Dongfang Qing pulled Shi Aotian by the hand, forcing a faint smile as she said to Xu Feng,
"Thanks. We'll be going now. Bye."
With that, she walked away shoulder to shoulder with Shi Aotian.
Xu Feng watched Shi Aotian's departing back with eyes full of jealousy, an unprovoked anger burning inside him that he couldn't vent.
After this incident, Shi Aotian deeply understood the importance of money. It was precisely because he had none that he went hungry and was mocked by others. He made up his mind—he must find a way to make money.
In the next few days, Shi Aotian and Dongfang Qing lived in quiet, uneventful companionship. At this moment, the most anxious people were the owner of the Tianhai Entertainment City, Liu Tian, and the police. The death of Liu Hai had left Liu Tian, his elder brother, grief-stricken. He gave direct orders to his underworld subordinates to search the city for clues.
"Boss, we've got a lead. On the night Brother Hai was killed, he had a deal with Yue San. And after he died, the goods went missing," one of Liu Tian's men hurriedly reported as he rushed into the office.
Liu Tian crushed the cigar in his hand to powder, glaring as he said,
"Yue San? Isn't he usually into casino operations? Since when did he get involved in drugs?"
"According to our investigation, Yue San recently bought a batch of drugs at a low price from some Vietnamese. That's why he contacted Brother Hai. The deal that night seemed to go smoothly. Nothing unusual stood out," the subordinate answered nervously.
"Smoothly? On my turf, he dares play tricks on me and you call that smooth? Other than him, who else knows about the deal that night?" Liu Tian demanded.
"They traded quickly—just one decisive exchange—so hardly anyone knew," the subordinate replied.
"Yue San isn't stupid enough to bring out the drugs again for another deal. He definitely knows I'm investigating. Damn it, he's got some nerve—touching my own younger brother." Liu Tian nodded grimly.
"Boss, should we—"
"Should we your head! Without evidence, going after him rashly will make others unconvinced. That would break the rules," Liu Tian said, lighting another cigar.
"Then what do we do? Is Brother Hai going to just die without justice?" the subordinate asked.
"Hmph. This has Yue San's handiwork written all over it. Looks like the casino business isn't enough for him—he wants a change of flavor. If he wants to play dirty, I'll play dirty with him. Ever heard of the Black List?" Liu Tian said with a sinister smile.
"Black List? What's that? Like a blackboard in class?" the subordinate asked in confusion.
Liu Tian shot him a glare.
"It's normal you don't know. If everyone knew, the cops would've come knocking long ago. Don't ask questions—just do as I say." He beckoned the subordinate closer, leaned in, and whispered in his ear.
Meanwhile, Yue San was at an underground boxing match, controlling the betting from behind the scenes. Sitting in his office, a glass of wine in one hand and a cigar in the other, he watched the brutal fight through the glass.
He was the one who had hired Hengxing, and the mastermind behind Liu Hai's murder. But this was only the first step in his larger ambitions.
"Boss, since we took out Liu Tian's brother, he's not going to let this go," said a suited subordinate standing next to Yue San.
"Let it go? So what if he doesn't? We may be gangsters, but even we follow the rules of the underworld. He's got no evidence—why should I be afraid of him? And it's not like I'm the only suspect; their enemies are as many as the hairs on a cow. Now's the perfect time for us to shine. Once I get the chance, I'll take Liu Tian out too. Then we'll take over all their business," Yue San said, still watching the fight with a cold gleam in his eyes.
In his mind, eliminating Liu Tian under the right pretext would be the perfect opportunity—no one would suspect him, and it would allow him to seamlessly inherit their operations.
"Boss, should I go again?" The underling stopped at this point, but Yue San already understood what he meant — to hire another killer to take out Liu Tian.
Yue San waved his hand and said, "No rush. Right now, both the underworld and the authorities are on high alert. I don't want to stir the grass and startle the snake, or worse, end up capsizing in the gutter. Let's wait and see. Now that Liu Hai is dead, there's a vacancy in his drug market. We can take this opportunity to break into their business, and eventually monopolize their drug trade. By then, Liu Tian will have no choice but to work with us for the sake of making money. He'll probably have long forgotten about his brother's death." As he finished, he burst into laughter and went back to enjoying the underground boxing match.
These matches were extremely brutal — the fight only ended when one side knocked the other down or killed them. There were no rules on fighting techniques; as long as you could win, anything went. The bloodshed and violence were what drew people in the most. Many gambling enthusiasts who loved combat would bet large sums in these underground matches purely for the thrill. In truth, the outcomes were always in the hands of the house, so even though the fights looked violent and bloody, most of the results were predetermined. The fighters who risked their lives in the ring came from the very bottom of society — they had no status, no money, and could only survive like dogs under the control of the criminal underworld. They were forced to win match after match just to scrape together a meager living, while most of the betting profits were long since swallowed up by the house and the outside bookies.
In mid-September, the weather in Province G was still unbearably hot. After spending ten days together with Dongfang Qing, Shi Aotian was pondering how to make some money. In Dongfang Qing's heart, she didn't actually care whether he earned anything or not — as long as she could be with him, she was happy. First love is always the most beautiful, but also the most troubling. Shi Aotian had never really shown any feelings, so it had always been one-sided on Dongfang Qing's part. Still, she wasn't in any hurry, and continued to enjoy it, even affectionately calling him "Aotian."
During this time, Shi Aotian had always regarded her as his deceased sister, using that to balance his emotions. He hadn't felt that kind of family warmth in a long time, which was one of the reasons driving him to make money. On top of that, if he wanted to find the killer, he needed to fill his stomach first to have the strength to fight. The problem was that he had no education, no skills, and not even the most basic ID card. No one outside would hire a stranger like him who couldn't do anything.
That night, Dongfang Qing went back to school for her classes. Shi Aotian wandered the streets aimlessly, staring at the starry night sky, truly unsure of where he belonged. Since coming down from the mountain, he had met kind people like Bai Xue and Dongfang Qing, but he had also come to realize the dangers of the world — if nothing else, he could see it in the killer Heng Xing.
With no other options, Shi Aotian returned to his place and idly opened Dongfang Qing's desk drawer to see if he could find something interesting to pass the time. Inside was a small box. He opened it gently, and in front of him lay a scrap of cloth used three years ago to bandage Dongfang Qing's wound. Shi Aotian stared at it in a daze for a while, then carefully picked it up. Instantly, memories of his tragically slain sister came flooding back. He couldn't help but sigh to himself: She's really so much like my sister — so lively, so beautiful, especially those captivating eyes. Thinking of this, he let out a deep sigh, set the cloth aside, and continued rummaging. He took out her ID card, student ID, graduation certificate, and so on, one by one.
Picking up her ID card, Shi Aotian examined it closely and muttered, "Dongfang Qing, born September 23, 2019."
Reading that, he suddenly thought to himself, September 23rd… isn't that only twelve days from now? That means it'll be her birthday.
From far away, the sound of footsteps approached. Shi Aotian, already familiar with Dongfang Qing's footsteps, quickly put everything back in place and lay down on the bed, pretending to sleep.
As usual, Dongfang Qing quietly opened the door. Seeing Shi Aotian "asleep," she gently closed it again and slowly walked to his side, gazing at his sleeping posture. Though pretending to be asleep, Shi Aotian could feel her breathing nearby. Suddenly, Dongfang Qing let out a soft "pfft" of laughter. Shi Aotian quickly opened his eyes and sat up.
"Sorry for disturbing your rest. I just thought you looked really cute while sleeping, so I laughed," Dongfang Qing explained hurriedly, her cheeks turning red.
"It's fine," Shi Aotian replied calmly.
"Aotian, since you're awake, let's go out for a late-night snack." As she spoke, Dongfang Qing reached out and playfully pinched his cheek, just like coaxing a kindergarten child.
The sudden pinch sent a jolt through Shi Aotian's heart — Ten years… It's been ten years since anyone did that to me. Just like my sister… When I was little, my sister loved to pinch me like this. Thinking of that, a warm feeling spread inside him. Since Dongfang Qing was a few years older, she had always treated him like a cherished younger brother.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get up," Dongfang Qing urged.
"Oh." It felt like he had gone back more than ten years, and he quickly answered, getting out of bed in a hurry. He knew it was just a dream, but he wished it wouldn't end so soon — he wanted to linger in it a bit longer. It had been far, far too long since he last felt this kind of warmth from family, and deep in his heart, he had yearned for it countless times.
Dongfang Qing pulled him along out the door. Feeling the warmth from her hand, ripples stirred in Shi Aotian's heart, and before he knew it, a faint smile appeared on his face. For the first time, he felt the humanity within him slowly awakening.
"Ah!" Dongfang Qing exclaimed softly. "You smiled! This is the first time I've seen you smile since we met." She sounded almost exaggerated, but she was clearly delighted.
Shi Aotian awkwardly touched his own face and said, "Really? So I haven't smiled in such a long time."
"A good start — keep it up," Dongfang Qing said, still holding his hand as they walked, smiling all the while.
Shi Aotian's feelings toward her grew more and more like those toward his sister; he increasingly felt that sense of familial warmth. Dongfang Qing's fascination with him also deepened, though she had no idea that Shi Aotian had already come to see her as his sister who had passed away ten years ago. And so, what seemed like love was actually a kind of familial bond. This marked another turning point in Shi Aotian's character.
They arrived at a food stall near the school, ordered a few simple dishes, and chatted as they ate — though it was mostly Dongfang Qing talking, with Shi Aotian giving short replies. After the school's evening self-study ended, the snack street outside became lively. More and more people came to the stall for a late-night meal, and nearly everyone who walked in would glance at Shi Aotian.
"Teacher Dongfang, you're eating here too?" a clear, sweet voice sounded from behind Dongfang Qing.
She turned around curiously and immediately stood up with a smile. "Chen Chen, Gu Cainai. You're here too? Come and sit with us." As she spoke, Dongfang Qing stood and made room for them.
Chen Chen and Gu Cainai were students from her class. Chen Chen gave Shi Aotian a smiling glance, then pulled along the slightly shy Gu Cainai and sat down.
"Teacher Dongfang, I heard you're graduating soon. Will you still keep teaching our class?" Chen Chen was a lively girl whose personality was much like Li Na's, so Dongfang Qing treated her warmly as well.
"Yes, I'm busy writing my thesis right now, and after graduation I'm planning to apply for a PhD program. So I'll still be here as your teacher," Dongfang Qing replied with a smile. "By the way, what would you like to eat? It's my treat today."
Sitting there shyly without saying a word, Gu Cainai stole a glance at Shi Aotian. Sensing someone's gaze, Shi Aotian instinctively looked at her, which only made Gu Cainai blush even more. She quickly lowered her head, fiddling with the hem of her clothes.
Chen Chen noticed this small movement right away and said, "Thanks, teacher. We'll just have whatever. This must be your boyfriend, right?" She then smiled at Shi Aotian.
At those words, Dongfang Qing and Shi Aotian exchanged a glance, both unsure how to respond. Dongfang Qing smiled faintly and said, "Hehe, his name is Shi Aotian." This time, she didn't introduce him as her boyfriend — not because she was unwilling, but because she was worried that Shi Aotian might not like it. So she just gave his name.
"Shi Aotian? Hehe, this is the first time I've heard teacher mention her boyfriend," Chen Chen said happily, glancing at Gu Cainai beside her. Since they weren't much younger than Dongfang Qing, it was easy for the younger people to chat freely, and the atmosphere was quite relaxed.
"Actually, Teacher Dongfang having a boyfriend is already an open secret. We just didn't expect it to be him. Isn't that right?" Chen Chen teased, giving the silent Gu Cainai a pinch.
Gu Cainai winced, then quickly nodded in response. "Yes, yes."
Dongfang Qing chuckled. "So you didn't expect it to be him? Do you know each other?"
"No, no, no," Chen Chen quickly said. "We just saw him under the phoenix tree at school a little over a week ago, but we never thought he would be your boyfriend. Teacher, you really have great taste."
Chen Chen and Gu Cainai had spotted Shi Aotian waiting for Dongfang Qing under the phoenix tree after class that day. They thought he looked cool, handsome, and charismatic, so they couldn't help but glance at him several times. Later, rumors spread that he was Teacher Dongfang's boyfriend, which shocked them and left them feeling a bit disappointed. They never expected to see him again today, so they couldn't resist coming over to greet Dongfang Qing, hoping to use this chance to get to know Shi Aotian.
"Oh," Dongfang Qing said with a smile and a nod. "So that's how it is. By the way, Gu Cainai, why do you have your head lowered so much? Are you looking for something?"
Startled, Gu Cainai quickly raised her head. "No, I… I…" After several seconds, she was still stuck on the word "I."
"Is there something wrong?" Dongfang Qing asked curiously.
Chen Chen quickly jumped in to answer, "Teacher, it's nothing. She's just having her time of the month, so her stomach feels a little uncomfortable."
Hearing that, Dongfang Qing nodded right away. "I see. All women go through that — it's normal. If you're really not feeling well, you should go back to the dorm and rest."
"I'm fine!" Gu Cainai blurted out in embarrassment and panic, looking at Chen Chen beside her. Chen Chen simply smiled back at her, as if saying with her eyes: Hehe, if I hadn't come up with that excuse, your love-at-first-sight for Teacher Dongfang's boyfriend would have been exposed already.
Shi Aotian, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up. "What 'good thing'?"
All three women turned to stare at him in surprise, completely unprepared for such a question — and there was no easy way to answer it. Dongfang Qing quickly changed the subject. "That's none of your business, and it's something you'll never have. Just eat your food."
Shi Aotian let out an "Oh" and didn't bother to ask further, simply continuing to eat.
The three women all quietly breathed a sigh of relief, afraid he might press the matter.
"Teacher, your boyfriend sure can eat," Chen Chen remarked, glancing from the empty plates on the table back to Shi Aotian.
"Hehe, it's normal — men usually have a bigger appetite," Dongfang Qing replied casually.
Chen Chen and Gu Cainai exchanged a look, puzzled in their hearts: Do men really eat that much? Practically every dish is wiped clean.
After the late-night meal, the four of them walked out together. After saying their goodbyes, Dongfang Qing took Shi Aotian's hand and left. Chen Chen and Gu Cainai remained standing there, watching their silhouettes fade into the distance.
"What are you still looking at? They're gone. You should give up already — he's Teacher Dongfang's boyfriend," Chen Chen said, snapping back to reality.
Gu Cainai lowered her head and said softly, "I know. I'm not expecting anything. I just hope I can see him from afar every day — that's enough for me."
"Oh, come on, how did you turn into a love-struck fool too? I can't stand you," Chen Chen teased, dragging Gu Cainai toward the dormitory.
The next day, because there was work at school, Dongfang Qing stayed there to handle it. Bored, Shi Aotian wandered the streets alone again. By chance, he walked into an accessory shop, glancing around absentmindedly. Suddenly, he stopped in front of a display with a pendant.
"Sir, is there anything I can help you with?" the saleswoman asked warmly.
Shi Aotian blankly pointed at the pendant. "Can I take a look at that?"
"Of course. You mean this jade rabbit pendant?" she asked, still smiling as she served him.
Shi Aotian nodded. He took the pendant from her hand and examined it closely. Memories stirred in his heart: Ten years ago, I think I had a pendant just like this… I gave it to Ye Keke. At the thought, his hands suddenly clenched tightly.
"Sir, would you like to buy it?" the saleswoman asked, noticing he was staring at it in a daze.
"How much is it?" Shi Aotian asked flatly.