Standing in front of a dilapidated, run-down building, Lin Mo and Zhang Nan finally let out a sigh of relief.
Though it was broad daylight and no one would dare cause trouble, walking through such an area still made them uneasy. Along the way, they’d encountered plenty of reckless types, like street racers.
The building was a high-rise, packed with residents. The moment they stepped inside, they were hit with a cacophony of noise and an unpleasant mix of odors.
Zhang Nan pinched her nose and said, "The rent here is dirt cheap—just two or three hundred a month—so it’s crowded."
"Behind this door is probably a shared apartment. The person we’re looking for could be in any of the rooms."
As she spoke, Zhang Nan knocked on the door.
Before long, someone inside yelled, "Who the hell went out without their key again? Who do you think you are?"
A greasy, overweight man answered the door, wearing nothing but boxers.
Zhang Nan immediately covered Lin Mo’s eyes. "Nasty sight—don’t look!"
Lin Mo and Zhang Nan’s refined demeanor and clothing starkly contrasted with the surroundings.
The man leered at them openly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "What can I do for you two pretty ladies?"
"None of your business!"
Zhang Nan kept Lin Mo’s eyes shielded but peeked inside herself.
Just as she’d guessed, the space behind the main door was divided into tiny rooms—a chaotic mix of men and women crammed together.
"Then I ain’t lettin’ you in!" The man planted himself in the doorway, raising a hand as if to shove Zhang Nan.
But it wasn’t a push—his hand was aimed straight for her chest.
Down the stairs, two burly men watched the scene unfold, brows furrowed. They exchanged glances.
Should they step in?
The boss had ordered them not to reveal themselves.
But rule number one was ensuring Lin Mo faced no danger.
After half a second of deliberation, they nodded at each other and prepared to intervene—
Then something came tumbling down the stairs with enough force to make the whole staircase shake.
A pained howl followed. "Aaargh!"
The two men blinked.
Well, damn—it was the fat guy.
Wait, what just happened?
Zhang Nan was equally stunned, her mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg. "Sis… sis, you…"
She hadn’t even seen it clearly—just the man suddenly dropping to his knees before rolling down the stairs.
Lin Mo smiled. "I know a little self-defense. Handling a weak, out-of-shape guy like him is no problem."
Back in the day, to protect her younger brothers, she’d learned everything from taekwondo to Muay Thai—short of joining a Shaolin temple.
The man writhed in pain, but hearing the insult about his stamina sent him into a rage. "The hell you sayin’? I ain’t weak!"
Zhang Nan rolled up her sleeves and shot back, "Only thing big about you is your bullshit!"
The man slammed his fists against the floor, furious. "You bitches! I’ll kill you!"
Just as he tried to stand, an unseen force yanked him backward, sending him tumbling down again.
His eyes widened as he came face-to-face with two terrifyingly muscular men.
Before he could scream—
Two solid punches knocked him out cold.
Lin Mo didn’t notice, nor did she want to waste time on irrelevant people. She stepped inside.
Zhang Nan followed, utterly impressed. "Sis, I had no idea you were this badass."
The whole time, she’d thought she was the one protecting Lin Mo.
Turns out, it was the other way around!
How embarrassing!
Lin Mo grinned. "Just decent—third-best in the world, maybe."
The apartment couldn’t have been more than 500 square feet, yet it had been carved into six tiny compartments.
Only one door was open—likely the fat man’s room. The rest were shut.
"I’ll knock," Zhang Nan offered.
Doing things for her sister was an honor!
The first door opened to reveal a gaunt, sickly-looking woman. "Who’re you looking for?"
Lin Mo stepped forward with a polite smile. "Do you know which room Ji'an lives in? He’s a high schooler with long hair that covers his eyes."
Living in such close quarters, neighbors usually knew each other.
"Oh, that kid? He and his mom moved out around 3 or 4 this morning."
Lin Mo’s brow furrowed. "Do you know where they went?"
The woman shook her head. "No idea."
"One setback after another—what a bargain," Lin Mo muttered, forcing a smile that looked more pained than anything.
That little brat—when she found him, she was gonna whip him with a belt first thing!
The woman didn’t catch her sarcasm, only sighing. "They had to leave. Last night, some man came by, beat his mom half to death. The kid got hurt too."
"What?" Lin Mo’s eyes widened. "A man? Was it Ji'an’s father?"
The woman shrugged. "Dunno. They’ve lived here for years, and no dad ever showed up."
The light in Lin Mo’s peach-blossom eyes dimmed.
Seems her fourth brother’s situation was more complicated than she’d thought.
As they left the building, Lin Mo was too lost in thought about Ji'an to notice the unconscious fat man was no longer on the stairs.
The outside air was fresher, and Lin Mo took a deep breath.
"This slum is huge. Finding someone here won’t be easy, huh?" she asked Zhang Nan.
Zhang Nan nodded. "Tens of thousands of people live here. They could be tucked away in any corner."
Lin Mo: "Is there a police station here? Can I report a case?"
It's highly likely that the fourth brother, along with his mentally ill adoptive mother, won't move out of this area.
The cost of living outside is several times higher than here.
Zhang Nan: "You can report the case, but the police may not look into it seriously. There are a lot of fights and other troubles here every day, and the police can't handle them all."
Lin Mo frowned and stared at a rice noodle shop right in front of her. There were several cockroaches blatantly scurrying on the ground.
Her long, curly eyelashes drooped, casting a beautiful shadow under her eyelids.
Xie Guanyan has a charity foundation in this area, and he seems to have come from here.
Could he offer some help?
If he calls the local police station, it should draw their attention, right?
Lin Mo isn't someone who likes to ask others for help. She does everything she can on her own.
But in this helpless situation, seeking help might be the simplest and most direct solution.
She'll ask him when she gets back tonight.
She followed Zhang Nan out of the slum.
Just as they reached the entrance, they saw a flashy sports car parked by the roadside.
Gu Jingchuan was dressed in a blue suit. When he saw Lin Mo coming out, his eyes widened in surprise.
He went to No. 3 Middle School and then heard from the private detective that Lin Mo had gone to the slum.
He had no idea why Lin Mo would go to the slum for no reason.
But he hated the slum the most, so he didn't go in and waited for her outside.
Finally, he saw her. His breathing hitched, and he strode forward, his voice trembling slightly. "Lin Mo!"
Lin Mo also didn't expect to run into Gu Jingchuan here.
This was the first time she'd seen him in person since she traveled through time. His hairline was really receding, and his hair had become quite thin.
He felt completely strange to her.
Seeing the man getting closer.
Lin Mo didn't know what to say. She forced a smile and said, "Gu Jingchuan, long time no see. Where have you been making money lately?"
