Lisa is very familiar with the roads of the small town. Every day, she shuttles through these streets, selling the carefully cultivated lilies she has grown. After a few nimble movements, the noisy sounds behind her gradually fade away, until the world returns to tranquility. The surroundings become calm and quiet, with only the hurried breaths of a few people remaining.
As they entered the house, Lisa guided them through the dimly lit hallway, avoiding the creaky floorboards with practiced ease. The air inside was stale, and the flickering light of a single, old lantern cast dancing shadows on the walls.
Bai’er leaned against the wall, sitting on the ground after the journey, panting heavily. “Tired, so tired…”
“You should exercise more,” Lisa said, slightly breathless. Her rosy cheeks, flushed from running, made her look even more vibrant. “The children in town can run better than you. They never get caught stealing. You’re so big now.”
Bai’er: “….”
Shen Lin, with one hand against the wall, scanned the surroundings, trying to identify their location.
“This is Hasan Street,” Lisa untied the cloth from her head, and her golden hair fell down, smooth and flowing behind her. This made her look like an exquisite porcelain doll, especially with her captivating purple eyes in the night. She disdainfully said, “The wealthy won’t come here; they find it dirty.”
“Thank you for helping us,” Shen Lin said.
“No need to thank me,” Lisa lifted her skirt, curtsied, and said, “Acts of valor are what a lady should do. I hate those people, especially Benson. He abuses his status, embezzling many supplies given by outsiders. People often go to his place to steal, but you two were the most careless.”
She pinched her waist, accusingly saying, “You should be more careful! Once caught, Benson will ruthlessly punish you! They’ll hang you on a rack and whip you with salt-soaked whips!” She teared up a bit, “I watched Anxi being beaten to death by him. They don’t even spare girls.”
Shen Lin: “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Lisa said, “Let’s part ways here, Mike.”
Shen Lin asked her, “How did you know my name is Mike?”
Lisa shrugged helplessly and said, “Oh, Luther is so obsessed with you. He keeps talking about wanting to see you again! My ears are almost calloused from his nagging! But, looking closely today, you do look very handsome! Slightly better than me.”
Yan Xiu gave Shen Lin a strange look.
Shen Lin: “….”
Shen Lin remained composed, “I miss him too, but I actually deceived him. I didn’t run away from home; I am a refugee from George Street. I have no place to go. Can you please shelter us temporarily? My friend is injured.”
Bai’er timely portrayed the appearance of being seriously injured.
Shen Lin: “Just for one night, please.”
At the same time, repeating familiarity, he said to the KP, “I want to use charm on Lisa.”
KP: “…. Roll the dice, please.”
Shen Lin smoothly rolled a successful check.
He looked at Lisa, treating her like a lady. He gently took her hand, lifting it to his lips, leaving a gentle kiss. His emerald-like eyes reflected Lisa’s surprised expression. “Beautiful lady, please grant our request.”
Lisa’s stern expression softened, seemingly enchanted by playing the role of a lady. When treated like a gentleman, she blushed irresistibly. However, she was still hesitant, showing a troubled expression. Her long lashes trembled slightly, looking at Shen Lin, biting her lip in silence. Finally, she said helplessly, “Okay, okay. But you must promise me not to run around or cause trouble. I have a lot on my plate; don’t make things difficult for me.”
“We promise,” Shen Lin said.
“And don’t steal my things.”
Shen Lin with a poker face: “….”
It seems they disguised themselves too well, solidifying their identity as thieves.
Lisa’s place was on Hasan Street.
Compared to the clean and tidy journey from the town’s entrance, Hasan Street was narrow, dirty, and filled with the nauseating smell of the sewer. Similar to their first night, homeless refugees could be seen squatting in various corners along the street.
Lisa led them to a stop in front of a house, and the air carried the fragrance of lilies.
Previously nauseated by the stench along the way, Bai’er, upon smelling the lilies, seemed to grab onto the last breath of oxygen, taking a deep breath.
Lisa lifted the keys and made a quiet gesture, saying, “I don’t know if Mrs. Landlady is awake; be quieter, everyone.”
Everyone nodded.
Lisa cautiously opened the door. The old door still inevitably made an ear-piercing noise. She peeked inside.
KP said, “Roll for luck.”
Shen Lin rolled and succeeded.
Mrs. Landlady was asleep, and the thunderous snoring came from the half-open door on the first floor.
Lisa turned and waved to them, and the group walked in cautiously.
The door frame was too low, and Yan Xiu had to lower his head upon entering.
Shen Lin surveyed the room. The first floor was tiny. At a glance, the whole place could be seen, with only a living room, a bedroom, a narrow bathroom, and a side-by-side kitchen. More precisely, the entire house was very small, resembling a beehive closely packed together without leaving any gaps, squeezing into limited space.
On the left after entering was a staircase. Lisa went up the stairs, gesturing to them, “Walk quietly, you clumsy guys.”
They cautiously made their way to Lisa’s room.
Lisa closed the door, breathed a sigh of relief, and warned them in a low voice, “If Mrs. Anne finds out, I’ll be in trouble. You can only stay for one night; you have to find your own place tomorrow, understand?”
“Okay, thank you, ma’am.”
Upon hearing Shen Lin address her like that, Lisa blushed again. Sitting by the mirror, observing herself and then shifting her gaze from the mirror to Shen Lin behind her, she found him handsome with a pair of beautiful eyes. His demeanor was refined, not like someone from the refugee-filled George Street.
She thought Luther was right; he was handsome and charming.
At that moment, she felt a gaze fall upon her face. Lisa’s eyes, reflected in the mirror, shifted slightly, encountering a pair of cold eyes. Those eyes were a light gray, emitting a metallic, sharp luster in the dim light.
Fearing, she withdrew her gaze, tied her hair into a braid, and said to them, “I’m going out to check on my beloved lilies. You find a place to sleep for yourselves.”
She picked up a small toolbox from the floor and descended the stairs carefully.
After she left, Bai’er asked in a low voice, “Can we trust this girl?”
Shen Lin shook his head.
Bai’er said, “Does she really believe we are locals?”
“At least, it seems that way on the surface.”
“It feels awkward to deceive her,” Bai’er sat cross-legged in the corner, saying, “She seems like a kind girl.”
“But this isn’t a kind game,” Yan Xiu said coldly. “There are many corpses along the way, and the foul smells are coming from them.”
Shen Lin asked Yan Xiu, “How did you come here?”
“I saw you being chased by the security forces,” Yan Xiu looked at Shen Lin, “I came to help you.”
Shen Lin was stunned. Somehow, in those silvery and cold eyes, he saw a trace of warmth like moonlight. He made a sound, walked to the window, and observed the street.
The man behind him let out a low chuckle.
In the narrow gap between the low buildings, there was a small flower bed, filled with lilies. Under Lisa’s careful care, these delicate and frail plants bloomed into beautiful flowers. The pure white petals revealed a pale yellow stamen.
Lisa was watering them, and crystal-clear droplets fell on the petals, shimmering with mottled and vivid light under the moonlight.
As she watered the flowers, she chatted incessantly. Shen Lin held his breath, wanting to hear what the girl was saying. However, KP said, “Make a Perception check.”
Shen Lin rolled the dice with a poker face.
Success.
Shen Lin: “Tsk.”
KP: “… A mockery from the master.”
Soon, the wind carried the girl’s delicate hum: “Today, someone died again on George Street! When the body was dragged out, I took a glance. It was Mr. Penderson. He once gave me half a pancake. Resources in Moonset Town are getting scarcer, yet the population is increasing. Is it true that kind-hearted people die earlier?”
“Everyone will die.”
Lisa hesitated to say this, remained silent for a moment, and then whispered, “Everyone will die.”
After that, Shen Lin couldn’t hear any more sounds until the girl finished watering the flowers, turned back into the house, and footsteps were heard outside the poorly soundproofed door.
Morning came early to Moonset Town.
When the first rays of sunlight entered his eyes, there were noisy sounds outside the window.
Shen Lin opened his eyes and saw golden long hair flying past him. Lisa hurriedly ran by, opened the door, suddenly remembered something, turned back to tell them, “Keep it down! Mrs. Anne will take her ugly quail for a walk at 7 o’clock. Leave during that time! You must leave!”
“Where’s the library?” Shen Lin asked in a low voice.
“On Hibiscus Street,” Lisa looked at him in confusion. “What are you going to do there?”
“Looking for something.”
“You also want to go out? The books in the library are all traps set by outsiders to deceive us,” Lisa’s face changed, warning, “We can’t leave Moonset Town! Never! Get rid of this idea sooner.”
“Lisa!” an old lady’s loud voice came from downstairs. “Who are you talking to?!”
“No one! I’m talking to my lovely flowers! Mrs. Anne, I’m preparing breakfast!”
“Where did I put my millet? Little Peter is starving!”
“Finished eating the day before yesterday; you forgot!” Lisa gestured to them to be quiet, gently closed the door, and hurriedly went downstairs.
“That damn Benson, only gives us this little food!” As the old lady’s irritable voice faded, the equally irritable squawking of a parrot echoed from downstairs.
“There are still some breadcrumbs! Don’t starve that ugly—Little Peter!”
Lisa’s voice returned outside the door. After opening it, she looked at Shen Lin warningly, her violet-like beautiful eyes blinking, “Absolutely—not allowed—to go out!”
