Chapter 101: The Busy Chen Zi’ang

I must have lost my mind... to be running out to find some not-quite-close friend I had only met a few times, all on the eve of something important tomorrow.

Chen Ziang sat in the light-rail carriage, talking with Xia Zili on his phone.

[What urban legends are there?]: I am on my way. Do not leave yet. Stay where you are.

[Good at singing]: Okay.

[Good at singing]: Don’t worry, I haven’t even finished the drink I ordered.

[Good at singing] sent a photo: a neat row of bottles lined up on the table, with only one of them opened.

Chen Ziang: ...

Was this a kidnapping notice? Was the photo sent by the kidnapper as a threat? If I did not arrive in time to pay the ransom, would the kidnapper dunk Xia Zili’s head into a bathtub full of alcohol and smother her to death?

No matter how he looked at it, he still could not believe that the half-elf young lady, so well-bred, so gentle and charming, would actually run to an izakaya in the middle of the night to drink, and even borrow money from him because she had forgotten to bring any.

Hey, you are a huge star! A huge star with a mansion!

Arriving at the izakaya, Chen Ziang followed the location Xia Zili had sent and found the designated private room.

When he pushed the door open, he saw someone sitting alone on the tatami, holding a wine cup and drinking slowly.

She was dressed in a very thick hooded sweatshirt that hid her hair and ears completely, leaving only a faint trace of gold showing through.

Her face was also buried under sunglasses and a mask, with a thin slit cut into the center of the mask so she could raise the cup and pour drink into it.

“You are here.” Xia Zili raised her cup and said, her voice sounding a little drunk. “Please close the door first...”

Chen Ziang closed the door, then asked in a low voice,

“What happened to you?”

“Nothing.” Xia Zili sighed. “I fought with my sister.”

“Is that so.” Chen Ziang sat down opposite her and said in a warm, gentle voice, “How should I put it? Everyone quarrels with their family from time to time; it is an unavoidable part of life. But I hope you will not forget that the reason family are family is because they are tied to us by blood. They are kin, and that will never change.”

Article 38 of the Public Security Bureau Field Agent Manual: standard phrasing for handling complaints about domestic disputes from civilians. Recite directly.

After a moment of silence, Xia Zili gave a bitter smile and said,

“You are right. Perhaps I should not have argued with my sister.”

Chen Ziang let out a breath of relief, only to see her toss back another cup of wine and say again,

“But lately... my sister really has been growing distant from me. And I do not even know why, because she never tells me.”

“Maybe your sister has run into some trouble,” Chen Ziang said casually. “Something at work, in life, or with the family, and she cannot tell you. After all, she plays the role of the strong eldest daughter in the family.”

“You do not understand.” Xia Zili took off her hat, then removed her sunglasses and mask, revealing a delicate and beautiful face—only now it was filled with sorrow, like a little girl bullied by her family. “My sister was never like this before, but recently I feel the communication between us has grown less and less.”

“Can it be like me and my little sister?” Chen Ziang laughed. “We can go through an entire day without saying a single word.”

Xia Zili was momentarily speechless. Chen Xiaozhu’s mental illness had already been mentioned to her the last time at the martial arts hall.

“All right, I will go pay for you,” Chen Ziang said, rising to his feet. “Stop drinking and head home early.”

He paid at the front desk and waited a while at the entrance, but she still did not come out.

So Chen Ziang returned to the private room, only to find Xia Zili already slumped face-down on the table, with the third bottle of liquor opened.

Chen Ziang: ...

The relationship is not close enough for her to listen to you. What else can he do?

Without changing his expression, he took out his phone and opened the chat window for his manager, Hoshino Norika.

“Do you want a drink too?” Xia Zili asked foolishly, lifting her cup.

“No, I still have something to do tomorrow,” Chen Ziang declined.

“Sorry.” Xia Zili seemed to regain a little clarity and explained, “I just randomly called someone from my chat list. I did not know it was you.”

So that is it. She did not reach out to me on instinct, she just casually pulled someone from her friends list and happened to tap me... Thanks, that makes me feel so much better.

Seeing that Chen Ziang did not answer, Xia Zili seemed to realize something too, and went on:

“My sister has always been the person I admired.”

“When I was little, I lived within my father’s family, and I was not happy at all. After my sister learned about it, she found a way to take me out of that family, so I have always worshipped her and treated her as my hero.”

Chen Ziang said nothing. He knew that at a time like this, the best response was to listen.

Or rather, to pretend to listen. He honestly did not really understand families and the like.

“My sister is my half-sister on my mother’s side,” Xia Zili continued. “There are similarities between us, and there are differences too...”

It seemed she could not quite continue and merely stared blankly at her cup.

“What is your sister’s name?” Chen Ziang suddenly asked.

“Qingyu,” Xia Zili answered. “Xia Qingyu.”

I see. You mean there are similarities in appearance, but the personalities are completely different, right?

“It was my sister who suggested I do music,” Xia Zili’s thoughts jumped around wildly, as though she were saying whatever came to mind. “But when I finally made a name for myself, she seemed to care not at all... Even after I held a concert at the martial arts hall...”

“Sorry!”

At last, Hoshino Norika arrived in a hurry, pushing the door open from outside. She first cried out in alarm, then realized her mistake and quickly lowered her voice. “Why are you here? And drinking, too! We have been looking for you outside for hours!”

Xia Zili stared at Chen Ziang in disbelief and blurted out instinctively,

“You sold me out?”

“Sorry.” Chen Ziang smiled. “I was asking someone in the chat list for help, and accidentally tapped your manager.”

Xia Zili wore a miserable expression as she let Hoshino Norika put her sunglasses, mask, and hat back on, then supported her as they left the private room.

“Thank you.” As she passed by him, Hoshino Norika said quietly, “If there is anything you need, please do let me know.”

It was an offer to compensate him with money, but Chen Ziang only smiled and said,

“You are welcome.”

After seeing off the troublesome drunken singer, Chen Ziang took the light rail back home.

After settling his younger sister into bed and washing up himself, he checked his phone messages as usual while lying in bed.

[Moon Rabbit Will Not Yield]: Finally free at last. Grandma kept insisting I try the pickled kelp she brought, and it was so sour my teeth nearly fell out!

[What urban legends are there?]: Isn’t that something you eat with porridge?

[Good at singing]: Sorry. I troubled you today.

[What urban legends are there?]: Serving the people is my duty.

[Xia Qingyu]: No need to go to the office tomorrow morning. Be at the Takamagahara History Memorial Museum before eight.

[What urban legends are there?]: Understood.

After replying to the messages from all three women, Chen Ziang pulled up the blanket and closed his eyes to sleep.

Somehow, it feels like I am getting busier and busier...

The end of this chapter