Chapter Forty-Three: The Mysterious Guest

Ye Ran worked at a shoe shop on the southeastern outskirts of Torrent City. Although it was far less bustling and splendid than the grand Lanxie Avenue, for small business owners, no place was more suited than here—the shop fronted the street, surrounded by numerous neighborhoods.

After preparing breakfast for Fureya, Ye Ran hurried to the shoe shop, running for a full hour before arriving. At the entrance, he glimpsed his portly boss, who sported a beer belly. Ye Ran straightened his clothes and entered, greeting him.

“Haha, Ye, you’re here. Go change first; there aren’t many customers at this hour,” said the owner, Xu Xin. In Torrent City, he was a merchant of modest standing—far above Ye Ran, of course, yet worlds apart from true nobility. Having built his business from scratch, Xu Xin possessed a worldly wisdom, and his warm smile made people feel at ease.

The shop also had a female clerk, Zhang Nuo, who had started a few days before Ye Ran. She was a student at Taiding Academy, working weekends to earn some pocket money; today happened to be a weekend.

Though Zhang Nuo's family was average, she had been pampered all her life. With her delicate looks, she was often surrounded by admirers and naturally paid little heed to someone like Ye Ran. When he arrived, she merely glanced at him and tilted her head slightly.

When Xu Xin called him “Ye,” she turned curiously, “Boss, is the new guy’s surname Ye? What’s his full name?”

Xu Xin chuckled, “His name is Ye Ran.”

“Ye Ran? Is he the Ye Ran who took the martial arts exam for Crimson Leaf Academy?”

Xu Xin nodded, saying nothing more. He knew well the background of Ma’s recommendation.

After changing into his shop uniform, Ye Ran moved to his designated counter and lowered his head to review the supply list Xu Xin had handed him.

Zhang Nuo watched him secretly. His cold, chiseled features, tall frame, slightly long hair—all matched the widely circulated image in Taiding Academy and Shali Academy.

Ye Ran himself was unaware of this. Though Crimson Leaf Academy had reserved places and he hadn’t entered, his name was quite renowned in Taiding and Shali Academies.

Although those two schools also ranked among the top three, in yearly competitions, Crimson Leaf always overshadowed them. Officially, nothing was said, but both schools harbored a simmering resentment.

Thus, the martial arts exam was quickly forgotten at Crimson Leaf, but at Taiding and Shali Academies, it was endlessly sensationalized. In the entrance exam, a commoner had bested a master from the Sixth Divine Temple, and Crimson Leaf’s miscalculation led them to deny him—something unprecedented since the academy’s founding.

Given the chance to disparage their rival, students from both schools spared no effort, praising Ye Ran to mythical heights. Some even fabricated tales such as “Ye Ran defeated Ziyang in three moves, shocking the three elders.” Of course, Crimson Leaf’s students laughed it off, but at Taiding and Shali, the stories spread and grew ever more popular.

Ye Ran soon noticed the gaze from across the counter. He glanced up at the girl opposite.

Zhang Nuo did not shy away from his look; instead, she blinked, displaying a keen interest.

Ye Ran, however, did not respond to her flirtatious glance, and continued to study the supply list and shoe sizes and styles.

“Ye, I’m visiting the other branches. You and Zhang keep an eye on the place. If anyone comes to cause trouble or collect protection money, take it from the drawer—five silver coins a month, no more. Don’t give extra,” Xu Xin said, clicking his abacus and making a note on the ledger, then tidying the items on the counter as he instructed Ye Ran and Zhang Nuo.

Ye Ran nodded. He knew there was an abandoned building nearby, home to local thugs who idled their days away and survived solely by extorting protection fees. This was precisely why Xu Xin had hired Ye Ran.

The shop needed someone who could keep order.

Xu Xin waved goodbye and left with his briefcase. As soon as he was gone, the previously quiet Zhang Nuo became lively and chatty.

“Manager, are you really the Ye Ran who beat ** in the martial arts exam?”

Yes, Ye Ran’s current position was manager; Zhang Nuo was nominally his subordinate.

Having worked odd jobs for so long, Ye Ran felt as if he had finally turned the tide.

Faced with his subordinate’s questions, he merely nodded.

“I heard Zhao Ziyang is really powerful, Manager. You have no idea how much people from our school admire you. Could you tell me about the martial arts exam?”

Zhang Nuo stared at him with wide, curious eyes—a classic tactic. Few men could resist the admiration of a pretty girl.

Ordinarily, boys would seize the chance to boast and embellish their achievements, but Ye Ran was immune. He raised his head and asked, “Admire?” then lowered it again, “There’s not much to tell. Let me finish these first, then I can talk.”

Zhang Nuo was a little disappointed but not discouraged. She kept up her curious act, asking questions, but Ye Ran replied only sporadically, his manner consistently cool and distant.

The more aloof he was, the more intrigued Zhang Nuo became.

This was the demeanor of a true master—not like those who let themselves be ensnared after a few words, guided only by their baser instincts.

Ye Ran had just finished reviewing the supply list when a customer arrived.

A youth dressed in flowing white entered, fanning himself. He walked with an effortless grace, his gaze confident and lively.

His features were striking, lips thin and vividly colored, a touch of vermilion on his forehead lending an air of elegance. Upon entering, he swept his gaze over Zhang Nuo. The girl, who moments earlier had been chirping away, suddenly fell silent, her expression changing.

She lowered her head, then reconsidered and looked up again, but her eyes were filled with caution.

He glanced at her with a half-smile, then ascended the steps, folding his fan. An incongruous voice sounded.

“Miss, are you here to buy shoes?” Ye Ran said politely.

But as soon as he spoke, he sensed something amiss—the youth’s gaze carried a curious depth.

Zhang Nuo exchanged a look with him, her eyes oddly sympathetic.

Ye Ran was unconcerned. A girl disguised as a boy—what harm could she possibly do?

The youth glanced at him, then elegantly sat in the front chair. “I am, and I am not.”

Ye Ran asked, “What do you mean by that? Please be clear, miss. Our shop will serve you well.”

The girl, dressed as a boy, replied, “Business is about fair prices, good reputation, attentive service. If you do well, I’ll buy. If not, why should I endure poor treatment here?”

Ye Ran said, “That’s easy enough. What style do you want, what size...”

She waved her hand to cut him off. “White canvas shoes will do. As for the size, I’ll know when I try them.”

Ye Ran went to the storeroom, fetched two pairs of new canvas shoes, and handed them to her. As he was about to leave, she called him back.

“Help me put them on,” she said.