Section 1

"Luo He!" she shouted the person's name loudly, her tone trembling slightly due to her intense gasping.

"Ah, I'm coming, I'm coming," the octopus, who was busy writing something behind the counter, responded loudly

Luhe

As soon as Nan Ge entered the door, she began to survey her surroundings like a detective, leaving no corner unchecked from the kitchen and bathroom to the bedroom and balcony. Finally, shaking her head, she returned to the living room and said to Ming Mei, who was making tea for her, "This place is really unsafe. Look," she pulled Ming Mei to the balcony, "the balconies are all connected, and there are no protective measures. One could easily climb up the water pipes from the first floor!" She then pointed at the window, "And this window, it’s the oldest style, with no latch at all! Ah, and the window in the living room, I saw it was open when I just came in. You are being too careless; don’t you have the common sense to close the windows when you go out?" Her voice unconsciously rose a few notches.

He still has not turned back

"The present is no longer what it used to be!" Nan Ge raised the cup to her lips and then set it down, her gaze instinctively scanning the surroundings. She lowered her voice and said, "Mingmei, you should know that your father's case is not as simple as it appears on the surface." After a pause, she continued, "You probably don't know that the families of the deceased have been persistently petitioning for three years... Ahem, in short, the situation is much more complicated than you can imagine. Why did your father suddenly get released early? And then he went missing right after? Meanwhile, someone is looking for something, and I suspect that this item is crucial and only your father knows its whereabouts, which is why they are coming after you. This matter is very dangerous, Mingmei. Do you understand the seriousness of the situation?"

Hello, Luohe

Whether locals or visitors come to the island city for tourism, when asked about the local food street, they will unanimously reply: "Just go to Shangmuyun Road"

"Unjust!" the octopus exclaimed

Haha! Nan Ge recalled that Ming Mei had once asked her why she started working before graduating, and yet had considerable experience. She had answered her in the same way. Unable to contain her laughter, she pinched Ming Mei's cheek and said, "Little girl! Goodbye!"

She was momentarily stunned, originally intending to say that two people could not possibly eat that much, but she couldn't find the opportunity to interject. "Emily, you truly adhere to the principle of eating whatever is available, even if it is ultimately pointless!"

The octopus sighed and immediately rushed to the kitchen with the menu. Along the way, for the Nth time, he found himself puzzled, wondering why, despite being best friends, their personalities differed so greatly. One was always unreasonable and confrontational, while the other was particularly understanding and empathetic

After finishing their meal at the Sichuan restaurant, Nan Ge, feeling uneasy, decided to escort Ming Mei home. The primary reason was to check the safety of her residence. Last time, Ming Mei's home was burglarized, and she called herself immediately. At that time, she happened to have an interview and heard that nothing was stolen, so she only offered a few words of comfort and did not rush over right away

I do not know" Nange shook her head

Mingmei quickly signaled him with her eyes, urging him to go ahead.

"What are you still standing there for? Go place the order! What, are you reluctant to do it?" She looked up and glared at the octopus.

He shook his head and put down this unsolvable problem for the N1 time

Luo He gently pried open her tightly clenched fingers one by one, just as he did every time they met, and lightly flicked her forehead, saying, "Fool, I am leaving."

"The young man rides a bamboo horse, circling the bed while playing with green plums." This beautiful scene has nothing to do with Emily and the octopus; the more than ten years they spent together can be summarized in a simpler phrase: bullying and being bullied.

"A day is still a day, accept your fate, little girl!" Nan Ge let out a loud whistle, and the sound of footsteps finally disappeared in the stairwell

Mingmei pushed open the glass door of Zhangji Seafood Restaurant and immediately spotted Emily sitting in the last row by the window, with a bottle of beer in her left hand and a plate of peanuts in her right, enjoying her meal with great delight

Mingmei suddenly sprang up from the sofa, the dream gradually fading away, as the urgent ringtone of her phone echoed in her ears. She was momentarily dazed, then began to fumble in the darkness to locate the source of the sound, ultimately finding the incessantly ringing phone beneath the sofa cushion

Mingmei resides in the old houses of the old town area, where the alleys of Cangmi Lane intersect in a complex and intricate manner. Each residential building shares the same color and layout, making it easy to get lost without a familiar guide.

He has walked further and further away, his silhouette stretched into a small halo by the setting sun, and finally disappeared from sight

"See you at the usual place in twenty minutes." Mingmei hung up the phone and looked out the window, realizing that it had unknowingly become dark outside.

Mingmei stood at the door for a while before turning around and entering the room, collapsing onto the sofa, grabbing a fleece blanket to wrap around herself, and curling up to fall asleep.

Where have I bullied him? Ah, where? You stinky octopus, you tell me, have I bullied you...

"Baby, over here!" Emily chewed on peanuts, waving vaguely at Mingmei, and then turned her head to shout loudly towards the counter, "Stinky octopus, Mingmei is here, hurry up and come over to take our order!"

Mingmei winked at her and said, "Dreams, among all the reliable and unreliable dreams I've had since childhood, one is to be a teacher, just to indulge in it for a while." In truth, she needed money. The savings left to her by Ming Qidong had not been touched over the years, except for significant expenses like tuition. She thought she should keep some money for when he comes out; he was someone accustomed to a comfortable life and surely could not endure hardship! However, she did not want to share these thoughts with Nange or anyone else.

In this world, you will always encounter that one person who will become your nemesis. If you were to ask what an octopus fears the most, it is not snakes, mice, cockroaches, nor its strict and meticulous father, but rather—Emily

The night grew a little darker, and the number of guests in the restaurant increased. Mingmei, sipping beer, couldn't help but admire the busy figure of Zhang Xiaoyu, who was darting between the dining tables, exclaiming, "Zhang Xiaoyu is truly a hardworking and resilient child!" Since middle school, he had been helping his father at the seafood restaurant, and the key was that his academic performance was also excellent. His college entrance examination score surpassed those of the two of them by a full twenty points, easily securing an admission letter from the best university in the island city.

The bright-hearted girl felt her heart race, she bit her lip and took a long time to speak, "Sister Nange, will something happen to my father..."

He halted his steps, yet did not turn back

"What are you looking at? Have you never seen a pair of beautiful women before?" Emily shot back with a glare.

Mingmei kicked from under the table with a bemused expression, "Hey!" She controlled her strength well; it didn't actually hurt, but it still made Emily scream, "Mingmei, what are you doing? Are you letting outsiders bully me?" She had already finished an entire bottle of beer, her cheeks flushed.

She was angry. Every time she got upset, she had a little gesture, pouting her lips and blowing air fiercely at Liu Hai. She blew air and ran towards him, circling to stand in front of him, grabbing the strap of his black backpack, "What are you doing? Where are you going?"

Thank you, Sister Nange, but it's not necessary. I plan to stay on campus. Nange possesses many qualities that I admire: she is cheerful, independent, intelligent, and kind to her friends. I really like her, but after all, we have only known each other for a short month. Living, eating, and going in and out together must still bring about many inconveniences, right? Moreover, no matter how good the relationship is, the feeling of relying on someone else is always very, very uncomfortable

During the day, Muyu Road is nothing special. However, as night falls, the specially designed white arc-shaped streetlights along the roadside illuminate, and standing at the intersection, one can see the long, straight main street lined with restaurants coming to life in the river of light. In addition to the main street, Muyu Road branches into Muyu First Road and Muyu Second Road, all of which are dedicated to the food and beverage industry. The restaurants here offer a range of prices from low to medium to luxurious, providing ample choices for patrons. This has established it as the largest, most beautiful, and most comprehensive emerging food street in the island city.

"There is free food, why are you sighing?" Emily winked brightly, pushing away the menu handed over by the octopus. "No need to look, let's have ten scallops, ten oysters, one large portion of spicy crab, one portion of clams, one plate of spicy ribs, one serving of vegetables, and half a dozen beers. Let's order this much for now."

Are you leaving? Where are you going? Didn't you promise to accompany me to see the puppet show tonight?" She anxiously grasped his hand and asked, but he remained silent, broke free from her grip, turned around, and left

Muyun Road is located to the right of the widest intersection in Xicheng District. Despite its artistic and sentimental name, it is actually filled with the mundane flavors of everyday life. Seafood restaurants, Sichuan cuisine, Hunan cuisine, Chongqing hotpot, Cantonese cuisine, Jiangnan cuisine, and so on; essentially, you can find restaurants featuring distinctive dishes from all over the country here

The bright apartment left to her by her grandmother is located on the third floor, a small old two-bedroom unit. The two bedrooms are not large, and the kitchen and bathroom are even more cramped. However, because her grandmother was a person who loved cleanliness during her lifetime, the house has been maintained quite well, making the environment still acceptable.

Mingmei pulled her to sit on the sofa in the living room, handed her a cup of brewed tea, and smiled, "Sister Nange, don't be anxious. Here, have some tea first. In fact, the public security here has always been very good."

Three years ago, the incident that caused a sensation in the island city was not something Ming Mei understood any better than others. All the information she had came from newspapers and television media. A piece of land in the suburbs, which was not supposed to be developed, was approved for the construction of a new villa complex. Just as the project commenced, a major accident occurred. In a rush to meet deadlines, the developer disregarded opposition and forcefully employed blasting techniques, resulting in six workers dead and eight injured on site. Ming Qidong, as a deputy director of the Land Bureau, was directly involved in the illegal approval of the land, making him unable to escape responsibility. The person in charge from the developer's side was also sentenced alongside him.

No wonder everyone in the class says that wherever Emily is, within a diameter of 100 meters, you will surely feel invigorated

Each of us will encounter a nemesis in our lives, one who will alter the trajectory of our destiny.

"Hey baby, what are you doing? Why did it take you so long to answer the phone! You called me several times this morning, is there something urgent? I left my phone at home and forgot to bring it! Have you eaten yet? I haven't eaten all day and I'm starving. How about we go out for a couple of drinks?" Emily's voice bombarded her like a relentless barrage, and Mingmei moved the phone slightly away, her dazed mind suddenly becoming a bit clearer.

Mingmei shook her head and sighed repeatedly, truly a case of one thing overcoming another! But it has not just been one meal; she has been following Emily to enjoy nearly three years of free meals, to the point where she feels quite embarrassed.

"Luo River!" Her voice rose a few more decibels.

Nan Ge followed Ming Mei, winding around for a full ten minutes before finally stopping in front of an old six-story residential building

"Hey! Do you have to be so loud? There are still customers in the restaurant." Mingmei glanced around the hall while putting down her bag. It was just the beginning of dinner time, and there were only a few scattered tables occupied, but as soon as Emily's loud voice rang out, some people had already frowned and looked over at them.

Alright, don't bully him anymore. Zhang Xiaoyu, you can go ahead and get busy, no need to worry about us. Let's drink together later.

"Hey, hey, hey, you are only three years older than me, stop acting so old!" Mingmei shouted at her in dissatisfaction

Though she slept, it was not a restful slumber; she had that dream again. The light in the dream was dim and yellow, with the midsummer sunset casting a golden glow over the entire alley. Then came the sound of hurried footsteps, echoing sharply. Mingmei saw herself, drenched in sweat, appearing in the alley, gasping for breath and looking around anxiously. After a moment's pause, she ran desperately down another alley, and finally, at the mouth of the alley, she caught up with the person carrying a large bag.

"Are you treating tonight?" Emily's beautiful eyes curved with a smile that was dazzlingly bright, prompting the octopus to exclaim uncontrollably, "Sure, it's just a meal."

Luo River! Luo River!

"We can only wait; there is no other way besides waiting." Nan Ge patted Ming Mei's shoulder and said, "What matters now is you. You cannot continue living here alone. How about moving in with me?"

Bright hands cover the face for a long time

Alright, alright, I beg you, my great-aunt, could you please keep it down a bit? Otherwise, I might have to deal with complaints again! The octopus walked over with the menu, looking utterly helpless.

This is also good. Nan Ge did not force her, and when leaving, she seemed to remember something. She took out a notepad from her bag, wrote down a series of numbers, and handed it to Ming Mei, saying, "Last time you asked me to help you inquire about part-time tutoring, a friend of mine happens to need someone to teach a five-year-old girl. However, this little one is a bit special and quite difficult to handle. You can ask about the situation first." As she reached the door, Nan Ge suddenly turned back and asked, "But, Ming Mei, do you need money?"