CRESCENDO

Crescendo:

Italian dynamic marking meaning to gradually get louder.

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In fact, Yang Liu did not need a motorbike as a means of transportation. The young guy had teleportation power so he could move from place to place in a short time without using any tools. No matter how far the distance was, Yang Liu could move his body in an instant. In the blink of an eye, his body would be transferred to another place without the need for an intermediary.

Tonight, Yang Liu used his power to bring his body moving around Beijing. It was not easy for him to use his power in the middle of a densely populated city like Beijing. Beijing was a big city, a popular destination for tourists all over the world. Every corner was bright and full of humans, and it was such a hassle to find a deserted place in a city like this.

If he used his power carelessly and appeared in the crowd, it was certain that there would be an uproar. He would be targeted by scientists to be the object of research, or at worst, he could be finished right away. Humans Had hated vampires since a long time ago, and that was not a secret.

Therefore, Yang Liu had to be smart in choosing his 'landing' place so that no one would see the oddity of it. Just like this time when he suddenly appeared in a narrow, dark, and lonely alley. A safe place for a creature like him because not a single eye was watching.

The long legs of the young man born in Tianjin began to swing forward, walking down the dark alley toward the light, looking for a good place for his search tonight. To be precise, the young man with the surname Yang was looking for a part-time job so that he could be more independent and stopped burdening his best friend.

Yang Liu had been traveling around the city for hours, but he had yet to find a suitable part-time job. Right now the young man was far from where he lived, he was in a suburban area that was no more crowded than the neighborhood where he lived.

The boy had already walked out of the narrow and dark alley. At this moment, he was walking down the sidewalk, surveying the buildings one by one, hoping that one building had the announcement he was looking for on its walls or glass. Yes, the announcement that they needed part-time workers.

Yang Liu's footsteps automatically stopped when he arrived in front of a 24-hour convenience store. On a pair of glass doors decorated with "push" and "pull" inscriptions, there was an announcement stating that the self-service store needed part-time workers. Without hesitation, Yang Liu stepped closer to the door and pushed it slowly. But, he froze as soon as he got inside the store. There, behind the cashier counter, a boy was serving an old woman who was shopping for various daily necessities.

Yang Liu quickly turned around, giving up his intention to apply for a job at the place. He would just look for another job in other places.

"Wait, Sir! Is there anything I can help you with?"

The friendly voice stopped Yang Liu's movements. He was like playing hide and seek but he lost because the other managed to find out his hiding place.

If he ran away, people would think he was a robber or something. There were surveillance cameras inside the store, and his face surely had been recorded. If he looked suspicious, people would report him to the police and that was no good.

Moreover, opportunity can't lose, time not again come[1].

The young man with dark hair as dark as that night turned around again with a stiff motion. He found the boy looking at him with his big rounded eyes. It seemed that the boy was also surprised after he recognized who the 'customer' was.

Zhou Yongliang. Those were the two words printed on the name tag attached to the yellow and blue vest worn by the tall boy. Apparently, the boy had finished serving the customer so he could notice Yang Liu, who was about to run away from that place.

Yang Liu maintained his cold expression. He didn't expect to meet the new student here. When he was outside the school, he always tried to avoid his schoolmates as best as he could. They were too troublesome to him, but tonight he was unlucky since the other boy could notice him. He wasn't successful in avoiding him.

"You are classmate Yang, aren't you? I didn't expect to meet you here! Do you want to buy something?" Zhou Yongliang asked again in a friendly tone like before. After recognizing Yang Liu, his manner didn't change at all. He was still friendly and polite, maybe he even looked more enthusiastic than before.

Yang Liu, who was still standing near the entrance, finally walked over to the cashier. "I want to meet the manager of this store," he said coldly.

That was the first time the two boys engaged in a conversation. It had been more than a week since they became classmates, but only tonight they got the chance to have a conversation.

Zhou Yongliang blinked in confusion behind the counter, but before long, he replied, "Okay, please wait a minute. I'll call him for you."

Yang Liu's sharp eyes followed Zhou Yongliang's movements as the latter left the counter and entered a room specifically designated for staff only. Not long after, his new classmate came out of the room, but he was no longer alone. Behind him was tailing a man whose posture was shorter than him, but his face looked more mature. Probably he was at 35s.

"Manager Huang, he is my classmate. He said he wanted to meet you."

The figure called Manager Huang nodded understandingly and smiled kindly at Zhou Yongliang before finally turning to stare at Yang Liu and said, "I'm the manager of this convenience store, my name is Huang Jianguo. What do you need to look for me?"

Yang Liu cleared his throat for a moment before answering, "I'm Yang Liu. I intend to apply as a part-time worker here, Sir."

Zhou Yongliang, who had returned to the counter, immediately widened his eyes at what his classmate said. It was true, the store where he worked needed part-time workers, but why did such a cold guy like Yang Liu want to apply for a job here? Moreover, the convenience store was so far from their school area. Was Yang Liu also living around here? Zhou Yongliang couldn't help but feel confused.

Hearing the boy's answer, the manager's eyes sparkled as he said, "Ah, so you come to apply for the job? Then, follow me to the staff's room, there are some things I want to ask you."

Yang Liu nodded in understanding and started walking to follow Manager Huang's steps to the staff room. But before actually leaving, Yang Liu took a little glance at Zhou Yongliang, and it turned out that Zhou Yongliang was also staring at him.

The black-haired student ignored the stare and he followed the manager to the staff room. It was just a small room with lockers. Each locker had a name plastered on it, and he noticed his classmate's name was among them.

"So," the manager broke down the silence as he sat down on a bench. He motioned Yang Liu to sit down beside him, and the latter complied. "You want to work here as a part-timer?" He then continued.

Yang Liu firmly nodded before answering, " Yes, Sir."

The manager smiled a little seeing the young boy's stiff gesture. "Take it easy, I won't bite you," he said. "Are you also from Tongzhou like Yongliang?"

This time, the younger boy shook his head. "I'm from Haidian, Sir," he answered.

The manager frowned after he heard the reply. "That's a far place!" He exclaimed. "Are you sure you will be okay working in a place far from your home? You're still so young. It will be dangerous for you."

Without a slight of doubt, Yang Liu nodded. "I will be okay, Sir," he answered.

The manager was still frowning at the handsome boy beside him. It seemed like he wasn't quite satisfied with the curt answer. It looked like he was expecting a long answer, but the young boy only gave him a short one.

Yang Liu was waiting for a response nervously. It was his first job interview, and he was afraid that he had messed up. After a few minutes, he then heard the manager sighed.

"Alright," the older man finally decided. "If you don't mind, you can give me your phone number. I'll consider it first and will contact you to inform my decision later."

Yang Liu breathed a sigh of relief. At least, he still had a chance.

He didn't expect that the beat in his quiet life would gradually get louder after the fateful night.

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Footnote:

[1] Opportunity can't lose, time not again come: from Chinese sayings "Jī bùkě shī, shí búzài lái" that means "Don't miss opportunities: time doesn't come round again."