Chapter 552: Mesica Town
Translator: Timothy Editor: GlobeGlotter
Ever since meeting Ye Mo, Shi Kaigen had never seen such an expression on his face. He didnโt hesitate to say, โA month ago, I found someone whoโd been part of the Chinese gang. He was called Liu Shan. After the gang war, the gang leader did send someone to take Sister Yan away. After the Chinese gangโs annihilation, some brothers escaped. Liu Shan was one of them. He encountered Sister Yan and her protector. They realized they had no money, so Sister Yan removed her bracelet to sell. But after that brother left, he never returned. They waited a long time, but he still didnโt come back. Later, they heard gunshots and didnโt dare wait any longer. Liu Shan protected Sister Yan, but being loyal to the Chinese gang, he brought her to Mesica Town and parted ways with her.โ
โWhere is this Liu Shan?โ Ye Mo asked subconsciously after a long while.
Shi Kaigen said guiltily, โI found him in Dali City, but heโd moved away by my second visit. I think he wants nothing to do with the Chinese gang anymore. I understand, so I didnโt pursue him.โ
Shi Kaigen produced a map and gave it to Ye Mo. โThis is Mesica Townโthe red dot marks where they parted.โ
Ye Mo stared at the map, oblivious to Sha Oneโs entrance.
After a long while, Ye Mo put away the map, worried for Sister Yan. Though from Luo Yue Continent, he valued sentiment, treating Ye Ling and Ye Zifeng kindly. If Sister Yan were his mother, sheโd be an important blood relative.
Who knew if this abandoned son, Ye Mo, wasnโt his past life?
Seeing Ye Mo regain his senses, Sha One quickly presented his findings. โYe-Qianbei, this information is ready.โ
Ye Mo took the papers, but without examining them closely, said, โIโll be out for a while. The San Francisco Gang can wait.โ
Shi Kaigen guessed Ye Mo was going to that town. He hesitated, then remained silent. Ye Mo had come for Sister Yan last time, indicating a close relationship. Other matters could wait.
Ye Mo, regaining his composure, noticed Shi Kaigenโs hesitation. โWhat is it?โ he asked.
โBrother Ye, thereโs something I havenโt mentioned. Huang Mei came looking for you after you left. She was disappointed to hear youโd gone,โ Shi Kaigen replied.
โHuang Mei?โ Ye Mo frowned. He didnโt know her. He didnโt recall meeting any women in the US. What did she want?
Shi Kaigen said, โShe was the woman behind Zhu Hongsheng when we entered the Hong Martial Gang.โ
Ye Mo recalled. That woman seemed to help him constantly. He found it strange a stranger would help so much. She might have looked average, but she was meticulous.
Ye Mo asked, โHow has she been since the Hong Martial Gangโs annihilation?โ
Shi Kaigen replied, โSheโs smart. The day Zhu Hongsheng rejected her proposal, she left. Later, he couldnโt find her.โ
Ye Mo nodded. She was decisive, leaving as soon as she realized Zhu Hongsheng wasnโt worth helping. But why find him? He wasnโt a gang leader.
โWhat did she say?โ Ye Mo asked.
Shi Kaigen said, โShe asked if finding Sister Yan was your main reason for coming to San Francisco, and when youโd return. I didnโt hide the first part, but said I didnโt know about your return. I havenโt heard from her since.โ
Ye Mo asked nothing more. Huang Mei was astute, unlike Peng Yueji. If she could help Xu Yuehua, that would be good, but since sheโd left, there was no point dwelling on it.
โฆ
Compared to other places in the US, or even other San Francisco towns, Mesica was extremely basic. The streets were messy, the buildings old, etcetera.
Ye Mo stood at a cafรฉโs door. It was newly built, but the dot on Shi Kaigenโs map matched.
Ye Mo sighed. So many years had passed; she was unlikely to still be in this town, and even if she were, finding her wouldnโt be easy.
Ye Mo ordered coffee. It was full of bubbles, so he stirred it and took a sip. It was bitterโhe disliked the flavor.
He picked up the newspaper. The headline showed a picture of the US bank reserve and a breached gold vault wall. Ye Mo smiled. Theyโd found out quickly. It was the next morning, and the newspapers were already out. He couldnโt read English, but he guessed the subject.
Soon after Ye Mo sat down, a blonde woman sat opposite, coffee in hand, and asked in English, โAre you Chinese?โ
Ye Mo understood, but pretended not to and continued drinking his coffee.
The blonde woman, seeing his silence, asked again in Chinese, โMay I ask if youโre Chinese?โ
Ye Mo nodded. โYes, what do you want?โ
โOh, great! I want you to help meโEhm, no, I think I can help youโโ This bewildered Ye Mo. She was asking him for help? Heโd just met her! And he needed no help.
Before Ye Mo could speak, she whispered, โCan we talk outside? I think you might be interested.โ
Ye Mo was already in a bad mood, and this woman worsened it.
Ye Mo stood, slapped a $100 bill on the counter, and walked out. He only had $100 bills.
The blonde woman quickly paid with her card. The waiter, seeing them together, thought nothing of it.
Outside, she grabbed his arm, pressing her bosom against him.
Ye Mo frowned. He had no interest. Compared to Ning Qingxue, he didnโt even want to look at this woman. He was sure she was a street prostitute.
However, it was strange; they usually worked at night, and this woman was out in the morning.
Ye Mo pulled away, unhappy. โWhat do you want? If itโs sex, forget itโIโm not interested.โ
The woman looked embarrassed, smiling. โOh, I know. But I really like you. Youโre a true manโyou have the smell of a real man.โ