Yannan City, Yannan University Town South Fork Street.
Yang Fei rode an old tricycle, which was loaded with laundered quilts and sheets.
He hummed an obscure tune, a carefree look on his face.
Suddenly, Yang Fei saw an old man at the corner, lounging leisurely in the shade beneath a roadside tree.
He whistled, "Grandpa Zhang, enjoying the cool air?"
The old man turned around in surprise and recognized Yang Fei.
His eyes widened in alarm, and he suddenly bolted up and ran into the alleyway.
The old man's shrill cries echoed down the half-street, "Whose daughters and daughters-in-law are still bathing or changing clothes? Yang Fei is back, hurry up and close your doors and windows!"
In an instant, the atmosphere on the street dramatically changed.
Everyone was on edge, and households hurriedly closed their doors, resulting in a scene of utter chaos, much to their amusement.
Yang Fei stood dumbfounded, watching a few feathers float down from the second floor of a commercial building, landing right in front of his eyes.
"Is that really necessary? I just like to conduct some pure academic research, purely a personal hobby."
Yang Fei muttered to himself, forcing a bitter smile.
He plucked a feather from the air and gently blew it back into the sky before continuing on his way.
Although this area was part of the newly developed district of University Town, this old street miraculously had not been included in the planning area.
The street was somewhat narrow, yet lively enough.
Many of the elegantly designed old buildings could be registered as cultural heritage sites.
The residents here were all old neighbors, sharing a strong sense of community and warm interpersonal relations.
Yang Fei rode his tricycle slowly, greeting passersby along the way.
A few minutes later, a five-story brick and concrete building appeared before him.
A lightbox advertisement sign for the Lanting Hotel hung above the entrance.
And Yang Fei worked as an odd-job man at this hotel, currently a proud hotel menial worker.
He held multiple jobs, including waiter, security guard, plumber, cleaning staff, chef, etc., his roles significant and varied.
His prospects were... infinite.
To Yang Fei, work was not the most important thing.
What mattered most was that the hotel's proprietress was Lin Zi's sister, Lin Xueyi.
Thinking of Lin Zi, Yang Fei's mood immediately turned somber.
He couldn't help but touch a charm hanging around his neck.
It was a bullet casing with the gunpowder carved out, onto which Lin Zi had engraved a dragon pattern on the tiny brass shell.
The dragon appeared fierce and dynamic, its body winding around the casing, creating an intricate design.
Unfortunately, while the object remained, Lin Zi was no longer here.
Overcome with memories, Yang Fei's eyes began to moisten.
His hand, gripping the tricycle handlebar tightly, turned white at the knuckles from the excessive force.
"Good brother, rest assured, I'll take care of Sister Xueyi. We'll avenge our brothers' blood feud!"
As he neared the hotel entrance, Yang Fei stealthily wiped the corner of his eye.
Turning the corner on his tricycle, he caught sight of Sister Xueyi.
Sister Xueyi wore a beige collared suit jacket with a matching tube skirt.
The well-tailored skirt accentuated Sister Xueyi's shapely figure.
Her wine-red dyed hair, slightly curled at the tips, complemented her gentle and exquisite oval face, making her look stunningly graceful and refined.
A warmth surged in Yang Fei's heart.
At this moment, Lin Xueyi was actually squatting on a stainless steel retractable ladder, struggling to examine the lightbox.
Her voice trembled, "Li Hong, hold the ladder steady, I'm a bit scared. I don't know what's going on, this lightbox, it just broke out of nowhere."
"Hmph, if that rascal Yang Fei doesn't come back soon, I'll dock his entire month's salary."
Lin Xueyi cursed Yang Fei under her breath as she continued to check the lightbox.
"Sister Xueyi, please hold on tight, if you really can't manage it, let's just wait for Brother Fei to come back and handle it."
Li Hong, who was holding the ladder, also looked worried as Lin Xueyi wobbled above.
"Hey, Sister Xueyi....."
Yang Fei dismounted his tricycle and stood behind Sister Xueyi, pretending he hadn't heard their conversation.
He greeted Lin Xueyi on the ladder with a cheeky grin, "Sister Xueyi has gotten even more beautiful while I was away."
Lin Xueyi turned around, her face immediately stern upon seeing Yang Fei.
But she couldn't suppress the delighted smile at the corners of her mouth, "You little scamp, you finally decided to come back?"
"Quick, take a look at our hotel's lightbox, Li Hong and the other girls can't handle it."
Yang Fei looked up and couldn't help but widen his eyes, "Wow, Sister Xueyi, you're really sizzling hot today, I like it!"
"You jerk, if you dare take advantage of me, I won't let you off," she warned.
In her panic, Lin Xueyi quickly covered the hem of her skirt with both hands, her cheeks flushing a shade of white jade.
Flustered and clumsy, Lin Xueyi kept her hands on her short skirt, not holding the ladder.
She felt the ladder shaking terribly, and from below Yang Fei exclaimed, "Sister Xueyi, be careful, hold on!"
Lin Xueyi got startled and, forgetting the hem of her skirt, reached out to grab the ladder.
But just at that moment, her left foot stepped into emptiness.
With a cry of alarm, Lin Xueyi tumbled head first from the ladder and plummeted to the ground.
Yang Fei shook his head with a wry smile, took a step forward, and with an effortless motion caught Lin Xueyi in his arms.
Lin Xueyi hadn't realized the danger was over and was still desperately struggling.
She turned sharply in Yang Fei's arms, almost falling from his embrace.
Yang Fei, startled, brought his left hand from the outside to the inside to support Lin Xueyi's body.
He comforted her, "Sister Xueyi, it's okay now, don't move around."
Yang Fei sighed sincerely, wondering how many men could resist such a beauty.
Lin Xueyi, still unaware that she was being held by Yang Fei, continued to twist her body in fear.
"Ah, Lin Zi ah Lin Zi, I'm not intentionally taking advantage of our sister here, I had no choice," he muttered.
Yang Fei thought of Lin Zi, sighed, and gently placed Lin Xueyi on the ground, steadying her by the shoulders, "Sister Xueyi, don't panic, you're fine now."
Feeling solid ground beneath her feet, Lin Xueyi paused for a moment before suddenly coming to her senses.
Her cheeks grew hot, burning like fire.
"You little rascal, all you know is to bully your sister, right? Just so you know, forget about any bonus this month," she spat out through clenched teeth.
Lin Xueyi glared at Yang Fei, stomped her foot angrily, straightened her skirt, and with flushed face stormed into the hotel.
After a few steps, she turned back, her bright eyes full of reproach, "You, fix the lightbox for me, and hurry up about it, hmph!"
Yang Fei watched as Lin Xueyi's figure swayed into the hotel, shaking his head with a smile.
He climbed up the ladder, inspected the lightbox, and quickly found a short circuit. With a few swift actions, he fixed the lightbox.
Just then, Lin Xueyi's voice thundered out from inside the hotel, "Yang Fei, you big rogue, get in here!"
Yang Fei shivered upon hearing the wrathful tone in Lin Xueyi's voice.
He suddenly remembered something utterly absurd from the afternoon, and charging in double-quick time, he rushed into the hotel lobby.