Chapter Twenty Honey
On the edge of London's East End, in areas where the tentacles of the Lunar Organization have not yet fully reached, there exist some gray areas.
These places are a melting pot of people, including small gangs and smugglers trying to attach themselves to larger organizations, as well as many marginal figures who barely manage to survive by providing sporadic services to the organization—such as running a low-profile bar, handling some of the transshipment of supplies, or providing hearsay information.
"Rye Tavern" is such a place. Its facade is dilapidated, and the paint on its signboard is peeling and faded, but it is an inconspicuous entrance to the outer perimeter of the Moonlit Organization. The bartender, Old John, is a well-informed old fox, essentially an unofficial informant for the organization.
In the afternoon, sunlight barely penetrated the grime-covered glass windows, casting a few dim beams of light into the tavern's air, thick with the smell of smoke and malt. A few idle patrons sat scattered in a corner, conversing in hushed tones. Behind the bar, old John slowly wiped glasses, his eyes habitually scanning the tavern from the corner of his eye.
The bell on the door rang crisply, and a bright figure walked in, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
She was a girl who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old. The most striking feature was her hair, which was as radiant as the sunset – the roots were a gentle cherry blossom pink, gradually turning into a bright yellow, while the ends were a vibrant orange, tied into a slightly fluffy high ponytail that swayed gently with her steps.
She was wearing a faded but clean blue work dress, with a pale yellow knitted cardigan over it, and slightly worn but very clean leather shoes.
Her face was fresh and delicate, without any makeup. What was most captivating were her eyes—bright yellow, like a field of blooming rapeseed flowers, clear and bright. At this moment, she was scanning the interior of the tavern with just the right amount of shyness and curiosity, as if she were a newcomer.
Her appearance was like a ray of warm sunshine, suddenly piercing through the inherent gloom and oppression of the tavern.
The young woman walked to the bar, her voice clear and crisp, tinged with a cautious politeness: "Hello, excuse me... are you Mr. John? I'm Qianxu, from the River District. Uncle Hank said you might need a temporary helper to clean and wash the glasses?"
Old John squinted his cloudy eyes, scrutinizing the girl before him. Hank was an old smoker he knew, and she did indeed live in the River District.
The girl looked clean and clever, with innocent eyes; she didn't seem threatening. The organization has recently expanded, and with so many miscellaneous tasks, they definitely need reliable people to handle some peripheral matters.
"Qianxu?" Old John put down his cup, his voice hoarse. "Introduced by that old man Hank? Why didn't he come himself?"
“Uncle Hank is sick,” Qianxu Wuyun said, revealing a hint of worry at just the right moment. “He asked me to give this a try, saying you’re a good person. I’m very hardworking and can do any kind of work!” She puffed out her chest slightly, trying to appear reliable, her bright yellow eyes filled with longing for a job.
Old John asked a few more questions about Hank's details, and Qianxu Wuyun answered fluently and naturally, without the slightest flaw.
These were all carefully prepared, verifiable backgrounds for Meng She. She successfully portrayed the image of a girl next door with a clean background, a poor family, and an urgent need for work to supplement her family's income.
"Hmm..." Old John pondered for a moment, "Three-day trial period, two meals provided, five shillings a week. Mainly you'll be helping with cleaning and washing glasses in the afternoons and evenings, and wiping tables and chairs when there aren't many customers. Keep your hands and feet clean, and be observant. Don't look at what you shouldn't look at, and don't listen to what you shouldn't listen to. Understand?"
"Understood! Thank you, Mr. John!" A radiant smile immediately bloomed on Qianxu Wuyun's face, a smile so infectious it seemed to brighten the entire dimly lit tavern. She nodded vigorously, her bright yellow eyes curving into crescents. "I'll definitely do my best!"
From that day on, "Little Bee" Qianxu settled down at "Rye Tavern". Just like her code name, she was hardworking, enthusiastic, and seemingly tireless. She always had a sweet smile on her face, and she quickly wiped the tables and chairs and washed the mountain of wine glasses.
She would carefully sort and put away the empty bottles left by customers on the bar, remember the flavors of drinks that regular customers liked, and even proactively serve drinks to customers when Old John was too busy, along with a pleasant smile.
She quickly won over the patrons, and even some of the rougher men would subconsciously tone down their behavior in her presence. She was like a magnet, naturally attracting the attention of those around her and injecting a rare vitality into this lifeless tavern.
Old John was quite satisfied with her and gradually lowered his guard. Occasionally, he would ask her to help tidy up the messy little warehouse in the back alley of the tavern, where some less important supplies that needed to be transported to the headquarters area were sometimes temporarily stored.
Qianxu Wuyun played her role perfectly. Every smile, every act of kindness, every thoughtful greeting was carefully calculated.
She meticulously observed everyone entering and leaving the tavern, paying attention to snippets of their conversations and analyzing their relationships with the organization. Like a true bee, she silently gathered information about the external operational patterns and personnel interactions of the Xuyue organization, and then transmitted it through the secret channels designated by Meng She.
However, beneath this sunny and cheerful exterior, the true soul of Qianxu Wuyun—the "man-eating bee"—constantly endures the torment of extremes.
When the night was still and quiet, and she lay alone in the narrow, cold storeroom in the tavern's attic, all the smiles and energy of the day would instantly vanish from her face, leaving only a deep-seated weariness and fear. She would curl up in a thin blanket, her bright yellow eyes staring blankly into the darkness, devoid of any light.
The image of the snake's cold, emerald-green eyes haunted her mind like a nightmare. His emotionless voice repeatedly reminded her of her mission, her identity, and her sole reason for being.
"Your life is secondary; only by serving me can you gain value." These words were etched into her soul like a brand.
She feared failure, feared the punishment of the Dream Serpent, a torment more terrible than death. The fear of the organization, like a cold, venomous snake, coiled around her heart.
On the other hand, in this environment full of dangerous lies, she felt for the first time a kind of... distorted "normality" and faint "warmth".
Although old John was shrewd, he would occasionally show a subtle kind of care for this "orphan," such as secretly giving her an extra piece of bread. Even the rude drinkers would occasionally say "thank you" when she handed them drinks.
This insignificant kindness, built on lies, was like a tiny needle, constantly pricking her deepest longing for "home" and "belonging."
She hated her family of origin who had sacrificed her to the flames, yet she couldn't help but yearn for the close, almost familial bond between members of the rumored Xuyue Organization, especially... the connection between "Whale Shark" Xiya and the boy he took in, "Little Butterfly" Zhong Si.
Based on the information provided by Meng She and her observations, Zhong Si, the sensitive and fragile boy with violet eyes, is her key target.
He was not only a rising star in the organization, excessively protected by Xiya, but more importantly, what he yearned for was precisely the "sunshine" and "normality" she was currently embodying. He was the best breakthrough point for her to open the cracks in the organization's core.
The opportunity soon arrived. A few days later, one afternoon, a light rain was falling. The tavern was nearly empty, and Qianxu Wuyun was wiping the bar counter.
Old John received a call from headquarters, apparently needing to retrieve an expired shipping manifest from the back alley warehouse to verify the data. Muttering about the weather and the hassle, Old John was about to get up when Qianxu Wuyun immediately volunteered: "Mr. John, it's raining outside, you rest, I'll go to the warehouse! I know roughly which box the manifest is in!"
Old John glanced at the drizzling rain outside the window, then at the diligent Anne, and nodded: "Alright, it's in that wooden box labeled 'July' further inside, in a brown paper bag. Go and come back quickly."
"Okay, sure!" Qianxu Wuyun picked up an old umbrella and strode towards the door leading to the back alley. In the instant she turned around, a swift glint flashed in her bright yellow eyes—the precision and composure of a hunter locking onto a target.
She pushed open the back door, and a drizzle and cold wind rushed in. The back alley was cluttered with junk and empty wine barrels, looking messy and damp. She didn't go to the warehouse immediately, but instead, holding her umbrella, she walked seemingly unintentionally toward the alley entrance, where a fork in the road led to a relatively quiet path behind the headquarters.
According to intelligence, at this time, Zhong Si sometimes returns to his residence from the training ground, and occasionally chooses this path for peace and quiet.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, a thin figure appeared at the alley entrance. He was dressed in dark clothes, without an umbrella, his slightly damp black hair clung to his pale forehead, his head was down, and his steps were hurried, as if he wanted to quickly avoid the annoying rain. It was Zhong Si.
Qianxu Wuyun's heart skipped a beat, but her face instantly switched to the most flawless expression, tinged with surprise and concern. She quickened her pace and almost "accidentally" bumped into him, though with just the right amount of force.
"Oops!" she exclaimed softly, the umbrella slipping from her hand and falling to the ground. She stumbled and nearly fell.
Zhong Si was startled by the bump and instinctively reached out to steady her. The two instantly closed the distance between them.
He smelled a faint scent, like sun-dried grass, completely different from the disinfectant, engine oil, and blood smells he usually encountered.
He looked up and met a pair of extremely bright, apologetic, and flustered bright yellow eyes.
"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" Qianxu Wuyun hurriedly steadied herself and apologized repeatedly, her cheeks flushing a perfect blush, like a ripe apple. "I was walking too fast and didn't see where I was going! I'm so sorry I bumped into you! Are you alright?" Her voice was clear and crisp, filled with sincere apology, and her eyes were pure and without a trace of impurity.
Zhong Si was stunned. He rarely came into such close contact with strangers, especially young women. The women in the organization, whether it was Xu Yue's authority, Mu Ye's coldness, or the aloofness of other members, all carried a sense of distance. But this girl in front of him... was completely different.
She was like...like a ray of sunshine suddenly bursting into his gloomy world, warm and vibrant, carrying a vitality from the "normal" world he had almost forgotten. Especially her bright yellow eyes, which seemed to possess a magical power, instantly captivating him.
"N-nothing...it's okay." Zhong Si awkwardly withdrew his hand, his ears burning slightly, and subconsciously avoided her gaze. A hint of panic flashed in his purple eyes, but more than that, it was a sense of helplessness struck by this unexpected "warmth."
Qianxu Wuyun bent down to pick up the umbrella, naturally raising it to cover Zhong Si as well, not minding at all that the rain had soaked half of her shoulder. "The rain is quite heavy, why didn't you use an umbrella? Be careful not to catch a cold." Her tone was full of natural concern, as if they were longtime friends.
"I...I came back from the training ground, not far..." Zhong Si answered softly, her heart beating faster for no reason. She was very close, and the scent of sunshine and grass was even clearer.
"Training ground? You're... from over there?" Qianxu Wuyun subtly revealed a hint of curiosity, but immediately waved her hand, revealing a bright smile. "Ah, I shouldn't have asked. Old John said, don't ask what you shouldn't ask. My name is Qianxu, I help out at 'Rye'. And you?"
“My… name is Zhong Si,” Zhong Si blurted out almost without thinking. In front of this girl, he found it difficult to maintain his usual vigilance and silence.
“Zhong Si? It’s a very nice name.” Qian Xu Wu Yun repeated with a smile, her smile sincere and without any guile. “It sounds like… a quiet night?” She tilted her head, her bright yellow eyes blinking playfully.
This interpretation startled Zhong Si slightly, causing a strange ripple in his heart. No one had ever interpreted his name in this way before.
"Alright, I won't keep you any longer. You should go back now, don't get wet." Qianxu Wuyun tilted the umbrella further towards Zhong Si, exposing most of her body to the rain. "I also need to go to the warehouse to find something for Mr. John. Next time you come to 'Rye,' I'll treat you to a cup of hot milk as an apology!" After she finished speaking, she waved to Zhong Si, revealing a bright and dazzling smile, then turned around and, like a light butterfly, quickly ran towards the warehouse, her gradient-colored ponytail drawing a warm arc in the rain.
Zhong Si stood there, staring blankly at her figure disappearing behind the warehouse door, raindrops dripping from her hair, but he was completely unaware.
The scent of sunshine and grass seemed to linger under the umbrella, and her clear voice and the words "I'll treat you to hot milk next time" echoed in his ears. His heart, which had long been in a tense, repressed, and cold environment, seemed to be gently bumped by something, and a strange, warm, and flustered feeling spread through him.
This was the first time he had felt a completely different, vibrant kind of care outside of the cold "family" he had organized. Though brief, it was like a seed that had quietly fallen into his heart.
Behind the warehouse door, Qianxu Wuyun leaned against the cold wooden door, her bright smile vanishing instantly. Her bright yellow eyes now held only the cold calculation of completing a task, and a complex emotion she couldn't completely suppress—an emotion towards those clear purple eyes.
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