Chapter 46: The Disappearing Girl and a Delivery

–Editor Lin Chu?–

–Is Zhong available right now?–

–Having just finished his meal, he was engrossed in his manuscript,– Zhong Tian replied, setting down his pen. –Is something the matter?–

–I was hoping you could do me a small favor.–

From Lin Chu’s end, the ambient noise was somewhat cacophonous, suggesting she was on a bustling street.

–Lin Yu asked me to buy her a cup of milk tea and a slice of cake before school, but I just received a work message right after placing the order, and I need to rush back immediately,– Lin Chu explained. –So I was hoping you could deliver it to her before evening study session starts.–

‘…….’

Rather than rushing to agree, Zhong Tian first consulted the time.

Five thirty-eight.

The evening study session at Taisan Senior High began at half-past six, meaning that if he left now, there would be ample time to spare.

–Alright, where is this shop?–

–It’s on the street right next to your school, the shop’s name is ‘Winter Blossom’,– Lin Chu said. –I’ve already explained the situation to the owner, so just tell them who you are when you arrive.–

–Understood.–

Zhong Tian hung up the phone, exchanged the pajamas he had worn all day for a shirt and short sleeves, and left his room.

‘Are you going out?’

–Yes,– Zhong Tian replied, walking to the entryway and slipping on his canvas shoes. –I’m delivering something for a friend.–

‘……’

Su Linxi fell silent for a moment, glancing at her phone as if to confirm the time. Then, she looked up and said, ‘I’ll come too.’

‘Oh? You suddenly want to go out?’

‘Is that alright?’

‘Hmm… I suppose so…’

Before leaving, Zhong Tian brought an umbrella, just in case.

He wheeled his bicycle out of the building. Since acquiring it, he had never carried a passenger, so he took a moment to ensure the rear seat was securely fastened. Once satisfied, he mounted the bicycle first, then gestured for Su Linxi to get on.

Due to her skirt, Su Linxi opted to sit sideways. Once seated, she reached out a small hand and lightly clasped Zhong Tian’s waist, gently clutching the hem of his shirt to steady herself as they set off.

Su Linxi was light, and Zhong Tian could easily pedal with her, feeling no significant impact. He pressed down firmly on the pedals, and they departed.

The roads were still damp after the rain, strewn with fine twigs, leaves, and small bits of litter. As the bicycle rode over them, it emitted a crisp, creaking sound.

At this hour, dusk had not yet fully descended. In the distance, the sky was a warm blue, with clouds tinged golden and rosy by the setting sun. Zhong Tian had seen such colors in Monet’s paintings.

Zhong Tian withdrew his gaze, simultaneously admiring both nature and Monet in his heart, before maintaining a steady pace and cycling towards the school.

Su Linxi, seated behind him, remained silent, perhaps also observing the passing scenery.

While it was not a rare spectacle, taking the time to truly absorb the scenery in such moments offered a pleasant diversion, a simple joy.

Approximately ten minutes later, the two arrived at the street beside Taisan Senior High and located the milk tea shop named ‘Winter Blossom’.

Zhong Tian parked and locked his bicycle by the curb, then entered the shop with Su Linxi.

The shop was not particularly crowded; a few boys, roughly Zhong Tian’s age, were gathered around a table, engrossed in a game and conversation.

He walked directly to the pickup counter. –Hello, boss, I’m here to pick up…–

Before Zhong Tian could finish his sentence, the boss had already picked up a pre-packed milk tea and cake, handing it to him.

Zhong Tian was momentarily taken aback, pausing for an instant before accepting it. The stout boss before him chuckled heartily, declaring, –That young lady earlier said that if a particularly, exceptionally beautiful high school girl came by, I should just give it to her.–

–This…–

–I was wondering just how beautiful she could be to warrant such instructions. But now that I’ve seen her in person, I completely understand!– The boss’s voice was quite loud, yet it conveyed a sense of warmth and approachability. He smiled and asked Zhong Tian, –Are you a student here?–

‘Here’ naturally referred to Taisan Senior High.

–Yes.–

Hearing mention of the school, Zhong Tian instinctively adopted his ‘aloof’ demeanor, responding softly with an air of casual indifference.

–My son goes here too,– the boss began, perhaps due to the lack of customers and feeling quite idle, striking up a casual conversation with Zhong Tian. –He’s in his second year of high school, named Wu Rui. Do you know him, young lady?–

‘Wu Rui?’

A hint of surprise flashed through Zhong Tian’s mind.

–I’m his deskmate.–

–Oh? What a coincidence!– The stout boss slapped his hand down, appearing even more surprised than Zhong Tian.

Zhong Tian nodded.

The stout boss burst into laughter. –Well, isn’t that splendid! From now on, whenever you visit for milk tea, I’ll give you a fifty percent discount!–

Zhong Tian had initially intended to politely decline the stout boss’s generous offer. However, considering the need to deliver the items to Lin Yu without delay, and mindful of his ‘aloof’ persona at school, he accepted directly.

–Thank you.–

Having said this, Zhong Tian turned and departed.

Su Linxi had been trailing beside him, silently observing his every move.

The shop was a short distance from the school, but with items in hand, cycling would be inconvenient. Thus, Zhong Tian decided to walk.

On the way, Zhong Tian took out his phone and ‘poked’ Lin Yu on WeChat.

[Come out and get your stuff.]

[?]

The reply from the other side was swift, a single question mark.

A mental question mark popped up above Zhong Tian’s own head.

[What stuff?] she asked.

[Milk tea and cake. Your sister asked me to bring them over.]

Inside the school, Lin Yu looked at her phone, a frown creasing her brow.

She understood immediately.

‘Lin Chu… is this really how you assist someone?’

She sighed. [Wait, I’ll be right there.]

[Waiting for you at the main gate.]

Zhong Tian finished typing, put away his phone, and looked towards the campus.

Taisan Senior High was not large; even if Lin Yu walked from the third-year teaching building, it wouldn’t take more than a few minutes. So Zhong Tian stood outside the school’s folding iron gate, gazing in the direction of the third-year teaching building, waiting.

Lin Yu exited the teaching building, checked the time, and noted that evening study reading would begin in twenty minutes, so she quickened her pace.

From a distance, she spotted Zhong Tian standing outside the school gate.

‘Hmm?’

‘The person standing next to Zhong Tian is…’

Only when she drew closer did Lin Yu clearly discern the appearance of the petite girl beside Zhong Tian.

Long brown hair, lake-blue eyes, a figure like a middle schooler…

‘Isn’t this Su Linxi, the one Lin Chu mentioned?’

‘Why is she here too?’

Lin Yu’s advance faltered for a brief moment. Adjusting her expression, she then approached Zhong Tian. Through the school gate, she greeted him, –Good evening, Zhong!–

–Mm,– Facing Lin Yu, Zhong Tian allowed a slight loosening of his usual facade, speaking to her in a normal tone. –Good evening.–

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhong Tian passed the milk tea and cake to Lin Yu through the folding gate, completing Lin Chu’s request.

Lin Yu accepted the items, her gaze quickly flickering to Su Linxi.

She noticed Su Linxi was silently observing her.

–Zhong, who is this…?–

–Su Linxi, she’s my friend.–

–Hello,– Su Linxi’s tone was as indifferent as ever.

–Hello…– Lin Yu replied.

Having spoken, Su Linxi’s lake-blue eyes remained fixed on Lin Yu. This scrutiny made Lin Yu feel a distinct unease throughout her body.

‘Lin Yu… we meet again, don’t we? Hmm, perhaps ‘again’ isn’t the right word?’

Su Linxi thought, then withdrew her gaze, looking up at Zhong Tian and saying, ‘Let’s go back.’

–Mm, and you’ll be starting your evening study session soon, won’t you? I won’t bother you any longer; we’ll head back now.–

Lin Yu nodded. –Yes, please be careful on your way back.–

–Will do.–

****

By the time the two returned to the bicycle, the sun had almost set, and the streetlights had illuminated, bathing the street in an orange glow.

Zhong Tian was in the midst of unlocking his bicycle when he suddenly heard a jarring screech of brakes.

He and Su Linxi simultaneously looked towards the road, seeing a car abruptly halt in the middle of the street. In front of the car stood a short-haired girl in black.

Loud shouts and curses erupted from inside the car from the driver.

–What the hell! Are you trying to get yourself killed, suddenly darting out like that? Didn’t you even look for cars?–

The girl’s expression was one of terror; she stood frozen in place, utterly still.

‘Oh?’

As he observed the girl’s expression, Zhong Tian was surprised to notice her eyes were lake-blue. Her features, however, did not suggest she was of mixed heritage…

‘Could it be… she’s also a mind-reader like me?’

A jolt of alarm ran through Zhong Tian’s heart, and he was just about to activate his mind-reading ability to ascertain the truth when—

The girl before him vanished into thin air.

Zhong Tian and Su Linxi, the driver inside the car, and the passersby who had witnessed the scene were, without exception, stunned into immobility.

‘Huh?’

‘What’s wrong with this driver, braking for no reason… almost scared me to death…’

Muttering inwardly, Zhong Tian squatted again to unlock his bicycle. –Linxi, let’s go.–

Su Linxi nodded, and just as she had on the way there, she gracefully sat sideways on the rear seat, extending her small hand to grasp the fabric at Zhong Tian’s waist.

The bicycle slowly began to move, heading in the direction of home.

****

‘Because of this ability of mine, even if I were to die outright, to die on the street, no one would ever know.’

‘After all, no one remembers me anymore.’

Thinking this, she stepped onto the road, gazing at the car speeding towards her.

Yu Yinlian, having lost her parents and even ‘lost herself,’ believed she could calmly accept death. Yet, as the car’s headlights illuminated her face, a ripple still disturbed her placid heart.

It was the fear of death.

She recoiled in terror, a golden flash in her lake-blue eyes.

She could distinctly feel her ability ‘disengaging’.

Then came the deafening screech of brakes.

Yu Yinlian paid no mind to the driver’s shouts, for she felt something seemed to be draining away from her body.

That unidentifiable, water-like essence swiftly ebbed away, followed by a dull, resonant thrum.

She had returned once more to that world where ‘no one could observe her, no one could touch her, no one remembered her.’

Yu Yinlian seemed to have finally understood her ability.

‘But…’

She sat down by the roadside, watching the car drive straight into the distance.

‘But what good was it now…?’

She curled into a ball, resting her forehead on her knees, and began to sob softly.

****