Chapter 58: Young Man, Do You Believe in God?
Chapter 58: Young Man, Do You Believe in God?
Asaka Akihime had long noticed Fang Cheng’s resemblance to her brother.
When Fang Cheng offered to walk her home that evening, she didn’t refuse. Even after entering the house, she made no attempt to stop him, leaving him alone in the living room on the pretext of making tea.
Her secret hope was that her mother might mistake Fang Cheng for Asaka Makoto.
But ultimately, her mother recognized the truth without help.
Fang Cheng frowned. “Why create this misunderstanding?”
Keeping her gaze lowered, Akihime twisted her fingers in the hem of her clothes. “Mother’s been in constant pain since Xiao Cheng died. I hoped seeing you might ease her suffering… I’m sorry for using you.”
She bowed deeply before him.
Fang Cheng suspected deeper issues – the core problem remained unanswered. Why had she attempted suicide? Where did those scars originate?
Yet since she kept quiet and offered this flimsy excuse, he saw no reason to press further.
He had enough problems of his own.
Watching her bowed head, Fang Cheng suddenly remarked, “Asaka, this apology lacks proper etiquette.”
“Eh?”
She straightened up, confusion replacing her nervousness. “What do you mean?”
“True apologies require showing some charm. Isn’t that common knowledge?”
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“Fang-kun! You’re impossible!”
Blushing crimson, Akihime crossed her arms over her chest. Fang Cheng chuckled and gently flicked her forehead. “Time’s getting on. I should go.”
He grabbed the nearby teacup and drained it in one gulp, exhaling steam like a tired dragon.
“Wasn’t that scalding?”
“Tolerable. This wasn’t drugged tea, was it?”
“Drugged? What nonsense!”
“Never mind.”
As they reached the entrance, slow footsteps descended the staircase. A gray-haired elderly woman appeared, leaning heavily on the banister.
“Akihime-chan? Going out?”
The girl hurried to support her. “Grandma Matsuda! Did we disturb you?”
“Not at all, dear. Still awake.”
The kind-faced landlady examined Fang Cheng with twinkling eyes. “This your young man?”
Akihime’s cheeks pinkened. “Just a classmate seeing me home.” Turning to Fang Cheng, she added, “Grandma Matsuda’s been wonderfully kind to Mother and me.”
Fang Cheng offered a respectful nod. “Good evening, Grandma.”
“Such a fine young man!” The old woman beamed.
Grandma Matsuda looked Fang Cheng up and down: “Akihime-chan is a good girl. You two should get along well.”
Asaka Akihime watched Fang Cheng with nervousness, worried he might say something odd.
Fang Cheng acted properly before the elder: “Of course. I always enjoy deep communication and good relationships with pretty girls.”
Grandma Matsuda laughed heartily, then abruptly asked, “Young man, do you follow any religion?”
Fang Cheng’s smile weakened: “No. Got any recommendations?”
“Of course! Of course!”
Grandma Matsuda eagerly pulled out a black-bound scripture: “Listen, child – all people bear original sin. Our daily hardships come from misfortune caused by this sin. Only by believing in the Blissful God can we wash away our sins and enter the eternal paradise…”
Asaka Akihime flushed with embarrassment, repeatedly trying to interrupt but failing against the relentless preaching.
Fang Cheng listened smilingly before asking, “Will this Blissful faith give me money?”
Both Grandma Matsuda and Asaka Akihime froze.
Rubbing his palms, Fang Cheng looked sheepish: “Sorry, I’m a practical guy. I need benefits to believe.”
Grandma Matsuda hurriedly explained: “There are benefits! The faith cleanses original sin…”
“Can I get cash instead of cleansing?”
“You’ll join the Blissful Mutual Aid Society where members help each other…”
“I’m poor. Will the society give me money?”
“After cleansing sin, you’ll enter paradise with seventy-two…”
“Not interested in paradise. Can I trade that chance for cash?”
Grandma Matsuda’s words died in her throat. This brat kept demanding money, blaspheming the sacred Blissful God.
When the old woman stayed silent, Fang Cheng pressed on: “I don’t ask much. Pay me monthly and I’ll recruit new members.”
Grandma Matsuda showed interest: “How much?”
Fang Cheng grinned: “Just 100,000 yen to get people for you.”
“How?”
“Keep 50,000 for expenses, use 50,000 to develop offline members. Old members bring new ones – payment per head. More recruits mean more earnings. It’s a perfect pyramid… I mean, membership model. You’ll love it, Granny…”
Kid, you think I never did multi-level marketing?
Grandma Matsuda cut him off: “Young man, do you believe in God?”
Fang Cheng shook his head: “Not currently.”
“Good! Unbelief is good!” Grandma Matsuda chirped rapidly. “Youngsters should study! Akihime-chan, escort your classmate out!”
She scrambled upstairs with surprising speed for her age.
Watching the retreating figure, Asaka Akihime suddenly burst into laughter. The giggles grew uncontrollable – tears streamed down as she crouched, face buried in sleeves, shoulders shaking.
She hadn’t laughed so freely in years. The mirth lightened her heavy heart.
When she looked up, Fang Cheng already stood outside. She hurried after him.
“Asaka, take leave to care for your mother. Don’t attend school.”
Fang Cheng breathed in the cool night air and spoke to Asaka Akihime who had followed him outside.
Asaka Akihime blinked in surprise before asking reflexively, “What is it?”
“There might be danger. You should stay home.”
Until he dealt with Morishita Yamato, Fang Cheng had no intention of showing up at school. This would confuse their enemy temporarily and create an information advantage.
The main problem remained – if Morishita Yamato assumed Fang Cheng had been taken out and targeted Asaka Akihime instead, he couldn’t protect her around the clock.
Keeping her home seemed safer.
He’d expected resistance, but Asaka Akihime simply stared at him for a long moment before agreeing without questions. “I’ll take a few days off then. But not too long.”
“Aren’t you going to ask why?”
“Fang-kun must have your reasons. I trust you.”
Perched on his motorcycle, Fang Cheng turned to see Asaka Akihime standing on the steps.
Her long hair and skirt fluttered in the night breeze like fragile flower petals ready to scatter.
Moonlight broke through the clouds to illuminate Fang Cheng’s figure as Asaka Akihime watched him, the pale glow making him appear unexpectedly reassuring.
“Trusting people so easily will get you betrayed someday.”
“But Fang-kun wouldn’t do that, right?”
“Wrong. If I sold you out, you’d still help me count the money.”
“Could I keep some after counting?”
The rare quip surprised them both into laughter.
Fang Cheng had intended to check for signs of abuse during this ride home, but Asaka Akihime’s household situation didn’t fit that pattern.
He decided against probing further – his own troubles demanded attention.
Yet now she’d become collateral damage in his conflict, forced into hiding.
“Asaka.”
“Hmm?”
“I can’t solve your problems…”
Fang Cheng stared straight ahead, voice low. “But I’ll keep you safe. Call me if anything happens. No more nighttime river visits – I don’t want to go fishing for corpses.”
A soft “Mm” escaped Asaka Akihime’s pressed lips.
The engine’s deafening roar erupted as Fang Cheng twisted the throttle, his motorcycle vanishing like a loosed arrow.
Asaka Akihime stood motionless, watching the empty street until a bitter smile surfaced.
What could a high school student truly accomplish? Dragging Fang-kun into her mess would only endanger him. Her burdens weren’t his to bear.
“Akihime-chan…”
Grandma Matsuda’s voice slithered from the doorway.
Half-hidden in darkness, the landlady’s kindly face now seemed sinister. Her tone carried winter’s bite.
“Don’t test my patience again. Remember your mother. Inside.”
Asaka Akihime shuddered but didn’t move.
When she finally looked up, dark storm clouds had devoured the moon. Not a single star pierced the void.
Features hardening to stone, she turned and entered the swallowing darkness.