"It's raining?"
Ou Yunchen felt a hint of confusion. The back alley had been dry just an hour ago, but now the muddy ground made it look even dirtier.
Leaning against the wall, the cool breeze instantly cleared his head. Raindrops from the eaves occasionally fell onto his expensive suit and shiny leather shoes.
The night sky tonight was still dark and starless, or rather, the sky above Athena's back alley always felt so oppressive.
Ou Yunchen took out a lighter and, bowing his head slightly, lit his cigarette.
"Huu..."
A perfect smoke ring slowly rose into the air, bringing him a slight sense of relief. The clamor from behind his ears seemed to be blocked by the tightly shut door.
Other male escorts disliked Athena's back alley, but it had become the place where Ou Yunchen felt most at ease. No one would bother him here.
Upon reflection, being the kind of man who could please women was indeed a skill, but it wasn't Ou Yunchen's original intention. He simply wanted to do everything to the best of his ability.
Obsessive-compulsive? Not really.
He was just a bit competitive.
Now, day and night, he entertained wealthy women, devising ways to empty their wallets. The initial sense of accomplishment had faded into a sense that it was all just expected.
Only occasionally, like now, did he wish to escape.
Ou Yunchen extended his hand to test the air. The misty, post-rain weather quickly dampened his palm, making his clasped fist sticky even between his fingers.
He disliked this kind of weather; it reminded him of many bloody pasts.
For instance, why did the actions of the adopted sons often occur on rainy nights? Was it to wash away the bloodstains?
When he was an adopted son, no one asked such foolish questions. They had likely become accustomed to operating on rainy nights from their very first mission...
Ou Yunchen stubbed out his cigarette and picked it up, intending to throw it into the trash bin. The sound of wheels rolling over a suitcase echoed from a nearby fork in the road.
He looked in that direction with surprise, then heard a dragging sound.
"Could it be that girl whose wallet was stolen?"
For some reason, the image of the girl with her mouth agape and silent flashed in his mind, along with the man whose head he had hit with a soda can.
Otherwise, who would be wandering aimlessly in this foul-smelling back alley on such a terrible night?
Was someone hiding in the alley?
With many questions, Ou Yunchen decided to investigate.
As he followed the sound deeper into the alley, he indeed found a pitiable figure huddled there, covered with a tattered cardboard box.
Hearing someone approach, she glanced over, perhaps sensing it wasn't the person she was waiting for, and retreated further into the darkness.
Ou Yunchen recognized the suitcase at a glance. Wasn't that the same suitcase the peculiar girl had been dragging yesterday?
Ou Yunchen walked up to the girl. She clutched her backpack, her suitcase obscuring the light from her face. A corner of the tattered cardboard box she wore was damp from the humid air.
She lowered her head, likely cold, her body trembling slightly.
—Ou Yunchen's Recollection—
In late autumn, every rainstorm brought a sudden chill to the city. Ou Zhan, forced to flee, arrived in this unfamiliar place.
He was already severely wounded, but those pursuing him seemed relentless. He knew he was powerless to resist them head-on.
However, his pursuers were fully equipped, while Ou Zhan had no spare ammunition.
"Hiss..."
To stay conscious, Ou Zhan had to forcefully hit his injured left leg...
A strip of torn shirt was crudely wrapped around that leg. To evade the "cleaners," he had hidden his tracks as best he could, but how much longer could this broken body hold on?
Just as he was slightly relaxing his guard and hiding in the shadows, a bullet from a sniper rifle was aimed at his head!
Relying on years of combat experience, he noticed the sniper's position and a fleeting glint of reflection.
"Bang!"
Fortunately, he dodged it. Unfortunately, his position was revealed, and he had to drag himself to continue his escape.
Back then, Athena was a club struggling to stay afloat, on the verge of closing down. Its dated decor and listless male escorts made it the most unremarkable establishment in the alley.
The sudden downpour caused Athena's neon sign to flicker twice before shorting out...
The entrance to the alley plunged into darkness. Without a second thought, Ou Zhan rushed in. The complex back alleys provided the perfect hiding place for Ou Zhan!
The sniper in the distance couldn't target him anymore, but those people would act personally. In close combat, Ou Zhan still had a chance to win.
As expected, not long after he hid in the alley, he heard heavy footsteps approaching...
One step, two steps, three steps...
The person finally drew near...
From the shadow on the ground, Ou Zhan confirmed this was the person sent to kill him!
The footsteps felt like a countdown to Ou Zhan's life. It seemed this "cleaner" was prepared for a quick resolution.
He picked up a sharp stone from the ground, held his breath, and hid behind a brick wall. The footsteps slowed; the person seemed to sense Ou Zhan's presence nearby.
"Ou Zhan, I know you're here. Let's talk."
The "cleaner" approached the brick wall cautiously. After all, Ou Zhan was a top hunter. If he hadn't been injured, who knew who would have been dealt with tonight!
"You can come out with confidence. I'm alone. I don't want to hurt you, and in your current state, you're no match for me anyway."
Such verbal trickery was useless against an old fox like Ou Zhan. It seemed the "cleaner" needed a new tactic.
But who would have imagined that to trick Ou Zhan into lowering his guard, this person would deliberately throw away his pistol?
Seeing the pistol lying at his feet, Ou Zhan finally believed this person posed no threat!
Ou Zhan quickly lunged forward, picked up the pistol, and pointed it at the "cleaner's" head, saying fiercely,
"Who sent you?"
The "cleaner" indicated he was truly harmless, raising his hands above his head.
"Relax. You know our rules. If I can't complete the mission, I won't survive either."
Ou Zhan quickly glanced behind the "cleaner." As he said, he was indeed alone.
With one hand holding the gun, Ou Zhan used his other hand to pat down the "cleaner," needing to confirm he had no hidden weapons.
Just as he reached the lower back, the "cleaner" sidestepped, and his hand quickly retrieved a gun hidden there!
Ou Zhan realized this person had another gun. He quickly pulled the trigger, but it was a misfire!!!
Bad! Ou Zhan had been tricked!!!
This detestable fellow had deliberately thrown an unloaded gun to lure him out!!!
The "cleaner" didn't fire. Instead, as Ou Zhan reacted, he kicked him hard in the ribs.
The sound of cracking bone made Ou Zhan unable to get up. He tried several times to rise, but the intense pain left him completely immobile. He mustered his last bit of strength, wanting to know who wanted him dead.
"Tsk tsk, O, you've failed."
"Enough nonsense! Tell me who it is!"
"Can't you figure it out? The war of the adopted sons. You're not the only one being hunted."
The 'cleaner' continued, "Think about it. You hunted other adopted sons; you should have expected to be hunted one day."
"I only kill traitors! Besides, wasn't that a mission from Tang?"
"So foolish. Only one person can win this war. There can only be one heir to Tang! You shouldn't trust anyone, not even your brothers with whom you've shared life and death."
Hearing this, Ou Zhan seemed to understand why his whereabouts were always revealed in advance. It must have been Axe who betrayed him!!!
His most trusted brother was the one who wanted him dead!
"Coward! To win against me using such a method!"
"Hiss, don't say that about Axe. No matter the method, he won. You lost. By killing you, he can successfully gain Tang's trust."
"Axe will become the new Tang, right?"
"Yes, does that need asking? Do you think it's you?"
Seeing that Ou Zhan was completely defenseless, the 'cleaner' reloaded his pistol, attached the silencer, and said regretfully.
"To be honest, I admire you. You've tried everything, both overt and covert, and still managed to survive. However, I don't have time to play around anymore. My men are tired too. Let's end this quickly."
Ou Zhan gave a cold laugh as he looked at the 'cleaner' sent to kill him. The principle of the winner takes all was easy to understand, but who would have thought he would die at the hands of his own brother?
The 'cleaner' raised his hand and swiftly and precisely shot Ou Zhan in the heart. With the sound of the gun, Ou Zhan's body instantly collapsed to the ground.
The 'cleaner' looked around and, like discarding a dead dog, dragged Ou Zhan into a hidden alley. He clapped his hands, as if bidding farewell to this adopted son.
Drip, drip...
The back alley was pitch black, offering no shelter from the rain.
After an unknown amount of time, the pain in Ou Zhan's chest gradually subsided. He gasped for air, coughed, and opened his eyes...
He was still alive?!
Raindrops splattered on his face. He struggled to roll over and support himself on the ground, touching the burning spot on his chest.
Suddenly realizing what had happened, he discovered that the pendant he was wearing had blocked the bullet. However, the impact of the bullet had deformed the pendant, with half of it embedded in his flesh. As Ou Zhan endured the pain and removed the bullet and the pendant, sweat beaded on his forehead.
The rain washed away the bloodstains on the pendant, revealing the inscription.
"Long life and good health."
Tacky? This was the pendant Axe had given him. Because it allowed engraving, he had inscribed these four words!
For this, Ou Zhan had often mocked Axe's poor education. He never expected it to save his life by chance.
Leaning against the wall, even if he hadn't died, his injuries, if untreated, would lead to death from infection.
As he contemplated where to find food and medicine, a small cat, drenched by the rain, meowed at him from the alley entrance.
A pitiful stray kitten, perhaps? With such heavy rain, it had nowhere to hide.
Ou Zhan waved his hand. He intended to shoo the cat away, but the little white cat seemed to misunderstand. It trotted to Ou Zhan's side.
How pathetic.
It jumped onto Ou Zhan's leg, meowed softly at him again, and then snuggled into his embrace.
Ou Zhan then realized this was not a stray. It had a pet collar around its neck. Ou Zhan chuckled. What was the difference between him and this animal? Both wore pendants.
Ou Zhan gently stroked the wet fur of the cat, brought the pendant close to his eyes, and examined it carefully.
It only bore the characters "Ji Xiang" (Auspicious).
"Heh, who named you? So tacky!"
"Ji Xiang, were you abandoned like me?"
"Meow?"
In Ou Zhan's arms, the kitten licked the rain off itself, occasionally purring with satisfaction.
But Ou Zhan's body temperature was rising, and he had a bad premonition. His wound was inflamed...
As he felt drowsy, he seemed to hear a girl's voice calling "Ji Xiang" from not too far away. The kitten in his arms meowed in response.
The girl, hearing the call, ran over and was startled by Ou Zhan's appearance. She stood a few meters away, holding a red umbrella, afraid to approach.
By now, Ou Zhan was delirious. He struggled to lift his head to look at the girl, only seeing a young girl's face etched with terror.
She wore a pink dress and carried a small pearl-embellished handbag. She looked like a young lady from a wealthy family, but why was she here?
The girl didn't dare to get closer. She hoped Ji Xiang would come over on its own, but Ji Xiang seemed to prefer staying in Ou Zhan's arms, responding with meows but showing no intention of leaving.
"Ji Xiang, come here quickly!"
"Ji Xiang, did you hear me? Come to me!"
Perhaps annoyed by the girl's calls to the cat, Ou Zhan casually tossed the cat he was holding aside.
Startled, the kitten quickly ran towards its owner. The girl scooped up her beloved kitten and ran away without looking back.
—End of Ou Yunchen's Recollection—
The girl curled up in the corner reminded Ou Yunchen of himself, waiting to die in a similar place.
However, he had been severely wounded then and could only await death. What about this girl with her luggage? She couldn't possibly be a runaway student, could she?
"Should I call the police?"
Ou Yunchen's cold question was unlikely to elicit a response from the wary girl. She simply looked up at Ou Yunchen.
"Her eyes are truly beautiful!"
Ou Yunchen thought to himself. He had seen countless women, yet this was the first time he was captivated by such clear eyes. Her damp eyelashes made her look pitiful.
"If you don't need me, I'm leaving."
As Ou Yunchen turned to leave, the girl reached out and grabbed his ankle.
The girl rummaged through her bag, took out a notebook and a pen, and quickly wrote a line on the paper, holding it up for Ou Yunchen to see.
"My wallet was stolen, and the thief is nearby."
As expected, Ou Yunchen's guess was right. But to wait here motionless after losing her wallet? What a foolish girl.
Ou Yunchen pointed to his throat, "Are you mute?"
The girl nodded. She thought for a moment and then wrote another line.
"My phone broke while chasing the thief..."
Ou Yunchen pressed further, "Do you want to contact your family?"
The girl shook her head, her expression slightly unnatural.
Ou Yunchen thought for a moment and sighed, "Come with me. It's not safe for you here."
This girl likely didn't know that just west of this alley lay a homeless encampment, where junkies and drunks could fight over a bag of trash, let alone encounter a lone young woman.