No. 46 The Warmth That Exists Here
We found Huang Qinghao’s body in an abandoned factory on the southern outskirts of Upper Capital City.
The air was thick with the stench of blood and rust.
Under the harsh light of Ouyang Dati’s phone, a bullet wound was clearly visible on his forehead. His eyes were wide open, his expression frozen in a silent scream.
Members of the Jiang Nan Gang and the Black Dragon Society surrounded the factory, their faces grim. The boy who had led us here was sobbing uncontrollably. Most of the others averted their gazes, unable to bear the sight of the corpse.
Huang Yingdie clung to my arm, as if I were her only anchor in this storm.
“I never imagined Upper Capital City would become this chaotic.”
Ouyang Dati sighed, putting on his gloves and gently closing Huang Qinghao’s eyes. “Did he have any enemies?”
One of the Jiang Nan Gang members spoke up. “No, he just had a few minor scuffles with other guys. The most serious one was with Yi Yao Jie, but he didn’t intend to hurt her. He just wanted to teach her a lesson, like he always did.”
Ouyang Dati turned to the first witness. “Stop crying for now. Was he already dead when you arrived, or did he die after?”
“After… after I arrived… I saw him lying there… I was curious… so I went to check… then I ran away…”
“I see.”
Ouyang Dati stood up and pulled out his phone. “Hello, it’s 017. No, it’s not that. We have a shooting here. Can you send someone over? I’ll share my location.”
He hung up and scanned the factory, his gaze lingering on a small hill in the distance. “You might be young, but I hope this incident teaches you a valuable lesson. Life is fragile. While some people are complaining about not getting the latest gadgets or losing a few games, others have been robbed of their very right to live.”
He was essentially telling them to stop messing around and appreciate their youth.
I understood his sentiment.
I had often encountered such people on my journey through life.
The wages in Upper Capital City were below average compared to other cities in the country. 2,000 yuan, a decent monthly salary here, was just a week’s wage for a part-time worker at a fast food restaurant in other cities.
What was even more disheartening was that whenever these hardworking individuals, who toiled day and night, shared their meager earnings online, they would be mocked by people from other cities: “That’s impossible! I earned more than that as a waiter in high school! You’re a university graduate! You must not be trying hard enough!”
Here, people were struggling to afford medical bills. There, people were complaining about their allowance.
I gathered my courage and approached Ouyang Dati, who was examining the body. “Any findings?”
He shook his head. “Judging from the wound, it was a small-caliber sniper rifle. The shooter was a professional. We haven’t determined the exact shooting location yet. We didn’t find any footprints or other evidence when we arrived. This case is going to be tricky.”
“Yi Yao, take a guess.” Pai Ge, still calm despite the presence of a corpse, patted my shoulder. “Who benefits the most from Huang Qinghao’s death?”
“Who benefits the most?” I thought for a moment. “Me?”
“Hahaha, I’ll never understand how you girls think.” He chuckled. “You might have had a conflict with him recently, but there’s no need to kill him to sow discord between you. And even if they wanted him dead, they wouldn’t use a sniper.”
“Yes,” Ouyang Dati agreed. “A death caused by a brawl is a completely different matter from a sniper assassination. The former can be attributed to personal grudges, but the latter…”
Lu Kai, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. “Just tell us who this was aimed at! Huang Qinghao might have been a jerk, but he was still our brother. Don’t let him die without knowing the truth.”
Ouyang Dati looked at Pai Ge.
Pai Ge smiled. “I have the same thought as you.”
“Stop playing games and tell us!”
“It’s simple.” Pai Ge pulled out a playing card. “You’ve all played “Fighting the landlord”, right? If you instigate a fight between the two peasants, who benefits the most?”
Lu Kai frowned. “The landlord?”
“Exactly. That’s how it works in the game. Now, let’s change the scenario: in an entertainment complex, you instigate a fight between two peasants playing Fighting the landlord, then shoot one of them. Who gets in trouble?”
Ouyang Dati answered, “Regardless of who’s at fault, if someone dies, the owner of the entertainment complex is in trouble.”
“Exactly.”
Pai Ge looked at Xiaodie. “This is reality, not a game. A city plagued by kidnappings, prostitution, and now a murder. The citizens will panic, and their trust in the mayor and the city government will erode.”
“And if, at this crucial moment, someone releases news about the mayor’s corruption and his incompetence in managing the city’s economy…”
I could feel Xiaodie’s hand trembling in mine, her palm clammy with sweat.
“This enemy has no interest in our petty gang wars. Their target is Upper Capital City, and—Mayor Huang Zhiqiang.”
“You’re still students. You shouldn’t be involved in this. Leave it to us. Luo Wei, take them back.”
Ouyang Dati waved us away, sensing our fear. “Sometimes, knowing too much can be dangerous.”
“Haha, you’re still as cautious as ever, Dati.”
“I have to be. I never imagined this city would be so chaotic… Alright, go now. My men will be here soon. It wouldn’t look good if they saw a bunch of kids here.”
…
Xiaodie remained silent, her hand gripping my arm tightly, as Pai Ge drove us back to her complex.
She finally spoke as we got out of the car, bowing to him and thanking him.
“Calm down, Xiaodie. Life is full of partings.”
Pai Ge, dressed in his suit, his demeanor serious, looked like a nobleman in the darkness. “Go home and get some sleep. It’s Saturday tomorrow. Go shopping with your friends, play some games. You’ll be safe in the city.”
“Okay.”
She didn’t elaborate, but her voice was still shaky.
“Yi Yao, I’m counting on you.”
He gave me an encouraging look, then closed the car door.
I watched the car drive away, then turned to Xiaodie. “Let’s go.”
“Yi Yao.”
She spoke softly as we walked along the dimly lit path.
“I’m here.”
She tightened her grip on my arm, her voice trembling. “Aren’t you afraid?”
“Afraid of what?”
“A person… just died… I hated him, but I never wanted him to…”
“Are you afraid of death, or are you afraid of this city?”
“I…”
“Xiaodie, death is inevitable. There’s no point in fearing it. All we can do is live each day to the fullest.”
Witnessing the death of a classmate was a traumatic experience for a teenager.
“Why are you so calm, Yi Yao?” She looked up at me. “Why do you always speak so calmly about such things?”
Because I’m used to it.
I had seen countless deaths, both of friends and family.
Coming from the future, I had witnessed the city’s transformation over a decade, the rise and fall of countless lives. I had experienced hardship and loss beyond their comprehension. So, I wasn’t fazed by things that terrified them.
But I couldn’t tell her the truth.
I was a visitor from another time, living in my sister’s body.
“Maybe I’m just insensitive.”
I mumbled, leading her into her apartment.
“Get some rest. Take a shower, go to bed early. And remember to come to school tomorrow.”
I grabbed my bike keys from the coffee table and was about to leave, but she grabbed my arm again.
“Don’t…”
She looked exhausted, her voice weak. “Don’t go…”
“I told you, you’re safe in the city. Be good.”
“Stay…”
“What?”
She lowered her head. “Stay with me… please…”
She was truly afraid.
“Isn’t your dad coming home tonight?”
She shook her head.
“What about school tomorrow?”
She shook her head again.
“You’re hopeless.”
I sighed, took off my shoes, and looked around the messy living room. “This place is a disaster. Where am I supposed to sleep?”
She pointed upstairs. “My room. With me.”
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