âI found the bandage!â Xu Xin rushed over but froze when she saw me holding hands with Mei’er.
Sensing the awkward vibe, I quickly let go.
Xu Xin gave an embarrassed smile. âHere⌠the bandage.â
âThanks!â I took it, turned, and stuck it on my already healed finger.
If Xu Xin knew my wound was gone, Iâd have no way to explain.
Looking at Mei’er and Xu Xin, I said, âYou two head out. Iâll handle the rest!â
Mei’er nodded obediently. âMei’er will go find Sister Mengxin!â She turned and left.
âReally donât need help?â Xu Xin asked, uncertain.
I smiled. âReally not.â
Xu Xin hesitated but finally said, âAlright, be careful not to cut your finger again.â
âThanks for the concern!â I grinned and started peeling an apple.
Honestly, though Mei’er was once a nine-tailed demon, sheâs still naive about the ways of the world, not exactly thoughtful. But these past few times I nearly ended up playing cards with the King of Hell, it was Mei’er who risked her life to pull me back.
Mei’erâs good to me, so I must be good to her. Thatâs why I instinctively avoid Xu Xin and Wang Ziyan.
No clue what they see in meâmy height, standing or lying down? Theyâve tried it!
Lost in thought, I finished cooking. Morning meals are convenient.
âThis Freshman Meetupâwonder if thereâll be any hot guys!â Sister Lin sipped her porridge, looking dreamy.
I smirked, teasing, âNo matter the country, no oneâs into girls as flat as you, right?â
Xu Xin and Mei’er stifled laughs.
Xu Xinâs laugh was expected, but Mei’er getting these jabs? Gotta keep her away from Sister Lin, or my sweet Mei’er will turn mischievous.
âHmph! Iâll grow someday!â Sister Lin huffed, but sheâs probably done developing.
Even silicone wouldnât help!
As we chatted, Wang Ziyan opened the apartment door, trudging in wearily.
âI’m exhausted!â She plopped onto a stool, looking drained from a night out.
I served her a bowl of porridge and asked curiously, âYou were gone all nightâbig case?â
Wang Ziyan sipped before answering, âYeah, crazy busy.â
âWhat case?â I just asked to kill boredom.
She paused, then said, âMissing persons, nearly a hundred, all with priorsâŚâ
Her words stunned me. Nearly a hundred, with priorsâlikely thugs. I couldnât help linking it to Zhao Gao.
As expected, he wiped them outâŚ
âWorked all night, then this morning, got word to drop it!â Wang Ziyan fumed. âSaid someone higher up is burying the case! Tell me earlierâIâve got dark circles now!â
That confirmed it.
The missing were the goons who cornered me at the warehouse.
Zhao Gaoâs ruthlessâŚ
âForget it, eat!â I smiled, changing the topic.
Sister Lin chimed in, âYeah, eat, donât overthink!â
âMhmâŚâ Wang Ziyan nodded, sipping her porridge.
Itâs a day off, so I planned to take Mei’er out.Beijing has plenty to seeâscenic spots, ancient buildingsâbut I only care for the sea, not mountains or architecture.
Mei’er, being a fox demon, might like nature, though.
âYouâre going to the Summer Palace? Take me!â Sister Lin pleaded.
Why does my âlovableâ Sister Lin always step in? Iâm not into feet!
Xu Xin added, âIâd love to go too.â
Looks like my alone time with Mei’er is doomed.
Wang Ziyan slapped her forehead. âSeriously? Iâm beat, and youâre going out?â She looked at me. âCan’t you go tomorrow instead?â
âRest up. Weâll go tomorrow too!â I gave her a helpless smile.
Since rejecting Wang Ziyan last time, sheâs changedâshe was less pushy. Not sure if thatâs good or bad.
âFine, but tomorrow, Iâm coming, or Iâll beat you!â Wang Ziyan said seriously.
I scoffed, âTalk when youâve got the strength!â
In the end, Wang Ziyan stayed to rest, while I, Mei’er, Sister Lin, and Xu Xin headed to the Summer Palace.
At the school gate, I stopped. âWhat do you want to eat? Iâll grab something. Scenic spot foodâs priceyâbetter buy here.â
âGet whatever. Theyâll still rip you off at the Summer Palace!â Sister Lin smirked.
She hasnât paid rent but covers groceries, so I let the 20,000 yuan slide.
âMei’er just wants cola!â Mei’er smiled. Sheâs hooked on it.
Xu Xin shrugged. âAnythingâs fine.â
âAlright, wait here!â I headed to the nearby campus store.
The store had snacks, but that wonât fill us at the Summer Palace.
Sister Linâs rightâIâll get fleeced.
I patted my pocket. Gotta hit the ATM later.
Carrying the stuff back, I saw a yellow sports car parked by a willow tree. Some rich kidâs ride.
Wait, thatâs not a parking spot.
A car tryst?
Curious, I crept closer. Car windows show the outside, so I checked around, reversed my True Qi to turn invisible, and tiptoed over.
âYoung Master Zhao, my men are missing. It’s hard to explain to the higher-upsâŚâ
âYou called me to the school just for this?â
âOur gang lost over a hundred men. The bosses will notice.â
âHereâs a million for your losses.â
âMy menâs lives arenât that cheap.â
âHmph! Ten million then!â
âThanks, Young Master Zhao!â
D*mn! Thought it was a tryst, but itâs Zhao Gao negotiating with the boss who lost a hundred men. This guyâs no pushover, haggling with Zhao Gao.
Deal done, Zhao Gao drove off.
I reappeared, heading for Sister Lin and the others, but after a few steps, I froze.
That bossâs voice sounded familiar.
Was it⌠Zhou Feng?!