Hints at GL - Chapter 35

Chapter 35:

“Mhm, wait a moment.“

Su Yuan thought for a bit and pulled her back.

Their hesitant movements were noticed by Shoko. Assuming they needed assistance, she walked over from the counter with small, delicate steps. She bowed slightly to them with a smile and spoke in standard Japanese, “May I help you?“

Clearly, Shoko had mistaken them for fellow Japanese.

Su Yuan smiled at her, signaling that she didn’t need help for the moment. “Sorry, we don’t understand Japanese.“

“Ah, I am very sorry.“

Shoko maintained traditional Japanese etiquette throughout. “Then please call me if you need anything,” she switched to English, bowed to them again, and prepared to turn away.

Just then.

As that kind face became clearer, Zhong Ning suddenly felt another headache. What kind of omen is this? She pressed her forehead in distress as fragmented afterimages flashed before her eyes in an instant.

This time, the prophetic images were intermittent.

The first to enter her mind was a vision of herself holding Su Yuan’s hand. The two of them were walking up the stairs on the right side, the wooden steps creaking beneath them.

In the next second, the scene switched to an unfamiliar room upstairs. The lighting was dim. On one side stood an antique glass display case containing various collectibles, while on the other was the back of an old man. He seemed to be wiping something with his back to them, hearing their movement, he turned around.

The final fragment caught Zhong Ning by surprise. Her own hand was accidentally touched by the old man. Almost instantly, his eyes widened in shock, and he blurted out a sentence in Japanese: “You… how can you be…?“

That image left Zhong Ning feeling an inexplicable tightness in her chest.

What is this feeling… Zhong Ning knit her brows slightly, only feeling better once she gripped Su Yuan’s hand.

“What’s wrong?” Su Yuan asked softly, her expression filled with concern.

“…It’s nothing.“

Zhong Ning gave a dismissive smile. She suddenly understood something, but since she couldn’t explain it clearly to Su Yuan in this setting, she raised her voice to ask the woman, “Excuse me, is it possible to see the collection upstairs?“

“Mhm, the collection is upstairs. You just need to follow these steps up,” Shoko explained kindly. “My husband is up there, but he doesn’t speak English. If you need anything, you can ring the bell by the wall, and I will close the front door and come up to help.“

“Okay.“

Zhong Ning smiled at her, then squeezed Su Yuan’s hand and whispered, “Let’s talk once we’re up there.“

Su Yuan frowned at her. Though still worried, she followed submissively.

Sure enough, the layout upstairs was exactly as Zhong Ning had foreseen. A row of glass counters stood on the east side, bathed in the dim yellow light from the lamps on the walls, making the few collectibles inside appear even more mysterious. On the south wall hung a sharp, imposing samurai sword that looked quite old.

Zhong Ning scanned the room, her gaze landing on the back of the old man on the west side.

Indeed, he was facing away from them, meticulously wiping a ceramic piece. Hearing the noise behind him, he turned his head. The man looked to be in his fifties, wearing gold-rimmed reading glasses with deep, penetrating eyes. “Please do not touch things,” he said. It seemed to be the only English sentence he knew.

After speaking, he ignored them entirely. He likely saw many tourists and didn’t seem to expect them to buy anything.

Zhong Ning and Su Yuan stood facing each other, quietly observing his back. “…By the way,” Zhong Ning leaned in, lowering her voice, “Does he really not know English?“

Su Yuan glanced back. “Mhm, it seems so.“

Seeing Zhong Ning draw closer, Su Yuan naturally wrapped an arm around her soft waist. “I read some shop reviews before we came. It seems he truly doesn’t understand or speak it.“

“Mhm,” Zhong Ning blushed at the proximity. Knowing it wasn’t appropriate to do this with others around, she nonetheless hooked her arms around Su Yuan’s neck and whispered, “Um, I think he has a superpower.“

Since Zhong Ning still had the energy to whisper like this, her headache had clearly subsided.

Su Yuan watched her cautious movements, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Why are you acting like a thief? Is talking to me so scandalous?“

Zhong Ning’s face flushed as she grumbled softly, “What are you saying? I’m just afraid of what happens if he actually understands us.“

Their intentionally lowered voices echoed in the quiet room, having the opposite of the intended effect. It sounded… like they were having a secret tryst in public.

Zhong Ning turned beet red at the thought. She bit her lip and stole another glance at the man. Fortunately, the old man had no intention of paying them any mind, allowing her to relax slightly.

“Alright.“

Su Yuan noticed the change in her expression and leaned close to her ear, whispering, “Then tell me quietly, why do you say he has a superpower?“

Zhong Ning replied shyly, “I just saw some images… He’s going to accidentally touch my hand in a moment, and then look at me in shock. I feel like he must have a power.“

After finishing, she saw Su Yuan wasn’t moving away, so she pushed her gently with a red face. “I’m done talking. Go ask him.“

Su Yuan’s lips curved. “I don’t speak Japanese. How am I supposed to ask him?“

Zhong Ning bit her lip. “I don’t care. Find a way.“

Su Yuan gave her a deep look, stopped teasing, and turned to walk toward the man.

“Excuse me, do you speak English?” She asked anyway, as if to confirm.

Hearing Su Yuan’s voice, the man stopped his wiping. He slowly turned around, his deep eyes staring directly at the two of them. He didn’t answer but carefully set down the ceramic piece, stood up, and pressed the bell on the wall.

It seemed that, just as the woman had said, he truly needed to seek help.

Before long, Shoko came upstairs. She was somewhat surprised that the two actually intended to inquire about the collection, but she still bowed slowly. “Sorry, is there anything I can help you with?“

Su Yuan smiled at them. “We didn’t come here to buy anything today. We have serious business to discuss with you both.“

“Serious business?” Both were surprised.

“It’s like this. For the past few months, I’ve been having a dream…“

By now, Zhong Ning had slowly overcome her fear of sharing secrets with strangers. She calmly recounted her dream, adding the details of their hypnosis sessions with Jacky and the fact that she had seen the two of them a few days ago.

As soon as she finished, Shoko translated for her husband with a shocked expression. Both of their faces became somewhat unnatural.

“Actually, when I first entered the shop, I foresaw some images. You should have a superpower too, right?” Zhong Ning couldn’t tell if they believed her or not, so she couldn’t help but add, “If it’s true, you’ll probably believe what I’m saying.“

Her words plunged the old man into silence.

After a long time, he finally spoke slowly. “Yes. I have the ability to know the past of an object just by touching it.” He looked at his wife beside him. “She is an ordinary person…“

Zhong Ning understood in an instant. No wonder the reviews said he was like a wizard.

Looking at his complex expression, Zhong Ning could sense the hesitation flickering through him. “I’m sorry. If it weren’t for this matter, we wouldn’t have come to disturb your lives.“

The old man stared at her for a while and sighed. “Forget it, you mean well. Did you bring the camera?” he asked suddenly.

Zhong Ning nodded. Fortunately, she’d had a premonition and brought it today. “…Here,” she was about to hand it to him, but as he reached out, his hand accidentally touched hers—exactly as she had foreseen.

“You…“

The old man stared at Zhong Ning with wide eyes, as if he had seen something unbelievable. “How can you be…?“

Zhong Ning was frightened by his reaction, her words faltering. “W-what is it?“

He stared at Zhong Ning for a long time, as if wanting to say something but stopping himself. Finally, he only said one thing: “I am sorry. I feel regret for everything that happened to your mother.”

So, he was referring to that?

To be honest, Zhong Ning didn’t know the full details of her mother’s accident. Not only did she not remember, but Zhong Nan never intended to explain it to her, only saying plainly once: “Regarding your mother’s business, it’s best if you don’t know.”

Over time, she hadn’t really wanted to know anymore.

Whether she knew or not, her mother wasn’t coming back. Wouldn’t it be better to let those things rest in peace?

Not wanting these things to be brought up repeatedly, Zhong Ning didn’t plan to explain much. “Mhm, she passed away a long time ago.”

Observing her unnatural expression, the old man sighed. “I didn’t sense anything from this camera, but I agree with something you said earlier. I don’t think this is a prophetic dream.”

Zhong Ning was slightly startled. “But…”

The old man continued, “Regarding London, I think it’s still possible to realize. But I don’t think the camera part is achievable. It’s impossible and unnecessary.”

He paused, offering a strange thought. “What if someone is making you have this dream on purpose?”

Zhong Ning was terrified by his words. “But…”

“Think about this carefully. You two are too reckless.” He glanced at Su Yuan, his gaze deepening. “What if the mastermind is among the people at the scene? What would you do? Charging in like this and asking us… aren’t you afraid at all?”

“Consider your actions carefully in the future. I’ve said all I have to say. As for the singer and the waiter you mentioned, we truly don’t know them.”

The old man finally finished his explanation. Looking at Zhong Ning, he added one last thing: “Also, this is just my personal opinion—don’t do any more hypnosis.”

“What do you mean?”

Zhong Ning bit her lip anxiously, but when she tried to ask more, the old man refused to say another word.