The world around Lin Wei blurred into noise.
Not distant.Not muffled.
Just… unimportant.
Because all of his focus was on the thin black envelope in his hands—weighty, ominous, humming with the threat of revelation.
"For Truth."
Two small words.But they pressed on his chest harder than any structural failure.
Liu Fang's hand trembled lightly around his wrist.
"Lin Wei… please. Not here. Not like this."
Her voice wasn't just afraid—it was pleading.
Director Li Takes Charge
Director Li stepped between Lin Wei and the crowd, raising his arm.
"Everyone back! Step away!"
Media workers tried to push in.Civilians leaned closer, eager for gossip.Master Yu and Old Zhang formed a defensive half-circle around the young man.
Li's voice dropped low—directed only at Lin Wei.
"Come with me. We're moving inside the Bureau van."
Lin Wei didn't move.
His eyes were locked on the envelope, knuckles whitening as he gripped it.
"What if he put something dangerous inside?" Old Zhang muttered.
"Not explosives," Lin Wei said faintly."I'd feel it. And he wants me alive."
That, somehow, made everyone even more uncomfortable.
Liu Fang Tries to Reach Him
Liu Fang stepped in front of Lin Wei, blocking his view of the envelope.
Her eyes were soft and full of worry.
"Lin Wei… look at me. Please."
He did.
Slowly.
Her voice shook.
"Zhao Ruitian wants you off balance. That envelope is a trap. It doesn't matter what's inside—it's designed to hurt you."
Lin Wei swallowed.
"What if it's about my father? About his last project? What if—"
"What if it's lies?" she whispered.
He froze.
"What if it's half-truths mixed with poison? You open it while you're vulnerable… and Zhao wins."
Lin Wei's fingers twitched around the envelope.
He wanted to trust her.He did trust her.
But the system vibrated faintly in his mind—a pulse of instinct.
Trial Four: The Collapse of CertaintyObjective: Confront Hidden Knowledge
He hated it.He hated that even his system was pushing him forward.
Liu Fang's hands moved to cup his, trying to steady them.
"Listen," she breathed, "you don't have to face this alone."
Her warmth cut through the fear fogging his thoughts.
But only for a moment.
Director Li's Expression Changes
Director Li cleared his throat.
And when Lin Wei looked up—
He noticed something strange.
Li's face was pale.Not anxious.
More… guilty?
The director avoided his eyes.
That alone was enough to tighten Lin Wei's chest.
"Director Li," he said quietly."You know something, don't you?"
Li startled.Then plastered on the calm bureaucratic façade.
"I don't know what's inside that envelope. We need to review it in a controlled environment. Standard protocol."
But his voice…It wavered.
Master Yu noticed too.
He shot Li a sidelong glance.
"Director," Yu said slowly, "is there something you haven't told us?"
"I've told you everything relevant," Li answered too quickly.
Lin Wei's heart sank.
Trial Four : Psychological Breakdown
Target: Trust Structures
He suddenly felt cold.
If Zhao Ruitian wanted to undermine him, this was the perfect wedge.
Not a building.Not a blueprint.
But the people he relied on.
The Envelope Opens Itself
A gust of wind swept down the street—sharp, cold, slicing.
It tore the envelope from Lin Wei's hands.
"No—!" Liu Fang cried, reaching out.
But it was too late.
The flap, perhaps not glued fully, lifted.A corner of the top paper slipped free.
And before Lin Wei could catch it—
Everyone saw the title on the document.
Stamped in red.
CONFIDENTIAL — INTERNAL DISCIPLINARY DOSSIER Subject: Lin Wei
The crowd gasped.
Director Li went rigid, face draining.
Liu Fang covered her mouth.Master Yu cursed.Old Zhang grabbed the paper before it could fall further and shoved it back into the envelope.
But the damage was already done.
Lin Wei stared at the red letters on the page corner.
A dossier.About him.
From inside the Bureau.
Director Li opened his mouth to speak.To explain.To deny.
But nothing came out.
Lin Wei took a slow breath.
"Director Li," he said, voice trembling,"why is there an internal disciplinary file… about me?"
Li stepped forward.
"Lin Wei—listen—this isn't what you think—"
But Lin Wei stepped back.
Everyone froze.
The crowd stared.The media's microphones leaned in greedily.Even the sirens seemed to quiet.
Liu Fang reached for his hand—
He didn't pull away.
But he didn't take her hand either.
His voice was soft.Too soft.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Li's jaw clenched.
"I was going to."
"When?"
"When it was safe."
Lin Wei laughed hollowly.
"There's no safe with Zhao Ruitian. He already knows. He wants me to find this."
His hand tightened painfully around the envelope.
"Which means the truth hurts."
Silence.
Director Li closed his eyes.
And whispered:
"…Yes."
Everything Shifts
Lin Wei looked down at the envelope.
The weight was unbearable.
He glanced at Liu Fang—
Her eyes were wet.Terrified.Begging him silently:
Don't do this. Don't look. Don't let him tear you apart.
He looked at Master Yu—
Steady.Sad.Bracing himself.
He looked at Director Li—
Hiding something.
And Lin Wei realized:
Trial Four wasn't about the information.
It was about breaking his certainty in the people around him.
He exhaled.
A shuddering breath.
Then said softly:
"…I'm opening it."
Liu Fang's voice cracked.
"Lin Wei—!"
But he had already slipped his thumb beneath the flap.
The street went silent.
Even the wind stopped.
The envelope opened with a soft whisper.
And he pulled out the first page.
Lin Wei's eyes read the bold header:
Investigation Summary:Suspicious Aptitude Increase —Possible Unauthorized Access to Sensitive Knowledge
His hands trembled.
Liu Fang's breath caught.
Old Zhang muttered, "Oh no."
And Director Li whispered:
"I'm sorry."
Lin Wei whispered back:
"I knew it."
But then—
He flipped to the next page.
And froze.
Stone-still.
Because the second page contained something he didn't expect.
Not betrayal.
Not accusations.
A photo.
Black-and-white.Old.Faded.
His father.
Standing beside a younger Director Li.
Both smiling.
And behind them—
was Zhao Ruitian.
Thirty years younger.
Not smiling.
Watching.
The page summary read:
"Dossier Origin:Recovered from Lin Cheng's personal effects after death."
Lin Wei's breath stopped entirely.
Liu Fang's hand covered her mouth.
Director Li stepped forward, horrified.
"Lin Wei—that photo—Zhao planted that—there's NO RECORD—!"
But Lin Wei couldn't hear him.
Because now he understood:
Zhao hadn't just known his father.
Zhao had stood beside him.
Worked with him.Watched him.Judged him.
And maybe—
Maybe everything Lin Cheng died for…
had begun long before Lin Wei was even born.
Zhao Ruitian wasn't testing Lin Wei.
He was continuing something.
A legacy.
Or a curse.
Lin Wei whispered, barely audible:
"…Father. What were you involved in?"
And Trial Four…
had only just begun.