AZI Volume 3 Chapter 24

Back at the office—

"Ai…"

Heaving a heavy sigh, Ye Chen pinches the bridge of his nose.

"Captain, what do we do with this?"

Showing the Carp that she had received from Chen Lan, Yu Ji—who was keeping quiet throughout the entire exchange, finally decides to speak.

"Just leave it at the table."

"You were awfully quiet during that exchange."

Towards Li Xue's remark, Yu Ji replies—

"My little sister's medical bills were on my mind."

Blinking her eyes, Li Xue asks—

"So, you weren't lying when you talked to Chen Lan about that?"

"The situation is a lot more complicated than what I told him, but… Ai, in any case, I'm always having money issues. Mind if I go out early today?"

Lowering his hand, Ye Chen answers—

"Go ahead. In fact, you're all excused for the day. Li Xue, contact Captain Jue for me."

Excusing herself, Yu Ji stands up from the rundown sofa, and heads for the door.

"I'll be leaving as well then."

Doing the same, Qing Yue is the next to go—for she has a report to make, to Nian Tao Tao.

"I'll stay for a while longer, since I've got no places to be for today."

As Li Xue gets on the phone with someone, Long Hua places the whiskey bottle by the self-serving bar before sitting back down.

Occupying the entire sofa, Long Hua closes his eyes—seemingly to sleep.

...…

An hour later—

"Damn, this place looks like a dump…"

A man with black hair and brown eyes—dressed in a white military uniform, walks into the office.

In the man's mouth is a cigar, and judging by his physical appearance, he seems to be around 30 years of age.

"Quit complaining, why not donate some funds to us instead?"

Greeting Jue Yun as such, Ye Chen walks over, and sits down at the sofa, prior to tossing the Ashen River Hall's contact information-filled card onto the table.

"So, this is Carp?"

Sitting down as well, Jue Yun picks up the needleless syringe—that is on the table, and gives a brief glance at the card, before storing it away in his pocket.

"Yup, and I got more interesting news to share."

"That look on your face tells me—it isn't anything decent."

In a tired manner, Ye Chen relays his conversation with Shao Tianming to Jun Yue.

Throughout Ye Chen's single-sided report, Jue Yue's face would get darker and darker.

Eventually, Jue Yun says—

"…I'll be sure to let Colonel Xiang Yu know about this. He'll make sure the others are informed as well."

"Ai, I guess that's one job done. Dammit, why does my office always get stuff like this handed to us?"

Towards Ye Chen's question, Li Xue replies—

"Maybe it's fate?"

"…"

Brushing off Li Xue's remark, Ye Chen walks over to the self-serving bar, and grabs the whiskey bottle with a paper cup.

In the same instance, Long Hua's phone vibrates, forcing him to open his eyes.

"…"

On the screen it displays a new message that reads—

[How long are you going to let your stuff rot here in my garage?]

"...Ah…"

Finally realizing what the Owner is talking about when he mentioned "stuff," Long Hua sits up from the sofa.

On the way out—

"Hm?"

Glancing at Jue Yun, Long Hua feels like he has seen this person from somewhere else. Eventually, he realizes—

(Oh right, the casket case…)

Ignoring the office's mood, Long Hua heads for the exit.

Stored at the Mirrored Moon Café are items—that he had ordered from Nian Yao Yao, but has completely forgot to pick up until now.

...…

Coming into the Mirrored Moon Café through the garage entrance, Long Hua immediately finds the items scattered on the floor. All of them are parts for his bike.

Parking the bike onto an emptied area, Long Hua turns off the engine. Since he is here, he figured that he might as well take a look up front.

"Hm? Where's the Owner?"

"He's been out on a business trip for the past two days."

Replying to his question is Zhou'er—who is dressed in her maid uniform, with her light brown hair tied into a tail.

Hearing this bit of news, Long Hua remarks—

"Yet he somehow still found the time to send me a message—to pick up my stuff. Anyways, are you able to handle the workload?"

Shrugging a shoulder, Zhou'er replies—

"We don't get that many customers to begin with, and it's not like I'm being made to take care of the café during night hours as well. Also, I've got a helper."

"A helper?"

Just as Zhou'er is about to answer, the door of the café opens.

Walking into the café—carrying three boxes with them, is a girl with pale pink hair.

Setting the boxes down on the counter, the girl says—

"That's all of them."

Following these words, the girl turns to Zhou'er, and it is also then—that she meets eyes with Long Hua.

"You?"

Dressed in the attire of a maid—that is the same as Zhou'er's, is none other than Chen Shi Yao Ying.

Raising an eye, Long Hua asks—

"So, this is the place you're working at?"

Nodding her head subtly, Yao Ying answers—

"Nuo'er said—that you worked here as well, so she figured it'd be easier to… Have someone to talk to?"

"I don't come by everyday though…"

"You two already know each other?"

Cutting into the conversation, Zhou'er looks between the two, to which, Long Hua answers—

"Somewhat."

Turning his eyes towards the TV—that is mounted to the far-right corner of the café, Long Hua notices a sliding headline, that talks about the detection of a potential Immortal appearing in the city's wasteland.

As awkward silence loomed between the three—none of them knew just how much they could speak to the others about.

"…"

"Ai…"

Glancing into Yao Ying's clouded eyes, Long Hua raises a sigh, as he turns around, and says—

"Little girl, come over to the garage."

"You two are just going to leave me to handle the front like this?"

"Won't take long."