The Blind Girl

Lan Mu had completely resigned. Now, he was free and unburdened.

Cheng Ming had also submitted his resignation letter. By next month, he would officially have nothing to do with the newspaper.

The two were having late-night snacks and beer at a roadside stall when a chubby police officer walked over, set down his bag, sat down, grabbed Cheng Ming's glass, and gulped down several mouthfuls.

"Yo! Detective Ma is here? You're disgusting, drinking straight from my glass? Boss! Bring another glass!" Cheng Ming shouted.

The chubby officer wore a police uniform, but it was stretched tight over his body, his fat practically bulging through the gaps between the buttons.

"Ma Xiang, I heard you got engaged? When's the wedding?" Lan Mu asked with a smile, raising his glass to him.

"I'm applying for marriage leave! Whenever it gets approved, that's when I'll get married!"

Ma Xiang had been Lan Mu's high school classmate, and the two had always been close. After the college entrance exams, one had majored in journalism while the other entered the police academy. Lan Mu had no idea how Ma Xiang had managed to become a cop with that physique.

As for Cheng Ming, he had been Lan Mu's university classmate. Lan Mu had introduced Ma Xiang to Cheng Ming, and the two had hit it off remarkably well. After hanging out for several years, they had somehow become even closer than either was with Lan Mu himself. Lan Mu sometimes wondered whether they had some relationship beyond friendship.

Still, Lan Mu was quite surprised. Before his business trip, Ma Xiang had still been going on blind dates. How had he suddenly gotten engaged after only a few days?

When Lan Mu voiced his question, Ma Xiang grinned. "Hehehe, can't help it if I'm charming. Look at my wife."

With that, Ma Xiang pulled up his phone album, which was filled with photos of him posing with a beautiful woman.

"Seriously? This is your fiancée?" Lan Mu was stunned. He was still single, yet this fat bastard had gotten engaged to a beauty?

"Of course it's real. I didn't believe it either, but I had dinner with the two of them that day and finally saw her in person. And let me tell you... they really don't match!" Cheng Ming chimed in.

"Screw you!" Ma Xiang glared at Cheng Ming, then said, "You're just jealous! Once I lose weight, you'll see how handsome I really am."

The three of them bullshitted for quite a while before Lan Mu finally got to the point.

"...That's the situation. I want to start my own studio. Cheng Ming and I will be partners for now, so you've got to help me!"

Ma Xiang's eyes widened in shock. "No way? You want me to join? I'm a cop!"

"I'm not asking you to join! You can keep being a cop. What I mean is, provide me with news leads, and I'll pay you."

Ma Xiang was speechless. "You want me to be an informant?"

"What the hell? Just tell me if you'll help! If there are any major cases, serious cases, important cases, you'd better think of me!" Lan Mu said with a grin.

Unexpectedly, Ma Xiang's expression changed. Then he said awkwardly, "Some cases aren't public. Don't make me violate discipline."

Lan Mu froze. "There really is one? In Magic City? What case is being kept so tightly under wraps?"

"I can't tell you. Really. The higher-ups gave strict orders—not a single word can get out. It's been a month, and it still hasn't been solved! Because of this case, I can't even get leave for my wedding!" Ma Xiang said bitterly before downing another glass of beer.

Lan Mu did not press him and simply said, "Fine, you have your rules. How could I make things difficult for you? But if this case can be made public someday, you have to notify me first thing!"

"Of course! No problem. I'll let you know if anything comes up in the future too. As for payment, give me whatever you think is fair! Forget it, don't give me money. Just in case... you can treat me to meals instead!"

"I get it! How about this? I'll hold onto the money for you. When you need money for your wedding, just come get it from me!" Lan Mu said readily.

After that, the three brothers raised their glasses and drank together, then went back to chatting nonsense.

Ma Xiang suddenly asked, "By the way, where are you opening this studio? Rent isn't cheap these days."

"At home! There's a photography shop downstairs from my place. I can rent their darkroom directly for developing film and stuff. I just need to set up two computers at home. Once I buy the basic equipment, I'll probably be broke. We'll talk about making money later."

"Brother Mu, you've got guts! You're just throwing all your money into this?" Ma Xiang said in amazement.

Lan Mu smiled faintly and said slowly, "I have a career I want to pursue. Getting fired was exactly what I wanted!"

"During those ten-plus days in Fuzhou, I went through a lot. People really are too fragile. There were at least three times when I nearly died. I feel like I can't keep drifting through life anymore. When you're facing death, money really is nothing but something outside yourself."

"It's only a little over a hundred thousand yuan. I'm putting it all in and betting on a dream! It's not about having guts or not."

"Brother Mu! We all support you! I've saved up tens of thousands over the years too. I'm going all in with you!" Cheng Ming shouted in his booming voice.

"Go all in my ass. Save it for finding yourself a wife!" Lan Mu laughed and cursed, though he was deeply moved.

Ever since they had met in university, Cheng Ming had been his good brother. They had graduated together and worked together, and Cheng Ming was someone he trusted completely. This time, when Lan Mu wanted to strike out on his own, Cheng Ming had quit without a second word. Lan Mu knew he could not stop him and felt rather guilty. He silently vowed to lead Cheng Ming to success with him.

Ma Xiang was just as close to them. Seeing the two of them fight so boldly for their dream, he felt tempted as well. Unfortunately, as a police officer, he could only help them in other ways.

"Brother Mu, have you thought of a name for your studio? As I recall, your naming ability is absolutely out of this world... bad!"

Lan Mu knew he was terrible at naming things and said awkwardly, "Uh, for now... Lan Cheng Studio."

"Pfft!" Ma Xiang sprayed out a mouthful of beer. Looking at Cheng Ming, who only gave a bitter smile without speaking, he asked blankly, "Seriously?"

Cheng Ming nodded helplessly, indicating that it really was called that.

"Lan Cheng... My god, Brother Mu, if I partnered with you, would it be called Lan Xiang?" Ma Xiang could not help mocking him.

Lan Mu flew into a rage. "Get lost!"

When Lan Mu woke up the next day, his head felt like it was splitting apart. He had no idea how much he had drunk the night before. The fact that he had even managed to make it home was impressive enough.

But the hangover was unbearably uncomfortable. As he got out of bed to wash up, he suddenly staggered and nearly fell over.

"My nose is blocked, my throat hurts, and my forehead is burning. Looks like I have a fever."

Lan Mu touched his forehead and could not help coughing twice.

"It's been a long time since I drank that much. Did I catch a chill and get sick last night?"

"Tsk, tsk. I haven't even started working hard yet, and my body has already collapsed. I really am something..."

Lan Mu laughed at himself, then suddenly had an idea and transformed into the White-haired Lion.

As he felt the surging power in his body, all the symptoms from before—his stuffy nose and dizziness—vanished completely.

"Ah! That feels great! I'm just hungry!"

Still in White-haired Lion form, Lan Mu opened the refrigerator and wolfed down all the sausages, cured meat, and other food that had been stored inside.

"Not full! And it tastes far worse than wild game. Looks like I'll need to keep meat stocked at home from now on. This form is a huge eater. Can I even afford to feed it?"

After replenishing the White-haired Lion form's energy, Lan Mu immediately transformed back into a human.

Looking at his human body again, the hangover was gone, the dizziness was gone, the fever was gone, and even his blocked nose had disappeared.

He had returned to his healthiest physical condition, refreshed and invigorated.

"How convenient!"

"Grrr..."

Lan Mu's stomach growled loudly. Only then did he remember that his human form had not eaten anything yet. He had probably thrown up all the late-night food from last night.

"Forget it, I'll eat out. It's already noon."

Lan Mu was unemployed now. He no longer had to run around every day conducting interviews and writing articles like before. It had been a long time since he had felt this relaxed.

The location of his home was excellent. There was a small plaza nearby, surrounded by shopping malls, supermarkets, and fast-food restaurants.

He entered a fast-food restaurant, but after finishing one set meal, he still did not feel full.

"Did the White-haired Lion's hunger get passed on to my body?"

Lan Mu ordered another meal. It was not enough, so he added another. Only after finishing the third meal was he barely full.

"My appetite is much bigger than before. Could it be that every time I use my power to restore my human body, I need to replenish energy by eating?"

"But that's not so bad. At worst, I'll just eat two more fast-food meals than before."

After leaving the fast-food restaurant, Lan Mu headed straight for the nearby computer market.

He planned to put together two decent computers and apply for fiber internet while he was at it.

Lan Mu took a shortcut through side streets. After turning down two small alleys, he suddenly heard an argument ahead.

Looking up, he saw a young girl with her eyes closed, clutching a cane and struggling desperately.

A middle-aged couple was tugging at her while saying, "Why are you running around blind? Hurry up and come home with us!"

The girl looked around eighteen or nineteen, like a high school student. Her features were delicate, and she wore no makeup. Her hair was simply tied up, giving her a temperament entirely unlike the high school girls Lan Mu remembered.

Her clothes were simple too, probably just a thirty-yuan T-shirt and jeans. Her most striking feature was her very pale skin, as though she rarely went outside into the sun.

Her voice was soft, but she wore a stubborn expression as she shouted, "I'm not going back! I'm going to find my mother!"

"Your mother died long ago!" the middle-aged woman shrieked. As she spoke, she kicked away the cane in Su Yue's hand.

After hearing that, Su Yue struggled even harder. The couple let her break free for a moment, but as soon as she turned around, she stumbled unsteadily and fell to the ground.

"My mother isn't dead! You're all lying to me. She definitely isn't dead!"

Seeing that Su Yue had broken free only to fall by herself, the middle-aged woman sneered and rushed over to slap her.

A red handprint appeared on Su Yue's face. She covered her cheek, yet stubbornly refused to make a sound.

The middle-aged woman dragged her up from the ground, clamped tightly around her hand, and said, "A few days without a beating, and you've forgotten your own name? We raised you for over a decade for nothing? You'll always be part of the Su family, and you have to listen to us!"

Lan Mu walked closer. After hearing only a few lines, he could no longer stand watching.

He had also noticed that the girl seemed unable to see. She was blind, and the cane kicked away earlier had been hers.

So he could not help saying, "Hey, use your words. Don't hit her."

As he spoke, he reached out and stopped the middle-aged woman's raised hand, since she had been about to slap Su Yue again.

Lan Mu grabbed the woman's arm, making her cry out, "What are you doing? Let go of me!"

"Fine, fine, fine..." Lan Mu promptly let go in disgust.

At that moment, the middle-aged man also rushed over and reached out to shove Lan Mu, but Lan Mu twisted aside and dodged.

"Who are you? Stop meddling in other people's business! This is our family matter, understand?"

Lan Mu could roughly tell that the couple were some kind of relatives of Su Yue's. If it really was another family's business, it would indeed be inappropriate for him to interfere.

"I'm not meddling. I'm just telling you to let her go. If you have something to say, say it properly. What's with forcing her?"

Perhaps because Lan Mu was watching, the middle-aged couple curled their lips and did not dare hit her again. The woman said, "Fine, Su Yue, you heard him, right? I won't hit you. Come home obediently and stop embarrassing me outside."

But Su Yue retreated firmly and shouted, "No! Save me! They want to force me into prostitution."

Lan Mu had just been about to leave, not wanting to get too involved, when he heard that. He immediately froze.

The middle-aged woman flew into a rage and reached for Su Yue's hair, cursing, "What nonsense are you spouting, you blind bitch? We raised you all these years and even introduced you to a marriage prospect. Is this how you repay us?"

The middle-aged man also roared, "You're completely ungrateful! What use is there in raising trash like you?"

"Help! They want me to accompany men at home. I ran away because I refused!" Su Yue cried.

One moment they were talking about prostitution, and the next it had become a marriage introduction. As an outsider, Lan Mu could not make sense of the situation. But hearing the two of them call her blind and useless at every turn, he knew they were no good. He stepped in front of Su Yue and blocked the middle-aged woman's reaching hand.

"I said, stop touching her! Explain things clearly! Don't tell me this is human trafficking?"

The middle-aged man snorted. "Kid, I don't like the look of you. I told you not to meddle! I'll show you what happens when I lay hands on someone!"

With that, he kicked at Lan Mu. Lan Mu was not without a temper either. Anger rising in him, he kicked back.

His kick struck the man directly on the shinbone. At the same time, his right hand shot out fiercely, two fingers stabbing straight toward the man's eyeballs.

At the critical moment, he changed his fingers into a fist and punched the man in the face. With a scream, the man staggered back repeatedly before falling onto the ground on his ass.

Lan Mu took a deep breath. He had nearly used the White-haired Lion's lethal combat techniques just now.

Fortunately, he had reacted in time and changed it into a punch to the bridge of the man's nose.

He was young and strong, and he had never feared a fight. He had been the leader of the kids growing up, and a man older than him was no match for him.

"Seriously, don't provoke me. I don't want to..."

Before Lan Mu could finish, the middle-aged woman lunged at him with both hands, her nails long.

Her sharp nails immediately clawed at Lan Mu's face. She grabbed his hair, tore at his skin, and attacked him with the full force of a crazed chicken claw technique.

Lan Mu had not wanted to strike a woman at first, and that hesitation cost him badly. Several bloody scratches were left on his face.

No wonder people said fighting women like this put you at a disadvantage. Once they went crazy, ordinary men really had no way to deal with them.

His face disfigured by scratches, Lan Mu angrily grabbed both her hands and shoved her backward with force, knocking her to the ground as well.

The woman refused to let it go and tried to get up again. Lan Mu snapped, "Stop acting crazy! Keep it up, and I'll cripple your husband!"

Hearing that, the woman looked at her husband, who had been knocked down in two moves, and finally did not dare claw at him again.

"Why are you meddling in our business, you brat? I'll call the police and have you arrested!"

Lan Mu sneered. "I'm meddling in this matter, all right! And I'll see it through to the end!"

"Calling the police is great! I'll help you!"

With that, Lan Mu directly called Little Ma.