The next morning arrived like any other; like the past couple of days, the sunlight spilled into the shared apartment, there was a faint clattering from the kitchen, and the scent of ginger porridge wafted through the air.
Lin Fang stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of his slightly outdated blazer.
He had chosen something modest but presentable.
His pants were ironed, his shoes were cleaned, small things, but today felt like a first step. Today, he intends to take a first step to achieve one of his goals.
He was just stepping out of his room when the kitchen filled with movement. Li Liu was there, her back facing him.
"Morning." He greeted her with an amiable smile.
"Ah… Yes. Morning." A quiet greeting escaped Li Liu, her back still facing him.
Lin Fang smiled, shaking his head. "I'll be back by lunch." He said. There was a subtle nod from Li Liu.
Lin Fang didn't mind it. He continued to walk away. He was about to exit the apartment. Just then, the door creaked open, and he saw his old classmate.
Zhi Yan had just returned from her jog. Her black tracksuit clung to her like a second skin, damp with sweat, hugging her form. The zipper was down halfway, her tank top underneath sticking to her curves, and her ponytail was pulled high, swaying with each step.
Lin Fang blinked. Then blinked again.
"Hey," she greeted, swiping a towel across her neck. "Morning."
He tried his best to keep his eyes locked on her face. "Hi," he managed, offering a faint, composed smile.
Zhi Yan raised a brow, then glanced at his attire. "All dressed up this early? Where are you off to?"
"Research," Lin Fang said, clearing his throat. "I need to look into feed for avian-type monsters. Also… I'm heading to the Association. Planning to get a Hunter license."
She stopped mid-wipe, her eyes narrowing slightly. "A what? Hunter license? I thought your goal was to become a rich pet shop owner."
He chuckled dryly, subtly nodding his head. "That's still the plan. But right now, I'm nothing more than a middleman. I buy from someone and sell to someone else. No real growth. It's not sustainable in the long run. I want to acquire the monster eggs through my own efforts, you know, cutting the cost to nothing, thereby increasing the revenue."
Zhi Yan's towel stilled. She frowned, her expression shifting from amusement to concern. "But… you don't have mana, Classmate Lin. You're a plainfolk."
He nodded firmly with a steady gaze on her face. "I'm willing to risk it. And I have a plan."
She stared at him for a long moment.
Then, without a word, she glanced down the hallway, looked back at him, and said softly, "Let's go together."
"Huh?"
She didn't explain. "Just wait for a bit. I know someone. I'll introduce you to an expert."
Lin Fang blinked. "You… do?"
After a brief pause, he nodded. "Okay."
Zhi Yan gave a satisfied nod, flashed a small smile, and disappeared into her room.
Li Liu, who seemed like a silent spectator, couldn't help but glance at her room door and shake her head. "And she says they are just friends."
Meanwhile, Lin Fang stood in the hallway, heart beating just a bit faster. Maybe… It's because this seemed like a date? Or is it because he was nervous that Li Liu was going to misunderstand it? His gaze was fixated on Li Liu's back for a while, but she never turned back. She continued to be busy in the kitchen.
Exactly twenty minutes later, her door opened again.
Zhi Yan had changed into something simple like clean jeans, a light blouse that fell just below her waist, and a cardigan that softened the sharpness of her athletic frame. Her hair was down now, falling around her face in soft layers, and for a moment, Lin Fang just stared at her in a daze.
She looked… she just looked like this image of a girl next door who you want to see every day.
"Man, she is beautiful…" He couldn't help but think, but swiftly shook his head, "No… No… what are you doing… You want to get back together with Li Liu. Why are you getting attracted to Zhi Yan instead? Lin Fang… control your thoughts and emotions. She is nothing more than your old classmate and your landlord. Moreover, she was born with a silver spoon."
That calmed him down quickly, and he got up.
Zhi Yan adjusted the strap of her shoulder bag and met his gaze. "Let's go?"
He forced a smile, brushing a hand through his hair. "Yeah."
"Bye, Liuliu." Zhi Yan walked outside, waving her hands without looking back.
Li Liu didn't speak about that. Only after they finally exited, she exhaled in relief and turned around from the cooking.
"Finally, they are gone." She put a hand on her thumping heart. "Why should Yan'er's friend have such good looks? Why wasn't he like Brother Hao? No, he isn't just handsome. It feels like he kinda went through some kind of transformation last night. Or else, why would my attraction toward him suddenly spike up today? But at the same time, I don't feel any jealousy. So, what I'm feeling is definitely not in line with romance." She grabbed her own cheeks, further mumbling. "I wonder what's wrong with me…"
Outside, the engine of Zhi Yan's four-seater convertible purred like a feline on the prowl.
Lin Fang climbed in with a faint cough, tugging at the seatbelt as he thought to himself. "It's a damn Cragan. Even the entry model is worth 2 million credits. This one should cost atleast 4-5 million. Just how rich is this girl…"
He didn't say anything, though. Didn't ask questions. He just sat there, one leg awkwardly crossed over the other, as Zhi Yan hit the accelerator.
They left Huaxi City behind soon after, driving past the outskirts into a greener district. The buildings thinned out. Wide roads turned into narrow ones.
Eventually, they turned onto a private road lined with peach blossom trees. At the end of the road stood a pristine villa, grand but not too fancy. White stone, bronze detailing, and the kind of peace only wealth could afford.
They stepped out of the car.
And Lin Fang, still awkward, followed Zhi Yan through the ornate gate.
The courtyard opened before them like a canvas painted in still life. Wind rustled the leaves. Birds chirped from somewhere unseen. But in the center of it all, two people were locked in combat.
One was a middle-aged woman, her salt-streaked hair tied in a high bun, movements graceful yet firm. Her eyes were steady and cold.
The other was a young man, perhaps in his twenties, lean and confident, the sleeves of his combat jacket rolled up. His hair was dyed a silver ash, similar to the woman's.
And in between them were the lightning Jaguars.
One is larger, bigger than the car Zhi Yan and Lin Fang just rode.
The other one seemed smaller and younger, but it looked quite aggressive, trying to attack the larger counterpart again and again, only to get swatted away every time.
Lin Fang's pupils narrowed without meaning to.
In his vision, faint lines shimmered.