The Protagonists Keep Adding Scenes For Me | Chapter 37 | The Dollmaker's Masterpiece | Novela.app

The police station had been incredibly busy lately. The information Ye Xuan had provided as if it were a mere joke, the investigative materials Shen Feibai had followed up on closely, and the old records thoughtfully provided by the mysterious hacker—the three combined to overturn numerous case files. Had they not needed to follow protocol to verify the evidence, the process would have been even faster. The confirmed facts left them with lingering trepidation. There had actually—actually—been that many misjudgments. Though they knew members of the Organization had interfered with their judgment in several instances, they had indeed been derelict in their duties. ... Perhaps the upbringing they had always fixated on wasn't that important, nor did it need to be absolutely "clean" and "pure." They shouldn't harbor prejudice against talent from civilian backgrounds. Shen Feibai’s outstanding performance in this incident further solidified this realization. Initially, they had only seen the young man’s talent. Fearing his overly reckless and unbridled nature would lead to trouble, they had recruited him into their ranks... They hadn't expected him to be more reliable than the vast majority of those who clung to decaying procedures. Perhaps it was time for them to change their way of thinking. ... "Whoa, you're actually letting me investigate this next? What about those childish, boring cases?" Keenly sensing the shift in the officers' attitudes, Shen Feibai nevertheless feigned surprise as he flicked the documents in his hand. Mo Yuan: "..." He opened his mouth but found no words. He turned his head away uncomfortably, though a rare trace of tension and helplessness lingered in his eyes as he looked at Shen Feibai. He had to admit that he, too, had harbored prejudices against this partner of his. Only now did he realize that the young detective once had moments of burning passion; he had been ecstatic when he was first recruited by the authorities. ...And then, what awaited him was official distrust and a semi-neglected style of mentorship. When he finally reached the stage where he could take on missions, he was only given trivial cases. Shen Feibai’s reputation had been built entirely on private commissions he took during his own free time. His so-called recklessness and indifference likely stemmed from his disillusionment with the authorities, didn't they? Yet Mo Yuan hadn't noticed. He had even secretly grumbled about the man and harbored the arrogance of wanting to "test him"... "Stop, stop!" Shen Feibai rolled his eyes and pressed a hand against Mo Yuan, who had been agonizing for a long time and was finally about to speak. His tone was light. "Don't look at me with those mushy eyes. It’s out of character." "Besides, this matter isn't fully resolved yet." His eyes curved, his brow carrying a hint of high-spirited confidence. "Our greatest contributor is still suffering under a false accusation, after all~" *** After interrogating Ye Xuan again, they confirmed the young man’s harmlessness. An officer who still held onto his own views argued, "But his skills, and his aura... they are indeed worth being wary of." Ye Xuan sat in his chair, clapping nonchalantly. The silver shackles on his wrists clinked melodiously, his attitude mocking. "Good~ exactly like that. Keep thinking that way, and the Organization can take every last genius under its wing~" "After all, with just a little provocation, you bunch of old fogeys who can't stand a grain of sand in your eyes will go mad." His eyes curved, looking pure and innocent, yet his tone was full of malice. "We know you're 'clean'~ but... remember to tuck in your hems, lest you get splashed with mud by us." "It’s hard to say who’s who then..." The interrogator was so angry he switched off the microphone, but Shen Feibai, standing to the side, looked thoughtful. Ye Xuan couldn't have known the status of their investigation. Rather than a provocation, these words felt more like a hint. A hint that the young man had been framed by him—that the young man was innocent. Others might not understand Ye Xuan’s motive, but Shen Feibai, having seen those thousands of photographs, could vaguely guess. *Sigh, as expected, they still have feelings for each other.* Shen Feibai raised an eyebrow and turned to leave. To think he had been worried Ye Xuan would refuse to let go of the young man. *** "...Ah, but." Shen Feibai hid his smile, his expression becoming slightly more serious as he leaned toward Mu Ran’s ear and whispered, "I still suggest you seriously reconsider your relationship with him." Mu Ran: ? Just as he was about to speak, Shen Feibai placed a finger gently against his lips. "Shh—don't let him hear you." The detective spoke meaningfully. "You should keep a few little secrets, shouldn't you?" *What? What does that mean?* An incredible suspicion surged in Mu Ran’s heart: *This guy couldn't possibly know we have internal mental communication, could he? No way!* Observing the slight trembling of the boy’s pupils, Shen Feibai assumed the other had actually noticed long ago, so he simply revealed the truth: "Even between family members, one shouldn't monitor the other's movements in real-time, right?" "Even if there might be a dark past... a healthy relationship shouldn't involve such a morbid desire for control. Do you understand what I mean?" *I don't understand at all!!* *What past? What control? Don't be a riddler!!* Mu Ran panicked. He was terrified that if he said the wrong thing, Shen Feibai would fill in the blanks with another imaginary plotline. The boy’s lilac, misty eyes overflowed with panic, looking like someone whose deepest secret had been exposed, or perhaps like someone facing a terrifying reality. His eyes, wide with shock for too long, began to dry; with a single blink, a thin mist of moisture coated the surface of his orbs. Shen Feibai: "...Hey, hey! Wait a minute, why such a big reaction?!" He gave up on his roundabout hints and stated his view directly: "Sigh, look, it's just that even though that guy is hiding outside, he's been monitoring your movements... To put it bluntly, you probably have a wiretap or something on you." *Huh? Just that...* Mu Ran breathed a long sigh of relief. "It’s okay, I don't mind that." After all, he’d already taken the fall for the System’s psychological control; what was a tiny wiretap! Shen Feibai frowned, emphasizing in a low voice, "He might be listening to you all day long... That’s a bit much, isn't it?" "...It’s also a form of care. He does it to protect me." Mu Ran regained his composure and tried to brush the matter aside. "So, I don't care about it." The boy’s expression suddenly calmed, returning to his usual gentle stability. He repeatedly emphasized his point in a soft, earnest tone, trying his best to clear up the misunderstanding. But strangely, beneath that gentle surface, Shen Feibai glimpsed a faint sense of rejection—just like what he had felt when he first met the boy. "Besides, fundamentally, this is just a matter between the two of us." The boy’s eyes curved as he said softly, "Like I said before, I trust him. He could never hurt me." "...Alright." Shen Feibai could only respond that way. A strange sense of dissonance lingered in his heart, refusing to dissipate. Yet he couldn't quite put his finger on it, leaving him to depart with a complex expression. *** After talking with Mu Ran, Shen Feibai hadn't quite shaken the feeling. Since Ye Xuan’s interrogation was over, he decided to talk to him instead. First, regarding the relationship between the boy and the young man. "Maybe they both enjoy it?" Ye Xuan propped up his chin, tilting his head. "I can understand it~ If the person I loved was willing to be controlled by me like that, or to control me, wouldn't that be enough to prove their love?" "You say the younger brother is always being left behind by that guy and then 'saved,' and you suspect he’s performing some kind of psychological manipulation." The corners of Ye Xuan’s mouth curled up, a hint of morbid amusement in his eyes, like a capricious little devil from a manga. "Why can't it be an erotic experiment they both understand perfectly? Creating an environment of dependence and being depended upon, where they perform to their hearts' content." Shen Feibai: "...I'm starting to lose track of what you're saying." Ye Xuan explained patiently with good humor: "It means they’re playing very well together. You meddlesome, stinking police officers shouldn't go and disturb them." Shen Feibai: ... *Tsk.* "I still have to confirm that gentleman's safety, don't I?" He spread his hands helplessly, then leaned halfway across the chair, adopting an attentive posture as if ready to listen. "Since you two once escaped together, why don't you tell me about his past?" ... The boy in Ye Xuan’s memory was already a very blurred figure. He could only recall a calm, certain, and seemingly conviction-filled youthful voice. For those of them who had always grown up in the closed soil of the Organization, following him in that escape had been an incredible experience. But he hadn't expected that, in the end, this escape named "Freedom" would conclude in such a tragic manner. Ye Xuan, who had only remembered this a few days ago, had scoffed at this past—until he saw Mu Ran again. He suddenly realized that this beautiful, gentle boy was the happiness the "Lead Sheep" had harvested after escaping the Organization. ...Fine, he would acknowledge that idea for now. Lying alone in his cell, Ye Xuan stared at the ceiling, ignoring the pain in his body. He was indifferent to his own future, life, or death. Only, ever since he remembered those things, he had a strange obsession: he wanted to see those two walk a stable and peaceful path. Consider it a naive thought... If the young man could get his wish and harvest a peaceful, happy life, perhaps it would prove that their resistance back then wasn't entirely useless and hollow. Therefore. Ye Xuan looked at Shen Feibai with curved lips. Beneath the seemingly smiling eyes was a cold indifference and rejection sharper than a blade. He issued a silent warning— *Don't you dare disturb them~* ... As Shen Feibai walked out of Ye Xuan’s cell, his mind was filled with the other’s morbidly soft and eerie words: "Oh? How can you be sure the younger brother doesn't know? Maybe he’s enjoying it too~" "Control? I don't think the younger brother is at a disadvantage~" "Don't you think... they are most real when they are together?" *It’s over.* Shen Feibai slapped his forehead, feeling like he had been brainwashed by this guy’s words. *Tsk, anyway, I'll keep investigating,* he thought. *** *Has it started?* Hearing the slightly noisy voices downstairs, Mu Ran leaned out the window. Within his blurred vision, he locked onto a familiar, upright figure. *Is it the System?* Leaning on the windowsill, he couldn't help but reach out a hand and wave. "Yo~ what are you smiling at?" Shen Feibai followed the young man’s brief gaze and saw Mu Ran’s arm quickly retracting from the second-floor windowsill, leaving only half a head peeking out like a nosy little squirrel. "Oh, I see~" The young man suppressed his smile, interrupting the other’s unspoken teasing: "It’s nothing. Didn't you want to ask questions? Let’s go." ... The young man with the blank identity, after being a fugitive for about a week, had not only turned himself in but had also brought along a woman whose name was famous on the wanted lists. The entire police station was shocked; for a moment, they almost didn't know which protocol to follow. After interrogating the two separately, they gained a preliminary understanding of the current situation. But how should they put it... Whether it was the young man’s background or the fact that he had infiltrated the Organization and taken down a branch to prove his innocence after being wanted—it all sounded incredibly far-fetched! Was this some kind of movie plot?! If the two’s stories hadn't matched Ye Xuan’s vague remarks, and if not for the materials Shen Feibai had investigated at some point, they might have doubted the truth of these words even more. Wu Nian would certainly be kept under strict supervision, awaiting sentencing. But regarding the disposal of the young man, they were all somewhat hesitant. After experiencing everything, they no longer placed such heavy importance on background. Although the young man’s identity was complex, it could be considered "clean." Coupled with the guarantee from Shen Feibai, whose influence had surged, they decided to revoke the warrant for the young man and provide him with a household registration. They would treat him as an ordinary citizen, subject to occasional spot checks. However... there was still one thing left. "About how we met? I remember I said it before..." Mu Ran looked a bit nervous as he was questioned once again. The older female officer tried to soften her expression, saying gently, "Don't be nervous, child. We just want to confirm some information. Before, you were unwilling to speak because you wanted to protect your brother, right? Now that he’s back and we know his background, we just need your side of the story for final confirmation." "Just think of it as telling a story. Speak up~" The detective said with curved eyes. Captain Wang patted his shoulder. "We’re just listening, just a formality. Once it’s done, we’ll get your brother his registration, and there won't be any more trouble after that, haha." The hesitation in Mu Ran’s eyes vanished. He nodded obediently and began to speak softly. "Okay, then I'll tell you?" "...It was a rainy day. Grandpa and I found him by the roadside." "...Grandpa felt he could replace him with a doll, so Grandpa used his most perfect work to swap him out." "...Soon after, Grandpa passed away. It’s always been Brother taking care of me." "We’ve always, always been together. I trust him." ... Because of the accident at the small shop, the two temporarily had no fixed residence. "So, we decided to go traveling!" The boy’s cheeks were flushed, finally showing a bit of the vigor appropriate for his age. Mu Ran: *Anyway, I'm already at the bottom of the rankings, I'm not working anymore!!* Compared to his destined-to-be-halved salary, Mu Ran cared more about his partner’s abnormal psychology in this world. Thus, he would spend some time playing, and during the process, have some heart-to-heart talks with the System to heal him. Of course, he wanted to play himself too =v= ... Mo Yuan and Shen Feibai watched the two depart. Turning back, Shen Feibai saw Mo Yuan’s brow furrowed unconsciously. Shen Feibai laughed. "What? He’s an ordinary citizen now; we can't exactly restrict his travel, can we? Besides, their destination is much more impressive than our little place. Nothing will happen." Mo Yuan blinked and shook his head. "No, that’s not what I was thinking." "I just suddenly thought... that photo of the doll you had was probably real. I couldn't help but over-analyze again..." He shook his head slightly, as if finding his own suspicious nature amusing. "I didn't expect the truth to be so simple." "Hmph~ what did I tell you?" Suddenly, a phone rang. Mo Yuan answered and hurriedly bid farewell: "Sorry, something’s come up. I have to go." Shen Feibai watched Mo Yuan rush off, his hands in his pockets, humming with self-satisfaction for having closed a major case. He couldn't help but replay every detail of the case. As he replayed it, the relaxed, easy smile on his lips suddenly faded. First, there was that eerily placed figurine in the cabinet, those fragmented and horrifying parts, those obsessive and dense stitches. Mo Yuan’s judgment: *An obsessive, perfectionist dollmaker. Very dangerous.* Then, there were Ye Xuan’s soft, morbid whispers: "...Maybe he’s enjoying it too." "I don't think the younger brother is at a disadvantage~" Intermingled with the boy’s occasionally strange reactions: the rejection hidden under tears during their pathetic first meeting in the alley, the silent tolerance of various hardships, the overly soft and gentle attitude, the terrified expression when questioned... Why did he reject him? In the alley, he was clearly saving him. Their last conversation was also out of kindness, to warn him about the young man’s desire for control... Why was the reaction so big? Why... did it seem like he was afraid of being exposed? What had he said then? —"Even if there might be a dark past... a healthy relationship shouldn't involve such a morbid desire for control. Do you understand what I mean?" He had been talking about the young man, but had the other misunderstood something? Shen Feibai turned to leave, walking extremely slowly. They thought the boy was a naive sweetheart who hadn't noticed the danger beneath the young man’s surface. But the fact was, the boy had picked up the young man and was dealing with them for the young man’s sake... The wiretap on the boy could be a tool for the young man to control him... but why couldn't it be a channel for the boy to provide information to the other? Shen Feibai froze in his tracks. The people at the station had limited information; they thought the young man just had a unique aura and hadn't actually committed any crimes. Coupled with the boy’s pure harmlessness, they judged the other to be equally harmless. But Shen Feibai had dealt with the other’s identity as a hacker. Remember the police’s evaluation of that hacker? —*A monster wearing a human skin, pretending to be rational and law-abiding.* If, if... the amnesiac young man had been molded into such a personality later on, what role did the boy play in this? An innocent, weak, gentle younger brother? Was that all? And who was that obsessive dollmaker in the photograph? Thoughts raced through his mental memory palace, skipping over the boy’s most minute expressions. "Excuse me... can we go now?" "He will protect me." "I only trust my own judgment." "A perfect doll? Hmm, everyone’s perception is different. Where could there be total perfection..." The boy’s light purple eyes seemed wrapped in gauze—mysterious, misty, dangerous, and enchanting. He spoke softly, as if treading on clouds, or passing through a thick fog. "So, I don't care about it." He had said. "I don't care." —*I don't care about his control over me, I don't care about his manipulation and plunder.* —*I don't care about my freedom, I don't care if my emotions are controlled.* "Because I trust him," the boy had said so gently, like a naive sweetheart deep in love. "He could never hurt me." Ye Xuan’s soft voice inserted itself perfectly: "...Maybe he’s enjoying it too." Shen Feibai felt as if he were treading on clouds himself. Connecting these subtle anomalies, the conclusion he reached almost made his heart stop. —"...Grandpa used his most perfect work to swap him out." —"...After Grandpa left, I could never bring myself to take any interest in creating again." Is that so? At this moment, Shen Feibai almost hated his own memory and that subtle intuition. He voiced that deduction in his heart with a sense of dread. —*Your most perfect work... is it him?* *Is he that perfect doll you created, at the cost of your own personality?* *** The World Consciousness cast its gaze, reflecting the protagonist's anomaly to a higher existence. Ye Lan clicked her tongue in praise: "Through the completion process, how could I let such a compelling background go to waste!" The World Consciousness closed its eyes. The clock ticked, and the misty past suddenly became clear. ... The young little dollmaker had picked up a tattered "doll." Though the doll was very worn, its eyes were beautiful. Those soulless, deep blue pupils were just like his favorite pair of glass marbles. The old man asked gently, "When will you let Grandpa see your perfect work?" Thinking of that little figure he had been repairing for a long time that was still imperfect, the little dollmaker only pouted and shook his head. "Probably... the eyes aren't fixed yet. But this broken doll’s eyes are pretty!" ... From "it," he became "Brother." The little dollmaker never made another doll. He devoted his entire heart and soul to raising this large doll that could move. But one day after Grandpa passed away, the little dollmaker, crying from loneliness, suddenly received a hug from the doll, along with a warmth that clearly didn't belong to a doll. The little dollmaker stared intently into those beautiful deep blue eyes and suddenly spoke. "I'm going to call you Brother from now on." "You aren't a doll anymore, either." ... Raising a brother was more troublesome. Molding him into the image he liked was so hard. Brother was always cold and detached, never learning to take the initiative. But one day, the little dollmaker discovered a trick. As long as he was in danger, Brother would become exceptionally vigorous. Ah, so it was that simple. He intentionally consumed ingredients with slight toxins for a long time, making himself weak and frail. After that, everything had to depend on Brother~ The little dollmaker hid behind Brother’s back, his lilac eyes gentle and misty. He took the other’s hand and rubbed against him softly. "I only have you now..." *But... I'm very easily taken away.* The depths of the little dollmaker’s eyes were a pool of stillness. *Grow up quickly, Brother.* ... The small shop was burned down. The "little doll" he had agonized over for so long in his childhood finally came to nothing. The dollmaker took Brother’s hand and left without a hint of lingering regret. After all, he already had Brother. A real one, molded by his entire heart and soul— A perfect doll. ***