Capítulo 88: 88
By the time Pei Yujang was done with the delivery, the food in the takeout box was no longer warm. Even though the box seemed unopened, Pei Yujang decided not to eat it. Instead, she carefully unwrapped the tangled ball of yarn inside.
As expected, there was a neatly folded piece of paper hidden within.
The note was printed, not handwritten, with an address and a phone number. The number started with "013," indicating it was international, which showed how cautious the person who delivered the message was.
Pei Yujang recalled that Yu Zhiwan had mentioned A-Organization's influence overseas, though their main base was still in Guobang. They engaged in kidnapping and trafficking, targeting unsuspecting individuals as free test subjects. Guobang, being so vast, had countless trafficking cases every year, which were sadly commonplace.
The organization operated subtly, like slowly boiling a frog in warm water. They rarely concentrated their activities in one place, often collaborating with traffickers who would first transport the victims to remote mountainous areas before handing them over, leaving no trace behind.
However, with Guobang's recent heightened focus on anti-trafficking and anti-fraud campaigns, combined with the exposure of numerous cases, the general public had become more vigilant. Kidnapping now carried a much higher risk, and opportunities for deception had decreased.
After the incident at the water plant in Xiangcheng, A-Organization's operations were slowly being dismantled. Pei Yujang wasn't sure if the shark incident at Thousand Waters Island was related to them or a natural occurrence, but it served as another wake-up call.
The residents of Guobang were not fools. In these turbulent times, people were gradually becoming more aware, realizing that their lives were not as peaceful as they once thought.
And sooner or later, those who had been targeted would strike back.
Pei Yujang pondered the situation but decided not to call the number. Instead, she photographed the note as evidence and then stored it away.
She figured the number was likely from a burner phone, making it difficult to trace. The address on the note probably wasn't just a trap; they might be trying to persuade her to defect.
Whatever their intentions, Pei Yujang wasn't going to meet the enemy on their terms. She opened the takeout box and thoroughly inspected the now-cold food, even checking the utensils. On the side of the disposable chopsticks, she found a name written in a foreign language, alongside the A-Organization logo.
She thought back to the delivery driver who had hurried off, and things began to make sense.
The task the mayor of Xiangcheng had given her was straightforward: to visit an elementary school.
It was already December, and the school was preparing for final exams and the upcoming winter break. The atmosphere was a mix of tension and excitement. Before the break, the children would celebrate Christmas at school before heading home for a month-long holiday.
After Pei Yujang had pointed out the issue with the water plant, the mayor had quietly begun investigating and had uncovered several similar operations.
One of the more unique finds was a special school.
As the name suggests, a special school is for children with physical disabilities. The teachers there used sign language, and the curriculum was specially designed, though otherwise, the children were treated like any other.
However, the children at this school often had hearing, vision, or other physical impairments, or cognitive disabilities. The mayor didn't want to raise suspicion, so she asked Pei Yujang to scout the place first before deciding on further action.
Security at the school was lax, and with the mayor's help, Pei Yujang posed as a friend of one of the teachers to visit the school near the end of the day. Apart from noticing that the children didn't look very healthy, she didn't find anything overtly wrong.
The mayor didn't have high hopes for a quick resolution: "I'll have someone quietly investigate during the winter break. You wait for news. If anything comes up, we'll deal with it after the new year."
After Christmas, there's a lull—a time to relax. Factories shut down for the holiday, and the atmosphere is festive. The city's population might dwindle as workers return to their hometowns, but it remains lively.
People look forward to reuniting with family, sharing stories, and unwinding after a long year. In such times, who wouldn't want a peaceful New Year?
When Pei Yujang mentioned she had to return to Yicheng, the mayor assumed she was going home for the New Year and nodded in understanding.
"It's about time for a good holiday."
After all, who knew if they'd live to see the next year while walking such a dangerous tightrope?
The mayor and Pei Yujang didn't engage in small talk; they had little in common and had had their share of disagreements, so their conversations mostly focused on work. But before leaving, the mayor handed Pei Yujang a gift box with a card inside—a 1,000-yuan gift card to buy specialties from Xiangcheng.
"Take it home for your family to try." The mayor smiled. "Are you planning to spend New Year's with your family?"
"Yes, though I don't have many relatives." Pei Yujang had noticed that Pei Jinhui didn't seem to be very close to her family. It wasn't something she often mentioned. If they planned to spend New Year's together, Pei Yujang didn't mind. But as she thought about it, a smile spread across her face. "I'll also be spending it with my girlfriend—Yu Zhiwan."
Today, Pei Yujang was dressed simply, but the red scarf around her neck softened the look, pairing well with her off-white woolen coat, making her skin look even fairer. The mayor, seeing how often Pei Yujang wore the red scarf, guessed it was a gift or a token of affection from Yu Zhiwan.
"That's wonderful."
The mayor muttered a sentiment before quickly masking her brief melancholy, sincerely thanking Pei Yujang and waving goodbye.
Pei Yujang boarded a flight to Yicheng.
She had become quite familiar with traveling between Xiangcheng and Yicheng, but she knew she wouldn't be spending New Year's in the still-unsettled Yicheng this time.
She planned to bring her family to Xiangcheng, where it was safer, unlike Yicheng, where hidden dangers could surface at any moment.
With a few days left before Christmas, the streets were already decorated. After landing, Pei Yujang wasted no time getting busy—first, ordering Christmas gifts for the entire company, then purchasing local specialties.
With Christmas so close to New Year's, she planned to leave during the holiday, after the school exams were done. The mayor had given her a gift, and it was only polite to return the favor.
After handling everything, Pei Yujang took a hot shower and went to bed, waking up the next day to deliver the prepared Christmas gifts to work.
Since Yueyang went public, the employees had been full of enthusiasm, spurred on by the promise of higher year-end bonuses. The Christmas products had done exceptionally well on their first day of sales, and following Pei Yujang's suggestion, Pei Jinhui had donated a portion of the profits.
When Pei Jinhui saw her daughter after a long time, she joked about borrowing her wife, asking what Yu Zhiwan had been up to lately. The product department had a new idea and wanted to see if Yu Zhiwan could help design a new fragrance.
Not knowing if Yu Zhiwan had time, Pei Yujang didn't make any promises, only explaining how busy Yu Zhiwan had been.
Since Yu Zhiwan was essentially on the company's roster without being physically present, Pei Jinhui didn't mind. She knew they were both busy. Pei Yujang had already explained this to her. Although Pei Jinhui didn't fully understand, she didn't pry and moved on to ask what Pei Yujang had brought.
Pei Yujang had grown comfortable enough to joke with her mother now:
"What do you think your darling daughter would bring?"
"Peace apples?"
Gifting apples for peace is a Christmas tradition, and Pei Jinhui couldn't think of anything else. Pei Yujang laughed heartily and had the gifts brought in, personally distributing them to each employee. Even the cleaning lady received a gift directly from her.
The cleaning lady, flustered by the attention, greeted Pei Jinhui upon noticing her.
The gifts included a frosted apple, a candy box, and a small cake, all of the same standard for everyone. The frosted apple was large, round, and dusted with a layer of powder, giving it a romantic, snowy appearance.
Pei Yujang also suggested to Pei Jinhui that they could design an apple-shaped hand cream, which was cute and festive and could be sold at a higher price point, especially as a desirable New Year's item to keep on one's nightstand.
Pei Jinhui's eyes lit up:
"A flip-top design?"
"Or a squeeze design."
Many people don't bother with hand cream because they find it a hassle to open the cap, especially in winter. But consider how many buy products like facial cleansers for their pump design—like hand soap, it's convenient.
"Nice one!"
Leaving those words behind, Pei Jinhui rushed off, ready to have her team start working on it. The hand cream market might be saturated, with people not being too picky as long as it moisturizes, but there was always room for innovation in fragrance and packaging.
The next day was the weekend, and Yueyang was closed, but it was the final day of semester exams for the city's high schools. That evening, as students were let out, Jiang Wenxiu spotted Pei Yujang waiting for her outside the school gate.
"Sis! I'm over here!"
Jiang Wenxiu jumped up and down to catch her attention, squeezing through the crowd towards her. Pei Yujang also spotted Jin Duo in the background. Although they weren't in the same class, the girls had become inseparable friends after their last adventure. Jin Duo, as energetic as ever, ran even faster than Jiang Wenxiu.
Smaller and more agile, Jin Duo wove through the crowd and rushed into Pei Yujang's arms, ready for a big hug. Pei Yujang wasn't stingy and gave her a warm embrace, ruffling her hair.
"Here's your Christmas gift."
The gift was hefty, and Jin Duo let out a dramatic squeal, her excitement overflowing. She tore open the package on the spot, revealing a reading pen.
"Actually… this is great… I'll definitely study hard and listen to it during the break… haha!"
Pei Yujang patted her on the shoulder:
"I'll get you something else when you get into college."
Maybe even a complete set of Yueyang products—easy enough for her to get.
Ding Fang and Shen Jiayu also received their gifts, each tailored to their needs as high school students. The only one who seemed truly happy with hers was Shen Jiayu, who sincerely thanked Pei Yujang.
Jiang Wenxiu tried to refuse hers, but Pei Yujang threatened her with a mock punch, and she reluctantly accepted it.
After handing over her phone so they could call their parents, Pei Yujang took the girls out for a barbecue and then dropped each of them home.
By the time she returned, it was already past ten. Having just started winter break, Jiang Wenxiu felt like a caged beast finally set free. There was no way she could sit down and study tonight, which would completely stifle her instincts.
She tossed Pei Yujang's gift into her room and sprawled across the sofa, switching on the TV projector. She asked if Pei Yujang wanted to join her for a horror movie to unwind, but Pei Yujang had no intention of staying.
Shaking her head, Pei Yujang said, "I'm going out for a bit. I won't be back tonight."
Ignoring Jiang Wenxiu's confused look, Pei Yujang headed to her room to quickly put on some light makeup. She'd gotten better at it over time—no longer the clumsy novice she once was, though she still wasn't a makeup guru. But she could at least make herself presentable.
Since she'd been working hard lately and had an irregular schedule, she had developed two small pimples, which she carefully covered with concealer before applying some foundation. A few finishing touches later, along with a light lip gloss, and she was done in about ten minutes. The look was natural, almost like she wasn't wearing any makeup at all.
Satisfied with her reflection after a few final checks, Pei Yujang set down her brushes and prepared to leave, leaving her cluttered desk for the housekeeper to tidy up later.
Her car sped down the street, past people who seemed in a rush, likely heading home to celebrate Christmas with their families or pick up their partners.
Christmas was an important holiday for many, often seen as a romantic day for couples, much like Valentine's Day.
Many would use this day to plan a romantic gesture or ceremony. Before having a girlfriend, Pei Yujang had never found anything particularly special about this day. But since last Christmas, her life had quietly started to change.
December 24, 11:45 PM: After several turns, Pei Yujang arrived at the building where Yu Zhiwan lived. She had switched cars earlier and put together a simple disguise to avoid standing out.
She parked the car a few streets away, not too close, despite having the address that Yu Zhiwan had trusted her with. After hearing a workplace rumor from a friend, Pei Yujang had become even more cautious.
A famous celebrity, Fang Nianjing, had also tried switching cars to visit her girlfriend at a similar building, only to be caught by a fan. Though Pei Yujang wasn't nearly as famous and didn't have a fanbase like that, she didn't want to risk exposing Yu Zhiwan either. Only after confirming that security was tight did she park nearby.
Despite her caution, she didn't park too close, instead choosing a spot a few blocks away. Yu Zhiwan assured her there was a shortcut she could take.
"Give me about ten minutes," Yu Zhiwan had messaged her.
Whether they met at the exact time didn't really matter—Pei Yujang just wanted to see her on Christmas Day.
It had been about half a month since they had last seen each other. Since they got together, they had rarely spent so much time apart. Recently, both had been absorbed in their respective work, with conversations reduced to brief exchanges like "Have you eaten?" "Yes, I have," before diving back into the next task.
Yu Zhiwan was deeply involved in researching a semi-finished antidote for the zombie virus, which kept her exceptionally busy.
December 24, 11:58 PM: Snow began to fall outside. Pei Yujang had rolled down the car window, watching for Yu Zhiwan's arrival and keeping an eye on the street.
The cold snowflakes brushed against her face. With two minutes left until Christmas, Pei Yujang thought about how Christmas and snow seemed inseparable, especially when paired with the decorated Christmas trees and bells on the streets. She felt that snow made everything look more vibrant and beautiful.
11:59 PM: Just a minute before Christmas, Pei Yujang spotted a figure approaching the car.
She was seated in the back, ready to step out when she saw Yu Zhiwan running towards her.
The Omega, covered in cold snow, threw herself into Pei Yujang's arms, her warm breath melting the frost that had gathered on Pei Yujang's eyelashes. Caught off guard by the rush of warmth and softness, Pei Yujang quickly pulled her into the car, shutting the door to keep out the cold.
"I'm here. Was I on time?"
Yu Zhiwan was out of breath, and Pei Yujang noticed her fatigue more clearly up close than she had in their video calls. Still, her eyes sparkled with joy.
Despite her pale complexion and the fact that she was even thinner than before, it was clear that Yu Zhiwan hadn't been eating well. Those simple "I've eaten" texts they exchanged were now exposed as lies, and though Pei Yujang occasionally fibbed too, she had never seen Yu Zhiwan look so exhausted.
While Yu Zhiwan wasn't as radiant as she used to be, all Pei Yujang could feel was concern.
"Why aren't you eating properly? And then lying to me about it?"
Yu Zhiwan mumbled, unable to provide a satisfactory answer.
At the stroke of midnight, December 25, Yu Zhiwan changed the subject, cutting off Pei Yujang's scolding as she shifted on Pei Yujang's lap, rubbing her face against her cheek before asking:
"Merry Christmas. Do you want a kiss?"
With a smile as sweet as frosted sugar, Pei Yujang pressed her forehead to hers, her own smile tinged with helpless affection, and kissed the corner of her lover's lips, savoring the moment.
Unlike their first kiss a year ago, which was tinged with nervousness and the fear of overstepping boundaries, this kiss was calm and assured. The desire to kiss, hug, and make love to someone you care for is a natural part of being in a relationship, and the rapid beat of her heart made one thing clear—Pei Yujang really, truly liked Yu Zhiwan.
She was completely, head over heels in love.
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