White Moonlight, White Moonlight 06

As expected, A-Biao easily dealt with old man Yamamoto this time and was thrilled on the way home. As soon as he arrived, he quickly called A-Yi and A-Ren. After arranging everything, A-Biao collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep, contented sleep, a faint smile of happiness lingering at the corner of his mouth.

The next afternoon, around two o’clock, A-Ren arrived at the teahouse carrying a black plastic bag, sneaking in quietly. He took the usual spot, but he was the first to arrive.

Sitting alone in the teahouse, although it was empty except for him, A-Ren still felt uneasy and restless. His eyes kept darting toward the plastic bag, his mind swirling with doubts.

Why did Brother Biao need those lowbrow Japanese adult DVDs and magazines? What did that have to do with dismantling machines? Why were the two of them not here yet?

The night before, when A-Biao had called A-Ren and A-Yi, he requested all sorts of vulgar magazines, movies, and pictures—anything filthy and indecent would do. A-Ren recalled how he had once secretly discovered such items at his maternal uncle’s house and even used the DVD covers for a private indulgence. Excited, he had volunteered to procure these items without asking what A-Biao intended to do with them. He also had to sneak these things from his uncle without him knowing, which left A-Ren feeling uneasy and confused.

As for why A-Biao made such a request, it was related to old man Yamamoto. After uncovering Yamamoto’s unsavory hobby, Yamamoto became completely subdued before A-Biao, who stood over him like a parent scolding a misbehaving child.

Yet, A-Biao did not press further. After a stern reprimand, he helped Yamamoto up and brought up the matter of selling scrap again. Yamamoto immediately burst into tears, covering his face with his hands, nodding his head uncontrollably.

At that moment, A-Biao’s eyes widened, almost glowing green with primal ferocity granted by nature. But he suppressed his wild joy and the dominating instinct of a beast before its prey, calmly comforting the pitiful old man.

A-Biao promised Yamamoto that he would never reveal his secret vice and assured him that once their plan succeeded, Yamamoto would benefit as well. Grateful, Yamamoto wanted to say more, but A-Biao cut him off and left after saying all that needed to be said.

The reason A-Biao first gave Yamamoto those items was not merely to curry favor but to make the old man remember everything that happened that night and the promise he made. Those items were like nails, driving the events firmly into the pillar of shame in Yamamoto’s heart, completely deflating him in front of A-Biao and shattering his once noble resolve.

A-Biao’s sinister intentions were beyond what A-Ren and A-Yi could comprehend, just as A-Biao’s death was beyond A-Ren’s understanding.

It wasn’t until after three o’clock that A-Yi appeared before A-Ren, bearing grim news—A-Biao was dead!

A-Ren froze, initially thinking A-Yi was joking. But seeing A-Yi stand there with a heavy sigh, A-Ren couldn’t help but ask, “What happened?”

After sitting down, A-Yi didn’t speak immediately but called the teahouse owner to ask if there was anything to eat. The owner, hearing that a customer wanted a meal, initially wanted to say “no,” since it was just a teahouse. But then he thought, a rare order like this was an opportunity, and as a businessman—especially one struggling to keep the business alive—he could not ignore the demand.

So the owner cheerfully replied, “Whatever you want, we’ve got it!”

“Fish-flavored shredded pork, Kung Pao chicken, and braised eggplant,” A-Yi rattled off smoothly. “A-Ren, want some?”

A-Ren had wanted to ask about A-Biao’s sudden death but found himself a bit hungry after hearing the dishes and swallowed before saying, “Alright, that’s enough for the two of us.”

“Add two bowls of rice,” A-Yi added.

The owner noted the order and returned to the front desk, lowering his head as he opened a food delivery app on his phone. He picked the cheapest option from the few restaurants still open in the city. After placing the order, he sighed with satisfaction, then quickly added “back door of such-and-such teahouse” to the delivery address. The owner then took up a small stool and headed toward the back door.

While waiting for the food, A-Ren pressed for details about A-Biao’s death. A-Yi recounted everything that had happened the previous night, and only then did A-Ren understand the matter of the vulgar DVDs and magazines.

Then A-Yi told how, after calling them, A-Biao had gone home. He fell asleep before his wife and children rested, but in the middle of the night, he suddenly woke drenched in sweat, coughing violently. He opened a window, complaining the room was too stuffy to breathe. His wife was puzzled when A-Biao suddenly spat up blood copiously onto the bed, collapsed at the bedside, and never woke again. The autopsy the next day revealed that A-Biao had contracted the plague.

“How do you know all these details?” A-Ren asked, puzzled. A-Yi hesitated but finally said, “I… uh… yes, I called his wife to find out.”

A-Yi then complained, “It’s all over now. Without A-Biao, the scrap-selling scheme is completely dead.”

A-Ren lowered his head, lost in thought. In truth, when he first learned that the three of them planned to dismantle factory machinery for money, he had felt afraid. Especially lying alone in bed, his subconscious was shouting to back out. Now, knowing A-Biao was gone and there was no need to break the law anymore, he felt a strange sense of relief.

After their meal, A-Yi offered to pay, and A-Ren left first. When A-Yi settled the bill, he asked the owner, “We’ve been waiting all this time, but no sign of A-Biao. Do you know where he’s gone?”

A-Yi knew A-Biao was a regular here and acquainted with the owner.

The owner looked puzzled, “Yeah, he usually comes here with you guys. I really don’t know what’s going on.”

A-Yi smiled knowingly and said, “Put the tab on A-Biao’s account. We’ll settle it later!” The owner nearly panicked but seeing A-Yi’s robust and hearty appearance, he said nothing and smiled as he saw him out of the teahouse.