Resignation

"Look, look, Xu Xi's back."

Inside Po On Road Public Library, the staff seated in the office area saw Xu Xi walk in from outside and began whispering among themselves.

"I bet he went to see that Bookworm." Tracy, a slender woman, sat on a swivel chair with her legs crossed and spoke quietly to the library director, who was drinking from a thermos at the workstation beside her.

"Do we even need to guess? Of course he did." The director took a small sip of tea, his eyes shifting behind his gold-rimmed glasses. Lowering his voice, he said, "Xu Xi's been here for ages, and the only people he gets along with are Black Charcoal and that Bookworm. There's got to be something going on."

"Do you think that Black Charcoal might get into a fight with Bookworm over Xu Xi?" Another male library employee came over and eagerly joined in.

Tracy rubbed her chin and sneaked a glance at Xu Xi, who had walked straight toward the book section. In a low voice, she analyzed the situation as if she knew all about it. "Black Charcoal always seems so domineering when he comes by. You know what Xu Xi's like—he doesn't have a temper at all. But I think Xu Xi might get along better with that Bookworm. They're both like blocks of wood, and they could spend all day reading."

"Hey, hey, I heard from one of the cleaners in the building that the guy who comes to read every day once had fast food with Xu Xi right here in the library." Another greasy, middle-aged employee joined the conversation.

"I never knew your coworkers were such gossips."

Standing by a bookshelf in the book section, Yang Chu leafed through a book titled <Postural Abnormalities and Musculoskeletal Dysfunction>. Without looking up, he spoke to Xu Xi, who was walking toward him.

"Ordinary people are like that."

Xu Xi stood beside Yang Chu with his signature shy smile. His gaze passed over the book in Yang Chu's hands. "Have you expanded your studies into a new field?"

"I love exploring the unknown."

Yang Chu reached the last page, closed the book, and stood where he was, eyes gently shut.

Xu Xi watched Yang Chu stand with the book in his arms and his eyes closed. He had no intention of disturbing him. Instead, he went over to the bookshelf and slowly ran his fingers across the many books, thick and thin. His voice carried a complicated note. "These books have helped me a lot. But it's time for me to leave."

"Because of what happened last night?"

Yang Chu slowly opened his eyes and slid the book back onto the shelf. In that brief moment, he had silently absorbed its contents. He turned to Xu Xi, who was running his hand over one book after another.

"Let's talk somewhere else."

Xu Xi drew his fingers back from the books and suddenly took a light breath, as if steadying his emotions. Then he smiled at Yang Chu.

Yang Chu nodded. He knew the library wasn't the place to talk.

After they left the book section, with its rows of bookshelves, Xu Xi gestured to Yang Chu. "Wait here a moment."

Then Xu Xi headed for the library's office area.

The staff, who had been whispering among themselves, put on busy, serious expressions as soon as they saw Xu Xi approaching.

Xu Xi walked straight up to the library director, the man in gold-rimmed glasses. He pulled an envelope from inside his jacket and handed it over. "Director, this is my resignation letter."

"Your resignation letter?"

The middle-aged director was clearly taken aback. Before he could say anything, the slender Tracy stood up and cried out in surprise, "Xu Xi, you're—you're resigning?"

"That's right, Xu Xi. Why are you suddenly resigning?" The director looked completely confused and tried to talk him out of it. "I'm telling you, it's not easy to find a job in Hong Kong Island right now."

"Xu Xi, our library pays well and the workload's light. That's hard to come by."

"Yeah, why are you resigning?"

The other two middle-aged male coworkers gathered around, asking Xu Xi one after another.

They all had a very good impression of Xu Xi. Working with a good-natured man who was always willing to help with anything, never fought over things, and never schemed against anyone was a real pleasure.

"Thank you all for looking after me. I wish you the best in your work!"

Xu Xi still wore his shy, good-natured smile, but his movements were brisk. He placed the resignation letter on the director's desk, waved goodbye to them, and turned to leave.

"Xu Xi..."

Watching Xu Xi turn away, the slender Tracy suddenly couldn't help stamping her foot and calling out.

Xu Xi had already reached the library entrance with Yang Chu. He seemed to hear her call, turned back to wave at them, and walked out the door.

"Tracy, do you perhaps like Xu Xi just a little?"

After Xu Xi and Yang Chu left, the library director held the resignation letter and asked Tracy quietly, watching her reaction.

"I... I don't!"

The slender Tracy sounded a little embarrassed and annoyed. She dropped into her chair, propped her chin on her hands, and slumped over the desk.

"So what if he left? You've got to keep your eyes on the future."

"But you're the one who told me to keep my feet on the ground..."

--

"Where to?"

After they left the Municipal Building, Yang Chu looked out at the busy street and asked Xu Xi.

Xu Xi glanced back at the floor of the Municipal Building where Po On Road Public Library was, then looked down at the only thing he had brought with him: a box of Chinese chess. He walked over to a trash can by the roadside and tossed it in, then turned to Yang Chu.

"Where I live."

"Okay." Yang Chu agreed without hesitation.

The two of them left Po On Road and walked southeast.

Xu Xi walked fast and had incredible stamina, keeping pace with a professional racewalker. Yang Chu had only recently become fit enough to keep up with him.

They passed through noisy, cramped streets and alleys, following Boundary Street and Wang Chiu Road until they reached the old industrial district near the airport in Kwun Tong.

The ground was covered in thick soot and gravel, and the air was more choking. Tall chimneys, thick steel pipes, and messy scaffolding and metal frames were scattered everywhere.

Every so often, planes taking off from or landing at Kai Tak Airport roared overhead.

It looked like hardly anyone lived here anymore. A few distant factories still had smoke pouring from their towering chimneys, as if they were still operating, but most of the factories had been abandoned, whether because they had moved or gone bankrupt.

Yang Chu didn't feel much about the surroundings, but he could tell that a place like this would make a good hideout for someone who might be keeping a secret.

These two chapters are transitioning the movie characters in...