The News

At a low table in a dai pai dong, Fish Head Xu held a cigarette between his lips in one hand and a palm-sized garlic oyster in the other. His mouth glistening with grease, he called to Yang Chu, who sat across from him. "Chu-zai, what do you think of this place? Tasty and cheap—it's perfect for a big eater like you."

After the short-haired man got out of the car, the two of them hadn't left.

Fish Head Xu found a temporary parking spot nearby, then led Yang Chu into the night market filling the streets. He said he wanted to treat him to some authentic local food.

"Not bad."

Yang Chu had been focused on the food in front of him like a machine. He paused briefly and nodded at Fish Head Xu.

Truthfully, he didn't care much about whether the food tasted good. As long as it gave him enough calories and nutrients, that was fine.

His sense of smell and taste could distinguish between better and worse flavors, but the signals fed back by his nervous system didn't stimulate dopamine and make him feel pleasure.

It was the same with pain and certain other things. He could distinguish them and feel them, but that was all.

"I really like it around here. Earlier, you asked me questions about the meaning of life and stuff. I don't really understand that. But when there's food and fun, and I see so many people, I feel like being alive is great."

Fish Head Xu's crossed eyes took in the lively scene around them. Then he suddenly turned to Yang Chu and said this.

Since meeting Yang Chu, he'd gradually realized that his newly made little brother was rather different from other people.

When he finished speaking, Fish Head Xu suddenly chuckled again, stood up, and called to Yang Chu. "Hurry up and finish eating. Let's go! There are lots of other places to see, and I'll get you a few outfits while we're at it."

Yang Chu polished off the food on the table in a few quick bites, picked up a tissue to wipe his mouth, and followed Fish Head Xu into the bustling night market.

Temple Street, Ning Po Street, Sai Kung Street, Woosung Street, and Pak Hoi Street.

A jumble of disorderly signboards, noisy music, and a deafening din of voices.

Shops and stalls stood row upon row, selling everything from the latest VCD players and Walkmans to sexy women's lingerie. Beauty and hair salons stood next to tattoo parlors, banks, gold shops, silver shops, watch shops, pharmacies, hair-product shops, music stores, clothes shops, magazine stalls, and herbal tea vendors. Upstairs were celebrity nightclubs and karaoke bars; downstairs were maca, Viagra, and royal aphrodisiac remedies.

Dai pai dongs, stir-fry restaurants, snack shops, burger joints, and pizza places stretched on and on—a blend of East and West, with Chinese and foreign offerings.

The crowds surged around them. Vendors shouted and hollered, while the clatter of cooking and the din of music rang out without end.

Yang Chu and Fish Head Xu bought all kinds of snacks and meals as they went, eating while they walked.

Taking in the people around him, their varied speech and countless faces, their happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy, Yang Chu felt the vitality of everyday life wash over him. It made him feel both insignificant and real.

He wasn't looking on from a distance; he was right there among them.

It seemed that in an environment like this, he could also sense all kinds of emotions and desires.

The two of them ate and shopped their way along until around ten that night. Only then did they leave, arms full of bags. After retrieving the car, they drove for another ten minutes or so and returned to Fish Head Xu's place.

"I'm beat. I'm going to take a shower first."

After entering, Fish Head Xu casually turned on the TV, then went into the bathroom.

Yang Chu sat on the living-room sofa and closed his eyes. He began using his various systems to speed up his digestion and absorption.

He couldn't remember how much he'd eaten that night. While they'd been sitting down, he'd managed to digest and absorb most of it in time. Later, he could only store it away.

"...Uncle Zhan, you didn't manage to book any guests for tonight, and your two cohosts aren't here either. So there's no need to pretend there are any rules. What are you planning to talk about? You know, everyone in Hong Kong loves hearing you pry gossip out of celebrities. You can't hear it anywhere else."

A voice came from the television.

"Tonight, I really want to talk about a major news story that's happened here in Hong Kong over the past few days."

On the TV screen, a man around fifty years old with a crew cut, wearing a suit and glasses, faced the camera and spoke gravely.

"Wow, what major news? You're so serious all of a sudden. That's not like you," asked a young woman acting as his foil, sounding curious.

"It really is an extremely serious incident. I don't know how many people have heard about it, but as a responsible public figure, I feel it's important to tell everyone about it again. Let me make this clear first: what I'm about to say isn't directed at anyone in any particular profession. I'm just discussing the facts."

The bespectacled man looked solemn. He gestured instinctively with a finger and began:

"...Today, Tuen Mun Police Station released new information about a case. In the early hours of July 19, on the Green Dragon Head stretch of Green Mountain Road—that's near the Marine Police Base, which many of you have probably heard of—a taxi driver was murdered. His breastbone was shattered, and it pierced his heart and lungs, causing fatal internal bleeding.

"At around six or seven in the morning, someone found the taxi driver's body along with his taxi and immediately called the police. At first, the police thought he was the victim. But after investigating further, they discovered—"

At this point, the bespectacled host paused. A hint of indignation seemed to rise on his face.

"That's where things took a turn. After investigating further, the police discovered that the taxi driver was suspected of murdering several women who'd taken rides at night. They also found a large number of organs made into specimens and all kinds of disgusting photographs in his home. He was a depraved, utterly cruel monster..."

On the sofa, Yang Chu had been accelerating his digestion and metabolism. The moment he heard this, his eyes flew open.

"What are you watching?"

Fish Head Xu came out of the bathroom bare-chested, a towel in his hand as he wiped his already sparse hair. He walked over to the sofa and asked Yang Chu.

Yang Chu didn't answer. He simply stared at the host speaking on the television.

"Based on the police's reconstruction of the incident, the savage butcher of a taxi driver had a seventeen-year-old girl tied up in his trunk and was driving to an isolated area to assault her.

"But when the car reached the Green Dragon Head stretch of Green Mountain Road, a stranger flagged it down. The girl, still tied up in the trunk, shouted for help, catching the attention of the stranger who'd gotten into the taxi. The butcher driver and the stranger then got into a fight, and the stranger beat him to death, rescuing the girl. Wow, this is so satisfying! I'm about to clap my hands raw!"

As he said this, the host grew excited and clapped repeatedly.

After a while, he continued. "But after acting heroically, this stranger vanished without a trace. The only people who saw him were the girl he rescued and a convenience-store clerk who caught a glimpse of him from far away.

"The police are appealing for information and trying to find this hero. They've promised to apply to the judge for immunity in view of his brave act. I'll say it here, too: this anonymous hero, if you need anything at all, I'll help however I can, and I'll pay for it myself..."

"Wow, what a hero!"

After watching the host's report, Fish Head Xu couldn't help exclaiming. He glanced at Yang Chu, who was watching intently. "Chu-zai, you're really focused on this. Is that hero you?"

Yang Chu slowly looked away. He neither nodded nor shook his head. At last, he understood a little more about the taxi driver he'd killed.

Fish Head Xu wasn't bothered by Yang Chu's lack of answer. He was used to Yang Chu's temperament. Suddenly, he pointed at the host on the TV, who was still worked up. "Look, that's the one I told you about in the car—the one from the Four Great Talents. I've seen him at the studio a few times. He's funny and really good at telling dirty jokes."

"Oh?"

Yang Chu's drooping eyelids lifted slightly, as if he'd become a little interested.

"Alright, I'll leave you to it. I'm going to bed."

Fish Head Xu yawned. He didn't really think Yang Chu was the man they'd been talking about on TV. He patted the sofa, turned, and went back to his room.

Not long after Fish Head Xu went back to his room, Yang Chu rose from the sofa, turned off the TV, picked up the keys Fish Head Xu had tossed on the table, and slipped out.