Chapter 72

Zhu Ming had only just greeted Wang Xiaowu when Wenren Tu shoved her out the door in a hurry.

“Seriously? Possessive much?” It was so strong it surprised even Zhu Ming. “I’ve never seen you this stingy before.”

Wenren Tu cleared her throat awkwardly. “I can’t explain it to you.”

Curious, Zhu Ming hooked an arm around Wenren Tu’s shoulders. “You like her? Do you two know each other well? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for another straight girl.”

Wenren Tu laughed and pushed her away. “We know each other well enough, so don’t worry. And hey, absolutely do not mess this up. I haven’t even gotten her yet. If you ruin it, I’ll beat you up.”

Zhu Ming grumbled, “When have I ever messed anything up? You’re so unfair with your accusations.”

Her best friend was busy building a rapport with a beautiful woman lately. Her employee had school and wasn’t home on weekdays. The volunteer worker was also busy studying for finals. That left Zhu Ming all alone, bored out of her mind.

With that boredom, she couldn’t help but reach out to connect with other people.

First, she made follow-up calls to her old clients, only stopping once she confirmed they hadn’t encountered any more paranormal events. Then she took a trip back to her hometown to see old acquaintances, spreading some goodwill at the orphanage she once lived in. Finally, she picked up some gifts and went to visit her Master, Wenren Bai, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Throughout this whole process, the two bodyguards from the Zhu Family remained dutifully at her side. After Zhu Ming had tried to sneak away once, she never succeeded again.

“Master!” This visit was a private one. Zhu Ming rushed in the moment she entered, put down the gifts, and hugged Wenren Bai’s waist, tears streaming down her face. “You have to help me!”

In private, Wenren Bai was dressed very casually and homely. She smiled. “Help you with what?”

“Look at those two behind me!” Zhu Ming said angrily. “Except for when I go to the bathroom, I can’t leave their sight for a single moment! This is a society governed by law, I’m not a prisoner!”

Wenren Bai pulled her off and brought over a glass of juice. “Regarding your Zhu Family matters, it’s not convenient for me to interfere.”

“But I’m still your disciple.” Zhu Ming choked up, hammering the wall. “If this keeps up, I’ll go crazy! Besides taking them out to show off, they’re completely useless! I don’t even feel like doing business anymore!”

Wenren Bai chuckled. “Isn’t it good to have free labor?”

Zhu Ming sneered. “Good my ass. They don’t even listen to me.”

Coming here this time, Zhu Ming had hoped Wenren Bai could help. But no matter how much she pestered and wheedled, Wenren Bai wouldn’t relent. It couldn’t be helped; after all, the Wenren Family also had to give the Zhu Family face. And Zhu Wanying was an elder; naturally, Wenren Bai wouldn’t refute her over such a trivial matter.

Seeing no hope for her freedom, Zhu Ming’s shoulders slumped as she sighed. “Forget it, I’ll go find A-Tu to play. You should rest well, old master Master. And A-Tu, honestly, she hasn’t been looking for me lately.”

“Perhaps she’s working overtime.”

“No way!” Zhu Ming said indignantly. “She’s just ignoring her friends for a pretty face.”

Wenren Bai suddenly tapped the table. “Wait. It’s been almost half a year since we last met. It’s time to check on your progress.”

And so, that evening, Zhu Ming’s plan to ambush Wenren Tu was aborted. She was dragged into the training room and put through the wringer all night.

But it wasn’t without its benefits, because the next day, those two unyielding Zhu Family bodyguards were withdrawn, reverting to the previous level of distant surveillance.

Although she was still being watched, at least she didn’t have to face them directly and be annoyed.

“As expected, Master, you know how to care for your disciple. When I get rich, I’ll definitely treat you to a meal!” Zhu Ming flattered her cheerfully.

And that opportunity soon arrived.

December 21st, Zhu Ming’s birthday. She decided to have hot pot at her studio and casually invite a few friends over to hang out.

Since she was eating with friends, she couldn’t skimp on the ingredients… What? Go out to eat? You must be joking; how much would that cost? Making it at home was much more affordable.

Not many people came. That night, there was Wenren Bai, Wenren Tu, Yun Zouchuan, and the uninvited Tang Qiaoqi. The few of them ate and drank, and it was fairly lively. Halfway through the drinks, they got a bit tired of the heavy meats and fish. Zhu Ming checked the fridge and realized she’d forgotten to prepare fruit. So, slapping her forehead, she decided to make a quick trip to buy some.

There was a supermarket just around the street corner. Zhu Ming stood up, swaying slightly. “I’ll go buy some. You all wait at home. Today’s my treat!”

Tang Qiaoqi smiled. “No need, it’s so cold out.”

Zhu Ming declared bossily, “I don’t care. It’s my birthday, so I make the rules.”

But she was so drunk, who would dare let her go out alone? When they refused, she threw an unreasonable tantrum. There was no helping it. Finally, Wenren Bai stood up. “I haven’t been drinking. I’ll go with her.”

Only then did Zhu Ming agree, calming down. She hugged Wenren Bai’s arm, giggling as they headed out. “Let’s take my tricycle. It’s convenient. We can break it in a bit.”

“It’s too cold. Let’s take the car.”

The reason Wenren Bai hadn’t drunk was because she’d driven here.

“No way!” Zhu Ming shrieked. “On my turf, we do things my way! We’re taking my trike, taking my trike!”

Although she was drunk, her limbs were as nimble as a monkey’s. In a moment of inattention, she darted onto the driver’s seat of the little tricycle.

Wenren Bai tapped her helplessly. “That’s drunk driving. Get down.”

Zhu Ming blinked, then obediently got off, but her hands didn’t let go of the handlebars. “Then I’ll push it and walk.”

You can’t reason with a drunkard. Wenren Bai had no choice but to say she would drive the tricycle, ferrying Zhu Ming there, which still counted as Zhu Ming acting as host.

Wenren Bai helped the drunkard sit into the sidecar of the tricycle and started it up, her grip on the handlebars somewhat unskilled. As the cold wind blew, Zhu Ming became even more excited. She stood up, holding onto Wenren Bai’s shoulders, her eyes shining bright. “Giddyup!”

Wenren Bai: “…”

They finally made it to the supermarket entrance. Wenren Bai had just parked the trike when, in a moment of distraction, Zhu Ming jumped out and darted into the supermarket, pushing a small cart as she began browsing and picking things out.

She still remembered it was her birthday and she was the host, so she had to be generous. She filled a cart with fruit and drinks without any reservation.

When they reached the wine rack, Zhu Ming, with keen eyes and swift hands, grabbed a bottle of wine worth two thousand yuan. Wenren Bai had been following behind her the whole time, keeping an eye on her to prevent her wobbly legs from crashing into the shelves.

Zhu Ming was humming a song, perfectly happy. But that happiness finally vanished when it was time to check out.

“Your balance is insufficient.”

Zhu Ming froze at the checkout counter, phone in hand. Wenren Bai shook her head, took away the two-thousand-yuan bottle of wine, and grabbed a bottle of Red Star Erguotou that cost eight yuan from the side of the counter.

“Swap it for this.”

Zhu Ming’s footing was unsteady, full of grief and indignation.

But the cashier said, “For purchases over sixty yuan today, you can exchange for a pomelo at the counter for just two yuan.”

So Zhu Ming became happy again. Even though there was already a pomelo in her cart, she cheerfully abandoned Wenren Bai and ran off to pick one.

Wenren Bai couldn’t help asking, “Can you even finish all this?”

Zhu Ming insisted, “As long as I try hard enough, there’s nothing I can’t do! Besides, if you miss a deal like this, it’s gone… Oh, forget it. Hmph, rich people like you will never understand me!!!”

While Zhu Ming was trying to pick the biggest, plumpest pomelo, Wenren Bai went out first to put the other things down. After Zhu Ming had chosen her pomelos and walked out, one in each arm hugging them to her chest, she spotted Wenren Bai standing outside the supermarket entrance from afar, standing still for some unknown reason.

By now, Zhu Ming had sobered up considerably. Curious, she walked over, ready to poke Wenren Bai. But as her arm moved, the pomelo in her arms rolled to the ground.

“My pomelo!”

The pomelo rolled away with a thump-thump-thump. Alarmed, Zhu Ming bent down to chase it. But a pair of feet suddenly appeared ahead of her. A graceful, elegant hand reached out first and stopped the pomelo.

That person picked up the pomelo and handed it over to Zhu Ming.

Zhu Ming looked up and her face drastically changed.

This was a person who shouldn’t be here.

She stood in the cold night wind, wrapped in a soft cream-white scarf, her coat open, leisurely and at ease. She held the large, pale-yellow pomelo in one hand, bouncing it slightly as if it were a ball.

“Good evening, Mingming.”

That one phrase broke the calm. Without even thinking twice, Zhu Ming instinctively raised the other pomelo in the crook of her elbow and fiercely hurled it at her. “How dare you show up now! I think you’re asking for death!”

Yin Yu laughed, sidestepping to dodge the pomelo projectile, retreating several steps. “Weren’t you the one who told me to come find you?”

All her earlier good mood was gone. Zhu Ming’s anger flared. “So you dragged it out and dragged it out until now! I thought you’d died in some corner!”

“Alright, stop being mad.” Yin Yu raised both hands in surrender. “I came today because I have something to say to you.”

Zhu Ming didn’t care what she wanted. The cold wind blew on the late-night street, barely a soul in sight. Unrestrained, she turned her head and shouted, “Master! This person is suspicious! Let’s catch her now!”

Wenren Bai was holding two bags of fruit and snacks: “…”

Zhu Ming: “Master!!!”

Yin Yu smiled, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Stop calling for her. She can’t move.”

Zhu Ming: “…” She’d almost forgotten about Yin Yu’s freakish supernatural ability. How wretchedly frustrating.

What was even more wretched was that even Wenren Bai couldn’t restrain her. Zhu Ming didn’t know who else could possibly catch her.

“Ahem.” Discretion is the better part of valor, but the verbal fight couldn’t be lost. Zhu Ming looked at her warily. “Spit it out if you have something to say, and beat it. Then, knowing what’s good for you, release my Master. I’ll let you off just this once.”

The woman’s hair was a bit messy from the wind. Hearing this threat, she wasn’t afraid at all. She just smoothed her hair back, then pulled out a gift box. “Then I’ll speak. Happy birthday, Mingming.”

Zhu Ming froze.

“This is a birthday present. For you.”

Zhu Ming asked in disbelief, “You came all this way just for this?”

Yin Yu found her question strange instead. “What else?”

Under the bright orange-yellow streetlamp, the light in Zhu Ming’s eyes was even brighter. She stated decisively, “Impossible. You must have some other plot… Oh, I get it. Something’s rigged in the box, right? Tch, what a hassle. If there’s something you want, just say it outright.”

Hearing this suspicion and provocation, Yin Yu just smiled sweetly. She stuffed the pomelo into Zhu Ming’s hands and then, right in front of her, began unwrapping the gift box.

Who unwraps a gift themselves when giving it? Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe the lighting, but as Zhu Ming peered at Yin Yu’s face, she felt her eyes were full of ill intentions, her smile hiding schemes and conspiracies.

Maybe there was a bomb in the box. She wanted to blow up the Director of the Anomaly Management Bureau by taking advantage of the situation, then continue with her mysterious, bizarre, strange plots.

But there wasn’t.

Inside the box was a simple, bright red scarf. It was knitted from soft yarn, the pattern simple yet very delicate and exquisite.

Yin Yu unfolded it and wrapped the big red scarf around Zhu Ming’s bare neck. Instantly, the chill was blocked out. Zhu Ming suddenly found she couldn’t move. It must be that Yin Yu had used her supernatural ability to control her. It must be.

Yin Yu secured the scarf, tidied it up, and stepped back two or three paces to admire her work. She clapped her hands happily. “As expected, Mingming really suits red. My craftsmanship isn’t bad at all.”