Chapter 05
Nangong Iren is a middle-aged man. He is 171 centimeters tall and weighs 68 kilograms. He is older than Shinnshiow but younger than Jenqyih.
Iren has already known Shannchyuan for a long time. 22 years ago, Iren met Shannchyuan for the first time. At that time, Iren and some people from the company where Iren previously worked had the opportunity to visit the city where Shannchyuan lived. They were there for two weeks. On the eighth day, a problem arose. One of Iren's friends lost his wallet. They suspected that a pickpocket had occurred.
At that time, they reported the incident to the nearest police station. There they met Shannchyuan. Shannchyuan was accompanying one of his students who happened to find the wallet. Since then, Iren became friends with Shannchyuan. After that, almost every year, Iren visited that city. Ten years later, Iren moved to that city because he got a job there.
For ten years, Iren worked in that city. Two years ago, when Shannchyuan decided to start his journey, Iren was among the people who advised Shannchyuan to abandon his crazy plans. But not only did he fail to convince Shannchyuan, but even six months later, Iren also did the same, namely decided to explore places that he had only seen in books and television. Six months after that, he joined Shannchyuan and other friends to live together in the house they were about to leave.
There were many exciting things that Iren experiences in this city. This includes meeting Mingju Tsaehorng. He was a young man who comes from a wealthy family. About nine months ago, Tsaehorng was involved in a gang of delinquents based in the city's northern part. Not long after joining the group, Tsaehorng, who felt that he was not suitable, then intended to leave them approximately three months later. The group members didn't like that. After they caught and tied Tsaehorng, they brought him to a small cabin in a remote forest located on this city's northern border. Those delinquents left Tsaehorng there in a bound state. Fortunately, at that time, Shannchyuan and his friends were exploring that remote forest. They were there as participants in a mystery game designed by Songfei.
After that, Iren never met Tsaerhorng again. Yesterday Iren went to visit a new flat that still has many empty units. Because the building complex was luxurious and modern, the rent was so expensive, so Iren did not dare to ask further questions.
Incidentally, a painting exhibition was being held next to the building. Iren really likes to see paintings, so he might as well attend the exhibition. There he met Tsaehorng. After chatting, Tsaehorng offered to help in the form of a locker facility. Iren and his friends only have to pay two per cent of the price they should. Of course, Iren immediately agreed to that.
After that, they chatted. Tsaehorng invited Iren to have lunch together. They both then walked to a small restaurant for lunch and continued their conversation.
"How is Mr Gongyang?" asked Tsaehorng on that occasion.
"Oh, you mean Songfei?" Iren said.
"The last time we met him was about two months ago. After that, there is no news yet. "
Tsaehorng remembered Songfei because if only at that time Songfei did not insist on holding a game in that forest, maybe Tsaehorng wouldn't be here right now.
After being discharged from the hospital, Tsaehorng had met with Iren and his friends. But he did not get to meet Songfei and the people from the detective and mystery club. They held the mystery game in another place as a substitute for the mystery game, which had to stop after finding Tsaehorng. Soon after that, Tsaehorng moved out of town, so he didn't have a chance to meet anyone from the mystery and detective club.
After lunch, Iren followed Tsaehorng back to the exhibition venue to chat with the other painters. Iren enjoyed the opportunity. He got back from that place when the sun nearly slipped over behind the horizon.
This morning, he rushed to the station to take care of administrative matters. Unexpectedly, he resolved this matter smoothly without requiring much time.
Right now, Iren is standing in front of the lockers they just rented. He looks at the lockers happily. The size of the locker is enormous. Perhaps in an emergency, people could sleep there. Of course, this violates the rules because rules prohibit the tenant from storing living objects inside the locker in the rental agreement. But isn't that rule based on the assumption that living things can die if there is no food? Then it also based on the assumption that a dead living object will smell, causing inconvenience for other locker users. It can even be a source of spreading disease.
However, if the item stored in the locker is the tenant himself, the situation is undoubtedly different. Living things are free to will and can come out whenever they want. Living things couldn't possibly sit still and starve to death when they are hungry. Is such a thing also breaking the rules?
Iren doesn't know whether anyone has tried to stay over or even stayed in the locker. But he better not to try such a crazy act. Many things are at stake here. If it turns out that it is deemed a violation of the rules so that the agreement is cancelled, this will affect his friends.
Not long after, his four friends come to the place. They bring with them some of the items, which they would gradually move to the lockers. Everyone has bright, vibrant faces. It doesn't take long before they finish putting all their belongings in the lockers.
It was still early in the morning when they leave the station to scatter and continue their hunt for shelter. Iren is walking casually when he sees Shannchyuan walking in front of him. Suddenly his Dahge stop walking and staring at the large shopping centre across. The distance between Shannchyuan and himself is about 15 metres, so he can clearly see what Shannchyuan is doing. As usual, even this time, Shannchyuan seems to be so absent-minded that he doesn't notice Iren's presence about 15 meters from him. Iren follows Shannchyuan's gaze across the street. His eyes fix on a girl who is standing in front of the shopping centre's entrance. Even though the distance is quite far, Iren can still clearly see the girl's figure.
It doesn't take much time, Iren remembers, that he saw Shannchyuan having a conversation with a girl yesterday evening on his way home. At that time, he did not approach them because he did not want to disturb them. Besides, Iren was very tired and wanted to get a warm bath. After catching a glimpse, he immediately went home and took a shower. After that, Iren had completely forgotten what happened yesterday. Until now, when he sees Shannchyuan staring at the girl across the street.
It turns out that Shannchyuan then crosses the street and follows the girl into the shopping centre. Iren thinks that Shannchyuan has agreed to meet the girl today. No wonder since this morning, Shannchyuan seemed to want to leave quickly. After that, Iren goes on his way to settle his own business.
He just returns home at around six o'clock in the evening. At that time, Yihshyong has just arrived home. They do not immediately enter the house but chat briefly with the neighbours next door. From that person, Iren and Yihshyong know that yesterday there was a package for them. Not long after talking, their two friends, Shinnshiow and Jenqyih, arrive home. The four of them enter the house together.
On the table in the living room, they find a letter. It turns out that this afternoon, before leaving, Shannchyuan had time to write a short message for them. The point is to tell them about the phone call and parcel from Songfei.
"Maybe it's just Songfei's game," says Iren while laughing.
Jenqyih frowns, then says.
"But he's never been to this extreme. He always tells us his plans before engaging us in his game."
"There is always a first time for everything. Maybe this time, this kid designs a surprise for us," says Yihshyong.
"I agree with Jenqyih," The quietest Shinnshiow joins in. "It sounds serious. I think we should be on guard."
"If this is serious, Dahge will definitely contact us soon for help," Yihshyong replies again.
"It's only six o'clock. According to the next-door neighbour, Dahge only left around three o'clock. Right now, maybe he just arrives at the Dahfeisy Tower. So he does not know exactly what happened yet." Says Iren.
"Then tonight, we'll just be on guard. If Dahge calls later, then the problem is serious." Says Shinnshiow.
After everyone is having a bath, they had dinner together. This morning Shinnshiow cooked a lot. Then, in the afternoon, it seemed that Shannchyuan had lunch at home. But there is still a lot of leftovers, so they have to eat it up tonight.
"How is it today?" Yihshyong asks his three friends.
"I haven't found a suitable house yet," Jenqyih answers him.
"I'm not getting anywhere either," Iren says.
Shinnshiow, who is a very quiet man, just shakes his head.
"Well, Don't worry too much then. We usually find a solution only at the last moment," says Yihshyong.
After dinner, they watch TV. They watch a crime drama. When the commercials come on, Iren changes the channel. This time the news channel. The four are interested in listening to the news because there is news about a place near them. According to the news programme, earlier, a bizarre incident occurred in a shopping centre near a metro station at around ten in the morning. That place is not far from their house.
Witnesses stated that there was an explosion of light inside the shopping centre. They called it an explosion because it was like a bomb, but only light, so no metal shards, flakes, or anything was released in the blast. The flash of light itself didn't seem to do any damage. Some people reported a loss of vision. However, this was only temporary because their vision was recovered as good as before about ten or fifteen minutes later.
There are several people who became victims. This happened because many people were panicking. These victims usually fell or were trampled by other visitors as they ran around in panic. Because the police and fire brigade found nothing, the shopping centre was not closed.
"Eh, so that's what happened!" Yihshyong says loudly.
His three friends turn and look at him. Yihshyong continues his unfinished sentence.
"I was there earlier. But only for a short while. I got off and got on the bus at the stop in front of the shopping centre. When the bus started, suddenly people ran out of the shopping centre. I don't know what happened after that because the bus didn't stop."
Iren suddenly remembered something.
"Before that happened, I was also standing outside the shopping centre."
"Didn't you go inside?" asks Jenqyih.
Iren shakes his head.
"No. The place was across the shopping centre. I was just standing there. I saw Dahge enter that building."
"He is right," Yihshyong suddenly says that words right after he heard Iren said he saw Dahge enter the building. Yihshyong abruptly remembers something.
"Before the blast, I saw Dahge on the ground floor of the mall. When I went down to the ground floor, I saw him still there. But suddenly he ran outside the mall very fast. Then I lost sight of him. After that, I walked out of the mall and got on the bus."
"So, after we split out at the underground station, the three of you went to that shopping centre ? asks Jenqyih.
"I didn't go inside. I was just standing across the shopping centre," says Iren over and over.
"Then why didn't you just come inside?" asks Jenqyih.
"Because I have other things to do," replies Iren. "Besides, I don't want to disturb Dahge."
"What do you mean?" Hearing Iren's words, Shinnshiow butts quickly into the conversation.
Iren straightens his seat in response. His friends already understand when Iren poses like that, then he is bound to say something important.
"So, here it is," Iren makes a serious face. "Yesterday afternoon, when I was coming home from the painting exhibition where I met Tsaehorng, I saw Dahge talking to a girl."
Iren stops talking. He watches the expressions on his friends' faces.
"A young girl?" asks Jenqyih.
"That's right. About twenty years old. The girl maybe in her mid or late twenties."
"What were they talking about?" asks Yihshyong.
"I don't know. Dahge and that girl were quite far away from me, so I can't hear anything."
"Why didn't you come closer?" asks Jenqyih.
"Because I didn't want to disturb them. I was tired then anyway. I wanted to get home as soon as possible, so I could have a warm bath and then have dinner."
"So you just went home," Jenqyih is still urging Iren.
"That's right, I just went home," Iren replies, putting on an annoyed expression.
"Yesterday, why didn't you tell me," Jenqyih says.
"After I had a shower, I forgot. Besides, my mind was focused on the news about the locker. I only remembered the incident this morning after I saw Dahge was standing across the shopping centre."
"When you saw him, was he alone?" asks Yihshyong.
"Yes, he was alone. But across the street, right in front of the shopping centre door, I saw that girl. She was the one who chatting with Dahge yesterday evening. After seeing the girl, Dahge ran across the road and followed the girl into the mall. I thought the two must have been agreeing to see each other. Then I left the place. "
"That's right," Yihshyong says. "I remembered, on that occasion, Dahge looked like he was looking for something or someone. But he came out of the mall alone. That means they didn't make an appointment."
"I think after he gets home, we should ask him about this matter," Jenqyih says with a grin on his face.
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