Chapter 11: The Returning Wild Goose Hall

Once she was ashore, Sui Yi didn’t dare return directly to her own place. Yet she wasn’t afraid of any rumors spreading now—after all, only a single night had passed. By official custom, such matters were always handled quietly behind closed doors rather than exposed to the public, which would only cause widespread panic.

So, in one night, the people of Nanxun Ancient Town had no inkling of what had transpired unless word had somehow reached the media. Still, last night’s events were so bizarre that perhaps even the police were left confused and in the dark.

After weighing her options, Sui Yi finally made up her mind.

---

At Yantang Studio, the young man on duty, Zhou Ran, instinctively called out as someone entered, “Welcome! May I help you, miss—”

His words caught in his throat as he caught sight of Sui Yi. He stared, momentarily dazed, and Sui Yi immediately worried that her secret had been discovered. Yet to her confusion, Zhou Ran quickly approached and asked uncertainly, “You... you’re Sui Yi, aren’t you?”

“Am I so hard to recognize?” Sui Yi pressed her lips together, looking away as she scanned the shop’s interior, as if searching for someone.

“Oh, no, it’s just... you’re not in your school uniform, so for a moment I didn’t—”

Zhou Ran and Sui Yi knew each other fairly well. He had just graduated from university, majoring in antique appraisal, and was currently studying for his certification. If he passed, he’d become an official appraiser and join the trade. Sui Yi, on the other hand, was just a part-time worker at the shop—a world apart from Zhou Ran’s career path, not to mention he was seven or eight years her senior and saw her more as a kid sister. He was well aware of her good looks, but—

He hadn’t expected that just a simple change of clothes could make such a difference.

Was it true what they said—that clothes make the person? But she was only wearing a soft white T-shirt and pale blue capri pants!

How could she look so different?

She stood about five foot three, slender and delicate, her skin as pale and translucent as fine porcelain, flawless and smooth. Her face was composed, her exquisite features seemingly sculpted in ice, and when silent, her lashes caught the light with a faint shimmer, as if reluctant to let go.

Zhou Ran’s gaze lingered strangely; Sui Yi glanced at him, snapping him back to himself. He scratched his head, embarrassed. “It’s my shift today, so what brings you here... Oh, right, you just started school yesterday. Shouldn’t you be in class? It’s already nine in the morning—”

“I’m not feeling well. I took the day off—I’ll go later.” From Zhou Ran’s reaction, Sui Yi could tell nothing major had happened yet. She lowered her brows and asked coolly, “Where’s the manager?”

“He’s—”

“I’m right here,” came a voice.

Old Tang stepped out from the inner hall. His gaze flickered as he saw Sui Yi.

---

“You’re back...” he said.

“Did you think I wouldn’t make it?” Sui Yi looked at him, then walked into the tearoom. Her silhouette was slim, her ankles snowy white below her capri pants, delicate enough to be encircled by a hand. As she swept past the folding screen, she was like a beauty from the misty rain of the south, her figure ethereal as a beaded curtain in a painting.

Since ancient times, scholars have said the rain of Jiangnan is as deep as ink, able to paint rivers and mountains with the sweep of a sleeve. Yet they forget that a beauty, like the moon and wine, can drown the mundane world with the mere touch of rouge.

Zhou Ran was lost in thought all over again. Old Tang chuckled, “Blockhead, only now you realize how lovely the young lady is? You’re better off watching the shop!” He gave Zhou Ran a light smack on the head and, hands clasped behind his back, strolled slowly into the room, closing the door behind him.

Inside, Sui Yi was already seated.

“When I heard the news, I was truly startled,” Old Tang said with a sigh. “I didn’t expect Blackie would be so bold... You were nearly done for because of him.”

Sui Yi rested her palm on the wooden table, feeling the grain beneath her fingers, her expression softening. “Old Tang, you have quite the connections with the police—news travels fast.”

“When it concerns you, of course I make the effort to keep in touch. That’s how I found out you were attacked last night... But the police told me you’d been harmed by Blackie and disappeared. Yet here you are today—”

“Maybe I was just lucky...” Sui Yi didn’t intend to say more. With someone like Old Tang, the more you told him, the more he’d ask, relentlessly probing until he wrung out every last thought in your mind.

Clearly, what happened last night was deeply strange.

But she didn’t plan to dwell on it. Best to be direct...

“Yes, yes, you were indeed very lucky,” Old Tang said with a wide grin, cradling his teacup like a Buddha, sincerely pleased at her safe return.

But his smile froze when Sui Yi spoke again.

“Aren’t you planning to give me the rest of my money?”

“Well... True, you suffered for this job, but that was Blackie’s fault, not ours. According to our agreement, since the goods weren’t delivered, I should actually reclaim that one thousand yuan. But, considering this counts as a workplace injury... fine.”

Sui Yi had long known Old Tang to be stingy as a miser, so she wasn’t angry. Pouring herself a cup of tea, she said softly, “Goods not delivered? Didn’t you come away with an extra bag? You’re quite the joker, Old Tang.”

Why did Blackie hate her so much? Simply because Old Tang tipped off the police, using her as bait to draw attention, setting Blackie up, then arranging for an ambush on the water to intercept him and steal the goods, pushing him onto the police blacklist. If Blackie were caught, it would be killing two birds with one stone.

It was a case of using the law to devour the lawless.

But they hadn’t expected Blackie to escape!

---

And now he’d turned his hatred on Sui Yi, probably thinking she was part of their scheme, that the river ambush was her doing as well.

So Sui Yi had taken the blame—and nearly lost her life.

She had to admit, her composure in sitting here and talking with Old Tang, rather than smashing the teapot over his thick skull, was nothing short of remarkable.

Old Tang’s expression shifted, and he scrutinized Sui Yi closely, his look turning odd. After a moment, he rubbed his hands together and forced a laugh. “Sui Yi, where did you get such an idea...”

“What did I say?” Sui Yi looked straight at him, her eyes dark as the night sky, holding a glimmer of starlight. That light didn’t waver, and under her gaze, Old Tang found himself unable to move.

He was being threatened—she was threatening him!

No need for evidence; if she chose to shout this story from the rooftops in Nanxun, not only would the shady business dry up, but even legitimate clients would steer clear of Yantang Studio.

A ruined reputation is hard to salvage.

Nothing is more feared in business.

The silence stretched, lasting half a cup of tea. At last, Old Tang spoke softly, “Since you know all this, you still dare come to me—for a mere two thousand yuan?”

“An exchange is an exchange. When you take a job, you must always be prepared for betrayal. I don’t care about the past—just this transaction. You have the goods; the deal is done. I deserve my share.”

This wasn’t the first time Old Tang had looked at Sui Yi with new eyes, nor the first time he’d said, “Sui Yi, do you ever feel you’re truly an odd person?”

“Odd means abnormal, different from others. But everyone in this world is different—no one has the right to call someone else odd.” Sui Yi recalled the children at the orphanage calling her a little monster, and her breath turned cold.

Old Tang caught on and let the matter drop, the wrinkles deepening on his smiling face. “Since you think I’m the sort who’d ruthlessly double-cross, how do you know I’ll let you threaten me? You know, our partnership isn’t exactly legal—there’s no contract. If I refuse to pay, there’s nothing you can do... And if I wanted to stop you from talking, that wouldn’t be so hard...”

Those who devour the lawless grow darker by the day.