It was soon time to get off work.
Xia Yu changed into casual clothes and waited by the door for Xiao Liu.
“Thanks for this, Xia Yu.”
“No problem.”
Xia Yu watched Xiao Liu, who had golden curls, sun-kissed skin on a round face, and a few small moles scattered across it.
He was only about 1.6 meters tall, and his voice was incredibly soft when speaking.
Whenever customers raised their voices even slightly, he would become visibly nervous.
Although he looked quite young, he was actually seven years older than Xia Yu.
“Where do you live?”
“Not far, just nearby.”
Following Xiao Liu’s lead, Xia Yu quietly walked behind him.
The house she rented was in a rather remote area, with narrow alleyways and many sharp corners.
The surrounding facilities were quite rundown, street lamps were broken and left unrepaired.
Both of them used their phone flashlights to light the way.
Walking alone on these roads, any strange sound could easily frighten a girl.
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“No, why?”
Xiao Liu shyly lowered his head, a little embarrassed as he said,
“I’m worried that if you take me home and you have a boyfriend, it might cause misunderstandings.”
“The school doesn’t allow early relationships, so I haven’t dated anyone,”
Xia Yu replied, cutting off Xiao Liu’s delicate worries with a single sentence.
His face wore an awkward but graceful smile, then he complimented,
“Look at how hardworking you are, and how serious you take customer service. When you go to university, I’m sure a lot of girls will like you.”
“Maybe.”
Since Xia Yu started working at the restaurant, she had noticed how diligent and tough Xiao Liu was.
Seeing Xiao Liu happily chatting away, Xia Yu momentarily forgot about the recent dangers along this path.
Xiao Liu had been working at the restaurant for over a year and took this route almost daily.
The manager said that even when Xiao Liu worked the day shift, she still felt like someone was following her.
It had affected her sleep, and she often dozed off on the job.
Xia Yu was the only male waiter in the front hall.
When she first came to the restaurant, knowing nothing, Xiao Liu had taught her many rules and etiquette.
Helping him was no trouble at all.
“This is the place.”
Xia Yu escorted Xiao Liu home and gave him a warm smile.
“Want to come in for a bit? Have some water before you go?”
“No, thanks. I have plans to go out with friends tonight. It wouldn’t be right to hold you up too long. After I drop you off, I still have to go back and report to the manager.”
Xia Yu declined Xiao Liu’s invitation and turned to leave.
“Be careful on your way. Feel free to come visit my place sometime.”
“Okay.”
Along the way, Xia Yu didn’t see any suspicious figures that Xiao Liu had mentioned.
With good eyesight, Xia Yu didn’t even need to use the phone flashlight to see the road clearly.
His silver hair stood out like a beacon in the dark alleys.
Halfway through, he suddenly heard rustling noises close by.
The sounds were approaching him fast.
Xia Yu slowed his pace and silently clenched his fists, preparing to defend himself.
The rest would be dealt with afterward.
Just before the figure reached him, Xia Yu raised his arm and swiftly swung at the shadow behind him, only for the broad, solid arm of the other person to firmly catch his.
“Who’s there?”
The man before him wore a black trench coat and had thick, curly hair that fell over his eyes.
Stubble dotted his chin, and a strong scent of stale tobacco lingered around him.
Xia Yu frowned, trying to keep the smoke smell from entering his nose.
He moved his arm slightly, signaling the man to release him.
“Not you… I was mistaken. Sorry about that.”
The Curly-Haired Man immediately let go and apologized profusely, taking a quick glance at Xia Yu.
“It’s been dangerous around here lately. Make sure to turn on your phone’s flashlight when walking at night. If that doesn’t help, maybe contact the local authorities to fix the street lamps.”
Xia Yu rubbed his fist, sore from the firm grip.
No wonder he was an adult.
“I don’t live around here. I was just seeing a friend home. What’s been going on around here?”
“Nothing much.”
The Curly-Haired Man cleared his throat, his voice hoarse from long-term smoking, then calmly said,
“From your looks, you’re still a student, right? High school?”
“Yeah.”
Like he was speaking to a child, the Curly-Haired Man eyed the fierce-looking silver-haired boy and cheerfully said,
“High schoolers shouldn’t be wandering around at night. You should focus on your studies.”
The more the Curly-Haired Man spoke, the more curious Xia Yu became.
It seemed that seeing his young age, the man didn’t want to reveal the full truth.
“My friend said they’ve been feeling like someone’s been following them on their way home recently. Could it be related to you being here?”
Xia Yu raised an eyebrow, suspicion clear in his gaze as he stepped in front of the Curly-Haired Man.
“Or maybe you’re the one stalking my friend?”
“No! Absolutely not.”
“Really?”
Xia Yu grabbed the Curly-Haired Man’s wrist immediately.
“What proof do you have that you’re not a stalker? Otherwise, I’m taking you to the Police Station to explain.”
The Curly-Haired Man shook his head and honestly confessed.
“I haven’t stalked your friend. I’ve never even seen what they look like. I’ve only been following someone else with hair similar to yours.”
“Hair similar?”
Xia Yu frowned, muttering softly.
At that moment, a sudden scream echoed from the alley’s corner.
The Curly-Haired Man seized the chance as his wrist was released, quickening his pace toward the source, anxiously saying,
“This is bad.”
Xia Yu barely had time to let go when the Curly-Haired Man rushed ahead.
They both saw a body lying on the ground.
A young woman, wearing a bright, eye-catching short skirt, lay motionless, her eyes wide open.
Her body was clean, with no wounds or cuts.
“Hey, you! Get out of here, this place is dangerous. They might still be nearby.”
The Curly-Haired Man immediately pulled out his phone and a roll of yellow tape to seal off the crime scene, speaking into the phone while ignoring Xia Yu’s presence.
Whatever had killed the woman so suddenly, the Curly-Haired Man didn’t offer an explanation.
Following his instructions, Xia Yu hastened to leave the area.
Back at the restaurant, Xia Yu saw Mu Yiqiu casually take a seat in an empty spot.
Upon seeing Xia Yu at the door, she hurried over.
“I thought you said you’d be back by eight. It’s almost nine now. Did you take your guest out for dinner or something?”
“Not a chance. I’m still starving.”
Mu Yiqiu noticed the sweat beading on Xia Yu’s forehead and his heavy breathing, sensing something was wrong.
“What’s up? Did they trap you in their place or something?”
“No.”
Xia Yu shook his head and gently placed a hand on Mu Yiqiu’s shoulder.
Leaning close, he spoke softly but seriously into her ear.
“My coworker’s alley on the way home is haunted. I just escaped from the ghost. Believe it?”
Feeling a slight tremor in Mu Yiqiu’s shoulder, Xia Yu curved his lips into a sly grin.