Volume One: High School Days Chapter 067: Helplessness

At the dining table with Xiaoya present, Liusheng noticed her displeasure, which only began after her husband was mentioned. Uncertain of the reason, Liusheng looked to Sister Ya.

Sister Ya smiled and said, “They had an argument. It’s a matter between husband and wife; there’s nothing for us to say.”

Hearing the word “argument,” Liusheng wanted to ask if Xiaoya’s husband had mistreated her, but when Sister Ya said it was a marital matter, he fell silent.

Given the current situation, Liusheng was simply an outsider. No matter how much Xiaoya was reluctant to part with him, or how deeply he cared for her, Xiaoya now had a family of her own. Even if she was wronged, all Liusheng could do was offer advice—there was nothing more he could help with.

Liusheng thought to himself, “I have abilities far beyond those of ordinary people, and more money than I could ever spend. So why can’t I be with the woman I love? Now, seeing Xiaoya wronged before my eyes, I have no right to intervene.”

Sister Ya had arranged this meal on purpose, wanting Xiaoya and Liusheng to meet—not because she hoped for something to happen between them, but because she knew they both missed each other. She simply wanted them to have a chance to see each other, as often as possible.

After that, Liusheng and Xiaoya had no further communication, but from time to time, they would steal glances at each other. Eventually, unable to suppress his feelings for Xiaoya—after all this time apart—Liusheng finally used his ocular ability. Now more adept than ever, he not only sped up his own timeline but also froze time for everyone else.

With time suspended, Liusheng walked to Xiaoya’s side, took her hand, and said softly to her motionless form, “I still can’t let you go. I’m still waiting for you. Even if I have to wait until my hair is white and my face is full of wrinkles, I will still wait for you!”

He then pulled Xiaoya tightly into his arms.

He held her for a long while, looking at her face. Liusheng wanted to kiss her cheek, but recalling she was now someone else’s wife and the mother of a child, he let her go, returned to his seat, and reluctantly released his power. Everything returned to normal. Xiaoya and Liusheng still did not speak, but their eyes continued to meet from time to time.

After the meal, everyone went their separate ways. Liusheng returned home, awaiting Xiaoya’s brother Wang Yu’s wedding the next day.

Lying in bed, Liusheng thought of Xiaoya being mistreated by her husband and silently shed tears. He slapped himself hard twice and muttered, “Liusheng! You’re so damn useless! What’s the point of having these abilities and endless wealth?”

Liusheng hated himself, feeling that his own selfishness had only made Xiaoya’s life worse.

He fell asleep with tears in his eyes, waking up again at eight the next morning.

When he got up, he used his ocular ability again, stopping time. He didn’t know how to face Xiaoya; every meeting only made parting harder. He wished time could stop forever.

After an unknown span, Liusheng relaxed his power, tidied himself up, and went downstairs. Seeing Ren Xiadong and Lele already prepared, he said, “Ren Xiadong, you drive. I’m not in the mood for anything today.”

Ren Xiadong grunted in acknowledgment and took them to the underground parking lot.

After a half-hour drive, they arrived at the restaurant hosting the wedding. Few guests had arrived yet. According to custom, the bride and groom were still at the groom’s house; only after the rituals there would everyone come to the restaurant.

By 11:30, guests began to arrive. Liusheng saw Xiaoya and her husband Yang He. After a moment’s thought, he walked over and greeted them, “Sister, brother-in-law, how have you been?”

“We’re well enough,” Yang He replied.

Liusheng looked at the child in Xiaoya’s arms and said, “She’s beautiful. A girl, right?”

Xiaoya smiled happily and replied, “Yes, a girl. Her name is Yang Yu.”

Liusheng gazed at the child in Xiaoya’s arms for a long time, clearly very fond of her. He wanted to hold her but didn’t dare, since the child was still small and he didn’t know how. He simply took the little girl’s hand and kissed it.

“It’s been a while, Liusheng. How’s business?” Yang He asked.

Liusheng exchanged a few words with Yang He. Yang He then turned to speak to Xiaoya, but she simply carried the child and walked away to Sister Ya’s side, her face still showing clear displeasure—still angry with Yang He.

Seeing Yang He’s embarrassment, Liusheng didn’t say anything more. After all, it was a matter between husband and wife. If they wanted to talk, he would listen; if not, there was nothing he could do.

At Sister Ya’s arrangement, Liusheng, Ren Xiadong, and Lele sat with Xiaoya’s family. Throughout the meal, Xiaoya did not look her husband in the eye, which irritated Yang He. He leaned close and hissed a few words in her ear.

Liusheng promptly used his auditory ability and caught Yang He’s words: “Can’t you give me some respect? If you have something to say, can’t it wait until we’re home?”

Yet Xiaoya’s face remained expressionless. After Yang He finished, he forced a smile at Liusheng and the others. Liusheng wanted to ask what was wrong, but didn’t know how.

Just then, the emcee announced the start of the ceremony. Wang Yu, Xiaoya’s brother, stood on stage in a blue suit. Opposite him was the bride in a white wedding gown, with her father beside her.

The bride’s father gave her away to Wang Yu, and with the emcee’s guidance, the ceremony went smoothly.

Liusheng watched intently, not daring to blink for fear of missing any detail. Memories of Xiaoya’s own wedding resurfaced, as vivid as if it had happened yesterday.

As the newlyweds went from table to table toasting guests, Wang Yu recognized Liusheng immediately. “Liusheng, I didn’t expect you to be here today. I never had the chance to thank you for what you did before. When I’m done here, I’ll make proper arrangements for you.”

The bride also said to Liusheng, “I’ve often heard Wang Yu mention you. Thank you for all you’ve done for him.”

The couple exchanged a few words with Xiaoya and her husband as well, then moved on.

After the festivities, Sister Ya insisted that Liusheng drive her home. Ren Xiadong and Lele, left with no choice, took a taxi, leaving the car to Liusheng. He cast one reluctant glance at Xiaoya before leaving with Sister Ya.

On the way, Sister Ya said to the focused Liusheng, “The reason Xiaoya is angry with Yang He is because he leaves early and comes home late every day, sometimes not at all.”

“What’s he doing out?!” Liusheng asked, anger in his voice.

Sister Ya replied slowly, “Aren’t all men the same? Since you gave them five million, Yang He gradually stopped coming home. Men change when they have money. When Xiaoya was pregnant, he would sometimes not come home. During her confinement, he’d cook her breakfast and leave, only returning at midnight.”

Liusheng was furious, but knew he had no right to meddle in another’s household. Just then, his phone rang. It was Zhao Bin.

Liusheng answered, “Hello, Brother Bin.”

“Liusheng, I’ve found out: On the last day of August, a female college student was kidnapped and sold to a mountain village. It was the work of a large and powerful gang.”

“Where’s their base?”

“Liusheng, it took a lot of effort and risk for me to find this out.”

“Haha, Brother Bin, do you think I’m stingy? Give me your account number—I’ll transfer a hundred thousand, not a cent less.”

“Hey, that’s not what I meant. I just wanted to warn you: they’re very powerful, with operations all over the country.”

“Thanks for the warning. Can you tell me where they are now?”

“If you insist on going after them after all I’ve said, you must have some power yourself. Maybe I’m overthinking it. There’s not much more I can do for you. They’re spread out, but the people they’ve abducted are all kept in an abandoned factory outside Xinghai City.”

From Zhao Bin, Liusheng learned that this was a huge human trafficking ring, with people all over the country. They’d mutilate their captives with knives or acid, forcing them to beg on the streets, or make them blind, mute, or deaf. Some pretty girls were sold to remote villages for profit. Others, children from wealthy families, were kidnapped and ransomed, but often killed even after payment.

At last, Zhao Bin asked, “What exactly are you planning to do?”

Liusheng thought for a moment and replied, “Eliminate evil for the people!”

Though the organization was global, their headquarters was in Xinghai City. Liusheng planned to capture their leaders and dismantle their operations at the root.

After dropping Sister Ya off, she unbuckled her seatbelt and said, “I really wish it were you who ended up with Xiaoya. Then she wouldn’t have had to endure so much.”

With that, she got out. Liusheng watched her enter the building, then stayed in the car, lost in thought. After a while, he took out his phone, hesitated for a long time, and finally called Xiaoya.

“Hello, Liusheng, is something wrong?” Xiaoya answered.

Liusheng wanted to ask about her and Yang He, but couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead, he asked, “When are you leaving? I’ll take you to the airport.”

“Oh, tomorrow night’s flight,” Xiaoya replied, her voice tinged with disappointment.

“All right, I’ll take you.”

He had thought he’d accepted losing Xiaoya, but this meeting made him realize he couldn’t let her go. Even though she was married and had a child, he was still waiting for an opportunity.

When he got back, he parked and went upstairs. At his door, he heard Ren Xiadong and Lele arguing loudly inside. Liusheng withdrew his hand from the doorknob, took the elevator down to the basement parking lot, and sat in his car.

He thought, “I’ve changed so much for Ren Xiadong, yet I still can’t change her fate with Lele.”

He pulled out his phone to pass the time, not wanting to disturb them. When it came to other people’s affairs, he truly was powerless.

So Liusheng sat in the car until 6:30 in the evening.

He got some dinner, then drove alone to the address Zhao Bin had given, ready to dismantle the gang—not for any personal reason, but out of pity for Bian Ran, and for all those like her who still suffered.

To prevent others from experiencing such pain, Liusheng resolved to attack the organization.

Upon arriving at the abandoned factory, he drove straight in, stopping before the large warehouse at the center—knowing it was the only place capable of hiding people.

He looked around. The area was surrounded by waist-high weeds, everything else in ruins—except for the warehouse doors, which were immaculate, evidence of frequent use.

“This must be the place!” Liusheng muttered, and with both hands, he pulled the heavy doors open.