Fang Xiaocao had told Li Qiang everything that had happened last night, but subconsciously hid the existence of a strange friend in WeChat who had predicted the murder.
"Ms. Fang," he said, "based on your description, we cannot rule out that the killer might target you again, so we suggest you change your residence temporarily."
"Also, please do not leave this city for the time being, and notify me immediately if anything happens."
Wang Qiang advised patiently.
Fang Xiaocao nodded repeatedly, indicating she understood.
Upon leaving the police station, Fang Xiaocao didn't even dare to go back to her rented room but went straight to a hotel closest to the police station and checked in.
Last night's experience had totally shocked Fang Xiaocao.
She couldn't bear to return to that building filled with the smell of blood.
Lying on the hotel bed and recalling the events of last night, Fang Xiaocao's body still couldn't stop trembling.
The deep voice of that man and the horrified screams of her neighbor seemed to echo in her ears, refusing to fade away.
[Ding-dong!]
[Your friend has sent a message.]
The notification tone of her cell phone went off, indicating a WeChat message.
Fang Xiaocao eagerly picked up her phone and opened WeChat, having a premonition it was that eerie person's message.
[Hot Noodles: To celebrate our survival, go to the flea market before 3 p.m., stall number 7, buy the inkstone on the left, third row, seventh item, the owner's psychological price is 80, the inkstone's value is 8 million.]
"Who exactly are you?"
Fang Xiaocao couldn't wait and asked using voice message.
Her voice trembled due to nervousness.
Message sent successfully!
Fang Xiaocao held her phone tightly, her eyes glued to the screen.
[Hot Noodles: I am you, you are me, I come from the future.]
Upon reading the message, Fang Xiaocao was stunned.
Soon after, anger crept over her face.
"Are you playing with me?"
"Such a clumsy excuse, even a child wouldn't be fooled!"
Fang Xiaocao questioned angrily.
[Hot Noodles: Don't believe it? Remember the love letter you wrote to your Chinese teacher in your second year of high school?]
[Hot Noodles: Want me to read it to you?]
Fang Xiaocao froze, her eyes wide like copper bells, her angry expression replaced by disbelief.
"How would she know?"
"Could it really be me from the future?"
Fang Xiaocao sat on the bed, muttering to herself.
In high school, she had a secret crush on her Chinese teacher, a secret she had never shared with anyone.
And that love letter was burned by Fang Xiaocao the day after it was written, upon discovering her teacher had a girlfriend.
Apart from herself, Fang Xiaocao really couldn't think of anyone else who would know this secret.
Looking at the chat interface, Fang Xiaocao spaced out intermittently.
After a full morning of mental struggle, Fang Xiaocao mustered her courage and left the hotel.
Her toiletries and personal clothes were still in the rental room, and she had not brought them out. Rather than returning to that fearful place, Fang Xiaocao preferred to spend money to buy a new set.
Aimlessly walking on the street, Fang Xiaocao ended up at the flea market as if led by some mysterious force.
Looking at the bustling flea market, Fang Xiaocao bit her lip and decided to verify the authenticity of the message.
Walking through the flea market, Fang Xiaocao looked around, searching for stall number 7 mentioned in the message.
Fang Xiaocao felt conflicted.
When she arrived in front of stall 7 and saw a variety of goods for sale, she anxiously searched through the air for the inkstone mentioned in the message.
1, 2, 3...
When Fang Xiaocao followed the directions and reached the third row on the left, counting to 7, she was stunned.
An inkstone!
On the left, third row, the seventh item...
It really was an inkstone!
Fang Xiaocao moved closer, squatting in front of the stall.
The stall owner was a skinny old man with a sharp face.
His eyes were shifty, exuding craftiness.
As Fang Xiaocao crouched in front of the stall, her eyes suddenly lit up. She looked at Fang Xiaocao's clear but foolish eyes, which sparkled with greed.
The shrewd stall owner loved doing business with college students who were easy to deceive; a little sweet talk, and the money would obediently come out.
"Boss, how much for this?"
Fang Xiaocao casually picked up the inkstone and asked.
"One hundred thousand!"
The owner stretched out five fingers yet quoted a high price of one hundred thousand.
Fang Xiaocao put down the inkstone and got up to leave.
"Do I really look like Pei Qi? Thinking I'm a pig to be slaughtered, the message already said, my psychological price is 80 yuan."
Fang Xiaocao muttered to herself.
"Hey, hey, hey, young lady, don't go!"
Seeing Fang Xiaocao about to leave, the stall owner quickly called out.
Fang Xiaocao stopped in her tracks and looked at the stall owner.
"Was there something else?"
The stall owner smiled sleazily, making a gesture as if he were wringing his hands like a fly, and chuckled, "Ask for the sky, settle for the earth, you think the price is high, you can bargain."
Upon hearing this, Fang Xiaocao raised her eyebrows and laughed.
"Then shall I bargain?"
Fang Xiaocao asked with a smiling face.
"Ah, that's more like it."
A flower of a smile bloomed on the stall owner's face.
"One yuan!"
Fang Xiaocao stretched out five fingers and laughed.
The stall owner's expression instantly fell.
"Just kidding, will you sell it for one hundred?"
Fang Xiaocao laughed.
"Deal!"
The stall owner agreed without hesitation.
"That's too much..."
Fang Xiaocao mumbled, scanned to pay, picked up the inkstone, and left.
Right at the exit of the old goods market, there was an antique shop.
Fang Xiaocao couldn't wait to verify the value of the inkstone!
After visiting several antique shops, she finally saw a sign on one that advertised "Antique Appraisal and Purchase", and she eagerly walked in.
"Hello, welcome."
Just as she entered the shop, a sunny and cheerful uncle greeted her with a smile.
"Ma'am, are you buying or selling?"
The uncle asked with a smile.
"Please take a look at this inkstone!"
Fang Xiaocao took out the inkstone and placed it on the counter.
The uncle put on white gloves, turned on the LED light, and began to examine the inkstone thoroughly.
The more he looked, the more shocked the uncle's expression became.
After a while, the uncle put the inkstone back on the counter, looked at Fang Xiaocao, and smiled, "Ma'am, are you looking to have it appraised or to sell it?"
"The appraisal fee here is three thousand, a certificate is ten thousand, and if you are selling, the appraisal fee is waived."
After finishing, the uncle continued watching Fang Xiaocao with a beaming smile, waiting for her response.
"To sell, if the price is right,"
Fang Xiaocao's goal was to verify the truth of the WeChat message, and since she had no interest in collecting antiques and had no intention of keeping it, she decided to sell it directly.
"The offer here is eight million, and if it goes to auction, after subtracting the continuing fee, it could earn an extra three hundred thousand."
"Our store has a partnership with the largest auction house in the city, and can help contact them without additional fees."
Hearing that Fang Xiaocao wanted to sell, the uncle's smile grew even brighter as he introduced enthusiastically.
Hearing the eight million offer made Fang Xiaocao's heartbeat slow down from shock. She suppressed the excitement in her heart and calmly said, "I'll sell it directly!"
"Eight million, it's really eight million!"
Fang Xiaocao inwardly exclaimed.