Chapter 104 - The Angel of Death
Bai Shi woke up at exactly six-thirty in the morning.
He sat up, washing his face with meticulous care before whistling a light tune as he dressed. He was in an exceptionally good mood; today was a day for great things. His footsteps were light as he descended the stairs, and he even went so far as to offer a cheerful greeting to the butler. The old man paused in surprise, momentarily taken aback by the young master’s uncharacteristic warmth, before politely returning the greeting.
Bai Yinhua was sprawled on the sofa downstairs. Due to a recent drunk-driving accident, he had been grounded. The family elders were currently busy pulling strings and spending considerable sums of money to scrub the incident from public record, as such a scandal would be detrimental to the Bai family’s reputation. Until the dust settled, Bai Yinhua was forbidden from roaming outside and causing further trouble.
Seeing Bai Shi, Bai Yinhua bolted upright. "The more I think about it, the more something feels off. I clearly remember driving home and seeing you at the door. How did I end up back out on the road?"
Bai Shi offered a thin, enigmatic smile. "Who knows? You should get some more rest."
With that, Bai Shi stepped out the door and cut across the backyard. By the time he reached the entrance of Pei Cangyu’s residential complex, it was exactly seven o'clock.
The weather was perfect—an ideal day for an excursion. It was a stroke of luck that the school’s long-distance march had been scheduled for today. The area around Pei Cangyu’s home was thick with the atmosphere of a busy morning. The streets were bustling, filled with the savory steam of breakfast stalls and the chatter of neighbors who had known each other for a lifetime. Bai Shi reflected that such a close-knit atmosphere was usually a blessing, but if someone were trying to disappear, it would make things far more complicated.
A vendor pushing a cart of fresh soy milk passed by and asked if he wanted a cup. Bai Shi realized he hadn't eaten yet, but after a moment’s hesitation, he declined. He wanted to keep his stomach empty; hunger would keep his senses sharp and his mind alert.
He stood by a utility pole outside the complex, positioned at an angle that gave him a clear view of Pei Cangyu’s front door.
A few moments later, the door creaked open. Pei Cangyu stepped out.
Bai Shi checked his watch. At this time, Pei Cangyu should be heading to school to gather for the march. However, Pei Yueshan hadn't emerged yet. Was he trailing behind?
Bai Shi took a few steps back, tucking himself further into the shadows so that Pei Cangyu wouldn't spot him when he passed the pole. In truth, it was likely an unnecessary precaution; given Pei Cangyu’s recent dazed and distracted state, Bai Shi could have stood right in front of him without being noticed.
As he watched Pei Cangyu’s retreating back, Bai Shi noted that the boy seemed to have regained some of his old spirit today.
He kept his eyes fixed on the door. At seven-twenty, the grandmother left the house, but there was still no sign of Pei Yueshan.
*That’s enough,* Bai Shi thought.
He pulled up his hood, shoved his hands into his pockets, and slightly hunched his shoulders as he walked toward the apartment. He had originally intended to knock, but finding the door unlocked, he simply pushed it open and stepped inside.
Pei Yueshan was in the middle of breakfast. Three sets of bowls and chopsticks were laid out on the table. Two people had already finished and left their mess behind, leaving Pei Yueshan—the last to eat—to clean up. One of the bowls still contained a few dregs of soy milk; it was a "Big Yellow Duck" bowl, unmistakably Pei Cangyu’s.
Pei Yueshan looked up at the uninvited guest. His expression was less one of surprise and more of curiosity, as if he found the boy’s audacity amusing. Was there really someone in this neighborhood brave enough to barge into his home like this?
Pei Yueshan continued chewing his fried dough stick, his eyes lifting with a mix of mockery and menace. He looked like a hunter watching a lamb wander directly into his line of fire. "Who are you looking for?"
Bai Shi had been surveying the room from the moment he entered. Hearing the question, he turned his head. "I believe I’m looking for you."
Pei Yueshan took a sip of water, unfazed. "Something on your mind?"
Bai Shi began to pace through the apartment of his own accord. "Naturally."
He pulled off his hood and walked into Pei Cangyu’s bedroom, pushing the door open to peer inside. There were two beds. One was made with military precision, while the other was a chaotic mess of blankets. The beds were pushed together at a strange angle, joined yet separate. Pei Cangyu had a new desk and a new lamp, but the posters that used to line the walls had all been torn down.
Pei Yueshan slammed his chopsticks onto the table. Because of his brute strength, the sound was like a gunshot. "Get over here."
Bai Shi turned back. "I was just about to."
He sat down across from Pei Yueshan, taking Pei Cangyu’s seat. Directly in front of him was Pei Cangyu’s half-empty bowl and the chopsticks resting across it.
"Are you one of his classmates?" Pei Yueshan reached for a cigarette and lit it. He vaguely recalled seeing this boy before.
Bai Shi nodded. "I am."
"And what exactly are you doing here?" Pei Yueshan asked, exerting the maximum amount of patience an adult could muster for a child.
"Let’s set 'what I'm doing' aside for a moment," Bai Shi said, his gaze level. "I have a question for you first."
Pei Yueshan nearly laughed. This brat, who looked like he hadn't even finished puberty, was trying to act like a big shot. "What the fuck are you actually here for?"
Bai Shi looked down, picked up the chopsticks Pei Cangyu had used, and slowly licked the tips with his tongue. Then, he looked up at Pei Yueshan. "Was it you?"
Pei Yueshan flinched, startled by the sheer creepiness of the gesture. The boy looked like a total psychopath.
Bai Shi set the chopsticks down. "I’m asking you. Was it you?"
Pei Yueshan flicked his ash directly onto the tabletop. "Was what me?"
"You touched him." Bai Shi’s eyes were locked onto his.
Pei Yueshan froze. A long cylinder of ash built up at the end of his cigarette before he realized it, flicking it away with a jerk. He took a deep drag, exhaling a cloud of smoke as he asked, "He told you?"
"So, it was you." Bai Shi had his answer.
Pei Yueshan’s patience evaporated. "What the hell are you here to do?"
"I came here today," Bai Shi said with a thin, polite smile, "intending to kill you."
Pei Yueshan burst into laughter. "You little piece of—"
He never finished the sentence. Bai Shi lunged upward, whipping a heavy object out of his backpack with terrifying speed. It was a metal baseball bat, and it connected with the side of Pei Yueshan’s head in a horizontal arc. The force was immense, sending Pei Yueshan crashing off his stool and onto the floor.
Pei Yueshan clutched his head, his vision exploding into a thousand points of light. He scrambled against the wall, blinking through the blood that began to pour into his eyes. He saw the tall boy walking toward him, the iron bat swinging rhythmically in his hand.
Bai Shi looked down at his prey, but he had underestimated the man’s resilience. Pei Yueshan suddenly lunged, a desperate fist catching Bai Shi squarely in the jaw. The man rolled and scrambled to his feet. Bai Shi clutched his jaw, realizing his first strike hadn't been as lethal as intended. This was going to be difficult.
Pei Yueshan propped himself up against the wall, wiping the blood from his face. He glared at the half-grown boy before him, spat on the floor, and charged, burying a heavy kick into Bai Shi’s abdomen.
Bai Shi couldn't dodge in time. He was thrown backward, but his fingers remained clamped around the bat like a vice.
Pei Yueshan seized the advantage, pinning Bai Shi to the floor and raining down a barrage of heavy punches. Bai Shi raised his arms to shield his face, but the blows were relentless, fueled by the man’s feral rage.
Finally, Bai Shi spotted an opening. He twisted his body to the side, causing Pei Yueshan to lose his balance for a split second. Seizing the moment, Bai Shi used the bat to wedge Pei Yueshan’s arms apart and drove a hard fist into the man’s throat. While Yueshan gasped and struggled for air, Bai Shi rolled out from under him.
The moment he regained his footing, Pei Yueshan lunged again, grabbing Bai Shi by the waist in an attempt to wrestle the bat away. Bai Shi simply tossed the bat behind him; it rolled across the floor, coming to a stop far out of reach for both of them.
Pei Yueshan swung a heavy palm against the side of Bai Shi’s head. "You motherfucker... you dare come into my house..."
Bai Shi grabbed Pei Yueshan’s wrists with a death grip. Yueshan drove a punch into Bai Shi’s stomach, making the boy’s vision swim with nausea, but Bai Shi refused to let go.
With his hands occupied, Pei Yueshan used his head. He slammed his forehead into Bai Shi’s, confident that his years of brawling experience would leave the boy dazed and broken.
Instead, Bai Shi lunged forward and sank his teeth into Pei Yueshan’s neck. He bit down with the ferocity of a wild animal, tearing at the flesh.
Pei Yueshan let out a guttural scream, trying to thrash his way free. But the more he struggled, the tighter Bai Shi clung to him. He bit through the skin, the copper taste of blood flooding his mouth, until he literally tore a small chunk of flesh away.
Bai Shi’s mouth was stained a brilliant, horrific red. He wiped his lips and, with a sudden, violent twist of his other hand, snapped Pei Yueshan’s arm.
The outcome was decided.
Pei Yueshan crawled across the floor, trying to find the strength to stand, but the tiles were slick with spilled water, blood, and the debris of their struggle. Every attempt to rise ended in a pathetic slip.
Bai Shi, meanwhile, stood up with leisurely grace. He pulled a tissue from his pocket and meticulously wiped the blood from his mouth. When the paper was soaked through, he tossed it casually onto the floor. There was blood on his forehead, so he wiped it away with his hand, using the crimson smear to slick his bangs back. The drying blood held his hair in place like a macabre styling gel.
He retrieved his baseball bat and walked back with elegant, measured strides, stopping right in front of Pei Yueshan.
Pei Yueshan had managed to find some purchase on the floor. He looked up, his eyes wide, only to see Bai Shi offering him a small, pleasant smile. In that final moment, a stray thought crossed the man’s mind: *This kid is beautiful. He looks like an angel from a painting.*
The angel raised the heavy iron bat and brought it crashing down onto the crown of Pei Yueshan’s head.
With a single blow, the strength left the man’s body, and he collapsed.
Bai Shi continued to strike, blow after blow, until the head was nearly submerged in a pool of its own gore. Pei Yueshan’s body gave a final, post-mortem twitch, blood bubbling from his throat.
Bai Shi let out a long, satisfied breath. "Phew—"
He pulled out another tissue and wiped the blood from the bat.
Then, Bai Shi sat back down in Pei Cangyu’s seat and picked up the chopsticks. "Come to think of it, I haven't had breakfast yet."
Using Pei Cangyu’s chopsticks, he began to eat. There was a steamed bun left; he ate it. There was some fried chicken; he ate that too. As he chewed, the spreading pool of blood reached his feet. Bai Shi looked down, lifted his heels slightly, and watched as the red tide flowed beneath his soles.
He looked over at the corpse of Pei Yueshan. "You really are loathsome. Even in death, you’re a nuisance."
Bai Shi finished the meal at his own pace. He checked his watch: eight-ten.
He stood up, deciding he needed to use the restroom.
Whistling a tune, he walked into the bathroom, lifted the toilet lid, and relieved himself with casual ease. He didn't bother closing the door. From his vantage point, he could see Pei Yueshan’s eyes, wide and unseeing in a final stare of grievance. Bai Shi looked at those eyes and smiled. Just thinking about what he had done for Pei Cangyu made his entire body tremble with excitement. How would Pei Cangyu ever repay him?
The more he pondered the answer, the more exhilarated he became. He shouldered his backpack and zipped his school jacket up to his chin to hide the bloodstains on his inner clothes before happily departing the scene.
All the way to school, his mind raced. If he ended up in prison, what would Pei Cangyu do? Would he be like a devoted widow, waiting faithfully for him on the outside?
The image of a loyal, grieving Pei Cangyu filled Bai Shi with joy. When he eventually got out, perhaps he would move in right next door. Out of a sense of guilt and debt, Pei Cangyu would surely wait for his release before even considering marriage. And who would he marry? Perhaps the Class Monitor; good people always seemed to find one another.
Bai Shi would live right next to them and serve as the godfather to their children. He would be an excellent godfather. Whether it was a boy or a girl, Bai Shi would take perfect care of the child. He would be like a guardian angel, protecting that family forever.
The prospect was intoxicating.
He arrived at school at exactly eight-forty, just as morning self-study ended. After a brief period of classes, the students began to gather downstairs, preparing for the start of the march.
Bai Shi walked up to Pei Cangyu’s side. Pei Cangyu shot him a look. "Where have you been? You're so slow."
Bai Shi grinned. "It's a secret."
"Fine, keep your secrets," Pei Cangyu muttered, turning away.
As they set out, the more energetic students ran back and forth along the line. Pei Cangyu scanned the crowd but couldn't find Apple and the others. Then he remembered—Apple had taken a leave of absence to study at home, claiming he couldn't stand the school atmosphere. Monkey was busy organizing the ranks, and Feiji had wandered off to another class's section.
Bai Shi walked beside Pei Cangyu, whistling. Pei Cangyu glanced at him, hesitated, and scratched his head before calling out.
"Hey."
"Hmm?" Bai Shi leaned in closer.
Pei Cangyu bit his lip. "I wanted to ask you something... I've been thinking about it for a while."
Bai Shi nodded encouragingly.
"Have you ever thought about moving out? For high school, I mean."
Bai Shi froze. "What?"
"I mean..." Pei Cangyu looked away. "I want to move out once we start high school. Mahua is willing to lend me some money. Don't ask why, but you know how expensive rent is. I was wondering... do you want to move out too? We could share a place."
Bai Shi stopped dead in his tracks. A sudden, sharp pain throbbed in his head.
Pei Cangyu noticed his strange reaction and stopped with him. "What's wrong?"
*What’s wrong?*
Bai Shi suddenly realized something.
He had just committed a murder.
The realization was terrifying.
He had thought this was what Pei Cangyu wanted, but a normal person’s thoughts didn't work that way. Pei Cangyu only wanted to get away from Pei Yueshan and start his own life. He had even borrowed money and prepared for a fresh start.
The moment Pei Cangyu mentioned living together, a vision had flashed before Bai Shi’s eyes. He and Pei Cangyu under the same roof, stepping out of their respective rooms in the morning, jostling each other to see who could brush their teeth first, fooling around by the sink, fighting over the bathroom. Maybe they’d buy a height chart and compare themselves every day. They would learn to cook, taking turns with the meals and the dishes. They would go to school together, in the same class or different ones, and walk home together every evening. People would ask Bai Shi about Pei Cangyu, and others would ask Pei Cangyu about Bai Shi. They would be best friends; everyone would know it.
To be that kind of friend, Bai Shi would be willing to endure a lifetime of headaches. He would even be willing to pretend to be someone else forever.
But...
