Old Shadows and New Traces
On the morning of Sunday, August 22, 2010, Rao Xiaofeng hurriedly bought a chicken sandwich at a convenience store, hopped on the subway, and arrived at Baby Time. She changed into her work clothes, less than ten minutes before the store officially opened. She found a corner, tore open the package, and wolfed down her food. Exhausted after enduring the night of her mother's death, she just wanted to fill her stomach quickly and get back to work. The dry sandwich crumbs stuck in her throat, and then she remembered she had forgotten to buy water. The sharp whistling of the kettle was particularly piercing in the quiet shop. She closed her eyes and swallowed the last big mouthful with difficulty, her throat burning.
"Xiaofeng!" Ming Xiaoqi's clear voice rang out along with a light tap on the shoulder. "Why are you here so early? I thought you wouldn't come today. Last night on '37'..." Xiaoqi didn't finish her words. Seeing Xiaofeng's flushed face and painful expression, she immediately understood. "Did you choke? Drink some water!"
Xiaofeng turned around, pointed at his throat, and waved his hand to indicate that he didn't need it yet.
"Were you exhausted yesterday?"
Xiaofeng cleared her throat, her voice still a little hoarse. "Yesterday was the 37th day of the lunar year. Uncle Zhou said it was very important, the 'night of the return of the soul.' Although the tomb-sweeping process was cumbersome, Uncle Zhou arranged it very well. Everything was... in perfect order. Aunt Fan and Brother Zhou Yang also helped a lot." She paused, trying to sound calmer. "So... it's... not so bad."
"How are you?"
"I'm fine." Xiaofeng blinked quickly to suppress the sourness.
"Are you really okay?"
"It's okay!" Xiao Feng said firmly, trying to change the subject. "Let's get to work. I won't take a lunch break today. I'll leave at 2 pm. I have to go back and finish my homework, okay?"
"Okay! I'll go with you at two o'clock," Xiao Qi immediately said, "I'll treat you to your favorite bubble tea and double the red bean sauce!"
"Okay." Xiaofeng finally revealed a faint, tired but real smile.
The two of them walked to the cashier together. The store manager, Sister Fang, had already begun assigning tasks: "While there are fewer people this morning, Xiaofeng, go to the food section and carefully check the expiration dates of all the baby foods and milk powder. Take out any products that are nearing their expiration dates and remove them from the shelves. Remember the time limit for near-expiry products, right?"
"Yes, one and a half months." Xiaofeng nodded.
"Yes, Xiaoqi," Sister Fang handed over a list, "Go and restock those popular bibs and pacifiers that were sold out yesterday."
Xiaoqi took the note and looked at Xiaofeng tacitly, conveying the signal of "Let's get to work, cheer up", and then they turned around and walked towards their own areas.
Rao Xiaofeng donned disposable gloves and began to work intently. She picked up cans of milk powder, carefully examining the inkjet code on the bottom, then gently wiped away any dust from the shelf with a slightly damp cloth. Then, she rearranged the cans by expiration date, from closest to furthest, ensuring the front row formed a perfect line with the shelf edge. Brand logos had to be aligned vertically, and price tags individually checked, with no room for misalignment. This mechanical yet meticulous work brought a moment of peace to her tumultuous mind. After finishing the milk powder section, she helped Xiaoqi unpack the boxes of baby wipes and diapers and neatly restocked the shelves.
By the time the doorbell rang for the umpteenth time, Rao Xiaofeng could already instinctively discern the types of customers. Expectant mothers, their bellies tucked under their arms as they walked, their eyes soft and gentle; new fathers often frowned at the complex nutritional information on formula milk; grandparents preferred practical, cost-effective items... But then, a figure in the corner caught her attention again.
The man, wearing a sophisticated, dark grey trench coat, with an upright figure and a stern demeanor, was once again lingering in the stroller section. Nearly half an hour had passed, and he displayed an almost apathetic resistance to the other salespeople's approach and inquiries, concentrating solely on examining the strollers.
The more Xiaofeng looked at the figure, the more familiar it seemed to her. That was until she overheard Sister Fang whisper to another colleague, "It's that weirdo again. He was here last Sunday too, and ignored everyone..."
The four words "ignore everyone" were like a key, instantly opening the floodgates of Xiaofeng's memory - the guest who had left her at a loss last Sunday! It was him!
"It really seems like it's him again." Xiaofeng's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and an indescribable chill crept up her spine. She subconsciously moved her feet and walked towards Xiaoqi, who was sorting the shelves.
"Xiao Qi," Xiao Feng lowered her voice very low, "that guest... the one in the gray windbreaker, seemed to have been here last Sunday. He is the strange guest I received." As she spoke, she gestured in the direction of the corner with her eyes.
Xiao Qi followed her gaze with a wary glance, her expression changing slightly. She immediately pulled out her cell phone and said to Xiao Feng quickly, "Got it. Don't go over there yet. I'll call Dad." Then, she hurried across the shelves and slipped into the office in the back office.
Xiaofeng took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. She returned to the shelves in the baby food section, pretending to continue sorting the colorful fruit puree boxes. However, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the man in the gray trench coat, seemingly drawn by some invisible thread, walking straight towards her in the baby food section! Xiaofeng's heartbeat was so intense that she could barely think. She forced herself to keep her head down, her hands straining to straighten the rows of fruit puree boxes.
"Don't come over, please don't come over..." She shouted and prayed silently in her heart.
However, the tall figure stopped beside her, casting a shadow over her. A warm breath with a faint, cool aroma similar to cedar brushed against her nose. An unusually clear, even gentle, voice rang out: "Hello."
Rao Xiaofeng's body froze instantly, her blood seemingly frozen. She didn't dare look up, turning extremely slowly and stiffly to face this mysterious guest. Her hands subconsciously clasped tightly in front of her, her nails practically digging into the skin on the backs of her hands. She managed to force a weak, yet polite, voice from her throat: "Hello... Hello!"
At this moment, Sister Fang and another experienced shopping guide noticed something was wrong and quickly approached this side with concern and vigilance in their eyes, obviously worried that Xiaofeng would not be able to cope.
However, to everyone's surprise, after saying "Hello," the man didn't say another word or make any unnecessary movements. He simply gave a deep, half-hearted glance, then turned decisively and walked straight out the door. His steps seemed hurried, yet steady.
Only Rao Xiaofeng caught an extremely brief pause at the moment the other person turned around - the man's gaze lingered on the work badge on her chest for a few seconds.
"Xiaofeng! What did he say to you?" Sister Fang hurried to her side and asked nervously.
Xiaofeng finally woke up as if from a dream, shook her head blankly, her voice still a little weak: "I... didn't say anything, just... just said 'hello'. It's okay..." She tried to force out a soothing smile, but it was uglier than crying.
When Ming Xiaoqi returned to the store, the employees were gathered together, discussing nervously. She squeezed into the crowd and said urgently, "I've told Dad. He'll be coming right over to check the surveillance footage with Captain Dai, the security guard!" Hearing the boss' daughter's words, and confirming that security would intervene, everyone's tense nerves relaxed slightly, and they slowly dispersed back to their posts, their eyes still scanning the surroundings with vigilance.
Not long after, Ming Hanmin arrived at the store, his expression grave. He first approached Sister Fang to inquire about the situation. Upon learning that the mysterious customer had only spoken to Rao Xiaofeng on both occasions, his brow furrowed. He immediately summoned Rao Xiaofeng and Ming Xiaoqi, and together they went to the office next to the mall's security monitoring room.
In the office, Captain Dai was already waiting in front of the surveillance screen. He expertly pulled up footage from inside and around Baby Time, focusing on the times the man had appeared this morning and last Sunday. The high-definition footage clearly captured the figure and gait of the man in the dark gray trench coat. Several people watched with bated breath: He headed straight for the maternity and baby section, avoiding the sales assistants to stare at the stroller, and finally approached Rao Xiaofeng for a brief conversation before leaving. The entire process was deliberate and eerie.
"I'll go get his complete trajectory right away," Captain Dai said, quickly returning to the surveillance center. With the dense surveillance system and his vast experience, he quickly tracked the man's whereabouts during his two visits. But when facial recognition confirmed his identity, his face was filled with shock and embarrassment. He called Ming Hanmin, his voice grave, "Mr. Ming, the trajectory has been traced, and the identity has been confirmed."
"Who is it?" Ming Hanmin's heart was in his throat.
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, and then three words came through: "Jiang Wenqing."
Ming Hanmin felt a chill running from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his fingers holding the phone stiffened instantly: "Jiang Wenqing? The legal representative of the group?" How could he appear in his own shop twice in a row like a suspicious person, and specifically target Rao Xiaofeng?
"Absolutely true." Captain Dai lowered his voice. "Last Monday and Tuesday, he walked straight into your store as soon as he entered the mall, staying for less than a minute before leaving. Both times he came into the store on Sundays, he only spoke to Miss Rao."
"I understand. Please keep this matter confidential for the time being." Ming Hanmin hung up the phone, his hand still frozen in mid-air.
Rao Xiaofeng and Ming Xiaoqi stood by, breathless. Seeing his expression change drastically, and vaguely hearing "Jiang Wenqing," "Group Legal Representative," Xiaofeng's heart sank. Although she didn't understand the meaning of "Legal Representative," the word "Group" and Uncle Ming's reaction made her realize that this man was no ordinary person.
"Dad, who is it?" Ming Xiaoqi asked, holding Xiaofeng's cold hand.
Ming Hanmin slowly turned, his gaze darting between the two girls' faces before finally settling on the pale Xiaofeng. He spoke carefully, "He's a senior executive at the real estate company that owns the shopping center."
"Why did he come here? And why did he come here specifically to talk to Xiaofeng?" Ming Xiaoqi's eyes were full of questions.
This was exactly the question that plagued Ming Hanmin's mind. Was he targeting Xiaofeng? He suddenly glanced at his daughter. Could Xiaoqi actually be the target? With her lively personality, had she accidentally offended someone? But the surveillance footage showed that the man's gaze was always fixed on Xiaofeng...
"Dad?" Seeing his father's expression change, Xiaoqi called out again.
Ming Hanmin came to his senses, realizing he couldn't let the panic spread. He forced a smile and slowed his voice, "It's okay, Xiaoqi, Xiaofeng. This person has a special identity. Captain Dai has confirmed it, and he probably has no malicious intent."
Even he himself wasn't confident enough to say this. He took a deep breath and patted both of them on the shoulders, pretending to be relaxed. "Maybe it's work, or maybe you just came to the wrong place? Don't scare yourself."
Before leaving the store, Ming Hanmin specifically instructed Sister Fang: "Pay close attention recently. If you see any suspicious people, notify me immediately."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
