Home

Xue Ming was going home.

They left the Council of Five Kings by elevator and arrived at the stargazing platform on the twenty-sixth floor. At the far end, they stepped onto a transparent plastic-steel suspension bridge.

The bridge led straight to the other side of the high wall. It was a lot more convenient than the long walk Xue Ming had taken the first time.

After crossing, they turned a wide corner and reached the entrance to Moon Lane.

The familiar black Volga was still parked by the roadside.

Xiao Qi pressed the car key, and the doors unlocked automatically. "You sit in the front, in the passenger seat!"

Jiang Xueming said nothing. He picked up the silver suitcase and climbed into the back.

Xiao Qi pouted. "You never listen."

Xue Ming explained, "I'm scared."

Xiao Qi didn't understand. "The passenger seat does have a higher accident fatality rate, but I'm a great driver. Are you worried I'll crash?"

Xue Ming went on, "I'm afraid you'll touch my leg."

Brother Seven pressed her lips together and straightened the broad-brimmed cap of her driver's uniform. In the rearview mirror, he could see her sly, mischievous grin. "You think I can't touch your leg if you sit in the back?"

Jiang Xueming said, "Just drive."

"Mr. Jiang Xueming! Please sit back. We're taking you to Anshan Health Center right away!"

Brother Seven asked, "Want some music?"

Xue Ming said, "No."

Brother Seven asked, "Want the window open?"

Xue Ming said, "No."

"Then we'll set off now. The whole trip should take about—" Xiao Qi started the car, then paused. "I still don't know how many kilometers it is. The trip should take forty minutes. Please make a reservation."

Jiang Xueming cut in, "I'll eat when I get back. Don't worry about it. Turn on the air conditioning before we go, thanks."

Before he'd finished speaking, Xiao Qi floored the gas and shot forward.

The last time he'd come here by car, Xue Ming had fallen asleep on the way.

This time, his curiosity kept him awake. He wanted to figure out how the car had reached the station seventeen thousand meters underground.

The Volga drove away from Moon Lane. Along one side of the road stood rows of old signposts.

They passed Longhua Avenue and Kunlang Third Road, then left the underground city. The car plunged into a brightly lit tunnel.

About five hundred meters farther on, an archway stood at the tunnel's end, like the signs set up on highways leading into every major city.

The words Nine Realms were written across its lintel.

Beyond the archway stood three checkpoints and five barriers, along with eight large watchtowers. Armed personnel patrolled the area.

Brother Seven showed her credentials at every checkpoint. At the farthest one, the road split into thirty-two ramps. They took one of them and drove into a strange building.

Inside the car, Jiang Xueming couldn't see the ceiling or floor through the windows. All he knew was that the car had suddenly stopped in a hemispherical room with no visible ceiling. Curiosity got the better of him.

"Why did we stop?"

Xiao Qi replied, "Just wait a moment. Don't rush."

A deep hum suddenly filled the vast room, as if some enormous mechanism had begun to power up.

The world outside the windows began to slide away, and the car's center of gravity shifted.

Jiang Xueming could now see what was outside. It felt as if their car had been tossed into a giant drum, moving as the entire structure tilted.

At the sound of her voice, Xiao Qi started the car. "This is my favorite part of the drive!"

The Volga climbed the room's smooth, curved wall. The road ahead came into view, with two glaring red markers lighting the way.

The shifting gravity told Xue Ming they were driving up a nearly vertical slope.

"Mr. Xue Ming, we're on the ring highway now. Fasten your seat belt." Xiao Qi raced down the unobstructed circular passage. "This is a marvel of engineering, built by the Nine Realms Station's industrial department back in the Soviet era. We'd have to take the freight elevator for more than four hours to reach the surface, but thanks to this ingenious highway, we can get back to HK in just ten minutes."

As she spoke, Brother Seven took out her phone, opened a navigation map, and showed Mr. Xue Ming a projected model of the underground highway.

It was made up of extremely complex rings, like doughnuts of different sizes, linked to form a multilayered road system.

They were joined by a huge central hub, like railway lines. The routes could be adjusted by switching between the different layers of doughnut-shaped roads.

The Volga's roaring engine echoed through the passage.

Speed-limit signs flashed past beneath them, along with markers showing the remaining distance to HK.

In just seven minutes, they entered the Hung Hom Cross-Harbour Tunnel.

The tunnel exit drew nearer, and the midsummer sunlight of July spilled across the car windows.

Only then did Jiang Xueming finally relax. He was sure he'd seen daylight again, that this wasn't all some wild dream.

And then—

—then they got stuck in traffic.

Xiao Qi's features twisted with tension.

She pounded the horn seventeen times in a row, baring her teeth as she turned around. She was terrified the handsome guy in the back seat would see her exaggerated road-rage face in the rearview mirror.

"Ah! What the hell is this!" Xiao Qi rolled down the window and hollered at the other car. "So it's a Mazda! No wonder you're causing a traffic jam!"

"Brother Seven," Jiang Xueming said sincerely. "Thank you."

"What's this about?" Xiao Qi patted her cheeks, managing to smooth her expression back to normal before sneaking a glance at Mr. Xue Ming.

Jiang Xueming spoke with solemn sincerity. "Once I take the Universal Elixir back to the hospital, if my sister gets better, this might be the last time we see each other."

"Oh." Xiao Qi faltered. "You're not planning to take the train again?"

"There's no need." Jiang Xueming was frank. "The tickets the boss gave me will let my sister and me get by for a while, too. That world is dangerous. I just want to live a quiet life."

The car in front pulled away.

Xiao Qi didn't react for a long moment. Then the car behind them began blasting its horn seventeen times in a row.

Jiang Xueming reminded her, "We're moving, Brother Seven. You're going to get a ticket."

"Oh, right!" Xiao Qi hurriedly pressed the accelerator and continued the trip.

Jiang Xueming said, "During the mind audit, I was worried I'd end up in jail for a few days like Bu Liuxing. You told me it was fine, and that you could get the medicine to my sister. Thank you."

Xiao Qi waved it off. "Hey, it's my job! Don't worry about it."

Jiang Xueming continued, "I'm a very insecure person. To be honest, more than once I wondered if you had some ulterior motive."

Xiao Qi's expression changed.

Jiang Xueming went on, "For example, when we first met, I thought you were actually an organ-trafficking ring, and had come to carve out my organs. I was ready to sell them."

Xiao Qi breathed a sigh of relief.

At last, Jiang Xueming asked, "But after this whole trip, now that I'm back in the human world, I've been thinking: the other attendants aren't as enthusiastic toward their clients as you are. It makes me curious, and grateful. Can you explain it, Brother Seven?"

Xiao Qi shamelessly replied, "I'm just a simple pervert."

Jiang Xueming said, "You're not even trying to hide it?"

Xiao Qi said, "Nope."

And then—

—they had a strange conversation.

Jiang Xueming spoke in a mild tone. "Then let's say I never want to go underground again. We'll go our separate ways and part on good terms."

Xiao Qi's face remained blank. "Tonight, I'll climb through your window along your internet cable and cook for your sister. In a few days, when that kid Bu Liuxing gets out of prison, I'll bring a few close girlfriends over to your place for tea."

Jiang Xueming said righteously, "Breaking into someone's home is illegal."

Xiao Qi's gaze went distant. "Study the law too much and you'll slowly lose your humanity."

"Ha ha ha!" Jiang Xueming burst out laughing, though the unease inside him kept growing.

—He had no intention of finding a partner. At twenty-one, he wasn't at the age when people had to get married.

Until his sister could live independently, he had no room in his life to deal with another woman.

Their awkward conversation ended there.

There was no resolution, no answer.

It was like they were both joking, trading nonsense to keep themselves awake as they drove.

They returned to Anshan Health Center.

Xiao Qi took Jiang Xueming all the way to the ward door.

They saw Jiang Bailu lying asleep in her hospital bed. Neither of them went in right away; they decided to wait for the doctor before asking about her condition.

Xiao Qi brushed the loose hair from her forehead and put on a wistful expression, speaking softly, as if each word were a solemn farewell.

"You really aren't coming back? Where will you live?"

"That depends on how much more money the boss gives me." Jiang Xueming considered the balance in his bank account. "If it's enough, I want to visit my hometown first and settle the old family debts tied to our ancestral home. My family situation is complicated. You wouldn't understand."

Xiao Qi nodded thoughtfully. "Ah, that's family business. I won't ask. But I'm sure you'll handle it well."

Jiang Xueming asked, "What about you?"

"You care about me?" Xiao Qi covered her mouth and giggled again.

Jiang Xueming said nothing else. He just waited quietly.

As if she couldn't keep smiling, Brother Seven straightened up. "I'll keep doing what I've always done. If you stop coming, what other job could I get? I'll just pick up new passengers, prepare their rooms at the station hotel, arrange their itineraries, and so on. Just a bunch of odd jobs. It won't stop me from looking at handsome guys, anyway. You know me—I'm a pervert! I just love a pretty face!"

Jiang Xueming said, "Sounds good."

Xiao Qi said, "Yeah. Sounds good."

The doctor came down the corridor at an unhurried pace, calling Xue Ming in to discuss things.

At last, Xiao Qi left. As Xue Ming went inside, she darted away, racing downstairs without even saying goodbye.

Jiang Xueming sat by the bed and listened as the doctor described Bailu's condition over the past two days.

There were no signs that his sister's condition was deteriorating rapidly, and he felt relieved.

After the doctor finished talking Xue Ming through everything,

Xue Ming set the suitcase beside the bed and waited quietly for the doctor to leave. He planned to secretly inject his sister with the Universal Elixir.

He watched Bailu sleeping peacefully. He wanted to reach out and pinch her cheek, but halfway there, he carefully drew his hand back.

At last, he heard the Volga's engine roar.

Brother Seven seemed to have left.

In the car, Xiao Qi pressed her lips together, eyes red.

Looking utterly aggrieved, she yelled into the phone.

"Yangchun! Yangchun! Boo-hoo-hoo! I've been dumped!"

On the other end, Zhao Yangchun was packing a traveler's luggage. She was the customer service manager, and Xiao Qi's direct supervisor and best friend.

She rolled her eyes, looking utterly resigned, and asked Xiao Qi, "How many times have you been dumped in the past three months?"

Xiao Qi said, "Three times!"

Yangchun asked, "How many were alive?"

Xiao Qi said, "Just one! The other two were fictional characters. I can't pull them! I can't pull them! Why'd you have to bring up my heartbreak? You're bullying me!"

Yangchun asked in surprise, "Oh? There was one living person?"

Xiao Qi nodded. "Yeah! Yeah!"

Yangchun cautiously asked, "So, you two, uh... how long have you... known each other?"

Xiao Qi answered without hesitation. "Just two days. But I feel like my heart's about to split apart! Ahhhhh! He's like an axe, chopping right into my chest!"

Yangchun thought for a moment. "Well, did you confess to him?"

Xiao Qi said, "Not exactly. But I hinted at it again and again, and got handsy with him. I practically had 'I love you' written on my face. This is the first time I've ever felt this way about a real person. You know?"

Yangchun sounded helpless. "You make it sound like you're from the Ancient Tomb Sect, falling in love with dead people all the time. Is he really handsome?"

"Boo-hoo-hoo!" Xiao Qi's wailing grew louder. "He's gone! He said he isn't coming back to the station! My handsome guy is gone!"

"I suggest," Zhao Yangchun said sincerely, "you try spending more time with him. It's only been two days. Don't scare him off."

"Oh, that's true." Xiao Qi immediately stopped crying. Tears still streaked her face, but her expression had returned to normal.

Yangchun asked, "How do you get along? Tell me about it. What does he call you?"

Xiao Qi said, "He calls me Brother Seven."

Yangchun said, "Oh. So he thinks of you as one of the guys."

"What do I do, Yangchun? What should I do?" Xiao Qi asked hurriedly. "Do I really look like a man?"

Yangchun said, "Honestly? A little. Xiao Qi, some of the girls in Guest Services and Human Resources have you as their dream lover. You look handsome in a suit. Don't be so strict about gender."

Before she could finish speaking,

Xiao Qi was back downstairs at the health center.

Jiang Xueming had just given Bailu the Universal Elixir, using up the entire vial.

He held his sister's arm and watched the red rash fade from her thin forearm.

Color returned to Bailu's face, too.

Xue Ming felt everything was getting better.

He heard a car screech to a halt downstairs. He recognized the sound of the Volga's brakes.

Maybe Xiao Qi had come back. Had she forgotten something?

Thinking this, Jiang Xueming went to the door to meet Brother Seven.

He saw Xiao Qi sprint all the way from the stairwell, racing right up to him.

Panting, she asked him with deadly seriousness, "Mr. Xue Ming! Have you always thought I was a man?"

The question left Jiang Xueming completely baffled, so he tried to find a middle ground.

"Sure. You could put it that way. I mean, I think you're a straightforward, clean-cut person. At first glance, your personality really does seem like a guy's."

Xiao Qi asked, "So, do you like men?"

Jiang Xueming didn't answer. He wasn't sure how to respond.

"Then wait here!" Xiao Qi turned and raced downstairs.

—What a strange person, Xue Ming thought.

He watched Brother Seven stumble down the stairs in a frantic rush.

At that moment, Jiang Bailu woke up. She sat upright as soon as she opened her eyes.

She realized she had her strength back. Her stomach didn't hurt anymore, and she could breathe easily. She hurried out of bed and patted her rosy cheeks in front of the mirror.

She stared at her reflection in disbelief.

"I'm better?! Brother, I'm better?!"

She pulled back her sleeve and saw that all the hateful red spots on her fair arm had vanished!

Jiang Xueming smiled. "That's right. You're better."

"Who was that outside just now, big brother?" Jiang Bailu crept up beside her brother like a guilty thief.

Jiang Xueming was about to answer. "It was—"

"It was me!" Xiao Qi had already returned to the hospital room doorway.

She had changed into a bright red, off-the-shoulder evening gown. Her makeup was heavy, with smoky eyeshadow and false eyelashes.

Her hair was pinned up at the back, and she held a rose between her lips.

A waft of lavender perfume drifted from her.

The siblings, Jiang Bailu and Jiang Xueming, both looked as if they'd seen a ghost.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Qi covered her mouth and laughed affectedly. "Is something off? I never liked wearing dresses anyway."

Jiang Xueming said, "No, you went downstairs just now, then came back up."

Jiang Bailu said, "It only took you thirty seconds."

Jiang Xueming said, "It's not that I don't like women."

Jiang Bailu said, "Sister, you changed and put on makeup so fast, you don't seem human."