After Qing Ye fell asleep, she was completely unaware of when Xing Wu came to bed. When she next opened her eyes, it was already noon on the fourth day of the New Year. She suddenly felt how wasteful these New Year holidays had been, as time had slipped away so quickly to the fourth day already.

After getting up, she noticed a small square box on the small table by the window with a card leaning against it. She got out of bed and walked to the window to pick up the paper, freezing in place when she saw it.

In the drawing, she lay with closed eyes and a serene smile among soft, pure white dandelions. Her slightly curled long hair was spread around her, creating a dreamlike scene with dandelions floating through the air covering the entire paper.

Qing Ye’s smooth shoulders and exposed calves possessed a forbidden allure, yet appeared sacred and beautiful among the snow-white dandelions.

Compared to the casual sketch of Fat Tiger that Xing Wu had drawn the other day, this drawing was much more detailed. Even the distribution of her eyelashes while her eyes were closed was rendered so vividly that it made her blush and her heart race just looking at it.

She quickly took out her phone and photographed the drawing. She loved it so much she couldn’t bear to put it down. She didn’t believe any artist could draw better than Xing Wu, because in this painting she saw his deep affection.

Behind the card was a square cake box containing a very small cake. It had no complicated patterns, just a simple heart shape. She heard the door opening behind her and turned to see Xing Wu coming in from outside.

“Where did you go?”

“Had a chat with the owner downstairs.”

Qing Ye held up the drawing and asked him, “How late did you stay up drawing this after I fell asleep yesterday?”

“Until dawn.”

He said it casually, but Qing Ye frowned: “So you only got a few hours of sleep again?”

Xing Wu walked over and embraced her: “Couldn’t sleep. Even for a belated birthday, you still need to blow out candles.”

“Where did you get the cake?”

“A friend has an oven, went over early to figure it out.”

Qing Ye asked in surprise: “You made it yourself?”

Xing Wu scratched his head somewhat awkwardly: “My friend helped a bit.”

Qing Ye narrowed her eyes and looked up: “Is your friend male or female?”

Xing Wu pushed her forehead: “What are you thinking? Male.”

“…” Then Qing Ye imagined two guys huddled in a kitchen early in the morning studying how to bake a cake. Why did it seem so bromantic?

She asked with an odd look: “Didn’t your friend ask who the cake was for?”

Xing Wu turned her shoulders and smiled: “Was that even necessary to ask?”

Then Xing Wu took out the small heart-shaped cake, and Qing Ye commented: “Why didn’t you put anything on top? It looks so plain.”

“I wanted to write something, but my handwriting… might have ruined the look, so I gave up.”

He drew the curtains, put the single candle on top, and said to her: “Make a wish.”

Qing Ye pulled him closer: “Let’s make one together.”

So they celebrated this belated birthday together, blowing out the candle simultaneously. Qing Ye suddenly felt like laughing, though she didn’t know why. It just felt both pitiful and blissful at the same time.

While Xing Wu was cutting the cake, Qing Ye kept hugging him from behind, refusing to let go.

Xing Wu’s voice carried traces of joy: “Are you growing on me?”

Qing Ye just kept smiling without speaking. Right now she just felt happy, a happiness different from any she’d felt before.

When she first met Xing Wu, she never imagined that one day he would swallow his pride and go to a friend’s house to make a cake for her. She wanted to know how traumatized his friend must be from the experience.

Qing Ye asked him: “What did you wish for?”

Xing Wu pulled her hands away, turned around, and handed her the cake: “The same as yours.”

Qing Ye took the cake and said: “That was mine.”

“What’s yours is mine. Double buff makes it more effective.”

Qing Ye’s smile curved like a crescent moon as she took a bite of cake, breaking into a satisfied smile.

Just as Xing Wu turned around, his phone suddenly rang. He glanced sideways before putting down the plate to answer. The room was so quiet that Qing Ye could hear Quan Ya’s voice through the speaker, telling Xing Wu that as arranged with Da Cao, Da Cao would be waiting for him at Kuang Ren tomorrow afternoon. Xing Wu responded with a simple “Got it.”

After he hung up, Qing Ye asked worriedly: “Are you meeting Da Cao tomorrow?”

Xing Wu gave an “Mm” in response.

Qing Ye immediately stood up: “You’re not… not going to fight him, are you?”

Xing Wu glanced at her worried expression and smiled faintly, patting her head: “No, don’t worry.”

“Then what are you going for?”

“To settle things once and for all. Qing Ye, I can’t just let this matter drop. I’ve already lowered my head enough. At worst, I’ll lose face and become worthless, but after this, Huang Mao and the others, including Da Hei’s group, won’t be able to hold their heads up. Da Cao’s people will become even more aggressive. No one wants trouble, but some things need to be resolved.”

Qing Ye fell silent. She understood Xing Wu’s meaning. From her perspective, she didn’t want Xing Wu to confront Da Cao. She didn’t want his future life to be like walking on a knife’s edge, but some things weren’t as simple as she thought.

Xing Wu had been the leader of the kids in Zha Zha Ting since childhood. For many years, his brothers had looked to him for guidance. If he were to bow to Da Cao now, he wouldn’t be the only one to suffer. All his brothers would be oppressed by Da Cao’s people. Xing Wu could disregard himself, but he couldn’t ignore the interests of his brothers in Zha Zha Ting, let alone just let the arson incident go.

He had many things to consider and many people to look after. No wonder he hadn’t been sleeping well these past few days. She stopped trying to persuade him and instead said: “I’m going with you.”

“Qing Ye…”

“I don’t care.”

Since she couldn’t stop Xing Wu from meeting Da Cao, she had to go with him. Otherwise, she would worry herself sick waiting alone at the hotel. Xing Wu eventually gave in to her request.

On the fifth day, everyone gathered at the small shop at the Zha Zha Ting crossroads. When Qing Ye and Xing Wu arrived, they were both startled. Over a dozen people stood by the street. Xing Wu had only asked Da Hei to accompany him, but when Huang Mao and Fat Tiger heard about it, they insisted on coming. They’d even called over Lang Dai’s group of troublemakers from An Zhong, plus Quan Ya, Hua Bi, and other street-smart youths making it look like they were going for a gang fight.

Qing Ye tugged at Xing Wu nervously: “Are you sure this isn’t for fighting?”

Xing Wu walked toward them bewildered, then looked at Huang Mao: “What are you all doing here?”

Huang Mao said loyally: “We’re worried you might be at a disadvantage. How could we miss this kind of situation?”

Xing Wu smiled: “Alright then.”

In previous years during New Year’s, Xing Wu barely stayed home. The brothers would feast together from the first day until the Lantern Festival, or just hang out everywhere. This year, after New Year’s Eve, no one had seen Xing Wu, as if he’d vanished into thin air. They couldn’t help but find it strange. Da Hei even asked: “What have you been up to these days?”

Standing behind Xing Wu, Qing Ye felt inexplicably embarrassed, but Xing Wu maintained his composure and said: “Nothing much.”

“Nothing much? Then why didn’t you come out when we called?”

Xing Wu looked back at Qing Ye with a half-smile but said nothing. Even Lang Dai and the others turned to look at Qing Ye, asking: “Where have you two been these days?”

This question made Qing Ye feel even more mortified. She laughed awkwardly and said: “Nowhere.”

They stopped asking but felt these two were being mysteriously secretive about something.

Fat Tiger consoled: “If you have any troubles, t-tell your brothers. We can figure something out together. Brother Wu, you look like you’ve lost weight.”

“…” Qing Ye burst out laughing.

Xing Wu’s face darkened. His brothers were concerned for him, and he had nothing to say, but he’d only lost weight from excessive exercise, not from starving. Fuck!

Kuang Ren Internet Cafe was the most popular internet cafe near the Target Factory, and also the stronghold of Da Cao’s An Zhi crowd. During New Year’s, Kuang Ren had more young people than usual.

Xing Wu wore all-black sportswear, with a crew cut and his hands in his pockets as he walked in front. Behind him followed more than a dozen brothers, their presence causing everyone to look up in alarm as soon as they entered Kuang Ren.

Following at the back, Qing Ye heard voices surging from all directions.

“Isn’t that Xing Wu from An Zhong?”

“Brother Wu brought people here, should we log off first?”

“Why would Young Master Wu come to our area? Looking for trouble?”

The regulars were surprised to see Xing Wu at Kuang Ren.

The internet cafe manager was a young man about Xing Wu’s age, with both sides of his temples shaved clean, looking rather unsavory. He approached, offered Xing Wu a cigarette, and called out: “Brother Wu.”

Xing Wu took the cigarette, put it between his lips, and asked: “Where’s Da Cao?”

The manager glanced to the left: “Inside.” Then he lit Xing Wu’s cigarette and added ingratiatingly: “Do me a favor, Brother Wu. You know those computers inside were just replaced before New Year’s, through you. Whatever business you have, please take it easy.”

Quan Ya immediately glared at him: “Get lost! Keep talking and we’ll smash the computers outside too.”

This manager nicknamed Zhang Dai Zi (Zhang the Fool), wasn’t foolish but rather cunning. He was Da Cao’s man and good at reading the situation. Before New Year’s, when the internet cafe owner wanted to replace their computers, Zhang approached Xing Wu with cigarettes and dinner invitations, asking him to help configure a batch of computers. The reason was simple – no one in Electronics Street knew more about assembly and market prices than Xing Wu. His configurations always offered good value for money, and his years in Electronics Street meant he could get better prices than others. Most importantly, if the computers had any problems later, it would be convenient to find him for solutions.

Although Xing Wu generally didn’t get along with these people, business was business, separate from personal relationships. He accepted the cigarette and quoted a reasonable price, agreeing to help configure the batch.

However, Zhang Dai Zi, wanting to profit from the markup, went overboard and added significantly to Xing Wu’s quoted price. When the Kuang Ren owner checked with others in the industry about Xing Wu’s quote, they discovered the inflated price. The story spread around the Target Factory area, with people saying Xing Wu was black-hearted and unfair.

When this reached Xing Wu’s ears, he wasn’t one to take it lying down. He went directly to the Kuang Ren owner and discovered Zhang Dai Zi’s attempt to pocket the difference. In the end, Kuang Ren still got their computers through Xing Wu, which was why Quan Ya showed such hostility toward Zhang Dai Zi.

Zhang Dai Zi had nothing to say and could only stand aside. Xing Wu glanced at him and said coolly: “What are you worried about? I’m not here to cause trouble.”

Xing Wu turned back to Quan Ya and said: “Da Hei and I will go in. The rest of you wait outside.”

At that moment, Qing Ye spotted Yang Gang, the “Widower,” standing in the corner. Yang Gang was also peering out, but because of Xing Wu’s presence, he didn’t dare approach like he had that day.

Qing Ye just glanced at him before looking away, but suddenly felt something was off. She moved her gaze back to his waist. Yang Gang still had that “trendy” large lock hanging, but one of the left pendants seemed to be missing.

Qing Ye suddenly grabbed Xing Wu and whispered: “I remember who I saw wearing that Kamen Rider!”

Xing Wu looked in Yang Gang’s direction, clenched his jaw without speaking, and turned to enter the private area.

The computers in the private area had better configurations, and Da Cao’s group always occupied that space. Others generally didn’t dare sit there.

Xing Wu and Da Hei walked straight in. Da Cao had already heard the commotion and was waiting with his feet up on the computer desk, smoking a cigarette.

Xing Wu approached expressionlessly, with only the burly Da Hei beside him, while at least ten of Da Cao’s brothers sat inside. He walked straight to Da Cao, and the surrounding dozen men all stood up at once. Xing Wu, without looking at any of them, pulled up a chair and sat directly in front of Da Cao.

Da Cao leisurely put out his cigarette, tilted his head to see the situation outside, and said with a cold smile: “Brought quite a crowd, didn’t you? What do you want from me?”

Xing Wu’s narrow eyes held icy daggers: “Weren’t you the one forcing me to come find you?”

…

Qing Ye squeezed next to Quan Ya, craning her neck to look inside. She could only see Xing Wu sitting in front of Da Cao. They indeed showed no signs of fighting, appearing to be negotiating, though she couldn’t hear what they were saying.

After a while, she saw Xing Wu lower his head, and Da Cao said something before suddenly looking in Qing Ye’s direction. Qing Ye wasn’t sure who Da Cao was looking at and glanced around.

Only when Xing Wu also turned with furrowed brows did Qing Ye realize they were looking at her. Her heart skipped a beat, but Xing Wu quickly looked away, lifted his chin to say something to Da Cao, then stood up and left with Da Hei.

Qing Ye only saw that Xing Wu’s expression was terrifyingly dark, his entire being seemingly devoid of warmth. No one in the private area dared provoke him, automatically making way for him to pass.

Leaving the private area, Xing Wu walked straight out of Kuang Ren, with others following behind. The internet cafe users finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Once outside, Huang Mao eagerly asked: “Brother Wu, what did you discuss with Da Cao?”

Xing Wu remained silent, his expression still dark. Da Hei said harshly: “I don’t understand why you agreed to his terms. This is a trap Da Cao set for you. To be blunt, what happened to your family probably has something to do with Da Cao. He’s forcing you to walk right into his trap.”

Xing Wu’s lips curved into a cold smile: “In our world, we don’t involve family members. Unfortunately, he doesn’t understand this principle.”

Among everyone present, only Quan Ya understood what Xing Wu meant and heard his resolve.

Quan Ya fell silent for a moment, then asked: “The County Sports Meet… you agreed?”

Xing Wu gave a low “Mm,” and Qing Ye looked up at him in shock but surrounded by his brothers, she couldn’t ask what was going on.

Xing Wu just said in a deep voice: “I’ll compete against him at the County Sports Meet. Whoever wins controls everything north of Target Factory.”

Instantly, everyone fell silent. The area north of Target Factory included An Zhong, An Zhi, and Zha Zha Ting. In other words, the loser, even if not forced to leave the area completely, would have to live cautiously afterward, unconditionally submitting to the other side. This was the bet between him and Da Cao.

Qing Ye couldn’t describe her feelings at that moment. As Quan Ya said, since Da Cao made this proposal, things couldn’t be that simple. However, at present, Xing Wu and he needed some form of resolution. Da Cao had An Tang’s people behind him, An Tang was affiliated with Target Factory, and Target Factory’s Manager Jia had close business ties with Manager Jiang. Manager Jiang, being in the underworld, often needed people and naturally didn’t want his favored young brother to lose influence.

The relationships behind this were too complex. Since they couldn’t touch the obvious interests, Da Cao and Xing Wu couldn’t have a real fight. They needed to maintain the big shots’ faces while having a public competition that would convince everyone. The County Sports Meet became the only path, and although everyone knew things wouldn’t be that simple, Xing Wu had made his decision.