I’m No Longer Human After Being Blacklisted – CH46

Chapter 46

Si Xu parked his car in the lot and walked over to the shop.

When he entered, Lin Jiu was already waiting for him.

Sensing that Si Xu’s visit might not be for a good reason, Lin Jiu asked cautiously, “Did something happen?”

Si Xu went straight to the point, “Did you get married?”

“???” Lin Jiu wondered if he had misheard.

Wearing a mask, Lin Jiu’s expression was hidden from Si Xu. “Take off your mask. You don’t need to wear it in front of me.”

Without realizing anything was wrong, Lin Jiu took off the mask and hooked it on his finger, his face showing pure confusion.

Si Xu loved watching Lin Jiu’s expressions. They were always so vivid and cute.

Si Xu continued, “I heard you already have a baby, a few months old, named Lin Yu?”

Lin Jiu: “…”

His face went from blank to “What on earth are you talking about? I don’t understand any of this.”

Si Xu almost laughed at Lin Jiu’s expression but managed to hold it in. “Who is Qiu Yuxi?”

“Who?” Lin Jiu was already dizzy from all the questions.

“You don’t know her?” Si Xu was surprised, especially since he had seen pictures of Lin Jiu with Qiu Yuxi. Lin Jiu should at least recognize her.

“She sounds a bit familiar…” Lin Jiu tried hard to recall.

Thanks to the different timelines he had experienced, Lin Jiu was almost mentally disoriented. While only a year had passed for others, he had actually lived through five years. So, remembering someone he wasn’t familiar with after five or six years was understandably difficult.

Si Xu helped him remember, “She used to be an artist under ‘Creation Star’ After the company needed money, they sold her to ‘Fengshuo.’ She worked with your group Dream once…”

Si Xu felt ridiculous for even helping Lin Jiu remember a woman he had forgotten.

Lin Jiu finally started to recall, “Isn’t she the one with big eyes, who’s very chatty and can go on talking non-stop?”

Si Xu: “…”

Wow, you remember that in such detail!

The image of Qiu Yuxi became clearer in Lin Jiu’s mind. He could now match the name to the face. “What about her?”

Si Xu wished he could turn back time and avoid this entire conversation, but Lin Jiu was still waiting for an answer.

“She supposedly pursued you?” Si Xu asked.

Lin Jiu looked baffled. “That’s impossible. I don’t even know her that well.”

Si Xu: “…”

Was it impossible, or did she pursue you, and you just didn’t realize it?

Si Xu thought the latter was more likely.

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He had known from the start that he should’ve just sent a cease-and-desist letter for the rumors.

Si Xu: “Did you say something earlier today? Now everyone online is looking for your child.”

Lin Jiu: “…”

He only heard the first half of the question, and his ears immediately turned red. Lowering his head, he fiddled with the mask in his hand, not daring to look at Si Xu.

Whether it was “family” or “someone important,” Lin Jiu couldn’t bring himself to say it in front of Si Xu. Boss Lin was just that timid!

Seeing Lin Jiu’s reaction, Si Xu realized he must have said something at lunch that caused a misunderstanding, which had then spread and led to the current confusion.

Si Xu: “Do you want to clarify things online?”

Lin Jiu nodded hurriedly, only to realize afterward, “Clarify what?”

To Lin Jiu, Si Xu was indeed special and important. During his hardest times, he had relied on Si Xu’s music to get through, and he had admired him for a full ten years.

Si Xu nodded, “You should check your social media.”

Lin Jiu obediently opened his account, took a look, and then glanced up at Si Xu, puzzled. “Clarify… that I don’t have a mom?”

Si Xu: “…???”

Si Xu pulled out his own phone and scrolled through social media, equally confused.

When he had left for the shop, the entire internet was still looking for Lin Jiu’s child. But in such a short time, the narrative had shifted to Lin Jiu finding a “mom” instead.

The original poster who suggested that the legendary singer Vera might be Lin Jiu’s mom had been bombarded by both Lin Jiu’s fans and Vera’s fans.

The post compared Lin Jiu’s and Vera’s facial features—eyes, nose, and lips—which did indeed look very similar when analyzed individually. However, when combined, they looked completely different.

The comment section had turned into a battlefield.

“A nobody small-time singer? How dare they compare him to the legendary Vera? Vera doesn’t have a son like him!”

“What’s wrong with our Boss Lin? He’s got a great voice, looks good, has amazing skills, and a good temper. If you can point out something bad about him, I’ll admit defeat!”

“If you only look at the facial comparison, it does seem similar, but once you put the features together on the face, it doesn’t look alike at all. The diva’s talent is undeniable—she ruled an era. But to be honest, in terms of looks, the diva doesn’t compare to Boss Lin.”

“What’s wrong with the diva’s looks? She might not have been stunning, but she had a charm that grew on you. Plus, what about her unique aura? Back then, it was all about raw talent, not just appearances!”

“Let’s not get too worked up. The diva was a goddess in our parents’ time, and we all respect her!”

“To be fair, the diva’s facial features were indeed delicate, but her face didn’t quite suit them. Isn’t that just the truth?”

“I can only say this: the diva was only 29 when she had her accident. She wasn’t married, didn’t have a boyfriend, so how could she have such a grown son? Let’s all have some decency and stop exploiting the memory of someone who has passed away!”

Lin Jiu scrolled through the comments briefly, staring at the two photos for a long time. He couldn’t see any resemblance between them at all.

Lin Jiu looked up and asked Si Xu, “Do we look alike?”

Every singer knew the diva Vera. Back then, her songs were everywhere, and many of her songs became timeless classics that are still popular today. In recent years, there had been a surge in impersonation shows, with many people mimicking Vera’s signature curly hair and vocal style, even trying to recreate her iconic moments. But imitations were just that—no one could capture Vera’s unique aura.

Her appearance was above average at best, but she had a bright, open personality, and her interests were wide-ranging. At the age of 29, she sailed out to sea alone and never returned. The coast guard eventually only retrieved her wrecked boat. A legendary diva lost to the ocean.

Si Xu had never thought to compare Vera and Lin Jiu. Looking at them individually, they didn’t resemble each other at all, but when you compared their facial features one by one, there was indeed a slight resemblance.

Si Xu asked back, “Do you think you look alike?”

Lin Jiu: “Not at all.”

“Then you don’t.” Si Xu called Wen Qin to handle the situation.

Using Lin Jiu and the deceased diva as tabloid material, whether or not Lin Jiu was still in the entertainment industry, was only bringing him negative attention. The diva’s status in the music world was untouchable.

“Thanks.” Once again, Lin Jiu owed Si Xu a favor and made a note of it in his little debt book.

Si Xu glanced at the private room, which used to be his regular dining spot. “Do I still have a place to eat now?”

Lin Jiu was momentarily stunned before realizing he hadn’t told Si Xu that he could now dine on the second floor.

“Sorry, I forgot to tell you. From now on, you can dine on the second floor.”

This time, it was Si Xu’s turn to be surprised, but then he understood. “You’ve reached the level?”

“Yeah, want to go see?”

Since the second floor would eventually be open to the public, Lin Jiu had gotten used to it and no longer found it as impressive as he initially did. Now, the second floor just seemed extravagant to him, nothing more.

“Sure.” Si Xu was curious to see what the upper floor of the Magic Fish looked like.

Lin Jiu led Si Xu upstairs. As they reached the stairwell, the small wings on the entrance automatically opened, and Lin Jiu guided Si Xu up.

Upon reaching the second floor, Lin Jiu stepped aside to let Si Xu enter first.

Si Xu: “!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?”

His eyes were filled with green—ancient trees, flowers, flowing water, and swimming fish. It felt like stepping into a primordial forest, with the fresh scent of nature in the air. A wooden platform hidden among the trees held a long wooden table and benches, suspended over flowing water. Fish swam beneath the platform, and tall needle-like plants blocked the view on one side, obscuring whatever lay beyond.

Despite being a small 70-square-meter shop, it felt like it had 700 square meters of space, extending in all directions. The view seemed endless, filled with ancient trees and greenery. Looking up, the trees stretched to the sky, and it seemed like there was a real blue sky and white clouds above—no ceiling, and no third floor pressing down from above.

Such a complex and grand interior design felt serene and refreshing rather than oppressive. Being there made one unconsciously relax and enjoy a moment of peace.

Lin Jiu thought that Si Xu had handled it well; aside from looking visibly shocked, he hadn’t lost his composure.

Lin Jiu cleared his throat. “It’s all fake, just an optical illusion. The space is still only 70 square meters.”

Si Xu stared for a long time before speaking. “Which design company did you hire?”

Lin Jiu: “…”

Lin Jiu: “That’s… not important.”

Si Xu: “…”

That’s actually very important.

Even Lin Jiu had been startled by how the renovation turned out!

He had originally wanted to turn the second floor into a small bamboo forest with a little fish pond, something more elegant and simple. But when the renovation plan was handed to him, this was the kind of “elegant and simple” design they came up with. What could he do but accept it?

Si Xu walked over to the water’s edge, dipped his finger into the water, and turned to look at Lin Jiu. “Fake?”

Lin Jiu: “The water is real.”

Si Xu then touched the small green plants by the pond. The tender green leaves looked incredibly fresh—too lifelike to be fake.

Lin Jiu: “The grass and trees are fake.”

Si Xu examined the small plants closely. “They don’t look fake.”

Lin Jiu quickly put his mask back on, hiding the fact that he was lying. “They just look very realistic.”

Si Xu still looked skeptical.

To convince Si Xu that everything was indeed an illusion, Lin Jiu led him to see the “end of the forest.”

Walking a few steps along the water’s edge, they encountered a plant blocking the path with a small sign hanging from it that read “No Entry.”

Lin Jiu called Si Xu over. “What do you see?”

Si Xu: “More forest ahead?”

“This is a wall.” Lin Jiu lifted the plant and patted the air behind it.

Si Xu reached out and touched it himself. In the space where there seemed to be nothing, there was indeed a solid wall—completely invisible to the eye.

Si Xu’s expression was very complicated. “Isn’t this kind of dangerous? What if a guest accidentally bumps into it?”

Lin Jiu pointed at the path beneath them. “The paths leading to the walls are all hidden behind greenery, and they all have these little signs that say ‘No Entry.’ If someone still insists on going through, I can’t help that.”

Lin Jiu took Si Xu on a tour around the “forest.” There were three tables in total on the second floor, all concealed among ancient trees and plants.

At the entrance to the second floor was a wooden bar that matched the forest theme. It could seat people or function as an open kitchen if Lin Jiu ever wanted to prepare food upstairs.

“You’re the first guest to meet the requirements to dine on the second floor,” Lin Jiu said.

Si Xu glanced around the entire second floor. “I’m honored.”

Someone rang the bell downstairs.

“I’ll go check,” Lin Jiu said, heading down.

At the entrance stood two men. One was a tall, muscular, bald man with a fierce look, not exactly the type you’d expect to be a friendly customer. The other man had meticulously combed hair, wore a black overcoat and gloves, and carried a briefcase. His entire demeanor exuded precision, and his gaze remained fixed on Lin Jiu until he approached.

Feeling uncomfortable under the man’s intense stare, Lin Jiu could tell these two weren’t here to eat, especially since it wasn’t even mealtime yet.

“What can I do for you?” Lin Jiu asked.

The man in the black overcoat removed his gloves and presented an ID to Lin Jiu. “We’re here to ask you about the recent collective confessions from the executives, employees, managers, and artists of ‘Chuangxing.’ We need to gather some information from you.”

Lin Jiu glanced at the ID. The man’s name was Bai Zhixing, and he was from the Department of Special Power Security.

Lin Jiu thought to himself, ‘Well, I knew this was coming.’

“Should we discuss this in a private room?” Lin Jiu offered.

Bai Zhixing responded, “Of course.”

Lin Jiu led them to a private room, where they bumped into Si Xu coming down from the second floor.

Bai Zhixing gave Si Xu the same intense look.

Si Xu looked at Lin Jiu, his gaze asking for confirmation.

Lin Jiu nodded, confirming that these people were indeed from the Special Power Department.

These two men were unfamiliar faces to Si Xu. He had never seen them at the base, so they must have been out on missions.

The three of them entered the private room, and Si Xu followed inside as well.

Bai Zhixing said, “This is a Special Power Department inquiry. Unrelated persons should leave.”

Si Xu sat down next to Lin Jiu. “Whether I’m unrelated or not, you should know best.”

As Lin Jiu’s protector, everything concerning him was Si Xu’s business.

Bai Zhixing stared at Si Xu for a long time before coldly stating, “Do not interfere with our work.”

Si Xu nodded, gesturing for them to proceed.

Bai Zhixing and the bald man sat across from Lin Jiu. Bai Zhixing pulled a recording device from his briefcase and placed it on the wooden table, along with a notebook and pen, ready to start questioning.

Bai Zhixing got straight to the point. “The recent confessions from ‘Creation Star’ employees—are you involved in that?”

Lin Jiu: “…”

Si Xu: “…”

Si Xu shifted in his seat, trying to signal to Lin Jiu that they had no evidence, so Lin Jiu shouldn’t hand it to them.

Lin Jiu replied, “What does their confession have to do with me?”

With the recording device on the table, how could he possibly admit anything? If he did, that would be solid evidence.

Si Xu relaxed. It seemed Lin Jiu wasn’t completely clueless.

Bai Zhixing asked, “Did you meet with them before their confession?”

Lin Jiu responded, “Yes.”

There was no hiding that. Besides the surveillance footage, there were plenty of witnesses.

Bai Zhixing continued, “What did you discuss?”

Lin Jiu casually replied, “We talked about life, dreams, and the path ahead.”

He touched the mask on his face, thankful that it could cover his lying expression.

Bai Zhixing asked, “Where did you talk? Was it in the meeting room on the seventh floor?”

Lin Jiu: “Yes.”

Si Xu: “…”

Lin Jiu had no choice but to admit it. The receptionist at the front desk was a witness.

Bai Zhixing said, “But the surveillance in the seventh-floor meeting room didn’t catch any footage of you. What did you do?”

Lin Jiu spread his hands. “Maybe the cameras were broken? I don’t go there often, so I’m not sure.”

Bai Zhixing asked, “Not long ago, after you were targeted by online trolls, some of the troublemakers reported headaches and sought medical attention after returning home. Later, they also confessed online. Are you aware of this?”

Lin Jiu answered, “I know about the online apologies, but I’m not sure about any headaches.”

Bai Zhixing set down his pen and stared directly into Lin Jiu’s eyes. “ Are you an enhanced human?”

Lin Jiu instinctively glanced at Si Xu beside him. He had already decided to pose as an enhanced human, but admitting to it was one thing—if they asked him what his abilities were, what would he say? He didn’t even know what abilities reinforced humans typically had!

Lin Jiu glanced at Si Xu again. Si Xu’s ability was to move tables—could he claim he had the power to push tables? But he couldn’t even do that!

Bai Zhixing warned, “Don’t lie. I know exactly how many falsehoods you’ve told since you started speaking.”

Lin Jiu: “…”

Suspicious, Lin Jiu studied Bai Zhixing. Could reinforced humans also have lie detector abilities?

Lin Jiu muttered, “If that’s what you call it, then fine, I’m an enhanced human.”

Bai Zhixing asked, “What are your abilities?”

“Maybe… possibly…” Lin Jiu still hadn’t figured out what ability to claim. His eyes darted, and he suddenly turned to the bald man, who had been silent the whole time. “What’s your ability?”

‘Give me some inspiration! I can’t come up with an answer without something to copy!’

The bald man’s head began to shape-shift. His nose and mouth extended forward, and brown fur started growing from his once-bald scalp. Then fur sprouted on his face and neck, and in no time, his human head had transformed into a massive bear’s head!

Lin Jiu: “!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Si Xu: “…”

The bear-headed man let out a low growl, clearly feeling proud of himself.

Lin Jiu stared in shock. “You… weren’t you bald? How does a bear’s head grow fur?!”

Bald Man: “…”

Si Xu: “…”

Bai Zhixing: “…”

Isn’t his focus a bit too off-track?!

“Why is it only a bear’s head and not the bear’s body?” A bear head might be frightening, but it wouldn’t be as practical as having a strong bear body and sharp claws.

Bald Man: “…”

Bai Zhixing: “… He can transform his entire body, but he just showed you the head.”

Lin Jiu shook his head. This was too difficult to copy. He couldn’t just transform into a fish head… no, a sea monster head. That would require magic sea water, and he might accidentally transform his whole body. He hadn’t tried just changing his head before.

The bald man changed back to his human head, once again bald.

Lin Jiu stared at the shiny, bald head, wondering why he had fur as a bear but no hair as a human.

His confusion was written all over his face, leaving the two men across from him speechless.

Bai Zhixing: “Stop thinking about making something up. Just tell the truth. If you lie, I’ll know right away.”

Lin Jiu’s eyes signaled towards the recording device on the table. Could he really afford not to lie? Should he just let them gather evidence?

Bai Zhixing: “…”

Bai Zhixing: “If you can’t say it, you can also show us.”

Lin Jiu quickly shook his head. “I can’t show you—if I do, you guys will be in trouble.”

“Boom!” The bald man suddenly slammed his hand on the solid wood table, a look of excitement and fiery fighting spirit in his eyes.

Lin Jiu: “…”

Si Xu: “…”

Bai Zhixing held the bald man back, excitement also gleaming in his eyes. “You can test and see if we’ll really be in trouble.”

Lin Jiu: “…”

Lin Jiu: “No, that wouldn’t be good…”

“There’s nothing wrong with it! Come on!” The bald man slapped the table again, standing up.

Lin Jiu: “…”

What was with these enhanced humans? Why did they all get so worked up at the idea of a fight or a contest of abilities?

Bai Zhixing turned off the recording device and put it back into his briefcase. “Your ability should have something to do with sound, right?”

Lin Jiu: “…”

How did he guess that?!

Bai Zhixing: “It should be some sort of mental group attack ability. Am I right?”

Lin Jiu: “…”

Kind of.

Bai Zhixing smirked. “I’d love to see if my ‘Eye of Truth’ can break through your ability. Want to test it out at the Special Power Department?”

Lin Jiu shook his head again. If he turned the reinforced humans into a group of sycophants, wouldn’t the Special Power Department want to hunt him down?

“No need. My ability does involve sound, but testing it would cause problems.”

Bai Zhixing: “You’re confident, but don’t underestimate the reinforced humans of the Special Power Department.”

Lin Jiu: “I’m not underestimating you. I’m just worried that if I turn you all into sycophants, your boss would chase me to the ends of the earth. For my own safety, it’s better not to try.”

Bai Zhixing: “…”

Isn’t that exactly underestimating us?!

Bai Zhixing: “If we can’t witness your ability firsthand, speculation will remain speculation, and we won’t be able to record it officially.”

Lin Jiu thought for a moment. “How about you step outside for a bit, and I’ll try it with Mr. Bear?”

Bear Man: “My name is Zang Ye.”

Lin Jiu: “Mr. Bear is more convenient. Mr. Bai, if you want to test it, how about next time?”

Zang Ye: “…”

Bai Zhixing: “No, I want to see it with my own eyes.”

Lin Jiu didn’t argue further and turned to Si Xu. Si Xu said, “I’d like to see it too.”

Lin Jiu: “…”

Lin Jiu: “It’s not safe. There’s nothing to see.”

Si Xu hummed softly. “It’s fine. I want to see.”

Lin Jiu was resigned. “Alright, but plug your ears, stand behind me, and don’t look at me. I don’t want to affect you.”

This time, neither Bai Zhixing nor Si Xu refused. They plugged their ears and moved to the corner of the room.

Lin Jiu glanced around the private room, moving the wooden table and chairs to the wall to clear out some space.

The three men had no idea what he was doing, so they just waited.

Lin Jiu sat down in a wooden chair by the wall, removed the mask from his face, and smiled slightly at Zang Ye. “Turn into a bear for me.”

Zang Ye had been on guard, but when he saw Lin Jiu’s face, he visibly froze. When Lin Jiu smiled, Zang Ye’s eyes glazed over. Hearing Lin Jiu’s voice, he felt a sudden dizzying excitement, eagerly following the command. His muscles swelled, ripping through his clothes, and brown fur appeared again—this time, not just his head, but his entire body transformed into a bear!

A full-grown, brown bear!

Bai Zhixing: “!!!!!!!!”

Si Xu: “!!!!!!!!”

Lin Jiu’s eyes sparkled with a sense of delight, as if he had found a kindred spirit. Even though Zang Ye was a bear and he was a siren, they were both outliers, making them kindred spirits.

Lin Jiu extended his hand. “Careful now, don’t break my things.”

The massive brown bear, as obedient as a dog, crouched low on all fours, sucked in his belly, and moved nimbly toward Lin Jiu, raising his head as if asking to be petted.

Lin Jiu was about to pet the brown bear’s fur—wondering if it was as soft as a cat or dog—when his wrist was suddenly grabbed.

“That’s enough,” Si Xu said in a deep voice.

Lin Jiu: “…”

Hurriedly, he stood up, put his mask back on, and dispelled his charm.

The brown bear, disappointed, stood upright, extending his paws as if ready to pounce on Lin Jiu. If that happened, it would be disastrous!

“That’s enough! Change back and don’t break anything!”

The brown bear had no trouble transforming back into a man, entirely bald.

Si Xu immediately led Lin Jiu out of the private room, leaving it to the others.

Soon, someone brought clothes for Zang Ye. Once he was dressed, Si Xu brought Lin Jiu back to the room.

Bai Zhixing, now looking serious, pulled out a management agreement for Lin Jiu. The document outlined the behavioral restrictions for reinforced humans. Even though Lin Jiu wasn’t officially part of the Special Power Department, he still had to comply with these regulations.

Zang Ye kept trying to sidle up to Lin Jiu. While Lin Jiu was signing the document, Zang Ye almost got into a fight with Si Xu because Si Xu was blocking him, not allowing him to get close to Lin Jiu. Zang Ye was irritable.

After Lin Jiu finished signing, Bai Zhixing and the young man who had brought the clothes tried to drag Zang Ye away, but he didn’t want to leave. His small, black eyes stared pitifully at Lin Jiu, almost on the verge of demonstrating what it meant for a tough guy to cry!

Zang Ye was tall and burly, making the situation difficult to handle. It wasn’t until Lin Jiu said, “Go back,” that he obediently followed Bai Zhixing and left.

The young man who had brought the clothes was nearly scared out of his wits. The contrast between the fierce and mighty Zang Ye acting pitiful was overwhelming—definitely nightmare material!

Lin Jiu tidied up the private room, restoring it to its original state. When he looked up, he saw that Si Xu’s expression was grim, and he was startled. “Wh-what’s wrong?”

Si Xu was clearly agitated by Lin Jiu’s ability. It was obvious that Lin Jiu had a type of forced charm ability. As long as he wanted to, he could charm anyone. How could that not make Si Xu anxious?

Suppressing his emotions, Si Xu said, “This kind of ability… please don’t use it again, okay?”

Lin Jiu nodded. “Okay.”

He hadn’t intended to use it in the first place; they had insisted on testing it.

Si Xu’s expression softened a bit. “Will Zang Ye stay like this?”

That would be a real disaster.

Lin Jiu shook his head. “I know my limits. He should return to normal in a few days.”

After all, Zang Ye was an enhanced human with stronger overall abilities than an ordinary person, and Lin Jiu hadn’t intended to harm him.

With dinnertime approaching, Lin Jiu didn’t have time for idle chatter. He asked Si Xu to head upstairs while he prepared dinner.

As soon as Si Xu reached the second floor, his phone rang—it was a call from Wen Qin. “Is the situation taken care of?”

“Someone suppressed the news before I had the chance to act. All discussions about Lin Jiu and the diva have completely disappeared,” Wen Qin said. “It’s a bit strange, so I called you immediately.”

It had originally been baseless gossip that neither the netizens nor Lin Jiu and Si Xu believed. They thought it would be a simple matter of sending a few lawyer letters to suppress the rumors. They hadn’t expected someone else to care even more about the issue.

Si Xu: “Did you find out who suppressed the news?”

Wen Qin: “Still investigating.”

Si Xu: “Do it quickly.”

Wen Qin: “Understood.”

—