Backup Plan.
It meant that if the original plan failed or an accident occurred, he could contact this person to seek help.
He needed to put this USB Drive away and hide it in the safest place possible.
He stood up, walked to the wardrobe, pulled open the bottom Drawer. Inside were some of his old belongings, a few pieces of Clothes he rarely wore, various miscellaneous small items. He stuffed the USB Drive into the sleeve of a sweater, refolded it, placed it at the very back of the Drawer.
After finishing this, he closed the Drawer and straightened his body.
Then he felt the fluctuations of Energy in the air seemed different from before he left this morning.
He walked to the window and reached out to touch the Glass.
The Barrier was still there, but something extra had been added—it was very faint, almost imperceptible, but it certainly existed. It was like a fine mesh covering the surface of the Barrier; anything passing through it would cause a ripple, allowing the person who cast the Barrier to sense it.
Perception Warning Function.
Gojo Satoru added monitoring to the Barrier.
Tu Bai withdrew his hand and stood before the window, gazing at the gloomy Sky outside.
Therefore, Gojo Satoru might know something. At the very least, he has his doubts.
Otherwise, there would be no reason to suddenly reinforce the Barrier and add such a function.
Tu Bai turned around, leaned his back against the Window, slowly slid down to sit on the floor. He hugged his knees and buried his face in them.
At night, Tu Bai suffered from insomnia.
He lay on the bed, his eyes staring at the ceiling, his brain in a chaotic mess. The changes in the Barrier, the data on the USB Drive, the look in Gojo Satoru's eyes outside the Milk Tea Shop today.. everything was tangled together, making it impossible for him to sleep.
He turned onto his side, placing his hand gently on his abdomen.
It was still flat, but he could feel the presence of the Baby inside. He stroked gently, as if he could touch that tiny existence through the skin.
Sorry," he said softly, his voice barely audible in the quiet Bedroom, "Dad seems to have.. messed everything up.
Outside the window, there was the wind sound, wailing as it swept between the buildings.
Tu Bai closed his Eyes, but he had no Sleepiness.
And in the adjacent Study, Gojo Satoru was not sleeping either.
He sat at the Desk with several Documents spread out before him, but he wasn't looking at them. He took off his Sunglasses, his Ice Blue Eyes wide open, his gaze piercing through the Wall to rest upon the person in the Bedroom.
He could see Tu Bai's silhouette curled up on the Bed, could see the movement of his hand placed upon his Abdomen, could see the slight Undulation of his Chest caused by his Breathing.
He could also see that cluster of warm, exquisitely simulated Life Energy in the abdomen.
He knew that Tu Bai was afraid, anxious, was doing something behind his back.
He also knew that Tu Bai must have detected the Barrier and the Warning Function he had set up.
Therefore, tonight, Tu Bai will suffer from insomnia.
Gojo Satoru leaned against the chair back, tilted his head back, closed his eyes. When he opened them again, a flicker of exhaustion flashed through his eyes.
He took a small Box out of the Drawer and opened it. Inside was a Silver Bracelet, simple in design, with fine Cursed Wards engraved on its surface.
This is a Cursed Tool for Positioning and Emergency SOS. He asked Mei to help him get it, it cost quite a lot of money.
I'll give it to Xiao Bai tomorrow, Gojo Satoru thought. I'll just say.. it's an Amulet.
He closed the Box and put it back in the Drawer.
Then he continued to sit there, his Six Eyes still wide open, staring at that blurry ball of light at the other end of the Wall, that curled-up figure.
Sleepless Night.
---
On the morning of Day 2, when Tu Bai emerged from the Bedroom with dark circles under his eyes, Gojo Satoru was already in the Kitchen making Breakfast.
Morning," Gojo Satoru said, looking back at him with his usual tone, "Didn't sleep well?
"A little," Tu Bai said, sitting down at the Dining Table.
Gojo Satoru brought over the fried egg and toast, placing them in front of him. Then, he turned around, fetched a small box from the Living Room, placed it by Tu Bai's hand.
"This is for you," Gojo Satoru said, sitting down across from him.
Tu Bai opened the Box. Inside was a Silver Bracelet, very thin and exquisite, with complex patterns on its surface.
"What is this?" he asked.
An Amulet," Gojo Satoru said, his tone relaxed. "I had someone make it for me. Wearing it can calm your spirit, also.. well, protect you.
Tu Bai picked up the bracelet and looked at it. He could feel the fluctuations of Cursed Energy upon it; they were very faint, but they were indeed there. It didn't just calm the spirit; it also had a positioning function, perhaps even something else.
"It's too precious." He put the Silver Bracelet back into the Box.
It's not precious." Gojo Satoru pushed the Box back, "Just wear it. Consider it for my peace of mind.
Tu Bai looked at the Bracelet in the Box, then looked at Gojo Satoru. The man had a smile on his face, but there was a sense of unyielding persistence in his eyes.
"Alright," Tu Bai said, picking up the Bracelet and putting it on his left wrist.
The Silver Bracelet was a bit cool, but the size was perfect, neither too tight nor too loose. The fluctuations of Cursed Energy became faint the Moment it touched his skin, as if merging into his aura.
"Thank you," Tu Bai said.
Gojo Satoru smiled: "Don't thank me for anything. Eat quickly, or the fried egg will get cold."
Tu Bai lowered his head and began eating breakfast. The Silver Bracelet on his wrist felt slightly cool, reminding him of certain things.
He needed to make a replica as soon as possible. A replica with the same appearance, but without the Positioning Function.
Then he would swap it with this real one.
He took a bite of the Fried Egg, but it tasted like wax.
Meanwhile, Gojo Satoru, sitting opposite him, watched him lower his head to eat and gazed at the Silver Bracelet on his wrist, a flicker of complex emotion passing through his Ice Blue Eyes.
He picked up his Mobile Phone and sent a Message to Mei: "He's wearing it. Thanks."
A few seconds later, Mei replied, "You're welcome. But Gojo, are you really sure you want to do this? Monitoring your Partner is not a good sign."
Gojo Satoru stared at that Message and did not reply.
He turned off his Mobile Phone and continued eating his Breakfast.
It was quiet at the Dining Table.
There was only the sound of two people chewing their food, the occasional birdsong from outside the window.
Chapter 29
Gojo Satoru received the emergency contact at noon.
Tu Bai was sitting on the Sofa watching TV, a food program where the host was exaggeratedly praising the ramen from a certain shop. Gojo Satoru's Mobile Phone rang; he picked it up and took a look, his brow furrowing.
"Jujutsu High?" Tu Bai asked, his Eyes still fixed on the TV.
Yeah." Gojo Satoru stood up and walked to the window to answer the Phone. "What's wrong?
Tu Bai could hear the hurried Voice on the other end of the Phone, but he couldn't make out the specific details. Gojo Satoru listened, occasionally offering a response or two; his Voice was very calm, but Tu Bai noticed that the Fingers holding the Mobile Phone tightened.
Two or three minutes later, Gojo Satoru hung up the Phone and walked back.
I have to go out for a bit," he said, taking his Jacket off the hanger. "Something came up in Kyoto, Yaga asked me to head over there to handle it.
"Now?" Tu Bai glanced outside the window. The weather was excellent, sunlight spilled through the glass, feeling warm and cozy.
Now." Gojo Satoru put on his Jacket and grabbed the car keys. "I'll try to be back before dinner. Is it okay if you stay home alone?
Tu Bai nodded: "It's fine."
Gojo Satoru looked at him, hesitating for a moment: "How about.. you come with me?"
Tu Bai shook his head: "Even if I go, I won't be able to help; I'll only cause trouble. You go, I'll just stay at home."
Gojo Satoru did not insist further. He walked over, leaned down, kissed Tu Bai on the forehead: "Don't go out; it's not safe outside. If anything happens, call me."
"I understand," Tu Bai said.
Gojo Satoru straightened up, glanced at him once more, then turned to pull open the door and walk out.
Tu Bai heard the sound of the Elevator arriving, the door opening, the door closing, then the Corridor fell silent.
He leaned back in the Sofa, continuing to watch the TV. The Ramen looked delicious, steaming hot with thick soup and thick Chashu. But he had no appetite.
The Silver Bracelet on his wrist reflected a subtle light under the Sunlight. He raised his hand and took a look. The bracelet was exquisite, with Cursed Wards carved densely upon it, feeling slightly uneven to the touch.
Positioning, Monitoring, Protection.
It was also like a shackle.
Tu Bai lowered his hands, stood up, walked to the Window. In the Residential Garden downstairs, the Cherry Blossoms had bloomed, a vast expanse of Pinkish White that fluttered down with every gust of wind. A few Children were running back and forth Under the tree, their Laughter faintly drifting up.
The Weather today is truly wonderful.
He looked down at his Bracelet. Gojo Satoru said not to go out, that it wasn't safe outside.
But he had been confined in this Apartment for too long. A week? Two weeks? He couldn't remember. Every day consisted of eating, sleeping, watching TV, occasionally tidying up the room. Like a bird kept in a cage.
He wanted to go out for a walk. Even if it was just to sit in the Residential Garden downstairs for a while.
Tu Bai walked back to the Bedroom and changed his clothes—a loose Hoodie, Sweatpants, a thin Jacket over them. After thinking for a moment, he decided to wear a Mask and put on a Hat as well.
Walking to the Entrance, he hesitated for a moment. The Silver Bracelet on his wrist glowed faintly, as if reminding him of something.
But he still opened the door.
The Barrier fluctuated for a moment the instant he stepped out, but it did not block him. Gojo Satoru didn't seem to have set a function to prohibit entry or exit; he had merely reinforced the defense and the Warning Function.
Tu Bai stepped into the Elevator and pressed 1st Floor.
---
There were not many people in the Residential Garden. It was a little after two in the Afternoon, most people were either at work or taking a nap at home. Only a few elderly people were sunbathing on the benches, those Children from earlier were still playing.
Tu Bai found a secluded bench to sit on, keeping a distance from the crowd. The Cherry Blossoms were in full bloom, as the wind blew, the petals drifted down one after another, with a few landing on his shoulders.
He raised his hand and caught a petal. It was Pink, very thin, with slightly curled edges.