The Tentacle Girl's Child Can't Be a Magical Girl

Chapter 52 Pretty Boy

Evening, Parrot Quarter.

Bai Yuzhe glanced past the few ill-intentioned eyes on the street and walked into the familiar alley. The middle-aged man at the front desk looked up, saw him, paused for a moment, and then gave a meaningful smile.

"Oh, what a rare guest! I haven't seen you here for days."

Bai Yuze sighed: "The Special Operations Bureau got a new boss recently, so they're stricter. I'll have to make fewer trips."

The middle-aged man didn't ask any more questions, but just gestured towards the inside with his lip: "The boss is on the second floor, go up yourself."

Bai Yuze nodded, walked through the bar filled with the smells of smoke and alcohol, and climbed the creaking wooden stairs to the second floor.

It was the same office, and the same beautiful woman sitting by the window.

Aoi Hayakawa.

She looked up and watched Bai Yuze walk in, a complex light flashing in her slender eyes.

"sit."

Bai Yuze sat down on the sofa.

Hayakawa Aoi stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.

"You're an interesting kid."

Bai Yuze didn't say anything, but silently took out some of the little trinkets he had brought and placed them on the table one by one.

Hayakawa Aoi, seemingly used to Bai Yuze's style, continued, "I've heard about what happened with the Ash Gang. I heard they lost several powerful fighters, apparently because they messed with someone they shouldn't have. If that's all, it's not a big deal; after all, there are always those who don't know their place. But..."

She paused, her gaze lingering on Bai Yuzhe's face for a moment.

"But the deal between the Ash Gang and the Wild Dogs was inexplicably disrupted by the Secret Service."

Bai Yuze sat there quietly.

Hayakawa Aoi stared at him for a long time, her tone slightly amused, "I heard that the newly appointed director of the Secret Service is also preparing to take action against the Ash Gang."

After saying that, she leaned back in her chair, tossed the butterfly knife onto the table, and sighed softly, "I don't know what sins the Ash Gang committed to suddenly become so powerful."

"Sister Kui, see if there's anything you want here. I still need to go home and study."

Bai Yuze raised his head, his eyes filled with the innocence of a college student, as if these things were not as important to him as his schoolwork.

Hayakawa Aoi's lips twitched. Every time she brought up these things, the other party would not respond at all. It was clear that the other party was determined not to get involved in gang affairs, which made her a little suspicious that these things were really done by this harmless college student in front of her.

The doubt flashed through her mind, and her face quickly returned to an appreciative smile. "Leave your things here, and we'll transfer the money to you later."

"it is good."

Bai Yuzhe responded, packed his schoolbag, and prepared to leave.

Just then, Hayakawa Aoi suddenly spoke up: "Didn't you buy two boxes of Qingzhang Sustained-Release Tablets last time? Recently, someone in the Parrot District on Shendun Road has been offering a hefty sum to buy them, with the price doubled."

Bai Yuze narrowed his eyes. If he had only suspected Hongqiao's level of vigilance before, he was now certain that he was being watched by someone.

The target audience for Qingzhang slow-release tablets is very small. People in wealthy areas basically don't need them because the miasma pollution there is very mild. The people who need them are usually from Hanjiang District and Yingwu District. However, the problem is that Qingzhang slow-release tablets are not cheap, and ordinary people simply cannot afford them.

He smuggled two boxes, partly to make use of the waste, and partly to curry favor with the Viper Gang.

But now someone is offering a hefty sum to buy this. What's their motive?

Thinking of this, Bai Yuze turned his head to look at the charming woman behind him and slowly said, "Sister Kui, things are tense lately, so I may have to stop for a while."

"Um?"

Hayakawa Aoi raised an eyebrow but didn't press the matter further. She picked up a glass of wine from the table, took a sip, and slowly said, "Okay, if you need money later, you can come to us. After all, you're not an outsider. Let's not talk about 'nine out and thirteen back,' just one cent per month."

66

""

Bai Yuze pushed the door open and went out.

The smell of smoke and alcohol in the bar was as pungent as ever, mixed with cheap perfume and body odor, making one's eyes hurt.

He walked past the drunken men and women, some slumped unconscious on the table, others huddled together talking incoherently, and no one gave him a second glance.

Pushing open that dilapidated door, the night view of the Parrot District rushed in.

It's a bit chilly outside.

He wrapped his coat tighter around himself and glanced around from the entrance of the Viper Gang.

Several unlicensed motorcycle taxis were parked at the entrance of the alley, and the drivers were squatting in twos and threes by the roadside smoking.

There are no buses in the Parrot District.

If you want to get to Qingyang Bridge, you either have to walk for an hour or take a black motorcycle taxi from these gang territories.

Bai Yuze walked over and randomly picked a car.

"Qingyang Bridge".

The driver, a blond man, glanced at him with a cigarette dangling from his lips, said nothing, and patted the back seat.

Boom!

As soon as Bai Yuze sat in the back seat, the roar of the engine exploded in the alley.

With a whoosh, the motorcycle shot off, the wind whistling against my face.

These gang members are known for their reckless riding; they never slow down when turning.

Bai Yuzhe was already used to it, holding onto the back seat with one hand and looking around.

The wind at the end of March still carried a chill, seeping in through the cuffs and collar.

As the motorcycle turned into the alley near Qingyang Bridge, Huang Mao suddenly slowed down, tilted his head, and said, "Something seems to be up ahead."

Bai Yuze glanced ahead.

A group of people were gathered deep in the alley, six or seven figures moving about, the sound of fists hitting each other muffled, audible from dozens of meters away.

"Take a detour."

The blond-haired man responded and was about to turn around.

Something flickered in the gaps in the crowd—a familiar black hoodie.

Hmm, Bai Yuze's gaze froze, then he patted the blond-haired man on the shoulder: "Stop the car."

The blond-haired man slammed on the brakes and turned to look at him: "What's wrong?"

Bai Yuze didn't answer, jumped out of the back seat, and walked over there.

As he got closer, he realized he wasn't mistaken; it was indeed Liu Hao, the good brother who always glared at him in the classroom.

At that moment, he was curled up on the ground like a dead dog, being beaten by several people.

Bai Yuze turned his head and looked at the people around him who had made the move. They were all acquaintances, members of the Wild Dog Gang.

The same group that surrounded Morikawa Hayato last time.

Bai Yuze stared at it for half a minute.

He only strolled over after the men's punches slowed down.

The Wild Dogs heard footsteps and turned around.

Upon seeing it was him, the tall, imposing man in the lead paused for a moment, then chuckled.

"Oh."

He sized Bai Yuze up and down, a sly smile on his face. "Pretty boy, you're not planning to ask us to give you face again, are you?"

Bai Yuze didn't respond to that.

He walked over to Liu Hao, glanced down at him, and saw that he looked quite pitiful. His face was covered in bruises, his lips were cut, and blood was smeared on his chin. But his eyes were still open, staring at him with a very complex expression.

Bai Yuze withdrew his gaze and slowly said, "It's nothing, I just came to see what was going on. What happened?"

The tall man laughed and pointed at Liu Hao, who was curled up on the ground. "This bastard dares to trespass on the Deadwood Street in Parrot District. We brothers were collecting debts over there, and he was just squatting there with that tattered bag, who knows what he was doing."

A shorter guy next to him chimed in, "We told him to get lost, but he wouldn't. When we asked him what he did, he said something about collecting data, collecting fucking data!"

"We smashed his things, and he lunged at us like a madman." The tall man sneered, "He doesn't even know his own limitations, yet he dared to lay a hand on us."

Bai Yuze glanced down at Liu Hao.

Several small instruments were scattered on the ground, some were broken, and he held the intact one in his arms.

Seeing the other person's appearance, he almost laughed. When the other person left today, he had told them that it was not safe here for the time being and that it would be best not to come over.

Now look what happened: the equipment broke down, and I even got beaten up.

Bai Yuze shook his head slightly, then took out a cigarette from his pocket and offered one to the tall guy.

The tall guy took it, put it in his mouth, and Bai Yuze lit it for him. "Continue."

The tall man raised an eyebrow: "Continue with what?"

"Keep beating them up."

Bai Yuze took a step back, like a passerby.

Liu Hao raised his head from the ground and glared at him.

Bai Yuze didn't look at him.

The tall man paused for a moment, then laughed: "Pretty boy, what do you mean by that?"

"It doesn't mean anything."

Bai Yuze took a piece of chewing gum out of his pocket, put it in his mouth, and slowly said, "I'm not familiar with him. At school, he was my nemesis, always picking on me. It just made me feel better."

truth.

The tall man looked at him, then at Liu Hao on the ground, and suddenly laughed.

"Okay, pretty boy, you're interesting."

"But I'm tired, let's call it a day."

The tall man squatted down, patted Liu Hao's face, and said slowly, "Kid, if you come here again without paying protection money, it won't just be a beating."

A group of people disappeared around the corner of the alley.

The alleyway quieted down.

Liu Hao was still curled up on the ground, clutching the backpack containing the instruments.

Bai Yuze stood there for two seconds, looked at him, and then turned and walked towards the alley entrance.

After taking a few steps, a voice came from behind: "You—what are you doing here?"

Bai Yuze kept walking.

"Just passing by."

Liu Hao was stunned for a moment, then got up from the ground and staggered a couple of steps to catch up.

"Do you know them?"

"I don't know him."

Liu Hao looked at him, his expression even more complicated. "Then why do they—call you a pretty boy—"

Bai Yuze paused in his steps.

He turned around and looked at Liu Hao.

On that bluish-purple face, there was no gratitude or guilt in his eyes, only a strange confusion.

Bai Yuzhe remained silent for two seconds.

Then he turned around and continued walking forward.

"Liu Hao".

"ah?

'

"You have such a foul mouth, you deserve to get beaten up."

Liu Hao stood there stunned for a long time, as if he had made some guess in his mind.

He had always been curious about how the other person earned money while studying, and now he understood.

Bai Yuze had already gotten on his motorcycle and left.

A few minutes later, the motorcycle stopped at the Qingyang Bridgehead.

"Twenty yuan."

Bai Yuze looked at him and said, "It's too expensive."

Normally it would cost a maximum of ten yuan.

Yellow Hair threw his cigarette butt on the ground and glared at him fiercely: "Kid, if it were anyone else, I'd charge forty. You—"

It's best not to be ungrateful.

"Too expensive."

Bai Yuzhe's gaze didn't fall on him, but instead landed on a dark corner behind him.

Huang Mao was clearly enraged by Bai Yuze's disregard. He grinned maliciously and pulled a folding knife from his pocket. "Fine, fine, then you can take the money and go find the King of Hell!"

With a flash of light, the blade was thrust towards Bai Yuzhe's vitals.

The next second, the blond guy was sent flying.

Bai Yuzhe withdrew his foot, didn't even glance at him, and turned to walk towards Qingyang Bridge.

I heard a dull thud of ribs hitting the ground behind me, followed by a pig-like scream.

Bai Yuze shook his head.

Now, not only have I lost ten yuan, but I also have to climb to the illegal clinic to get my ribs checked.

His gaze returned to the empty alley, and he narrowed his eyes slightly. The Ash Gang really is persistent. They can't even protect themselves now, yet they still send people to cause trouble for him.

It seems I haven't given them enough reason to complain.

Next time, I'll send out even bigger gifts.

On Qingyang Bridge, special police officers are conducting a routine inspection.

They saw Bai Yuze walk over, glanced at the direction behind him where people were still screaming in pain, then looked away and went about their business.

Nobody asked a single question.

Bai Yuze handed over his student ID, scanned it, and was allowed to pass.

The whole process took less than twenty seconds.

As for the fight that just happened a hundred meters away on the other side of the bridge?

They acted as if they hadn't seen it.

He turned his gaze away and walked into Hanjiang District on the other side of the bridge.

Suddenly, the streetlights on both sides of the street turned on.

The bus stop was on the street corner, and there were only a few people waiting for the bus.

A few minutes later, the bus came to a swaying stop in front of him.

Bai Yuze got into the car carrying a brown paper bag and sat down in the back seat by the window.

The car started moving, and the street scene outside the window began to recede. He looked at his reflection in the glass.

Smuggling can't continue for now, but without smuggling, there's no money. Rent needs to be paid, tuition for Holly University needs to be paid, AET exam fees need to be paid...

Bai Yuze did a quick calculation and found that he still had enough money left to last until the end of the month.

If we don't find a way to make money, we'll have to sleep on the streets with our son next month.

Sigh, there's nothing he can do but go back to his old ways and deliver the stuff while he's at it.

Bai Yuze glanced at the time: seven o'clock.

It should still be during business hours.

As Bai Yuze passed by the Rainbow Bridge, the staff member on duty reminded him expressionlessly that the bridge would close at 10 o'clock. Bai Yuze nodded to indicate that he understood.

The most bustling area in Maple Leaf District is Jiefang South Road, but at the end of that street lies an inconspicuous alley.

At the entrance of the alley stand two meticulously trimmed maple trees, their trunks adorned with tiny, warm-sounding lights. A dozen or so steps further in, the noise fades away, leaving only the damp sheen of the cobblestone path beneath your feet.

Inkmark Cafe is hidden at the deepest part of the alley.

The storefront is made of vintage wood, with dark curtains hanging in the windows. A small blackboard stands by the door, displaying today's specials in chalk. Stepping inside, you're greeted by warm yellow lighting, soft jazz music, and the mingled aromas of coffee beans and old books.

The proprietress leaned against the bar counter.

She wore a dark green velvet dress, the hem of which swayed gently at her ankles.

Her long, wavy hair cascaded lazily over her shoulders, the ends dyed a touch of dark brown, which made her skin appear exceptionally fair, and her eyes and brows exuded an indescribable charm.

He seemed to have experienced a lot, yet he didn't care about anything.

She was holding a cup of coffee and raised an eyebrow when she saw Bai Yuze come in.

"Oh, what a rare guest."

Bai Yuze walked over and sat down at the bar.

"Sister Lu, do you need someone to play the piano?"

The proprietress looked at him, a slight smile playing on her lips. She took a sip of her coffee and said slowly, "Rather than needing a pianist, we're really short of a barista/waitress. Would you like to give it a try?"

"I haven't gone so far as to sell my integrity."

"Alright then~"

A hint of disappointment flashed in the proprietress's eyes. She took out an old cash register from under the bar, flipped through a few pages, and read out a number.

"Two hours every night, paid daily. Want to work?"

Bai Yuze nodded: "Let's do it."

He stood up and walked towards the old grand piano in the corner.

He paused as he passed a table.

A young girl dressed as a maid was sitting at the table, pouring coffee for a customer.

She looked up, saw him, and paused for a moment.

Bai Yuzhe wasn't surprised; he was the one who helped introduce Qianye Mengyu to this job.

He nodded to the other person and continued walking towards the piano.

He sat down at the piano, his fingers landing on the keys.

The musical notes flowed out, slowly dissipating in the warm yellow light and the aroma of coffee.

Chiba Yumeyu stood not far away, holding a tray, listening quietly.

The proprietress leaned against the bar counter, watching the two people, and the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.

interesting.

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