Losing money

<p>Not far from the square, a lively commotion drew a curious crowd of onlookers who couldn't quite discern the spectacle. Amidst the buzz, a boy donning a black magician's hat and costume took center stage, brandishing a deck of cards with a flourish.<br/><br/>"Prepare to be amazed, folks! I've perfected this act over ten long years!" he declared, his fingers dancing in rhythm. With a dramatic snap, the playing cards transformed into pristine sheets of white paper, hovering briefly before transforming into graceful paper cranes, gracefully taking flight.<br/><br/>The crowd erupted into applause, showering the magician with coins and paper money. An Qiu, the magician, grinned with triumph, his fingers moving faster, weaving intricate patterns with the paper cranes, eliciting even greater applause and delight from the audience.<br/><br/>Just as the euphoria peaked, an unexpected voice shattered the magical reverie. "This is basic magic, all smoke and mirrors. The cards are flipped to hide their faces, turning them into mere paper. The white paper is manipulated by hidden threads to form the paper cranes. These threads aren't easily visible, but careful observation reveals the trick."<br/><br/>An Qiu's attention snapped to the source of the voice, causing her to lose control of the threads, and the paper cranes tumbled to the ground, their enchantment broken. She seethed at being exposed so publicly, a rare occurrence in her years as a street magician.<br/><br/>Angrily, she tried to intimidate her accuser with a piercing glare, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he wore a knowing smirk and continued, "This third-rate magic show could only pass on a street corner."<br/><br/>An Qiu's frustration grew, and the audience, too, began to scrutinize her act more critically. They concluded, "There are indeed hidden threads, and once you notice, the illusion unravels." The applause turned into disappointment as they dispersed.<br/><br/>Fuming, An Qiu clenched her teeth. The man who had unveiled her act stood there unaffected, half-lidded eyes revealing his disinterest, as if everything around him was of no consequence.<br/><br/>This confident man was unlike any other who'd disrupted her performances. An Qiu, often disguising herself as a boy due to the difficulties girls face in street performance, felt a surge of defiance. She flexed her wrist and extended a firm fist, asking with a sharp edge in her voice, "What's your name?"<br/><br/>She thought her question might intimidate him, as he seemed harmless with his good looks, resembling a character from a TV series. But he replied without hesitation, "Han Yanze."<br/><br/>His readiness to identify himself left her momentarily flustered. She vented, "Do you realize you cost me earnings just now? I was working, you know! You disrupted my business and cost me money!"<br/><br/>An Qiu had learned early on, due to her family's circumstances, that the world was harsh and unforgiving, and only the strong thrived while the weak were left behind. To survive, she had to be tough and assertive in the unforgiving streets.</p>