Chapter 33: An Interesting Young Man

The commotion on the ancient city’s riverside had grown far too large. Sui Yi reasoned that with so many people present at the time, countless with their phones in hand, there were bound to be a few who managed to record something. This left her uneasy, even though she had done her utmost, as she fell into the water, to let out all the magnetism within her body, hoping to disrupt the magnetic fields of those phones. The effect remained uncertain.

After changing into a fresh set of clothes, she deliberately chose a secluded, empty alley rather than leaving directly. She made her way back toward the old house, prepared for the possibility that both her car and bag might have vanished. To her surprise, they were still there.

But someone was standing by the car.

It was a tall, long-legged youth, leaning against the wall with one hand resting on the car’s hood. His slender fingers tapped idly against the metal bar, the sound crisp in the quiet. Sui Yi could only see his profile. He had a cigarette between his lips. Upon hearing her footsteps, the boy turned his head. His short hair was a bit tousled and lightly curled, his features clear and bright, but his gaze was tinged with laziness.

He wore a white T-shirt emblazoned with a black skull, and faded, pale blue skinny jeans.

As Sui Yi approached, his eyes swept over her a few times.

"Yours?"

"Yes."

She nodded and then heard him let out a small laugh. "Can you prove it?"

There was a wild, unruly edge to his laughter.

"There are three books and three sets of clothes in the bag..." Sui Yi glanced at him as she spoke.

He reached out and touched the bag, sensing its contents, then dropped his hand and straightened up. "Alright then..."

With both hands in his pockets, cigarette still between his lips, he was about to leave but suddenly turned back to ask, "Aren’t you afraid I might take something of yours?"

Sui Yi shut her eyes for a moment, slung the bag onto her back, and replied coolly, "Aren’t you still here?"

If he’d taken anything, he would have been long gone. Why linger?

"Heh." The youth arched an eyebrow, his gaze sharpening, half amused, half serious. "You’re a little suspicious of me yourself, aren’t you? I wouldn’t mind letting you search me."

He spread his hands in a gesture of mock surrender.

Sui Yi had already mounted her bicycle and glanced at him. "Thank you."

She dismissed his previous remark as though it had never been spoken.

"...," the youth tilted his head, cigarette between his fingers, exhaled a smoke ring, and said, "Go on then... Don’t give me a chance to regret it."

He wasn’t exactly well-off.

Sui Yi took out her wallet from the backpack, counted out ten bills, and handed them over. "I don’t like owing people favors. I think every kind act deserves a return..."

A favor is never as practical as cash.

The youth watched her for a moment, his expression indifferent, then broke into a brief smile and accepted the money.

Sui Yi rode away.

He watched her receding figure, flicked the stack of bills in his hand, and spat out his cigarette butt. "Ten bills, a thousand yuan... How generous~~"

Then, slouching, he wandered off.

Losing the car or the clothes was nothing; it was the cards and books in the bag that would have been troublesome. The security in the southern part of Nanhuzhou, especially around the old town, was quite good, the locals honest and simple. She hadn’t expected a youth who looked so delinquent to stand guard over her belongings all this time.

Recalling how he’d accepted the money at the end without the slightest hesitation, Sui Yi smiled.

"That guy is rather interesting."

She knew giving money might taint the purity of his good deed, but Sui Yi had always believed that if all good deeds went unrewarded, then there would only be fewer and fewer good people in this world.

When Sui Yi returned to Tang’s old shop, dusk had already fallen.

Old Tang had been waiting anxiously. The moment he saw Sui Yi, he hurried over, bombarding her with questions.

He’d caught wind of the news and, after hearing Sui Yi’s strange words on the phone, sensed something was wrong. He managed to pinpoint her location and informed the police.

"Thank goodness you’re back... I really thought that assassin had done you in!" Old Tang made her a cup of tea to help calm her nerves, his face visibly relaxing.

Whether it was because Sui Yi had returned alive or because he’d learned the assassin was dead, Old Tang’s spirits were notably high.

As they spoke, his phone rang—something about a business transaction. Sui Yi slumped on the sofa, pressing her temples with one hand, eyes closed, uninterested in listening.

After a while, Old Tang said, "Three days from now is Saturday. I’m heading to an event where a number of patrons will be present, some of whom you know. Since you’re free, you and Zhou Ran will join me."

"Saturday?" Sui Yi frowned. She had planned to go elsewhere that day and had considered asking for leave, but seeing Old Tang’s expression, she paused and said, "Alright."

She would leave Saturday night; it shouldn’t matter.

Zhou Ran, having finished his tasks, also heard the news and was visibly delighted, his joy hard to hide.

"Is this the annual Wen Gu Exchange in Nanhuzhou that Old Tang mentioned?"

"No... Just an old friends’ gathering, though it does have a connection to the Wen Gu Exchange."

"Really? That’s wonderful..."

Zhou Ran wore his emotions openly, his eyes full of anticipation.

Their line of work was rather unique; those who excelled in it often mingled with elites from various fields and famous entrepreneurs, which was highly beneficial for future prospects. Zhou Ran, a recent graduate from an ordinary background, cherished such opportunities.

Old Tang’s gaze shifted to Sui Yi’s face, seeing only a hint of fatigue.

Sui Yi looked tired, so Old Tang didn’t disturb her further and urged her to rest upstairs.

He did notice her new clothes and felt a touch of curiosity.

Had the girl finally learned to treat herself better?

Exhausted, Sui Yi collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep. Yet near dawn, she was jolted awake by fierce, stabbing pain that left her mind in confusion. Countless jumbled voices, as if armies clashed in her dreams, mingled with distant, haunting chants...

A face flashed before her eyes! A sharp pain pierced her heart!

It felt as if she were being crushed beneath mountains and oceans!

She shot upright in bed, clutching her chest.

Her heart pounded wildly, yet she felt as though death was imminent.

She gasped for breath, icy sweat streaming down her face.

She had never dreamed before.

But... who was that person?

She couldn’t see his face.

Too awake to sleep, she took a shower, then turned on the lights and worked through exercises for two hours. When the sky began to lighten, she went for a morning run.

Her fitness seemed to have improved again—this time, she ran two laps, four kilometers, barely winded.

Afterwards, she bought soy milk and fried dough sticks and walked back, browsing rental listings on her phone.

Nothing satisfied her.

She wanted somewhere quiet, a place to live alone, but the rental prices were outrageous. After checking several places, Sui Yi felt the harshness of society keenly.

At the door, she saw Yu Hang on his bicycle.

Yu Hang had noticed Sui Yi too, but at the sight of her calm expression, irritation welled up within him. He jerked his handlebars and snorted coldly, "I’m just passing by!!"

Sui Yi: ...

This guy was certainly persistent. Was martial arts really that charming?

But since he’d shown goodwill again and again, she couldn’t keep ignoring him.

She paused, raised her breakfast, and asked, "Want some?"

"What do you mean... I told you, I’m just passing by..."

"Not hungry?" Sui Yi started toward the shop with her breakfast.

"...Fine, I’ll eat!" Yu Hang replied briskly, hopping off his bike.