In the dim recess of the abandoned subway station, Lin Yue, Chen Xi, and their newfound ally—known only as “Shadow,” a name earned for his elusive movements—worked with feverish intensity. Chen Xi’s fingers danced across the keyboard of her portable device, the glow of the screen casting a faint light on her determined face.
“There’s a layer of encryption in this data,” she murmured, her voice taut with concentration. “I’ll need more time to c***k it.”
Lin Yue stood a few steps away, his sharp gaze sweeping the station’s shadowed corners for any signs of intrusion. “Take all the time you need. I’ll stand guard.”
Shadow, leaning silently against the wall, seemed deep in thought. His expression betrayed a storm of emotions—regret, resolve, and something more inscrutable.
“I know their pl
