I Hear You're Looking for Me?

The Hissing Little Charmander... No, wait—Fang Xiaoxia. Fang Xiaoxia had been perpetually gloomy lately. As a high school student, her grades were far from stellar... and as a teenage schoolgirl in the prime of her youth, she was a total loser. Objectively speaking, her face and figure weren't bad at all. Aside from being a little gluttonous and a little lazy, she could easily be described as youthful and cute. Someone like her clearly should have been popular in class, a high-scoring, beloved pretty girl... Yet reality was the exact opposite. Because nobody would ever like a socially anxious, shut-in girl who was already seventeen yet knew nothing about makeup, stayed bundled up tightly in her school uniform at all times, slouched her shoulders carelessly after class, let her backpack strap slide down to her elbow, and kicked pebbles all the way home. Sluggish. Pathetic. And an idiot to boot. Inside their classroom, which was always bright and bathed in sunlight, classmates would gather in groups of two or three to chat in a harmonious, affectionate atmosphere. Everyone looked so happy, like sunflowers churning out fifty points of sun on cooldown. —*This was youth!* Yet in that very environment, tucked away in the second-to-last row by the window... It was as if an invisible barrier stood there, inside of which sat a trembling mushroom hunched in the corner. —That was how Fang Xiaoxia saw herself. She truly felt like a gloomy mushroom growing in a dungeon. Yes, the squishy kind—and a dark gray one, at that... Completely out of place among these noble, sunlit humans. It wasn't that she wanted to be this way. On the very first day of the semester, while trying to rescue a stray cat, she took a dive headfirst into a storm drain. She ended up hospitalized for three days and completely missed the crucial window when everyone formed their initial social circles... Who could have predicted something like that? —*Seriously, what soulless jerk stole that manhole cover?!* By the time she returned to school, every little clique had already set in stone. And Fang Xiaoxia—this aloof girl who always kept to herself with a cold expression—became an outsider in everyone's eyes... Needless to say, no one invited her into their circle. Instead, she accidentally overheard people talking behind her back countless times. "Who does she think she's fooling?" "She just thinks she's hot. Who knows what she's really like in private..." And so on and so forth. —*Heavens above, she was innocent!* She really wasn't putting on airs! She just had no clue how to talk to people. She honestly couldn't fathom how those cheerful, chatty "superhumans" who casually struck up conversations with anyone were even forged! As for keeping a cold face all day... No one was joking around with her; she couldn't very well sit there grinning like a lunatic, could she? She might—just might—be a tiny bit lacking in the brains department... but she wasn't mentally deranged! Still, at least people thought she was pretty, so that was something. She could only console herself with that... *Hey, seriously, isn't anyone going to talk to me?* *Even just asking "Did you do the homework?" would be fine! Even "Are you a little weird?" would work!* ...Nothing. Not a word. —*Where did this archetype of the ostracized, icy heroine even come from?!* And where on earth had her male lead gone for the past eighteen years? ...Then again, was there ever an "aloof female lead" who ranked dead last in grades? Was there ever an aloof female lead who got called out in front of the entire class by the teacher, scolded that her essays lacked any youthful vigor, dripped with sluggishness from start to finish, and reeked of unmotivated complacency just like her? Unheard of! Faced with all these circumstances, Fang Xiaoxia resolved to make a change. *There's no other choice, Xiaoxia! You have to take the initiative!* *You can do this!* ...In recent years, anime and gaming had shifted from pastimes for loners into tools for socializing. Wasn't that perfect? In this domain, Fang Xiaoxia was practically a seasoned master! She was the type who would argue until red in the face over who was best girl, not hesitating to throw a "Fist of Pure Love" right at the face of an NTR fan. ...Her family had ended up paying a hefty sum in medical bills to that boy. Regardless, she still had plenty of chances to showcase her "talents." At one point, the class began discussing video games, forming a strict food chain: console gamers looked down on PC gamers, and PC gamers looked down on mobile gamers. —In that case, Fang Xiaoxia was absolute royalty, reigning supreme at the pinnacle of that hierarchy. She was an avid enthusiast of all sorts of hardcore retro games; the harder they were, the more she loved them. To that end, she had amassed a personal collection of game discs and limited-edition merchandise. *The moment I bring out those limited-edition collectibles, people will definitely gasp: "Whoa, so cool! Xiaoxia is into that? That's amazing!"* *Then they'll crowd around... hehe... maybe I'll even make friends to game with...* Clinging to that thought, Fang Xiaoxia reached into her desk and hauled out an official *Miyazaki Soulslike* compendium thicker than a dictionary. With a hideous demon emblazoned on the cover, she slammed it onto the desk with a heavy *thud*. It scared the boy next to her so badly that he choked on the pineapple bun he was sneaking. Next came a 1:1 scale replica of the *Bloodborne* Saw Cleaver. The piece had a heavy, metallic sheen, with edges treated with weathered bloodstains. Fang Xiaoxia awkwardly tried to prop it against the edge of her desk. She didn't balance it well. With a sharp *clatter*, it crashed to the floor. Its grotesque design and what looked like genuine blood caused several girls in the front row to gasp in horror. She wasn't done yet. Fang Xiaoxia continued to unveil her prized treasures. She pulled out figurines of a Resident Evil Tyrant and Pyramid Head... Carefully, she arranged them on either side of the *Miyazaki* art book, like twin guardian deities flanking an entrance. Then, lifting her chin proudly like a victorious old general, she surveyed the classroom. She forced a smile onto her face—what she believed was friendly, but in truth was so stiff from nerves that it bordered on unnerving. Her eyes darted about, yet secretly watched her surroundings with fervent hope. *Look! Look! These are all my prized possessions!* *Won't somebody say something? Ask what game this is from? Compliment them... or even roast them, anything!* "..." That day, Fang Xiaoxia got her wish and drew the entire class's attention. From that point on, no one envied her looks behind her back or spread rumors about her... Because they said it straight to her face instead: "She never talks, but she's actually into stuff like that?" "That's terrifying..." "I feel like... there's a bloodthirsty maniac living inside her." "We're c-completely from different worlds... I feel like I'll get cursed just walking near her." "One glance and I swear she'll drag me off to play those games that look agonizing just to watch..." "..." She became famous overnight. Word spread that Class 2-3 had a real eccentric in their midst. Miss Squishy Mushroom dried into a brittle gray husk, shattering into pieces. —From then on, she gave up on trying to fit in. She finally realized that her hobbies were thoroughly incompatible with everyone else. And as a result, her social anxiety deepened. The second the bell rang, she would bury her head in her arms and pretend to sleep, even though she was rarely asleep at all. It felt as if, by doing so, no one would notice her or cast strange looks her way. Everyone else's laughter, the clamor of recess, the scolding voices of the teachers... As long as she buried her face, it all felt like it belonged to another world. She just had to hold out until she got home. At home, there were anime and games—they would never look down on her. Even if her mother yelled at her until her head buzzed, she knew deep down that her parents loved her. The textbook featured a comical character named Ah Q. In the cartoons she watched as a kid, there was Lazy Sheep. Sometimes, staring blankly at the ceiling, Fang Xiaoxia felt she was a mix of Ah Q and Lazy Sheep. Capable of cheering herself up, optimistic, completely ordinary—not especially great, but not bad either. A socially anxious shut-in who longed to be popular yet had no clue how, forced into solitude and haughty detachment. Her special talents were skipping stones on water, kicking empty soda cans into trash cans with pinpoint accuracy... And playing self-taught guitar. Every year on her student evaluation report, the teacher would struggle for ages before finally scrawling the only positive remark they could manage: *"The student is kindhearted and deeply loves the Federation."* —That was Fang Xiaoxia. Pretty, sweet-voiced, kind, yet perpetually alone. —*Surely, I must actually be a vampire queen, right?* Whenever that thought crossed her mind, she would momentarily thrust out her developing chest with pride, thoroughly amusing herself into giggles. In the blink of an eye, another summer vacation arrived... Lying lazily in bed while lurking in the class group chat, Fang Xiaoxia discovered a new turning point. Many girls who had secretly gotten boyfriends posted on their Moments to flaunt their romance, earning envious likes and comments from classmates. Exquisite meals, gorgeous venues, an ambiguous, romantic atmosphere... According to Xiaoxia's observations, girls who maintained a polished social media presence remained wildly popular in class even after getting a boyfriend. People naturally gravitated around them. *Oh...* Fang Xiaoxia had an epiphany. A glamorous feed plus a desirable persona... equaled people wanting to be friends with her. She understood completely! As luck would have it, A month ago on the Mass Dianping app, she had experienced a stroke of miraculous fortune and won a dining reservation at Tinghai City's most famous three-star Michelin restaurant. —Put simply, it gave her the privilege of reserving a table one month in advance. It couldn't be used as cash. To Fang Xiaoxia, that was even less useful than winning a hundred-yuan coupon toward a Ferrari. Yet now, she dug it out from the forgotten corners of her phone. Gritting her teeth, Fang Xiaoxia resolved to go! She was going to bring back a whole album of photos! Taking advantage of the time before the senior year semester began, —*Miss Fang's Female Lead Transformation Plan: Season Two*, Officially commenced! She raided her mother's closet for an evening dress from her youth. The fabric was practically faded, and wearing it felt utterly awkward. One had to understand: Fang Xiaoxia was someone used to wearing tracksuits. Calling her overly conservative was an understatement— She was practically "the person in a case." "Excuse me, are you dining alone?" Right out of the gate, the waiter asked that very question. —*Did he really have to poke where it hurt most?* Fang Xiaoxia felt a sudden urge to question the restaurant's customer service. Just as she was fuming inwardly, the waiter presented the menu. Fang Xiaoxia feigned familiarity as she opened it, only to be thoroughly dazed by the French text. She couldn't read a single word, but the prices listed beside them were terrifying. "Um... this one, this one, and that one, please." Clearing her throat lightly, Fang Xiaoxia pointed to the two cheapest options. To prevent the meal from being solely appetizers or desserts, she tossed in one that was slightly more expensive. "Very well," the waiter replied with a polite smile. "I'll take the music selection card back now." "—You have requested two piano pieces and one violin piece." Xiaoxia: "?" *What kind of card?* "Do you have any drink preferences?" With that, the waiter presented another card. "Isn't there a drink menu...?" Fang Xiaoxia asked meekly. The waiter answered impeccably: "Our head chef will curate the menu for you. You only need to inform us of your dietary restrictions and preferences." *That was rather domineering.* Yet she dared not voice her grievances. She randomly picked two drinks that looked the cheapest from the beverage card, tallied the bill in her head, and felt a wave of agonizing pain in her wallet. ...As for why two glasses? Xiaoxia smiled and kept her silence. *Snap, snap...* Fang Xiaoxia took out her phone to snap photos. Well, despite all the vexations, the ambiance here was undeniably satisfying. In the serene quiet, the clinking of silver cutlery made Fang Xiaoxia feel as though she had squeezed into high society. Much like a starving child laborer during the Industrial Revolution, who, when speaking of the glorious Industrial Revolution and wealthy capitalists... Would crane their neck with pride, as if sharing in that honor. Shortly after, the waiter elegantly delivered two brilliantly colored cocktails flickering with faint blue flames, setting them before her. Xiaoxia: "?" *How do I drink this?* *You high-society folks really are something else.* *Dressed so impeccably, yet sneaking in here to literally eat fire.* "..." *So... do I eat it?* Xiaoxia stared at the two plumes of fire before her, falling into deep contemplation. —*Things have already come to this; let's take the photos first!* She placed one glass of blue flame across the table and the other in front of herself. Finding the right angle, *snap*— Photo captured. Caption attached: [Just a mundane evening drink with a certain someone.] Moments post composed. Publish! This was the true purpose behind ordering two glasses. Based on her extensive experience lurking on other people's feeds... Someone would soon comment: "Which restaurant is that? Incredible!" Or say: "Oho, who did you go on a date with?" It would be so rewarding. Then she could casually reply... Back and forth, wouldn't a conversation start? Wouldn't she gain friends? —Either way, she could never let it slip that she had come to a place like this entirely on her own. The solitary gourmet Xiaoxia glanced around, discovering she was the only one without a companion. Oh, wait, there was another— That mysterious young man from earlier who had been surrounded like a king! At first glance, he had looked ordinary; she had almost thought he was one of her kind... Yet in the blink of an eye, who knew what had happened? Those waiters, who had kept their chins held so high before her, changed their faces in an instant. The manager and the head chef rushed out, practically bowing over backward to serve him. It had left Fang Xiaoxia utterly dumbfounded. Still, a person like that would never cross paths with her, so there wasn't much to say... *Tap.* She slowly lowered her phone. Xiaoxia's eyes widened as she focused intently on the two balls of fire before her. *I can't let this go to waste; these are hundreds of yuan a glass!* *Things have already come this far...* She took a deep breath and gritted her teeth. —*If others can drink fire...* *Why can't I?!* ... The other dining guests had been gossiping about the young man's identity or making polite business conversation. Suddenly, the acrid stench of singed hair permeated the air. Immediately after, out of the corner of their eyes, they caught sight of flames sweeping through the dining room. It had to be admitted: These high-society figures, who pridefully regarded themselves as elites, were truly scared out of their wits by Xiaoxia. —And thus, the "Hissing Little Charmander" was born. After that came the tearful retreat into the men's restroom. A light rain was falling outside the restaurant. Fang Xiaoxia practically burst through the doors and fled. The sheer humiliation had utterly pulverized what little self-esteem she possessed. "I'm so useless, waaaah..." Glancing back at the lavish sign overhead, she couldn't help squatting on the ground as tears flooded her eyes once more. *Clink.* Her house key slipped from her grasp and hit the pavement. Attached to it was a cute, pink-furred dog keychain. The drizzling rain splashed across it. Staining it with grime. "Doro..." She scooped up the little pink-furred dog and hugged it to her chest, her vision blurred by tears. *Let's just go home.* *No more daydreaming.* *Being alone isn't so bad after all, right...?* Suddenly— The rain overhead seemed to vanish. Fang Xiaoxia looked up in shock. A youth in a trench coat, holding a black umbrella, stood by the restaurant entrance. Raindrops slid along the curve of the large black umbrella. —*The mysterious man who had the manager waiting on him hand and foot!* —*Did you chase me all the way out from the men's room?!* "I-I-I-I'm sorry!" Squatting in the rain, the mortified girl buried her head in her arms like a startled ostrich. What a shame there was no trash can nearby; Otherwise, she wouldn't have hesitated for a second to dive right in! Yet Bai Zhou's voice reached her ears: "—It was pretty cool. The way you breathed fire." "Huh?" Fang Xiaoxia froze and looked up, instinctively wanting to ask if he had come to mock her. Yet she soon realized Bai Zhou was entirely in earnest; his expression was dead serious. So serious that it made Fang Xiaoxia turn solemn in turn. It was as if they were discussing something sacred and profound. "In my hometown, fire is considered sacred. Only a select few are permitted to wield it," Bai Zhou explained calmly. "So, I think not fearing fire is truly remarkable." "—Let alone swallowing fire and becoming a fire-eater." Xiaoxia: "?" *What is this guy talking about?* "What I mean is..." Bai Zhou scratched his head, choosing his words carefully. "No matter what you do, life doesn't actually have that many spectators." "Even a fugitive wanted across the entire city doesn't need to carry the burden of an idol's image or imagine the whole world is watching... so why should you?" Xiaoxia: "??" *What on earth is he going on about?!* Out of gratitude for her having inadvertently created a diversion, Bai Zhou patiently offered a few words of comfort, even drawing on his own personal experience to illustrate his point. Even if, after he finished, Fang Xiaoxia looked utterly bewildered. —At least she had stopped crying. "Hang in there!" Leaving behind those final words, Bai Zhou shook his umbrella. "Huh? No, it's fine, really..." Fang Xiaoxia waved her hands frantically, assuming he meant to give her the umbrella. How could she possibly accept that?! *Whoosh...* Yet he was merely shaking the rainwater from the canopy. Holding the black umbrella, Bai Zhou turned sideways. "I suggest you step back under the awning to stay dry." "I have somewhere to be, so I'll be going now!" With that, in a manner Fang Xiaoxia could never have anticipated, The young man in the black trench coat, sheltered under his umbrella, walked away briskly without a shred of hesitation. Leaving her staring blankly in the rain. With the umbrella gone, the rain fell upon her once more. In the end, all she remembered was the hem of his trench coat swaying in the drizzle as he gradually melted into the heavy night. Right up until they parted, she never learned his name. It was as if it had all been a dream. *Patter...* Tightly clutching the pink-furred dog keychain, Fang Xiaoxia wrapped her jacket over her head and darted back under the restaurant's entrance sign to take shelter. Though his words had been thoroughly baffling... Perhaps there was truth in one thing he said. Life really didn't have that many spectators. The rain seemed to lighten. She felt much better. ... *Clack, clack, clack...* Hurried footsteps rushed past the front doors. Several figures in black suits, carrying briefcases, splashed through the puddles... They sped past Fang Xiaoxia, heading straight in the direction Bai Zhou had disappeared. "Those people..." Watching them dash by, Fang Xiaoxia couldn't help feeling curious. *Don't they have umbrellas?* *What's making them run in such a hurry?* ... "Damn it, did we lose him?" "Where did he go!" "Are you sure you didn't see wrong? Calling us over in such a rush." At the mouth of a rain-soaked alley, the arrival of several men in black suits shattered what should have been empty silence. "Keep searching. I'm certain it was him..." As they exchanged hushed words, They kept their briefcases in hand, scanning their surroundings warily. *Splash...* A footstep landing in a puddle echoed from the adjacent alley. "Who's there?!" With a sharp bark, the men in black instantly fanned out, settling into defensive stances. The wet asphalt reflected the flickering streetlights lining the long avenue. Neon light and shadows intertwined as a white mist drifted through the air. A large black umbrella cast its shadow across the ground. The footsteps drew nearer. Holding the black umbrella, the youth's silhouette slowly emerged from the deep shadows. With one hand tucked into the pocket of his black trench coat, that familiar face appeared before them. "Good evening, former colleagues." Looking at the senior members of the field team whom he recognized from the funeral, Bai Zhou admired their professional competency while feeling an odd mixture of emotions at this unexpected reunion. "Though it works out nicely. I happen to have a few questions for you." Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted someone quietly reaching into their jacket, preparing to draw a firearm. Bai Zhou sighed, shaking his head as he murmured softly: "I heard..." "You—or rather, all of you—" "—are looking for me?"