During the Republic of China era, I achieved unparalleled success by returning to the past.

The woman's gaze swept across his face like gentle ripples. Song Beiyou clasped his hands in a fist and asked, "May I ask, young lady, was it also your doing to rescue me from the police station?"

"Um."

Song Beiyou felt a warmth in his heart: "Miss, you have saved my life several times. If there is anything I can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask."

"Let's not talk about saving lives anymore. That hospital is dangerous and full of hidden dangers; we must not go back there so easily in the future."

"I see." Song Beiyou's mind raced, and he asked, "Then Dr. Scarlett Evanson... she's really missing?"

The woman moved swiftly, already two steps away, her intoxicating fragrance wafting towards him. Song Beiyou held his breath, only then seeing clearly that her long black hair was neither braided nor tied into a bun, but loosely tied in a ponytail. If it weren't for the large graffiti on her face, she would definitely be a dashing and spirited young woman.

"You're still so concerned about her? Do you two really have an affair?"

"No. She is my benefactor," Song Beiyou added. "The young lady saved my life, so she is my benefactor; she also helped me out, so she is also my benefactor."

"Oh—" she drawled, abruptly changing the subject, "You've lived here since you were a child?"

Song Beiyou nodded: "I've lived here since I was old enough to understand things."

"Do you have any photos of your home that I could take a look at?"

Song Beiyou was puzzled, but he smiled bitterly and said, "Miss, my family doesn't have the spare money to go to a photo studio to take pictures."

"Alright, here you go. See you in the martial world." The woman's voice had barely faded when she had already swept out of the house like a gentle breeze.

"Wait, miss!" Song Beiyou hurriedly chased after her, but she had vanished without a trace.

He closed the door again and picked up the book she had just put down—"Ascending to the Clouds and Leaping Forward." It was thin, with only a dozen or so pages. He opened it by candlelight and glanced at it; it was a technique for light-body footwork.

"Does she think I was too slow to escape?" Song Beiyou's lips curled into a smile. "But she wants the photos... what's her purpose?"

I thought about it for a while, but couldn't figure it out. I turned my head and saw a warm yellow light at the doorway, and my heart skipped a beat. I picked it up; it was her oil-paper umbrella, still carrying a faint fragrance.

This winter rain, sometimes, is quite lovely.

……

The warm light was gentle, the sea breeze caressed my face, and a faint floral fragrance wafted past my nose.

A few wisps of white clouds drifted by, and seagulls pierced the sky. Song Beiyou gazed at the beach, its waves crashing, and a strange feeling arose within him: Why was it so quiet? Where were the sounds of the waves and the birdsong?

Suddenly, a hot, delicate body pressed against his back, her arms hooking around his waist from behind. Through her thin shirt, he could feel her voluptuous curves rising and falling with her breath.

"Baby..." Her voice was as soft and sweet as cotton candy.

Song Beiyou was taken aback. He recognized the voice immediately and exclaimed in surprise, "Dr. Evanson, what's wrong...?"

"Shh." Warm breath brushed against the back of her neck, and the hands held her tighter. "Don't call me that. You should call me sweetheart."

Her voice became a whisper as she leaned close to her ear: "Come on, say 'sweetheart'."

Song Beiyou's Adam's apple bobbed: "But...our sweetheart..."

Scarlett Ivanson's smooth face gently caressed the back of his neck, her voice filled with satisfaction: "It sounds so nice... I want you to call me that every day, only that..."

Why has she suddenly become so unrestrained? The thought was thrown to the back of his mind, and Song Beiyou's throat went dry.

A hot body wrapped around his neck from behind, turning him around. Song Beiyou's eyes widened—how did he end up with a face covered in graffiti?!

Suddenly, the person in his arms vanished. He Zheng's dark, gaunt face appeared out of nowhere, transforming into the old herdsman from "The Horseman," and he asked with a grin, "Old Song, do you want a wife?"

Bang! Bang! Bang! The door was being pounded on so loudly it shook the heavens.

Song Beiyou suddenly opened his eyes, recalling the dream he had just had, and was speechless for a moment. The saying goes, "When people are well-fed and warm, they think of lustful desires." I haven't even kept warm yet, and I'm already having wild thoughts.

Seeing that the door was about to be knocked apart, he immediately stood up and asked with some displeasure, "Who is it?"

"Ah You!" the landlord exclaimed with some surprise, "Open the door quickly, Second Master's men are here!"

"Wait here." Song Beiyou scooped up a ladle of water, washed up briefly, and just as he opened the door, several men in black rushed in.

Two men guarded the door. The shorter one, acting as if no one else was around, barged in, lifted a pillow to peek inside, then walked to the only wardrobe in the room, opened the door, looked inside, slammed it shut, and then turned around and cursed, "So poor even rats don't come here, damn it."

The landlord hurriedly squeezed in, smiling obsequiously, "Ah You, this is Second Master's top henchman, Brother Dong."

Dong Ge narrowed his eyes, his large black mole on his face twitching: "You, Ayou? I heard you tried to seduce a foreign woman at the foreign hospital and got kicked out?"

"Hahahaha..." The henchmen grinned, gloating.

Ah Dong was quite pleased with the effect of his joke, then changed the subject, "Second Master sent me to ask you about that money, what's the story?"

Isn't this the guy, Ah Dong, whom he beat up? According to Ding Qiang's memory, he was indeed a follower of Zhang Feilong. Song Beiyou sneered inwardly, a smirk playing on his lips:

"Brother Dong, right? My debt with Second Master isn't due yet, is it? What, Second Master's short of money and wants me to pay it off early?"

Ah Dong's narrowed eyes widened instantly—he had never seen anyone so arrogant about owing money. "You little brat, you've got guts. Aren't you afraid Second Master will tear you apart to pay off your debt?" He said, walking over with a cold laugh, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists.

Song Beiyou watched him approach indifferently and said, "Why would Second Master do a losing business? All my body parts combined aren't even worth fifty silver dollars."

Suddenly, A-Dong reached out and grabbed his collar, intending to throw him to the ground, but to his surprise, he didn't budge. He was taken aback.

"Ayou, don't be afraid, I'm here!" Shen Daguan, carrying a stick, ran to the door, panting.

Interrupted by his surprise, Ah Dong let go of his hand, turned around to look at the door, and said with a grin, "Hey, Baldy, you've come to deliver money again? You really are a good brother."

Shen Daguan glanced at the two burly gatekeepers, quickly hid his stick behind his back, and said with a forced smile, "Let's talk this out, let's talk this out. Ayou is very capable. Give him some more time, and he will definitely be able to pay back."

A-Dong raised an eyebrow and said disdainfully, "I thought you were a loyal friend."

"Ah You has exceptional knife skills; even big hotels are vying for him. He'll be able to pay back the money quickly," Shen Daguan said with a smile, though he gripped the stick tightly behind his back.

"Wow! That's amazing! I'm going to have to watch this closely." Ah Dong laughed exaggeratedly.