Sunday, 1:00 AM.
Even in the prosperous river city, there were still people who stopped working for the day.
Every place had its own rhythm.
At the same time, there were always people at the very bottom, still struggling.
The Old city district..
This place had long been forgotten. Rundown houses were everywhere; the dim, flickering street lamps had seen no repairs for years.
In the shadows, businesses that shunned the light always thrived.
An Alley.
In this aging residential area marked for demolition, there were no surveillance cameras or safety measures.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of footsteps grew nearer.
In the alley, a woman walked alone, carrying a bag of takeout.
Very few people came here.
Those who did belonged to the shadowy underbelly of the city.
"Isn't that Widow Wei? The one whose husband died, left with a child in tow?"
"Haha, looks like it really is her."
"Hey, Widow Wei! Come play with us! We'll pay!"
"I'll give you 500. Just spend the night with me. I heard someone came knocking at your door again today for money, right?"
"Won't you think about it?"
In the alley, two middle-aged men in vests blocked the path of a woman with her hair tied up, a voluptuous figure, and a pretty face.
Their expressions were lewd, smiles twisted.
Their gazes were greedy, full of lust as they stared at her.
"Get lost!" the woman shouted loudly. "What happens in my family is none of your business!"
Her voice was loud, as if trying to scare off the two drunken men.
Yet, beneath it lay fear and anxiety.
She knew what this place was—the most depraved and filthy corner of all Jiangcheng.
Anything could happen here.
One of the men, balding, leered. "Heh, Widow Wei, don't be ungrateful. I heard them today."
"They said if you don't pay up soon, they'll break down your door and sell your daughter."
As he spoke, the two men began closing in on the woman.
Their words grew vile. "With looks like yours, if you're willing, I can bring a whole crowd to... take care of you."
"Paying off your debt would be a breeze then."
"Don't say no."
Quickening their pace, their eyes roamed over her body, swallowing hard. "But first, the two of us need to... inspect the goods."
"Filthy" and "derelict" were this place's defining traits.
These two were also repeat offenders.
Once jailed for seven years for assault, they'd found no real work since their release.
They survived on petty theft and other shady, quick-cash schemes.
Hearing their foul talk, the woman trembled with rage. "Get away! Both of you, get away from me!"
"Hah! Widow Wei, don't reject a good offer when you see one!" With that, the two men moved to grab her.
CRASH!
Just as they reached for her, an emerald green beer bottle suddenly sailed through the air.
It struck one man squarely on the head, shattering on impact.
"Argh! Who?! Which bastard hit me?!" The man fell to the ground, howling in pain.
His agonized, furious screams prompted residents in nearby buildings to quickly switch off their lights.
This place was harsh. And dark.
No one played the hero here.
Everyone just looked out for themselves.
Under the weak, gloomy streetlight, a young man in a suit slowly stepped forward.
"Trash really does stick together," the young man remarked, his voice calm.
Seeing it was just a youth, the other man, unhurt, subtly moved his hand behind his back. His face darkened. "Trying to start trouble, kid?"
He advanced toward Lucas as he spoke.
"I'm warning you. Out here... I could stab you, and no one would ever know."
No sooner had he finished than the man whipped out a switchblade and lunged at Lucas.
SMACK!
The next instant,
Lucas raised his hand and delivered a sharp slap across the man's greasy face.
Blood and teeth flew instantly.
Lucas's strength now was considerable, augmented by his 'Suit-Wearing Thug' skill. These washed-up thugs were nothing to him.
With both men down, Lucas gave a light chuckle. "Since no one would know..."
"...then if I killed you two, no one would come looking either, right?"
He punctuated his words with a brutal kick to the groaning man's abdomen.
Only then did Lucas slowly approach the voluptuous woman.
Seeing him walk toward her, the woman's heart turned cold. "Thank you," she whispered.
Lucas stopped about two meters away.
His eyes appraised her.
Sensing his gaze, a chill entered the woman's eyes.
This man...
Is he after me too?
Her body tensed almost imperceptibly, ready to act if needed.
However, in the next moment, the man before her suddenly smiled. "Sister Yan?"
"Aren't you going to invite me upstairs?"
The woman was taken aback. What did he just call me?
Wei Yan hesitated. "That... wouldn't be appropriate."
Lucas smiled faintly. "Nothing inappropriate about it. I came to find you because I have something to discuss."
"About the person you've been waiting for all these years..."
Hearing this, a brilliant light flashed in Wei Yan's eyes.
Her breathing grew rapid. "You... what do you know?"
He knows about my identity?
I've hidden so carefully. How could he know?
These thoughts raced through her mind, though she voiced none of them.
Lucas glanced around at their surroundings and the two moaning men on the ground. "This isn't the best place for a conversation."
Wei Yan nodded. "Follow me."
She quickened her pace, heading toward the far end of the alley.
Lucas followed at a leisurely pace behind her.
They entered a six-story building, climbing to a third-floor apartment. Wei Yan took out a key and unlocked the door.
"Please, come in."
Lucas didn't stand on ceremony and walked straight inside.
The apartment was worn and poor, yet impeccably clean and orderly.
Wei Yan closed the door,
set down her things, then went to the living room and poured Lucas a glass of plain water.
Sitting on the sofa, her expression was a mix of anxiety and desperate hope.
"Do you have news of her?"
Lucas knew exactly who the 'her' in Wei Yan's question referred to.
He replied softly, "Of course I do."
"But before I tell you, I'd like to ask you something."
"Something?" The young widow Wei Yan's brow furrowed slightly before smoothing out. "Go ahead."
Lucas smiled.
He took a sip of water from the disposable cup, then said slowly, clearly,
"I want to ask you... are you willing to be my person?"
Wei Yan: ????
What the hell did you just say?!