Variable

The next day, Night fell.

Fang Linyan sat restlessly in the internet cafe.

The internet cafe's environment was terrible, with people smoking and shouting everywhere, a chaotic haze that made Fang Linyan very uncomfortable. But this was the only internet cafe in Nitou Town, so business was still booming.

Why was Fang Linyan in the Nitou Town internet cafe?

Because this was the nearest town to Huichuan Pier No. 5. The text message had made it clear: the thirteenth, at 0:17, Huichuan Pier No. 5. He couldn't arrive early, nor could he be late.

Considering his weak body, unable to engage in strenuous activities like running, Fang Linyan had carefully investigated and calculated. He planned to depart at 11:30 PM on the twelfth, riding his electric scooter to Huichuan Pier No. 5. This way, he could reach the road outside the pier around 0:10.

That spot was only four or five hundred meters from Huichuan Pier No. 5. Waiting there for about five minutes would ensure he arrived precisely at 0:17.

As for the electric scooter, Fang Linyan had ridden it himself. Before coming, he'd specially overhauled this secondhand scooter, and after arriving in Nitou Town, he'd fully charged it to guarantee no mechanical failures.

The scooter was parked under the light at the internet cafe's entrance, and he'd even asked the attendant to lock it with a chain, eliminating the risk of theft.

So, from start to finish, Fang Linyan had thought everything through thoroughly, eliminating almost all potential risks. Now, truly, everything was ready, only the east wind was needed.

Time ticked by, bit by bit. Fang Linyan absentmindedly scrolled through the webpage before him, but his thoughts had already drifted to the upcoming event.

What would happen at Huichuan Pier No. 5? Why did the mysterious text insist he couldn't be late or early? How would his fate be reversed?

Because Fang Linyan had been silently lost in thought, he overlooked the cold, sinister gazes of a few non-mainstream-looking youths sitting on the internet cafe's sofa, clearly delinquents.

Suddenly, Fang Linyan felt his phone vibrate. He snapped out of his daze, picked up the phone, and saw that it was the alarm he'd set, now reading 11:30 PM.

At that moment, Fang Linyan felt his throat go dry. He took two deep breaths, following the plan he'd made earlier. First, he took his painkiller and cough suppressant medication to prevent an attack at the critical moment. Then, he downed a can of Red Bull to ensure he had enough energy for what was to come.

After that, Fang Linyan closed his eyes, cleared his mind of all distractions for ten seconds, took a deep breath, stood up, and walked to the counter to settle his bill.

As he stood up to pay, the delinquents on the nearby sofa exchanged glances and slipped into the darkness first.

Next, Fang Linyan left the internet cafe, unlocked his scooter, and prepared to turn onto the main road ahead. But just then, he saw several rocks blocking the path ahead. The road was already potholed, and with rocks in the way, he couldn't ride through.

Anxious and pressed for time, Fang Linyan didn't think twice. He quickly stopped the scooter and got off to move the rocks.

But the moment he left the scooter, a youth darted out from a nearby corner and went straight for the scooter. Then, from the darkness, two more non-mainstream youths emerged. One held a switchblade, and the other casually carried half a brick, advancing on Fang Linyan.

The youth with the knife, his face full of malice, pointed the blade at Fang Linyan and said:

"F*ck your mom, what are you looking at? Hand over all your money, and leave your phone too."

Fang Linyan felt a chill run through him. He'd been through the lower rungs of society and knew these punks were the most troublesome—simple-minded, quick to heat up, and with no sense of restraint! Normally, he'd just back down on the spot and settle the score later.

But now, how could Fang Linyan let them? How could he dare to?

At this moment, money and phone were one thing, but this remote place, late at night, made it impossible to hail a cab. The electric scooter was his only means of reaching Huichuan Pier No. 5 on time, and it represented the thin thread of hope Fang Linyan had ignited!!

So, Fang Linyan made a decision in his heart. His face showed fear and panic as he fumbled to pull out his money and phone. The knife-wielding youth, seeing the red banknotes, immediately grew eager and reached out to grab them.

At that moment, Fang Linyan let go of the money, letting it fall naturally.

The youth, as expected, bent down to pick it up.

Fang Linyan drove his knee straight into the youth's face! With that impact, he could clearly feel the crunch of the youth's nasal bone deforming and shattering under the force!

The knife-wielding youth let out a muffled, agonized howl from deep in his throat, clutching his face and rolling on the ground. He'd forgotten all about the money; his mind was filled with only one thought: pain, pain, pain, pain, pain, f*cking pain!

Having landed his blow, Fang Linyan grabbed the switchblade and chased after the youth who'd gone for the scooter.

Seeing Fang Linyan expressionlessly charging at him with the knife, and hearing their "boss" writhing and screaming on the ground, the youth panicked, shouted, and abandoned the scooter to flee. Fang Linyan, seeing his scooter unharmed, breathed a sigh of relief.

But, as they say, pride comes before a fall. Just as Fang Linyan relaxed, he suddenly sensed movement from his side and rear. He hurriedly turned, but had only shifted half his body when he saw the delinquent with the brick hurling it straight at him.

"Damn it," Fang Linyan barely had time to curse the half-sentence in his mind before his vision went black, and he knew nothing more.

***

"Hey, hey, hey?"

The voice seemed to come from far away, yet also felt very close. Fang Linyan struggled to open his eyes, his head throbbing painfully, his ears ringing, and a bitter taste in his mouth.

Opening his eyes, Fang Linyan swallowed a mouthful of saliva with a rusty, metallic taste. He saw light and shadows flickering before him. He lifted his head with effort, shielding his eyes, and his vision gradually went from blurry to clear. Finally, he saw a vaguely familiar face. Oh, right, wasn't this the internet cafe attendant?

"Are you okay? Someone who settled up and left earlier came back and said you were lying outside. Should I call 120 for you?"

The attendant still looked a bit flustered. After all, the incident had happened right outside the internet cafe, and he was just an employee—how could he bear the responsibility?

Fang Linyan was about to speak when a wave of indescribable fear surged in his heart. He suddenly pushed himself up, staggering, but quickly steadied himself against the wall. He asked urgently:

"What time is it now?"

The attendant glanced at his phone and said in surprise:

"12:15, why?"