on."

"Actually, Lin Xian, sometimes I really don't know what you're hesitating about. Tang Xin is great in every way. Dating is just dating, it's not like you're being forced to marry her. Why are you being so cautious? What's wrong with old classmates trying to get along?"

"Mm."

Lin Xian responded softly.

Indeed...

He should face Tang Xin's feelings for him.

As Gao Yang said,

It was impolite not to give a clear response.

At this moment.

Lin Xian, for the first time, let go of his doubts about the cosmic constant 42, his guard against the Genius Club, his concerns about the unknown killer's cat-and-mouse game, his curiosity about the CCvv safe and the New East Sea City in the dream...

Putting aside everything, he seriously considered his feelings for Tang Xin. What were they, exactly?

Did he dislike her?

Definitely not. There was nothing about Tang Xin that he disliked.

Did he like her?

Lin Xian wasn't sure either.

Although he had been popular with girls in high school and college, the stimulating and uninhibited experiences in the dreams were more attractive to him at that time, so he had never been in a relationship until today. He didn't have a clear definition or understanding of love.

"You're right." Lin Xian looked up at Gao Yang:

"It's time to give Tang Xin an answer."

...

The next day, in the evening.

The music concert was scheduled to officially begin at 8:30 p.m.

But Lin Xian arrived early, around 7:00 p.m. The huge venue was sparsely populated, with only a few dozen people sitting here and there.

He took a look at the VIP seats in advance... and found that his worries seemed a bit unnecessary.

Although they were called VIP seats, the first 20 rows were all VIP seats, so the area was quite large. Lin Xian had a hard time finding his own seat.

It took him a while to find it.

"I'm being a bit paranoid. Chu Anqing and Tang Xin probably don't even know where their tickets are located."

This was also why Lin Xian had come early. Because Tang Xin had to rehearse and put on makeup, the performers had started preparing in the afternoon. Lin Xian planned to go backstage to see Tang Xin.

Under Tang Xin's guidance, Lin Xian smoothly arrived at the backstage area for the performers.

Today, Tang Xin was wearing a black evening gown, her makeup very elegant, fitting the image of a violinist.

"Our performance is the ninth one, so it's relatively early."

Tang Xin's smile hadn't stopped since she saw Lin Xian.

Lin Xian nodded:

"I looked at the program. Your performance is the longest, very important."

"Hehe, I hope I can perform well today."

"I'm sure you'll be fine." Lin Xian encouraged:

"They made you the principal violinist as soon as you joined the orchestra, which means you're really strong."

"Actually, I find that pretty strange too." Tang Xin lowered her head and smiled:

"I don't know why everything has been so smooth, whether it was auditioning for the orchestra or joining the official team after rehearsals and becoming the principal violinist. Even I find it incredible."

"Maybe you're favored by the goddess of luck." Lin Xian joked:

"But anyway, everything going smoothly is better than anything else."

"Lin Xian... after the performance tonight, can you wait for me at the theater entrance for a moment?" Tang Xin's voice suddenly became a little quiet, and she scratched her cheek with her index finger, a little shy:

"I have something I want to give you."

"Okay."

Lin Xian agreed directly. As it happened, he also had something to discuss with Tang Xin.

"It might be a bit late." Tang Xin smiled embarrassedly:

"Because after the curtain call, I still have to go back to the backstage to pack my things, remove my makeup, and change clothes... I estimate it will take some time."

"It's okay, take your time. I'll wait for you at the theater entrance."

"Lin Xian *xuezhang*!" An unexpected call interrupted Lin Xian and Tang Xin's conversation.

Lin Xian tilted his head and looked behind Tang Xin...

Sure enough, he hadn't misheard. That light and pleasant voice was none other than Chu Anqing!

But the Chu Anqing in front of him was different from Tang Xin. She wasn't wearing a formal performance outfit or makeup. She was appearing without makeup and wearing casual clothes.

"Don't you have a performance today?" Lin Xian asked in surprise.

"My solo programs are all rehearsed yesterday." Chu Anqing walked over with a giggle:

"Today afternoon is mainly for rehearsing the group programs, and ballet costumes will wrinkle if worn too early."

"I see." Lin Xian nodded.

Tang Xin looked at the two of them in surprise, then looked back at Lin Xian:

"Lin Xian, who is this?"

"Ah, let me introduce you."

Lin Xian pointed at Chu Anqing, looking at Tang Xin:

"This is my *xuezmei* from Donghai University, Chu Anqing."

Then he pointed at Tang Xin, looking at Chu Anqing:

"Anqing, this is Tang Xin, a violinist from the Donghai Symphony Orchestra, and also my..."

"High school classmate."