Chapter Twenty-Four: Have I Seen You Before?

In the front passenger seat of the taxi, Norika Hoshino kept glancing at the rearview mirror, checking whether anyone was tailing her.

After all, “Makoto Kiritani’s manager, secretly visiting a detective agency,” was the sort of gossip that entertainment tabloids loved to feast upon.

Yu Ashiya and Zi’ang Chen sat in the back row, both absorbed in their phones, their expressions thoughtful.

“Darling, I probably won’t be home for dinner tonight,” Yu Ashiya typed out a message to his wife. “I’ll be running errands in Mikawa District this afternoon, so I’ll just grab something nearby.”

“Tsukimiya, don’t act on impulse,” Zi’ang Chen typed a message to Suzuna Tsukimiya. “Even if your family can resolve the suspension, this will remain on your record. It’ll affect your future promotion opportunities.”

Yu Ashiya quickly settled things with his wife and began scrolling through short videos.

Zi’ang Chen, however, couldn’t resolve matters with Suzuna Tsukimiya. She claimed she’d already arrived at his home, helping take care of his younger sister Xiaozhu, and continued to probe his whereabouts with subtle hints.

Makoto Kiritani currently lived in Mikawa District’s famed Riverside Apartments. It was said that only the ultra-wealthy resided there, and the penthouse with the best sunlight was hers—a testament to the star’s considerable fortune.

Zi’ang Chen searched for her photos online and discovered that Makoto Kiritani was, in fact, a half-elf.

Her mother was human, her father a Meneusian. Thus, Makoto Kiritani in the pictures had radiant golden hair, deep, striking features, and slightly pointed ears. Yet across her brows and eyes, the elegance and gentleness of a human woman shone through.

Moreover, Miss Norika Hoshino had not exaggerated. Makoto Kiritani had been active for five years, collecting music awards with ease. Now, she was renowned across the entire High Heaven Star Zone’s music scene, with a strong chance of becoming a national treasure-level musician… In the industry, she was not called a singer, but a musician, underscoring her elevated status and weight.

After arriving at Riverside Apartments, Norika Hoshino led the two through security checks and into a private elevator.

“A word of warning,” she said solemnly. “Makoto Kiritani is easy to talk to, but that doesn’t mean you can bombard her with irrelevant questions. Limit your inquiries strictly to the business at hand—don’t ask anything else. If you want her autograph, I’ll get a few signed cards for you afterward—don’t ask her directly.”

“Rest assured, Miss Hoshino,” said Yu Ashiya, raising a hand. “I’m actually not a fan of Miss Kiritani.”

“I’ve only listened to some of her songs—not a rabid fan,” Zi’ang Chen quickly added.

For some reason, although Norika Hoshino said nothing more, her already stern expression seemed to sour further.

When the elevator doors opened, the foyer lay ahead. Makoto Kiritani stood at her doorway to greet them.

Seeing her manager and two unfamiliar guests, she offered a gentle smile.

“Hello, I’m Makoto Kiritani.”

“Hello,” Zi’ang Chen and Yu Ashiya hurriedly replied, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. “I’m Zi’ang Chen / Yu Ashiya.”

Even without makeup, the star was more beautiful in person than in any promotional photo.

Her smooth golden hair fell to her shoulder blades, with pointed ears peeking through. Her eyes were deep and enchanting, lashes long and curled, irises a stunning azure—like pristine alpine lakes untouched by impurity.

Her nose was high and elegant, its contours distinctly different from those of human women, attesting to her mixed heritage and lending her an exotic allure.

Her lips were full and rosy, with a hint of seductive charm, yet paired with her other features, she was anything but garish—her beauty was simply a gift from the heavens. Even without musical talent, she could easily become a sensation as an idol.

Makoto Kiritani wore casual home attire—loose-fitting, yet she managed to make it accentuate her curves. Was she truly not some abyssal succubus?

“Please have a seat, I’ll get you some tea,” Makoto Kiritani said, distributing paper cups. Beside her, Norika Hoshino couldn’t hold back any longer (there were limits to being approachable), snatching the cups from her hands.

“I’ll handle the tea. You tell them about your recent nightmares—that’s what they’re here for.”

“Oh.” Makoto Kiritani sat on the sofa, running her fingers through her magnificent golden hair, then pondered seriously. “It’s really nothing, just that I keep dreaming about dying. And it’s always a hopeless, indifferent, miserable death—no longing or regret at all.”

Zi’ang Chen and Yu Ashiya paused, exchanging a glance toward Norika Hoshino who was pouring tea.

Is this your definition of optimism? Nihilistic optimism, perhaps?

“You never mentioned this to me!” Norika Hoshino exclaimed in horror. “Makoto, do you… do you really have no attachment to this world?”

“Of course not.” Makoto Kiritani smiled. “It’s just a dream. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry.”

“Forgive me for asking,” Zi’ang Chen interjected. “What do you mean by ‘no longing’? Does it mean that what you once cherished has been ‘lost’? Is it your passion for music?”

“No,” Makoto Kiritani looked a bit bewildered and replied after a pause, “I think it’s someone I love… or something like that.”

“Makoto?” Norika Hoshino was aghast.

“Don’t panic, Norika. I’m not in a relationship,” Makoto Kiritani said, half laughing, half crying. “It’s just a dream.”

She fell silent for a moment, then gazed at Zi’ang Chen.

“But I… can feel that he’s the most important person in my life. His death destroys all hope within me, so I choose to end my own life.”

“Makoto wakes up crying every night,” Norika Hoshino added, her voice filled with concern. “Once she’s woken by tears, she can’t sleep again—the impact on her condition is significant.”

“Has this person ever appeared in your dream?” Yu Ashiya asked to confirm.

Makoto Kiritani shook her head. “The dreams are always about me dying in various ways. No one else ever appears. I can only sense his presence in my feelings right before death.”

“I see.” Zi’ang Chen and Yu Ashiya exchanged a glance and nodded.

It sounded like an ordinary dream, but it matched many aspects of psychic contamination.

Next, it was time to open their intuition and search the house thoroughly.

Yu Ashiya had little hope—he’d brought his assistant here before to investigate, but Makoto Kiritani hadn’t been home, and they’d found nothing unusual.

He informed Makoto Kiritani and headed straight for the bedroom.

Norika Hoshino quickly followed—there might be personal items in the bedroom, and even if something was taken, it could fetch a high price on the black market. Not much harm to the owner, but it was best to keep an eye out.

Thus, only Zi’ang Chen and Makoto Kiritani remained in the living room.

“Miss Kiritani,” Zi’ang Chen ventured, “if you don’t mind, I’d like to check your study, where you usually work…”

“Zili Xia,” Makoto Kiritani suddenly said.

“Ah?”

“My mother is of the Mainland, not the Islands,” Makoto Kiritani said sincerely. “So, like you, I’m of the Mainland people, and I take my mother’s surname Xia, first name Zili. Makoto Kiritani is the stage name given by my agency—they thought the identity of an Islander mixed-blood would benefit my career.”

“Ah, I see. I won’t tell anyone—thank you for sharing,” Zi’ang Chen replied, about to stand. But Makoto Kiritani—Zili Xia—hesitated, then asked:

“Um… Mr. Zi’ang Chen, this might sound strange, but…”

Her azure eyes widened slightly, confusion and bewilderment swirling within.

“Have we met somewhere before?”