As they stepped further into the heart of Huayuan, the true essence of the district unfolded before them. Won in elegant cheongsams glided past with mysterious smiles while n in suits haggled with vendors over rare trinkets. Every turn seed to lead to another maze-like street, each with its own secrets.
But none agreed to answer Jia’s questions about Yong. The custors roaming around the streets and completely imrsed in enjoying their ti suddenly jolted with attention as soon as their gazes fell on Jia.
"A cop?"
"What is a cop doing here?"
"Aren’t cops allowed here?"
Whispers filled with anguish and tension floated in the air and so custors even rushed towards the exit.
Jia was oblivious to her surroundings and the effect her presence caused. She was solely focused on finding Yong.
"Wait, didn’t we just pass through this street?" Jia looked up at the board sign above.
Bojing recognized it and said, "A-ah that’s true!"
Jia tried her luck a couple of tis to ask the district people about Yong or the leader but none were ready to answer her. Instead, everybody looked to be in a sort of haste. Now that she looked closely, Huayuan seed as if it was in a festive spirit.
Jia stopped a woman passing by and asked, "Can you tell where Yong is?"
Her distaste for her was evident. "Stay away from , you filthy cop!"
She pushed her away without much remorse and ran away.
"Wait!"
She tried to reach out again and again but to no luck.
Mingshen said, "That uniform of yours is shining way brighter than the lights. I think that light of justice is hurting everybody’s eyes here."
Damn it I should have really co in casual clothes...
"Don’t worry, Spicy. I am here for your rescue~"
"You think you can make sobody tell you where Yong is? Or the leader?"
"Negotiation is my forte~"
Putting his hands in his pockets, he walked up to a tea house in a relatively quieter area. There was a woman in a traditional qipao seated near the entry door. Her eyes fell on Mingshen and they imdiately twinkled with delight.
Jia and Bojing saw him approaching the woman from afar, who eagerly made so space on the bench for him. He seed to talk for a minute where the woman intently listened to him. She slightly leaned forward and whispered sothing to him too.
A mont later they stood up and she guided him inside the tea house. Jia scratched her chin. "Why did he go in? Are we supposed to go inside or wait here?"
"I-I think we should w-wait..." Bojing slightly stamred, still feeling so intense gazes from the passersby.
It took so ten minutes before Mingshen finally exited the tea house and waved goodbye to the woman. He whistled and rrily walked back to Jia’s side.
"Mission complete~"
Jia blinked twice. "She told you where Yong is?"
"Sowhere in Huayuan’s central plaza. We have been looking in the wrong place. These lights and decorations are for their martial arts festival."
"Martial arts?"
"That kid had told once. That’s what they are celebrating right now."
Bojing bead. "S-So we can m-et her at the festival? That m-makes it easier, right?"
"If we see her first and not the other way around. That’s why Spicy should really get changed. Her uniform is like a loud siren."
Jia coughed. "Too late to do that now."
"Why? This district is full of all kinds of shops," he chirped.
Her eyes widened. "You want to go shopping right now?"
"Better than getting cursed because of your uniform, right?" He smiled. "Don’t underestimate Huayuan’s distaste for the cops."
Jia folded her arms. "How did you convince the woman then? You were with the whole ti."
He raised his palm. "Doctor-patient confidentiality."
"Patient? She is sick?"
"Not her but sobody else which she prefers to keep hidden."
"...So you treated that patient and in exchange she told you about Yong?"
"Not exactly treated that person but did provide my consultation and free dical care at my hospital~"
She raised her brow. "And she agreed to this?"
Mingshen chuckled. "Everybody wants sothing, Spicy. We just need to figure out that ’sothing.’ Apparently, she was very happy to see that I turned out to be a doctor. A very handso doctor at that."
"..."
Bojing said, "So l-let’s buy sothing for sis Jia and t-then we can head to the plaza, right?"
His innocent eyes shone with curiosity and excitent.
Mingshen smirked. "You are more interested in that martial arts festival."
A look of horror flashed across his eyes. "No-Not at all...! I don’t l-like violence..."
He scoffed. "Don’t like violence. Yeah sure~ You are so cute, my dear assistant."
His eyes turned misty. "But it’s t-true...!"
"Whatever," he shrugged. "Spicy, Spicy, let’s go on our shopping date~"
This ti, Jia raised her palm and said, "Keep your distance from ."
"Huh?"
"Yes. Stay far away from . You and your wallet. Don’t even think of buying anything for ."
The trauma Jia went through at the shopping mall seeing him swipe his card back-to-back to buy the exquisite matching set of blood red dress, jewellery set, clutch and the heels was already enough. Then there was the whole birthday celebration experience at the private club where she shuddered to even think of the bill.
Mingshen stared at her, amused.
What will Spicy do if she learns that I bought the whole shopping mall in her na?
Yup, she would probably faint. Let’s keep that to myself for now~
"Okay. I will just accompany you," he grinned.
"Not even a single Yuan!"
He rolled his eyes. "I understood the first ti you said that."
"I highly doubt."
The trio entered a whole nother world of narrow streets and mazes lined up with shops and stores of all various kinds. It was so crowded that at one point, Jia felt out of breath with the squeezing and crushing of the crowd. Everybody’s piercing gazes once again fell at Jia, expressing their open disdain for her.
Jia lacked tears to shed.
This is so difficult...
She looked back to check on Bojing. "Bojing, are you alright-"
She blinked rapidly, unable to see Bojing anywhere.
"Where is Bojing?"
Mingshen turned and couldn’t find him either after he glanced in all directions. He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"That idiot assistant of mine. First he got lost in that horror house and now here. He has a knack for disappearing, has he not?"
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