Perfume

Inside the perfume gift box lay a white bottle of Wild Flower Bud and a black bottle of Nocturnal Seduction. This was considered quite high-end perfume on the market. It had cost a pretty penny. The gift box was placed directly beneath the desk. He looked up, flashing a bright, sunny smile. "Sister Li, thank you for looking after me all this time. Just a small token of my appreciation—nothing much, so please don't turn it down." Xia Li paused, finding this somewhat novel. "What are you giving me this for?" she asked curiously. "I just received my bonus—the one for that matter with Du Pont. And before that, you were the one who helped me recover six months of back pay owed by the mining company. After I joined, you were also the one who ran all over the place showing me around, arranging my post, and helping me pick out my merit rewards. We're all made of flesh and blood. Every time I felt the warmth of our organization, it came through you," Ye Huan said solemnly. Xia Li found this even more novel. He made gift-giving sound completely open and aboveboard, and every word was grounded in fact. When he came in, he had pulled the office door shut behind him, deliberately picking a quiet moment near the end of the morning when no one else was around. This kid... *Tsk.* Normally, if any man dared to gift her something like this, she would have thrown him and his present right out the door. But this time was different. This was a token of "respect" from a subordinate. Their relationship was strictly professional, with nothing whatsoever to do with romance or courtship. Xia Li glanced at the perfume gift box and smiled. "All right, out with it. What do you want me to do?" "Nothing, nothing at all," Ye Huan hurriedly waved his hands. "I just wanted to thank Director Xia. There's really nothing more to it. And Luosha also owes a lot to your care." Xia Li said nothing. Calling her "Director Xia" and addressing her with formal respect at a time like this proved it truly was a subordinate's token of regard. How interesting. *I've never been shown "respect" like this by a subordinate before.* "Well, I'll let you get back to work. I'll take my leave," Ye Huan said. With that, he turned to leave. "Have you rented an apartment yet?" Xia Li asked. Ye Huan halted and smiled. "I rented two units facing each other across the hall. I'm planning to bring the elderly couple over to live in the city center." "The two mining company workers who looked after you all these years?" Xia Li asked. "Yes. The conditions in the mining area are poor, and I'm a bit worried. Living in the city will be much more comfortable," Ye Huan said. Xia Li nodded. Repaying kindness. This also proved that his conduct was consistent—including giving her perfume, which stemmed from genuine gratitude. *This young man has a bright future.* "Moving them out is indeed the right move," Xia Li continued, "The situation in the mining area really is complicated. Ruins of an ancient civilization were discovered down in the mine. The site is currently under lockdown, with the military, police, and our own people gathering there." "Ruins of an ancient civilization?" Ye Huan asked in surprise. Xia Li cautioned him, "This matter was triggered by the Black Tide Cult. Higher-ups are eager to find out what the cult was doing down in that mine. Over the next couple of days, either keep a low profile, stay out of the limelight, and avoid getting dragged in, or volunteer for duty." "Thanks for the tip, Sister Li. I'll stay out of the limelight—I'm heading back today to bring the two elders to the city, and then I'll rest for a while until after Luosha is sent off," Ye Huan said. "Good idea. Go on, get to it." Xia Li smiled. "See you later." Ye Huan walked out of the General Affairs Office. Xia Luoning had accepted the perfume. That brought them closer. Next, what sort of "Ill Omen" would he have to face? He didn't know. First, he would take care of proper business. After he left, Xia Li looked down at the gift box with curiosity. Very expensive perfume. Granted, for martial arts cultivation, such things were utterly meaningless. Yet martial artists were human too—men and women, young and old. They were soldiers, police officers, and investigators who had to clock in for work, and at home, they were husbands, mothers, grandfathers, and grandchildren. They were career women, and even more so, young women curious about everything. Xia Li took out the white square bottle and weighed it in her hand. The bottle was exquisitely crafted; when gently tilted, the white perfume inside drifted and rolled like layers of clouds, quite delightful. Why not... give it a try? She opened the cap. ... The mining area family dormitory. Ye Huan walked into the apartment laden with bags and parcels. "Xiao Ye, what are you doing? Why did you buy so many things?" Zhao Lingyi exclaimed in surprise. "I brought you some health supplements, snacks, and clothes, and I bought Uncle Haisheng a leather jacket and a pair of shoes," Ye Huan said. The two elders were stunned, exchanging a glance. "It's fine," Ye Huan smiled. "The Bureau of Investigation pays fifteen hundred credits a month, so I figured I'd buy some things." "Silly child, why waste your money like that? It's the thought that counts," Zhao Lingyi couldn't help chiding gently. Ye Huan said, "I'm living in the staff dormitory and meals are free, so spending a bit is nothing. You might not know yet, but the mining company settled all the back pay they owed, and they gave me a two-thousand-credit bonus on top of that." "That much?" Su Haisheng said in surprise. "Yeah! Enough about that. Come on, Uncle, try on these shoes." The lively atmosphere lasted until dusk. After dinner. Ye Huan solemnly brought out a house key. "Dongcheng District, Chaoyang Road, Chaoyang Residential Complex, Building 1, Seventh Floor, Apartment 702," he announced. "Xiao Ye, what do you mean by this?" Su Haisheng asked, puzzled. "I already hired someone to clean it up this afternoon. It's fully furnished with all the home appliances. The bedding and quilts are all brand-new, and someone was hired to procure the rest of the daily necessities, which will all be ready by tomorrow morning," Ye Huan said. "What on earth have you done? You haven't done anything wicked or illegal, have you?" Zhao Lingyi asked anxiously. "You've got the wrong idea, Auntie. It's rented, not bought," Ye Huan said. "Is it for you? Why are you giving us the key?" Su Haisheng asked. "I live in 701, right across the hall from you," Ye Huan said. "..." The two elders were speechless. "Here's the situation," Ye Huan's expression grew serious, and he spoke gravely. "Now that I work at the Bureau of Investigation, I'm privy to some inside information. Nearly two hundred people died in the mine. That's definitely no ordinary crime—there are huge issues at play." The two elders instinctively sat up straighter. People in this world, even if they had never seen a monster with their own eyes, had heard stories of one kind or another. Because such incidents happened far too often. Especially outside the city. The mining area was actually right next to the city walls, where troops were stationed along the walls and outside. Even so, accidents large and small had occurred over the years. People dying... When it happened constantly, people grew numb to it. What else could they do? Give up on living? So as soon as Ye Huan explained, the two elders understood. "Uncle, Auntie, look—gazing out from our window, you can see the mining area. Being this close is far too dangerous." "It really is a bit close. Xiao Ye, don't lie to me. What's the real situation?" Su Haisheng asked. Ye Huan paused for a moment before speaking in a low voice: "My section chief mentioned it in passing—with so many dead, it might attract dangerous demonic creatures. Besides, there's something suspicious about the mine itself. Things are only going to get worse. That's why I think you should leave right now and stay in the city for a while." Su Haisheng and his wife exchanged a look. Zhao Lingyi looked out the window and muttered to herself, "Close... it really is too close. Every day, just thinking about nearly two hundred people dying over there gives me the creeps." "But... commuting from the city to the company is a bit far, and our car is currently being repaired—won't it be too much of a hassle every day?" Su Haisheng was somewhat hesitant. "Uncle, with things as they are, I'll be blunt with you: every time I return to the mining area now, I feel deeply uneasy," Ye Huan said. He added another sentence: "There is definitely something wrong with that mining area. It's about to erupt." These words left the two elders fidgeting with anxiety. "All right, let's pack up. We'll leave tomorrow," Su Haisheng resolved. "Tomorrow, my foot!" Zhao Lingyi swatted him. "Grab our essentials and let's go right now!" "This urgently?" Su Haisheng asked. "Let's go, stop dithering! We watched Xiao Ye grow up; he wouldn't steer us wrong!" Zhao Lingyi said. "Fine, let's pack quickly." The two elders immediately bustled into action. Ye Huan tried hailing a ride on his phone, but because of the late hour, many drivers were unwilling to come. He simply added a ten-credit tip to the fare and called again. This time, a driver finally accepted the order. However, looking at the map, driving over from the city center was indeed quite a trek. After waiting nearly half an hour, the first car finally arrived. The two elders bustled about once more. Finally, they headed downstairs. Ye Huan gave the driver detailed instructions, paid the fare, and waved goodbye to the elderly couple. The car drove out of the mining residential compound, gradually receding into the distance beneath the quiet, oppressive blue-black night. Only when the car's taillights vanished completely did Ye Huan turn and head back upstairs. Through a mix of scaring and coaxing, he had finally settled the matter! Frankly speaking, the environment in the mining area truly was terrible. Coal dust and pollution were minor issues; with nearly two hundred people dying all at once, it had become a place of ill omen. The two elders treated Ye Huan with genuine warmth, and Ye Huan held deep gratitude toward them. With money in hand, he had simply resolved the problem. Ye Huan carried down some of the heavier items and set them on the ground. He naturally couldn't let the elders handle the heavier belongings, and since he was home anyway, he carried them all downstairs to await a dedicated moving truck. Given the late hour, finding a cargo truck and moving workers on short notice was equally difficult. Ye Huan solved the problem the same way: by throwing extra money at it. Before long, the truck was fully loaded and departed as well. Ye Huan was in no rush himself, heading back upstairs to pack his own belongings. He tossed out anything extraneous. Keeping only the original host's important documents and a few changes of clothes, he finished packing quickly. Just before leaving, he stood in his room, drew back the curtains, and gazed toward the mine entrance. Police cordon tape was strung across the area. Several police cruisers were parked outside the cordon. Inside the cordon sat six large camouflage trucks. Troop carriers belonging to the military. The mining area was still under lockdown. Now and then, soldiers bearing rifles came into view. Ye Huan's gaze shifted slowly across the sprawling ore-processing plants, back toward the residential area, and landed on a secluded corner. The two pistols left by the assassin were buried there. *Let them stay buried.* He had no use for them anyway. Nor was it convenient right now to dig them up and sell them. Firearms were highly sensitive items; if their origin were ever traced, there was a risk he might be found out. He would have to explain where he got them. Why take such a risk? He slung his bag over his shoulder and was about to push the door open to head downstairs when he suddenly froze. The building was vibrating. It trembled so faintly that an ordinary person would never detect it. The source was... the rooftop. Someone was on the rooftop. Through this tremor, that person was sending him a message: *Come. Come up.* Ye Huan remained silent for a few breaths, then let out a sigh filled with mixed emotions. What astonishing martial prowess. He didn't know who it was or what they wanted. That perfume gift had certainly yielded quick results.