My Wandering Swordsman

Seeing that I hadn't "gone astray," my aunt breathed a sigh of relief, and her eyes softened.

She seemed relaxed, but I suddenly remembered my aunt's behavior at the dinner table—her eloquent manner and her familiarity with the industry...

Ordinary pirates don't have this knowledge!

My eyes narrowed instantly.

"Auntie."

"What's wrong?"

"Tell me honestly, did you... make your fortune by dealing in pirated videotapes?"

My aunt almost spat out her water.

"Ji Xiaosong, do you have a death wish? Are you putting me in the same category as Lü Guodong?"

No? Then I don't understand. How can someone who's not in the industry know so much about piracy, and even be able to quote market prices?

Seeing my puzzled expression, my aunt sighed softly and took a while to speak:

"Your aunt has been in Hengdian for so many years, she's seen all sorts of vendors from all over the country, DVD sellers, extras, they all talk about these things in private. Even if I've never eaten pork, I've certainly seen pigs run, haven't I?"

I simply said "Oh" and that was the end of it.

But a big question mark remained in my mind.

I'm just an extra, how come I've never heard anyone talk about this topic?

My aunt seemed eager to change the subject, so she quickly started her Citroën Fukang and said to me, "Where are you going? I'll give you a ride."

"Let's go back to the film studio. We need to hurry back and see if we've succeeded in getting our hands on the sixth one," I said casually.

The car drove into the night.

I leaned back in the passenger seat, watching the streetlights outside the window flash by one after another.

Looking at my aunt's profile outlined by light and shadow, I was momentarily lost in thought, and asked softly:

"Auntie."

"What's wrong now?"

"So, what exactly did you want to see Lü Guodong at the company today?"

Before she finished speaking, I clearly saw my aunt's hand holding the steering wheel tremble slightly.

She didn't answer, but just stared at the road ahead with her head down.

Why aren't you going to say anything?

I frowned as I looked her over.

A few seconds later, my gaze fell on my aunt's handbag on the center console. She had never carried such a big bag before, and it was bulging inside.

A thought suddenly popped into my head: Could it be...?

"Auntie," I realized my voice was trembling slightly, "you...you went to see Lü Guodong to plead for me?"

My aunt pursed her lips and remained silent.

But silence itself is the loudest answer.

Looking at my aunt's exceptionally gentle profile under the nightlight, I suddenly felt as if something had squeezed my heart hard, making me feel both sour and tender, utterly soft.

"Auntie, you..."

My eyes immediately welled up with tears, and a sour smell rushed from my left chest to my nasal cavity.

A man doesn't easily shed tears, unless he's met someone who truly understands him.

My aunt has a lot on her mind, I know that, but when it comes to money, she can't hide it from me. A person who's meticulous about even her hotel room reservations, a person who tirelessly works on film sets every day, suddenly pulled out a whole purse full of money, just to save her willful nephew from a beating...

At that moment, my heart completely melted.

The words "I love you" almost slipped out of my mouth.

His mouth had just opened.

"Stop, hold it in."

My aunt seemed to sense my thoughts and said without turning her head, "If you dare to say another word, I'll throw you out of the car and beat you to death right now."

"Well--"

I choked on my words, and all my emotions vanished.

What's wrong? It's just a confession. You can refuse if you want. It's not like it's the first time I've made you reject someone. Do you have to shut me up?

However, seeing my aunt's increasingly cold and stern face, I wisely kept quiet.

The Fukang car stopped in front of the tin-roofed house.

Pushing open the door, I saw two familiar figures squatting on the ground, rummaging through something.

"Hey! Brother Ji's back."

When the Flower Monk saw me come in, he grinned and said, "How did your talk with the old fox go?"

I didn't rush to answer; my eyes first scanned the tin-roofed houses.

Liu Zi was sitting on the edge of the bed, legs crossed, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, looking nonchalant and showing no sign of excitement after his success.

My heart skipped a beat.

Damn it, did they fail to steal it?

"We've taken care of it," I replied casually, pulling up a chair to sit down. "What about you guys? Liu Zi, did you succeed?"

Liu Zi didn't say anything, but winked at me.

The Flower Monk suddenly chuckled: "Brother Ji, why are your eyes so red? What happened? Did Sister Weiwei scold you?"

I:"……"

"Sister Weiwei, why is your face so cold?" The Flower Monk nudged Liu Zi with his elbow. "Liu Zi, look, I told you Brother Ji must have been scolded by Sister Weiwei, but you didn't believe me."

Liu Zi slowly spoke up: "Scold? I don't think so."

"What does that look like?" the flower monk asked.

"It's like... being rejected after confessing your feelings," Liu Zi said seriously.

I almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Get lost, you two, stop talking nonsense."

I was furious and embarrassed: "I'm asking you something serious, Liu Zi, did you succeed or not?"

Liu Zi chuckled, slowly reached into his pocket, rummaged around for a while, and pulled out a stack of A4 papers.

"Here you are."

He threw the envelope on the table.

My eyes lit up instantly, and I grabbed it.

Quotation!

The pirated videotapes were listed with their names, categories, quantities, and unit prices, and at the bottom was Lü Guodong's autograph and a red seal.

"Three yuan and seven fen per plate, 17223 plates, totaling over sixty-three thousand yuan, enough for that guy surnamed Lü to be jailed for several years." Liu Zi grinned wickedly.

"Damn it!" I lunged at Liu Zi. "Liu Zi! You're my lucky charm!"

Now I've got it. With this thing, plus the photos I secretly took of the scene, Lu Guodong can't deny it even if he wants to run away.

My aunt stood to the side, not saying a word the whole time.

I noticed her gaze lingering on the price list for a long time before she let out a soft sigh.

"Xiao Ji."

"Um?"

"Are you planning to report Lü Guodong to the police station?" My aunt's voice was calm, but there was a deeper meaning in her eyes that I couldn't understand.

I shook my head: "There's no need."

Lu Guodong and I keep to ourselves. I only want to deal with the matter of the eldest prince. If I rashly expose him, Lu Guodong will still have a lot of trouble after he gets out.

Seeing that I denied it, my aunt seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"That's fine then. This industry is very complex. Just keep the evidence to yourself. If... too many people are implicated, I... I won't be able to protect you either." Her eyes flickered.

At that time, I didn't quite understand what my aunt meant. Young and impetuous, I blurted out:

"Auntie, I'm an adult now, I don't need you to protect me."

"Why!"

My aunt sighed and silently turned to leave.

I watched her figure disappear into the night, and suddenly felt empty inside.

The monk leaned closer and whispered, "Brother Ji, did you two really have a fight?"

quarrel?

I actually hope we argue; we don't even have a reason to argue.

My aunt and I are like two parallel lines, seemingly on the same plane, but we never really intersect.

Remaining distant yet intimate, never intersecting...

Auntie, what's wrong with you these past two years?

I sighed and silently composed myself.

"Write to Lü Guodong, the old fox's peaceful sleep is finally over..." I said.