Chapter 3: The WillSix years ago, on a rare rainy summer day.The first-floor hall of the welfare home.Both the main gate and the building entrance were wide open, with cool breezes sweeping through every corner of the hall. Everyone was gathered there to pass the time, including Shan Xiaoxi, who was holding a book and studying.When the aid organization's vehicle stopped outside the gate, the children eagerly crowded around to see what was happening.Charlie was the aid organization's commissioner in charge of public welfare affairs on Grass Street. With his yellow curly hair and black eyes, the children at the welfare home liked to call him "Yellow Curls." Every month, he drove over to deliver checks and supplies to Director Liang Qin. This time, he brought along a living person as well.Shan Xiaoxi remained seated in her chair, quietly observing the unfamiliar man following behind Charlie.He was a pale young man with short brown hair, dressed in a new-looking gray casual outfit that seemed freshly bought. He walked with a slight sway, as if there was something wrong with his right leg.Charlie briefly introduced the young man to everyone, then spoke privately with the director for a while before leaving, leaving the young man alone at the welfare home.Shan Xiaoxi could still recall the young man's expression at the time—restrained, uncomfortable, gentle, humble, disheveled yet polite. This was how Vincent first appeared at the welfare home.Charlie gave Vincent a small amount of money as living expenses. Since Vincent was an adult, this was the only aid he would receive, and there would be no more afterward.Vincent had just recovered from a serious illness and was too weak to do physical labor. With the little money he had, he bought painting supplies, asked a child to take him to an area where slightly wealthier people lived, and made a living by sketching portraits on the street.The welfare home had limited funds and couldn't afford to send the children to school. Shan Xiaoxi was able to attend school thanks to the money her brother sent her.She occasionally found time to teach the younger children some basics, but she was busy with work and had little free time. After Vincent arrived, the task of teaching the children fell to him. No matter how mischievous or slow the children were, Vincent would patiently explain things to them.He also loved gardening. The pot of azaleas in Shan Xiaoxi's room was a birthday gift from him.Even when wearing old, coarse clothes, Vincent never let his demeanor become vulgar. He was always elegant, like a prince who had fallen from a fairy tale into the mortal world. His gentleness and romance were the most precious hues of happiness in the welfare home.The last time Shan Xiaoxi saw Vincent was the corner of his clothes peeking out from under a white sheet. Due to the severity of the assault, ordinary people were not allowed to approach or get involved.Vincent's death was too sudden and unexpected, and the people at the welfare home, including Shan Xiaoxi, were still struggling to accept the reality.These past few days, whenever she opened her eyes, she seemed to still see Vincent's busy figure, and when she closed them, she would dream of his voice and smile.Three days after the assault, Shan Xiaoxi received a notice from the police station to complete the necessary procedures. The person who delivered the notice spoke hesitantly, giving Shan Xiaoxi a sense of foreboding.Steven was a veteran officer at the East District Police Station. He had been injured on duty when he was younger and was later assigned to handle minor, everyday matters.He still had some recollection of Vincent. It was Steven who had processed Vincent's Fourth Ring residency and handled the public notices for finding his relatives.Vincent exhibited rather distinct Inner Ring traits, leading Steven to initially believe they would quickly locate his relatives. However, the notices they sent out sank without a trace in the Inner Ring, prompting Steven to form some conjectures about Vincent's circumstances.This time, when Vincent died in an unexpected attack, Steven also handled his death certificate and notification. On this occasion, feedback from the Third Ring arrived swiftly. The information that came back confirmed Steven's judgment.In a small meeting room at the East District Police Station.Shan Xiaoxi sat numbly in her chair, silently listening as the middle-aged police officer across the table mechanically recited Vincent's death notification.Following the official procedure, Steven asked after finishing the notification: "Is there anything unclear?"There were many unclear points. For instance, why did the Deformity appear during the day? Why did it attack the crowd? And…Shan Xiaoxi looked up at the officer across from her and asked: "Was that Deformity captured?"Steven hesitated before replying: "It was captured and killed on the spot."Killed on the spot? Was there a Deformity corpse under the white cloth that day? Shan Xiaoxi couldn't remember, or rather, she hadn't paid attention to that detail at the time.Perhaps sensing the girl's confusion, Steven quickly moved to the next procedure: "Here's the thing, you cannot take his belongings yet. There's a rather complicated matter that needs to be addressed first."Shan Xiaoxi's attention was indeed diverted as she frowned and asked: "What matter?"Steven cleared his throat: "We have identified Vincent's identity. His original name was Li Zheming, born in the Third Ring. His immediate family members have all passed away, but he has collateral relatives."Vincent had lived in the orphanage for six years, and the police had never been able to find his relatives. Now that he was dead, they found them in just three days. Shan Xiaoxi felt a chill run down her spine.Steven continued: "According to the law, Li Zheming's relatives have the right to inherit his estate. However, Li Zheming left a will during his lifetime, stipulating that all his assets after death should go to you."Shan Xiaoxi was taken aback: "A will? I didn't know he had made one.""The will was made last year, with Charlie from the Aid Center as the witness. There are relevant records in the police system's memorandum. I've already sent someone to notify Charlie; he should be here shortly."Shan Xiaoxi couldn't understand: "Why would he make a will without telling us?"Perhaps he had regained some memories and remembered he had a bunch of vampire relatives. Steven had an answer in mind, but he couldn't tell Shan Xiaoxi that.Steven said: "Since he has quite a few relatives, they have sent a power of attorney to our department in advance. Their representative will also come today. The reason we've gathered all relevant parties today is to settle Li Zheming's estate matters completely. You've arrived early. Once Charlie and Li Zheming's relative representative are both here, we'll discuss the estate issues in detail."The girl across from him looked pale, her bright eyes still shining despite the dark circles beneath them, though her expression was filled with sorrow and confusion.Steven felt a pang of sympathy and couldn't help but remind her: "The Aid Center is an official institution. Any will left there is legally valid. I suggest you speak with Charlie first."Charlie, the man with yellow curly hair, the one who issued the government subsidy checks to Director Liang Qin every month.Although the amounts on the checks were getting smaller and his visits to the welfare home were always delayed, at least he came every month, didn’t he? Was he a reliable person? Had Vincent chosen him instead of informing the welfare home staff when making his will?Someone knocked on the conference room door. Steven asked Shan Xiaoxi to wait alone in the room, as he still had other work to attend to.Shan Xiaoxi still hadn’t fully grasped the situation.Were Vincent’s relatives coming to claim his inheritance? Did Vincent have any assets besides his paintings? Why had he suddenly made a will?He couldn’t have foreseen his own death unless he had remembered who he was. Shan Xiaoxi mentally ran through various possibilities.Had Vincent regained his memory and recalled the assets he had left in the Third Ring? But if he had recovered his memory, why hadn’t he returned to the Third Ring and instead stayed at the welfare home?Would she have to wait until his relatives and Charlie arrived to get answers? The thought made Shan Xiaoxi restless.Steven had told Shan Xiaoxi to sit in the room for a while, but he hadn’t said she couldn’t leave.Shan Xiaoxi gently opened the door and peered outside. She didn’t see Steven, but she spotted Charlie, who had just entered through the police station’s main entrance, and waved to him.Charlie saw Shan Xiaoxi but first asked another officer about Steven. Learning that Steven was busy with other matters, he went straight to the conference room where Shan Xiaoxi was waiting.Closing the door, only Shan Xiaoxi and Charlie remained in the conference room. Before Shan Xiaoxi could ask, Charlie took out the documents and explained the general situation regarding Vincent’s will.A year ago, Vincent had gone alone to the aid center to find Charlie. He had indeed regained his memory, recalling his identity and past events.Vincent had explained in detail to Charlie his reasons for making a will. Charlie had recorded their entire conversation for documentation.Vincent came from the Li family in the Third Ring. The Li family was a large clan with extensive wealth and influence.Both of Vincent’s parents were artists, and as their only son, Vincent naturally became a painter. However, the family of three had terrible luck: his parents died in a car accident, and he was severely injured, leaving him with a permanent limp in his right leg.During the first injury, Vincent had not lost his memory.After this life-changing event, his outlook shifted. He often traveled alone from the Third Ring to the Fourth Ring, becoming fascinated with using his paintings to document the lives of ordinary people there. But misfortune struck again—he was robbed while sketching in the Fourth Ring.The second injury caused Vincent to lose his memory.From then on, he began his life in the Fourth Ring and never returned to the Third Ring until his death. In the fifth year of his life in the Fourth Ring, which was a year ago, his memories suddenly returned.Charlie had asked Vincent why he didn’t return to the Third Ring after regaining his memory. Vincent replied that the Fourth Ring had his family and the person he loved.Charlie looked at Shan Xiaoxi, who was on the verge of tears but holding back, and continued, “That’s exactly what he told me. All of this is documented. Now, I’ll explain the contents of his will.”Vincent’s will was simple: upon his death, all his assets would go to Shan Xiaoxi.He clearly listed the properties under his name, which were few and mainly consisted of three items: a small portion of shares he held in the Li family factory, a property he owned in the Third Ring, and everything he had left behind in the Fourth Ring.This sounded like a rather valuable inheritance.Shan Xiaoxi was confused again.If Vincent had so many assets, even if he didn't want to return to the Third Ring, he could have sold them for money. With that kind of money, the welfare home's situation would have improved significantly.Why hadn't Vincent sold his assets a year ago, instead leaving those things as an inheritance?Seeing Shan Xiaoxi's confusion, Charlie thought of those "off-topic remarks" Vincent had told him—the words related to the will but that couldn't be recorded.Those words weren't just about Shan Xiaoxi; they also concerned Charlie himself.

The Fashion Rookie and The Mysterious Gentleman