Xia Yu was panting heavily as he hurried to where Mo Yidong was.
Just as he reached the alley entrance, he overheard the voices of several people inside.
“This isn’t new; we’ve been here before.”
What kind of conversation is this…?
Xia Yu quietly hid at the alley’s mouth, unable to make sense of what they were saying.
Seeing that the few people were standing still without making a move, it seemed his presence wasn’t necessary.
Xia Yu secretly stared at Mo Yidong’s upright figure.
His tone was as easygoing and calm as ever, not the least bit scared.
“No matter what, this road is now under our control. If you want to take a shortcut, you’ll have to pay a toll!”
Mo Yidong knew in his heart these people weren’t the type to just let him go after a few words.
Having roughly assessed the surroundings, Mo Yidong said coldly,
“I don’t mind giving you money. Since you’ve taken over this road, can you at least use the money to clean it up a bit?”
Hiding nearby, Xia Yu couldn’t help but gape, internally shouting “What the hell!”
This guy was really brave—when it came to provoking people, he definitely had potential!
Suddenly, Xia Yu realized Mo Yidong wasn’t afraid of them at all; he simply didn’t realize how dangerous his situation was.
In other words, this gentleman was not scared of being robbed.
Mo Yidong truly wasn’t afraid of getting beaten up.
Xia Yu saw on the other side that several students from the Eleventh Middle School had already lost their temper, and he could predict they were about to attack.
“Damn it… do you think we’re just janitors?! If you don’t want to pay, then don’t think about leaving!”
With that, one of the short-haired boys wearing a black-brown crew neck shirt stepped forward toward Mo Yidong, grabbing the collar of his white shirt with his right hand while his left fist was clenched, ready to swing at Mo Yidong’s face—then suddenly stopped mid-air.
As if seeing a ghost, the short-haired boy immediately let go, mouth agape, staring forward in terror as he stammered:
“Xia-Xia-Xia… Yu!?”
“Holy crap, it really is Xia Yu!”
“Wasn’t Xia Yu not supposed to take this road?”
The group spoke nervously and retreated several steps, not wanting bigger trouble, planning to run.
“Who did you say was supposed to pay just now?”
The short-haired boy didn’t answer.
He quickly withdrew with his buddies until they disappeared without a trace.
Xia Yu slightly raised his head and greeted his deskmate.
“What a coincidence.”
“Yeah, it’s really a coincidence you’re here too.”
Xia Yu shoved his hands into his pockets and coldly glanced at Mo Yidong’s calm expression, concluding that it was no surprise to see anyone here.
He definitely wouldn’t tell Mo Yidong the truth—that this whole route was dangerous because it was drawn by that idiot, Mu Yiqiu.
“Why are they so afraid of you?”
“Maybe because I’m Ghost Nemesis?”
After all, Xia Yu had been fighting since middle school and gradually realized he was quite good at it, especially after drawing blood, fighting even more fiercely.
He loved the smell of blood and enjoyed the thrilling rush of combat amid flesh and blood.
Xia Yu knew how to fight just enough—not to hospitalize anyone—and would stop before the cops arrived.
Seeing no response, Xia Yu noticed Mo Yidong’s hands were still in his pockets and asked curiously:
“So, are you really going to give them popcorn?”
“No.”
Mo Yidong said, then pulled out a prepared meal card.
“If they don’t have money for food, I’m planning to take them to the school cafeteria for a meal.”
Xia Yu looked at what Mo Yidong held with a helpless expression, half-smiling as he led him out of the alley.
“I really give up… let’s go, this place really stinks.”
The dim light of sunset spilled over every corner of the street, and the street lamps along the way lit up one after another, forming a starry avenue that adorned the night market.
“Good students should stick to the main road; it suits you better. The Housing Agency is just ahead, I’m heading back.”
A flicker of warmth flashed in those cold black eyes just as Xia Yu glanced back, the last subtle change in Mo Yidong’s gaze.
He didn’t want to linger in front of this person any longer.
He didn’t want to look again.
Mo Yidong watched Xia Yu’s departing figure, roughly guessing that Xia Yu’s appearance in the alley wasn’t a coincidence.
“Xia Yu.”
Xia Yu stopped and turned as the young man before him looked at him intently.
As if trying to see right through him, the feeling made Xia Yu waver briefly before his resolve solidified again.
He could even guess what Mo Yidong was about to say next.
“What is it?”
“Have we met somewhere before?”
So what if they had?
He was no longer the girl he used to be.
And he would never be her.
If Mo Yidong knew that the girl he liked was actually a boy, the shock might cause his always expressionless face to show unprecedented ripples.
To be honest, Xia Yu was really curious to see what kind of expression that would be.
But he didn’t say anything.
“No.”
They looked at each other, both hiding things they wanted to say but couldn’t.
“Dinner’s on me. Come with me to the Housing Agency.”
Seeing the night was deepening, Mo Yidong suggested eating together as a way to thank him for earlier.
“I have some things to do, so I can’t…”
“Then I’ll accompany you to finish your things first, then we’ll go to the Housing Agency.”
Xia Yu’s heart suddenly grew anxious.
It was the first time he realized Mo Yidong was such a persistent person!
His “things” were just an excuse; Xia Yu just wanted to say goodbye to this person.
“The Housing Agency will close soon, you should hurry…”
“I can come back tomorrow.”
Xia Yu raised his right hand and scratched his hair, troubled.
If he wanted to thank him for earlier, it would be better to just cancel out the promise made that morning!
Facing such persistence, Xia Yu sighed.
“My things can wait; let’s just go to the Housing Agency first.”
Arriving at the Housing Agency, Xia Yu pushed the door open and found no one in the reception room, so he called out loudly:
“Lao Gong? Are you off work?”
Lao Gong?!
Mo Yidong was momentarily stunned, thinking he misheard when Xia Yu addressed the Housing Agency owner that way.
It wasn’t until Xia Yu called “Lao Gong” again that Mo Yidong started searching for a “Lao Gong.”
He never expected Xia Yu to be so young and already married— to a man, no less.
“It’s Xia Xiao.”
A middle-aged man came out from another room, sporting a black mushroom-cut hairstyle, a thin frame wearing a simple yet elegant garment, and small round black glasses.
He looked refined enough to be mistaken for a Fortune Teller if not for running a Housing Agency.
“A classmate wanted to rent a place, so I brought him here.”
Mo Yidong had never seen such a stunned look on Xia Yu’s face.
Even his thoughts seemed elsewhere as Xia Yu gently patted the man’s shoulder and seriously introduced:
“Let me introduce you, this is the Housing Agency owner, Gong Zijun, but everyone calls him Lao Gong.”
Mo Yidong finally understood and greeted him just like Xia Yu.
“Hello, Lao Gong.”
Seeing new customers and business, Lao Gong immediately greeted them warmly:
“No problem! I happen to have a place near the school with good conditions. You can ride with me to take a look.”
“Alright.”
Gong Zijun told them to wait outside the store as he went to the parking lot to get the car.
While waiting, Mo Yidong leaned toward Xia Yu and suddenly remembered something.
“Just now, I heard Lao Gong call you Xia Xiao…?”
“Huh?”
Xia Yu slightly raised his head, noticing a hint of nostalgia in Mo Yidong’s expression.
He seemed to guess what Mo Yidong wanted to say, frowning deeply as his mind screamed:
Shut up—!
Don’t say anymore—!
I know what you’re going to say—!
Keep your mouth shut, I don’t want to hear it—!
“I had a first love, her name was also Xia Xiao.”