Resignation

"Look, look, Xu Xi is back."

Inside the Po On Road Public Library, the staff members sitting in the office area began to whisper to one another the moment they saw Xu Xi walk in from outside.

"I bet he definitely went to find that Bookworm." Tracy, with her slender figure, sat in her swivel chair with her legs crossed, whispering to the library director who was sipping water from a thermos at the workstation nearby.

"Does that even need guessing? It's definitely him." The library director lowered his head to take a small sip of tea, his eyes darting behind his gold-rimmed glasses as he lowered his voice, "Xu Xi has been here for so long, and he only gets along with that Black Charcoal and this Bookworm. There's definitely something fishy going on."

"Do you guys think that Black Charcoal might get into a fight with the Bookworm over Xu Xi?" Another male colleague working at the library leaned in toward the two, excitedly joining the conversation.

Tracy rubbed her chin, secretly glancing at Xu Xi, who had walked straight toward the book section after entering, and lowered her voice to analyze with a serious air: "Black Charcoal seems particularly overbearing whenever he comes by. You all know Xu Xi's temperament; he doesn't have a temper at all. But I think Xu Xi probably gets along better with that Bookworm. Both of them are like wooden blocks; they can just sit there and read all day."

"Hey, hey, I heard from the cleaners in the Municipal Building that the one who comes to read every day even ate fast food in the library with Xu Xi." Another greasy, middle-aged staff member joined the group's discussion.

"I never knew your colleagues were such gossips."

In front of a bookshelf in the book section, Yang Chu was flipping through a book titled Abnormal Posture and Musculoskeletal Dysfunction while speaking to Xu Xi, who was approaching him, without even raising his head.

"Ordinary people are just like that."

Xu Xi stood beside Yang Chu with his signature shy smile, his gaze sweeping over the book in Yang Chu's hand, "Have you expanded your studies into a new field again?"

"I just love this feeling of exploring the unknown."

Yang Chu finished the last page of the book, closed it, and stood where he was with his eyes slightly closed.

Xu Xi watched Yang Chu standing there holding the book with his eyes shut, not intending to disturb him at all. He walked over to the bookshelf as well, his fingers slowly tracing over the various books of different thicknesses, his tone carrying a hint of complex emotion, "These books have been a great help to me, but it is time for me to leave this place."

"Because of last night?"

Yang Chu slowly opened his eyes and tucked the book back onto the shelf. In that brief interval, he had already silently digested the contents of the book. He turned to look at Xu Xi, who was still stroking the books.

"Let's go somewhere else to talk."

Xu Xi withdrew his fingers from the books, suddenly took a light breath as if settling his emotions, and smiled at Yang Chu.

Yang Chu nodded, knowing full well that the library was not the place for such a conversation.

Emerging from the book section where rows of shelves stood, Xu Xi gestured to Yang Chu, "Wait for me a moment."

With that, Xu Xi walked toward the library's work area.

Inside the work area, the few library staff members who had been whispering to each other immediately put on busy, serious expressions the moment they saw Xu Xi approaching.

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

"Resignation letter?"

The middle-aged director was clearly stunned. Before he could even speak, the slender Tracy stood up and exclaimed in surprise, "Xu Xi, you—you're resigning?"

"That's right, Xu Xi, why are you suddenly resigning?" The library director was also full of confusion and urged, "Let me tell you, it's not easy to find a job in Hong Kong Island right now."

"Xu Xi, our library has high pay and little work; it's a rare find."

"Yeah, why on earth are you resigning?"

Two other middle-aged male colleagues also gathered around, each asking Xu Xi for an explanation.

They actually had a very good impression of Xu Xi. Working with a good-natured person who had no temper, was willing to help with any task, and didn't fight, compete, or scheme—such a colleague was truly well-liked.

"Thank you all for taking care of me. I wish you all the best in your work!"

Xu Xi still wore that same shy, good-natured smile, but his movements were not the least bit hesitant. He placed the resignation letter on the director's desk, waved at the group, and turned to walk away.

"Xu Xi—"

The slender Tracy watched Xu Xi turn and leave, suddenly unable to help herself, she stomped her foot and called out.

Xu Xi, who had already reached the library entrance with Yang Chu, seemed to hear the call, waved back at them, and stepped out of the library doors.

"Tracy, do you have a little crush on Xu Xi?"

After Xu Xi and Yang Chu had left, the library director, holding the resignation letter, looked at Tracy's expression and asked in a low voice.

"I... I do not."

The slender Tracy's voice carried a hint of shy annoyance. She plopped back down, rested her chin on her hands, and slumped over the desk.

"If he's gone, he's gone. You need to look at the big picture."

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

--

"Where to?"

After exiting the Municipal Building, Yang Chu looked at the bustling traffic on the street and asked Xu Xi.

Xu Xi looked back at the floor where the Po On Road Public Library was located in the Municipal Building, glanced down at the only thing he had brought out—a box of Chinese chess—and walked over to a trash can by the street to toss it in. Only then did he turn to Yang Chu and say:

"To where I live."

"Alright." Yang Chu agreed without a moment's hesitation.

The two left Po On Road and began walking toward the southeast.

Xu Xi's pace was fast, his physical stamina extremely abundant; his walking speed was in no way inferior to a professional race walker. It was only because Yang Chu's physical fitness had improved significantly of late that he was able to keep up.

Passing through noisy or cramped alleyways, the two followed Boundary Street and Wang Chiu Road until they reached the old industrial zone near the airport in Kwun Tong.

The ground was covered in thick layers of coal ash and gravel, the air grew somewhat acrid, and towering chimneys, thick steel pipes, and chaotic scaffolding and iron frames could be seen everywhere.

Above in the sky, the deafening roar of airplanes taking off and landing at Kai Tak Airport echoed incessantly.

It appeared that few people lived here anymore; aside from the thick smoke still billowing from the towering chimneys of a few factories in the distance, suggesting they were still in operation, the vast majority of the factories had been abandoned, whether due to relocation or bankruptcy.

Yang Chu did not have much of a reaction to the surrounding environment, but he could see that a place like this was indeed an excellent hideout for someone who might be harboring secrets.

These two chapters serve to transition the movie characters...