Su Yue tripped and tumbled to the ground. Luckily, she threw her arms up just in time to shield her face—avoiding any scratches. But the rest of her body wasn’t so lucky. Her modest chest, pulled down by gravity, slammed straight onto the rough pavement, compressed painfully under her own weight.
Already a sensitive spot, and with no bra on after bedtime, only a thin T-shirt separated her skin from the gritty ground. A sharp sting shot through her. Tears welled in her eyes.
She let out a soft whimper, rolled over, and spotted the black bag that had tripped her. From the feel underfoot earlier, something box-shaped was inside.
“Who left a box here? Have *any* public decency?!” she snapped.
Fury boiled over. All she wanted was to scavenge a bite—what had she done wrong? Why was the world so cruel to this little mouse? She kicked the bag hard.
“Hm?”
This kick felt different. Solid. Heavy.
“Could it be…?” A wild hope flickered in her chest.
She scrambled up, crouched before the bag, peeled open the black outer layer. Beneath lay a silver insulated pouch. Swallowing hard, fingers trembling slightly, she unwrapped it.
Out came a transparent takeout container—warm, fragrant, packed with meat! With one glance, her seasoned eater’s instinct recognized it: beef offal stew.
“The one who brought this bowl to me must be an angel!” Tears streamed down her face. All she could think was: *Thank you, generous nature.*
A night breeze flipped the white wrapper. A sticky note appeared.
*“Eat breakfast properly~ —Chen Yan”* with a tiny smiley.
The angel had revealed themselves! Wait… *Chen Yan?!*
“I saw nothing! Thank you, generous nature!” Su Yue squeaked, then bolted back into the alley like a startled rabbit.
…
Early the next morning, Su Yue dragged herself up. After a groggy wash, she started drawing talismans. Out of proper paper? No problem—she ripped a cardboard box flat. Today her hands felt clumsy. Rush hour loomed, yet only forty talismans lay finished.
She packed up, ready to leave—then spotted the empty white container tossed carelessly aside. She let out an annoyed “Hmph.”
“Thank you, generous nature,” she muttered again, stepping out into the street.
Same spot. Same stall.
“Good morning, Su Yue! Goodbye, Su Yue!” Lucifer zipped past like a whirlwind.
“Good—” Su Yue barely got the word out before Lucifer was dozens of meters away.
“I’m on cleaning duty today! Not that I don’t love you, little Su Yue!” Lucifer bounced cheerfully in the distance, waving before sprinting off.
“Alright…” Su Yue shook her head. *First time I met her, she seemed so soft and slow… What happened?*
Bored at her stall, she mentally tallied: *Did I regret promising Brother Dao from fifth grade not to sell to other factions at Nancheng No.1? Feels like no other school kids even pass by…*
“How interesting…”
A man in head-to-toe black stood before her stall. “Are you *imitating* talisman crafting?”
“What ‘imitating’? My talismans *work*!” Offended, Su Yue shot him a glare.
“Oh?”
His eyes flickered—sclera vanished, leaving only void-like blackness. Then, normal again.
Too fast for ordinary eyes. *Did I imagine that?* She tilted her head, studying him.
“Ten talismans.” His voice was low.
“Coming right up! Thirty yuan!” Business mode activated—she dropped the eye mystery instantly. Customer first. Ethics mattered.
He paid cash. Left without a word.
“Finally, someone with exact change,” she sighed, sinking back onto her stool.
Then—*that* voice again.
“It’s her!”
*Xiao Fu!* To Su Yue, that voice meant coins clinking into her pocket.
She beamed toward the sound—then froze.
Same wall of people. Same gap where Xiao Fu stood. But this time… every single one wore a police uniform.
Cold sweat prickled her neck. *Do they know I’m undocumented?*
“Um…” Before she could speak, an auntie shoved through the line, sobbing: “What kind of stall is this?! My Little Fatty was such a good boy—until he bought your stuff and started fighting at school!”
“Huh? *Little Fatty?*”
“Your brat’s the problem! My Little Sweetie’s only in fifth grade—led astray by your wild kid!” Another auntie pushed in.
“Huh?? *Little Sweetie?*”
Su Yue’s brain short-circuited.
“Pah! My Little Fatty’s only *third* grade! Shame on you!” First auntie spat.
“You—! It’s not the kids’ fault! It’s this *toy* stall’s fault!” Second auntie wailed to the officer. “My baby’s injured! Never sprained his ankle like this before!”
“Ma’am, please calm down,” the lead officer said gently, notebook in hand. “Your child has minor scrapes. We’ll question the stall owner lawfully. If verified, justice will follow.” He turned to Su Yue. “Please cooperate.”
Silence.
He continued without waiting: “Last night, Chen Zicheng (Grade 3) and Wang Pengxiang (Grade 5) of Nancheng No.1 led over thirty students in a brawl at the gate. They used talismans. Elementary kids can’t produce that quantity. Talismans are regulated items—they couldn’t obtain them alone.” He pointed at Xiao Fu. “This student says they bought them… from you. Correct?”
