Chapter 5
In the end, the red-haired young man drove the car back. A fuel can was still stuck to the rear of the car.
The gray Volkswagen slowly entered a rundown neighborhood. This neighborhood was almost the same as the one Ji Mian was in before, dark, cold, and damp.
However, it was livelier here than in his previous neighborhood; when the gray car drove in, Ji Mian could hear a lot of laughter and playful banter from nearby.
The car gradually stopped in front of a shop selling handmade sculptures.
A few seconds later, the sound of two car doors slamming shut suddenly jolted Ji Mian awake from his daze.
Several men were sitting on low stools in front of the shop, and as soon as they saw the car stop, they stood up, as if they had been waiting for their return.
The leader of the group was a tall and strong middle-aged man. Upon seeing the red-haired young man get out of the driver's seat, he lowered his head and called out, “Brother Sun.”
The red-haired young man—Sun Qi—had a cigarette in his mouth, blowing out white smoke as he threw the leather bag he had carried all the way back to the man.
“I got the money back for you.”
Sun Qi made a clicking sound and added, “Go back and pay your social security; don’t be stingy with the little wages you earn.”
Ji Mian lay on the back of the car, thinking: Oh, so it's their wages. Luckily, I didn’t steal it.
His face was pressed against the car hood, and his ears were keenly attentive.
But he didn’t notice that after Duan Zhuang got out of the car, he had unknowingly approached the back of the car and was casually observing him.
Ji Mian was too afraid of falling off on the road, so he spread his hands and feet wide, clinging tightly to the car. Since he had an injury on his waist, he didn’t dare to press too closely to the vehicle, making his butt look like it was stuck out.
He was dressed in a bizarre outfit of counterfeit brands, with a head of messy brown curls on his neck.
Duan Zhuang raised the corners of his lips, wanting to laugh.
“Brother Sun, why did you bring a tail back with you?” The man who received the money also spotted Ji Mian and asked.
Sun Qi coldly glanced at Ji Mian.
The man looked closer and noticed Ji Mian's injury, exclaiming, “Oh, looks like you’re quite badly hurt.”
“Of course, this brat tried to steal money and was caught by me because he’s not skilled enough. Otherwise, I would’ve had to pay for you myself this time.”
The man was momentarily stunned, muttering, “Well, he deserves a beating.”
Fortunately, Ji Mian was currently burying his face down, so they couldn’t see his suddenly flushed face, which was as red as a boiled shrimp.
However, Duan Zhuang, who was beside him observing closely, could clearly see that this bizarre-looking little pickpocket had ears hidden beneath his curls that turned bright red, extending all the way down to his neck.
He took a cigarette from his pocket and pulled out a lighter.
With a “click,” he ignited it.
The sound was very close to Ji Mian. Not expecting there to be someone nearby, he was startled and shook his whole body again.
Duan Zhuang bit the cigarette, unable to help but chuckle.
Only then did Sun Qi come over and ask, “Big Brother, what should we do with this kid?”
“Do nothing.”
Sun Qi pondered for a while but still didn’t understand what Duan Zhuang meant. Did he want this kid or not?
However, this kid had stuck with them in the car for the entire journey, showing some guts. If he hadn’t tried to steal from him at the beginning, he might have really persuaded his big brother to keep him.
The people around them slowly dispersed. After the men who received their wages left, it was Duan Zhuang, and finally, Sun Qi glanced at Ji Mian a few more times, pocketed the car keys, and left.
As night gradually fell, no one paid any attention to Ji Mian, who was still on top of the car, and no one was willing to take care of him.
Ji Mian knew that Duan Zhuang meant for him to leave on his own.
But since he had come here, how could he possibly leave?
As night fell, the sky darkened, and stars gradually peeked out from the clouds.
Ji Mian, the sticky little plaster, finally lost his strength and slid down from the car.
As soon as he got down, it felt like all his strength had drained away; he could only lie on the ground and do nothing else.
After a while, he turned himself over and lay on his back.
The starry sky in this neighborhood was unexpectedly beautiful.
Lying on the ground, Ji Mian stared blankly at the sky above, thinking to himself: [System, the stars are really beautiful.]
System: 【……】
Should he say he is leisurely and elegant, or foolish?
After a long while, the world quieted down.
Ji Mian showed no signs of movement.
【Ji Mian?】 The system called him softly.
There was no response.
Ji Mian's breathing was even; it was unclear whether he had fallen asleep or passed out.
“……Hmm, it’s already bandaged……”
In a daze, a gentle female voice reached his ears.
“……Please help me buy another bottle of medicine for bruises and injuries from the pharmacy… it’s run out.” She seemed to be giving instructions to someone.
Ji Mian woke up to this gentle voice, along with the sound of something boiling, a “gudu gudu” noise.
Opening his eyes, he noticed a warm yellow light above him, casting a hue that inexplicably soothed him.
This was an unfamiliar room, with a bed in one corner and a kitchen stove in the other. It was somewhat shabby, but overall arranged very warmly.
He lay on a small bed, one side pressed against a grayish-white wall, unsure how he had been brought here.
Ji Mian's sense of smell returned; he then realized that the boiling sound came from chicken soup simmering away.
He smelled the fragrant aroma, mingled with a trace of harmless red flower oil and injury wine, along with the savory scent of the chicken soup.
“Ah! You’re awake.” The woman’s voice carried a hint of laughter.
Following the direction of her voice, Ji Mian turned his eyes slightly to the right, focusing hard until he finally saw her:
A very beautiful woman.
Her long and thick black hair was tied up in a low bun at the back of her head, secured with a wooden clip. A few stray strands hung down at the sides of her forehead, sometimes brushing against her earlobes with her movements, like a gentle kiss.
Her brows and eyes were soft, her lips a light red, plump and well-shaped, with facial features that were exceptionally harmonious.
She was simply breathtaking.
The system spoke up: 【She is the female lead in this world, Mu Yuman.】
Ji Mian stared at Mu Yuman, momentarily entranced.
He felt that the person before him was like the moon in the sky. In the presence of the moon, everything else pales in comparison.
“Sun Qi was too harsh,” Mu Yuman furrowed her brows. “How old are you? Are you in high school? Are you sixteen yet?”
Ji Mian remained silent for two seconds and replied one by one, “I was the one who stole his things first; he hit me, so he wasn’t wrong. I’m sixteen; I’ll be sixteen in two days.”
But Mu Yuman shook her head, looking at him with gentle eyes, lightly grasping Ji Mian’s hand: “You’re a good child. I can tell.”
Her fingers were warm and soft, yet held a special sense of strength, with a firm, unwavering meaning.
Ji Mian felt that it was completely normal for the original character to fall for such a woman.
He felt that he had become one with the original “Ji Mian.” Despite their different personalities, there were times when they resonated emotionally.
“Are you hungry? Shall I serve you a bowl of chicken soup?”
Chicken soup……
Hearing those two words, Ji Mian’s stomach instantly craved it.
“Thank you.” Ji Mian replied with restraint.
He propped himself up on the bed with his elbow, sitting up, and then noticed that his waist was wrapped in several thick layers of bandages, particularly well taken care of at the wound site.
Ji Mian pursed his lips.
Mu Yuman, Sister Yuman.
She was the first person to treat him this well after arriving in this world.
The areas wrapped in bandages felt warm, and this warmth flowed into Ji Mian's heart. He experienced this feeling for the first time.
Ji Mian liked this feeling!
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