Original Suspense Novel: "ℬ𝓁𝒾𝓏𝓏𝒶𝓇𝒹 ℳ𝒶𝓃𝑜𝓇" EP23

"We'll take turns keeping watch," Chen Mo said. "Two people per shift, changing every two hours. First shift, Commander Fang and I. Second shift, Professor Lin and Old Zhou. Third shift, Dr. Shen and—" He paused. "Xu Ziqian." Xu Ziqian's voice came from the kitchen. "I heard. I'm fine with it." "Wait a minute," Shen Yuehua suddenly stood up, her voice rising. "You're going to let me and him be alone—" "Not alone," Chen Mo interrupted her. "You'll be in the main hall, sitting right here, with the fireplace still lit. Besides, the third shift is the last one before dawn, which will be close to five in the morning. The shortest period of darkness." Shen Yuehua bit her lower lip and said no more, but her hands were trembling slightly. Chen Mo saw Lin Jing reach out and gently pat her arm. Shen Yuehua took a deep breath and slowly sat back down. The fire in the fireplace popped another spark. The wind and snow outside showed no signs of stopping, and frost had formed on the windowpanes, completely sealing out the night. Chen Mo sat in the armchair to the left of the fireplace, with Fang Guodong opposite him. The others had returned to their sofas or chairs, wrapping themselves in blankets, trying to sleep in the firelight and candlelight. But Chen Mo knew that no one could truly sleep. He closed his eyes, not to rest, but to organize. The palace of memory unfolded in his mind—a vast, infinitely extending room, with different memory fragments stored in every corner. He walked to the room labeled "Zhang Zhenyu's Body" and re- (To be continued)