Category: Come, Let Me Take You Home

No. 59 Vowing Under the Drizzle

“I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow… I have PE.”

“Did you do last night’s homework? Let me copy it.”

“What do you mean ‘borrow’? My stuff is yours. Take it.”

“Wow, really? But just so you know, I’m broke, busy, not learning to operate excavators, not running errands, not playing games, and definitely didn’t study last night.”

“You little… Buy me a Sprite after morning reading. You still owe me three yuan.”

“…”

The familiar hum of chatter filled the classroom as I stepped inside, carrying a bag of steaming xiaolongbao. It was a typical morning, the air buzzing with the energy and lethargy unique to teenagers.

“What were you up to last night?” I placed the breakfast on the desk, took off my baseball cap, and nudged the girl slumped over her books, her face adorned with dark circles.

“Watching anime…” Xiaodie mumbled, burying her head deeper into the pile. “I’m gonna sleep for a bit. Wake me up when the teacher comes.”

You’re turning into Lan Zhuoyue, sleeping like this. You’ll gain weight.

“Eat your breakfast first. It’ll get cold.” I gently pinched her cheek.

So soft.

“I’m not hungry. You eat it.”

Her voice was muffled and indifferent.

“No way. You can sleep all you want later, but you have to eat properly. Skipping meals is bad for your stomach.”

“It’s just one meal. It won’t kill me…”

I was about to put my foot down when she suddenly bolted upright, as if remembering something terrifying. She grabbed the breakfast and bowed repeatedly. “I’m sorry, Yi Yao! I was wrong! I’ll eat it now!”

She looked like a kitten who had been caught misbehaving.

That’s better.

I smiled, satisfied, and sat down, unpacking my bag. “Don’t stay up so late next time. Sleep deprivation is the enemy of beauty.”

“Didn’t you say you were a boy in your past life? How do you even know that?” She noticed my outfit. “You got one too?”

“Yeah.”

I was wearing the new school uniform, the first one in Yixian Province to include a skirt for girls.

Unlike Xiaodie, I had opted for regular black socks instead of knee-highs. I had tried them on, but even though they looked fine on my long legs, I felt self-conscious.

“It’s so rare to see you in a skirt,” she said, munching on a xiaolongbao. “Guess what anime I watched last night?”

“What?”

“Puella Magi Madoka Magica. I didn’t really get it when I read the manga, but I finally finished the anime last night. I almost cried my eyes out.”

“It’s just an anime. Don’t take it so seriously.”

“See, you’re too uptight. What if magic exists in our world too?”

“It doesn’t.”

“How can you be so sure? You’re living proof!” She stared at me, her expression serious. “Tell me the truth, Yi Yao. Did your past self have a crush on me? Did you watch me die, powerless to save me, and then awaken some time-traveling ability to change the past?”

“I didn’t know you in my past life.”

“True. And Homura Akemi has long hair. You’d be a better fit for Madoka… Wait! What if I’m the one who time-traveled? What if I sacrificed my memories to relive our encounter?”

“You should write a novel. You have a real talent for it.”

I ignored her dramatic musings and checked my phone. Hua She had sent me a message. “Yi Yao, the lottery results are out. You were right! The number ‘3’ won! We’ve transferred the money to your Alipay account.”

I quickly typed a “Thanks” and opened my Alipay app.

Tens of thousands… hundreds of thousands… 120,000 yuan?!

“What’s going on?”

I sent a screenshot of my balance to Hua She.

He replied with a confused emoji. “Some of the guys won more than 5 yuan.”

“How much did you win in total?” I asked, my heart pounding.

“120,000.”

“Why did you give it all to me?”

“Come on, you were the one who asked us to buy the tickets. We couldn’t keep it. Your mom needs it more than we do. It’s what the guys wanted. Take it, and don’t even think about sending it back.”

He went offline.

120,000 yuan… A group of teenagers…

“Who are you texting?”

Xiaodie, finished with her breakfast, peered at my phone. “Brokenhearted and Desperate? What a strange username. Are you secretly dating someone behind my back?”

“You think that’s possible?”

I quickly closed the app, my heart swelling with gratitude. I turned to her, my grip on her shoulders tightening. “Xiaodie, please, don’t stay up so late anymore. It’s not good for you.”

She looked at me, her eyes wide and innocent, a crumb still clinging to the corner of her mouth. “But I can’t sleep. I’m all alone in that big house. You won’t even stay with me.”

“If I stayed with you, I’d be the one who couldn’t sleep.” I rolled my eyes. “Be good. I’ll call you every night, okay?”

Her new home was in a remote, sparsely populated area, a long commute from school. She had to wake up at 5:30 every morning to avoid being late. And the house itself was practically bare, surrounded by abandoned buildings and overgrown trees. It was a miracle she hadn’t been scared out of her wits.

“Seriously, you two? PDA, much?”

Liang Tong, our group leader, approached our desk, collecting homework.

“We were absent yesterday,” I said, spreading my hands.

“I know.” He glanced at Xiaodie’s desk and sighed. “It’s just… it’s only been a month, but it feels like years.”

“Any profound realizations?”

I remembered Liang Tong from Yi Yao’s past. He was the class snitch in middle school, a troublemaker in high school, a do-gooder in college, and, according to rumors, a landscaping enthusiast making a decent living after graduation.

It seemed my influence had accelerated his personal growth. He was less abrasive, more introspective.

“Not really. But I did hear something interesting.”

Two boys from the front row turned around. “Don’t tell me you’re trying to get dirt on us again, snitch.”

“Come on, you know I’m cool with Yi Yao now.”

He chuckled sheepishly. “I overheard some guys from Class 1 talking about you yesterday, Yi Yao. They were asking for your QQ number. They said they wanted to ask you out.”

“Me?” I blinked. “Are you sure you heard right? Maybe they were talking about Huang Yingdie?”

I wasn’t ugly, but I hardly possessed the kind of beauty that would make boys from other classes swoon.

“Nope, it was definitely you. Liang Zhenyi and I both heard them. The thing is, this guy… he’s kind of a big deal. His dad is a high-ranking official in the education bureau, and he’s rumored to have connections to both the police and the underworld. I just wanted to give you a heads-up.”

Underworld connections? What underworld?

I shrugged it off, but the two boys in front of us exchanged surprised glances. “Connections to both sides? You don’t mean…”

“Yep, that’s the guy. The one from Class 1. The real-life Ye Liangchen. Just thought you should know, Yi Yao.”

He collected their homework and returned to his seat.

Class 1 was the top class. Why were they wasting their time on crushes so close to the high school entrance exams?

“Hmph.”

I turned to see Xiaodie pouting, her phone clutched in her hand.

“Jealous?” I teased, leaning closer and pinching her cheek again. “So, which high school are you planning to apply to?”

It was best to avoid mentioning the source of a girl’s jealousy. It only made things worse.

“Municipal High School No. 1.”

“That’s a tough school.”

That’s where I had gone in my previous life. It was one of the top high schools in the city, renowned for its rigorous academics and high university acceptance rate. It was a pressure cooker, a factory designed to churn out high-achieving students, regardless of the cost.

Parents often said, “Get into No. 1 or No. 5, and you’ll have Tsinghua and Peking University in your grasp.”

It was a sad state of affairs.

If I had to describe Municipal High School No. 1 in one word, it would be “hell.”

It was a prison disguised as a school, with a strict military-style regimen and no free time. After a series of student suicides in 2017, the school had installed iron bars on all windows above the first floor, turning the building into a literal cage.

And yet, parents continued to send their children there, believing that academic success justified the psychological toll.

“I don’t care how tough it is. As long as you’re there, Yi Yao, I can handle anything.”

The bell for morning reading rang, its sound muffled by the rain.

Just as Liang Tong had warned, a tall, lanky boy from Class 1 approached me after class.

“Hey there, beautiful. Can I get your QQ number?”

His eyes widened as he took in my skirt.

He was accompanied by a group of boys, their tired faces betraying their late-night study sessions. They chuckled suggestively at his awkward attempt at flirting.

“Come on, he’s a VIP. His dad’s a big shot. Just give him your number,” one of them said.

Their whispers were like a swarm of mosquitoes buzzing in my ear.

I glanced at them, their faces a blur of unfamiliarity, then turned away.

“Sorry, I’m not interested in boys.”

No. 58 A Cry in the Rain at the Crossroads

It rained.

The rain came suddenly and strangely, a persistent, dreary drizzle that shrouded Upper Capital City in a perpetual haze. It had been pouring relentlessly for three days, the sun a distant memory, the air heavy with moisture.

March 23rd. The day we collected her father’s ashes.

The execution had proceeded smoothly. Considering Xiaodie’s age, the authorities had mercifully handled everything—the cremation, the paperwork, the arrangements with the funeral home. By four in the afternoon, Xiaodie, who had stayed home from school, received a call from the funeral home.

“Let’s go.”

I pushed away my laptop, grabbed my hat, and joined her.

Our relationship had evolved into something akin to a real partnership. She had given me a key to her new home, and we often slept in the same bed, our bodies finding comfort in each other’s presence. She wasn’t shy about showing affection, her touch lingering a little too long, her gaze a little too intense. We had crossed all the lines, except for that one.

Xiaodie’s feelings were genuine. She thought nothing of walking around the apartment in the nude, or snuggling up to me in her sleepwear while we watched anime.

But to the outside world, we were just close friends.

“Gal pals,” as they say.

We hadn’t defined our relationship, nor had we denied the knowing glances and playful teasing from others.

I had accompanied her to her old apartment. “Ransacked” was an understatement. Anything of value was gone, and the rest was smashed and destroyed.

The “search for evidence” had been a farce, a convenient excuse for those vultures to pick at the bones of her misfortune.

Xiaodie had been unusually quiet that day, her usual exuberance replaced by a somber pensiveness.

“Yi Yao, are you alright? You seem… off.”

She looked at me with concern as I entered the living room, dressed in black.

“Huh? I’m fine. Why?” I asked, confused.

Shouldn’t I be the one asking her that?

“Don’t lie to me.”

She studied me intently, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I know what’s going on… Hee hee. Make sure you stay warm, okay? It’s easy to catch a chill in this weather.”

I knew exactly what she was referring to, and I couldn’t help but smack her lightly on the head. “Thanks for your concern, but I’m not that fragile.”

Although… she was right.

That time of the month was always a pain. No matter how many layers I wore or how much hot tea and ginger water I consumed, the cramps persisted, a dull ache that intensified at the worst possible moments. And then there was the constant urge to pee, the discomfort of wearing a thick pad in the sweltering heat. It was enough to make anyone irritable.

“Is it true that girls who live together eventually get their periods at the same time?” she asked, ignoring my exasperated expression.

“How would I know? You’re welcome to test that theory.” I shot her a look. “But just so you know, mine usually starts around the 20th, towards the end of the month. That’s when all the important stuff happens—exams, deadlines, you name it. Are you sure you want to synchronize with that?”

“Mine starts on the 7th. I doubt it actually works that way.”

She giggled, pulling out her phone. “Do you know where the Upper Capital City Funeral Home is?”

“Yes.”

“Such a sad story…” she murmured.

“What do you mean?”

She leaned against me, resting her head on my shoulder. “Because that means… in another world, you’ve also experienced the death of someone close to you.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

My mother, my father—they were gone, leaving me to shoulder the weight of their absence.

“We should get going,” I said softly.

She nodded, her cheerful facade slipping for a moment, revealing the raw grief beneath. She was like a child who had lost her favorite toy, trying her best to be brave in front of a parent.

Xiaodie was stronger than I had given her credit for.

Perhaps, as she had said, she had already come to terms with loss. Her grandmother, the closest person in her life, had passed away when she was fourteen. I, on the other hand, had only experienced my first true brush with death at seventeen.

She had known all along that this day would come, that her father’s actions would have consequences.

I didn’t know what they had talked about during their last meeting. Perhaps they hadn’t said much at all, choosing instead to share a simple meal, to watch some television, to savor those last precious moments of normalcy.

The funeral home was deserted, the somber mood amplified by the relentless rain. Two police officers stood at attention near the entrance, holding a long, ornately carved wooden box draped in a red cloth. A black and white photograph of Xiaodie’s father was affixed to the front.

They saluted as we approached, handing Xiaodie the box and a small booklet. “If you need to visit again, just show this booklet to the staff upstairs. The annual storage fee is 100 yuan. We’ve already paid for three years.”

They didn’t ask if she had any other family, or if she had her identification documents. Their faces, however, held a look of quiet sympathy.

A young girl, orphaned by her father’s crimes, collecting his ashes with only her classmate by her side. It was a heartbreaking sight.

“Thank you. You can leave now,” Xiaodie said.

The officers exchanged surprised glances.

“We’ll take it from here,” she repeated, taking my hand and leading me away.

“Where to, Yi Yao?”

“Left… follow that path.”

In my original timeline, I wouldn’t be visiting this place for another year.

But it didn’t matter. Funeral homes were timeless, their somber atmosphere unchanging.

Except for Qingming Festival, the annual tomb-sweeping holiday, the place was usually deserted. It was said that working at a funeral home was one of the easiest and most well-paying jobs, yet few people were willing to do it.

I remembered a train journey I had taken in my previous life, while searching for a job. I had been chatting with a friendly young woman sitting across from me. She was beautiful, and her job, she claimed, paid well. A young man, seated nearby, had been trying to flirt with her. But when he asked about her profession, her response, “Mortician,” had effectively ended the conversation.

For the next several hours, the man avoided his seat. It wasn’t until I returned from the restroom that I noticed him asleep in the hallway, as far away from us as possible.

“Maybe we should come back during Qingming Festival?” I suggested.

We stood in a courtyard shrouded in mist, facing a row of stone statues representing the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Offerings of food and incense had been placed before them, despite the rain. A handful of mourners wandered the grounds, their grief a palpable presence in the damp air.

I didn’t know Xiaodie’s family customs, nor had she elaborated. I only remembered that when my parents passed away, their ashes were kept at the funeral home for a few years before being taken back to our ancestral home for burial.

“No, I need to talk to my father.”

She shook her head and walked towards the statue of the horse, her zodiac sign.

“He told me… this is life.”

She carefully placed the box on a nearby stone table, lit three incense sticks, and stood before the altar, her back straight, her shoulders squared.

“Dad, I never thought you were a good father. You promised to take me out countless times, but you always broke your promises. For two out of my three years in middle school, I was alone.”

“So I started skipping class, getting into fights, dreading the thought of coming home to that empty apartment. It didn’t feel like a home anymore.”

“You tried to compensate by giving me more and more allowance, but you never understood what I really wanted.”

“I don’t need a luxurious life, I don’t need money, I don’t need fame or fortune. I just want a home. A real home, with a loving family, a place where I feel safe and cherished…”

“And now… look what your greed has done…”

My heart ached for her. I held the umbrella over her head, my presence a silent source of comfort.

“Dad, from now on, I’m going to live my life the way you told me to.”

“But I’m not alone anymore. I have someone worth fighting for.”

As if on cue, the rain stopped.

The incense sticks burned low, their embers fading into ash.

“Dad… I’m sorry. I love you.”

She bowed deeply, her body trembling slightly, then turned and walked towards me.

Without a word, she threw her arms around me, burying her face in my shoulder, her tears soaking through my shirt.

The staff, accustomed to such displays of grief, simply looked away, perhaps mistaking us for sisters.

“It’s okay,” I murmured, stroking her hair. I forced a smile. “What do you want for dinner tonight? My treat.”

No. 57 Love Still Weeps

The grand ballroom of the hotel buzzed with activity. I sat perched on a nondescript stool in a corner, surrounded by a sea of familiar and unfamiliar faces, mostly women.

My family was quite large, and due to the deeply ingrained preference for sons, I hadn’t had much opportunity to interact with my extended family in this life. However, I could still recognize some of them from my memories as Yi Yao from the future.

My paternal grandfather had passed away when my father was young. My grandmother remarried after giving birth to him, and that’s how my uncle came into the picture. My father’s original name was Qin Baochao, but it was changed to Yi Baochao after my grandmother’s remarriage. I, naturally, became a part of the Yi family. Being a girl, I was generally excluded from important family events—except for my uncle’s extravagant gatherings.

If there was one relative we were closest to, it was my uncle, Yi Guozhi. He was my grandfather’s son from his second marriage. Both my father and uncle had excelled academically, but due to financial constraints, the family could only afford to send one of them to university. My father, aware of his position in the family, stepped aside. He went into business after high school, working alongside my grandfather to support my uncle’s education.

My uncle, to his credit, had made a success of himself. He started his own business after graduating and quickly became a prominent figure in Upper Capital City. He maintained a cordial relationship with my father and often provided us with financial assistance. If not for my memories of the future, I would never have suspected the darkness that lurked beneath his affable facade.

My uncle owned three apartments in the city. This was his fourth. The housewarming party, originally scheduled for two weeks ago, had been postponed due to the recent unrest in Upper Capital City.

For me, it was like watching a repeat of a play I had seen countless times before.

I knew exactly which relatives would leave early, who would discuss business with whom, and which waiter would inevitably bring the wrong dish.

Same setting, same characters, different me. This time, I wasn’t the naive, oblivious girl they thought I was.

“Alright, everyone, let’s eat! We can talk while we enjoy the food.”

The table was laden with dishes, a testament to my uncle’s wealth and generosity.

“Don’t be shy, everyone! Order whatever you like.”

My uncle, radiating success and confidence, approached our table, a glass of wine in hand. He raised his glass to my father. “Cheers, brother! Congratulations on your daughter’s improved grades! My good-for-nothing son refused to come tonight. He said he didn’t want to embarrass himself.”

“Ah, it’s all thanks to your help, brother! If not for Qiansheng tutoring her, she wouldn’t have achieved such good results.”

“Don’t mention it! Qiansheng might have slipped up this time, but he promised me he’d be first in his class next month, haha!”

“With his talent, it’s only a matter of time! First place at Yucai Middle School is much more impressive than third place at our school.”

“Indeed, indeed. How are you feeling, sister-in-law? Are you doing better?”

My mother, her frail body propped up by a recent blood transfusion and a cocktail of medications, managed a weak nod. “Much better, thank you.”

“Good, good. You need to recover soon. My brother has been working tirelessly all these years. You can’t let him down now.”

On the surface, it was just harmless banter between family and friends.

But beneath the pleasantries, I sensed a hidden tension, a subtle power play between my uncle and father.

I couldn’t decipher the exact meaning of their words, but the atmosphere was suffocating.

Family gatherings were supposed to be relaxed and informal, but I felt none of the warmth and affection one would expect from blood ties. They were more interested in comparing their children’s academic achievements, their salaries, their material possessions.

Those with successful children held their heads high, while those struggling to make ends meet smiled politely and nodded along.

Eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere, I focused on my food.

“Honey, look at that woman over there. Isn’t she beautiful?”

My mother’s words snapped me out of my thoughts.

She had said the same thing in my other life, back when I was still a boy. How had I responded back then?

I followed her gaze.

And my blood ran cold.

It was her.

The woman who would become my stepmother a year from now, after my mother’s death.

What was she doing at my uncle’s housewarming party?

She sat at a table with my uncle and father, laughing and chatting animatedly. Accompanying her was a young man, her son, whose face was etched in my memory.

“Her husband gambled away their entire fortune. They’re divorced now. Yi Yao, promise me you’ll never befriend a gambler when you grow up, okay?”

Oblivious to my shock, my mother continued as if reciting a script. She placed a chicken wing in my bowl. “Here, eat up.”

She… She knew all along?

My mind reeled.

She had said the same thing in my other life. And I, oblivious and preoccupied with my own teenage problems, hadn’t thought much of it. So when my father introduced her as his new girlfriend a year later, I hadn’t even recognized her.

A month after my mother’s death, my father had casually mentioned finding a potential partner online. A month after that, they were married.

So it had all been a lie? A carefully orchestrated charade? Had they been together all along, right under our noses? Was this the secret my mother had been struggling to tell me?

Had she said, “I wish you were a girl,” because she knew a son wouldn’t possess the intuition to see through my father’s deception?

“Mom…” I had to break the silence. “Do you prefer boys or girls?”

She paused, her chopsticks hovering in midair.

“I just want you to be happy, Yi Yao.”

She met my gaze, her eyes filled with a deep, unspoken sadness.

This wasn’t in my memories.

“But if I had to choose…” she continued, her voice barely a whisper. “I wish you were a boy.”

“Why?”

“Because… because it’s easier for a son to hold on to his father’s heart.”

…

The banquet dragged on, each passing moment an excruciating reminder of the impending betrayal. As soon as it was socially acceptable, I excused myself and made my way to the meeting place I had arranged with Pai Ge that morning.

The rooftop of the International Trade Building, a dizzying eighteen stories above the city.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Pai Ge and Xiaodie stood at the edge of the rooftop, silhouetted against the crimson twilight. They were alone.

“Well, well, well. Look who decided to grace us with their presence. You seem a little down, Yi Yao.”

Pai Ge turned to face me. He was wearing his usual black suit and fedora, but tonight, he had added a flamboyant touch—a black and red butterfly mask. He removed it with a flourish, a sly grin spreading across his face. “I heard about you and the little lady. Congratulations are in order, I suppose.”

“You heard about… what exactly?”

I joined them, my heart sinking as I took in Xiaodie’s appearance.

She was dressed in a black and green jumpsuit, a white towel draped around her neck, a sniper rifle slung across her back, dwarfing her small frame. Her long hair was pinned up, giving her a boyish look.

Earlier that day, her father’s verdict had been announced. It had been a televised event, broadcast nationwide.

The Intermediate People’s Court of Upper Capital City had found Huang Zhiqiang and Hu Yonglong guilty of accepting bribes exceeding 100 million yuan. They were also charged with embezzlement and insider trading. Both men were sentenced to death.

Huang Zhiqiang had chosen not to appeal. His execution date was set for March 23rd.

It was the first time a high-ranking official in Upper Capital City had been sentenced to death for corruption.

Whatever turmoil I was experiencing paled in comparison to the emotional storm raging within Xiaodie.

Everyone had their own burdens to bear, their own stories of heartbreak and loss. The beggar on the street might have endured more suffering than the wealthiest CEO.

“That incident at her apartment complex. You handled it well, Yi Yao.”

Pai Ge nodded approvingly, handing me his butterfly mask. “Anyway, the reason I called you here is because we found the people who killed Huang Qinghao and attacked those government officials. They’re part of a group called Shadow.”

My heart skipped a beat. For a moment, I thought he was talking about Xiaodie’s confession.

“What do they want?” I feigned ignorance.

“They’re businessmen of a sort. The kind whose dealings don’t exactly hold up in a court of law. Word on the street is that one of their warehouses was raided by the police recently. They’re out for blood.”

Xiaodie, who had been silent until now, let out a soft chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Pai Ge raised an eyebrow. “You two are acting stranger than usual. Like a couple of lovebirds.”

“It’s nothing,” I mumbled, snatching his fedora and plopping it on my head. I studied Xiaodie’s outfit. “Shion Asada?”

Her face lit up. “You know Sword Art Online?”

“Who doesn’t?”

I might have been a study machine in middle school, but I had made up for lost time in college, consuming every anime that had come out since 2009.

“It’s easier to carry my rifle in this outfit. Pai Ge said I could practice my sniping skills here tonight.”

She blushed. “Hey, Yi Yao, maybe we could cosplay together at the next comic convention? You could be Sinon!”

I smiled, a flicker of warmth spreading through my chest. Maybe, just maybe, amidst the darkness and despair, there was still room for a little bit of light.

No. 56 Walking Away, Back to Back

March 18th, Friday.

Five days had passed since Xiaodie and I had raided Shadow’s warehouse.

During those five days, I’d been monitoring online activity and noticed an interesting development.

Shadow had broken ties with their partners in the government.

As expected, the official whose phone I’d used had died in the car crash. The flames had devoured his vehicle, leaving nothing but a charred skeleton, including the crucial smartphone inside. There was no way they could recover any data, let alone trace the hack back to me. They were lucky if they could even salvage the phone chip from the ashes.

That’s why I could have easily hacked the phone from home. There was no need to go through the trouble of hiding my identity at the internet cafe or using foreign servers as proxies.

The same went for our little operation with Xiaodie. I had meticulously erased our tracks, but it turned out to be completely unnecessary. That afternoon, Shadow had stormed the city government building, causing a massive scene. The officials, caught off guard, feigned ignorance. After all, the only one who could contradict their claims was dead. The whole debacle played out live on television.

The news footage showed several young men in bizarre attire wielding hammers and axes, kicking down the doors of the city government building.

“Lu Zhaowei, get out here!”

Their voices were filled with a raw fury, like cornered animals.

“W-what do you think you’re doing?”

A man at the front desk seemed to recognize them but maintained a facade of composure for the cameras. “We have armed guards here. Don’t do anything rash.”

“Rash? Ask Lu Zhaowei if he summoned us for a meeting! You took advantage of the situation and robbed us blind! Is this how you treat your allies?”

The man sputtered, confused. “Robbed you? I’ve never robbed anyone in my life!”

“Who else would know the layout of our warehouse so well? Just get Lu Zhaowei out here!”

“Lu Zhaowei is dead.”

“Dead? You’re trying to tell us you silenced your own man to cover your tracks? That’s it! You asked for this! Get them, boys!”

And with that, all hell broke loose.

Although the thugs were eventually apprehended for inciting a riot, Shadow’s retaliation had already begun.

On March 15th, the city government was attacked again. The attackers claimed that most of the evidence against Mayor Huang Zhiqiang had been fabricated, admitting to a conspiracy with certain officials and taking responsibility for several other incidents.

On March 16th, Shadow organized a small protest, urging people to distrust the current administration.

On March 17th, the detention center where Huang Zhiqiang was being held was attacked, and the trial was postponed to the 20th.

After reviewing these reports, I came to a conclusion:

Shadow was nothing more than a glorified street gang, a bunch of overgrown delinquents with no real organization or strategic thinking. They were all brawn and no brains, incapable of achieving anything significant.

I couldn’t fathom how such a group could have orchestrated the chaos of 2017.

“That’s why, from now on, we either follow Liang’s lead, go to another city, study hard, and get decent jobs, or end up like those idiots—used and discarded without ever knowing why.”

It was seven in the evening. I sat with a few members of the Black Dragon Society at a nondescript street food stall.

We were regulars here, so we didn’t have to worry about hygiene or watered-down drinks. Plus, the prices were reasonable.

This was Liang Zhenyi’s farewell dinner. He was leaving the city to focus on his studies.

“Hey, enough about those losers. This is about Liang!”

Hua She drained his glass and sighed. “How long has it been since we last hung out like this, just the brothers, sharing a drink?”

Silence.

“Almost two months, right? Ever since that Pai Ge joined us, things haven’t been the same…” He refilled his glass. “Don’t get me wrong, Luo Wei is a good guy. He’s loaded, always treating us to expensive drinks and food. But it’s just… different, you know? Remember when we were kids, roasting peanuts we dug up ourselves, sharing a single bottle of cheap liquor? Those were the days… Now, even if I had mountains of peanuts and rivers of beer, it wouldn’t be the same.”

“Yeah, I miss the early days of the Black Dragon Society. Just us, a few brothers, following Dragon’s lead, raising hell in the streets. Haha, remember that time you got drunk and tried to marry a tree, Hua She?”

“Dude, not cool. There’s a lady present.”

“Who? Yi Yao? Yi Yao is one of the guys! Right, bro?” Liang Zhenyi slung an arm around my shoulders, laughing. “By the way, remember when I first met Yi Yao? I asked Dragon, ‘Hey, is this your girl?’ You’ll never guess what he said.”

“What?”

“He goes,” Liang Zhenyi took a swig of his beer, puffed out his chest, and mimicked Dragon’s voice, “‘Show some respect, kid. She’s not my girlfriend. She’s your sister.’”

“Hahahaha!”

“I was speechless! So I told him, ‘Alright, alright, I’ll take a penalty drink. Let’s go all out tonight!’ And Dragon goes, ‘You want me to waste my hard-earned money on your mistake? Did you pay your dues today?’”

“Hahahahaha!”

Some things never changed. They were still the same lovable idiots I remembered from Yi Yao’s past.

The laughter subsided, replaced by a contemplative silence.

“Old…”

“New…”

“You first.”

“So, Yi Yao is the new leader of the Black Dragon Society, right?”

“Yeah, apparently Dragon asked Ouyang Dati to appoint her.”

“Who cares who’s in charge? Dragon’s gone. There’s barely anyone left in the Black Dragon Society anyway.”

“Dragon’s gone, and now you’re leaving too, Liang. What’s going to happen to us?”

“Don’t be so dramatic. It’s not like he’s never coming back. Right, Liang? Which university are you planning to apply to?”

“Seriously? Jinghua University, of course.”

Jinghua University. One of the most prestigious universities in the country, a dream destination for countless students.

“Dude, with your grades, you’ll be lucky to get into a second-tier university.”

“I still have two years to catch up.”

Liang Zhenyi chugged his beer, a grimace of pain morphing into a look of satisfaction. “Once I get into Jinghua, I’ll get a good job and make sure you guys never have to worry about money again.”

His grades were abysmal. That much was true.

But seven years from now, he would graduate from Jinghua University. That was also true.

As he had said, he would achieve his dream through sheer determination.

“Hey, Yi Yao, say something. You’ve been awfully quiet lately. What happened to that cheerful, carefree girl we used to know?”

The speaker was the one who had taken a beating for Yi Yao a while back, shielding her from a blow during a brawl with a rival gang.

He probably didn’t even remember the incident. Such occurrences were commonplace in their line of work.

I took a sip of my juice. “Just thinking about some things.”

To be honest, I was considering dissuading Liang Zhenyi from pursuing Jinghua University.

Because that meant he would be walking the same path as his counterpart from the other world.

He would graduate from his dream university full of hope, only to be chewed up and spat out by a ruthless society. He would be burdened by the expectations of family and friends, overworked, underpaid, and constantly stressed. His health would deteriorate, and he would die a bitter, disillusioned man.

“What kind of things? You’ve been spending a lot of time with that mayor’s daughter lately. What’s up with that?”

“Nothing. We were enemies, and now we’re friends.”

I finished my juice and pulled out my phone. “Can I ask you guys a favor?”

“Come on, we’re brothers. Don’t be a stranger. Just say the word.”

“I need you to buy some lottery tickets for me.”

I showed them my phone screen. “03.” I flipped it around so they could see the number clearly. “I’ll give you the money. Buy any lottery ticket with the number ‘3’ on the blue ball. 2000 yuan total, split evenly. I’ll transfer 400 to each of you.”

Hua She hesitated. “Is this for your mother’s medical bills?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “I’m desperate.”

“Why the number ‘3’?” Liang Zhenyi asked, picking up a skewer of grilled meat.

“Just a hunch,” I said casually.

Returning to the past and buying lottery tickets was the easiest way to make money.

The problem was, I had been too focused on my studies back then to pay attention to such things.

The only reason I remembered this particular lottery was because of a sudden craze that had swept through my class. I had overheard a classmate shouting in excitement about the number ‘3’.

Each ticket cost 2 yuan. Matching the ‘3’ on the blue ball would win you 5. I couldn’t buy thousands of tickets at once—that would raise suspicion. This was the best I could do for now.

“Buy two hundred tickets each. If the winning number is ‘3,’ you’ll win 1000. Give me 800, and keep the rest. If I’m wrong, then consider it a gift.”

That way, I could turn 2000 yuan into 4000. Combined with what I had saved up, it would be a decent sum.

“Alright.”

They agreed without hesitation, trusting me implicitly.

I transferred the money through Alipay.

Just then, Liang Zhenyi’s phone rang.

“Hello? … Okay… Yeah.”

He hung up and gave us an apologetic bow. “My dad wants me to go home and pack.”

“Alright, man. Stay in touch.”

“Take care of yourself, and eat well.”

“Okay, okay, enough with the mushy stuff.”

“Liang.”

I stood up.

“Yi Yao, what’s wrong?”

I looked at him, his youthful face etched in my memory. I wanted to say so many things, to warn him, to guide him, to protect him from the cruel hand fate had dealt him. But the words caught in my throat.

“Study hard, take care of yourself, and remember what you said today. If you don’t get into Jinghua University, I’ll never forgive you.”

No. 55 Flames to Consume All Darkness

It wasn’t just Windows; Android had its share of fatal flaws too. Being an open-source system built on Linux meant its vulnerabilities, both present and future, were practically universal.

Like the Queen Bee algorithm, Android phones would face a massive security breach in a few years. Countless users would have their data stolen, their phones hijacked, their online banking compromised.

People’s dependence on their phones had been steadily increasing since 2015 and would peak around 2017. Forum accounts, game accounts, bank accounts, credit cards, transportation cards—everything would be linked to their phones. And while phone security improved with features like pattern locks, GPS tracking, and fingerprint scanners, no one seemed to care about the operating system’s security.

I hadn’t paid much attention to the political turmoil in Upper Capital City. From my perspective, these people were all destined to fall anyway.

Huang Tianhai, son of the provincial party secretary, would return from abroad in two years. His arrival would trigger a massive reshuffling of power in Upper Capital City and even Yixian Province. Those who had schemed and manipulated their way into positions of power would face their reckoning.

The information I gathered from the Queen Bee hacker alliance revealed two factions behind this current political storm. One was a shadowy underworld organization codenamed “Shadow,” responsible for instigating social unrest and framing Xiaodie’s father. Unlike the Black Dragon Society or the Jiangnan Association, which were basically glorified street gangs, Shadow was a genuine criminal enterprise, involved in all sorts of illegal activities, including murder.

The other faction consisted of Huang Zhiqiang’s political rivals, who were leveraging public sentiment to seize the mayor’s seat.

With the backing of corrupt officials, Shadow’s ambitions had grown unchecked. Comparing the data, I realized these were the same people responsible for the city-wide panic that would grip Upper Capital City in June 2017.

I had no interest in the power struggles of adults, but they had messed with my friend, and I wasn’t about to let that slide.

Gathering information was crucial. I went to my usual internet cafe, got a temporary pass from the friendly owner, and settled in, playing League of Legends while sifting through data. Finally, I formulated a foolproof plan for retaliation.

Technically, people under eighteen weren’t allowed in internet cafes, but most turned a blind eye for profit. No one questioned me, especially since I was a regular and friends with the owner. The internet cafe provided anonymity. Even if they tried to track me down, they wouldn’t find anything. I never used my ID, and I routed my connection through several proxies, making it seem like I was accessing the internet from a foreign country.

Besides, I doubted these thugs even considered the possibility of a phone hack. Such technology was practically nonexistent in their minds. And even if they consulted a hacker, they’d be told it was impossible.

My plan was simple: hack one of the corrupt official’s phones, send a message to summon all of Shadow’s members to a meeting, then storm their headquarters while it was empty.

It was risky, to say the least.

Even if we managed to infiltrate their base, avoiding suspicion afterward would be a challenge.

But I had it all figured out.

The owner of the phone I hacked would be involved in a car accident at 6 PM, a little over two hours from now.

“Deputy Secretary of Municipal Party Committee Involved in Fatal Drunk Driving Accident on Highway.” That headline would be plastered all over the news soon.

Initially, I considered saving him. But no matter how many times I made his phone ring, no one answered. He was probably passed out drunk.

“Bring everyone to the plaza on Longyi Road, number 18. Important matters to discuss.”

I sent the message and immediately received a call, which I promptly ignored.

“Can’t talk, driving. Bring the others. Regarding the Tiger Stripe operation and your payment.”

I had no idea what “Tiger Stripe” was. I found the term in his message history. Mentioning payment sealed the deal. They didn’t call again, simply replying with a message: “Understood. See you in 2 hours.”

Longyi Road was on the opposite side of the city from Shadow’s headquarters. It would take them at least two hours to get there, giving us ample time.

After finishing up at the internet cafe, I took a taxi to the park where I had arranged to meet Xiaodie.

She was sitting on a swing, a small backpack beside her, fiddling with her phone. She looked relieved when she saw me.

“I thought you went to fight those thugs yourself.”

“As if I could take them on.”

I waved her over. “Let’s go.”

She grabbed my sleeve. “Wait, it’s almost four o’clock. You still haven’t told me what we’re doing.”

“You bought an M200 from Ouyang Dati, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you know how to use it?”

“It’s for my collection. I don’t even have any bullets.”

“That’s why we’re going to get some other weapons.”

I led her through a maze of hidden paths in the park, my memories guiding us toward an inconspicuous building in a remote part of the city.

It was a three-story structure, resembling an unfinished office building. The windows were bare, lacking even security bars. A low wall, barely a meter high, surrounded the property. The trees that once stood there had been chopped down, leaving the area exposed.

“What is this place?”

We crouched behind some bushes a good distance away. Xiaodie eyed the building with curiosity.

“On June 10, 2017, a new virus will break out in Upper Capital City.” I pulled my cap lower and checked the time on my phone. “It’s transmitted through bodily fluids. Within 24 hours of infection, the victim’s skin turns a bluish-purple, sometimes even reddish-black. Like zombies in the movies. But apart from dizziness, hallucinations, and fever, it’s not fatal. A vaccine will be developed by July 30th. There won’t be a single casualty.”

“What does that have to do with this place?”

“Let me finish. Although the virus isn’t deadly, someone will spread rumors, creating mass hysteria. People will believe it’s a zombie apocalypse. The infected will think they’re doomed and riot in the streets. By June 20th, the city will be paralyzed. I was trying to escape the chaos with some friends when we stumbled upon this place.”

I stood up, my gaze fixed on the building’s entrance, where shadowy figures flickered in and out. “This is one of Shadow’s warehouses. It’s full of weapons.”

“Are you crazy?” Xiaodie exclaimed. “There are people there! We can’t just barge in!”

“Don’t worry. The higher-ups are gone. I know this place like the back of my hand. Those are just low-level thugs guarding the entrance. They probably don’t even have permission to go inside… Let’s go.”

“B-but… promise you’ll protect me if something happens…”

She clung to my arm, her backpack bouncing nervously against her back.

“Nothing’s going to happen.”

“But what if it does? You can’t just leave me behind!”

I patted her head reassuringly.

“Okay, okay, I promise.”

I had spent over a week hiding in this building. I knew every nook and cranny.

We bypassed the main entrance, where three thugs were engrossed in a card game, and slipped through a hidden passage at the back. Once we were sure the coast was clear, we made our way to the top floor.

“Yi Yao… are we sure about this?”

The third floor was filled with exercise equipment—sandbags, dumbbells, the works. There were also some mattresses, a sofa, a table, and bags of rice and oil, making the place look like a makeshift living space.

“These people are a plague on this city. They’re partly responsible for what happened to your father, and they’re the ones who instigated that mob outside your apartment.” I spotted a wooden chest hidden under a tarp in the corner. “They want to play dirty? Fine. We’ll play dirty too.”

Perhaps out of overconfidence, the lock on the chest was a simple three-digit combination. It had taken me and my friends less than fifteen minutes to crack it back then.

I lifted the lid, and my eyes widened at the sight of guns and ammunition, neatly arranged inside.

“Holy…”

Xiaodie gasped, her jaw dropping. “What are all these? I don’t even recognize half of them…”

You’ve only been studying for a few months.

“Take what you can carry.”

I slipped on a pair of gloves, picked up a canister of liquid, unscrewed the cap, and made my way around the floor, pouring the contents liberally.

“What are you doing? It stinks!”

“It’s gasoline.”

I tossed the empty canister aside and grabbed another full one. “Ready?”

“Why… how did you know there would be gasoline here…?”

She stared at me, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and confusion.

“I told you, I’ve been here before.”

Once every inch of the floor we had touched was drenched in gasoline, I double-checked for anything that could incriminate us.

“Wait for me in the bushes.”

“O-okay…”

At this point, she was practically treating me like a superhero, obeying my every command. “Be careful.”

“I will.”

I waited three minutes to make sure she was gone, then hopped over the wall, noting the drainage pipe that would serve as my escape route. I pulled out a box of matches, struck one, and tossed it behind me. Then, I slid down the pipe.

As I descended, I glanced back at the three thugs still absorbed in their card game. They were completely oblivious.

I landed safely and melted back into the trees, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Yi Yao… I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“Why… why do you always wear that hat?”

No. 54 A Lily in the First Light, Waiting to Bloom

“Do… do you even understand what you’re saying?”

Bathed in the warm sunlight, the girl in the thin sleepwear wouldn’t meet my gaze. Her small frame was almost swallowed whole by the loose fabric, the outline of her youthful curves barely discernible.

Just like last time, she wasn’t wearing anything underneath.

“Xiaodie, I don’t like it when my friends lie to me, even if it’s meant to comfort me. And that includes you.”

Besides, I didn’t need any comforting.

It’s true that I had kissed her impulsively, but it was a desperate attempt to calm her down. And even if there were some fantasies, some vanity lurking in the back of my mind, they were just that—fantasies.

I would bear the weight of my sins alone.

“Do you really think I’m trying to comfort you?”

She finally looked up, her clear eyes reflecting a mixture of sadness and something akin to resignation.

I didn’t answer, choosing instead to draw the curtains, shutting out the sunlight. “I think you need to understand that life is not a game. If you choose this path, you’ll face constant scrutiny from the world. You’ll face challenges and hardships that ordinary people never have to deal with.”

It was a path with no end in sight. Xiaodie was only fifteen, an age where curiosity could lead to impulsive, even reckless decisions. As her friend, I couldn’t condone it.

“I… I’ve never had many friends. The ones I had were only interested in my family’s money and influence. When I lost those things, I lost them too.” She took a step closer. “You’re different, Yi Yao. I don’t care about the difference between boyfriends and girlfriends. Call me selfish, call me a fool clinging to the first sign of warmth… Yi Yao, if you didn’t hear me before, I’ll say it again. I like you. Please, let me be your girlfriend.”

Slivers of sunlight pierced through the gaps in the curtains, casting a soft, ethereal glow around her.

I turned to face her, meeting her gaze head-on.

Her eyes were bright, unwavering, devoid of any deception.

This was a side of Xiaodie I had never seen before.

She was usually either standoffish and aloof, playing the cool girl, or prone to childish tantrums and princess-like demands. This was the first time she had met my gaze with such unwavering determination.

I hesitated. “If this is about the kiss, I apologize.”

“Your emotional intelligence is abysmal!”

She lunged at me before I could react. I instinctively stepped back, but my foot caught on the edge of the bed, and I fell backward with a yelp. Xiaodie, anticipating my move, landed on top of me.

“What are you doing?”

She was wearing only a thin sleepdress, and our bodies were pressed together. I could feel the warmth of her skin through the fabric.

And then, her lips were on mine again.

This kiss was different. It was deliberate, almost desperate, her inexperience betraying her as she clumsily probed my mouth with her tongue. I tried to push her away, but my body wouldn’t respond. A strange tingling sensation spread through me, rendering me momentarily powerless.

“Mmm…”

The kiss deepened, lingering for a heartbeat longer than before. She pulled back, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. “Yi Yao, you asked me if it was unpleasant before. Well, it wasn’t. I didn’t hate it. In fact, it felt… right.”

Her words, tinged with a strange confidence, left me speechless. It took me a moment to gather my wits, my lips still tingling from the contact. “Are you saying…”

“Yes, I’m serious. I meant every word. I want to be your girlfriend. Not as a joke, not as a fling, but as real partners.” She leaned closer, resting her hands on my chest. “And speaking of being straightforward, why are you being so hesitant now? You’re usually so decisive.”

“I’m worried about your future.”

“My future? I think I’m capable of deciding that for myself.”

“We’re both girls…”

“That’s why I’m giving you the choice. I’m the one confessing, not you.” A playful grin spread across her face. “You know, Yi Yao, I always thought you were perfect. Your grades, your personality, your looks… you were infuriatingly flawless. But now, I’ve discovered something you lack.”

“Something I lack?”

“Yes, you lack faith.” She rolled off me and sat up, her gaze sweeping over the stacks of manga lining the walls. “When I moved here, I only brought these and the teddy bear my grandmother gave me. Everything else is gone.”

“My father’s arrest broke me. I don’t have a mother. When my grandmother passed away, I cried until I lost my voice. The next day, I locked myself in my room and read manga all day. It sounds strange, but it actually helped.”

“Out there, just now, I felt utterly hopeless. I even thought that maybe dying wouldn’t be so bad. I had nothing left to lose. And then, you…”

She blushed. “Since we’re both girls, I thought about those yuri anime I’ve seen, where they kiss all the time. And then, it just clicked.”

“No parents, a girlfriend, and a place to call home. That’s the classic setup for a lot of protagonists in anime. It might sound heartless, but that’s my reality now. I can’t change what happened to my father, and dwelling on it won’t do me any good. So why not embrace life and move on?”

“You have your own burdens to bear, Yi Yao.” Her eyes held a knowing look. “But I’ve liked you for a long time now, probably since that kidnapping. If you need time to process this, I understand. I can wait.”

Wait. Why did the conversation suddenly take such a strange turn?

Could it be that Huang Yingdie, from the very beginning…

“I…”

I was completely flustered by her confession.

“Well? What’s your answer?”

“I… before I answer, I need to tell you something.” I sat up, my head spinning, and looked at her. “I’m a boy.”

“Please, don’t use such a ridiculous excuse to reject me. And your voice is way too girly for that to be convincing.”

I met her gaze, my expression serious. “It’s true. I’m from fifteen years in the future, a parallel world just like this one. I know what’s going to happen to all of you.”

She stared at me as if I were an alien. “And I thought I was the delusional one.”

“This isn’t delusion. I’m Yi Yao from another world. I was dying, and the Yi Yao of this world saved me. But two months ago, I became a girl. I saw the future—yours, mine, this city’s. That’s why I always seem to know what’s going to happen. That’s the answer to your question.”

Perhaps it was the trust we had built, but I found myself revealing everything.

I knew it sounded unbelievable.

But after everything we had been through, I felt obligated to tell her the truth.

“That’s incredible…” Her eyes widened in fascination. “So you’re saying… you’re actually attracted to girls?”

“Well… you could say that.”

“Yes!”

She launched herself at me, burying her face in my chest. “I’ve been wanting to do this for ages! I was afraid you wouldn’t be okay with it. Mmm… so soft… so comfortable…”

Taking inspiration from who knows what anime, her hands began to roam, trailing down my waist.

“Hey, does this… bother you?”

The unfamiliar sensation sent a wave of heat through me, and I averted my gaze.

“Not at all,” she chirped, her eyes sparkling. “It’s perfect that you’re a boy. Besides, I like you for who you are now, not for who you were before.”

“But I still have those memories.”

“I don’t care. Now, answer my question.”

“…”

I sighed, turning away. “I’ve told you everything. What more do you want?”

“So that’s a yes?”

I nodded.

“Yes! We’re officially dating then! Tell me, Yi Yao, what does the future hold for me?”

She beamed, oblivious to the fact that her sleepdress had slipped, revealing a generous amount of cleavage.

“I don’t know.”

“What? But you said…”

“Yes, I know bits and pieces about most people’s futures in this city. But yours… I don’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because…” I hesitated. “In the other world, you died during that kidnapping.”

“Why?”

“Because… I suppose… in that world, our paths never crossed.”

“You make me sound special.”

“You are special, Xiaodie. To me, you are.”

I stood up and headed for the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To pay a visit to those people who harassed you today.”

No. 53 Reaching Out to Grasp Hope

The sun blazed mercilessly, its heat radiating from a distant star, threatening to incinerate Upper Capital City, leaving no shred of hope behind.

The city center shimmered in the heat. Withered plants and flowers drooped by the roadside. Drivers, agitated and irritable, honked their horns in frustration, creating a cacophony that echoed through the streets, converging at the central intersection.

Xiaodie stopped walking and let go of my hand.

I turned to see her sink to the ground, her small frame swallowed by the harsh sunlight.

“Drip.”

Two teardrops fell onto the scorching pavement, like delicate flower petals wilting in the desert heat.

“I can’t… anymore…”

Her voice was a whisper, laced with despair, helplessness, and utter bewilderment.

It was a familiar scene, echoing memories from Yi Yao’s past.

Being kicked out of the house after failing an exam, wandering the streets with no money or destination.

Being caught by thugs from another district, narrowly escaping, too afraid to go home, spending the night huddled in an internet cafe, stomach growling, clutching a ten-yuan note.

There were countless people in this world living such lives—misunderstood, disrespected, unwanted. Even their own kind kept their distance, seeing them as harbingers of negativity. Over time, these souls learned to be silent, to let go, burying their sorrow deep inside, maintaining a facade of normalcy for the sake of a world that preferred to look away.

We were destined to be supporting characters in our own lives, never the protagonists of our own stories.

“Let’s go home. You’ll get heatstroke if you stay out here.”

I swallowed my own sadness and walked towards her.

“Home?”

She spoke as if in a dream, the word detached from any real meaning. “Where is my home…?”

“Then let’s go back to that small, safe haven.”

You have no home, and neither do I.

The real Yi Yao was gone, sacrificing herself for my future because this world held no place for her. I was left behind, forced to witness the tragedies of her past unfold once more.

Even I, who had inherited her life, couldn’t build a simple, ordinary “home.”

Tell me, where does someone like me belong…?

“Yi Yao…”

In the blinding sunlight, I noticed beads of sweat glistening on Xiaodie’s delicate neck.

“You go on ahead. Leave me alone.”

She stood up, wiping her tears, her voice strangely calm.

I grabbed her arm, my grip firm. “No. My gut tells me you’ll do something foolish if I leave you alone now.”

She remained silent.

“Where do you want to go?”

“…The detention center.”

“Absolutely not.”

“My dad is there!”

She ripped her arm free, tears streaming down her face. “He promised me! He said once he recovered, he would spoil me, love me, never remarry, never leave me. He kept all the other promises, so why… why did he break the last one…?”

“Promises are meant to be broken.”

“But he’s my father!”

Her eyes were red-rimmed, her face a picture of heartbreak. “There must be something we can do! If I talk to those uncles who are close to my dad, they can help… I’m sure of it…”

“Help with what? What are their names? Where are they from? What did your father do for them?”

“You don’t understand anything!”

She was nearly hysterical. “You have a loving family! I have nothing! I called everyone in my contact list, and no one is willing to help! All those so-called brothers, who swore eternal loyalty…”

I took a step closer. “You didn’t call me.”

She avoided my gaze.

I took another step. “You believe that if it were me, I would have come for you, even without a phone call, right?”

When you’ve seen enough death, you learn to bow your head to the world.

The heat shimmered, distorting everything around us.

I advanced, and she retreated.

Backed into a corner, she suddenly shoved me away and assumed a fighting stance.

“Why do you always look at me like you can see right through me? You have no idea how infuriating it is!”

I didn’t answer, merely observing her with a neutral expression. “Shouldn’t you show your senior some respect before challenging her?”

“Shut up!”

With a perfect 360-degree spin kick, she launched her attack.

“Not bad. Your form is good, but too stiff. You hesitate in a real fight, and that hesitation exposes your weaknesses.”

I blocked her kick effortlessly, offering advice as I would during our usual training sessions.

“Thud! Thud! Thud!”

She didn’t let up, her legs a blur as she unleashed a furious barrage of kicks.

“What are you waiting for? This isn’t the gym. There are no targets here. Aim for my waist or head, not my hands.”

The pain in my arms, combined with the relentless heat, was pushing me to my limit.

“You’ll get yourself killed fighting like this in a real fight.”

I dodged two more kicks, then lunged, grabbing her wrists and pulling her close.

“Your heart is in turmoil.”

“Let go of me!”

She struggled in my grasp. “You don’t know anything! Stay out of my life! Get away from me!”

Our breaths mingled in the hot air, our bodies pressed close.

Images from the past month flashed through my mind—moments of laughter, shared secrets, playful banter. Our struggles had left red marks on both our arms.

“Let go! I said let go! Yi Yao, if you don’t let go, I…”

Her emotions were spiraling out of control. I sighed inwardly, releasing her wrists and instead wrapping my arms around her waist.

And then, I kissed her, my lips pressing against hers.

“Mmm…”

Her lips were soft and warm, sending a ripple of unexpected emotion through me.

Our eyes met, and in her bewildered gaze, I saw a reflection of my own future self.

All those dreams, those hopes, those forgotten aspirations, withered and fell away like petals scattered by the wind.

A delicate, lily-like fragrance lingered in the air.

The suddenness of my action stunned her into silence. She stared at me, her eyes wide, her chest rising and falling rapidly. I gently brushed a stray strand of hair away from her forehead.

“Well? How was it? Unpleasant?”

I chuckled, releasing her from my embrace. “You said you wanted to be my girlfriend. Did you think it would be like in those anime, a sweet and innocent yuri romance?”

It didn’t bother me. After all, I was still half-boy in my mind. But Xiaodie was different. Before we met, she was an ordinary girl, dreaming of falling in love, of a prince charming sweeping her off her feet. To be suddenly kissed by another girl… it must have been jarring, even repulsive.

“You…”

She blinked, as if waking from a dream. “Yi Yao… you…”

“Yes, it’s me.”

If she mentioned the detention center or the police again, I would resort to more drastic measures.

“That was my first kiss! And you just…”

Her face was flushed, a mixture of anger and embarrassment. She grabbed the violin case containing her sniper rifle. “And in the middle of the street, no less…”

I glanced around. “There’s no one around.”

Was that really her biggest concern right now? The fact that I had kissed her in public?

“Don’t change the subject!”

She raised the case threateningly. I held up my hands. “Hey, hey, think about it! That rifle is practically worth a down payment on an apartment…”

“It’s mine! I bought it with my own money!”

…

We ended up in a newly renovated villa, Xiaodie sprawled on a plush bed, still fuming.

The house was sparsely furnished but had a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. It was simple yet elegant, comfortable and inviting.

“So, what are your plans now?”

I poured myself a glass of water from the dispenser and took a seat, observing her.

The villa was quite luxurious, with two floors and a garden. I had heard that Xiaodie’s father had purchased it with his life savings, leaving her the house and his remaining savings—a total of one million yuan. This was all that remained of the man who had been vilified by the entire city.

“During the trial, my dad and the court people asked me if I wanted to live with some distant relatives.”

“And you agreed?”

“I refused.”

She sat up abruptly, her cheeks flushing again as she avoided my gaze. “They used to be close to our family, but after my dad’s arrest, they distanced themselves. I refuse to live with hypocrites like them.”

“But you won’t be able to afford living here on your own.”

One million yuan might seem like a lot, but half of it would go towards her high school tuition. That left her with five hundred thousand yuan, which would have to last her three years of high school and, potentially, university. Less than one thousand yuan per month wouldn’t be enough for a growing girl.

“That’s where you come in, right?”

She hopped off the bed and padded over to me in her slippers, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Yi Yao… will you… be my girlfriend?”

No. 52 Fear Etched on Their Faces

The scorching sun beat down on the residential complex, a hazy heat rising from the pavement.

I stood at the edge of the rooftop, staring at the deserted concrete below and the agitated crowd gathering on the other side. Despite the precarious situation, a strange calmness settled over me.

The two buildings, mine and Xiaodie’s, were separated by a narrow gap, barely a meter wide. My rooftop was also about two meters higher. Which meant that once I jumped across, there was no way to return without assistance.

“Yi Yao… maybe we should reconsider. It’s a nine-story drop. It’s too dangerous.”

Liang Zhenyi, who had accompanied me to the rooftop, looked down at the ground, his voice filled with concern. “It’s broad daylight. They wouldn’t hurt Xiaodie, right? We’re just kids.”

“You’re suggesting we leave Xiaodie’s fate in the hands of these strangers?”

The crowd had blocked the stairwell. We couldn’t get through. If we did nothing, there were only two possible outcomes: one, Xiaodie would emerge from her apartment and face the mob alone, risking a confrontation or a stampede. Two, the mob would force their way into the building and her apartment.

Either way, without a friend by her side, she would be vulnerable. And in this volatile situation, the consequences could be devastating.

Xiaodie, already on the verge of a breakdown, might completely lose hope in humanity, in her own future.

“But they wouldn’t hurt a little girl, right?”

Liang Zhenyi, as indecisive as ever, even after ten years. Perhaps some things were truly predetermined.

“Listen, Huang Yingdie is my friend. You’re my friend too. If you ever face a similar situation, I’ll come for you.”

I took a few steps back, my eyes fixed on the landing spot I had chosen. “There are many things in life you have to fight for. This is one of them. If we don’t try, we’ll never reach new heights.”

I ran, leaped, and soared through the air.

My windbreaker, jeans, and sneakers blurred as I crossed the gap between the buildings. I landed, tucking my head and rolling to absorb the impact, just as I had practiced in the Taekwondo gym.

Pain shot through my body.

I stood up, my heart pounding, my clothes disheveled. The rooftop was a desolate expanse of concrete, littered with debris and dead branches.

I had made it.

“Yi Yao!”

Liang Zhenyi called out from the other side, his voice filled with worry. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

I licked a small cut on my hand, the metallic taste of blood clearing my head. “Tell Hua She and the others to go back. I’ll handle this.”

That girl really was a troublesome friend…

I followed the rooftop access corridor and reached the stairwell leading to Xiaodie’s floor. Ignoring my messy clothes, I called her as soon as I reached her door.

“I’m outside.”

The door opened, and Xiaodie emerged, wearing a crop top and short harem pants, a large violin case-shaped backpack slung over her shoulder.

“Did you get everything?”

She nodded, then glanced back at her empty apartment, a hint of sadness in her eyes.

The self-proclaimed “righteous citizens” had already searched the place and confiscated several items. I had been present when she moved out. She had taken only a few clothes and her manga collection.

If I remembered correctly, that case contained the M200 sniper rifle she had purchased from Ouyang Dati. It was the same rifle used by Yuri Nakamura in the anime “Angel Beats!” She had fallen in love with it at first sight.

Of course, it was incredibly expensive. And since she was a minor, Ouyang Dati hadn’t given her any ammunition or taught her how to use it, claiming such a powerful weapon was unsuitable for beginners.

Despite that, she treasured it.

“Let’s go.”

I took her hand and said, “Stay close behind me.”

“Okay.”

She followed me obediently, like a kitten.

It took us less than three minutes to reach the ground floor.

Through the glass door of the stairwell, I saw a sea of faces, a scene straight out of a zombie apocalypse movie.

“They’re coming down!”

“Heh, couldn’t handle the guilt, huh?”

“They should arrest the daughter too. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“Why is that Yi Yao girl with her? Do they live together?”

Xiaodie’s hand trembled in mine.

Her fear was palpable, transmitted through her clammy palm.

Confusion, fear, helplessness, despair—I saw a dark cloud descend over her, her inner world a blood-soaked nightmare.

“It’s okay. I’m here.”

I had witnessed countless scenes like this in my previous life.

A year from now, in June 2017, during the summer break after the college entrance exam, Upper Capital City would experience a far larger and more chaotic panic, fueled by extremist groups. The entire city would be paralyzed for a month.

And there would be two more similar incidents, in 2019 and 2020. Compared to those events, this current situation was child’s play.

I opened the door and stepped out, pulling Xiaodie along. The crowd parted instinctively, their gazes filled with a mixture of scorn, curiosity, and hatred. The world fell silent.

“Hold it right there!”

Just as we were about to escape the encirclement, someone finally spoke up. “You’re just going to walk away?”

I turned to face the speaker. “Didn’t you want to search her apartment? The door is unlocked. Go ahead.”

He scoffed. “Oh, so confident? You must have already removed the evidence.”

Humans were predictable creatures. If you refused to let them search, they accused you of hiding something. If you let them search, they claimed you had already removed the evidence. In short, you couldn’t win.

“You can leave, but let us check that case.”

He gestured towards Xiaodie’s backpack.

I stepped between them, shielding her. “That’s personal property. I refuse.”

“Then don’t blame us for being ruthless. We’re doing this for the sake of Upper Capital City.” He turned to the crowd. “Am I right?”

“Yes!”

“We can’t let another Huang Zhiqiang incident happen!”

“I love Upper Capital City! We won’t let you leave!”

The crowd roared, their faces flushed with righteous indignation, as if they were ready to charge into a hail of bullets.

“See? We’re not asking for much. Just let us search you. If you’re innocent, we won’t give you any trouble.”

He grinned triumphantly and waved his hand. Several burly men stepped forward. As they reached for us, I retreated, drew the knives from my pants, and assumed Pai Ge’s offensive stance, shielding Xiaodie.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, you’re just a kid. You think you can threaten us with knives? Aren’t you afraid of juvenile detention?”

Emboldened by the crowd, he chuckled. “Come on, you wouldn’t dare stab anyone.”

“Swish! Swish!”

Two flashes of steel. His shirt was sliced in a cross pattern, revealing a thin line of blood where the blades had grazed his skin.

“Do you believe me now?”

I said coldly, maintaining my stance.

This was my first real fight, and I was using lethal weapons. But with Xiaodie behind me, I felt no fear, only a fierce determination to protect her.

“These knives are sharp. Don’t push your luck.”

The information I had downloaded from the Queen Bee server wasn’t just about Huang Zhiqiang and the other politicians. Zhui Feng had told me about a mysterious group operating in the shadows, seemingly intent on destabilizing the city. Their motives were unclear, but they were definitely up to no good.

“You… you’re just a girl. What are you going to do?”

The man I had injured stumbled backward, his face pale.

“Hey, Da Wei, what’s the age of criminal responsibility again?”

“Fourteen or sixteen? I can’t remember.”

“Don’t ‘can’t remember’! There’s a big difference between fourteen and sixteen! If it’s sixteen, and this little girl accidentally hurts us, we’re screwed.”

Just then, I saw a few familiar faces charge through the crowd, tackling the men who were blocking our path.

“Yi Yao, run! Take Xiaodie and run!”

Hua She, Liang Zhenyi, and the others, like a herd of bulls, created a path for us, their arms wrapped tightly around the aggressors.

“Run!”

I hesitated for a moment, then grabbed Xiaodie’s hand and, before the crowd could react, we sprinted through the gap.

No. 51 In This Twisted World

**November 29, 2015, Sunday, Rain.**

After a week of continuous drizzle, the sun finally peeked through the clouds today. This relentless rain has severely impacted Dad’s fruit business. Not only has customer traffic dwindled, but even the fruits that could usually be preserved have started to rot. And worst of all, the clothes hanging on the balcony never dry. If this continues, I’ll be forced to wear dresses at home.

I bumped into an elementary school classmate on my way back from training tonight. Maybe it was because I was wearing my Taekwondo uniform, or maybe it’s been too long, but he didn’t recognize me.

Thinking about it now, maybe it’s for the best. I’m not worthy of associating with such accomplished people. It saved us both from an awkward encounter.

I wonder what stories about the future my brother will tell me tonight…

**December 13, 2015, Wednesday, Sunny.**

It’s incredible! Last night, my brother told me in a dream that Lan Zhuoyue and Tan Lijiang would fight today, and they actually did! It even escalated to the point where the school administration got involved. It seems like they’ll both be punished. I hope they’ll be okay, although I don’t really like Tan Lijiang. He seems so arrogant.

But lately, I’ve noticed something strange about Lan Zhuoyue. Sometimes, he’ll be reading a novel in class, then suddenly fall asleep, his face pale and lifeless. I hope he’s not sick.

**January 9, 2016, Saturday, Sunny.**

It’s my birthday, but I don’t feel happy at all.

The monthly exam results are out, and as usual, they’re terrible. Dad scolded me harshly. I went out and played streetball with Hua She and Liang Zhenyi for a while. When I came back, Dad had already gone to the hospital to see Mom. No birthday cake, no presents, not even a single birthday wish. Hmm… I’ve been used to Dad’s indifference since I turned thirteen, but for some reason, the emptiness of our home fills me with a deep sadness.

I feel so useless, incapable of doing anything right. I’m slowly losing the will to live.

**January 21, 2016, Thursday, Overcast.**

My stomach hurts so much. Knowing this pain will last for a week makes me feel even worse.

My brother’s illness seems to be getting worse. He used to tease me occasionally, but now he barely speaks.

Hmph, serves him right. He always said girls have it easy. If he were a girl, he’d probably hate it even more than I do. Not to mention those weird monthly periods. Dad always says that even if I get good grades, I’ll eventually get married. A married daughter is like spilled water. And with my terrible grades, I might not even find a husband. He’s just wasting his money raising me…

Wait, what if my brother became a girl?

**February 1, 2016, Monday, Sunny.**

I did it!

I can actually switch consciousness with my brother!

At first, I just wanted to experience his world. I never imagined we would actually swap bodies. When I opened my eyes, I was in a dark hospital room. My body ached all over. I didn’t realize his illness was this severe. Even lifting my hand was a struggle. In that state of pain, I couldn’t even tell the difference between a male and a female body. And based on his memories, his illness seemed incurable. The doctor said the surgery had less than a one percent chance of success.

When we switched back, my stupid brother didn’t even realize he had been in my body. He was still his usual clueless self. It made me wonder if it was all just a dream. But when I asked him if there was a vase of lilies by his bed, he confirmed it.

Well, there’s nothing left for me in this world anyway. I’ve tried to jump off the roof countless times, but I always chickened out. I didn’t want to burden others with my death. Since my brother said he had unfinished business, I’ll let him use my body to fulfill it.

It’s so strange… my brother is actually me from the future…

**February 2, 2016, Tuesday, Overcast.**

This is probably my last diary entry.

I researched it online. The brain can remain active for six to ten minutes after death. During that time, the person is forced into a dream state.

If I switch consciousness with my brother during that time, even if he figures out the method later, his body in that world will already be dead. My consciousness should dissipate along with my body, forcing him to remain in my body and live as a middle school girl.

So, I bought a lot of sleeping pills. I’ve been switching consciousness with him occasionally, checking on his condition.

Our situation must be unique to people from parallel worlds. Or maybe it’s because we have a special connection? After all, there are still many things science can’t explain.

Our final parting will probably be in a few days.

Brother… thank you for always being there for me. Yi Yao is a bad girl… please burn this diary after you read it…

…

I reached the last page of the diary, staring at the familiar handwriting, my heart heavy with emotions.

Yes, I had those memories, but whether my sister had deliberately suppressed them before she left, or perhaps because of the recent events, I hadn’t remembered this diary entry for almost two months.

I knew she had sacrificed herself for me, but I never imagined the extent of her despair. If I hadn’t found this diary while cleaning my room today, I might have buried this memory forever.

“Yi Yao…”

I stood up from the bed, walked over to the vanity table, and stared at my reflection. The girl in the mirror was me, yet I felt a profound sense of disconnect.

My phone rang.

“Hello…”

“Yi Yao, what’s wrong with your voice? Are you sick?”

Hua She’s concerned voice filled my ears.

I wiped my tears. “No, I was just lost in thought. What’s up?”

“We have a problem. Come quickly. It’s urgent.”

“What happened?”

“Remember the mayor’s request to see his daughter? Huang Zhiqiang, the one they’ve been talking about in the news?”

“Yes. Is the verdict out?”

After returning from the Air Force complex, Xiaodie had met with her father. I didn’t know what they had discussed, but she had been withdrawn ever since, locking herself in her room, refusing to see anyone but me. Even when I was with her, she would just fiddle with her unloaded sniper rifles, barely speaking. I was worried about her.

“The verdict is out. Death sentence.”

Hua She’s voice was urgent. “But that’s not the main problem. You were probably in class and didn’t see the live broadcast. They revealed a lot of evidence during the trial, implicating him in embezzling over eighty million yuan. They even presented evidence linking him to several child abduction cases. The public is outraged.”

My heart sank. “And?”

“And? Last night, someone started spreading rumors that there’s more evidence hidden in his home. Now, his daughter’s apartment building is surrounded by angry protesters. They’ve blocked all the entrances.”

“What?!”

I quickly changed into my outdoor clothes. “Where’s Xiaodie now?”

“She’s been holed up in her apartment for days, of course. Come quickly, Yi Yao. I think they’re about to break down the door.”

“I’m on my way!”

I hung up, grabbed my knives, put on my shoes, and rushed out of the apartment, dialing Xiaodie’s number as I ran.

“Xiaodie, Xiaodie, are you home?”

“Yes…” Her voice sounded tired.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

I hailed a taxi and reassured her. “Listen, stay inside, don’t open the door for anyone. Wait for me, okay?”

“Okay.”

Her voice was unusually docile.

I arrived at her complex at noon. As Hua She had said, the building was surrounded by a large crowd. Banners with slogans like “Return our children! Down with Huang Zhiqiang’s lackeys!,” “Drive corruption out of Upper Capital City!,” and “Cooperate with the people’s inspection!” were draped across the trees.

“Yi Yao, you’re finally here! These people are crazy!”

The Black Dragon Society members, who had been waiting for me, swarmed around me.

“What’s the situation?”

“The building management initially refused to open the door, and there was a scuffle. But now it seems like they’re giving in.”

I frowned. “I don’t understand. Why are they targeting her apartment? What do they want?”

“They want to search her apartment. Someone online claimed there’s more evidence hidden there. These people are just riled up by the rumors. They’re saying they won’t leave until they search the place. I suspect some of them are just opportunists, hoping to loot the place.”

“Are they stupid? If they want to search the apartment, they should get a warrant from the court or the police.”

“Don’t ask me. The priority now is to get Xiaodie out of there. Once the building management opens the door, it’ll be chaos. It’s not safe for a girl to be alone in that situation.” The harsh sunlight cast a demonic shadow on Hua She’s scarred face. “We checked earlier. You can probably jump from the roof of the adjacent building to her building, but you won’t be able to jump back. You go up there, find Xiaodie, and come down the stairs. We’ll be waiting for you downstairs. I doubt they’ll give two girls any trouble.”

No. 50 Echoes of Hope

My days fell into a routine: attending classes during the day, visiting Mom in the evening, then heading to the basement of the entertainment complex to train in the Pai family’s fighting style.

Mid-March arrived, and the weather gradually warmed.

More girls were wearing skirts on the streets, and ice cream shops were bustling with customers.

Upper Capital City, being in the south, experienced an early spring. However, in most northern cities, the weather remained relatively unchanged, with some areas still blanketed in snow.

A sense of foreboding lingered in the air, despite the warm spring sunshine.

“Left! Right! Horizontal slash!”

I parried Pai Ge’s attacks with two playing cards, sweat dripping from my face as I retreated under his relentless assault.

“Yi Yao, your movements are fluid. What you lack is confidence in your offense. Humans are inherently aggressive creatures. Every successful person’s path is paved with the bodies of those they’ve defeated. You don’t need to feel guilty.”

Two more blurs of motion, two cards colliding in mid-air. My cards were sliced in half with a crisp “snap.”

Exhaustion weighed heavily on my body. I stood in the middle of the empty living room, my breaths ragged, my heart pounding in my chest.

It’s okay, Yi Yao, you’ve been through this before. If you could do it then, you can do it now.

For your sister, you have to be strong.

I gritted my teeth, drew a new card from my pocket, and charged towards Pai Ge.

“Joker Slash!”

As I closed in, I swung both cards towards his neck in a crisscrossing motion.

He smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes, and swiftly retreated.

He countered with two cards, his movements fluid and precise. I couldn’t dodge in time. My attack landed—on his hat.

Two white lines appeared on the black fedora, sending it flying.

“Huff… huff…”

Exhausted, I dropped to one knee, sweat dripping from my face, forming patterns on the wooden floor.

“Excellent.”

Pai Ge retrieved his hat, clapping his hands. “It seems you’ve finally awakened.”

I looked up at him, wiping the sweat from my face.

“You know, a girl who works hard is always endearing. That’s why I didn’t teach you everything at once.” He crouched down beside me, his usual playful smirk replaced by a thoughtful expression. “Yi Yao, is there something you want to protect? Or someone you want to save?”

“No.”

I stood up, my breathing returning to normal.

The only thing I needed to protect was myself.

“That first card you used, it wasn’t an ordinary playing card, was it?”

I had been wanting to ask this for a while. Cutting a beer bottle with a playing card? Impossible!

“Ah, you noticed. I guess you could say I’m a bit of a magician.”

He chuckled sheepishly, pulling out a card from his pocket. It looked identical to an ordinary playing card.

“It’s made of a special material. It’s not quite nanotech, but it can definitely stop a bullet.”

He flicked the card towards me, and I caught it with one hand.

I turned and slashed at an empty soda bottle Ouyang Dati had left behind.

“Crack.”

The bottle split cleanly in two. The top half wobbled in the air before crashing to the floor. The bottom half remained standing.

How sharp was this card?

“Actually, Yi Yao, I don’t recommend using this type of weapon.”

He took the card back and glanced at the knives concealed in my shorts. “Your hands are too delicate. These cards require a firm grip. Stick to knives unless absolutely necessary.”

“Okay.”

I walked over to the water dispenser and poured myself a glass of water.

But I didn’t even know who my enemy was.

It seemed I had inherited the original Yi Yao’s tendency to wander blindly down unknown paths.

She had trained in Taekwondo for seven or eight years, unsure of its purpose.

And now, I had been practicing these strange hidden weapons for over a month, clueless about their true use.

“It’s strange. You haven’t asked me about my motives.”

Pai Ge said from behind me.

“What?”

“Aren’t you curious about my intentions? I’m a mysterious stranger, after all.”

“Your intentions?” I turned to face him. “Are you saying I should question a friend’s motives every time they invite me for dinner?”

I had investigated Pai Ge’s background.

He was a rich kid, a playboy, and he played the role well.

His real name was Luo Wei. He was born on August 6, 1990, 1.78 meters tall, and hailed from another city in Yixian Province. His only family was his uncle, who was involved in some shady business. Two years ago, they had offended a powerful figure and had been on the run ever since. His current net worth was estimated to be around fifty million yuan. He could easily open three more entertainment complexes like this one, but he chose to live a carefree life, pretending to be a delinquent, messing with other delinquents, and treating them to meals and internet cafe sessions.

His romantic exploits could fill a 100KB text file. I didn’t have the patience to read through them. All I knew was that he had money, he didn’t crave power, and he probably didn’t even care about restoring the Pai family’s glory. He was teaching me these fighting techniques simply because he found it amusing.

“Haha, that’s a very Yi Yao-like answer.”

He glanced at Xiaodie’s brightly lit room, then tucked his hands in his pockets. “So, how are you, a sixteen-year-old girl, planning to help her through this crisis?”

I looked down. “I don’t know.”

Losing both parents at fifteen… words couldn’t express the pain.

And she had to watch helplessly as her father was arrested, convicted, sentenced.

“She’s working hard.”

I had witnessed her transformation from a girl who could barely hold a gun to a skilled markswoman who could assemble and disassemble a large-caliber sniper rifle with ease.

Dedication could change a person, even their aura.

Since she didn’t have to attend school during this sensitive period, she spent her days practicing in her room, assembling and disassembling the sniper rifle hundreds of times.

Alone in an empty house, sitting on the bare floor, day after day.

Like me, she knew she might never have to use a gun, but she still trained diligently. Every time I saw Ouyang Dati, he would praise her dedication.

Pai Ge shrugged. “Do your classmates know about this?”

I shook my head. “They’re too busy with exams and their petty rivalries.”

Expecting a bunch of ninth-graders to pay attention to the news? Fat chance.

They probably only knew that something big had happened in their city in March, something that might appear on their high school entrance exam for Chinese composition or politics. If you asked them the mayor’s name or his daughter’s name, they wouldn’t have a clue.

They were more concerned about the rising temperatures, how many bottles of iced tea they needed to buy each day, and when the Education Bureau would inspect the school for illegal weekend classes.

“The online reaction is quite intense.”

After the corruption scandal broke, public opinion was overwhelmingly against the mayor, demanding severe punishment.

That was probably why Xiaodie avoided the internet…

“Sorry… we can’t help you.”

“It’s okay.”

I stood up and walked towards Xiaodie’s room.

Based on the information from the Queen Bee Hacker Alliance, those people were operating on a level I shouldn’t be involved in.

Politics was like a murky pond. Even the slightest ripple could create a chain reaction, spreading outwards.

All I could do was stay by Xiaodie’s side, support her through this difficult time, and prevent her from doing anything rash.

“Woof!”

As I opened the door, a large feline leaped onto me.

“Go play, Xiao Bai.”

I gently pushed the tiger cub, which Xiaodie had named Xiao Bai, aside and stared at the disassembled sniper rifle parts scattered across the floor. “Are you sure you can put this back together?”

“Of course.” She turned away from the window, where she had been aiming the rifle at a distant building, and smiled faintly. “Is training over?”

“Yes, Pai Ge said I’ve mastered the basics.” I sat down on her bed. “How are you doing? Are you used to living here?”

“It’s fine, except it gets lonely during the day.”

She lowered the rifle, which was longer than her, and stood up, her nightgown slipping down, revealing her bare shoulder.

“Yi Yao.”

“Hmm?”

“I want to go home.”

“Home? Where?”

“My old home.” She sat down beside me and leaned her head against my shoulder, like a lover. “Dad managed to get a morning off tomorrow. It might be the last time I see him.”