They had just stepped out of the shop and walked a few paces when there was suddenly a commotion near the pedestrian street entrance across the way.

“…You stinking bitch, I’m hitting you…”

In the alley, a tattooed man kicked over a thin woman, grabbed her brown curly hair, picked up a stick, and started beating her. The woman struggled and screamed.

Some people avoided it, others gathered to watch, unclear what was happening.

“What are you looking at?” the tattooed man roared. “She cheated and flirted online. I’m disciplining my wife! Nobody interfere!”

Slap! Another slap across the face. The woman cried loudly, screaming: “Help… Murder—”

Some passersby halfheartedly shouted, “Stop hitting her.” Intimidated by the domestic abuser’s size and the stick in his hand, they dared not approach.

Lin Yuchan’s blood pressure shot up. This was Guangzhou’s busiest area!

Su Minguan remained motionless, watching coldly. Rivers and lakes required caution—he’d seen plenty of this since childhood. Most likely, it was a setup: A and B fight in the street, passersby try to mediate, suddenly A and B join forces against the passerby, stealing, robbing, or extorting money. Passersby could only consider themselves unlucky.

But Lin Yuchan knew this wasn’t so complicated. It was just domestic violence!

In old society, beating wives in the street was too common. For her safety, she couldn’t stand up to stop it every time—it was a regret in her heart.

Now in the 21st century, she couldn’t just stand by and watch.

She immediately dialed 110 on her phone, describing the incident location and the domestic abuser’s characteristics to the police.

“Yes, he has a stick, about thirty centimeters… Come quickly, that woman seems injured…”

But the domestic abuser, perhaps guilty, listened in all directions while beating his wife. Seeing a young girl daring to call, he grabbed his wife and charged aggressively toward her.

“DLLM, put it down! Who are you? I know now, you must be one of her fair-weather friends! Believe it or not, I’ll beat you too…”

Another person blocked his path.

Su Minguan could no longer stay out of it. He looked coldly at the attacker—an outwardly strong but inwardly weak waste, not knowing what he was so proud of.

“That’s about enough,” he politely advised. “Don’t involve bystanders.”

Lin Yuchan wasn’t worried about her boyfriend and cleverly stepped back, holding up her phone.

The domestic abuser flew into a rage, suddenly having a flash of inspiration:

“The one she was flirting with online—is it him! Eat shit, you stinking bitch!”

Instead, he kicked and dragged his wife with doubled force. The woman screamed, losing several strands of hair. Su Minguan frowned.

If this was a setup, they were investing heavily.

“Shameless, get lost! Don’t dirty this ground!”

…

Twenty seconds later, the domestic abuser was rolling on the ground, stick thrown aside, clutching his right foot and crying from pain.

“Wuu, leg’s broken… Ahh—”

Only then did the watching crowd joyfully gather around, cursing in unison.

“You can’t just beat your wife! This isn’t the old society! Hitting people is illegal, you know! Hit her again and we’ll send you to jail!”

His wife, originally beaten black and blue, suddenly scrambled up and flew into a rage at Su Minguan.

“You broke my husband’s leg! You pay the medical fees!”

Su Minguan: “…”

It was a setup after all.

Lin Yuchan put away her phone and pulled him back, not letting that woman touch him.

Police arrived, stopped the chaos, and invited several people to the station.

The domestic abuser grimaced, insisting this was a family matter that police couldn’t interfere with. His wife also chimed in, saying it was just a marital quarrel, they were about to make up when someone meddled and injured her husband, at least fractured his toe. No need to go to the hospital; compensating ten thousand yuan now would suffice.

The police were also troubled and turned to ask Su Minguan: “Did you hit him? How did you make your move?”

“Sky Eye,” Su Minguan wasn’t flustered at all, settling familiarly into the waiting area, “everything has nowhere to hide—take a look and you’ll know.”

Lin Yuchan suppressed laughter, helping explain: “Please check the surveillance. I also recorded a video. At least four people filmed it just now.”

The enthusiastic citizens who filmed also came to testify. The police retrieved surveillance footage, instantly reconstructing the twenty-second incident scene from 360 degrees without blind spots.

The footage showed Su Minguan as if to seize the domestic abuser’s stick, even provocatively cursing something. The domestic abuser flew into a rage and swung the stick at him. Su Minguan dodged. Seeing him back down, the domestic abuser became more arrogant, shouting while swinging wildly. Su Minguan kept retreating, precisely avoiding each blow.

The two never made contact throughout. The domestic abuser was frantically attacking the entire time.

Until Su Minguan seemed to suddenly trip over something. The domestic abuser was delighted and immediately put all his strength into kicking—

He kicked the pedestrian street’s traffic barrier.

The video had no sound, but several people in front of the screen collectively winced, feeling phantom pain.

A room full of police kept straight faces, mouths twitching.

They were all professionally trained—absolutely couldn’t laugh.

They immediately called the domestic violence couple in for lectures.

First, lecturing the man: “The Qing Dynasty is long dead! You think you’re some feudal master? This is a society ruled by law! When spouses have conflicts, they can mediate, they can divorce, but they cannot resort to violence! If you injure someone, you’ll be prosecuted according to the law!”

Then lecturing the woman, telling her not to falsely accuse people, and asking if she wanted to contact the Women’s Federation.

Unfortunately, they hit a wall. Seeing she couldn’t get money, the woman cursed at the police and limped away, supporting her husband…

The police were helpless too. This wasn’t the first time they’d seen such cases. When the parties involved weren’t cooperative and injuries weren’t severe enough for criminal charges, they had no recourse.

“Young man understands the law well,” someone praised Su Minguan, “knows how to protect himself.”

Su Minguan’s mouth curled up. He didn’t understand laws, just thought the “Sky Eye” was quite useful. When A’Mei mentioned it, he hadn’t quite believed it.

A police officer gave him a bottle of mineral water, then pointed at the figure in the surveillance and asked: “Good skills too—not a veteran? Who taught you?”

Su Minguan’s mind turned, answering truthfully: “Hongmen.”

“Oh my,” the young officer was amused, “Earth shakes high hills, one valley stream eternally beautiful; gate faces great sea, three rivers flow forever—dare I ask your hall affiliation, how many incense sticks burned?”

Su Minguan: “…”

Who wrote these lines? Completely impossible to respond.

The young officer, seeing no reaction, was secretly disappointed. Thought he’d found a fellow martial arts enthusiast.

“Alright then, take care. Don’t forget your belongings.”

Lin Yuchan smiled as she led him out, passing a dessert shop where she bought cashew milk pudding to calm their nerves.

Su Minguan reviewed the recent incident, still puzzled. After hesitating for a long time, he asked her:

“A’Mei, those people keep saying the Qing Dynasty is dead—what do they mean? Are there still people who don’t know this?”

Lin Yuchan was burned by a mouthful of milk pudding and nearly spat it out.

“Mm,” she explained simply, “the Qing is dead, but the Qing in many people’s hearts isn’t dead—over a hundred years with no progress.”

He shook his head and smiled. In this magical new world, people could ride giant birds to fly in the sky, monitor thousands of miles away without leaving home, and destroy an entire city with one bomb.

Yet some people were no different from over a century ago, giving him a strong sense of déjà vu.

He took her phone with its little moon charm, unlocking it. Not understanding privacy, he memorized her unlock pattern after seeing it once.

He found the video album, repeatedly admiring his earlier heroic display of “breaking someone’s bone without laying a hand.”

Suddenly realizing belatedly: “This thing can not only buy on credit but also work as a camera?”

Su Minguan discovered a new world, snapping photos wildly with the old phone, quickly running out of memory.

Lin Yuchan helped him delete photos, discovering half were boring everyday objects: screws, peeling putty from wall cracks, electrical plugs, bottle caps, various handles, locks, car tires, anything that automatically glowed…

The other half were her in various moments and poses: paying while shopping, bending to adjust the washing machine, tiptoeing to swat mosquitoes, fiddling with earphone wires, reading, playing with her phone, sleeping in bed…

There were also several oddly composed photos of Su Minguan himself, presumably when he wanted to photograph himself and turned the phone around, blindly pressing the shutter. Though not one was in focus—some showing only half a face, others just eyes and nose—his natural beauty and extraordinary temperament still showed through.

Lin Yuchan watched with a smile, deleting the blurry ones and sending herself a few good ones. After thinking, she decided not to tell him about the front camera yet. Surprises should be revealed gradually.

Otherwise, there’d instantly be another thousand selfies—ten phones wouldn’t be enough.

She had business at school and told Su Minguan to behave at home.

Half a day later, when she returned, he proactively reported that a girl had come looking for her.

“I said you weren’t here and wanted to leave her name and address. But she said no need, she’d contact you on WeChat.”

Lin Yuchan understood: “A classmate.”

Su Minguan lowered his voice: “She asked if I was your boyfriend, but she didn’t recognize me.”

Lin Yuchan laughed: “What did you say?”

He smiled, taking off her backpack and hanging it by the door, kissing her slightly sweaty forehead.

“I said I’ve been with you for four years.”

His tone was quite proud, as if cutting first and reporting later, not seeking her opinion.

Lin Yuchan stood on tiptoe to kiss him, checking the WeChat conversation records on her phone and secretly laughing.

Her online friend had already eagerly sought gossip, asking several questions before getting anxious: only six years of education, no proper job, childhood sweethearts or not, even outstanding looks weren’t enough! One word: break up!

This really couldn’t be explained in one sentence. Fortunately, today’s young people live full lives and are too lazy to meddle in others’ private affairs. A word of reminder was duty fulfilled—already a good friendship.

She thought she’d find a suitable opportunity later to dazzle her social media friends.

She pulled several books from her backpack, all borrowed from the school library. Originally wanting to supplement Su Minguan’s modern and contemporary history, she reconsidered—this could wait.

In just two days, Su Minguan had discovered countless “business opportunities” in this strange new world and was beginning to calculate that after earning RMB, he’d first buy a villa on Ersha Island to move in with A’Mei, then buy a sports car recommended by short video bloggers, get a driver’s license, and take A’Mei for drives in Hong Kong…

Lin Yuchan threw him copies of the Constitution, Criminal Law, and Civil Code, making him study carefully.

Su Minguan held those dusty old books, reading for several hours with a gradually grave expression, feeling that the villa and sports car plans could be temporarily postponed. Especially after finishing the Criminal Law, the swagger in his brows finally restrained somewhat, losing that worldly desire.

Lin Yuchan finally breathed easier. In the evening, she taught him to watch the news on the computer, confirming the day’s learning.

When stars were sparse and the moon bright, he showered and stood by the window watching the lights. Suddenly seeing her busy with housework, he helped take down the clothes hung high up.

“What’s this?” he curiously studied the elastic fabric in his hands. “For me?”

Lin Yuchan smiled and snatched it back.

She’d been generous when buying, but now didn’t know how to introduce it to him…

“Mm, modern underwear.” She bit her lip, choosing words carefully. “Might be a bit tight, takes getting used to. But if you need to use public restrooms outside, it’s more convenient to dress like everyone else…”

They had outer clothes sorted, but still, 19th-century undergarments wouldn’t do.

Pure cotton breathable men’s boxer briefs, tighter than the “underclothing” ancient people were used to. She’d bought two packs of eight from the supermarket, washed and dried, letting him try them first.

“A’Mei thought so thoroughly,” Su Minguan gritted his teeth, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “Must it be this color?”

The underwear Lin Yuchan chose for him was bright red, and the leg openings were printed with golden, tongue-lolling, rolling little tigers!

“It’s your zodiac year, aren’t you Cantonese?” Lin Yuchan said matter-of-factly. “Besides, only this pattern came in extra-large. Start with loose-fitting ones. It’s been washed and won’t fade, don’t worry.”

Su Minguan still asked dubiously: “Others wear this style too? You’ve seen?”

Lin Yuchan nodded, opening the shopping app to righteously show him various male model underwear photos.

Su Minguan grabbed her phone and angrily turned off the screen.

“Girls wear them this way, too?” Still not giving up, but too embarrassed to search women’s underwear, he could only ask her, “I remember you used to…”

His tone suddenly deepened, commanding: “Let me see.”

Her cheeks heated up as she lowered her head, laughing: “Mine are different, I wear briefs…”

She was wearing high-waisted denim shorts today. He matter-of-factly pulled out her woven belt and undid the rivet button at her waist.

Lin Yuchan bit her lip hard, suppressing laughter, neither guiding nor sucking in her stomach, watching him battle with that section of short zipper.

While resting both hands on his shoulders, she said calmly: “If you want men’s briefs too, that’s fine, but I’m afraid you won’t be used to them…”

Her waist suddenly loosened. Then the skin felt cool.

The jeans fell, revealing basic mid-low-rise white pineapple print panties with a small bow below the navel.

Su Minguan extended his right index finger, curiously touching the pineapples, discovering they weren’t embroidered but printed, unknown country’s dyes. He also pulled the elastic band—amazing elasticity, unrecognizable material. The fabric was both thin and soft, yet sturdier than previous coarse cotton cloth…

“Foreign or domestic fabric? Cotton from where? Very long fibers—Xinjiang?” he asked professionally. “Impossible, they don’t produce…”

Lin Yuchan was completely embarrassed by him. Could market research wait for another time?

Just go around Thirteenth Hong tomorrow and you’ll know everything!

“So tight, uncomfortable?” he gently inquired in her ear. “Hot?”

“You get used to it, modern fabrics have good breathability… mm, what are you doing…”

His left hand reached behind his neck, grasping her gathered wrists, right hand continuing to explore as he asked innocently: “Huh, what’s happening, A’Mei? Why is this fabric getting wet…”

Speaking, he slightly turned sideways, using his shoulder to close the bedroom door.

Lin Yuchan regretted deeply. She shouldn’t have impulsively bought him red underwear with cartoon little tigers!

Su Minguan was now taking revenge! Deliberately embarrassing her!

Her mind wasn’t ready, but her body remembered him, impatiently reacting. Under his slightly teasing gaze, she squirmed uncomfortably, the white pineapple print stretched tight, elastic fabric pulled into strange shapes, clearly beyond saving.

Turning her head, seeing her flushed self in the mirror, shame overwhelmed her.

This time, he invaded her world, catching her off guard.

The bedroom overhead light was extinguished, leaving only her cloud nightlight, orange-yellow glow not harsh at all, diffusing rings of light on walls and falling on her, dyeing smooth skin warm colors.

Her whole body burned as she struggled to turn on the air conditioning, trying to divert his attention: “You haven’t seen modern girls’ bras yet… This is a sports style, but there are other types in the closet…”

“Wear them for me tomorrow,” he didn’t take the bait. “Raise your arms.”

He had just brushed his teeth—not the sweet fragrance of old tooth powder between his teeth, but her strong mint toothpaste flavor, extremely aggressive.

Yet his voice was gentle as a spring moon, asking: “A’Mei, do you miss me?”

She whimpered in response, nodding while kissing his lips, comforted beyond control by that voice, brow bones taking on a brilliant pink.

That young, radiant face before her, gentle painted eyebrows, proud, firm lips, black eyelashes, the small scar between his brows, and those ears that would redden when she rubbed and pinched them…

She had missed him for a full century.

She gradually became less panicked, embracing him forcefully, capturing his mint-scented breath.

Su Minguan suddenly hesitated briefly.

“Do we need…”

He didn’t know how advanced this technology had become.

Lin Yuchan emerged slightly from her dazed passion, humming acknowledgment, half her body leaning out to rummage deep in the drawer.

Triumphantly retrieving a small paper box, whispering: “Much more advanced than before.”

The box label said four-pack, but only two small packets rattled inside. He took it, eyes dimming slightly.

What she kept ready in her drawer, opened, used…

“Can’t open it,” he said calmly. “Teach me.”

Lin Yuchan touched his head, embarrassed to tease him. Seeing his dejected expression, like when he’d just heard China now had over three hundred open ports.

“Given out at school, AIDS prevention activities—this stuff doesn’t need to be secretive now.” She pointed at the colorful papers wrapping the box, suppressing laughter. “There’s a free vending machine outside the library. This box gave one to a classmate for emergencies, used one as phone waterproofing at the beach, the rest…”

She tore open a plastic package, covering him with both hands, slowly pushing, saying quietly: “Hadn’t decided who to use them with.”

Su Minguan couldn’t help but breathe lightly, looking at her: “Too small.”

“One size fits all.” Lin Yuchan laughed at his inexperience. “Excellent elasticity. You need to adapt, too.”

He gritted his teeth, pushing her into the pillows, staring straight at her, relentlessly asking: “No one wanted to use them with you?”

With morals so degraded, ten or eight male students surrounding her wouldn’t be surprising.

“Yes.” Lin Yuchan twisted in his hands, laughing: “But they’re all so immature.”

Looking at the surrounding male classmates with eyes that had witnessed a century’s rise and fall, they indeed all seemed like babies.

Su Minguan couldn’t help but smile, lips curling lightly.

A’Mei usually loved mocking his immaturity. Now she knew his worth.

Then he’d reward her understanding, gently closing his eyes, grasping her boneless waist.

“A’Mei.”

She frowned, breath stopping, whole body igniting burning fuses.

Though not inexperienced, but it had been over a century…

…

In the end, like every reunion after a long separation, she was quite pathetically tearful.

As if pushed to the limit, wanting to give up yet reluctant to die. Wanting to hold him forever, wanting to forever grasp that beating warmth.

No matter how the earth changed, some life-spanning bonds were fortunately unchanging.

Su Minguan carried her to the shower, quite proud, thinking the water here was convenient, much better than the past.

She hung limply in his arms, soft-handed and soft-footed, murmuring words even she couldn’t understand, unsure if she was dreaming.