Insights Chapter 89: Starry Sky

Chapter 89: Starry Sky

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

At night, in a villa in the eastern district of Penang. Ding Yueran stared at the chessboard in front of him. In front of him was a chess set, which had been taught to him by a prison guard during his time in prison. Although he hadn’t received formal education, he had a natural talent for chess. Now he was essentially under house arrest here. Apart from Yazheng, no one else could come in, and he was restricted from using the internet. Most of the news he received came through Yazheng.

Ding Yueran was quite content with his leisure time. He played chess with himself, with both sides being him. Currently, the white pieces had lost a pawn, and it seemed like the black side had a slight advantage.

Yazheng placed a plate of fruit to the side and then sat down, looking down, and said, “Dad hasn’t come by for a while.”

Ever since Ding Yueran and Mu Yu had a falling out last time, Mu Yu hadn’t actively contacted Ding Yueran, nor had he sent any plans over.

Ding Yueran didn’t care, “Isn’t it better if he doesn’t come?”

Yazheng shook his head with a somewhat resentful expression, as if feeling like a concubine relegated to the cold palace, “He’s been busy lately, consulting with the dream master. He thinks the dream master’s methods can reduce the appearance of stagehands and are the safest.”

Although the dream master’s methods seemed to take more time, they were not even considered instigating. The dream master would select suitable candidates, then appear beside them, excavate and discover the secrets within their hearts, magnify the darkness within them, and then let those people go on to kill.

Listening to Yazheng’s words, Ding Yueran sneered, “The dream master’s methods are actually the most dangerous.”

Yazheng was somewhat puzzled and looked at Ding Yueran.

After making his move in chess, Ding Yueran explained to Yazheng, “On the surface, the dream master eliminates the need for stagehands and involves fewer of our people. But in reality, he exploits human evil. Those who are manipulated by the dream master have hatred, greed, resentment in their hearts, which are like opening Pandora’s box.”

Although he also killed and did evil deeds, he despised the dream master’s methods from the bottom of his heart and held him in contempt.

Then Ding Yueran felt he should give Yazheng an example, “Take the recent case of Jin Yuewen for example. If it were us, people would lament Jin Yuewen’s death and soon forget about him. But after the dream master’s involvement, it became a major case of three deaths.”

Yazheng said, “So you mean, the dream master has made things uncontrollable? But so what? That’s the killer’s business. Both he and us are safe. Just because he said a few words, we can’t go over to the dream master’s side, can we?”

Ding Yueran shook his head, feeling Yazheng still didn’t understand his point, “We kill for money, as a profession, we are calm. But the dream master kills for evil. He turns words into swords, sows discord among people. He stands by and watches as the poor kill the rich, the rich oppress the poor, relatives harm each other, and flesh and blood are torn apart.”

Yazheng pondered, “As you say this, I remember chatting with the dream master online. He seems not to care about money. So what’s his purpose?”

“He enjoys the pleasure of creating evil. Doing evil makes him happy. This person has antisocial personality traits.” Ding Yueran looked up at Yazheng, “Remember Fang Zhengrong and Zhong Zhichun’s case? Wasn’t that his plan? He doesn’t care if his employers end up in prison. Such a person, who doesn’t respect life, once things spiral out of control, he will make grave mistakes.”

Those demons created by him will eventually turn on him.

Yazheng seemed to understand a bit, lowering his head in thought.

Ding Yueran continued, “Moreover, we are people without identities, we can disappear at any time. But the dream master is different from us. He operates outside, and he has close ties with the business community. He might become the biggest loophole and draw fire upon us.”

As he said this, a smirk appeared on Ding Yueran’s lips. He was already a bit impatient to see the outcome of this war.

—

After dinner, Gu Yanchen helped Shen Junci move a pile of things back home. Large and small, there were a dozen or so parcels in total. As a novice cat owner, medical examiner Shen had made ample preparations this time. He handed the box cutter to Gu Yanchen to help with the unpacking.

He had stocked up on over a dozen bags of cat litter, various types of cat toys, and several bags of cat food and treats. The most extravagant item was a large cat climbing frame.

After helping to unpack it, Gu Yanchen took out a screwdriver and toolbox and helped Shen Junci assemble it. Sitting together on a white fluffy mat, they studied the instructions and quickly assembled the cat climbing frame. They laid out orange-colored cushions on it, making it look quite interesting.

The main frame of the cat climbing frame was a towering pillar, over two meters tall, with platforms for cats to rest on top and several cat beds. Cats could climb up to sunbathe or sleep. Regardless of whether the cat would like it, they had fun assembling it themselves.

Afterward, Gu Yanchen helped Shen Junci prepare the rest of the things, placing the litter box on the balcony and the water and food bowls in the living room. Everything was ready, only the cat was missing.

Gu Yanchen sat cross-legged in the living room. “The cat hasn’t come yet, but the equipment is complete.”

Shen Junci glanced sideways, “Are you trying to say there are too many supplies?”

Gu Yanchen replied, “You’re definitely not someone struggling in school; you’re an excellent student. I think Snowy will be happy.”

Shen Junci smiled and then looked at his phone, reminding Gu Yanchen, “Go check the group chat; someone sent a red envelope.”

Gu Yanchen went to grab one, only to find out it was sent by Director Ding. The old director praised them for solving the case well and generously sent a big red envelope with 88 inside.

Lu Ying only got 2.6, so he sent a crying emoji.

Gu Yanchen got the most, so he added some money and sent another red envelope out, “Everyone worked hard.”

Qi Yi’an also sent one. He missed the handshake event but got a signed photo of his favorite idol. The young medical examiner happily shared this news in the group chat. They then started a chain of sending red envelopes.

After playing with their phones for a while, they finally opened the last package.

Gu Yanchen thought it was something for the cat too, but it turned out to be something different. It was a square box with Japanese writing and some constellation patterns drawn on it, seeming to be a lamp according to the instructions.

Gu Yanchen was puzzled for a moment, fearing it was something for Shen Junci, so he put it aside.

Medical examiner Shen looked at him, “That’s not for the cat; it’s for you.”

Suddenly realizing it was a gift for himself, Gu Yanchen felt pleasantly surprised.

Shen Junci explained, “I’ve always seemed to receive gifts from you. Isn’t your birthday coming up soon? So I bought a star projector for you as a return gift. I wasn’t sure if you’d like it or not.”

Gu Yanchen’s birthday was on September 25th, a few days away.

“I like it, of course.” Gu Yanchen carefully opened the package. The main body of the star projector appeared, round and black with a matte finish, looking quite high-tech, like a small asteroid. Gu Yanchen held the star projector in his hands, feeling inexplicably moved.

Shen Junci asked, “Don’t you want to see how it works?”

Gu Yanchen looked at the instructions, studied them for a moment, and then opened the slot for the disc. He took out a disc with a romantic name, “Starry Sky of the Northern Hemisphere.”

“I’m turning off the lights,” Shen Junci said, then pressed the switch and sat next to Gu Yanchen on the fluffy mat, plunging the entire room into darkness.

Gu Yanchen extended his finger and pressed the switch on the star projector. In an instant, the room projected a pattern of stars. In the profound darkness, the white specks of starlight formed a Milky Way, breathtakingly beautiful. Tens of thousands of stars seemed to be packed into the room, creating an almost realistic and mesmerizing starry sky.

The two of them lay back, looking up as if they were in the vast expanse of the universe. The starry sky rotated slowly, leaving them awestruck.

Shen Junci turned to him and asked, “Do you like it?”

“Of course, this is the best birthday gift I’ve ever received,” Gu Yanchen replied, lying on the mat and gazing at the sky. “Thank you.”

Gu Yanchen was born and raised in Penang, and he had hardly ever seen the Milky Way so clearly. Like many boys, he had a childhood dream of exploring the universe, and there were several books about the cosmos in his home.

Looking at the projected starry sky, it felt like his childhood dreams were coming true. He loved this gift so much; he could almost touch the sky with his hand.

After going through this case, Gu Yanchen felt healed by these stars. The tension and busyness of the day dissipated in this moment, and the bloodshed and killing seemed nonexistent. Instead, there was the beauty of the world and inner peace.

“Then make a wish,” Shen Junci said, pressing the nearby shooting star button. A silver-white shooting star slowly streaked across the entire sky.

In the vast universe, it touched people’s hearts. This was adult romance. These stars shining in the darkness could bring the power to defeat darkness.

Gu Yanchen softly said, “I hope there can be more kindness in the world.” He paused and added, “I may have been powerless in the past, but I can always change the future.”

Shen Junci responded, “Starlight will illuminate the way. There is no eternal night in the world, and there is no eternal winter.”

Gu Yanchen reached out and held Shen Junci’s hand. Their slender fingers intertwined. The room was quiet, so quiet that they could hear each other’s heartbeats. Gu Yanchen could smell the faint scent of incense on Shen Junci’s body. In the dim light, the person beside him was as clean and beautiful as the stars. He couldn’t help but lean closer to him in the darkness…