On the Collapse of a Fantasy Writer's World View

When the two of them left the gym with one ghost, Shi Youjia still had a dazed expression, and he didn't even hear Tang Xiaochuan calling him several times.

Tang Xiaochuan quietly pulled Tao Huaian's sleeve and asked: "Is that guy's death really related to the mermaid? Is it possible for the mermaid to go ashore and kill people?" He believed that in most people's hearts, mermaids are A beautiful fantasy, just like him, he just kind of can't accept mermaid killing.

Tao Huaian glanced at Tang Xiaochuan, and said with a half-smile, "The merman are divided into black-scaled merman, silver-scaled merman, green-scaled merman, red-scaled merman, golden-scaled merman, and so on. Different races of merman live here. In different sea areas, the silver scale sharks are the most gentle in nature, but the black scale sharks living in the East China Sea are just the opposite. They are not only cruel by nature, but also bloodthirsty and sexual. mate, and their fighting power is very powerful, they can fight the most ferocious top predators in the ocean."

Tang Xiaochuan was shocked immediately: "It's so powerful?"

"The real mermaid is a hundred times more ferocious than you imagined," Tao Huaian said lightly, "it's not the same as the mermaid in fairy tales."

Tang Xiaochuan frowned slightly: "So it's really possible that that guy was killed by a shark..."

Tao Huaian shook his head: "I don't know, the Alliance of Cultivators expressly prohibits demon cultivators and cultivators from killing mortals, and offenders will be punished severely, but the mermaids belong to the sea clan and are difficult to manage..."

"I see," Tang Xiaochuan sighed after hearing Tao Huai'an say this for the first time, "If Shi Youjia was really raped by a shark... then there is no way to help him get justice?"

"There are many ways to seek justice." Tao Huaian said lightly.

Tang Xiaochuan turned his head to look at Shi Youjia, and sighed again. He and Shi Youjia have known each other for many years. Although the two have very different personalities, and although he often dislikes Shi Youjia in various ways, in fact he still likes Shi Youjia as a friend. Yes, at the beginning, he still couldn't accept the fact that Shi Youjia was dead. It wasn't until now that he gradually had the feeling that "So Shi Youjia is really dead".

As night fell, the two and one ghost finally arrived at Shi Youjia's home, their last stop in City B today.

Shi Youjia's stepfather is a well-known entrepreneur in City B. The company is very big and financially rich, so Shi Youjia's new home is in one of the richest areas in City B. Tang Xiaochuan was once invited by Shi Youjia to play. He also lamented "the corruption and luxury of the bourgeoisie" in his heart.

Looking at the luxurious villa in front of him, Tao Huai'an's expression was very calm, which disappointed Tang Xiaochuan who was secretly observing Tao Huai'an's reaction, but he soon remembered that Tao Huai'an was clearly a rich man , How could there be any fussy reaction, so he couldn't help but feel a little depressed.

Tang Xiaochuan thought about it painfully. It was Tao Huai'an's usual behavior that made him gradually forget the class gap between them. He and Tao Huai'an were obviously not from the same world... When did he start to think that Tao Huai'an There is no distance between him and him?This kind of thinking is too dangerous!

Just when he was heartbroken, a voice suddenly sounded from behind him.

"……It's you?"

Tang Xiaochuan looked back subconsciously, and saw a luxury car that looked very expensive. The car stopped behind him at some point, the window was rolled down, and a man in a suit was sitting in the driver's seat Looking at him scrutinizingly.

He froze for a moment, and soon recognized that the man in the suit in the car was the eldest son of Shi Youjia's stepfather, who was also Shi Youjia's nominal brother--the future heir of the Ji Group, Ji Ge.

Compared with Shi Youjia, a cheap younger brother who looks like a fool, Ji Ge is obviously more in line with the image of the rich second generation. He is meticulous in suits and leather shoes, and he is full of elite style. After he looked at Tang Xiaochuan with scrutiny, he smiled slightly: "I Remember you, you are Yujia...'s friend."

Tang Xiaochuan had met Ji Ge before under the introduction of Shi Youjia, but it was a long time ago. He never expected that a big man like Ji Ge who manages every day would still remember him, so he couldn't help being flattered: "Mr. !Hello!"

He subconsciously glanced at Shi Youjia at the side, but saw Shi Youjia looking at Ji Ge in a daze, frowning and wondering what he was thinking.

"It's really you. I thought I was wrong just now." After Ji Ge looked at Tang Xiaochuan, he looked at Tao Huai'an next to him. The passer-by looked at him, his eyes quickly passed Tao Huaian, and then turned back to Tang Xiaochuan, "What are you doing here?"

Of course, Tang Xiaochuan couldn't say that he came to find out the truth about Shi Youjia's death. He originally wanted to say that he was just passing by, but when he remembered something, he suddenly stopped.

Tang Xiaochuan and Shi Youjia used to have a very good relationship. Although their personalities and preferences are very different, they lived together for a few years after all. Later, Shi Youjia moved to City B. Because of the geographical distance and the sudden economic situation of the two However, Shi Youjia is certainly not the kind of person who abandons poor friends as soon as he has money, but he has transformed from a poor boy into a young master of the Ji Group. Stepping into a new circle that Tang Xiaochuan cannot touch, he obviously needs more time and energy to adapt to the new identity and new circle.

Despite this, Shi Youjia still kept in touch with Tang Xiaochuan. Although the two did not meet every day as before, they occasionally made a phone call, a text message, an email, and a greeting during the New Year and holidays. The former roommate and friend who had a good relationship was also solemnly introduced by Shi Youjia to Shi's mother and his stepfather... Tang Xiaochuan, a friend who was officially stamped by Shi Youjia, in the days after Shi Youjia's death, However, no news of Shi Youjia's death has been heard from anyone, not even reported in the news, but Shi Youjia himself told him.

It is not incomprehensible to say that when Shi Youjia died, his family members were too sad to announce the news, but the problem is that Shi Youjia should have been dead for several days now, why is there still no news at all?

Tang Xiaochuan rolled his eyes, then he stared at Ji Ge's face and said, "I'm here to find Shi Youjia. He told me before that he likes to read novels by Cang Hai Scholar. At the reader meeting, I went to help him get an autograph, and I'm planning to bring it to him today."

Ji Ge narrowed his eyes slightly: "Is that so?"

"Well," Tang Xiaochuan blinked, "I called him before I came, but he didn't answer, so I just took it over, isn't it a bit abrupt?"

"How could it be?" Ji Ge smiled, "You are Yujia's friend, we are too happy... But Yujia is not at home today, just give me your autograph, and I will give it to him later."

Tang Xiaochuan was taken aback for a moment, he subconsciously glanced at Shi Youjia who was floating in mid-air in front of him, and then quickly withdrew his gaze: "That's it, let's forget about today, I'll give it to him next time, I just have something to talk to He said."

Ji Ge smiled gently: "Can't I hand it over?"

"Of course not," Tang Xiaochuan shook his head hastily, "It's not something expensive, I just don't want to bother you, Mr. Ji!" The key is where does he have the signature book of Canghai scholar?

"No trouble," Ji Ge smiled slightly, "it's just a matter of convenience."

Tang Xiaochuan really had no choice but to look at Tao Huai'an silently.

Tao Huaian glanced at Tang Xiaochuan, stretched out his hand to open his coat, and actually took out a book from inside, but Tang Xiaochuan knew that Tao Huaian should have taken out the book from the storage bag under the cover of his coat. Unexpectedly, Tao Huaian was so narcissistic that he carried his own book with him...

Ji Ge took it with his hand and smiled: "I will hand it over to Youjia."

"Then let's take our leave first." Seeing Ji Ge like this, Tang Xiaochuan knew that he might not be able to find out more information. After a dry smile, he turned around and left with Tao Huaian.

After walking a certain distance, he stroked his chin and said to Tao Huaian, "He's obviously hiding something."

Tao Huaian said indifferently: "He concealed the news of Shi Youjia's death."

"It's strange, what's there to hide? It can't be hidden at all. He can hide it for a day or two, but he can't hide it for a long time. If Shi Youjia disappears for a long time, it will definitely arouse people's suspicion," the brain said. Tang Xiaochuan, who is rich in insight, immediately launched a conspiracy theory, "Could it be that he wants to create an alibi by delaying the time of death?"

But soon he overturned his reasoning: "But Ji Ge has no motive for killing at all. He has always been very kind to Shi Youjia, and he regards Shi Youjia as his own brother. How could he kill Shi Youjia? This is not a wealthy family." Novel, he doesn’t need to compete with Shi Youjia for any property, not to mention that Shi Youjia doesn’t have the courage, means and ability at all. He is just Ji Ge’s cheap younger brother who is not related by blood, so he is not qualified to compete with Ji Ge for family property and status, right? Unless Shi Youjia's cheap father loves Shi Youjia's mother so much, he insists on distributing his company to a cheap son who has no blood relationship with him... But I know Shi's mother, and Shi's mother is very nice, she is not the kind of author in a wealthy novel A coquettish bitch made in heaven."

Mama Shi is a beautiful woman with a gentle appearance and a gentle personality. Back then, Tang Xiaochuan envied Shi Youjia for having such a gentle and considerate mother. He never believed that Mama Shi would do such a thing to tease others.

"We'll find out soon enough."

Tao Huaian raised his eyebrows.

"What do you mean?" Tang Xiaochuan froze for a moment.

"I just performed a wiretapping technique on the book," Tao Huaian curled his lips, "Just wait."

Tang Xiaochuan was stunned. Asking for Shi Youjia's autograph was just an excuse he made casually. He didn't know how to smooth things over just now, so he could only subconsciously ask Tao Huaian next to him for help. Unexpectedly, Tao Huaian not only smoothed things over for him, but also pushed Zhoudi performed an eavesdropping technique.

"Reliable!" Tang Xiaochuan could only silently give Tao Huaian a thumbs up.

He looked at Shi Youjia at the side again: "Did you remember anything just now?"

Shi Youjia shook his head: "Nothing."

He still had a dazed expression on his face.

Tang Xiaochuan asked Tao Huaian suspiciously: "I want to ask a question, if a ghost who forgot how he died and who the murderer was, suddenly saw the murderer who killed him again, would he remember what happened to him?" dead?"

Tao Huaian was noncommittal: "There is a possibility."

Tang Xiaochuan was suddenly puzzled. He suspected that the murderer who killed Shi Youjia might be Ji Ge, but judging by Shi Youjia's reaction, it was not even as intense as seeing the swimming pool just now...

But if Shi Youjia simply drowned, why would Ji Ge cover up the truth of Shi Youjia's death?

"Could it still have something to do with the sharks?" Tang Xiaochuan found that the problem went around in a circle and returned to the original point.

At this moment, Tao Huaian's expression suddenly became serious: "I heard someone talking."

Tang Xiaochuan immediately lifted his spirits: "I want to listen, I want to listen too!"

After Shi Youjia was stunned for a moment, he mustered up his courage and said, "I want to listen too..."

Tao Huaian glanced at each person and ghost, and nodded.

Soon, Tang Xiaochuan heard a faint conversation sound in his ears. This kind of experience, like eavesdropping on someone else's mobile phone conversation, made him quite subtle, but soon he paid attention to the content of the conversation up.

"...Is there still no news about Yujia?"

It was a haggard female voice. Tang Xiaochuan tried hard to identify it, and recognized that it was Mama Shi's voice. He looked up at Shi Youjia's expression, and finally confirmed that his guess was right.

Shi Youjia's expression was a little dazed, a little...complicated.

"……not yet."

Then it was Ji Ge's voice that sounded.

"Why not! Why not! How long has he been missing!"

Mama Shi's voice was a little hysterical, which surprised Tang Xiaochuan. After all, Mama Shi in his memory was always gentle and soft-spoken, but he could understand Mama Shi's mood and pity the hearts of parents all over the world.

"Sorry, I've tried my best."

"It's all your fault that you insist on going to the beach for vacation! What beach! Why did you go to the beach! If he didn't go to the beach, he wouldn't have disappeared..."

Mama Shi began to choke up.

"Enough! What's the use of complaining every day like this! It's not like Ji Ge didn't do nothing! He's done his best!"

A somewhat furious male voice suddenly sounded, Tang Xiaochuan paused, and recognized that it should be Shi Youjia's stepfather's voice.

"I knew it! You don't feel sorry for Youjia at all! You don't regard him as your son at all!"

"Ji Ge is my son. Could it be that Youjia...isn't my son?"

"It's not the same as what you raised! I have raised my son for so many years..."

"Enough! If you have the ability, go out and find it yourself now!"

Mother Shi's sobbing sounded.

After that, everyone fell into silence.

No one spoke for a long time.

"It's gone?" Tang Xiaochuan waited for a long time without hearing anything else, and couldn't help touching his chin and looking at Shi Youjia, "They said you were missing, at the beach..."

Shi Youjia looked blank: "Beach..."

"You still don't remember anything?" Tang Xiaochuan raised his eyebrows.

Shi Youjia shook his head.

Tang Xiaochuan hesitated for a moment. Judging from the conversation just now, he felt that whether it was Shi's mother, or Shi Youjia's stepfather and elder brother, their attitudes seemed a bit weird. He couldn't tell what was wrong, but he saw Shi Youjia With a glance, he still didn't say what he thought.

Tang Xiaochuan struggled for a long time, and finally he could only sigh: "Then let's go to the beach tomorrow... Maybe you will remember something then."

"...But here comes the question, which beach should I go to?"

At this moment, Tao Huaian suddenly said, "X Hai."

"X Hai?" Tang Xiaochuan froze for a moment, "You know again?"

Tao Huaian shook the mobile phone in his hand towards Tang Xiaochuan. Tang Xiaochuan leaned over and took a look. It turned out to be a Weibo. The person who posted the Weibo claimed to have seen a legendary mermaid in a lake while fishing in a certain lake. A high-density photo was uploaded, and he took a closer look. In the photo, there was indeed a faint red shadow that looked like a fish's tail. At first glance, it really looked like a legendary mermaid.

"...That's it?" Tang Xiaochuan expressed his doubts. It doesn't matter whether the photo is true or not, but if the person who tweeted it said something, would they believe it?

"Of course it can't be that simple, just read on."

Hearing this, Tang Xiaochuan scrolled down and found another Weibo claiming that he saw a mermaid. The person who posted the Weibo was not the same person who posted the previous Weibo. The place and time he claimed to have seen the mermaid were also They are all different, the only thing they have in common is that the mermaids they claim to see have red tails.

He continued to look down, and saw several Weibo posts claiming to have witnessed the mermaid. Different people at different times and in different places, some took photos and some did not, but even if they took photos, the people in the photos The "mermaid" is basically indistinct, the only thing that can be identified is the bright red fish tail...

And among all the eyewitness reports claiming to have seen a mermaid, the one who posted the Weibo first was the Weibo that Tao Huai'an showed him just now, and the location of the person who posted the Weibo was exactly what Tao Huaian said. ocean.

Sea X is located in City S, which is next door to City G. Because the water is clear and the environment is beautiful, the tourism industry is quite developed, and there are many resort centers. It is not impossible for Shi Youjia to travel there with his family.

"Red fishtail?"

Tang Xiaochuan subconsciously looked at Shi Youjia, after all Shi Youjia seemed to have mentioned it before.

Shi Youjia didn't know when he floated in front of the two of them. He also saw the contents of Tao Huaian's phone. Looking at the red fishtail in the photo, he suddenly showed a dazed and painful expression.

"The red fishtail..."

"What do you remember?" Seeing that Shi Youjia's expression seemed a bit wrong, Tang Xiaochuan hurriedly asked.

Shi Youjia gradually struggled.

"Come on! Remember it!" Tang Xiaochuan hurriedly cheered Shi Youjia on.

Shi Youjia's expression changed again and again. After several changes, he said in a daze, "I remembered...the red fish tail...someone pinched me...it hurts..."

Seeing that Shi Youjia's expression seemed to be getting more and more painful, even a little grim, Tang Xiaochuan had no choice but to stop him: "Okay, okay! Don't force it!"

Shi Youjia was in a daze for a moment, then fell into a strange silence again.

Tang Xiaochuan sighed: "Let's go, let's go back."

He turned his head and looked at Tao Huai'an, Tao Huai'an nodded: "Go back first."

So the two of them were ready to go home together. On the way, Tang Xiaochuan looked at Shi Youjia who had a weird expression in front of him, and couldn't help but pulled Tao Huaian's sleeve and bit his ear: "...is it really a shark?" ?”

Tao Huaian said indifferently: "If the fish tail is red, it should be the red-scaled merman. Although the red-scaled merman is not as violent and brutal as the black-scaled merman, they are not gentle people. It is not impossible."

Tang Xiaochuan sighed again, if it was really the shark who killed the man, how else could they help Shi Youjia get justice?

When night fell completely, they finally returned home, but when Tang Xiaochuan took out the key to open the door, he suddenly discovered something was wrong.

"...Why is there so much water at the door?"

He looked down and saw a big puddle of water in front of the door, even the carpet was wet, not only that, there were water marks on the lock of the door.

"Damn it, maybe the water pipe is broken?"

"wrong."

Tao Huaian suddenly spoke.

"Someone broke in."

"Someone broke in?" Tang Xiaochuan froze for a moment, "Could it be a thief?"

At this moment, Tang Xiaochuan heard cats and dogs barking from behind the door, barking, woof, meow and meow mixed together, chaotic and noisy, he suddenly felt bad, and quickly turned the key to open the door.

As soon as the door was opened, he immediately found that not only the door, but also the living room was full of water stains. The floor, walls and even the ceiling were covered with...

"Fuck, what kind of trouble is this!"

Seemingly hearing Tang Xiaochuan's voice, Tao Xiaobai, who was staying in the room, rushed out immediately. After seeing Tao Huaian, he hesitated for a moment, and then resolutely rushed towards Tang Xiaochuan.

Tao Huaian: "..."

Tang Xiaochuan quickly reached out to catch the big dog: "What's the matter, what happened? Where's Tang Xiaohei?"

Tao Xiaobai immediately barked aggrievedly.

"There's someone in the bathroom."

Tao Huaian suddenly frowned and said.

"……bathroom?"

Tang Xiaochuan was taken aback for a moment, and soon, he also heard the sound of splashing water and sharp meowing from the bathroom.

"So much water, could it be..." Tang Xiaochuan immediately thought of what he and Tao Huaian had just discussed, and his mood sank, "It's over, Tang Xiaohei!"

He didn't have time to think too much, so he turned around and ran towards the bathroom.

The door of the bathroom was ajar, and was kicked open by the hasty Tang Xiaochuan.

As soon as the door opened, the scene in the bathroom came into view immediately. The huge bathtub that Tao Huaian had brought was now being filled with water, and a huge grass goldfish was lying in the bathtub and blowing bubbles. It was too huge, its red fish tail even overflowed the bathtub, hanging outside the bathtub, and Tang Xiaohei, who made Tang Xiaochuan worried, was biting its fish tail and hanging on it at this time.

Seeing Tang Xiaochuan came back, Tang Xiaohei looked at the plump and huge fishtail in front of him and hesitated for a moment, finally let go reluctantly, then turned around and rushed towards Tang Xiaochuan, meowing aggrievedly Call: "Meow meow!"

Why can't it bite such a big and fat fish tail!