Ready to Leave Home?

Ready, I’m leaving home!

No, no. Just taking temporary refuge in the park. Anyway, there’s no school today.

“Brother, are you really leaving?”

Hearing my sister’s clear voice, I turned around. She was looking at me with a tear-streaked face, hands clasped over her chest—a heart-melting sight. I gritted my teeth. No! I couldn’t back out now. I’d made up my mind. I was getting out of here!

“Yeah. You’re not coming?” I asked, a hint of suspicion in my voice as I looked at her in disbelief. Finally, a holiday to escape this ability! It always showed up during school, and what a thrill that was—I’d have auditory hallucinations the next day. I didn’t want to repeat that. So today, I had to avoid it at all costs.

“The teacher gave me an assignment. I want to finish it today.”

“Then I’ll just have to part with you reluctantly.”

“Boo hoo. Goodbye, brother.”

“Mm!”

“And! Remember, don’t go flirting with other women!” My sister suddenly darkened her face, her voice dripping with resentment.

“G-got it.”

After that, I shouldered my backpack and walked out the door.

Sunday was predictably packed. The crowds were bustling, and their inner monologues were equally colorful, making it hard to tell what was thought and what was spoken.

Walking down the bustling street, I unconsciously avoided the crowd. Ah, just cross this street and I’d reach the park. Hopefully, the park would be less crowded—as long as I stayed away from the playground equipment.

‘Hey, isn’t that girl…!’

‘Isn’t that Qian Tangjin, the heiress of the country’s strongest corporation?’

‘What a beauty, and rich too. How enviable.’

Where? Let me see! Hearing their thoughts, I scanned the crowd and finally spotted her—the center of attention. I found a girl.

Mm! Truly a breathtaking beauty. Chestnut hair cascading to her waist, light purple eyes, a face like a flower. She exuded an aura of peonies—elegant, noble, and enchanting. And that wasn’t all. Her proud D-cup only added to her feminine charm.

Still, someone like me could only look. I was about to pass her by, but then..

Don’t look at me like that. Don’t use that expression..’

I glanced sideways. The breathtaking beauty was looking down, a sorrowful expression on her face, lost in thought.

Qian Tangjin, heiress of the country’s strongest corporation. Who’d have thought she had such an unexpected worry? But there was nothing I could do about it. Time to move on.

‘I’ll take the gun and get ready from behind.’

‘Hurry, cover your face. Get ready to move.’

‘Be quick. No delay. Get her in the car and drive off.’

Suddenly, a white car stopped near the sidewalk. I had just walked a bit along the pavement when I sneakily glanced over and saw three figures. Could it be a kidnapping attempt on Qian Tangjin? Well, she was rich enough. Who else would they target?

‘I hear there are a lot of thieves around here. Wonder if I’ll run into one.’

Hearing the thoughts of what seemed to be an undercover cop, I realized we could save her. Only one had a gun, I figured. From their thoughts: three people—one to drive after the kidnapping, one to grab her, and one to scare off the crowd with a gun.

Sigh, I didn’t want to meddle, but seeing injustice on the road, I had to act. I could sneak up and take out the gunman. The undercover could handle the other thug, and the driver would be easy. Alright, time to move.

Bang!

“What was that? A gunshot?!”

“Run!”

“Eeeek!”

The crowd scattered at the sound of gunfire, fleeing in all directions. The kidnappers were pleased with the chaos, unaware that I had already circled around to the back of their car and crouched down.

*(What now? How should I handle this? They have a gun.)*

Amidst the fleeing crowd, the heiress was tripped and fell to the ground, looking helplessly at a burly man charging toward her. I silently rose, grabbed the wrist of the gunman standing by the car keeping watch, twisted his joint, and disarmed him. Then I drove my knee into his gut, making him stumble and kneel.

I sneered and smacked him on the head with the pistol butt, knocking him out. Then I shot out all the rear tires of the car. By then, the undercover had already taken down the burly man.

Damn, the stuff I learned in Hawaii really paid off. Cough, enough joking. Just some amateur kung fu, nothing special. Still felt good, though.

“Come out! Kneel here with your hands on your head!” The undercover ordered the driver to surrender and get out. After handcuffing all three to a railing, he made a call, then walked over to me.

“Thanks for your help. Uh, a fellow officer?” The undercover looked at me in surprise. I could only shrug helplessly.

“Just a student passing by who knows some martial arts. I don’t want fame. You take it from here.”

“Alright, I won’t ask. I’ll handle it.”

“Good. It benefits both of us.”

‘He’s giving me the credit, huh? Well, it’s not bad. Though I feel a bit sorry for the hero. But if he gets the girl’s affection, it’s not a loss for him, right?’

I walked over to the heiress and extended my hand. She was still sitting on the ground, staring blankly. Seeing my hand, she hesitated.

‘So, so it’s that, after all?’

Then she rummaged through her bag and pulled out a bank card, placing it in my hand.

“The, the PIN is…”

Damn! (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ Do I look like someone who’d be swayed by money?! I shook my head, returned the card, and kept my hand out.

*(Eek! B-but saving me deserves a bigger reward.)*

Then she dug deeper into her bag and pulled out a black card, timidly handing it to me, her eyes welling up.

No way! Do I really look like a money-grubber?! I returned it again.

‘Wah, he won’t even take a card with a hundred million dollars. How much does he want? He’s not going to demand an outrageous price, is he? Boohoo.’

Give it back!!! What was I thinking, refusing that? That’s enough to lie around and do nothing for life! No—that’s enough to live freely, comfortably, and happily for life!

Oh! I could be rolling in it soon. I should just say I’ll take it.

“Are your feet okay? Let me help you up. Your safety is more important than money. Letting such a beautiful girl sit on the ground would be against my gentlemanly duty.” I smiled brightly.

I must have been hit in the head to say something like that. No, I want the money, for life…

‘Huh???’

The heiress furrowed her brow slightly, but still took my hand and stood up.

“Thank you, um…”

“My name is Jiang Huaimo. No need to introduce yourself. I know who you are.”

“R-right. I’ll remember that.”

“I’ll take my leave now. Goodbye.”

“Mm, mm! Thank you so much for your help today!”

“You’re welcome~”

‘W-what’s with this guy? So strange. But, I’m happy.’

Ah!!! What a terrible day today. I got hit in the head, kicked by a donkey, scalded by boiling water, and bashed by my sister!!! I’m so mad! I gave up money!

Sitting in the park with no will to live, my heart ached. Why can’t I just be consistent for once in my life?

T_T