Serious business
It was 1 a.m., seven days after the National Youth Championships ended.
Outside the archives room of the sports school, motion-sensor lights flickered on and off in the wind—the wind was Yu Chen's breathing, chaotic and rapid.
She wore a black hooded sweatshirt, the brim pulled down to her brow bone, and the ends of her bright red hair were tucked into the collar, like fire hidden in the night. In her pocket, a USB drive the size of a fingernail pressed against her knuckles, icy cold, yet burning her with a sense of unease.
Objective: Original power of attorney from the guardian.
Reason: I don't want to owe anyone anything, nor do I want to be protected by anyone.
One hour ago, at Xiaowei Apartments.
Only one floor lamp was on in the living room, casting a warm yellow glow as she pressed Yu Chen against the back of the sofa—
The kiss slid from the collarbone down to the lower back, like marking coordinates on a map; the gray vest was pushed up, and the calluses on his hands brushed against his skin, sending a slight shiver down his spine.
“Xiao Wei…” Yu Chen’s voice was hoarse and drawn out, but with obvious panting, “It’s important business.”
"I'm doing it now." The other person's voice was even lower, drawing circles under her ribs with their fingertips. "The important thing is to take advantage of her completely."
She was indeed completely taken advantage of.
From the sofa to the carpet, then to the island bar, and finally to the dressing room. The cat servant outfit was brought out again, but only the bell headband remained behind Yu Chen's ear, making a very soft "ding" with each shake—like a countdown to stealing the documents.
At 00:47, Xiao Wei finally fell asleep.
Black sheets, a black vest, black hair—like an undefended night sky. Yu Chen walked barefoot on the carpet, her knuckles clenching silently as she took off the bell and placed it beside her pillow.
Consider it a farewell gift.
She went to the study and opened the safe—the password was her birthday in reverse chronological order. Xiao Wei had once told her with a smile, "Your birthday is my security code."
The security code has now become the key to betrayal.
The file folder was thin, yet it was so heavy that her knuckles turned white.
Guardianship Authorization Form
Trustee: Xiao Wei
Term of entrustment: until Yu Chen reaches adulthood
She stared at that line of text, suddenly remembering the bloodstains at Los Angeles Airport, the $21.37 million, and her parents' unfinished research project—
All debts and all favors are weighed on this one piece of paper.
She doesn't want to owe anyone anything, nor does she want to be protected by anyone.
She only wants to be her own guardian.
The USB flash drive was inserted into the port inside the safe, the files were copied, the originals were removed, and the paper made a very light "rustling" sound at the fingertips—like cutting the last fuse of an unexploded bomb.
The escape route had already been planned.
From the fire escape down to the underground parking garage, and over a low wall, lies the 24-hour convenience store off-campus. There, she found her small backpack, which she had deposited beforehand. Inside were only: her passport, bank cards, a red boxing glove bag, and two gunshots that no one knew about.
02:10, Suburban Long-Distance Bus Station.
The night wind whipped the ends of her bright red hair wildly, like a flame that had lost its way. Yu Chen folded the power of attorney into a small square, stuffed it into the bottom of her red boxing glove bag, and zipped it up tightly—
It's like putting a dash on a relationship.
She lowered her head and sent Xiao Wei a final WeChat message, her voice barely audible:
“I’ve taken the power of attorney. I’ll pay my debts and live my life.”
Don't look for me. Even if you do, pretend you didn't.
Send, block, turn off the phone.
The bus lights came on, like a pre-announced bell.
This time, no one let go, and no one owes anyone anything.
Xiao Wei woke up at three in the morning.
Only a bell-shaped hairband remained by the pillow, gleaming coldly in the moonlight.
She opened WeChat and saw only a red exclamation mark—
"The other party has enabled friend verification."
Her knuckles tightened silently, gripping the bell tightly in her palm, her voice barely audible:
"Yu Chen, you win."
"But the game isn't over yet."
In the darkness, there was no response, only the very soft "ding" of the bell.
Imagine plotting a delayed coordinate on an incomplete parsing:
Run away, I will find you.
—I'll find you and collect what you owe me, with interest.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
