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As New Year's Day approached, the school kindly granted a half-day off. According to Qide's tradition, each class held its own New Year's Eve party.
In the afternoon, the Cultural Committee had a meeting for the student department, leaving no time to prepare for the party. She sought out the most easygoing person in the class, Meng Taoyu, and after much pleading, finally convinced Meng Taoyu to help buy decorations such as streamers, balloons, and fireworks.
After receiving the class funds from the class leader, Meng Taoyu stepped out of the school and hailed a taxi.
Once the meter was running, the driver asked her where she wanted to go.
Lacking experience, Meng Taoyu thought for a moment and replied, "Do you know any nearby places that sell small decorations?"
The driver pondered for a moment before turning the steering wheel. "I do!"
However, when they arrived and she got out of the car, Meng Taoyu stared at the slightly worn blue sign at the entrance of the market in disbelief. This... this is Changzheng Market?
Changzheng Market has two main streets: Luo Street and East Street.
Meng Taoyu was timid and always played by the rules; she had never dared to venture into chaotic places. Back in Junior High School, she had heard from others that South City had a notorious area known for frequent violent brawls and year-round chaos—East Street of Changzheng Market.
Checking her watch, she realized that if she went elsewhere now, there wouldn't be enough time to set up the classroom. Meng Taoyu felt stuck.
After hesitating for a while and thinking that nothing bad should happen during the day, she mustered her courage and went inside. As she walked through, she passed foot massage shops, barbershops, and even an unopened food stall. Everything seemed quite normal—not at all like the den of danger she had imagined.
Not wanting to stray too far, Meng Taoyu randomly chose a grocery store and picked up some candies and snacks. She wandered around, gathering items according to the list provided by the Cultural Committee.
Having rarely shopped alone before, she felt dazed at checkout and didn't know how to bargain; whatever the shopkeeper said was final.
Finally finished with her purchases, she let out a sigh of relief. As she walked down the street, two or three people followed her trying to promote their products. Being good-natured, Meng Taoyu politely declined them with a wave of her hand: "Sorry, I don't need anything right now."
Just as she was about to leave, a man crossed his arms and blocked her path.
As soon as she uttered her apology, the man smiled and said, "Hey there, are you alone? Want to join me for a game of pool?"
Meng Taoyu tightened her grip on the plastic bag and hurried a few steps to the side.
The man stepped aside, casually blocking her path. "Just one game, big brother has been watching you for a while. Is this your first time here? Are you a student?"
Meng Taoyu's body stiffened noticeably, and she felt a bit panicked. She looked around for help, but the people passing by seemed indifferent.
She turned to run but found that someone had already followed her, and the group of thugs surrounding her burst into laughter.
"What do you want?" Meng Taoyu's legs felt weak, and she didn't know where to look.
"Come play a game of billiards with big brother."
The circle around her gradually closed in, and tears were about to fall from her eyes. "No, I need to go back to school. I won't go."
One person laughed, "Brother Nan, stop teasing the student girl."
Brother Nan stepped closer. "It's just a game; we won't do anything."
Suddenly, a person flashed through Meng Taoyu's mind. She whispered, "Don't block me; I'm here to find my brother."
The man showed interest. "Looking for your brother? Who is he?"
"My brother..." Meng Taoyu's face turned pale. Closing her eyes, she decided to take a gamble. "My brother is Meng Hanmo."
As soon as the name left her lips, Brother Nan stared at her for a few moments and repeated, "Meng Hanmo?"
A glimmer of hope rose in Meng Taoyu's heart as she nodded eagerly. "Yes, that's him."
Just then, someone from the outer circle shouted loudly, "Mo Ge!"
What a coincidence!
Meng Taoyu was astonished and widened her eyes to confirm.
It really is him.
Meng Hanmo, with a cigarette in his mouth and one hand in his pocket, looked over. The moment he did, she felt a mix of excitement and nervousness, and tears streamed down her face.
"There's a student here claiming to be your sister?" the person who had just called out to him asked.
They made way for him. Meng Hanmo squinted at Meng Taoyu, paused for a moment, and spoke in a low, slightly hoarse voice, "Oh, my sister."
The teasing from the others abruptly stopped.
The entire "handover" process was very calm, and Meng Taoyu followed them.
Chen Xi also remembered her. "You're Ningzi's classmate, right? You came all the way to East Street alone; that's quite bold."
Having just escaped a crisis, Meng Taoyu's tear-streaked face was nearly buried in her chest. "Our class has a New Year's Day party, and I came to buy some things."
"Did you finish buying everything?" After finishing his cigarette, Meng Hanmo casually turned his head.
Meng Taoyu didn't dare to meet his gaze and lifted the plastic bag in her hand. "I should... be almost done."
Chen Xi laughed, "You're quite clever; you know to use Moke's name on East Street."
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