Encounter

In the Library Restroom

Yang Chu, after attending to certain physiological needs, walked over to the sink and turned on the faucet.

He had been sitting in the library for most of the day. Even though he hadn't consumed much water or food, his body still needed to expel waste like any other person to maintain normal bodily functions such as circulation and digestion.

The difference, however, was that his metabolism had evolved from the usual unconscious process experienced by most people to something he could consciously control.

After washing his hands, Yang Chu looked up, once again facing that familiar yet strange face in the mirror.

His gaunt face showed signs of fatigue, with red lines appearing in his eyes and his under-eye bags becoming more pronounced.

Perhaps it was because his mind had remained alert ever since waking up from his journey last night, or maybe he had exerted too much mental energy reading various books in the library today. Yang Chu could faintly feel a bit dizzy.

Although the dizziness was mild, it made him feel slightly out of sync with his body's movements—breathing, circulation, walking—all seemed somewhat beyond his control.

He splashed some water on his face.

The cold water trickling down his cheeks, a common way to refresh oneself when feeling drowsy, didn't have much of an effect on him.

He could control his nervous system, blocking out pain or other stimuli as needed.

"Hmm?"

As his fingers brushed through the water, Yang Chu suddenly recalled something from a book he had read earlier today. His eyes lit up slightly. "Maybe I can try that method."

Leaving the restroom, Yang Chu noticed that many of the lights in the library were already turned off. Only a few remained lit near the entrance.

Walking past row after row of bookshelves, Yang Chu reached the entrance and saw Xu Xi, who worked at the library. She was sitting at an empty table, eating takeout with a spoon in one hand and a book in the other.

The book was the same one Yang Chu had noticed earlier: Why We Were Born Here.

"Studying so hard, even while eating," Yang Chu remarked as he walked over and sat in the seat next to Xu Xi.

"Well, I'm eating alone anyway. Might as well read more," Xu Xi replied with a smile, putting down the book. She pointed to a takeout box on the nearby table. "I ordered an extra meal for a late-night snack. If you don't mind..."

"Of course," Yang Chu responded, picking up the meal box from the table. He could sense her kindness, even noticing the subtle phrasing she used, anticipating his potential refusal.

Opening the box, he found a simple meal: rice, half a goose leg, and a few vegetables.

Instead of immediately digging in, Yang Chu extended his hand toward Xu Xi, saying earnestly, "Yang Chu."

Xu Xi flashed a bright smile and repeated her name, "Xu Xi."

After formally introducing themselves, Xu Xi watched Yang Chu pick up some vegetables with his chopsticks and added, "I've been working in the library for a long time, and it's rare to see someone so focused on reading, especially the kinds of books you read."

"You've read them? You have quite a broad range of reading. Any insights?" Yang Chu asked, taking a bite of rice, a bit surprised.

The books he had been skimming through this afternoon were mostly about sleep and the subconscious. Not that no one read such books, but certainly not many did.

"Not really. I'm just trying to find a feeling," Xu Xi replied, her spoon pausing slightly before she gave her habitual shy smile. "But let's eat first."

"I'll be closing up soon. If you like reading, you can borrow some books," Xu Xi suggested after they finished their meals. She stood up to dispose of the trash.

"No need. I'll come back tomorrow," Yang Chu shook his head.

Outside the municipal building, the sky was completely dark. Neon signs flashed, and the streets were busy with traffic and people.

"Well, I'll head home then," Xu Xi said goodbye to Yang Chu.

"Thank you for the meal," Yang Chu nodded. But just as she was about to leave, he suddenly asked, "By the way, do you know where the nearest swimming pool is?"

"There's the Sham Shui Po Public Swimming Pool, not far from here," Xu Xi replied without asking why he needed a pool. She pointed down the street, "Just walk about 170 meters along this road, turn left onto Yu Chau Street, then walk another 250 meters, turn right onto Tokyo Street, and after another 500-600 meters, you'll be there."

"Got it. If I don't drown, I'll be back tomorrow," Yang Chu waved as he headed in the direction she indicated.

"Except for that one time my leg went numb and my heartbeat suddenly raced—one beat every second, one breath every four beats—nothing has changed. It's as precise as a machine. Fascinating!"

Outside the municipal building, Xu Xi watched Yang Chu's departing figure, whispered with a smile, and shook her head before turning around to blend back into the crowd.

"He seems like someone with a story."

Walking through the bustling streets, Yang Chu also found Xu Xi, whom he had just met at the library, to be anything but simple.

He wasn't sure if it was because of the disappearance of subconscious barriers or for some other reason, but whenever he actively observed and approached someone, he became increasingly perceptive.

He could tell that beneath Xu Xi's shy and gentle demeanor, there was a certain indescribable, unique quality.

If he were to describe it, it felt like a sense of "the more one reads, the more one's spirit shines," but while Xu Xi did have an air of scholarly refinement, it wasn't exactly that.

It seemed more like a calmness and composure deeply embedded in her nature—unshaken by any person or thing around her, like a still, deep pond that remains undisturbed no matter what happens outside.

…

The sound of clubs hitting flesh rang out.

Inside a dimly lit warehouse, seven or eight burly, fierce-looking youths surrounded two battered figures on the ground, kicking and punching them relentlessly.

A lifeless corpse lay not far from the two on an empty patch of ground.

"Stop it, Brother Sha, please stop!"

One of the figures on the ground, seemingly unable to endure the beating any longer, suddenly rolled over, shoved aside two of his attackers, and stumbled toward a man in a suit sitting in a folding chair behind the group.

This man in the suit had a delicate silver earring in his left ear, a stubbly beard on his face, and wore dark sunglasses. Looking down at the figure kneeling before him, he lowered his sunglasses slightly and said in a cold tone, "Fei Zi Dong, where did you and that fool think you were running off to?"

"We were going to the big... No, Brother Sha, it really has nothing to do with us!"

Fei Zi Dong, whose face was swollen like a pig's head, crawled forward, his nose running, seemingly trying to clutch the man's trousers in a desperate plea.

But the man in the suit kicked him away with a cold expression, "Everyone knows Ah Wei was with our Brother Tai. He's my brother, Sha's brother. Now, tell me, was it you two who killed Ah Wei?"

"No, no...!"

Fei Zi Dong shook his head frantically, his face—swollen to the point where his eyes were barely visible—showing sheer terror. "Brother Wei wasn't killed by us."

"Really?"

The man in the suit took off his sunglasses, his eyes narrowing with a hint of menace. "Ah Wei went to find you two that day. If it wasn't you, who was it? I see that fool over there is pretty big. Was it him?"

"No, Brother Sha. How could Long Zi and I ever dare to kill Brother Wei? We were hoping to work with him in the future," Fei Zi Dong pleaded desperately.

"Enough with the nonsense. Then who was it?" Brother Sha's face showed impatience as he reached into his pocket, pulled out a short knife, and began to play with it.

"It was Wu Yu Zai, Brother Sha," Fei Zi Dong practically cried out.

"Wu Yu Zai..." Brother Sha seemed momentarily unfamiliar with the name.

A lackey nearby quickly approached and whispered into Brother Sha's ear, "Brother Sha, Wu Yu Zai is one of Dao You Cheng's guys. Dao You Cheng got a big shipment last week—a lot of goods—but before he could distribute it, he and his crew were all killed three days ago. Only Wu Yu Zai escaped. Brother Tai got wind of it and sent Ah Wei to shake down Wu Yu Zai to find out where Dao You Cheng had stashed that shipment."

"Yes, yes, it was Wu Yu Zai," Fei Zi Dong chimed in as he overheard their conversation. "It was Wu Yu Zai who killed Brother Wei. He was dead, but then he came back to life..."

"Dead and came back to life?"

Brother Sha furrowed his brow, pointing his knife at Fei Zi Dong. "Explain yourself."

"That day, Brother Wei called me and asked me to help him find someone. Long Zi and I were lucky enough to run into him at Xingdi, so we tied him up and took him to a warehouse near Qinglongtou. After we tied him up, we called Brother Wei and drove to the warehouse..."

As he spoke, Fei Zi Dong swallowed nervously, his swollen face showing fear. "When we got there, we found Wu Yu Zai was already dead. Brother Wei checked himself and even told Long Zi and me todig a pit to dispose of the body. But... but... Wu Yu Zai came back to life... like a zombie..."

"Zombie, my *ss!" Brother Sha kicked Fei Zi Dong away again, clearly not believing him. "You've been watching too many movies and trying to fool me with this zombie crap."

"It's true, Brother Sha! Believe me!" Fei Zi Dong cried out, his face a mixture of panic and desperation. "Wu Yu Zai really turned into a zombie. Brother Wei hit him with a club, but Wu Yu Zai kicked him to death with one blow..."

He turned and shouted to the figure huddled in the corner behind him, "Long Zi, tell him! Wu Yu Zai really turned into a zombie!"

"Zombie, zombie... hurts... bleeding—"

Long Zi, his face also swollen and bruised, seemed unaware of what Fei Zi Dong was talking about. He simply echoed the word "zombie" a couple of times, then covered his bleeding nose, muttering to himself.

"Crazy!" Brother Sha stood up from the folding chair, about to say something—

Beep beep beep—

A sharp ringing suddenly interrupted.

One of the lackeys standing by the side of the warehouse, also dressed in a suit, pulled a bulky cell phone from his waist. After a few quick words, he walked over to Brother Sha and said, "Brother Sha, Brother Tai wants you back. There's been some trouble with Fatty Tong over in Sai Kung."

"Got it." Brother Sha waved his hand dismissively and told the lackey in front of him, "Get our guys to find that Wu Yu Zai. And inform Ah Wei's family."

"Yes, Brother Sha."

The suited lackey nodded and then pointed to Fei Zi Dong and Long Zi, asking, "What about these two?"

"Sink them in the sea. We're in suits and ties now—no need to make a bloody mess. At least with them around, Ah Wei won't be lonely on the way."

Brother Sha straightened his suit and walked toward the exit of the warehouse.

"Brother Sha, Brother Sha, please don't! Spare me!"

Kneeling on the ground, Fei Zi Dong struggled to his feet in a desperate attempt to escape.

But two suited lackeys nearby quickly pinned him down. His hands and feet were tied, and his mouth was sealed with tape, leaving him only able to produce muffled sounds.