However, it wasn't just that man who was strange.

Zhang Fuquan's attitude towards him was also a bit unusual. Although the two had eaten together, they didn't seem to be very familiar with each other. Su Kun watched as Zhang followed behind that man, escorting him all the way to the door with a respectful demeanor, but that respect also carried a hint of trepidation.

Zhang Fuquan stopped beside Su Kun. The strange man turned his back and made a gesturing motion with his hand before turning a corner and disappearing outside the door.

Only after the man had completely vanished did Zhang Fuquan let out an extremely light sigh of relief. It didn't sound at all like he was seeing off a friend or acquaintance, but more like he had sent away a plague god that one dared not offend.

Su Kun subconsciously glanced at him, only to find that Zhang Fuquan's gaze had not yet withdrawn from the doorway. That expression also did not seem relieved, but rather looked as if he had placed no small amount of hope on that man, with anxiety mixed with a faint anticipation.

What the hell kind of situation was this?! Su Kun was left completely baffled.

However, he didn't show it on his face. When Zhang Fuquan finally turned around to speak to him, Su Kun still put on a grinning expression.

"Boss Zhang, you came to eat with a friend?" He asked politely.

Zhang Fuquan's face tightened for an instant, then quickly returned to normal. "Yes, yes! I heard this place has a great flavor, so I came to try it. The taste is indeed very good, it's just that the location is too remote. They say it's in the city, but this is almost approaching the suburbs..."

He casually complained a few sentences, then pointed at his chin and asked Su Kun, "So, is your family's demolition matter settled?"

"Working on it right now." Su Kun nodded towards the front desk. "I'm here to buy some dishes to pack up and bring back for those workers as dinner. Having them work overtime to rush the job, I really feel bad about it."

In order to show his sincerity, this idiot thought for a moment, then added, "Ah~ It's been too rushed these past two days, I really can't get away, otherwise I'd have to sign the contract no matter what, so it doesn't get snatched up by someone else."

Who knew that upon hearing his words, Zhang Fuquan slapped his thigh. While waving Su Kun over, he led the way walking towards the spot they had just been sitting at. "Come, come, come! What a coincidence! I printed out the contract and have been keeping it in my bag without taking it out. Now it just so happens I have it with me. Why don't you take a look at it here, Little Su?

"If there are no issues, we can sign it directly. It's just a rental lease contract anyway, not complicated. To be honest with you, family matters are really a bit troublesome. I've already prepared luggage and money for train tickets to go back to my hometown, just waiting to finalize this matter."

Su Kun: "..." Fuck, rewind please! This old man will never shoot his mouth off again! Is it still possible to take back what I just said?! QAQ

While Zhang Fuquan called the waiter to clear the cups and plates from the table, he took out a hard document folder from his bulging black bag. Inside was the drafted rental lease contract.

Seeing that he had already taken out the contract, Su Kun could only sit down with a stiff face in the spot the strange man had been sitting earlier. Dryly laughing, he took the contract. He lowered his eyes, appearing to be reading the contract contents, but in reality his mind was rapidly replaying the landlord's words.

The landlord had reminded Su Kun to sign in a couple days, but didn't explain the reason, nor did he clearly state how long this so-called couple of days referred to. However, Su Kun remembered that he had said the location, size, and price of that red bean paste shop were all very suitable, and it was indeed a good choice for opening a milk tea shop. He hadn't pointed out any inappropriate aspects...

Could it be that the landlord was just reminding him to be a bit more cautious when renting, and to wait until he had lined up the franchise before renting?

But seeing that this boss seemed quite anxious, if he intentionally delayed further, maybe he really would turn around and rent it to someone else.

Thinking of this, Su Kun felt that since the contract had already been delivered right in front of him, making excuses now would seem pretentious and insincere.

Sign it then!

He thought back on the entire shop space and carefully looked over the contract contents. Not finding any unacceptable issues, he and Zhang Fuquan completely settled the rental matter.

The two's seats were right next to a large half floor-to-ceiling glass window. Outside, the last traces of sunset had been swallowed up, the sky growing ever darker. The surrounding shops also lit up the lights on their signboards and advertising boxes one after another, light and dark, flickering into a expanse.

Seeing the time, Su Kun couldn't sit still any longer. One must know, the old district was almost all long, winding alleys. The courtyards were also quite deep and not every household had people. In the dead of night it was really a bit of a test of one's heart. Once it was pitch black out, he estimated he wouldn't even dare walk the roads.

The Zhang Fuquan opposite him also seemed to dislike the darkness. Looking outside, his expression was not much more relaxed than Su Kun's.

He put the copy of the contract he was supposed to take back into his bag and rubbed his hands, somewhat embarrassedly saying to Su Kun, "It's getting late. Any later and there won't be any buses back to the city center. Little Su, how are you getting back?"

"Oh, you take the bus to the city center first. I won't go with you." In the process of signing the contract, Su Kun had already ordered a few dishes.

At this time, the waiter had just brought over the packed up food. Su Kun took the opportunity to stand up and take the bag, lifting it towards Zhang Fuquan. "I still need to go back to the old house. I've made those workers wait a long time, they must be hungry."

Zhang Fuquan also stood up carrying his bag. The two bid farewell and walked out together after paying the bill.

After saying goodbye at the door, Zhang Fuquan walked to the pedestrian path on the other side and stopped, waiting for the green light to cross the street and take the bus. Su Kun carried the food and walked along the sidewalk extending horizontally from the restaurant entrance. Taking the bus in the opposite direction, he could reach the old district in two stops.

He had only taken a few steps with the food in hand when he felt something brush past him. It was very fast, like some kind of dark-colored bird, hidden in the night and hard to see clearly... but it seemed he didn't see any wings. The gust of wind it brought actually made him shiver in the summer night.

Su Kun hunched his neck and subconsciously looked back. With just this one glance, he froze in shock--

Zhang Fuquan's somewhat short and stout figure stood alone by the side of the road. A street lamp behind him cast a small circle of light at his feet, along with his own shadow.

Less than a meter from his shadow, there was another mass of dark color. It hovered in the air in a half-curled, twisted posture. The outline was a bit blurry, not very clear under the street lamp, but enough to make a chill rise up Su Kun's spine.

He opened his mouth, wanting to call out to Zhang Fuquan, but found his throat dry and sticky as if glued together, unable to make a sound. Instead, he choked on his own breath.

"Cough cough--" The momentary dry, sticky feeling in his throat made him cough a couple times. Su Kun instinctively covered his mouth and took a step back. However, thinking of the jade pendant he was carrying, he hesitated and paused his steps.

Unexpectedly, that mass seemed to have its attention diverted by his muffled coughs. Its head portion moved, then turned at an eerie angle to look askew at Su Kun.

The dark skin was not clear in the night, the only striking feature on the entire head was a pair of pale blue-green eyes. The black parts were small, the whites of the eyes faintly glowing blue-green. It opened its mouth, seemingly smiling, but the sound that came out was extremely delicate, just like... a newborn infant.

Yet Zhang Fuquan right next to it seemed to hear nothing at all, still waiting for the green light.

The traffic flowed endlessly. Due to the remote area, the speeds were all very fast, passing by with a slight whoosh. That extremely delicate giggling sound was not at all obscured by this, but transmitted with utter clarity into Su Kun's ears.

Oh my god! QAQ

Su Kun's legs went soft and he staggered. He suddenly realized what that monster-like, half-curled up mass actually was - fuck, it looked exactly like a newly formed fetus inside a pregnant woman's belly as depicted in biology textbooks!

Except normal fetuses can't open their eyes until a certain point. The one before his eyes had clearly already opened them, just seemingly not fully developed. The entire eyes were like two dots of pupils on a pale blue-green background, looking exceptionally sinister.

That thing, clearly not human, after grinning at Su Kun, turned its head back and slowly approached Zhang Fuquan.

Who knows where the courage came from, Su Kun just felt as if he was possessed. Not only was he not scared away, he inexplicably charged towards Zhang Fuquan. His two legs, as if not his own, moved out of his control taking big strides forward.

He wanted to yell "watch out" in that direction but found he still couldn't make a sound. He wanted to halt his steps but found that in a moment's time, he had already run to behind Zhang Fuquan, still showing no signs of stopping.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck! Slam on the brakes damn it~~~

Zhang Fuquan heard the footsteps behind him. Finding it a bit strange, he turned his head to see what was going on, making direct eye contact with Su Kun.

Accompanied by the "hehe" delicate laughter, from the corner of his eye Su Kun saw that little evil spirit fiercely charge over, its hands with fingers not yet fully separated lightly resting on his hand.

Fuck, is it trying to kill someone with a borrowed knife!!!

Su Kun had just realized what that evil spirit was trying to do when he felt the extremely light touch on his hand disappear. That evil spirit let out a shrill cry and suddenly released his hand, flashing to the side. At the same time, the force that had been compelling Su Kun to run over here seemed to be withdrawn in an instant.

Regaining control of his body, Su Kun lurched forward from the momentum. Just as he steadied his footing, preparing to pull Zhang Fuquan in front of him away, he saw that little evil spirit once again fiercely charge over.

But this time it seemed to give up on the attempt to control Su Kun and directly rammed towards Zhang Fuquan.