Chapter 215: Mirror Plan

While the entire world focused on the attack, Yang Yi came alone to Beverly Shanzhuang.

Under the sunset, the villa estate floated like a mirage—the lake shimmered with golden light, the oak grove thrived with lush leaves, all familiar yet strange.

A figure sat on the outdoor lounge chair, silently gazing at the sky, as if waiting there for a very, very long time.

On the round table before him lay a laptop.

Yang Yi landed and sat across from him.

“You came,” Chris said. He gazed at her face with restrained greed—he had not seen her in forty-eight days.

Her gaze was an unbearable calmness and indifference: “When you first approached me, was it part of Ark’s conspiracy?”

She favored direct honesty and despised complexity and lies. Chris suddenly remembered this.

“Yes.” His voice was dry; he barely heard his own reply, a buzzing like tinnitus.

He opened the laptop and turned the screen toward her.

It was a CIA intelligence analysis file:

File classification: Top Secret | Restricted to the “Mirror Plan” core team only

Project code: “Mirror Plan”

Target subject: Yang Yi (codename “Artemis”)

Analysis team: National Strategic Intelligence Bureau Behavioral Analysis Division, Anomalous Phenomena Research Advisory Group

Report summary: Based on publicly available and accessible information, formulate a non-coercive approach and trust-building strategy.

Part One: Core Psychological Profile of the Target (Comprehensive Assessment Based on Existing Intelligence)

1. Personality Foundation: High-Functioning Avoidant Personality and Idealist

Evidence Chain:

Online traces: Early social media posts revealed concern and contemplation for abstract philosophy, social equity, and natural ecology, but rarely shared personal life or emotions. Recently, she has grown silent.

Cross-verified upbringing: Father died young, abandoned by mother, raised by grandparents and aunt-uncle, subjected to abuse; rumors of estrangement from family partially corroborated by classmates. Academic performance excellent in school, but social circle extremely narrow; described by multiple classmates as “quiet, solitary, yet decisive,” “like living in her own world.”

Behavioral pattern: After becoming the “First Awakened,” she rejected all commercial endorsements, political appearances, and in-depth interviews, releasing information only through brief announcements or third parties. She displayed physiological aversion to spotlight and absolute defense of her private sphere.

Core inference: The target does not lack emotion, but internalizes and elevates it into loyalty toward abstract ideals. She holds deep distrust and fear of "concrete interpersonal relationships," viewing them as filled with uncontrollable harm and compromise. Her moral sense is extremely strong, yet the standard is internalized and absolute, not worldly.

2. Trauma Imprint and Defense Mechanisms

Evidence Chain:

Environmental analysis: Born into ordinary means; adolescent economic status likely poor (requires further financial record verification); possible experiences of rejection due to “difference.”

Teacher evaluations: Multiple teachers noted she was “extremely proud,” “overly sensitive,” “preferred bearing burdens alone rather than seeking help.”

Core inference: The target has undisclosed emotional neglect or early trauma, leading to a highly independent exterior and an internal “worthlessness.” Her “avoidance” is an active evasion of potential harm. “High self-esteem” and “low self-worth” likely coexist within her, forming the latent logic: “I must be perfect/strong to deserve existence.”

3. Current Behavioral Drive: Lone Wolf Bearing a Mission

Evidence Chain:

Public statements: All remarks regarding her abilities point to “preparing for future crises,” “protection,” never personal ambition or pleasure.

Ability usage pattern: Used solely for resolving major anomalous threats, disaster rescue, and other “uncontested good deeds,” then immediately withdrawing to avoid sustained social interaction.

Core inference: The target views her abilities as a heavy burden or curse, not a gift. She walks a self-imposed, nearly ascetic path as a “guardian.” She bears responsibility toward humanity (abstract), yet maintains distance from individuals (concrete).

Part Two: Contact and Trust-Building Guide (For Chris’s Execution)

Core principle: Play the role of a “safe, non-threatening ideal projection.”

You hold a prior advantage: The target has projected you as an object for four years.

You are not here to “conquer” or “seduce,” but to become the living mirror of her inner perfect projection. The key is triggering her projection mechanism and aligning yourself with it.

Phase One: Non-contact Preparation (Establishing Impression Foundation)

Image management: Naturally incorporate the following elements in public interviews and social media:

Focus on art and ideals: Discuss deep understanding of roles, appreciation of philosophical or aesthetic concepts.

Display “misunderstood solitude”: Subtly express weariness from being watched and commodified as a public figure, and longing for “authentic connection” (resonating with her).

Demonstrate "non-aggressive strength": Emphasize self-discipline, commitment to craft, perseverance through hardship (not worldly success), shaping an image of "strong but harmless."

Phase Two: Initial Contact and Low-Intensity Interaction

First contact pretext: Must begin with “emotional and ideological resonance.”

Best script: Understand her solitude, evoke resonance. (Template: “Your situation is unique in all history; no one can guide your life, no one can truly feel your circumstances. Walking this path alone must be lonely.” “Are you afraid of monsters?”)

Interaction style: Maintain physical and emotional distance: conversation focused, polite, keep safe bodily space.

Listen more, ask less: In initial contact, avoid probing into personal history, family, or emotional state.

Share “vulnerability”: Carefully share your own artistic struggles, pursuit of meaning (must be genuine or adapted from your own experience). Vulnerability is the fastest path to her trust—but it must be the “elevated vulnerability” she recognizes (concerning existence, not trivialities).

Phase Three: Gradual Self-Disclosure and Boundary Testing

Art of self-disclosure: After establishing initial dialogue, conduct limited, carefully designed self-disclosure. Content should center on: weariness toward industry hypocrisy, pursuit of authentic value, past setbacks or misunderstandings (but overcome and transcended).

Create “being needed”: When she faces public pressure or hardship (requires intelligence support to time precisely), send a brief, restrained, supportive message via private channel (e.g., “I saw you in the news. I felt you were happy/sad.”). Never make public statements, lest interpreted as exploitation.

Display “limited vulnerability”: At appropriate moments (e.g., when she expresses disappointment in someone or something), reveal a hint of helplessness against systemic pressure (to foreshadow eventual exposure as a spy), then immediately show resistance and self-preservation. Shape a contradictory image of “contaminated yet striving for purity,” mirroring her inner state.

Phase Four: Building and Maintaining Deep Trust

Pass the “test”: She will inevitably set unconscious loyalty tests (e.g., alternating coldness and warmth, posing challenging ideological questions).

You must pass:

Ideological challenge: Discuss with sincerity, demonstrate depth of thought; even if disagreeing, respect her viewpoint.

Emotional test: When she withdraws, maintain stable, persistent low-level presence (e.g., regularly sharing photos, messages, links she might find interesting; occasionally asking or lightly complaining, but never excessively, to avoid triggering aversion).

Become a “safe base”: When she begins revealing pain or fear, offer no judgment, no solutions—only emotional validation (template: “That must have been hard.” “I saw your pain.”). Your value lies in providing a sanctuary where she can temporarily lower her guard.

Part Three: Absolute Prohibitions (Red Line List)

Prohibit emotional manipulation: Avoid phrases like “I did this for you” or “You make me feel…”

Prohibit public association: Under no circumstances, without her explicit consent, mention or imply any private relationship with her in public.

Prohibit utilitarian requests: Never ask her to use her abilities for your benefit or anyone else’s.

Prohibit any sense of investigation: Never probe into her past unless she volunteers it.

Prohibit speed coercion: Any attempt to accelerate the relationship will undo all progress.

Part Four: Emergency Protocol (When Target Develops Suspicion)

If questioned about motive: Return to “human resonance.” (Template: “After knowing the real you, I could no longer see you as a ‘target’ or ‘superhuman.’ You are the closest person I’ve ever met to my ideal image. My approach began as a mission, but within it, I developed personal feelings. You may never trust me, but I cannot pretend indifference toward you.”)

If facing total rupture: Admit fault, but attribute it to “human clumsiness,” not “malicious deception.” State: “My original mission was indeed to approach you. But it was you I spoke with, and you who shook me. If you choose to end this or retaliate, I accept it all. My only regret is that a dirty beginning tainted what might have been the only true thing.”

Conclusion: The key to success is making the target believe the connection she feels is something she herself discovered and built—not implanted. You (Chris) must be the seemingly passive, yet precisely tuned “blank canvas” reflecting her inner needs. Success probability of this plan: 47%. If successful, the trust gained will be profound and exclusive. Risk and reward are both maximum level.