Dean looked at the unfamiliar number on his phone and answered, puzzled, "Hello, this is Dean."
"Hi, Dean, I’m Mas’s sister, Niel."
From the other end of the line came a female voice, choked with tears.
Upon hearing the name, an image of a brightly smiling face immediately flashed through Dean’s mind, along with a past that was almost forgotten.
To be precise, these were matters concerning his predecessor.
Mas had been a high school classmate of Dean’s predecessor, and they had been very close. Their contact gradually lessened after Dean went to college.
Dean did recall Mas mentioning he had a sister named Niel. Mas had even wanted to set Dean up with her, but Niel had been studying in England since she was young.
So, the two had never met.
After graduating from high school, influenced by some detective novels, Mas became a private investigator.
Mas had once jokingly told Dean that if he got the chance, he would help investigate what happened to Dean’s father.
But in reality, they hadn’t seen each other for over two years and only exchanged text messages during holidays to send well wishes.
Dean vaguely sensed that trouble was coming his way.
"Dean? Are you there?" Niel’s tearful voice continued from the other end of the phone.
Dean broke off his reminiscence. "Yes, Niel. I was just thinking about the good times Mas and I had studying together. How is he?"
"No, he’s... he’s not doing well. My brother passed away two days ago. He was shot..."
"...I’m very sorry. When is the funeral? I want to say my final goodbyes," Dean said. His face showed no sorrow, though his voice was much lower.
He was just an impostor possessing his predecessor’s memories. He found it truly difficult to empathize with the death of his predecessor’s friend.
Niel sniffled, her voice choked with sobs. "My brother’s body is still with the forensics department. They said we have to wait for the autopsy report before we can take my brother..."
She couldn’t continue and burst into loud sobs over the phone.
An autopsy meant the deceased would be dissected, their body becoming incomplete. This procedure often intensified the sorrow of the grieving family, yet it was an essential step for collecting evidence.
Dean pursed his lips and remained silent.
When Niel’s crying subsided, he finally spoke, "I’m very sorry for what Mas went through. Is there anything I can do to help? I want to do something for him."
"There’s no need, Dean. I’m glad my brother had a friend like you."
Niel, having composed herself, continued, "Actually, the reason I called you today is because when I was sorting through my brother’s belongings, I found he left some things for you, along with a letter. He just hadn’t had a chance to send them out. If you have time, you can come pick them up, or I can mail them to you."
Dean had a premonition that Mas’s death might be related to those items.
Alas. The tree desires stillness, but the wind never ceases. Having inherited his predecessor’s body, there were some things he simply couldn’t avoid.
Dean sighed inwardly. "Niel, is Mas’s address still the same? ...Alright, I’ll come get them myself and pay Mas a visit too..."
After hanging up, Dean dialed Sheila.
Sheila, who was usually free, answered quickly. "Dean, let me guess. You’re calling because something’s come up and you won’t be home tonight, right? If that’s the case, I guarantee I’ll come find you myself, riding crop in hand!"
Dean was speechless. This mom of mine... she’s a bit fierce.
"Mom, here’s what happened..." Dean then told Sheila about Mas’s situation.
"Oh my god! Are you talking about Mas? The one you used to hang out with all the time in high school? I never would have thought something would happen to him. Alright, sweetie, I forgive you. If you need it, I can lend you the car..."
"...could I borrow a little money too?" Dean, seizing the opportunity, asked cheekily.
The cash he had on him wasn’t even enough for a place to stay, and his credit cards didn’t have much of a limit left.
"Get lost! ...Oh, right, where are you now?"
Sheila sounded fierce on the phone, but she genuinely doted on Dean.
Not long after they ended their call, she drove her own car to Dean’s location. She not only left the car keys with Dean but also brought him some cooked smoked bacon and a thousand dollars in cash.
Watching Sheila’s retreating figure, a warm feeling spread through Dean’s heart.
Is this what family feels like? It’s truly wonderful! Deep down, Dean was starved for love. In his original world, there was no family affection, no romantic love, no friendship—only cold, hard tasks and equally cold cash.
Once Dean experienced this bit of warmth from Sheila, the memories belonging to his predecessor began to resonate with him more deeply, tinged with a newfound empathy. He also began to accept, in his heart, the reality that Sheila was his mother. That tiny bit of awkwardness he’d felt vanished without a trace the moment Sheila arrived.
Dean popped a piece of the sliced smoked bacon into his mouth, started the car, and an unconscious smile spread across his face.
It feels pretty good to have someone care about you!
Las Vegas, the largest city in Nevada, was several hundred kilometers from Los Angeles, where Dean had been.
Dean set off around ten in the morning and arrived just after two in the afternoon.
As a relatively "new" city, Las Vegas had very wide roads. Many tourists came and went, and it was surrounded by numerous resorts and casinos.
Dean’s first impression of the place was that it was hot.
The sun shone brightly overhead. People on the streets were dressed in light, cool clothing and appeared very relaxed as they rode their bicycles.
As he was surveying his surroundings, a sweet-looking, brown-haired girl in a T-shirt walked up to Dean. "Dean?"
When Dean saw her red, swollen eyes, he immediately realized this was Niel.
Niel was petite. Her sweet face was dotted with a few freckles, and her red, swollen eyes, tinged with melancholy, couldn’t help but evoke a sense of pity.
Oh no, it’s that heart-fluttering feeling.
Dean quickly opened his arms. "Niel, it’s so good to see you. Actually, Mas was my best friend. I’m so sorry I wasn’t by his side when he got into trouble."
The moment Mas was mentioned, Niel’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. She threw herself into Dean’s arms, hugging him tightly, as if by doing so, she could feel her brother still by her side.
Dean gently patted Niel’s shoulder.
The moment he saw Niel, he truly considered Mas his brother in his heart! As his brother, he was determined to take care of Niel!
After a while, Niel finally let go.
She wiped her eyes, a little embarrassed. "Sorry, Dean. Seeing you, I couldn’t help but think of my brother. We didn’t spend much time together, but he was so good to me..."
"It’s okay, Niel. From now on, I’ll be your brother. That will make me feel a little better too," Dean said with a magnanimous wave of his hand, urging Niel to get into the car.
Because Las Vegas attracts many tourists and is located in a desert, its residential areas were outside the main tourist zones. These areas had many bungalows and were relatively maze-like.
Following Niel’s directions, Dean navigated a series of twists and turns before finally stopping in front of a small, three-story villa.
The items and the letter Mas had left for him were here.