"Batman? That name brings ManBat to mind, but I'm intrigued! It feels like a version from an alternate world or something. You should really write a book about him, Yasushi!" Yunxue's enthusiasm cut through the room.
The living room, now bathed in the gentle glow of lamps, had a relaxed air after the evening's earlier chaos. Yasushi had been recounting his experience in detail, his voice punctuating the tranquility. An hour had slipped by since the commotion, and they were now settling into a quieter rhythm. Yinhaie and Heinz had dispatched a few people to shadow Yan Jia's family. From their reports, the family was hastily packing their vehicle, clearly intending to flee the town.
"No, I think I'll pass on becoming an author," Yasushi responded, his tone reflective. Once, the idea of writing had seemed appealing. Yet, as he sifted through the memories of his past life, he found that the details were not as vivid as he had hoped. The standout moments were etched in his mind, but the more routine, everyday occurrences had faded into a haze. The thought of transcribing those elusive details into a book seemed increasingly unattainable.
Jingliu's eyes, fixed on the report she held, narrowed with a trace of concern. "I hadn't anticipated you would push it this far, Yasushi. I appreciate your eagerness to help us, but if things had turned out differently, we'd be facing another legal struggle," she remarked, her tone carrying a blend of apprehension and gratitude.
Her gaze softened as she continued, "But I get why you acted as you did. We had already exhausted the legal channels, and they proved fruitless. The courts wouldn't take further action, not with the situation lacking what they deem as 'real' danger."
Yasushi's nod was slow and deliberate. "In many places, persistent verbal harassment doesn't qualify as 'real danger.' In fact, emotional or mental abuse often goes unrecognized until it directly affects someone. It's more pragmatic for us to handle it ourselves."
Heinz brought his hands together with a sharp clap, drawing everyone's attention. "Now that this matter has been settled, I suggest Lady Jingliu and Lord Yasushi put it behind them. If any legal complications come up, we will handle them. You two are here for your summer break, and it's best you focus on enjoying it rather than stressing over this issue."
Anfeng, standing nearby, chimed in, "You're also scheduled to assist Lady Xinyi with her problem later this month, correct? It might be wise to shift your focus to that instead of dwelling on Yan Jia. She's not worth the effort. As Heinz mentioned, let us take care of the complications."
Yinhaie, her expression warm and reassuring, added, "They have a point, Yasushi and Lady Jingliu. Set this aside and make the most of your summer break. Should any more issues with your former classmates from this town come up, let us know. We'll take care of it."
"Right, I'm here to help too!" Yunxue interjected eagerly, eager to contribute to the discussion.
With everyone's reassurances and guidance, both Yasushi and Jingliu decided to let it go. Yasushi sighed, scratching the back of his head with a rueful grin. "Alright, alright, I get the point. We'll leave it to you all. Thanks," he said, pushing his chair back as he stood up. "I'm going to take a shower now. I'll see you all at dinner."
As Yasushi made his way out of the dining room, several of them waved or called out their farewells. Jingliu, however, remained rooted to her seat, her gaze following Yasushi's retreating figure. She hesitated, torn between the impulse to follow him and the uncertainty that held her back. An odd sensation tugged at her, suggesting she should follow, but before she could decide, Yasushi had disappeared around the corner.
Yasushi entered their shared room, then slipped into the adjoining bathroom and started the shower. He stood under the cascading water, letting it wash over him, his body exposed and vulnerable. He leaned his forehead against the cool tiles, exhaling heavily.
His mind swirled with memories from his past life, vivid and relentless. The water's steady rhythm did little to drown out the echoes of his past actions. Some memories had been buried deep, resurfacing with the night's events, while others, still fresh and raw, fought to reassert themselves despite his attempts to ignore them.
He raised his hand, examining it closely. To the untrained eye, it appeared steady, but a subtle tremor betrayed him. 'When was the last time I used a knife like that against someone?' he pondered, watching as his hand continued to quiver. He clenched his fingers into a fist, struggling to steady them.
One reason Yasushi preferred using his fists was the control it afforded him. He had a solid grasp of his physical strength and could often rein it in, even in moments of anger or heightened emotion. He trusted himself to stop before inflicting irreversible damage.
In contrast, the use of objects, particularly knives, presented a different challenge. Despite the tumultuous emotions and turbulent mindset he had experienced, he had never taken a life. An incident that nearly crossed that line had prompted him to distance himself from such tools. From then on, he relied solely on his fists, choosing to avoid the risk of losing control that came with handling blades.
"Come on…calm down," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the sound of the water. He clenched his fist tighter, trying to stop the persistent tremor.
Before he could continue, he felt a pair of arms encircle him from behind, and another person pressed close against his back. Taken aback, he turned to see Jingliu standing there.
He didn't speak, simply allowing Jingliu to hold him as he turned around. The space between them filled with a wordless understanding. He returned the embrace, both of them standing beneath the cascading water. The shower continued its steady flow, mingling with the quiet exchange of their presence.
They remained like that for a few minutes, the silence offering a reprieve. When they finally parted, they finished their shower, taking their time to clean up. Afterwards, they returned to their room, prepared themselves, and joined the others for dinner shortly thereafter.
+-+
"Where should we head today?" Yasushi asked, his hand intertwined with Jingliu's as they meandered through the town's winding streets.
Jingliu's eyes sparkled with a playful glint. "I have a few places in mind, but how about we let our feet guide us today instead of sticking to a plan?" she suggested, gently swinging their linked hands back and forth.
Yasushi chuckled softly, nodding in agreement. "Alright. Let's follow our instincts and see where the day takes us. But… didn't Anfeng mention something about a hot spring last night?"
Jingliu's face brightened at the mention. "Yes, the Mengyinhu Hot Springs are quite popular around here. It's usually crowded, but the best time to go is at night. They're open twenty-four hours, and the combination of the cool night air with the warm springs is perfect during summer. After that, we could head over to the Night Market. What do you think?"
"Sounds good to me," Yasushi responded as they continued their leisurely stroll through the town.
After a while, they reached a small park nestled amid the urban sprawl. The park, modest in size, featured a few swings, scattered benches, and sandboxes bordered by a few trees. Children played energetically with their parents, but there were no other visitors their age. Yasushi sighed with a sense of relief as they found an empty bench and settled onto it.
"This park is one of the smaller ones in Mengyinhu," Jingliu began, gesturing around. "The largest park is usually teeming with people because it offers more play areas for children and ample seating for parents. It even has a few shops, including a Starbucks, a branch of the local pizza place, and a general goods store."
Yasushi considered this and nodded. "Sounds like an interesting place to visit another time."
Jingliu agreed, and they sat in quiet contemplation for a few moments. After a brief pause, she added, "There's actually an abandoned building near the forests on the outskirts of Mengyinhu. If you're up for a bit of exploration, we could check it out…"
"Let me guess," Yasushi said, a sly grin forming on his lips. "It's rumored to be haunted, and many people have gone there only to run away in terror because of an eerie atmosphere?"
Jingliu laughed softly and gave a nod. "Exactly. But you seem like someone who would be inclined to believe in such things. Given your occasional displays of extraordinary strength, I can't help but entertain the notion myself," she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement, which prompted a chuckle from Yasushi.
At that moment, Yasushi found himself more open to the idea of the supernatural. After all, his own experience of reincarnation had made the possibility of ghosts seem quite plausible. The notion of exploring the abandoned building intrigued him more than ever. After some thought, he made his decision.
"Alright, I'm game. Let's plan to visit it tomorrow. Maybe we could invite Yunxue along for the adventure?" he proposed.
"Yunxue…is absolutely terrified of ghosts," Jingliu responded, her smile tinged with an awkward edge.
"Perfect," Yasushi said with a broad grin, clearly relishing the idea.
"Don't pick on my staff," Jingliu admonished lightly, giving him a playful tap on the arm.
The conversation between Yasushi and Jingliu about their potential adventure continued for a few minutes before they were interrupted by a group of teenagers. Mostly girls, they approached with an air of hesitant anticipation. Jingliu's eyes widened in surprise as she recognized them.
"Hey…Jingliu, it's been a while, hasn't it?" one of the girls spoke softly, her voice tinged with a mix of shyness and apprehension.
"Zihan, it has been a while. What brings you here?" Jingliu responded, her expression neutral as she regarded the group.
Zihan, with the other girls nodding in agreement, explained, "We heard you were back in town and wanted to say hello and offer our apologies…" Her voice carried a note of earnestness, mirrored by the remorseful expressions of her companions.
Suddenly, the entire group bowed deeply, surprising Yasushi and Jingliu. "We're sorry for how we treated you during those three years in middle school!" Zihan's voice was filled with regret, a sentiment echoed by the other girls.
"…A lot happened during the first and second years of high school," Zihan began, her voice steady but tinged with sincerity. "Those experiences led us to reflect deeply on our actions. We've been going around, apologizing to those we wronged and bullied in the past. Although many have told us to leave them alone, we felt it was important to make amends."
Another girl spoke up, her face etched with remorse. "Even if you don't choose to accept our apology, we wanted you to hear it from us. We genuinely mean it. Growing up and coming to terms with our past actions has made us all feel like we were terrible people."
The group nodded together, their expressions reflecting a shared sense of guilt and regret. Zihan continued, "It might not mean much to you, but this is what we wanted to do. If you ever find it in yourself to forgive us or if there's something you'd like us to do, please let us know." She reached into her pocket, pulling out a small slip of paper, and handed it to Jingliu before turning to leave.
Both Yasushi and Jingliu examined the slip of paper, which contained a list of the girls' phone numbers and the name of a group chat they were all part of on LINE. The names Zihan, Yueqin, Lingxi, Shuyin, and Fanglan were neatly inscribed, each representing a face from the past.
"Do you want to talk about it now?" Yasushi inquired, his gaze shifting from the paper to Jingliu.
Jingliu shook her head gently, her lips curving into a smile. "Maybe later tonight," she replied. "Let's put off the heavy stuff for now. We should make the most of the day and enjoy ourselves." With that, she stood up, reaching out to pull Yasushi to his feet. The couple began walking away, ready to immerse themselves in the day's adventures.