Chapter 6: SorrowVincent's relatives had left. They probably wouldn't come to the Fourth Ring again in the future.Shan Xiaoxi still had some loose ends to tie up.First, she went to the bank with Charlie to cash the check. The five hundred thousand was divided into three parts: two hundred thousand was directly transferred to Charlie, two hundred thousand was deposited into the welfare institution's account, and the remaining one hundred thousand was exchanged for a bearer check.Charlie initially didn't want to accept the two hundred thousand, but Shan Xiaoxi insisted on giving it to him. After exchanging a few more words, they parted ways at the bank entrance.Shan Xiaoxi took the one hundred thousand check back to the police station, where she received Vincent's personal effects and ashes from Steven. She gave the one hundred thousand check to Steven. After a brief polite refusal, he accepted it.One should not take others' kindness and help for granted. Appropriate reciprocation is what keeps relationships alive.Both Charlie and Steven held official positions, and there might come a time when she would need their help again. This connection had to be maintained.Carrying the box of personal effects in one hand and Vincent's ashes in the other, Shan Xiaoxi walked out of the police station. After taking only a few steps, she suddenly paused, hesitated for a moment, then turned and slipped into a nearby alley.Once inside the deserted alley, Shan Xiaoxi suddenly collapsed, sitting down heavily on the ground. She could no longer hold back. Clutching the urn to her chest, she buried her face in her knees and wept loudly.Three days had passed. It had been three days since Vincent's accident.Shan Xiaoxi hadn't dared to cry at the welfare institution, afraid of being seen and affecting everyone. She also hadn't dared to cry at the police station, because she couldn't let outsiders see her weakness.But the moment she stepped out of the police station, the sorrow in her heart could no longer be contained, because she clearly realized that Vincent was truly gone.Because of Vincent's accident, Shan Xiaoxi had even forgotten about losing her job these past few days, but ultimately, she still had to face this reality.Shan Xiaoxi wept for Vincent, for her uncertain future, and for the unfairness of this world.Even the strongest person has moments of vulnerability.This deserted alley wasn't far from the police station. Because it was a dead end, people usually didn't come here, but there are always exceptions.Mu Zimian was currently trying to quit smoking, going from two packs a day to one pack, then to one cigarette a day. It was a long and grueling process. After enduring the morning and having lunch, he planned to go to the deserted alley near the police station to smoke today's cigarette.The autumn wind carried the peculiar, distinctive scent of the Fourth Ring, making Mu Zimian sneeze involuntarily. He reached up and rubbed the bridge of his tall nose. When no one else was around, he could relax a little, without always having to maintain his composure.But today was different from usual.As he approached the street corner, Mu Zimian heard crying coming from the nearby alley. He hesitated about whether to still smoke, but curiosity prompted him to quietly peek toward the source of the sound.A young woman was sitting there crying. At her feet was a box commonly used by the police station, and the black wooden box in her arms looked familiar.This young woman was probably a family member of some victim, grieving for a lost relative or friend. Mu Zimian made this assumption.The young woman was crying uncontrollably, with no regard for her appearance.Mu Zimian thought she probably wouldn't want to be seen, so he immediately turned to leave. But he hesitated, stopped, wavered for a moment, then turned and entered the alley.Shan Xiaoxi thought that since there was no one around, she could freely release her emotions, so she held nothing back, crying with snot and tears streaming down her face, her heart utterly broken.When Mu Zimian stood before Shan Xiaoxi, she was sobbing uncontrollably, gasping for breath.Through her tear-blurred vision, Shan Xiaoxi saw a pair of black leather shoes and looked up at the person who had suddenly appeared.The girl’s damp eyes gazed at him, her aggrieved expression seeming to hold a thousand unspoken words. Her large, round, dark eyes were so clear that Mu Zimian could even see his own reflection in them.Mu Zimian cleared his throat uncomfortably, pretending to be nonchalant as he turned his head away and pulled a handkerchief from his trouser pocket, handing it to her.Shan Xiaoxi’s brain, deprived of oxygen, wasn’t functioning properly. Without thinking, she instinctively accepted the handkerchief.“My condolences.”After uttering these words, Mu Zimian fled the scene as if escaping.Staring blankly at his retreating figure, Shan Xiaoxi’s mind finally rebooted a few seconds later, and a wave of shame spread from her toes to the top of her head.She was so embarrassed she could dig her toes into the ground and feel smoke rising from her scalp.Belatedly, Shan Xiaoxi realized that her entire pitiful state had been witnessed by someone else. She wished she could find a crack in the ground to hide in.Despite the embarrassment, holding the handkerchief in her hand, Shan Xiaoxi seemed to sense the kindness the other person had conveyed. That small warmth pulled her back from the brink of despair.Wiping her face with the handkerchief, Shan Xiaoxi felt much better.She carefully tucked the handkerchief away, planning to wash it clean when she returned. If she ever had the chance to meet that officer again… Wait, the person earlier didn’t seem to be wearing a police uniform.Shan Xiaoxi recalled the appearance of the person from earlier.Black hair, black eyes, very tall—over 180 centimeters. His figure… was hidden beneath a black trench coat. Underneath the coat was a bluish-gray uniform, and on the left chest of the trench coat was a red triangular embroidery.This was the iconic official standard attire of the renowned Bureau 404 Night Watchers.He was actually a Night Watcher from Bureau 404!Bureau 404, the official agency specialized in handling “Deformities.” Legend had it that within Bureau 404, there was a group of Ability Users who could move about at night unaffected by the Red Moon Magnetic Field. They were known as the Night Watchers.Bureau 404 was the most mysterious agency in the 13 Cities. The Night Watchers were the most mysterious organization in the 13 Cities.This was Shan Xiaoxi’s first time seeing a real Night Watcher. Previously, she had only read about them in newspaper reports. Some tabloid in the Fourth Ring even serialized Night Watcher novels.Why would a Night Watcher appear here? Was he investigating the previous Aberrant Attack Incidents?Curiosity made Shan Xiaoxi forget her sorrow and reminded her that she couldn’t wallow in grief. She still had many things to do.Three days later, Vincent’s funeral was held on the east bank of the Fallen River.The shadow of the previous daytime Aberrant attack on the crowd had not yet dissipated, and the usually bustling east bank sundry trading area was nearly empty.The funeral was simple and not grand, attended only by people from the orphanage.After Director Liang Qin finished her speech, Shan Xiaoxi carried Vincent’s urn to the riverbank.The autumn wind brushed the river’s surface, causing ripples on the Fallen River. It looked no different from an ordinary river.After bidding farewell once more in her heart, Shan Xiaoxi tossed the urn into the Fallen River."Plop." The urn fell into the river, as if sucked in by something from beneath the water, quickly sinking out of sight.Fallen River carries everything away, delivering it to the other shore.The funeral ended, and everyone walked back to the welfare home together, leaving Shan Xiaoxi behind alone.From a distance, Shan Xiaoxi saw a figure approaching. The fleeting glimpse of a uniform announced the newcomer's identity.Shan Xiaoxi reached into her crossbody bag, feeling the folded handkerchief inside. She had carried it with her all this time, just for the chance to see that person again.

The Fashion Rookie and The Mysterious Gentleman