Chapter Twelve: Black Dragon Pool

In the northeast corner of the ancient city lay a scenic spot called Black Dragon Pool. The two had stumbled upon the winding path by chance, adopting a leisurely attitude as they wandered. Few visited this place; the park was free, and their passage was unobstructed.

Black Dragon Pool was, in truth, nothing more than a single body of water and a small pavilion. Occasionally, tourists occupied the pavilion, but for those seeking tranquility, it was an ideal retreat. Yet the three people inside puzzled them somewhat. All were young women, each barely in her twenties, and for reasons unknown, they too had ventured into this secluded park.

One of the girls, tall and slender, stood with her back to the newcomers, gazing blankly at the water. The other two sat on the stone benches inside the pavilion, chatting animatedly, their laughter echoing through the air. Clearly, the trio were not companions.

Chen Tianyu took a seat on a stone bench; his attention was almost entirely captured by the two innocent, lively girls, their unbridled joy and youthful energy contagious. Liu Zichen, however, occasionally glanced at the melancholic silhouette, worried she might succumb to despair.

Since witnessing the accident at the Mu Mansion’s stage, Liu Zichen’s outlook had quietly shifted: she had become acutely aware that beneath the dazzling façade of this bustling, glamorous city lay many hidden shadows, masked by its surface brilliance, scarcely perceptible without firsthand experience.

Thus, her finely tuned mind became unconsciously more vigilant.

“Do you envy those two girls, so carefree?” Chen Tianyu suddenly asked.

Liu Zichen smiled faintly, brushing aside a lock of hair. “When I was their age, I was still at school, just as carefree, full of dreams—what’s there to envy?”

Chen Tianyu, intrigued, said, “Why don’t you try guessing what happy things they’re chatting about?”

“You’re really bored, aren’t you? What’s the point? Young girls talk about love and romance… Hey, isn’t it a bit rude for us to just stare at them?”

Chen Tianyu grinned mischievously. “I noticed you’ve been out of sorts. Just looking for a bit of fun.”

“Only you would think of that,” Liu Zichen laughed. “The scenery here is so beautiful, I’ve moved past the earlier troubles.”

Chen Tianyu winked at her. “I want to go over and strike up a conversation—do you mind?”

Liu Zichen was taken aback. “Uh… are you serious?”

“Do I often joke about these things?” Chen Tianyu touched his nose reflexively; his nose felt oddly itchy.

Liu Zichen shook her head gently. “Not really. If you genuinely want to chat with girls, I’d be delighted! It would keep you from always being so aloof and unapproachable… Come on, what are you scheming?”

“Sigh, you saw right through me.” Chen Tianyu smiled awkwardly. “According to your plans, we’ll be staying in this city for several days. If we only visit famous spots, isn’t that a bit dull? We aren’t on a tour group, after all.”

“Mm-hmm, and then?” Liu Zichen teased.

Chen Tianyu lowered his voice. “We need a local guide, don’t you think?”

Liu Zichen nodded, puzzled. “Makes sense, but we don’t have any friends in Lijiang. Where would we find a guide? It’d be more fun with friends, since they know where to find the best food and entertainment.”

Chen Tianyu glanced at her sideways. “Look, we’ve got two genuine locals right here—why seek elsewhere?”

Liu Zichen finally understood. “So that’s why you’re acting so oddly, watching those young girls—turns out you have an ulterior motive. Go on then, I wish you swift success and hope you charm them.”

“Actually…” Chen Tianyu pulled a face. “After careful consideration, I think you’re better suited for this…”

“Ugh!… After all that, I thought you’d actually do it.” Liu Zichen couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Coward!”

——

As the saying goes: when Zichen steps up, she’s worth two.

Chen Tianyu’s judgment was spot-on; not only were the two girls guileless, but they were true locals, both working at the same restaurant—one as a waitress, one as a cashier. The waitress was called Qimei, the cashier Meng Ge. Qimei had a low threshold for laughter, giggling incessantly, while Meng Ge loved to talk, never ceasing once she started. They were a perfect pair. Both were quickly charmed by Liu Zichen’s poise and warmth, and before long, friendship blossomed.

Qimei even invited Liu Zichen to dine at their restaurant, promising a thirty percent discount—a tempting offer that piqued Liu Zichen’s interest. She asked for the location, and Meng Ge explained it was on Huama Street, famous for its salmon sashimi, with the preparation process open to visitors for viewing.

“Are the prices high?” Liu Zichen asked candidly.

Qimei laughed, “If you go alone, sure, but with us, it won’t be expensive.”

Meng Ge chimed in, “Zichen, your name is lovely. I bet you’re thinking, ‘Huama Street is so famous, it must be full of tourist traps.’ I’ll tell you, it’s the shops with the best locations that usually overcharge. Our industry has a rule: locals don’t rip off other locals. If you’re with Qimei, you’re in luck—she’s worked at several restaurants, though you wouldn’t guess it. Experienced waitress! Mention her name anywhere and you’ll get a fifteen percent discount… Believe it?”

Qimei kept giggling nearby, confirming Meng Ge’s words. With her cheerful round face, it was no wonder she was popular.

Feigning surprise, Liu Zichen said, “Qimei, who knew you were so impressive at such a young age?”

Qimei replied with a grin, “Meng Ge loves to exaggerate, but she’s right about one thing—I felt immediately close to you two, so I’d never overcharge you.”

“Just call Qimei whenever you need a place to eat,” Meng Ge whispered conspiratorially. “She’s a real foodie and can take you to other great spots, cheap and delicious. At our place, just try the sashimi—it’s pricey, but worth a taste.”

Liu Zichen was thoroughly delighted; the two girls were so endearing, so sincere.

“I’ll come support your restaurant tonight,” she laughed. “But wait, I have to check with my friend—who knows if he can stomach raw fish?”

Qimei peeked over mischievously. “Zichen, is that your boyfriend?… He’s so handsome! Such style.”

Liu Zichen blushed unexpectedly, momentarily overwhelmed by their candidness. “Sort of… wait here, I’ll let you know soon.”

——

Liu Zichen quietly told Chen Tianyu about the girls and her plan to dine at their restaurant.

Chen Tianyu nodded repeatedly. It had been his idea, though he hadn’t expected it to go so smoothly. After some thought, he asked, “Waitress and cashier—these are regular jobs. If they act as guides, are they really free to come and go?”

Liu Zichen nodded, “Restaurants are only busy at meal times; otherwise, it’s pretty relaxed. They said staff is plentiful, so it’s easy to take leave… They’re happy to do it, and I really like them.”

“Oh, as long as you like it.” Chen Tianyu smiled. “If taking leave means losing pay, we’ll make up the difference. No need for them to suffer.”

Liu Zichen laughed, “You’re quite thoughtful, huh? Had this planned all along?”

They exchanged a smile, when suddenly—

A loud splash sounded from nearby, followed by screams: “Someone jumped in! Someone jumped in!”

Both were startled, instinctively looking towards Black Dragon Pool. Sure enough, the once-mirrorlike water now revealed a frail shadow struggling desperately, only a few splashes betraying her efforts.

“Oh no,” Liu Zichen cried, “it looks like the girl who was staring at the water.”

Qimei and Meng Ge ran over, Qimei anxiously exclaiming, “I can’t swim! What do we do?”

Meng Ge was equally frantic. “I can barely swim, and I’ve heard Black Dragon Pool is bottomless, with some kind of monster underneath…”

A few tourists nearby noticed the commotion, but none dared enter the water. Some habitually raised their phones to take pictures, as the frail figure slowly sank. Chen Tianyu removed his jacket and declared, “I’ll save her!”

Liu Zichen objected, “Do you think you’re invincible? Swimming with a prosthetic? The water looks deep, who knows about undercurrents, and it’s freezing—what if you cramp up?”

“Regardless, I have to try. We can’t just stand by and watch,” Chen Tianyu insisted, but he knew Liu Zichen spoke the truth.

Liu Zichen hesitated, then shed her down coat and kicked off her shoes. “Forget it, I’ll try!”

Before the words left her lips, she leapt into the icy pool, startling everyone around. Qimei and Meng Ge stared in disbelief—was this truly the gentle lady from before?

As they stood frozen, Chen Tianyu barked, “Don’t just stand there! Do you know where to find bamboo poles or something? Hurry!” Awakened by his command, the girls relied on their local knowledge and quickly found a long bamboo pole and several vines.

Chen Tianyu swiftly lashed the vines to the pole, fashioning a makeshift rescue tool.

Meanwhile, the girl in the water was sinking. Liu Zichen swam toward her, barely managing to grab the descending form. Her swimming ability was limited, and the pool’s icy, still water made her movements stiff and awkward; she struggled to bring the girl to safety.

As Liu Zichen herself began to sink, she clung to the frail girl with sheer willpower…