“You must give me an explanation today, or I’m not leaving!”
“An explanation? What explanation do you want? Your father is gone, find him yourself! Why are you bothering the school?”
“My father reported your construction for problems, and soon after, he disappeared. I’m certain his disappearance is related to the school!”
“Then show us proof! Without proof, it’s slander. Do you believe we’ll call the police and have you arrested?”
Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong were still outside the security office when they heard the argument inside.
As they walked in, they saw three security guards cornering a young girl, Huang Shihui, and being aggressive. However, despite being a girl, Huang Shihui didn’t seem weak at all. Instead, she managed to hold her own against three guards single-handedly, not backing down.
This reminded Yan Shouyi of a saying: If it weren’t for life’s pressures, who would willingly make themselves look so disheveled?
Huang Shihui was slightly younger than Yan Shouyi. She wore her hair in a ponytail and looked like a very clean girl. However, her demeanor seemed to be covered in a layer of thorny armor, making her impervious to harm.
“Stop arguing, let her go!” Yan Shouyi commanded as he entered the security office.
The three guards were taken aback, then looked at Yan Shouyi unhappily. “Who do you think you are, ordering us around? Don’t you know we follow Captain Gao?”
“Captain Gao is no longer the captain of the security team. The current captain is Yan Shouyi, this young man right here!”
At this moment, Brother Wei appeared from somewhere and whispered slyly to the three guards, “Haven’t you seen the captain yet? Hurry up and greet him.”
The three guards were stunned. They didn’t realize the security team had changed hands so quickly. They were playing cards with Gao Junming just yesterday, and now there was a new leader?
However, Brother Wei was the most senior security guard at Shanghang Art School, so they dared not disbelieve him.
Thus, the three guards immediately became honest and called Yan Shouyi captain, feeling extremely uneasy. They all said that a new official starts with three fires, and they were afraid Yan Shouyi would make an example of them.
But Yan Shouyi had no intention of bothering with them. He simply waved his hand, telling them to leave.
After the three left, Yan Shouyi smiled at Brother Wei. “Brother Wei, you’re quite the opportunist, swaying with the wind wherever it blows.”
Brother Wei also smiled. “If I hadn’t mastered the art of reading the wind and acting accordingly, how could I have worked at Shanghang Art School for so many years?”
It had to be said that in terms of handling matters, even Long Feicheng couldn’t compare to Brother Wei. Long Feicheng was merely smooth, far less shrewd than Brother Wei.
Brother Wei sized up Lin Zitong, finding her figure and appearance far superior to the average at Shanghang Art School. While surprised, he wisely chose to ignore it, not asking about Lin Zitong’s identity. Instead, he explained Huang Shihui’s situation to Yan Shouyi.
“Captain Yan, this girl is Huang Shihui. Her father was a teacher at our school and later disappeared. She’s been pestering our school, demanding an explanation every few days. The police have investigated, but found nothing. To minimize impact, school leaders have negotiated compensation with her several times, but she refused. The leadership believes she’s asking for an exorbitant amount, so they’ve decided to ignore her. From now on, if we see her again, just drive her away.”
Hearing Brother Wei’s explanation, Huang Shihui, who was in a corner of the security office, lowered her head silently. She didn’t argue because she had argued countless times before. She didn’t shed tears either, knowing that tears were useless.
Yan Shouyi said in a low voice, “Even Brother Wei thinks so? Everyone believes she’s trying to extort money? No, I don’t think so. There are many things more important than money in this world, and family affection is one of them. A daughter wants to find her missing father, alive or dead, what’s wrong with that? Why does everyone think she’s asking for money?!”
Upon hearing this, Brother Wei fell silent for a moment, then said stubbornly, “Little Yan, you’re too young and inexperienced. You can’t judge many people or things by their appearance.”
Bang!
Unexpectedly, Yan Shouyi, who was usually mild-tempered, suddenly slammed the table and shouted angrily:
“It’s precisely because I’ve traveled too far, met too many people, and seen too much that I’m certain Huang Shihui has never asked for money. She wants an explanation, a clear conscience!”
“Little Yan, you…” Brother Wei looked at Yan Shouyi in surprise.
Lin Zitong looked at the furious Yan Shouyi and couldn’t help but smile. Without even realizing it herself, her gaze towards Yan Shouyi held a spark.
Huang Shihui, who had been looking down, also looked up in disbelief. In Yan Shouyi, she seemed to see a glimmer of hope.
A hope that would lead her back to the light.
“Sigh!”
Brother Wei suddenly sighed and raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, Captain Yan, you win. Who told you to be the captain? So, how do you plan to resolve this? The school leadership fears trouble the most. Anyway, I dare not go against the leaders. I still need to eat.”
Yan Shouyi completely understood Brother Wei’s predicament. He was just a “small” security guard, lacking the ability or obligation to help Huang Shihui.
Lin Zitong also asked, “How do you plan to help her?”
“It’s simple,” Yan Shouyi replied. “Help her find her missing father.”
Mentioning her father, Huang Shihui stood up as if shocked. She walked up to Yan Shouyi and spoke for the first time: “Can you really help me find my father?”
After asking, Huang Shihui felt it was too fantastical. She had searched for so many years without finding any clues. Yan Shouyi was just a newly appointed security captain; what ability did he have to help her find her father who had been missing for seven years?
So, Huang Shihui quickly lost hope again, her hands falling powerlessly. She lowered her head and said:
“You are a good person, unlike any other security guard before. But I don’t want to cause you trouble. In short… thank you. I will find my father myself, no matter how many years it takes, I will find him!”
Yan Shouyi looked at Huang Shihui and suddenly smiled. “Don’t worry, I will help you find your father, because your father has never given up looking for you either.”
Huang Shihui trembled all over, looking at Yan Shouyi in astonishment.
Yan Shouyi put away his smile and said calmly, “Go home first. Wait for me at the west gate of the school tonight. I’ll go with you to find your father.”
For some reason, Huang Shihui had an inexplicable trust in this stranger. Even though she had been deceived by the leaders of Shanghang Art School countless times, this time, she inexplicably chose to believe.
Therefore, Huang Shihui left quickly, without crying, fussing, or arguing. She was quieter than any time before.
After Huang Shihui left, Brother Wei couldn’t help but give Yan Shouyi a thumbs-up. “Captain Yan, I find you truly have what it takes to be a captain. Not only did you get rid of Huang Shihui without a single soldier, but you also plan to meet her privately at night. You… Oh, did I say something wrong?”
Brother Wei had indeed said something wrong, because Lin Zitong was glaring fiercely at him. If looks could kill, Brother Wei would have been dismembered by Lin Zitong dozens of times.
“I have something to say to him,” Lin Zitong said coldly.
Brother Wei knew Lin Zitong was not to be trifled with and asked awkwardly but politely, “Shall I leave then?”
Without waiting for Lin Zitong’s reply, Brother Wei fled shamefacedly, not looking back.
With only the two of them in the security office, Lin Zitong finally asked, “Do you already know where Huang Song’s body is?”
“Yes. When I first arrived at Shanghang Art School, I heard that your sect leader of the Lüshan sect had set up a Nine Dragons Harmonizing Evil Array for Shanghang Art School. But from my observation, there was a very strange loophole in the Nine Dragons Harmonizing Evil Array. The playground area, which should have been a gate of life, was covered in death energy. I didn’t know why at the time, but after hearing Huang Song’s story from you, I understood,” Yan Shouyi said in a deep voice. “Huang Song’s body is buried beneath the playground!”
A hint of admiration, and a hint of smugness, appeared in Lin Zitong’s eyes, as if she were showing off her man.
But she immediately posed a fatal question: “Your Luban descendants have always disliked getting involved in karma, so why are you so proactive in helping Huang Shihui? Do you have a crush on her?”
Yan Shouyi: “……”
He explained helplessly, “Luban descendants don’t completely avoid karma. They just like to help those who can help them in the future. It’s like how my grandfather helped your Lin family back then. However, it seems that time, I offended a taboo, and I was implicated, getting entangled with you.”
“Say that again?” Lin Zitong angrily raised her little pink fist.
Yan Shouyi coughed twice and quickly said, “But I’m different from other Luban descendants. My grandfather told me to do more good deeds and accumulate virtue, so that I can be reborn into a good family in the next life.”
“So, it’s that simple?” Lin Zitong seemed skeptical.
“Of course, what else do you think!” Yan Shouyi put on an innocent and honest face.
Lin Zitong’s doubt wasn’t about Yan Shouyi’s motive for helping Huang Shihui, but rather she found it strange that Yan Shouyi’s grandfather told him to do more good deeds and accumulate virtue.
Luban descendants have always believed in this life, not the next. Yan Shouyi’s explanation seemed to contradict the code of conduct of Luban descendants.
However, Lin Zitong didn’t delve deeper, because ever since Yan Shouyi said he wanted to give Huang Shihui an explanation, she had decided to lend him a hand.
In their childhood, it was the same. Whatever Lin Zitong wanted, Yan Shouyi would definitely get it for her.
Conversely, it was the same for Yan Shouyi.
Unreservedly, without questioning right or wrong.