Chapter 630: Reunion with “Old Friend”

On November 16th, Zhou Xiao sat in his rundown little house making memes. It had been a busy few days, leaving him little time to work, so today was a rare moment of peace for him to focus.

Chen Shi just called, saying he had something important to discuss, when a knock interrupted them.

“Here he is!” Zhou Xiao put out his cigarette and went to open the door. Standing outside was a stranger in a black hoodie, wearing a cap and reflective sunglasses, with a mischievous smile on his lips.

“Who are you looking for?” Zhou Xiao asked cautiously.

“I’m looking for you!” The stranger pulled out a box wrapped in newspaper, as if it were a gift.

“Do I know you?” Zhou Xiao was a bit nervous.

“Don’t remember me?” The stranger took off his sunglasses. “Several years ago, we were both in the Kangfu Mental Hospital. The fire that time, I started it.”

Zhou Xiao frowned, studying his face. It vaguely rang a bell, so he let him in.

The stranger closed the door and placed the box on the table. “My friends advised me not to come see you, but when I found out you were here, I couldn’t resist. You’re my idol. I used to be a failure, cast aside by society, thrown into the garbage heap. Until I saw you. In that place, you dared to stand up and fight back. You inspired all of us. You gave me a second life. You’re so cool and brave! The first time I killed someone, I wrote your name on the wall as a tribute, to show the world I was fighting against it. But the police misunderstood, took it as my name, so I just went along with it… and kept on killing!”

“Killing… people?” Zhou Xiao was sweating. Was this guy joking, or did he have a mental illness?

But his eyes were serious, sharp like a knife’s edge, impossible to ignore.

“I’m here to find you, nothing else,” the stranger glanced around. “Looks like, even you, my idol, aren’t doing so well. With your courage, you shouldn’t be buried like this. I want to invite you to join us. We need someone with a clean record like you. Join us, and you’ll have lots of money.”

“What do you mean? I’ll call the police!” Zhou Xiao threatened.

“Hey hey, aren’t you the ‘landlord’? Have him come out and talk to me,” the stranger said mockingly, approaching step by step.

Zhou Xiao panicked, grabbed a nearby mug, and swung it around. “Get out! Don’t come near me, or I’ll really call the police!”

The stranger caught his wrist like a vise. Zhou Xiao struggled, but couldn’t break free. From his pocket, the stranger pulled out a knife and pointed it at Zhou Xiao. “Bring him out!”

Staring at the glinting knife, Zhou Xiao’s heart pounded. He felt faint.

The next moment, his expression changed. A smile spread across his face. “San?”

The stranger brightened, put away the knife, and grabbed Zhou Xiao’s arm. “It’s you! It’s you! I finally see you again, like a dream come true.”

Zhou Xiao shook off his hand, went to the table, and picked up the box. The box itself was unimportant; it was the old newspaper wrapping it that mattered, with a fresh headline: “Serial Killer Zhou Xiao Strikes Again, Police Issue High-Reward Bounty.”

Zhou Xiao turned to him. “After escaping, you became a criminal? Still killing? And using the name my parents gave me?”

“Sorry for not letting you know in advance. I wanted to honor this name. To me, it’s a symbol of rebellion. Now, when people in Long’an hear the name Zhou Xiao, they tremble. Isn’t it impressive?” The stranger grinned, awaiting his idol’s approval.

Zhou Xiao lit a cigarette, sat down, and calmly asked, “Who are these dead people? Were they guilty?”

“Just as you said, no one in this world is innocent.”

“Thanks for the tribute!” Zhou Xiao’s tone was sarcastic. “If I had come to Long’an two years earlier, maybe I would have witnessed your ‘achievements’ firsthand.”

“You think I’m washed up? I’m still the most wanted criminal here!” The stranger retorted.

There was a knock on the door. The stranger suddenly sobered. Zhou Xiao said, “Don’t worry, it’s Wang Ying. I invited her.”

The stranger went to the door, glanced through the peephole, and Zhou Xiao suddenly grabbed the box and swung it at his head. The stranger heard the wind behind his head, dodged to the side, and the box missed. He used a playful tone. “Hey hey, are you the ‘landlord’?”