Dad got shot?
Xu Yinsheng’s heart tightened at those words.
She had just wanted to find those two travelers to learn the details, but in the blink of an eye, they had vanished, lost in the surging crowd.
“Miss, do you need a tour guide?”
At that moment, a man dressed in a black suit approached her and asked kindly.
Xu Yinsheng looked up.
He was wearing a Green Carp Man headpiece, dressed in a comical, clownish manner, standing about 1.75 meters tall.
Though she couldn’t see his face, his aura was gentle—like a circus clown, making people smile.
Seeing Xu Yinsheng’s strange gaze, the Green Carp Man shrugged, “Work requires it.”
“Um… the nearby inns are closer to the charity concert venue, though the prices are a bit higher. That’s no problem.”
Xu Yinsheng didn’t think much of it and handed over her suitcase.
She had seen many guides like this—essentially middlemen leading guests to hotels.
After dining lavishly on the ship and spending about a hundred thousand on artwork, she still had over thirty thousand left.
The charity concert was a month away.
She planned to stay here for a month.
But money was a bit tight.
Xu Yinsheng rubbed the Rolex on her left wrist and thought she’d check if there was a watch shop nearby to pawn it for cash.
“Alright, please follow me.”
The Green Carp Man lifted her suitcase and led her toward a small street beside the inn.
Due to the concert, the crowds were huge and the streets extremely congested.
Xu Yinsheng was pushed along by the throng, almost losing sight of the Green Carp Man ahead.
Then he stopped, signaling for her to stay close.
He led her through left and right turns into a narrow alley, explaining as they walked.
“This is a shortcut. It’s a bit roundabout but much less crowded than outside.”
Xu Yinsheng nodded in understanding.
The alley was complicated—twisting and turning like a maze, moss growing in the corners, like a labyrinth.
“Miss, are you here for the concert as well?”
The Green Carp Man skillfully started a conversation, trying to keep the atmosphere from going cold.
Xu Yinsheng hesitated.
“Sort of. My main goal is to find someone.”
“A boyfriend?”
“Parents.”
“Can you describe their appearance? I’m well connected locally; maybe I can help.”
A hint of warmth rose in Xu Yinsheng’s heart—there were still good people in this world.
She thought for a moment, then shook her head, looking lost.
“No. I haven’t seen them for seven or eight years.”
The Green Carp Man nodded upon hearing this, sensing the sadness behind her. He said no more and continued dragging the suitcase along.
They reached a crossroads, and suddenly, he pointed left.
“Miss, look, there’s a couple over there.”
Xu Yinsheng followed his finger but saw nothing.
Just as she turned back, the Green Carp Man grabbed her suitcase and bolted, running at full speed!
Xu Yinsheng was stunned for a moment before reacting.
She realized she was being robbed and hurried after him, shouting loudly, “Stop! Robbery! Help!”
The man seemed startled and ran even faster, soon disappearing into the maze-like alleyways.
Xu Yinsheng stopped, looking around the complicated network of alley entrances, forcing out a smile uglier than crying.
The local robbers really had no rules!
***
Daytime, police station.
Two middle-aged men in police uniforms were handling paperwork.
There was no one else inside except the hum of the water boiler.
Suddenly, a red-haired woman rushed in, sat down, and plopped herself into the chair opposite them.
“I want to file a police report!”
Liu Che put down his documents and stood up, first pouring the woman a cup of warm water, then shaking her hand and soothing her, “Miss, please don’t panic. Speak slowly. The law will give you justice.”
“I… I…”
Xu Yinsheng was exhausted, nearly out of breath.
Who knew how long she had been trapped in that maze-like alley before finally getting out?
She took a sip of warm water, inhaled deeply, calming her racing heart.
“I was robbed by a Green Carp Man.”
The two officers were momentarily stunned, then exchanged glances.
Liu Che took the lead, asking, “A Green Carp Man? Which one?”
“Not which one—he’s half fish? No, he’s a robber wearing a Green Carp Man headpiece,” Xu Yinsheng described.
“Can you describe his appearance?”
“Middle-aged man, wearing a suit, with a Green Carp Man headpiece.”
Xu Yinsheng thought for a moment.
“That’s about it. He pretended to be a tour guide, then led me into an alley and tricked me into handing over my suitcase…”
“Alright, we understand your situation now.”
Liu Che finished taking notes and closed his notebook.
“We will give you a thorough reply within 15 working days.”
“Fifteen days?”
Xu Yinsheng blinked dumbfounded.
That’s so slow.
If this were the Huayuan Federation—no, if this were the Huayuan Federation, who would dare steal from her?
The theft happened this morning; Xu Yinsheng had donated five million to the police station at noon; the whole gang was locked up in the afternoon; peanuts were fed at night.
“Police resources are limited. Please understand.”
The two officers apologized again.
“Uh…”
Xu Yinsheng was momentarily speechless.
Then, as if remembering something, she tucked her red hair behind her ear, somewhat tactfully saying, “I’m a foreign visitor, here specially to travel in your country. I believe you will be very hospitable.”
The two officers exchanged looks and said in unison, “Welcome, foreign guest. We will give you a reply within 15 working days.”
“And?”
“Can’t speed it up? Maybe mobilize the public to help find the robber? There are quite a few artworks in my suitcase.”
“Very sorry.”
Xu Yinsheng was completely dumbfounded.
Isn’t it said that people in other countries are very friendly to foreign visitors like her?
Xu Yinsheng rarely traveled abroad—after all, the Huayuan Federation’s territory was large enough, spanning Asia, Europe, and Africa.
She had a fox friend who traveled abroad often, and every time he returned, he would tell her how many beautiful girls there were overseas.
He also said foreigners were very friendly to visitors like them, pouring out their hearts—and their own people were “pouring their hearts” too.
In the end, after all the back and forth, the problem remained unsolved.
Xu Yinsheng gave up pushing further.
After all, it was just a suitcase with tens of thousands worth of art pieces and some cash.
She still had her Rolex—she could pawn that and it would cover her expenses for the month.
Thinking this, Xu Yinsheng reached for the Rolex on her wrist, ready to pawn it for cash, but her hand touched empty air.
She looked down.
Damn!
My Rolex!
The local robbers really don’t follow any rules at all!