Chapter 3, The Disappeared (Part 2)

A number of other classmates also realized that Zhang Yu's current situation was not quite right, and they all began to speak up in unison, looking at Zhang Yu with sincere expressions

Zhao Lin was biting into a skewer of large kidneys when he raised his head upon hearing the words, looking at Zhang Yu with confusion: "Wei Ping? What Wei Ping? Are you talking about Wei Ping Bryant? Isn't he commentating on the NBA?"

This is not right... This is impossible... This cannot be happening!

Zhao Lin patted Zhang Yu's shoulder forcefully and said, "Alright, stop pretending. At worst, I'll let you drink a little less later tonight. Boss! Bring us another box!"

Zhao Lin looked at Zhang Yu's face and after a long while nodded: "Alright, then you should go back and rest early. If there is anything, just give me a call"

Zhang Yu's forehead had already begun to bead with sweat. He quickly exited WeChat and opened Weibo. However, similarly, he could not find Ling Weiping's name in the list of followers on Weibo.

Come, come, come! This is Zhang Yu, whom you both just mentioned wanting to meet. Why not each of you raise a glass to him? Upon seeing Zhang Yu finish his drink, and without waiting for him to take a bite of food, Zhao Lin beckoned to the two girls at the table, constantly making eyes at them.

Zhang Yu looked around the table at his classmates in disbelief once more, and finally fixed his gaze on Zhao Lin: "I! Damn it! I didn't drink too much! It's all of you who must have drunk too much!"

Zhao Lin saw Zhang Yu's expression and immediately felt a bit nervous, no longer laughing and joking as before; his expression became serious: "Yu Zi, we are not joking, we truly do not know this person!"

Zhang Yu took a deep breath and looked at Zhao Lin: "Old Zhao, Ling Weiping was our classmate for three years in high school, and we used to play together all the time. When I came back last year, we even gathered together at the Little Chef's place once. Have you forgotten that already?"

Zhang Yudon immediately frowned, not understanding why Zhao Lin had this attitude, feeling somewhat displeased: "Old Zhao, even if you have some grievances with Wei Ping, it would be better to share them with me. Acting as if you don't know her is a bit lacking in grace, don't you think?"

Seeing the somewhat angry expression on Zhao Lin's face, if it were not for Zhang Yu's clear understanding that he, along with Ling Weiping, had been classmates for three years in high school, he would have believed it at this moment. However, Zhao Lin claiming that he does not know Ling Weiping is simply impossible

Zhao Lin chuckled and waved his hand, saying to Zhang Yu: "Alright, if you say he is our high school classmate, then pull out a photo so we can see what this guy looks like!"

What do you mean by pretending not to know! Zhao Lin threw down the lamb kidney in his hand, his eyes wide as he stared at Zhang Yu: "Yuzi, we have known each other for nearly ten years, what do you take me for? Even if I fall out with someone, I wouldn't use this kind of talk to play dumb! The Ling Weiping you mentioned, I truly do not know!"

I am feeling a bit unwell, so I will head home to rest for a while. You all go ahead and enjoy yourselves. Zhang Yu sighed and patted Zhao Lin, saying, "Don't worry, I'm fine."

The two girls had also been very close to Zhang Yu since high school, so there was naturally no sense of restraint. They giggled and raised their glasses towards Zhang Yu. After downing two more cups, Zhang Yu drank too quickly, and the effects of the alcohol began to take hold, lifting his spirits considerably compared to before

Yes, yes! Zhang Yu, are you alright?

I, Li Xiang, swear to the heavens that in this lifetime, I have never known a person named Ling Weiping, whether in person or through books. If I break this oath, may the heavens strike me down!

Zhang Yu looked at Zhao Lin's face, which indeed bore an expression of astonishment and surprise, without the slightest hint of pretense. A sense of absurdity suddenly arose in his heart: "Ling Weiping! Old Zhao, what on earth are you doing! I called him today and found that his phone number was no longer in service."

Indeed, I do not know.

"What's wrong? Can't find it?" Zhao Lin said with a teasing smile, leaning next to Zhang Yu's head to look at the phone.

However, just before taking his seat, he had already looked closely. ... On this table ... . ... there was surprisingly no sign of Ling Weiping. This is indeed somewhat strange. Among the seven or eight people at the table, all of whom were old friends from high school, it is quite rare for them to gather today and not have called Ling Weiping.

"High school classmates?" Zhao Lin was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "Yu Zi, how is it that your alcohol tolerance is getting worse? You just downed a bottle according to the old custom, and now you’re starting to talk nonsense? Take a good look around; everyone at this table is a classmate from high school. Who has ever heard of the name Ling Weiping?"

Strangely, just before he left home, he had sent a WeChat message to Ling Weiping, which should have been at the top of the conversation list. However, no matter how Zhang Yu searched, whether in the conversation list or the contact list, he could not find Ling Weiping's name at all.

Could it be that he had some unpleasantness with someone?

I ... ...

Zhang Yu was taken aback and raised his head, scanning the other classmates at the table. Everyone shook their heads, claiming they had never heard of this person. When his gaze returned to Zhao Lin's face, Zhao Lin had already shrugged and smiled smugly: "I told you, Yuzi, you might as well hang out with me for the next couple of days. Drink a bit more each day, and your alcohol tolerance will come back."

I... I will confirm once again. Zhang Yu took a deep breath and stared intently at the group of classmates in front of him: "You all answer me seriously, you didn't discuss this in advance and conspire to play a joke on me, right? If this is a joke, then it can stop now."

Zhang Yu turned his head and looked at Zhao Lin's concerned gaze, his face still pale. At this moment, it was a little past 9 PM, and on the bustling streets of summer, he felt a bone-chilling cold and fear.

Zhang Yu hesitated for a moment, then asked Zhao Lin: "Old Zhao and the library, is it still unsettled? Why isn't he here? Is he busy with something tonight?"

Zhang Yu stood up unsteadily, forcing a bitter smile as he glanced at the crowd, shook his head, and turned to leave. Zhao Lin quickly got up and hurried after Zhang Yu, saying, "Hey! Yuzi! What on earth is wrong with you!"

This is absolutely impossible! Since sending the WeChat message to Ling Weiping, Zhang Yu's phone has not left his pocket, yet now, all content related to Ling Weiping on any social media account has mysteriously disappeared

"Alright." Zhang Yu nodded, then took out his phone and began to scroll through Ling Weiping's Moments.

Zhang Yu nodded, said nothing further, and walked home.

Zhao Lin blinked twice and shook his head: "Ling... is it not settled? Who exactly are you talking about? I do not know this person."

Two boxes of empty bottles have already been placed on the ground. Although, given the number of people at the table at this moment, it cannot be considered a lot, Zhang Yu truly cannot think of any other explanation besides this one.

Zhang Yu's face had turned pale. He raised his head and scanned the faces of his classmates in front of him, but every pair of eyes looking at him was filled with confusion, curiosity, and concern