Chapter Sixty-Nine: Pei Xi Encounters Danger

The road was clear, and Fang Yuan arrived at Pei Xi’s location in just twenty minutes. The place was an abandoned pier, where fishing boats only docked during the day. Now, deep into the night, there were only a few empty fishing boats drifting quietly. There wasn’t a single light; Pei Xi had told Fang Yuan over the phone not to bring any lighting equipment, but in his haste, Fang Yuan had grabbed a flashlight nonetheless. Still uncertain about the situation, he dared not turn it on.

The pier had fallen into disrepair over the years; many parts were broken. Fang Yuan walked across its battered planks, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of Pei Xi. His sight and hearing surpassed ordinary expectations; even with the constant murmur of waves, Fang Yuan could distinguish human voices from the sound of the sea. If someone nearby spoke, he could not only hear them, but catch their words.

Yet after circling the pier, he found neither a single soul nor any trace of Pei Xi. Worried she might be in danger, Fang Yuan pulled out his phone, about to call her, when Pei Xi’s call came through instead.

Her voice sounded even more subdued than before. "Hello, Fang Yuan, are you there?"

"I’m here, but I don’t see you. Where exactly are you?" Fang Yuan instinctively lowered his voice.

"I’m underwater. Just now I heard footsteps—is that you?" Pei Xi’s voice was weak.

"What? Underwater?" Fang Yuan was stunned by her reply. Even avid swimmers wouldn’t linger in chilly seawater at midnight, much less a young woman.

He hurried back to where he had just walked, calling Pei Xi’s name carefully.

"Hey, Fang Yuan, I’m here. Look down at your feet," Pei Xi’s voice suddenly came from beneath him.

The pier was so dilapidated that several planks had fallen away. Where Fang Yuan now stood, a piece of wood was missing. Peering through the gap, he saw Pei Xi, her hair wild and wet, staring up at him.

Pei Xi once had long, glossy black hair, but now it clung in damp strands to her face. In the faint moonlight, she looked almost frightening at first glance. Fang Yuan paused for two seconds, then quickly pulled Pei Xi out of the water.

Once he managed to get her onto the pier, Fang Yuan noticed another man behind her. He looked about Fang Yuan’s age, his eyes bright as stars, shining with vigor in the moonlight. When their gazes met, Fang Yuan felt himself invigorated by something in the man’s presence.

"Let me introduce you," Pei Xi said. "This is the friend I told you about, Fang Yuan."

"Fang Yuan, this is my private detective, Ke Bei. He’s helping me investigate a matter at my request, but we’ve run into trouble and now have nowhere else to go."

After Pei Xi briefly explained their connection and predicament, Fang Yuan finally understood why they were hiding here in the water at such an hour—they were being pursued and had nowhere else to run.

Ke Bei—a detective? How did a detective end up in such a state with his client? Fang Yuan thought it laughable.

He kept his thoughts to himself in Pei Xi’s presence, but the detective’s reputation had taken a hit in his mind.

"Nice name, but for you two to end up like this, you must have offended some big figures. Pei Xi can come back with me; I’ll arrange a room for you. But Mr. Ke Bei, are you local?" Fang Yuan’s mind was troubled by the closeness between Pei Xi and Ke Bei underwater, feeling more than a little dissatisfied. His words naturally ignored Ke Bei’s feelings.

"Just take care of Miss Pei Xi, you don’t need to worry about me," Ke Bei replied, catching Fang Yuan’s meaning. Ke Bei was a man of pride and wouldn’t impose on someone’s hospitality.

"Mr. Ke Bei, this is all my fault. They’re searching for us everywhere. You should come with us. They probably already know where you live—if you return now, you’ll walk right into their trap," Pei Xi said, concerned for him.

Since Pei Xi insisted, Fang Yuan could only acquiesce, though his attitude was clear. If Ke Bei stayed, Fang Yuan wouldn’t care much about his feelings or opinions.

Ke Bei hesitated, glanced at Fang Yuan, then gritted his teeth and agreed to Pei Xi’s request.

"Fang Yuan, did you notice anyone suspicious around here when you arrived?" Pei Xi asked, relieved that Ke Bei had accepted.

If Ke Bei suffered because of her, Pei Xi would feel deeply guilty.

"No," Fang Yuan replied to Pei Xi, though his gaze lingered on Ke Bei.

"My car is parked up top. Let’s get in and talk," Fang Yuan suggested. He still didn’t know exactly what trouble they were hiding from, or who was after them, but from their fragmented conversation, it was clear they had provoked someone powerful.

Pei Xi was about to step forward when Fang Yuan suddenly pulled her close. Off balance, she stumbled straight into his arms.

It was summer, their clothes light, and Pei Xi’s were soaked, clinging tightly to her skin. Fang Yuan hadn’t expected a gentle tug would make her fall into him—sometimes greater strength brings both fortune and mishap.

His own attire was just a shirt and a vest; through the thin fabric, he could feel the softness pressed against his chest.

Ke Bei, witnessing this, politely turned away.

"Uh… sorry, I wasn’t careful, pulled too hard," Fang Yuan hurried to explain, his face flushing. He took off his shirt and draped it over Pei Xi’s shoulders. "I just wanted to remind you—be careful not to catch a cold."