Odd Meetings

Perhaps if he would look back on this in the future, he would regret going out carelessly—but her safety was at stake!

Or was it because of his bruised heart?

It didn't seem to have crossed her mind to tell him that she would be going out for work. Even last night, their conversation hardly deviated from lighthearted topics and pleasantries until she fell asleep.

Did she not trust him?

It seemed like nobody trusted him or saw him as a capable one.

Hua Zhao had dismissed him and left after his plea to search for Chan Lee. The young man did it even without a single clue, and now he wanted to do the same.

And so Xue went out.

He probably should have searched for Han Jing but he didn't want to disturb the guy, and he'd like to think that he was more than ready to handle this.

"I can do this." He whispered to himself, taking himself out into the streets.

First off, what were possible jobs that she could take? There was one that came to mind. Perhaps she was a tutor and teaching her fellow classmates? Chan Lee had been diligent and patient with him, introducing this new era to him.

Or maybe it was something else.

She could be working at the convenience store, some kind of clerk or cashier—Han Jing mentioned he had done a lot of odd jobs before.

Not knowing exactly where she was right now was enough to make his pulse race fast. He took in a deep breath. Maybe she'd choose someplace like her university?

He had recklessly gone out but he could still recall how he and Hua Zhao had arrived from their university back to the apartment. So he walked.

Xue could notice the stares given his way, but he ignored them.

'You look suspicious' Han Jing had told him before. He had already worn the same clothes as the guy to blend in but it didn't work—all because of his strange looks? Did people really cut their hair now? 

Wait, Hua Zhao didn't seem to cut his hair. And now that he remembered, even the young master Liu Guiren kept their hair at a considerable length but they seemed to blend in seamlessly.

"I'd have to get inside the university through the same methods as last time." Hua Zhao had leapt past tall walls to get into the university grounds.

Xue wasn't sure if he could do that.

"I'm not even sure if her work is in the university area." He could still turn back and call it a day, Chan Lee would be worried sick if she came home without him.

He sighed and rubbed his face, how long had it been when his emotions managed to put him in a frenzy? It had been a long time, this was almost as reckless as him jumping into the flames unheedingly. Chan Lee would be alright and safe, she was a competent one.

She didn't need him.

He was actually the one who needed her. He sighed softly. Need was such a strong word to use, but it sounded right to him. At least that was what those romance dramas he'd been watching with Han Jing told him. 

Or maybe not.

Once again he thought back to that day, he had let her name slip out in front of that Liu Guiren. He had been desperate to find her that time. But if the two of them had encountered each other, wouldn't she say something?

Not really either.

Their conversations, though he cherished them—they were very brief. It was strange that instead of him taking care of someone, it was a reversal of roles. He rubbed his face for a moment and looked around. He hadn't gone very far, a couple of streets where the scenery of buildings changed. They were much larger—

Oof.

Somebody had brushed past him without a word nor even an apology.

Xue went to the corner of the street where he couldn't bother anyone, at least without hitting someone. This seemed to be evidence that he needed to go back, he couldn't—or could he? He chewed on his lip for a second, he would need to head back.

That was final.

If anything, he could try and look for Han Jing.

.

.

.

One moment he had been walking on his way back towards the apartment. That was until he jostled back at the sound of metal clanging to the ground—and a bark.

His gaze met the dog's.

It growled at him.

Dogs.

Hunting dogs.

He froze for a moment. It was one thing to be chased by foxes but dogs had been used to hunt him as well. Sweat clumped on his forehead, this little guy could understand him like the cat right? "Uh, hello there?"

It bared his teeth at him.

He began to run into the opposite direction.

. . .

"Ning Bi~" Suyin waved at the girl and walked over towards her. The young woman was standing at the corner of the street, she was looking around at the stores and buildings with interest.

If there was one thing that people didn't know about the young woman…

She happened to be pretty cute in her own blunt way and she also happened to be a bit clueless and ignorant of the people around her. Perhaps that was the reason for her being so blunt?

"You're finally here." Ning Bi frowned at her.

She managed a smile, "You were early."

"...Let's just get going." The woman began to walk off before she stopped. "Which way do we go?"

If Suyin had any guesses, the young woman before her was a bit of a pampered child. Though she didn't really mind it, she was more than happy to be acquaintances with her. "The home restaurant is nearby and not a lot of people go there, so we can have our chit chat there."

The woman wanted some advice from her, and though she hadn't had an inkling of what it meant, whatever could possibly disconcert someone like Ning Bi—she was willing to at least lend an ear.

That was until they saw someone running their way.

A series of barking.

It was a man being chased by dogs.

It was either the most hilarious or stupidest thing she'd ever seen.

"Excuse me!"

The man went right past them, never giving any second glances as he scampered off like a frightened deer, only having enough wits to say polite courtesies. She heard a sigh and turned to see Ning Bi blocking the dogs' path.

What were they doing?! "Ning Bi—?"

If there was anything supernatural she'd ever see, it would be this. All it took was the young woman glaring at the dogs before they halted in their tracks.

One even whimpered.

The dogs let out a small whine before they dispersed into separate directions without even needing a word to leave the woman's lips. In another life, maybe Ning Bi had been an animal expert or something.

"Coward." Ning Bi shook her head and then glanced behind her. Suyin decided to follow suit.

And there she saw him more closely. They were still there, a young man peeking out behind a streetlight. They were a confounding sight. His long hair was completely white, hanging down his shoulders like one of those princesses in movies, their blue doe like eyes staring back at them.

That meant Ning Bi was the surly prince who had saved them.

"Ah, thank you for saving me!" A relieved smile graced the man's features. It was reminiscent of a child's innocence. They were far too pretty to be a man! 

Suyin shook her head, why was she getting peculiar thoughts out of a stranger that she just met? 

Ning Bi however simply sighed. "...Why are you all out here by yourself?"

Suyin blinked. The two knew each other?! She looked at her companion who seemed unfazed with the handsome beauty in the street.

The man scratched his cheek, "I was looking for Miss Chan Lee, you don't happen to know where she is…Miss?"

Chan Lee?! This guy also knew Mei's friend? But she had never seen or heard about this guy before—

"No. She is not of my concerns, I suggest you go back to your premises." Ning Bi replied curtly before she glanced back at her, "Let's go, Suyin."

They were more than willing to end the conversation then and there? Suyin chewed her lip, should she tell the guy—she looked up to see Ning Bi was already walking ahead of her without even having a single clue of their destination.

"Ning Bi wait up! That's the wrong street, we go left!" Suyin chased after the girl and left the person in the streets.

It was another odd day. She didn't take a day-off from her work to chase after acquaintances or wonder about other people's business after all but she was doing it right now. If anything though, she could talk about this later with Ning Bi when they felt a little bit better.