Chapter 9: No More Pretending, I’m Laying My Cards on the Table—I’m a Ghost!

"Look! Isn't that Xu Feng?"

"Good heavens! What... what is he carrying? That's so many rabbits!"

"That kid is something else! Did he really manage to catch wild game? And so much of it!"

The villagers, having just finished their evening meal, were gathered in groups of two or three under the old locust tree at the village entrance to enjoy the cool air and chat. Now, they all stared with wide eyes, looking at Xu Feng as if he were some rare, exotic specimen.

In those gazes, there was astonishment, envy, disbelief, and a hint of hard-to-conceal jealousy.

One had to understand that in these times, having even a little fat on one's ribs was a tremendous blessing. Most ordinary families were lucky to eat meat more than a few times a year. For Xu Feng to pull this off—eight rabbits in one go! How many people would this make green with envy?

"Feng! You're something else, kid! Tell your brother, how did you bag so many?"

A man of similar age to Xu Feng stepped forward, his face wreathed in smiles, though his eyes were fixed hungrily on the rabbits slung over Xu Feng's shoulder, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily.

"Just lucky, stumbled upon them," Xu Feng replied with a faint smile, not slowing his pace.

This nonchalant demeanor only added to the sense of mystery and unfathomability he projected to the onlookers. Was this really the same Xu Feng who used to slink back into the village, quiet and downtrodden? How had he turned into a completely different person after just one trip out?

Several young men who usually hung around Wang Erhu had intended to pick a fight or throw a few sour remarks, but upon seeing the undeniable proof of the catch on Xu Feng’s shoulder and sensing his calm, inviolable presence, they swallowed their words. They didn't have Wang Erhu's build, nor did they dare to easily provoke a tough character who could enter the mountains alone and return with such a haul.

Just then, a woman in a washed-out blue cloth jacket, with a somewhat plump figure, squeezed out of the crowd. It was Widow Li from the village. Her husband had died of illness years ago, and she was left to raise two growing children on her own, living a meager existence.

Widow Li hurried a few steps to block Xu Feng, forcing a smile she deemed charming, her voice softening into a sugary, sticky tone:

"Oh my, Brother Feng, you really have quite the skill! Look, the two children in my house haven't seen a scrap of meat in ages; they're as thin as monkeys. Could you... spare one for your sister-in-law? I'll owe you a favor!"

As she spoke, she intentionally puffed out her chest, her eyes carrying a provocative, hook-like intensity. Many bachelors in the village had designs on her, and she was always happy to play them against each other to squeeze out some benefits.

Xu Feng paused and glanced at her. He knew Widow Li; she wasn't a woman to be trifled with.

"Sister-in-law Li, it’s really bad timing," Xu Feng said, his face still devoid of expression. "I just took a wife, and as you know, she’s frail. She was nearly starved to death when I found her in the mountain ravine, so she really needs to be built back up. These few rabbits aren't even enough to fill the gaps in our teeth."

As soon as he said this, a wave of hushed whispers broke out around them.

"Did you hear that? Xu Feng said his wife!"

"The one who was with him this morning? She did look quite thin."

"That Xu Feng, he certainly knows how to dote on his wife."

The smile on Widow Li's face froze, and a flash of malice crossed her eyes. She hadn't expected Xu Feng to be so dismissive, refusing her in front of so many people. She prided herself on her looks—which man in the village didn't treat her with courtesy? This Xu Feng was simply unappreciative!

"Hmph, what's so great about it! It's just a few rabbits, who cares!" Widow Li muttered resentfully, wiggling her waist as she stomped off, though she harbored a deep grudge against Xu Feng in her heart.

Xu Feng couldn't be bothered with her. Shouldering the rabbits, he walked straight back to his dilapidated courtyard under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

Pushing open the partially closed gate, he found the yard swept clean; even the clumps of weeds in the corners had been pulled. A faint scent of wood smoke drifted from the kitchen, clearly indicating that a meal had just been prepared.

Xu Feng felt a slight sense of surprise.

He walked into the main room and saw Kobayashi Yukiko sitting upright at the rickety wooden table. She was still wearing the oversized cotton-padded clothes he had given her, her hair neatly tied back, revealing a clean, small face.

At this moment, the panic and cowardice were gone from her expression. Her eyes were calm, even carrying an indescribable depth as she watched Xu Feng enter.

The light in the room was dim. Xu Feng dropped the rabbits onto the floor with a dull thud.

"Done pretending?" Xu Feng walked to the table, pulled out a long bench, and sat down, looking at her with a half-smile.

Kobayashi Yukiko was silent for a few seconds, then gave a light nod. Her voice was slightly hoarse but clearly audible: "Done pretending."

Her Mandarin had a slight, stiff accent, but her pronunciation was distinct.

Xu Feng raised an eyebrow—as expected.

He poured himself a bowl of cold boiled water, took a slow sip, and then set the bowl down on the table with a heavy "clack."

"Alright, since you're done pretending, let's talk," Xu Feng leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table, his gaze piercing as he stared intently at Kobayashi Yukiko. "Who exactly are you? What is your name, where are you from, and what are you doing here? Don't tell me a single lie, otherwise..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the cold, unquestionable chill in his eyes said everything.

The air in the room seemed to freeze in that instant.

Kobayashi Yukiko’s hands, resting on her knees, tightened involuntarily on her hem. She knew the real test was only just beginning.

[Ding! Affinity change: Kobayashi Yukiko. Current affinity: 0 (Scrutinizing, slightly reassured)]

The system prompt echoed in Xu Feng's mind.

From -2 to 0—it seemed that the beating Wang Erhu had received had given her a subtle foundation of trust in him, or perhaps, it had made her see certain realities clearly.

The air remained stagnant, with only the occasional sound of dogs barking outside, marking the passage of time.

Xu Feng's gaze was like two sharp blades scraping across her. She could feel that every subtle expression of hers, every rhythm of her breathing, was being observed by this man.

"My name is Kobayashi Yukiko," she finally spoke, her voice sounding hoarse from the long silence and deliberate suppression, yet every word reached Xu Feng clearly. "I am from Tokyo."

Xu Feng remained expressionless, signaling for her to continue.

Kobayashi Yukiko's fingernails dug into her palms. She organized her thoughts, trying to make her narrative sound as plausible as possible.

"My father, Kobayashi Masao, was once a high-ranking official at the South Manchuria Railway Company. But he... like my mother, was a staunch anti-war activist."

"Anti-war activist?" A trace of sarcasm flickered at the corner of Xu Feng's mouth, almost imperceptible.

A high-ranking official at the South Manchuria Railway, an anti-war activist? This combination sounded as ridiculous as a landlord claiming to be a devoted friend to his tenant farmers.