Blog

No. 31 The Twilight of the Setting Sun Reflected in Water

When I arrived at the residential complex gate, Huang Yingdie was sitting quietly on a bench, eating breakfast.

I was curious what her father had said to her to make her so obediently wait for me every morning.

She had a terrible temper, quick to resort to violence, and a sharp tongue. She didn’t seem like the type to sit still, unless she was being threatened. I couldn’t imagine what kind of leverage her father had over her.

“You really pushed yourself too hard last night.”

I sighed as I parked my bike beside her. “Martial arts is a journey of self-cultivation. Being too reckless will only lead to injury.”

Last night’s training session was still fresh in my mind.

After completing the twenty laps and stretching, when we moved on to technique practice, Huang Yingdie’s intensity had shocked everyone.

She attacked the kicking pad I was holding with a ferocity that bordered on self-destructive, her shouts echoing through the gym, her movements precise and powerful.

Side kicks, roundhouse kicks, front kicks, spinning kicks, double flying kicks, even consecutive aerial double kicks—she executed them all flawlessly.

But I could feel the force behind each kick.

Unless you were venting your anger on a punching bag, you wouldn’t put your full strength into every strike during pad training or sparring. It was a burden on both the trainee and the instructor, and it hindered recovery.

She was treating me like her sworn enemy. After half an hour, she was gasping for air, and my arm was numb.

I knew she was just frustrated.

Children from single-parent families often had fragile egos.

“I told you, it’s none of your business.”

She got on the back of my bike, her voice cold. “Just do your job. What I do with my life is my choice.”

It was as if we were sworn enemies, when in reality, there was no real animosity between us.

Well, some people had to learn the hard way.

Just as I was about to get on my bike, my phone rang.

There were a few dresses in Yi Yao’s closet, but neither I nor the original Yi Yao liked wearing them. I usually wore jeans or my school uniform pants. Dresses were reserved for extremely hot days.

“Hello?”

I pulled out my phone and saw the caller ID. A wave of unease washed over me.

“Yi Yao… come quickly… Zhuoyue, he…”

Lan Zhuoyue’s mother was sobbing uncontrollably. “He’s dying… come quickly, Yi Yao… he wants to see you…”

Her voice was filled with grief and despair.

“Okay, I’m on my way.”

I hung up, tossed my bike keys to Huang Yingdie, and said, “Go to school by yourself today. I have an emergency.”

Without waiting for her response, I ran to the street and hailed a taxi.

“Driver, please hurry. My friend is dying.”

Perhaps he saw the urgency on my face. He nodded, stepped on the gas, and weaved through traffic.

We arrived at the hospital in less than five minutes. I paid the fare, jumped out of the car, and sprinted towards the entrance. Thanks to my training, I quickly reached the fifth floor and, after asking at the nurse’s station, found Lan Zhuoyue’s room.

It was a private room, now crowded with doctors, nurses, and his family.

“She’s here, she’s here!”

Lan Zhuoyue’s mother cried out, and the crowd parted, making way for me.

White sheets, oxygen tanks, IV bags, and a pale boy lying in the bed.

A cold room, cold people.

“Zhuoyue.”

I walked over to his bedside.

“You were supposed to be getting better!”

I tried to mask my grief with anger, but tears streamed down my face.

“Heh…”

Even now, he was still smiling faintly. “Yi Yao, you tricked me so many times in class. Can’t I trick you back just once?”

The others quietly filed out of the room, closing the door behind them.

I could hear his mother’s heartbroken sobs from outside.

“Fine, fine, whatever you say. Damn it, you always do this. Keeping everything to yourself, calling me your brother.”

“Honestly, you’re the only brother I have in this world.” Tears rolled down his cheeks. “Yi Yao… I’ve wanted to ask you this for a long time… cough… can… can you be my girlfriend?”

He added quickly, before I could answer, “I want to hear the truth.”

I looked into his eyes.

They were clear, pure, filled with innocence, hope, and a hint of loneliness.

I shook my head, fighting back tears. “No.”

He sighed, a look of relief washing over his face.

“Yi Yao… you’re still the same. You haven’t changed at all.”

A trickle of blood escaped his lips.

The machines beside his bed started beeping frantically.

“You’re still wearing the cap I gave you… cough… that means you really liked it… thank you…”

The door burst open, and doctors rushed in.

“I have no regrets in this life, really… Yi Yao… I hope you find your own happiness…”

“Xiao Liu! Quick!”

“His blood pressure and heart rate are plummeting! We can’t stop the bleeding!”

“Bring the crash cart!”

In the midst of the chaos, I saw his face, peaceful and serene, his eyes closed.

I don’t remember how I left the room.

I had witnessed countless partings, countless tears and bloodshed.

I thought I had grown accustomed to this world, that I was immune to grief.

But I was wrong.

“We did everything we could.”

I sat on a bench in the hallway, my heart clenching as the doctor approached me, his voice somber.

“Thank you for your efforts, Dr. Wang.”

Lan Zhuoyue’s father said, his eyes red-rimmed, taking the medical report from the doctor.

“Go back to school, child. Don’t miss your… classes…”

His mother, who had intended to comfort me, broke down in tears.

“Okay…”

I knew I couldn’t do anything more. I bowed to her, apologized, and left the hospital.

At 10:00 AM on February 25, 2016, Lan Zhuoyue, a student in Class 11, Grade 9 at No. 3 Middle School, passed away due to complications from thalassemia.

I arrived back at school during the fourth period.

As expected, the homeroom teacher summoned me to her office.

Yi Yao already had a reputation for being troublesome, and I was undeniably late. The teacher’s scolding was harsh, but I didn’t argue. I just stood there silently, letting her vent her frustration.

After all, I could still return to this school. Some people couldn’t.

“Go back to your class. Write a 5,000-word essay reflecting on your actions. Otherwise, I’ll call your parents tomorrow.”

She finally dismissed me, exhausted from her tirade.

“Okay.”

5,000 words. That was the equivalent of six essays.

But I wasn’t worried about the content. If anything, I was willing to write tens of thousands of words to commemorate this event, an event that would forever be etched in my memory.

When I returned to the classroom, the fourth period had just ended. Tan Lijiang and Liang Tong were gathered around my desk, seemingly waiting for me.

“Yi Yao, where did you go this morning? Why were you gone for so long?”

After the basketball game, the tension between Tan Lijiang and me had eased. Like most boys, he didn’t hold grudges over trivial matters. In that regard, he was far more mature than a certain princess.

“I had something to do.”

I mumbled, sitting down and putting my bag on the desk.

Lan Zhuoyue’s desk remained untouched, just as he had left it: textbooks piled high, drawers filled with comics and magazines, the surface cluttered with papers and assignments.

“Where’s Lan Zhuoyue? When is he coming back? It’s been half a month.”

Tan Lijiang sat down on Lan Zhuoyue’s chair, grinning. “I’m ready to apologize. I’ve been waiting for so long.”

His words, though spoken lightly, were like a sharp knife to my heart.

“I don’t know.”

I lowered my head and took off my cap, placing it on the desk.

The red hearts on the cap shimmered in the sunlight.

“Heh, who cares about a guy like Lan Zhuoyue? He could die on the streets, and no one would notice…”

Before Liang Tong could finish his sentence, I jumped up, grabbed his collar, and slammed him against the wall.

“Thud!”

The entire class turned to stare at us.

“You…”

He raised his hands defensively, his eyes wide with fear. “I was just kidding! Why are you so worked up? What happened to Lan Zhuoyue?”

“He…”

I fought back tears. “He’s gone.”

“Gone?”

Tan Lijiang frowned. “Gone where?”

“He’s not coming back.” I released Liang Tong. “Internal bleeding. He passed away just now.”

Even an idiot could understand what I meant. Tan Lijiang’s voice trembled. “Yi Yao… don’t joke about this. It’s not funny.”

I chuckled bitterly. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

Some things, once missed, were lost forever.

“Tan Lijiang, he might never hear your apology.”

No. 30 The Bumpy Road of Fate

After that, my life seemed to return to normal.

At least, for me.

I gradually adapted to this body, to being treated as a girl, to the daily routine.

I woke up early every morning to pick up Huang Yingdie for school, paid attention in class, studied hard, occasionally chatted with my classmates, visited Lan Zhuoyue at the hospital after school, then went to the Taekwondo gym to train those kids. In the evenings, I did my homework, browsed the forum, reviewed my lessons, and practiced the techniques Pai Ge had taught me. My days were full and productive.

Although I already knew the material by heart, I still dedicated myself to studying.

The monthly exams were approaching, and I wanted to surprise my parents.

That’s how parents were. They had simple desires. Now, they wanted me to get good grades. When I grew up and started working, they would just want me to visit them more often.

It had been a while since I last visited Mom at the hospital. I wanted to bring her a stack of perfect test papers as a gift.

After the kidnapping incident, Ouyang Dati had reassigned 043. Pai Ge had disappeared without a trace. Huang Qinghao had kept a low profile. If it weren’t for Huang Yingdie, who sat on the back of my bike every morning, silently playing on her phone, I would have thought it was all a dream.

As for the money, I had over 100,000 yuan in my bank account. I could use it to help my father if he needed it, making up some excuse about winning the lottery.

My main concern was the future. If my parents’ fates were predetermined, I had to plan for my own life.

I didn’t want to repeat the tragedy of my past life…

…

“I’ll be going now.”

On the evening of February 24, 2016, I left Lan Zhuoyue’s hospital ward.

I had been spending most of my evenings with him for the past week.

Because I didn’t know how much time he had left.

Like my father in my previous life. The doctors had initially given him six months, but he had passed away suddenly after an accident.

Illness was often linked to a person’s mental state. Some chronic illnesses were resistant to medication, but if the patient suddenly had a change of heart, became optimistic, they might even recover.

Conversely, minor ailments could worsen if the patient gave up hope and wallowed in self-pity.

The good news was that, during the week I had been visiting him, Lan Zhuoyue’s condition had stabilized. His face was still pale, but he claimed it was just anemia and that he would be fine after a few days of rest.

“Wait, child.”

Lan Zhuoyue’s mother stopped me as I was about to leave.

“Take this two thousand yuan…”

She fumbled in her pocket, but I quickly stopped her. “Auntie, you need the money more than I do. I can’t accept it.”

“No, you’ve been so kind to us. You deserve it…”

“Auntie!”

I pretended to be angry. “If you insist, I won’t come back tomorrow.”

“Okay, okay…”

Seeing my determination, she reluctantly put the money away. “Sigh… Lan Zhuoyue is lucky to have a friend like you. But he doesn’t have the fortune to enjoy it…”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “His father and I are both healthy. Why did our child inherit this disease? It’s so unfair…”

“Auntie, have faith in Zhuoyue. He’s getting better, right?” I smiled and patted her shoulder reassuringly. “Use that money to buy him some delicious food. I remember he loves roast duck and sausages.”

“Oh, you’re such a sweet child.”

Despite the wrinkles on her face, she smiled warmly. “Be careful on your way home.”

“Okay. Tell Zhuoyue to go to bed early tonight. And no more playing on his phone.”

I left the hospital and went straight home.

The apartment was empty. Dinner was laid out on the table in the living room. My father was asleep on the sofa, his face etched with exhaustion.

It was understandable. Taking care of Mom and working at the same time would tire anyone out.

In my previous life, I had stayed in the hospital with my mother for a week.

I had only slept for less than six hours each day.

Patients could have sudden fevers, need medication, require IV changes, or need to use the restroom at any time, even in the middle of the night.

And that was with my mother trying her best to endure and only waking me up when she absolutely couldn’t handle it on her own.

I could only imagine how difficult it was for nurses, who worked rotating shifts, dealing with irregular sleep schedules and patients’ unreasonable demands and complaints.

“Dad?”

I called out softly, but he didn’t stir.

I’ll let him sleep. I’ll grab a bite and head to the gym.

I draped a blanket over him, ate dinner, and grabbed my Taekwondo uniform.

Based on the usual progression of the disease, my father was probably still in the early stages.

But I didn’t know how to convince him to get checked…

When I arrived at the gym, Zhai Fangning, who was already there, opened his arms for a hug, but I dodged him with a swift kick.

“You said there’s a new student coming today?”

I was already wearing my uniform under my jacket, so I just took it off.

I had received a call from Da Ning after school, saying that a very eager student had specifically requested me as her instructor. I hadn’t thought much of it at the time, assuming it was just an ordinary Taekwondo enthusiast who admired my skills.

But judging from Da Ning’s excited demeanor, this student was someone special?

“Yeah, let me tell you, she’s incredibly beautiful… uh, not that you’re not beautiful, Yi Yao. What I mean is, she’s the epitome of feminine beauty, like a princess from a painting.”

“Please, act like an instructor.” I pointed at the students behind him, who were staring at him with amusement. “Look at those kids laughing at you.”

“As if you’re not a kid yourself.”

“You want to get beat up?”

“Sister… sister, I’m sorry.”

However, I never expected this “eager student” to be her.

“Xiaodie, you’re done changing?”

A delicate figure, enveloped in a faint fragrance, emerged from the changing room.

She was my age, with long, beautiful hair, delicate features, and a slender figure. The white Taekwondo uniform, instead of making her look tough, accentuated her feminine curves, making her appear even more delicate and vulnerable.

“Yi Yao, let me introduce you. This is Huang Yingdie. She just transferred from the “Nurturing Talent School”. She’s a blue belt and has been training for a year.”

Zhai Fangning, oblivious to the awkwardness between us, enthusiastically introduced us. “This is the legendary Instructor Yao, Yi Yao.”

I wasn’t particular about titles. The students usually called me by my name. “Yi Yao, Yi Yao” had somehow morphed into “Instructor Yao.” That’s probably how Xiaodie had been misled.

“Yi Yao, she’s only been training for a year. Her previous gym wasn’t as strict as ours. So, you…”

“Don’t worry.” I cut him off, my gaze fixed on Huang Yingdie’s small frame. “Even if she’s the mayor’s daughter, I won’t go easy on her.”

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with determination and defiance.

“Gather up!”

We bowed to the national flag, completed our warm-up exercises, and then came the most grueling part of the training.

Twenty laps around the gym. It was a daunting task for most beginners.

I was curious to see how many laps Huang Yingdie could endure.

“Let me know if you can’t handle it. You’re still recovering from your injury. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

I jogged beside her, unable to resist offering a word of concern.

She didn’t answer.

By the eighth lap, beads of sweat were forming on her forehead.

By the tenth lap, her breathing was heavy, and her pace had slowed.

By the fifteenth lap, she was practically walking, but she was still moving forward, her face flushed with exertion.

By the eighteenth lap, her white uniform was soaked with sweat, clinging to her body, revealing her curves.

By the nineteenth lap, she was the last one left, her eyelashes and cheeks dripping with sweat.

“Thud!”

With half a lap to go, she collapsed onto one knee, exhausted.

I rushed over to help her up, but she pushed me away.

“Don’t touch me.”

She struggled to her feet, her gaze fixed on the other students ahead of her. “Yi Yao… if you can do it, so can I…”

“But you…”

I hesitated, then took a step back.

“Less than thirty meters to go.”

“Okay.”

She wiped the sweat from her forehead and started walking again.

She completed the last thirty meters under the watchful eyes of everyone in the gym.

“Yi Yao, why do I feel like the new girl hates you?”

Zhai Fangning approached me during the break, his brow furrowed.

“How should I know? Ask her yourself.”

I rolled my eyes at him, then added, “Maybe you should try talking to her. Pushing herself too hard isn’t good for her health.”

No. 29 A River of Innocence Flowing Backwards

It was only now that I truly understood the meaning of the “butterfly effect.”

The overlap between Yi Yao’s past and mine was rapidly diminishing, replaced by a tangled web of social connections and an uncertain future.

And it all started because I had done something Yi Yao wouldn’t have done, for a friend she barely cared about.

“Oh, Mayor Huang, you’ve arrived.”

I followed Huang Zhiqiang to the third floor of the hotel. Before we could even settle in, a middle-aged man in a suit approached us, his hand outstretched.

“Haha, I wouldn’t miss Secretary Huang’s banquet for the world.” Huang Zhiqiang shook the man’s hand, laughing heartily. “I’ll go in and punish myself with three drinks first.”

“Now, now, Mayor Huang, that’s not how it works. You arrived on time. There’s no need for punishment.” The man smiled thinly, his eyes flickering towards me. “And who is this?”

“Oh, this is Yi Yao, the girl who saved my daughter during the kidnapping incident. Yi Yao, this is Secretary Huang Tianqi.”

“Hello, Secretary Huang!”

I bowed politely, forcing a smile.

Great, even the provincial secretary. The Huang family was truly powerful.

“Yi Yao? That name sounds familiar… Wait a minute.”

He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts, then his face lit up with recognition. “Yi Yao! My son mentioned you. He said I should help you if you ever needed anything. Heh, it’s been so long, and you haven’t even called me.”

Your son is… Huang Tianhai?

The news reports two years from now never mentioned their relationship. I had assumed Huang Tianhai came from a humble background and worked his way up.

“Her phone was destroyed by Zero… those kidnappers. I just bought her a new one.”

Huang Zhiqiang, sensing my discomfort, quickly intervened. “Secretary Huang, let’s talk over there.”

“Well, even with a new phone, she should at least save my number.”

Huang Tianqi waved his hand dismissively, took my new phone, and entered a few numbers. “Here, Yi Yao. If you ever need anything, just call me. My good-for-nothing son asked me to look after you. I might be busy sometimes, but I can always ask someone to help you out.”

What the hell? The only three contacts on my phone, even without a SIM card, were the mayor, his daughter, and the provincial secretary?

“Well, I’ll leave you two to your private conversation. Please excuse us.”

He returned my phone, then gestured towards a security guard. Huang Tianqi and Huang Zhiqiang walked towards a nearby staircase, leaving me with the guard. “Miss, the VIP room is this way.”

“Okay.”

I had anticipated this outcome.

Despite the ideals of equality, humans were the only creatures in nature who lied for reasons other than survival.

But what I hadn’t expected was to find a room full of familiar faces in the so-called “VIP room.”

Pai Ge, Bing Bing, Hua She, Liang Zhenyi, and even the Jiang Nan Gang members I had injured.

“Yo, Yi Yao.”

Pai Ge was still his usual carefree self, his smile bright, his demeanor sunny, dressed in his signature suit and top hat. The only difference was that he wasn’t holding any playing cards this time.

No wonder Ouyang Dati had called him a “big shot”…

“You guys…”

There were two tables in the large room. Pai Ge, Hua She, and their group occupied one, while the Jiang Nan Gang occupied the other. As I entered, all eyes from the Jiang Nan Gang table turned towards me.

Are you sure you won’t start a fight sitting together like this?

“Why aren’t you wearing a dress, Yi Yao?”

Pai Ge, oblivious to the tense atmosphere, teased me. “I specifically asked Mayor Huang to tell you to wear a dress.”

Wear a dress my ass. How am I supposed to carry those knives in a dress?

I glared at him and sat down beside Liang Zhenyi, forcing a calm facade. “Lao Liang, how’s your injury?”

I instantly regretted my words.

Of all the things to bring up, I had to mention Liang Zhenyi’s injury, the very source of the conflict between the Black Dragon Society and the Jiang Nan Gang.

“It’s much better. Nothing serious. I was being a bit too harsh with my words that day.”

He poured himself a glass of wine, stood up, and raised his glass towards the Jiang Nan Gang table. “My apologies, brothers. I, Liang, offer you my sincere apologies.”

He downed the wine in one gulp.

“Don’t mention it. It was our fault. We got carried away.”

They all stood up and raised their glasses. “Cheers!”

That was how it was with boys.

There was nothing a good meal and a few drinks couldn’t solve.

Three drinks down, they were drunk, they slept.

The sun rose, they woke up, their worries forgotten, life went on.

Besides, with the mayor and the secretary present, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble. One wrong move, and they could end up on the front page of the news.

I stood up and walked over to an empty chair at the Jiang Nan Gang table.

“I’m sorry. I went too far that day.”

I spoke in a soft, apologetic tone, reaching for a glass, but one of the boys stopped me.

“Secretary Huang is upstairs. You’re a girl. You shouldn’t drink.”

“Yeah, we’re a bunch of grown men. We should be ashamed of ourselves for losing to a girl. It’s not your fault.”

“Don’t worry about it, Yi Yao. We’re all friends now. Besides, your Long Ge has helped me out a few times before.”

They all chimed in, their words surprisingly kind.

A wave of warmth washed over me.

“But… I still feel bad…”

One of the boys, his face still bandaged, slammed his bottle on the table. “It might have been a misunderstanding, but Qinghao Ge was hospitalized because of her. It cost us a lot of money. I…”

The atmosphere turned awkward.

Everyone, including Pai Ge and Hua She, stared at him.

“How about this.” The boy who had stopped me from drinking earlier pulled out a small bottle with foreign writing on it. “This is Stolichnaya, Russian vodka, 60% alcohol. As an apology to our brother, you drink half of this, and we’ll call it even. What do you say, Xiao Chao?”

He poured half the bottle into my glass.

“Okay.”

I hesitated for a moment, then raised my glass towards the bandaged boy, Xiao Chao, and downed the liquid in one gulp.

Sweet?

“Good! That’s the spirit!”

The boy cheered and raised his glass. The others followed suit, emptying their beer glasses.

“Xiao Chao, are you satisfied now?”

“Yes, yes.” He wiped the beer from his mouth, his gaze shifting from resentment to concern. “Is she going to be okay?”

“Relax. We have all the best doctors in the Yixian Province on standby. What could possibly go wrong?”

“Good, good, good.” He nodded repeatedly, then bowed to me. “You’re a true heroine. I was wrong. Please forgive my rudeness.”

Are you guys filming a martial arts drama?

“Alright, alright, we have more guests arriving soon. Yi Yao, you should head back to your table.”

Seeing that the matter was settled, they politely dismissed me.

I returned to Pai Ge’s side. He patted my back nonchalantly. “Yi Yao Mei(little sister), I’m impressed. Stolichnaya, Russian vodka. You downed it in one gulp. You’re a true disciple of mine.”

I glanced at the other table, making sure they were distracted by their drinking game, then whispered to Pai Ge, “That wasn’t vodka. It was sweet.”

It didn’t even taste like alcohol.

“I know.” He grinned. “They already forgave you. Boys will be boys. They fight, they bleed, it’s all part of growing up. That guy was just close to Qinghao and felt a bit resentful. So, we decided to play a little prank on him.”

His words stunned me.

They didn’t even care about getting hurt.

Like wolves, they had learned to embrace pain and grow stronger through bloodshed.

“Speaking of which, Yi Yao, let me tell you a secret.”

He lowered his voice conspiratorially.

“Bing Bing said she likes you…”

“Whoosh!”

A small knife flew across the room, narrowly missing his face and embedding itself in the chair behind him.

“I’m sorry! Bing Bing, I’m sorry!”

He raised his hands in surrender, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead as he stared at the knife.

“Hmph.”

Lu Yibing, who was sitting across from us, snorted and continued playing on her phone, her long hair swaying gently.

“Hey, I’m your brother’s best friend! What if you had actually hit me?”

He pulled the knife out of the chair and, with a few deft movements, transformed it into a playing card.

“…”

“What are you looking at? Eat your food.”

No. 28 The Long Road

I arrived at the Nurturing Talent Middle School just as the students were leaving for the day.

Huang Yingdie, dressed in her school uniform, was standing by the gate, fiddling with her phone.

Putting aside her personality, she was a beautiful girl, with a good figure, good looks, and a powerful background.

I couldn’t understand why someone who seemingly had it all would make such a foolish choice.

I parked my bike beside her, and she got on.

“Didn’t Huang Qinghao come to see you?”

I asked casually as we rode away.

“He’s still in class.”

Her tone suggested she wasn’t in a good mood.

“Did he mention anything about going to karaoke?”

She hesitated. “It’s none of your business.”

“Of course it’s none of my business. I’m just warning you. Don’t assume all boys have good intentions. Internet cafes are one thing, but karaoke rooms are enclosed spaces…”

“Thank you for your concern. Don’t make me say it again. Qinghao is not like that.”

How could I explain it to her?

At their age, in their social circle, true love was rare.

In my previous life, I had often heard my male roommates bragging about their conquests, treating taking a girl’s virginity as a badge of honor. Only when they matured and were ready to settle down would they seek a life partner.

Girls, on the other hand, often played the field, then settled down with a “nice guy” when they were tired of playing.

If Huang Qinghao was that type of guy, I worried that Huang Yingdie, who seemed genuinely devoted to him, wouldn’t be able to handle the truth.

Love at first sight was just lust. Mutual affection was just mutual benefit.

“Do you think that man can protect you for the rest of your life?”

I deliberately used the word “man.”

In the past, I wouldn’t have dared to say such a thing to a girl my age. It could easily be misconstrued. But now, it could actually help strengthen our bond.

Girls rarely held back when discussing boys with other girls.

“Yes, he’s a reliable person.”

Her voice softened, filled with the naive hope and romantic fantasies of a girl in love.

No wonder they said girls in love had zero IQ. Huang Yingdie was a prime example.

“Have you ever considered what would happen if someone spiked your drink at that karaoke party? What if you weren’t paying attention?”

I dropped her off at her residential complex and watched her walk towards her building, chatting with her “boyfriend” on her phone. I couldn’t help but call out to her.

She stopped and turned to me, her expression a mixture of annoyance and confusion.

“Are you saying,” she said coldly, “that the members of the Jiang Nan Gang are all deceitful and underhanded?”

“No, I’m just saying, if something like that happened, and you weren’t prepared, you could ruin your life.”

This was the burden girls carried that boys didn’t.

“Yi Yao.”

She slowly removed her hair tie, letting her long, beautiful hair flow freely in the wind. “Perhaps we’ll never see eye to eye.”

“You’re my enemy. I hate you!”

She pointed at me, her voice trembling with anger. “No matter what you say, Huang Qinghao and I will be fine. You can slander him all you want. I owe you my life, and I’ll repay you in other ways. But from now on, we are enemies!”

She turned and ran into the complex without waiting for my reply.

“Drown in your delusions.”

I sighed, knowing there was nothing I could do. I mounted my bike and headed home.

To my surprise, a luxury car was parked outside my building.

And my father was standing beside it.

“Xiaoyao, you’re having dinner with Uncle Huang tonight, okay?”

He looked excited. He pulled me off my bike and whispered in my ear. “If you get the chance, mention our fruit shop to him. You know, the accident we had. Maybe he can… persuade the insurance company to be more generous. Or maybe he can help us with our business. Just say good things about your dad, okay?”

Uncle Huang?

I turned around and saw Huang Yingdie’s father, the mayor of Upper Capital City, Huang Zhiqiang.

“Yo, Yi Yao, is Xiaodie home?”

He looked at me with a kind smile.

Like a father who had given up on his own child, seeing the girlfriend who could finally set him straight.

“I dropped her off at her complex.”

I flashed him a toothy grin, my voice adopting the playful tone of a cheerful girl. “What brings you here, Uncle?”

“Haha, nothing much. I just wanted to thank you properly for saving my daughter. I thought we could have dinner tonight and chat.” He patted my head. “Are you free?”

“Of course, of course. Yi Yao has nothing to do every night.”

Before I could answer, my father jumped in, eager to please. “Mayor Huang, please take good care of my daughter.”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. Your daughter is our family’s savior.”

He opened the back door for me and waved at my father. “I’ll take good care of her. My driver will bring her back later.”

“Okay!” My father beamed. “Xiaoyao, have fun.”

Still dazed, I got into the luxurious car.

“Yi Yao, do you have a boyfriend at school?”

As the car pulled away, the mayor, who was sitting in the passenger seat, asked a question that almost made me choke.

“Uh… no.”

“Good. I like obedient and sensible girls like you.”

He sighed deeply. I saw his exhausted face in the rearview mirror. “Xiaodie’s mother passed away shortly after she was born. She was raised by her grandmother. I’m always busy with work and haven’t been a good father. As a result…”

“You probably don’t know this, but Xiaodie used to be just like you. I remember giving her only 300 yuan for a week’s allowance, and she would still give 100 yuan to beggars near the school. When I came home exhausted and collapsed on the sofa, she would make me dinner and pour me water. But now… sigh…”

“She’s a good girl, but she’s stubborn. Once she sets her mind on something, it’s hard to change her.”

“I’ve noticed that she’s been talking about you a lot lately. Her QQ space is filled with posts about you. So, I thought, maybe you could help her.”

Help her? How? She was blinded by love. Unless she experienced heartbreak, nothing would change her.

“Oh, right, I almost forgot.”

He pulled out a brand new phone and handed it to me, a sheepish smile on his face. “Those thugs destroyed your and Xiaodie’s phones. I bought two new ones. This one is the same as Xiaodie’s. I’ve already saved our contact information in it.”

I stared at the phone, a sleek smartphone with a cute pink bunny case. “Uncle, this is too expensive. I can’t accept it.”

Yi Yao, you’re dealing with a corrupt official.

A despised man, responsible for the economic turmoil in Upper Capital City. Even if he was executed, his name would be forever tarnished.

This man would be sentenced to death on January 3, 2017.

“Haha, no wonder they say children can see things adults can’t. Don’t worry, I bought this phone, and your salary, with my own money. Everything is accounted for.”

“No… Uncle, that’s not what I meant…”

I tried to explain, but he waved his hand dismissively. “I understand. I know my reputation isn’t good… sigh, if I could just turn Xiaodie back into the girl she used to be, even death would be worth it.”

Wait… did he just say…

“I’m getting old. I don’t have many ambitions left. Only Xiaodie… She lost her mother at a young age. I just want to give her the best material comforts, to make up for the love I haven’t given her.”

Something wasn’t right.

If he was committing these crimes for his daughter, then this was a serious problem.

In the other world, Xiaodie hadn’t survived the kidnapping. Without her, Huang Zhiqiang wouldn’t have been so desperate for money and power.

As long as Huang Yingdie was alive, her father’s fate would be drastically altered.

He might even commit even greater crimes to compensate for her trauma.

Which meant that the chances of him being exposed and arrested would increase, and his execution date might be moved up.

The replacement of a city’s mayor would have a significant impact.

I could already see the storm brewing, a storm caused by my own actions.

Was there no other way?

I didn’t regret saving Huang Yingdie. I didn’t know the extent of her father’s crimes, but I was sure that without him, she would crumble.

And if Huang Qinghao chose that moment to break her heart…

What would be left of her?

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like the new phone?”

Huang Zhiqiang asked, noticing my silence.

“No, I love it. Thank you, Uncle.”

This man was a corrupt official, but he was also a father.

“Good. I asked Xiaodie, and she said you would like this model.”

He unfastened his seatbelt.

The car stopped in front of a luxurious hotel.

“We’re here, Yi Yao. Let’s go.”

No. 27 A Plea Beyond Silence

The game resumed.

“Hey, girl, you’re really putting in the effort. No offense, but your team is pathetic. Having to rely on a girl to play…”

The boy in the center position smirked at me as he prepared to inbound the ball. “Hey, do you have a boyfriend? I’m not going to lie, you’re pretty. Seriously, if you dressed up a little…”

“No, thank you.”

I cut him off flatly. “Maybe if you were a girl, I’d consider it.”

“You…” He sputtered, then turned to Tan Lijiang. “Lao(senior,old) Jiang, are you giving up by putting her as point guard?”

Tan Lijiang snorted. “Since when did you become so talkative?”

At least he had some pride.

He could insult his own class, but no one else could.

—He’s my brother. Only I can hit him. Anyone else tries, and they’ll face the consequences.

“Fine, don’t blame it on the girl when you lose, heh.”

The basketball arced through the air.

Everyone scattered, the initial formations forgotten.

It was just a middle school game, after all. No need for strict rules.

“Jiang Ge(brother)! Rebound!”

Under the watchful eyes of over a hundred students from both classes, Tan Lijiang, who usually looked like a bookworm, suddenly unleashed a burst of energy. He dashed into the crowd, snatched the ball, and quickly passed it to a teammate.

“Three-pointer! Shoot!”

The teammate’s position wasn’t ideal, but spurred on by Tan Lijiang’s shout, he threw the ball towards the basket from beyond the three-point line.

“Clang!”

The ball bounced off the rim. As our team hesitated, the Class 12 players swarmed the basket.

“Defense!”

Tan Lijiang, the first to react, tried to block the boy who had grabbed the rebound, but it was too late. The ball was passed to their point guard, who turned and effortlessly sank a three-pointer.

“Three points! Score is 45 to 11!”

We were a disorganized mess.

“Tan Lijiang, pass me the ball next time.”

I pulled my cap lower and walked over to him.

“Okay.”

He didn’t argue, his face dripping with sweat.

“Dude, give it up. There are only nine minutes left. You can’t win.”

One of the Class 12 players patted Tan Lijiang’s shoulder, then looked at me. “Hey, little sister, if you like basketball so much, you can play with us after school. We won’t treat you like this in Class 12. It’s just a game. Have fun.”

He inbounded the ball.

“Jiang Ge!”

“I know.” Tan Lijiang, his spirit broken, lacked his earlier energy, but he still managed to grab the rebound.

I moved into position for a three-pointer.

Since I hadn’t taken a single shot so far, the defenders only halfheartedly guarded me, their attention focused elsewhere.

“Jiang Ge! Over here!”

One of our teammates called out, running towards the basket.

Tan Lijiang hesitated, glancing at me, then at his teammate.

Finally, he passed me the ball.

“Seriously?”

The small basketball sailed through the air, landing in my hands.

“Yi Yao, pass the ball!”

“You can’t make it from that distance!”

“Pass it to me! Quick!”

Pass my ass.

I jumped, without hesitation, and threw the ball towards the basket.

“Swish!”

The ball sailed through the net, bouncing a few times before rolling out of bounds.

The entire court fell silent.

Three seconds later, cheers erupted.

“Holy shit!”

“Yi Yao, you’re amazing!”

“Three points! Mark it down!”

“Okay… okay, three points for Class 11! The score is 21 to 45!”

Only 24 points to go…

I brushed my hair away from my eyes and returned to my position.

“Yi Yao, you play basketball?”

“Was that just a lucky shot?”

My teammates stared at me in disbelief.

“You also said my perfect score on the test was a fluke.”

I pointed towards the court. “Let’s focus on the game.”

The tide turned, and our team started scoring point after point.

“Thirty points for Class 11! The score is 27 to 45!”

“Another three-pointer! Thirty points!”

Tan Lijiang and the others focused on grabbing rebounds, while I focused on shooting.

Our relentless scoring spree drew a larger crowd. Even some teachers and staff from the cafeteria came over to watch. The basketball court became my stage.

The Class 12 players, desperate to stop me, assigned their best defenders to guard me.

Their strategy worked to some extent. They managed to steal the ball from me once.

“Forty-six points for Class 11! Forty-seven points for Class 12! One minute left!”

As the game reached its climax, everyone was exhausted, their heavy breathing filling the air.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead, my heart calm, and looked at my classmates.

I was starting to feel tired.

No matter how hard Yi Yao trained, she was still a girl. She couldn’t match the stamina of her male peers.

The opposing team inbounded the ball.

“Yi Yao, two points! It all comes down to you!”

Tan Lijiang passed me the ball, then collapsed onto the sun-baked ground, utterly spent.

All eyes were on me.

Three or four tall boys immediately surrounded me.

“Still trying for a three-pointer?”

They chuckled, their faces flushed with exertion.

“Even two points will win the game, right?”

I smiled and charged towards them.

I had barely moved from my spot throughout the game, just catching the ball and shooting. They had probably dismissed me as a one-trick pony.

Habits were dangerous things. Sometimes, they could save you from darkness. Other times, they could lead you to ruin.

I feinted a pass, effortlessly slipping past two defenders, and headed straight for the basket.

“Shit! Stop her!”

Their captain shouted, and two more players rushed towards me.

Too late.

My eyes fixed on the basket, I jumped, soaring through the air, and slammed the ball through the hoop.

“Boom!”

The backboard rattled from the force of my dunk.

Mission accomplished.

I released the ball and landed gracefully, looking around the court. Everyone was staring at me as if I were a monster.

Silence.

“Yi Yao, you…”

Tan Lijiang finally found his voice, his jaw hanging open. “Was that a dunk?”

“I guess so.”

I walked back to my spot, grabbed my water bottle, and took a long drink.

Yi Yao had trained her legs extensively. She had often attempted dunks while playing with Hua She and the others. It was child’s play for her. And since the defenders weren’t expecting it, I had easily scored.

“Did we… win?”

Luo Xiaoning, who was holding my water bottle, still looked dazed, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“Yes, we did.”

I waved at the girl who was keeping score. “Flip the board. Forty-eight points.”

“Oh, oh.”

She snapped out of her daze and flipped the scoreboard. “Game over! Forty-eight points for Class 11, forty-seven points for Class 12! Class 11 wins!”

…

As I wheeled my bike out of the school gate, I saw a group of familiar faces waiting for me. The same group from Huang Tianhai’s dinner party.

And they were all carrying steel pipes.

“Huang Qinghao sent you?”

I parked my bike casually.

“Yi Yao Jie(sister)…”

The leader of the group hesitated.

“Just spit it out. I’m in a hurry.”

“Qinghao Ge wants us to avenge him, but you know… Hai Ge forbade us from messing with you. So…”

“So, what are you going to do?”

His words surprised me. I had assumed they were all blindly loyal to their “brotherhood.” It seemed not all delinquents were hotheaded fools.

“It’s not about what we want to do. It’s…”

He glanced around and lowered his voice. “I think Qinghao Ge has… lost it.”

“Lost it?” I frowned. “Isn’t he your brother?”

“That’s why I’m worried. You know he likes A-Pian Jie, but she refuses to go to a hotel with him. So…”

“So what?”

“Yesterday, he asked me to organize a karaoke party and slip something into A-Pian Jie’s drink. I refused, and he got really angry. I’m worried he might do something stupid.”

I knew it.

I took a deep breath. “Where’s Xiaodie now?”

“Still at school.”

“I understand. I’ll handle this.”

I walked back to my bike, then turned to them. “Thanks for the heads-up.”