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墨書 Inktalez
Three days had passed in the blink of an eye...
Xiao Mu rubbed his sleepy eyes as he walked through the damp and smoky alley of his rented place on Paifang Street in Suzhou and Hangzhou. His worn-out jeans swayed as he moved, and his old shoes shuffled along the ground. Taking a deep breath in the murky alley, he had grown accustomed to the foul smell, much like someone who had long been in a fragrant room but no longer noticed its stench.
After finishing a bowl of wontons, he tossed the greasy money onto the oil-stained table. For a moment, he felt a strange illusion, as if he could recall being in a lavish hotel or a lively entertainment venue, where he would throw down thick stacks of cash and tell the fawning waitstaff:
"Keep the change."
Now, however, he stood still, waiting for the Boss Lady, whose sleeves were stained with grime, as she counted out some coins to hand to him.
"Here's your change."
He took it with a hint of embarrassment, feeling a peculiar sensation that lingered for quite some time.
Oh right, this gesture felt familiar—like how his mother used to do it. Her front pocket was always filled with thick coins, which he believed held treasures that could bring joy to the whole family. This environment felt familiar too, reminiscent of childhood memories buried deep within him. In this greasy, trash-laden place filled with waste water, there were indelible memories.
Stepping out of the alley, the cold dampness hit him like a chill, sending shivers down his spine. The bustling city around him was filled with the smells of gasoline, oil, and exhaust fumes, evoking an inexplicable sense of fear. He hugged himself tightly and timidly approached a newsstand, flipping through that day's newspapers.
He seemed to be searching for something.
Strictly speaking, he was looking for a remedy for regret—wondering if there was an ad from his wealthy father pleading for help in finding his son. After three days of searching, all he found were ads from rich families offering rewards for lost dogs; none were seeking missing persons.
Not only did he search here but also waited at his previous residence for Yan Lu, the assistant from Qingchen Hotel—the person his father trusted most—who would be looking for Young Master Mu just like before.
Disappointment after disappointment washed over him; there was nothing—no news from Binhai or any major newspapers from Suzhou and Hangzhou or cities in the Yangtze River Delta. Frustrated, he tossed aside the newspaper. The elderly woman at the newsstand glared at him and shouted:
"Are you buying or not? Don’t flip through if you’re not buying!"
Damn it! A fallen phoenix is better than a chicken. With that expression on her face, Xiao Mu shot back defiantly: "I can’t read! I’m not buying!"
He turned and walked away, a string of muttered curses following him from behind.
As he walked, he glanced at his phone—a customized device worth over a hundred thousand, now replaced by a cheap domestic model, the kind given away for paying bills at service centers. The screen was terrible, the internet connection painfully slow. He scrolled through various portals in Binhai but found nothing he was looking for.
Disappointment was slowly morphing into despair. He squatted on the curb, feeling helpless and lost, gradually losing the strength to even take a step.
At that moment, his phone rang. The new device only received business advertisements and calls from Shen Lingchen, who was the only one who knew this number. Without needing to think, he knew who it was. After a moment's hesitation, he answered, holding the phone to his ear and weakly said, "Hello? Are you urging me again?"
"Can I not urge you? I sent you back to Suzhou and Hangzhou, and you've been sleeping for three days. I have to remind you," came Shen Lingchen's voice.
Xiao Mu knew he couldn't hide anything from this old fox. However, feeling rather down, he rebelliously replied, "Brother, even if you're selling yourself as a prostitute, you need some time to adjust. This is selling your life!"
"Haha, it's not that serious. If it were life-threatening, it wouldn't be up to you. What's wrong? Regretting it?" Shen Lingchen asked.
"Yeah, it's just a few thousand bucks. Can I return it to you?" Xiao Mu said.
"Sure, but you can't go back to your old life. How about I teach you another method? Take a bus back and cry at the entrance of Qingchen Hotel. Maybe your dad will soften up and forgive you," Shen Lingchen teased.
Although he longed for forgiveness, it would never be in such a manner. Xiao Mu held his phone and cursed loudly, "Go to hell! You've made my life miserable."
"Look at you! You had high expectations for the future and ended up falling hard. Now you're blaming me?" Shen Lingchen replied calmly.
Truth be told, he couldn't blame Shen Lingchen; it was Xiao Mu who had reached out first after waking up, trying to forcefully grasp at either returning to his previous indulgent lifestyle or starting anew with freedom. This thrilling approach suited Xiao Mu's temperament perfectly.
Now he found himself completely free but realized he had overestimated his ability to cope. Hitting rock bottom made him regret once again—just like all those times he regretted falling into decadence while simultaneously enjoying that very lifestyle. Such restraint was too extravagant for his character.
The line fell silent for a while before Shen Lingchen's serious voice broke through: "Xiao Mu, if you're really feeling overwhelmed, just come back... This is an outer lead; it might be wrong. Personally, I think you're too extraordinary in this area; I wanted to give it a try. If it's too difficult for you, don't go—find some work instead and wait for your family to come get you."
He couldn't tell whether it was sympathy, comfort, or mockery; in any case, Xiao Mu found it grating to his ears. With a fierce press of the button, he hung up.
He put away his phone, a wave of inexplicable anger washing over him, filling him with a sense of power. He silently recited:
"When I am depressed, I sing loudly.
When I am sad, I laugh heartily.
When I am afraid, I move forward bravely.
When I am destitute, I imagine a wealthy future."
He recalled the motivational phrases from the Pyramid Scheme hideout. Surprisingly, they were quite effective. As he repeated them in his mind, the bizarre faces that had once crossed his path resurfaced in his memory: Lu the Madman, Yang Beauty, Big Mouth, and Jia Fangfei, with whom he had shared intimate moments. Each one was a vivid character, far more exciting than his dull life.
It seemed these people ignited an inexplicable urge within him. Their strange criminal exploits and the intricate deceptions they engaged in were far more thrilling than the monotonous routine surrounding him. Indeed, crime was a story far more captivating than happiness and tranquility.
"I'm coming... I'm going to cause some trouble; no one can stop me now," he thought wickedly as he boarded bus number 237, which would take him straight to his destination...
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The call ended abruptly, leaving Shen Lingchen frowning as if faced with a difficult Case Situation.
A source is not just someone who provides clues; they are the link between two ends. As his handler, you must ensure that this line remains intact. Yet Shen Lingchen felt that this line was always at risk of breaking. When it did snap, that person would soar like a kite to an extreme height before crashing down heavily.
Experience had taught him that it was all too easy to ruin a person, whether through the malice of others or by one's own hand.
This left him in a dilemma. He scratched the back of his head with his phone, pondering a better workaround. It was only when Guan Yiqing reminded him that he snapped back to reality, recalling that the three of them were standing by the newsstand. Guan Yiqing and Guo Wei each held a thick stack of newspapers, both shaking their heads in disappointment at not finding anything.
Right, they were also looking for Boss Mu's missing child advertisement. It seemed this father-son pair had severed ties completely; Boss Mu was truly furious, and there wasn't a single piece of information to be found.
"Get in the car," Shen Lingchen said disinterestedly.
The three of them climbed into the car, with Guo Wei driving. Guan Yiqing sorted through the thick stack of newspapers in the back seat, having grasped the general situation. She couldn't imagine how her mentor could come up with such a terrible idea, abducting a rebellious rich heir and taking him to Hideout. If something went wrong, how would they handle it?
Meanwhile, Guo Wei was deep in thought about the case. All investigations and searches for clues revolved around three words: slow, chaotic, scattered. The search for Locksmith had expanded to six cities and their surrounding counties. This industry was filled with talent; there were over eight thousand registered special industry personnel in public security alone, not counting those who worked privately. When he reached this point, he felt quite impressed by his mentor; just one accurate lead could connect all the slow, chaotic, and scattered information collected over time. His mentor had foresight and had already sent out informants.
"Master, can I ask a question?" Guo Wei ventured cautiously.
"Go ahead," Shen Lingchen replied absently.
"Is Xiao Mu reliable? During that Pyramid Scheme incident in Shaanxi Province, I always felt there was an element of chance involved. If we were to purposefully seek him out, wouldn't that be putting undue pressure on him? Plus, Suzhou and Hangzhou are unfamiliar cities for him; I'm a bit worried about sending someone unacquainted as an informant," Guo Wei expressed.
This was also Guan Yiqing's concern. She added, "Yes, this guy is currently filled with resentment; it's uncertain what he might do. Just look at his background—his courage is likely beyond what ordinary people can compare."
"Haha, you both have me worried too. But there's no other choice; obedient ones are useless while those who are capable tend to be Zhang Quan. It's the same with informants—if you can buy a clue for a few hundred bucks, it wouldn't be called a clue at all. That's why professional informants exist and why our bureau allocates funds every year. That bizarre world is ultimately beyond our full comprehension as police officers; we need a middleman," Shen Lingchen explained.
He thought for a moment while comparing Xiao Mu's background before continuing, "In foreign studies on deviant psychology and criminal psychology, one encounters numerous practical cases. In the field of crime research, developed countries are ahead of us due to social structures. Xiao Mu has been exposed to this; he's been back in the country for over a year now, and I estimate he's spent more than half that time indulging in vices like drinking and gambling. I've roughly checked his social circle—it's quite eclectic: drug users, karaoke bar owners, car dealers, investment company operators—truly diverse. Moreover, he followed the Shaanxi Province police during their investigation into a Pyramid Scheme; given his experiences with society's criminals and con artists, he might have more exposure than we do... He's seen various facets of society both domestically and internationally."
"So you're saying his social experience should be quite rich?" Guan Yiqing asked.
"Exactly. His father spent millions to raise such an eccentric; with such high costs involved, it would be unreasonable if he hadn't encountered some real-life situations," Shen Lingchen concluded.
Guo Wei chuckled lightly, jokingly saying, "Are you hoping that a criminal gang will take a liking to him?"
"Shouldn't it be that way? Just look at that guy; he’s annoying wherever he goes. There must be a place that can accommodate him, somewhere he can be liked, right? I tell you, when he saw You Bisheng's inquiry video, his eyes were wider than potatoes, full of interest. People need to hit it off, just like a turtle marrying into a family of tortoises or a bedbug falling for a urine shell—only with the same stench can they find common ground," Shen Lingchen remarked.
The two apprentices were taken aback by their master's humor and laughed so hard they nearly fell over. Now, they truly hoped Xiao Mu could find a companion who shared his peculiarities...
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At the same time, Boss Mu returned to his usual routine a bit late. It wasn't until ten in the morning that he arrived at the hotel entrance. Once the car was parked steadily, he got out first and helped his wife, who was already showing signs of pregnancy, out of the co-driver's seat.
Things were coming at him one after another. Zhong Xiaomei was considered an advanced maternal age mother; Old Mu was over fifty and having a child. He was worried about not being able to take care of things properly. With one child yet to be born and another already grown causing trouble in various ways, the family matters that were hard to discuss kept Old Mu on edge.
"Take it slow on the steps..."
"Mu Qingchen, I'm not that fragile."
"Oh dear, as an advanced maternal age mother, the doctor said the risks are very high."
"No risk is too great for this."
As they chatted casually, the reception staff and waiters greeted Boss Mu and his wife frequently. Old Mu waved to two young ladies and assisted his wife to his office for some rest while he himself did not go upstairs but called for Yan Lu from the front desk.
When Yan Lu came down, Old Mu began listing off items as if reciting from memory: ramie root, goji berries, fish maw, pig stomach—each with specific requirements for quality. It seemed Boss Mu was going to cook himself; these were ingredients for a pregnancy-preserving medicinal dish. Yan Lu quickly noted them down on his phone. Just as Boss Mu was about to leave, Yan Lu unexpectedly followed him and timidly asked, "Uncle Mu, about the young master..."
"What... what now? Are you cutting off father-son ties again?" Old Mu replied angrily, feeling all his enthusiasm had been flushed down the drain; he hadn’t even regained his composure yet.
"I'm saying, why not bring him back? What if something happens out there?" Yan Luren Shan suggested cautiously.
Old Mu groaned like he had a stomach ache, looking at Yan Lu with exasperation. "Since your father, the main task has been to find this useless thing. He causes trouble at school and doesn't come home; got expelled and still won't come home... After spending a few years abroad seeing the world, he doesn't want to return. You think if you bring him back, he won't run off again? No worries, when the money runs out, he might just wander back one day."
"This time is different. I can see the young master is really upset; he might actually be heartbroken. Ever since he came back from Shaanxi Province last year, he's changed a lot," Yan Lu replied.
"It's not that this time is different; it's that every time is different. Let me ask you, what do you plan to do when you bring him back? Use the salaries of all the employees in this shop to support his indulgences? Competition is fierce now, running a business is tough, and we have to pinch pennies. Do you still expect him to understand the value of money?" Old Mu said.
This statement left Yan Lu speechless. Being a father and a boss was indeed difficult; if it were in Xiao Mu's hands, he probably wouldn't survive a few months of his extravagance.
"Just go. Don't mention this in front of your aunt," Old Mu waved his hand, dismissing Yan Lu.
As he turned away, he suddenly felt a wave of sorrow wash over him.
Son, oh son... Raising a tiger can be dangerous, but can raising a son also become a burden?
You don't know how hard the road is until you hit a wall; you don't realize how painful it is to fall until you try to go home. He took a deep breath, suppressing the pain inside him, and decided not to think about this hopeless spendthrift anymore.
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