I finally managed to extricate myself from my classmates just as the banquet drew to a close.
I noticed Huzi discreetly slipping leftovers into a plastic bag, but I pretended not to see.
Tomorrow's breakfast was uncertain, and he was left with little choice.
Suddenly, nature called.
I excused myself toHuzi and headed towards the restrooms.
As I returned, I overheard a heated argument coming from one of the rooms.
The voices were familiar.
While I wasn't one for eavesdropping, my name hung in the air, prompting me to listen closer.
I paused, straining to decipher the words.
It was Wang Chaoyang and Li Na, their voices clashing like thunder.
"You're still hung up on Wu Jie, aren't you?" Wang Chaoyang accused. "I knew it! That look in your eyes today… it was obvious!"
"No… I wasn't!" Li Na's voice was small, defensive.
"Don't lie to me! You kept looking at him all night. Did you think I wouldn't notice?" Wang Chaoyang sneered.
"Even if I did glance at him, what does it matter to you?" Li Na shot back, a rare spark of defiance in her voice. "You're being ridiculous. There were so many people there–how can you be sure I was even looking at him?"
A sharp slap rang out. It was so clear, so forceful, that I felt a phantom sting on my own cheek.
"How dare you talk back?" Wang Chaoyang's voice was thick with rage. "Let me make something clear: When you were chasing after Wu Jie, he wouldn't give you the time of day – and he still wouldn't. You could throw yourself at his feet, and he wouldn't bat an eyelid! You're nothing but a lovesick fool!"
Li Na's voice was a choked sob.
"I never wanted to be with you… You forced me…"
"Oh yeah?" Wang Chaoyang's voice dripped with menace. "Well, I guess I'll just have to force you again today. Let's see what you can do about it!"
Li Na's muffled cries reached me, followed by the sickening sound of ripping fabric.
I couldn't listen any longer.
Shaking my head, I turned and walked away.
My interactions with both Wang Chaoyang and Li Na in school had been minimal.
The discovery of their toxic dynamic was unsettling, but ultimately, it wasn't my concern.
I exited the hall to find Huzi waiting with his bag.
As our eyes met, he winked conspiratorially. "Young Master, tomorrow's breakfast is sorted."
Before I could respond, someone called my name.
I turned to see Zhang Yunyao waving from the hotel entrance.
A luxurious car, a Rolls-Royce, I was sure, was parked beside her.
The sight of such wealth was unfamiliar to me.
Uncle Huzi, sensing my intention, gripped my arm, whispering urgently, "Young Master, don't be swayed by her beauty! Remember your master's rule: no business dealings in Yanbei, especially not for your first job."
"I understand,Huzi," I assured him. "I'll just have a brief chat with her and be back soon."
With that, I made my way toward Zhang Yunyao.
She greeted me with an awkward smile and held open the car door.
"Wu Jie," she said, "Would you mind if we talk in the car?"
"Is this yours?" I asked, eyeing the ostentatious vehicle curiously.
"No, it belongs to the driver. He had to leave and offered me a ride."
Hesitation flickered within me.
"I'm not sure it's appropriate for us to be seen talking in a car," I confessed.
"There are some things I can't discuss freely with others around," she explained.
Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, I nodded in agreement and slid into the luxurious back seat.
The instant the door clicked shut, the cacophony of the outside world dissolved into a hushed quiet.
The fragrant air and the sheer spaciousness of the cabin were unlike anything I'd ever experienced.
"Zhang Yunyao," I began, choosing my words carefully. "Thank you for what you did for me earlier. I would have been in an awkward position without your intervention."
"It was nothing," she said earnestly. "You are Li Xuantong's disciple - I was merely stating a fact. They simply don't know it yet."
I nodded, deciding to address the elephant in the car.
"Despite your help, I might not be able to return the favor. My master explicitly warned me against taking any work in Yanbei for my first undertaking."
I paused, collecting my thoughts.
"However, I'm willing to listen to your situation and offer whatever insights I can. Consider it a favor between classmates, free of charge."
Zhang Yunyao's face flickered with disappointment, quickly replaced by a steely determination.
"Mr. Wu, I have a feeling you're the only one who can help us."
"There's no need for formalities," I told her, touched by her trust. "We're classmates. Please, just call me Wu Jie."
"Very well, Wu Jie," she conceded. "I'll tell you everything. Perhaps you can see something we haven't."
"I'm listening."
Zhang Yunyao's voice dropped to a nervous whisper.
"It all started with our family's ancestral grave.
Twenty days ago, all the pine and cypress trees we planted there withered and died overnight. Every morning, black smoke billows from the grave.
We've tried removing the dead trees and replanting, but they die again the next day. Ever since then, my brother has been tormented by nightmares. He even started sleepwalking…
One night, he climbed onto the roof! If my father hadn't woken up to use the bathroom and noticed he was missing, he might have jumped. It terrified us all."
She shuddered, a visible tremble running through her.
"Now, we're forced to lock him in his room every night. While it's helped slightly, he's terrified of falling asleep.
He says he dreams of jumping from tall buildings, experiencing the feeling of falling so vividly it's like he's actually plummeting. The pain is that real to him."
Her voice wavered slightly.
"We've consulted several fortune-tellers about the strange occurrences. They all agree the ancestral grave is the source of the problem.
They've even tried rearranging the feng shui, but the situation has only worsened.
Even my father is experiencing strange bouts of confusion. Just yesterday, he was nearly hit by a car because he wasn't paying attention while crossing the street."
I considered her words carefully.
"If the ancestral grave is the problem," I suggested, "have you considered relocating it to a more auspicious location?"
"We tried," Zhang Yunyao admitted, her voice tight with frustration.
"But when the workers started digging... they hadn't even gone a meter deep when blood began seeping from the earth. They were terrified and refused to dig any further."