So he really was here to buy something?
Then why did he go straight to the boss instead of her...
So weird.
"Let's see... you've got half an hour left on your shift. You don't have to work anymore—just help the customer carry his things for a bit."
"I'll give you a full day off tomorrow. Paid."
Upon hearing that, Lin, who had been a little reluctant, immediately brightened up and nodded eagerly.
Just a bit of carrying, and she'd get off early and score a paid day off? Too good to pass up.
Besides, she figured this strange guy probably wouldn't stick around long. He might even send her away the moment he left the shop.
"Actually... it's really not necessary."
Zane looked at the heavy backpack in her arms, hesitating. It was just a bag—no need to trouble someone else.
"Haha, don't worry about it. I was just about to file my report anyway, and the store's closing soon. This kid can see you off."
"By the way, this shop used to belong to Lin's parents. I bought it recently at a high price—it was a great location. She was bored and short on cash, so she came to help out."
After a bit of small talk, Deck could barely hold back his eagerness to go report the black market incident—and what had happened with Zane.
"Lin, just lock the door on your way out. Sir, I'll take my leave now."
With a quick goodbye, Deck left.
Only Zane, Lin, and the Bangboo clutching a boot remained in the room.
"What are you staring at me for? Your boss told you to help me carry these. You're just gonna stand there?"
Once Deck was gone, Zaneturned to Lin, who stood there half a head shorter, clearly dazed.
"Huh?"
Lin glanced down at the backpack in her arms, then up at Zane, then over at the second one on the floor.
"You want me to carry both of them?"
Zane raised a brow.
"What else?"
Lin opened her mouth but said nothing. Fine. She'd carry them.
And to think she was just praising this guy a moment ago. Seriously...
...
A little later, outside the toy shop, Zane stood as Lin, one backpack on her back and the other at her feet, struggled to lock the door.
"Seriously... you're a grown man. Making me carry all this? Don't you have even a little shame...?"
Walking side by side, Lin hugged the backpack tight, her arms starting to ache as she complained.
"Shame? What's that?"
"Is it edible?"
Lin's face darkened. She was speechless.
She had thought up several ways to get him to carry at least one of the bags—and imagined different responses he might give.
This guy, though...
What was she supposed to say to that?
"Whatever. I'll just carry them. Think of it as one last struggle before my paid vacation..."
She sighed, glasses sliding down slightly as her expression shifted.
After walking a while, they left the street behind. Dawn was breaking, light spilling into the sky. Lin stared ahead—then her eyes lit up.
"A car's coming!"
She let out a breath. Finally, a break.
"And it's empty—what luck!"
Lin raised a hand and waved at the vehicle.
"What are you doing?"
Hearing Zane, she replied,
"You're taking the car back. I'll just toss these in and head off to do my own thing..."
"Why waste money on a ride? Night fares are expensive. We should save. I walked here, so I'll walk back too."
Her face instantly dropped.
Wait a second—Deck only said to see him off, not to be his pack mule!
She was about to argue when Zane raised a hand.
"Let me remind you—'the customer is always right.'"
"So just do as I say."
As she opened her mouth again, he added calmly,
"And no talking back."
Lin froze, eyes wide.
She suddenly felt the urge to just dump everything on the ground and storm off.
But she held it in.
"Where do you even live?"
"I'm telling you now—if it's far, I'm not going. Our teacher taught us about safety. People like you..."
Her tone was full of suspicion. Clearly, as a teenager, she wasn't great at hiding her thoughts.
"Relax. I'll head back on my own."
As the car pulled up to the curb, Zane reached over and took the backpack from her arms, then grabbed the one on her back.
He gave it a light tug, lifting it—Lin's feet left the ground momentarily. She flailed.
"Wait! Let me take the straps off first!"
As soon as the bag was off, a wave of relief washed over her. She felt like she could float.
Zane looked at her and said with a smirk,
"Tsk. You're too serious. Belle's way more fun."
Lin's eyes widened.
What?
So this whole time he was just messing with her?
"What do you mean 'too serious'?! We just met! You're not even trying to consider other people's feelings!"
What a jerk. Just out for laughs, without a care for anyone else!
"Hey, if you care too much about what others think, you'll just make yourself miserable."
"End of the day, the world's big—but you matter most."
Zane chuckled and gave a little wave as he removed his mask, revealing a pair of smiling blue eyes.
"Your name's Lin, right? As in 'winter'?"
Seeing her dazed nod, he gave a soft smile.
"Nice to meet you."
He'd been unsure before, but now that he had her name, he could be certain.
With that, he turned, got into the vehicle, gave the driver an address, and shut the door.
The car merged into the growing flow of morning traffic.
Lin watched it disappear. As she came back to her senses, her mind drifted to that pair of eyes and the gentle smile.
He was way younger than she'd thought.
She'd assumed he was some older guy like Deck—but he'd been hiding behind a mask and even disguised his voice...
"Actually... he kind of had a point."
She murmured, thoughtful.
Then, grabbing her phone, she began texting her friends about everything that had happened today as she walked home.
The abandoned amusement park incident.
And the strange guy in the mask...
...
"Sixth Street really is the most comfortable."
The sun had risen, casting a warm glow across the sky.
Zane, carrying two backpacks, made his way toward the video store.
He hadn't forgotten—he still had an appointment with Belle.
...
At the Janus District Public Security Bureau—
"Senior, your voice sounds kind of weird."
"Can't help it. Battery's low…"
Qingyi sat at her desk, rummaging for a charger, her voice glitching with robotic distortion.
Thankfully, no one else was around.
"Oh no! Senior, we've got a serious problem!"
"What happened?"
Qingyi looked up in a daze as Zhu Yuan burst in.
"Senior, remember that underground black market you told Zane about?"
"It just... exploded!"