Chapter 69 of 100

Chapter 69

16 min read3,918 words

PS: The third update was released early, so there won't be any more tonight. The author is a bit clumsy and writes slowly, plus has to work, so there isn't much time. I really can't write or release updates faster, so please bear with me. Also, I'm asking for your support, thank you all.

With legs and a mouth, one should gather more information. Xiao Fei was determined to find the person he was looking for.

At the entrance of the security booth stood a male security guard in his thirties. When Xiao Fei approached, the guard's wary eyes fixed on him. Seeing Xiao Fei coming toward him, the guard took a step forward.

"Who are you looking for?" the guard asked.

"Does Teacher Dai Houying live here?" Xiao Fei took out a pack of Hongtashan cigarettes from his pocket, popped one out, and offered it to the guard.

The guard spoke Mandarin, but it wasn't standard, with a H Province accent. So, Xiao Fei spoke in the local dialect.

Sure enough, upon hearing Xiao Fei's words, the guard's eyes brightened, and his wariness lessened. He took the cigarette from Xiao Fei and asked, "Brother, are you from H Province?"

"I'm from Heyang County, X City," Xiao Fei nodded and said.

"Click!" He lit the cigarette for the guard.

The guard took a couple of puffs, and his gaze toward Xiao Fei became much friendlier, with a bit more warmth. "I'm from Zhenping, A City. We're not far from each other."

After finishing the cigarette, the two became much more familiar.

"I've been working in this neighborhood for several years. I know almost everyone here. Teacher Dai is quite a celebrity in our neighborhood," the guard, named Liu Zhenjiang, began chatting. "What brings you to see her, brother?"

"I really like Teacher Dai's works and admire her a lot," Xiao Fei said.

As he spoke, he took out the few books by Dai Houying he had bought in X City and showed them to Liu Zhenjiang.

"I also enjoy writing. This time, I came to meet Teacher Dai and wanted her to sign these books for me, to fulfill a long-held wish."

Liu Zhenjiang glanced at Xiao Fei.

His gaze was like looking at a fool.

"Travel over a thousand kilometers to big SH just for this? Brother, are you kidding me?" Liu Zhenjiang sneered.

Xiao Fei's current role was akin to a brain-dead fan from the future. In fact, many big-name stars from Hong Kong and Taiwan already had a significant number of brain-dead fans on the mainland.

However, it was quite strange for a brain-dead fan to idolize a traditional writer.

"Brother Liu, please don't laugh at me. I really, really want to meet Teacher Dai. I hope you can help me," Xiao Fei pleaded.

"Teacher Dai hasn't been seen around here for a while," Liu Zhenjiang looked at Xiao Fei and shook his head, unable to understand this young man.

"Ah?" Xiao Fei frowned.

Would there be any complications?

According to his original plan, he intended to find Dai Houying in SH as soon as he arrived, approach her as her admirer, and then help her avert the imminent life-threatening crisis.

But if he couldn't even see her before the crisis, it would be dangerous.

"Wait a moment, I'll ask around. The residents here are all university professors, and they are all colleagues. They've lived together for many years and are very familiar with each other," Liu Zhenjiang stopped a middle-aged man who was about to enter the neighborhood and inquired about Dai Houying.

The middle-aged man was a colleague of Dai Houying at the university. He told Liu Zhenjiang that Dai Houying hadn't been in SH for a while, as she had gone to another place, apparently to handle charity fundraising in her hometown.

Xiao Fei knew that Dai Houying was from AH Province.

Her hometown was over 600 kilometers away from SH.

It was already August 22, and the tragedy was only two days away. But who could tell him why Dai Houying wasn't at home at this time?

Could it be that the small butterfly effect of his actions had changed the course of history?

"Teacher, do you know when Teacher Dai will be back?" Xiao Fei asked the middle-aged man urgently.

The man shook his head. "I don't know. I just happened to run into her when she left, and she said hello to me."

Liu Zhenjiang gave Xiao Fei a helpless look and shrugged. "Brother, it seems you came at an inopportune time. It might be hard to see Teacher Dai, and this trip might be in vain."

Xiao Fei was a bit at a loss.

The murder of Dai Houying had shocked the nation, and many media outlets had reported on it. Xiao Fei didn't believe that the wheels of history could change so easily.

Perhaps Dai Houying would return from her hometown in AH Province within the next two or three days.

This possibility was quite high.

What should he do now?

Xiao Fei thought for a moment. He felt it was necessary to find Dai Houying's family, as this might help him learn the exact date of her return.

His memory told him that Dai Houying wasn't living alone at this time; her brother's family seemed to be living with her.

"Brother Liu, can you show me where Teacher Dai lives?" Xiao Fei asked Liu Zhenjiang.

Liu Zhenjiang shook his head and smiled bitterly. "Brother, you're really obsessed. Teacher Dai isn't at home. What's the point of going to her house?"

"I just want to familiarize myself with the place. I'll stay in SH for three to five more days. Brother Liu, you know, it's not easy for me to come to SH. I really don't want to leave with regrets," Xiao Fei said sincerely.

"Alright, I can't do anything about you."

Liu Zhenjiang agreed and told Xiao Fei the specific address of Dai Houying's residence. He had to work and couldn't accompany Xiao Fei.

It was fortunate that Xiao Fei had established a connection with Liu Zhenjiang as a fellow townsman, and after this conversation, Liu Zhenjiang believed Xiao Fei wasn't a bad person, so he shared this information with him.

Xiao Fei entered the neighborhood alone.

He quickly found the building number where Dai Houying lived.

After hesitating for a while downstairs, he finally decided that it would be inappropriate to go up and knock on someone's door unannounced, as it might be seen as suspicious.

After some thought, he decided not to come here for the next two days. On August 25, he would come to the building early in the morning and wait for her.

The most critical issue now was that Xiao Fei didn't know what the suspect who killed Dai Houying looked like. If he knew the suspect's appearance, he could intercept him before he reached Dai Houying's house.

Fortunately, when he read Dai Houying's novels in his previous life, he had seen her portrait on the book's front page. If he saw her now, he should be able to recognize her.

He turned and left the neighborhood.

At the entrance, he stood with Liu Zhenjiang and smoked another cigarette, telling him the hotel where he was staying and asking him to keep an eye out. If he saw Teacher Dai return, he should inform him.

Of course, using someone's help comes with a cost.

Xiao Fei left a pack of Hongtashan cigarettes for Liu Zhenjiang before he left.

On the 23rd and 24th, Xiao Fei wandered around SH. The city was so large that it was impossible to see everything in just two days.

In fact, Xiao Fei only went to the "Harvest" magazine office. Standing at the entrance of 675 Julu Road, he looked at the names on the wall: SH Writers Association, Mengya Editorial Department, SH Literature Editorial Department, Harvest Magazine... He looked again and again but finally didn't go inside.

There were too many literature enthusiasts in those days. Xiao Fei guessed that many authors would come here with their works without prior notice.

If he also barged in, would he be unwelcome?

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