The heat of midsummer receded in the evening, and the setting sun tousled the evening clouds.
A cool breeze wafted gently across, golden rice stalks swayed slightly, pink lotus petals quivered softly, and clear droplets rolled from the lotus leaves into the pond, causing ripples to emerge.
The girl, carrying an old bookbag, walked unhurriedly down the path. The evening glow cast her shadow, while she dragged a bulging snakeskin bag that made crisp clinking sounds against the cement road from time to time.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on her delicate face, and strands of her hair stuck to her cheeks in the moisture. The sunset enveloped her, lending a faint halo to her figure, while a pair of cruel black eyes pierced through that halo into the deepest darkness.
"Xiao Xiao, the school's out."
The white-haired elderly lady, hunched over, had just come out of her vegetable garden next to her house and greeted the girl warmly.
"Hello, Grandma Li."
Ye Xiao's smile was sweet and her voice soft and mushy, replacing the darkness of her eyes with a gentle and sugary expression.
Her appearance was even more comforting than the cool summer breeze.
System prompt: Gained Grandma Li's favor; good feelings points added 5, total points negative 98 million.
System warning: If points accumulate to negative 100 million, the Host's heart will stop beating!
Hearing the mechanical voice inside her head, Ye Xiao's eyebrows furrowed slightly. She had tried so hard to smile, and yet was greeted with such a disgusting voice. The damn system only gave her 5 points. She would sooner or later chop up that Main God dog thing.
"Xiao Xiao, there was this really pretty car that drove into your house just now, is it some rich relative of yours?"
Grandma Li's face was covered in wrinkles, which turned into deep grooves when she smiled. Though not particularly attractive, her face still exuded kindness and warmth.
Three Bulls Village was a poor village. Other than the village chief's house, which owned an old, second-hand car, the rest of the villagers used bicycles or motorbikes. Grandma Li, having lived in the village all her life, was naturally very curious when she saw such a beautiful car for the first time.
"It's probably one of the dogs my grandma keeps that's come for a visit," Ye Xiao guessed, looking towards the red BMW parked not far from the yard. Her voice remained sweet as before, but her eyes gleamed coldly.
"Xiao Xiao, don't talk nonsense, what dog. It must be a wealthy relative of yours. Speaking of dogs, I don't know what happened, but my dog Da Huang barked all night yesterday and has lost his voice now."
Ye Xiao's gaze fell on the big yellow dog crouching at Grandma Li's feet, which was shivering and whimpering continuously with its tail tucked between its legs.
"It's nothing. It just got scared."
After Ye Xiao glanced at the dog, it trembled even more violently, burrowing closer to Grandma Li's feet.
"I've just heard that Li Ergou was beaten half to death and dumped at the doorstep of the county police station. No wonder when Da Huang was barking last night, I vaguely heard a few screams. It must have seen something. I don't know who did it, but they've done a good thing."
Li Ergou was a notorious delinquent in San Niu Village. He was known for his idleness and petty thefts. Last week, he stooped to killing his own father for one thousand yuan and fled into the mountains. The police searched the mountains but didn't find him, so they issued a reward notice, encouraging villagers to provide any information.
The villagers of San Niu were uneasy with Li Ergou still at large, fearing he might cause trouble again, and that the next victim might be from their own family.
Fortunately, now that Li Ergou had been "kindly" delivered to the police station, the villagers finally breathed a sigh of relief.