Chapter 27: The Sniper

Liu Jingye slept in the empty room next door, not sharing a bed with Wei Xiaorou, for things had already gone far beyond his expectations.

“It was supposed to be just a simple transaction—how did it turn out like this?” Liu Jingye muttered to himself, rubbing his head as he stumbled out, half-awake, toward the bathroom, ready to relieve himself.

Wei Xiaorou—who was she really? Was she truly just a seasoned veteran on the Street of Junk? Or perhaps she was newly arrived in the profession?

His mind was a tangled mess as he absentmindedly pushed open the bathroom door.

A piercing scream startled him. On the toilet sat a woman.

Her shorts were pulled down to her knees, and she wore a delicate white camisole. Her face, refined and beautiful, was free of any makeup—a natural, fresh beauty, unadorned, as if carved by nature itself.

“Close the door! Hurry, close the door!” the woman shrieked.

Snapping back to his senses, Liu Jingye slammed the door shut.

Inside, silence reigned, the atmosphere heavy and tense. After a moment, an angry shout erupted: “I meant for you to leave and then close the door!”

Liu Jingye quickly opened the door and fled outside. Turning to look at the bathroom door, he muttered, “What’s going on? Is the bathroom cursed or something? First Yuan Xiaoying showering, now Wei Xiaorou on the toilet—can’t you people lock the door?”

Apparently, the lock had been broken for quite some time...

Liu Jingye laughed awkwardly as Wei Xiaorou emerged. Last night, the darkness had concealed her heavy makeup, but now, with her face clean and natural, she brought a refreshing breeze into the room—delicate and lovely.

He glanced at her, then at the bed. The sheets had clearly been changed, yet the blood-red plum blossoms remained etched in his memory.

Wei Xiaorou passed by him, her cheeks flushed. Despite her effort to maintain composure, Liu Jingye noticed a slight limp in her step, her legs turned inward.

“That’s usually the posture of a man suffering from... pain. Could it really be...?” Liu Jingye grew ever more confused. What was this woman up to?

“Could you come home with me?” Wei Xiaorou quietly finished dressing, once again in last night’s alluring attire. Her eyes were moist as she looked at Liu Jingye, her tone tinged with supplication.

How could she be so different from yesterday? Was she suffering from dissociative identity disorder—or perhaps she had a twin sister?

Liu Jingye thought wickedly. He was a man of feeling and loyalty; even if he hadn’t figured out the truth yet, even if it was just a fleeting romance or a mere transaction, he wouldn’t refuse such a request from a woman with whom he’d shared intimacy.

Seeing his nod, Wei Xiaorou gave a faint, bittersweet smile.

The two walked out, one after the other. Just as they reached the door, Wei Xiaorou’s phone rang. She hesitated, then answered.

Immediately, Liu Jingye noticed her demeanor shift. Her face lit up with a sunny smile, and she spoke energetically into the phone: “Good morning! It’s time for our daily call. I’ll keep working hard today.”

Standing beside her, Liu Jingye could hear the voice on the other end: “You’re always so full of energy—your father and I feel reassured. But don’t just focus on working and making money; take care of yourself, and—”

“Find a boyfriend, right?” Wei Xiaorou’s cheeks reddened. “Mom, are you really so worried I won’t get married? Don’t worry, I have plans for all that, and...”

“And what? Have you already met someone?” The voice pressed urgently.

Wei Xiaorou stole a glance at Liu Jingye, her blush deepening. She murmured assent, prompting another round of questions: “What kind of man is he? How long have you known him? Is he a colleague? How far have things progressed?”

“Oh, Mom, don’t ask. It’s just the beginning. I have to go to work now, let’s talk after work.”

“My child...” The voice sighed, then hung up.

Wei Xiaorou clutched her phone tightly. The sunny smile vanished, replaced by tears welling in her eyes.

“Is she really suffering from a split personality or some mental disorder? Her mood changes too quickly.” Liu Jingye gave a helpless, wry smile, but sensed there was a secret hidden in her heart.

Neither spoke. They walked on in silence. Guided by Wei Xiaorou, they boarded a bus and arrived at a residential area near the city center—home, he’d heard, to white-collar workers employed in nearby companies.

The area was dotted with buildings of varying heights: six-plus-one apartments, ten-story towers, even skyscrapers over twenty stories tall.

As soon as they entered, Liu Jingye sensed Wei Xiaorou’s change. She seemed afraid of something. Her expression was anxious, her eyes filled with fear, darting left and right, nervous and uneasy.

Step by step, she led the way toward a six-plus-one apartment. Liu Jingye followed, listless. The morning sunlight was dazzling, reflecting off the glass of the opposite building, bright and blinding.

Suddenly, Liu Jingye froze, his gaze flicking to the two o’clock direction—a ten-story building. On the rooftop, a sharp beam of light shone, tiny, as if a woman’s compact mirror was reflecting sunlight, but it was pointed straight at Wei Xiaorou.

“Watch out!” Liu Jingye shouted, leaping like a fish to tackle Wei Xiaorou to the ground. A dull thud sounded as debris was sent flying from the concrete where his heel had been.

A sniper! Liu Jingye was shocked. He grabbed the stunned Wei Xiaorou and, summoning all his strength, dashed forward in a zigzag, weaving unpredictably.

Two more shots whistled past, a bullet grazing Liu Jingye, the heat palpable.

He managed to carry Wei Xiaorou into the stairwell.

Wei Xiaorou was petrified, clinging desperately to Liu Jingye’s neck, her body trembling, her eyes vacant, as if her soul had left her.

After a while, Liu Jingye cautiously peered outside. The glare was gone—it must have been the reflection from a scope. Snipers rarely fire more than three shots.

One shot to kill, the second as insurance, the third to distract and create an opening for retreat. Any more would risk exposure and not leave enough time to escape.

The reason he fired three shots just now was because Liu Jingye had been carrying Wei Xiaorou. Carrying an adult while running made dodging bullets nearly impossible. The sniper, however, had underestimated Liu Jingye.