Upside Down Grocery Shop - Chapter 26

Li Xiaotong stared at Su Ran. What kind of person was he? Just moments ago, he was steeped in solemn sorrow, yet in the next moment, he was laughing and playing with a child.

Someone like this was either heartless or had gone through emotions so overwhelming they were numb.

“Kids shouldn’t eat so much fried food. It’s bad for your health,” Li Xiaotong advised the chubby boy kindly, finding him somewhat adorable.

The chubby boy looked up at her and unexpectedly blurted, “Auntie, who even are you?”

What the heck!?

This little punk dared to call her “Auntie”! Li Xiaotong’s mood instantly soured, and she reached out to grab the boy’s ear. But the boy dodged her with surprising agility.

“Boss, who’s this nosy woman? Your fiancée?”

“You’re the fiancée! You little rascal, spouting nonsense like that—let’s see how I teach you a lesson!” Li Xiaotong fumed. Kids these days, such little devils! If she didn’t discipline him a bit, his childhood would hardly be complete.

However, though he looked chubby, the boy was astonishingly nimble. No matter how Li Xiaotong tried, her speed and movements weren’t enough even to graze him.

“Hey, Auntie, I didn’t spend any of your money or eat any of your food. Do you have to chase me down like this?” The chubby boy was exasperated by her relentless pursuit. What was this lady’s deal? Did she lose money at the market or something?

Li Xiaotong paused. The little rascal had a point—it really wasn’t her business. But just for calling her “Auntie,” she couldn’t let this slide!

Su Ran watched them bicker with amusement.

“All right, you two. Just don’t knock over my stuff,” he said casually. But when Su Ran sniffed the money handed over by the boy, his expression shifted subtly.

“Hey, chubby boy, tell me the truth. Where did this money come from?”

“Why do you care? I spend it, you take it. Why ask where it’s from?” The boy glanced at Su Ran, half-annoyed, half-nervous, then grabbed a large bottle of soda and tried to run.

Su Ran reached out and snagged him effortlessly. Unlike Li Xiaotong, he caught him in one swift move.

“Not gonna tell the truth? Believe me, I won’t go easy on you.”

The chubby boy struggled to free himself, but with his strength, it was hopeless. In the end, he had no choice but to cave.

“Okay, fine, I’ll talk! I found it, okay? I swear, I found it! I’m not lying!”

“How much more?”

“That’s it—just this one bill.”

Su Ran narrowed his eyes and stared at the boy down. Clearly, he didn’t believe him.

Intimidated by the gaze, the chubby boy stammered and confessed, “Okay, okay! There are three more bills! But I really just found them!”

“Where did you find them?”

“By a dead body.”

Su Ran’s expression shifted. “What did you just say?”

Li Xiaotong gasped. Did he just say a dead body?

“It was in the bushes near Dongshan—a dead guy.”

“Why didn’t you call the police?!”

A dead body! This was no small matter. Li Xiaotong was even more horrified. This brat! Not only did he ignore the body, but he also took money from it!

Su Ran looked at the boy. “You’re saying this is a dead person’s money?”

“Yeah.”

“You idiot.” Su Ran flicked the boy’s forehead hard enough to make Li Xiaotong wince just watching. “You spent money from a dead person? Are you tired of living? Spit out everything you just ate and drank. Right now.”

The boy yelped in pain, clutching his forehead. “What’s your problem? That hurt!”

“Do you not understand? Money from the dead can’t be taken, let alone spent! Stop whining and spit it all out!”

“But I already ate it. How can I spit it out?”

Without a word, Su Ran grabbed a bottle of some unlabeled liquid and forced the boy to drink it.

The stuff must’ve been revolting, because the boy resisted with all his might, looking like he was on the verge of death. Soon enough, he was by the roadside, vomiting everything he’d eaten.

“What did you make him drink?” Li Xiaotong asked, horrified.

“Nothing special. Just soapy water.”

“Aren’t you afraid you’ll poison him?”

“People aren’t that fragile. Want to try some?”

Li Xiaotong shook her head. Su Ran truly was one of a kind.

The chubby boy returned, glaring at Su Ran. “Forget what I just ate—I think I threw up everything I’ve eaten for the past three days. What was that? It stank, and it was bitter as hell!”

“Nothing much. Just cough syrup,” Su Ran replied smoothly.

Li Xiaotong shot him a glance. This guy really could lie without batting an eye.

“Little fatty, take me to the body,” Su Ran demanded.

The boy was reluctant. After being tormented and losing a few hundred yuan, he wasn’t exactly eager to help. But when Su Ran and Li Xiaotong promised him a hundred yuan and two hotpot meals, he finally caved and led them there.

Dongshan, a half-developed mountain on the outskirts of the city, was a popular spot for kids to pick wild fruits. The chubby boy knew the area like the back of his hand, and in no time, he brought them to the body.

Exposed to the elements, the corpse was already decomposing, and the air reeked of decay.

But when Su Ran saw the body, his expression darkened.

Li Xiaotong’s eyes widened in shock. She couldn’t believe it.

It was the burly man!

The phony guard from the junk shop! Just a few days ago, he visited Su Ran. And now, here he was, lying dead in the wilderness.

Li Xiaotong had never seen such a sight before. The fact that she knew the deceased made it even worse. She turned pale and started retching, her entire body trembling.

Su Ran studied the man’s body. A conspicuous wound on his forehead was clearly fatal—pierced by a sharp weapon.

A flying sword!

That was Su Ran’s first thought.

“Little fatty, call the police.”

“I don’t have a phone.”

“Use that Auntie’s.”

The boy borrowed Li Xiaotong’s phone and successfully reported the case, staying behind to wait for the police. Meanwhile, Su Ran led a shaken Li Xiaotong away.

“Su Ran, that’s the third victim already. Are you just going to stand by and do nothing?”

“I’ve already reported it. The rest is up to the police.”

“Are we really just leaving it at that?” Li Xiaotong couldn’t understand. Su Ran could clearly help, even if he didn’t use that strange candle of his. He could at least provide some clues, couldn’t he?

Su Ran glanced at her. “What would you have me do? Tell the police there’s a flying sword killing people? Do you think they’ll believe me? Or would they just think I’m crazy?”

“Well… but…” Li Xiaotong was at a loss for words.

“No buts. No ifs, ands, or buts. The only thing you need to do now is go back to school. If school’s on break, go home and stay there. Got it?”

“I…” Li Xiaotong didn’t want to leave. Three lives had been lost already. Even if she only had a passing acquaintance with the burly man, she couldn’t just stand by, especially not after what happened to Qianqian.