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Concerned about revealing Shi Boren, Chu Yuening didn't trail too closely behind. "Sure."

Although she verbally agreed, she had no intention of going to rest.

Just as she was about to turn around, two voices sounded nearby.

"Could you please prepare this one for me?"

The speaker was an elderly man, dressed in a worn-out coat and plastic flip-flops. He fumbled in his pocket for a while before handing over the money to a staff member. "Three thousand dollars."

The worker adjusted his cap and glanced around to ensure minimal attention before accepting the money. After counting it, he brushed off the dust from the motorcycle seat, "Smart move. The owner of this bike has gone abroad. Don't let its appearance fool you; it still packs quite a punch."

"Alright," the worker tucked the cash into his pocket, "Come back tomorrow to ride it."

The old man, despite his age, had incredibly smooth skin. He smiled, causing the skin at the corners of his mouth to stretch taut, leaving onlookers uneased, fearing the delicate skin might tear.

Shi Boren had also noticed the old man. After observing for a few minutes and realizing that the man didn't match Ma Zhengqi's photo, he redirected his gaze.

Chu Yuening was about to do the same.

Suddenly, the old man turned around, and an eerie aura spread instantly.

Chu Yuening paused in her steps, furrowing her brow.

On the back of the old man was a little girl in a skirt, her hand clasped around his neck. In her other hand, she held a bloody, tearful head with ponytails.

The girl moved slowly, attempting to place the head onto the suspended neck. It would go up, then fall off, repeat, and fall again.

This cycle repeated several times.

Eventually, the little girl gave up and simply hung motionless on the old man's back.

A dense, dark mist rose up into the sky.

Due to gravity, the old man's neck tilted unnaturally to one side.

Seeing the severity of the old man's tilted neck, a staff member kindly suggested, "You should get it checked at the hospital, maybe it's a spine issue."

The old man slowly forced a smile, "An old problem, been like this for over ten years."

As he spoke, the old man began walking towards the opposite side of the street.

Chu Yuening glanced at the old man's position and then at the vanished Shi Boren. After some thought, she tore open a piece of chewing gum and followed him.

The old man, being elderly, walked slowly, taking his time without any rush. After crossing the road, he entered the Shek Kip Mei Estate.

He was greeted by an old lady who was leading a four-year-old girl out.

Their paths crossed.

The old lady recognized the old man and asked, "Old Horse, where are you going?"

Looking at the little girl, Old Horse gradually smiled and replied to the old lady, "I'm going across the street to buy a toy car."

"A toy car? Why do you need that? You're already so old, can you even manage to ride it?" The old lady was curious while secretly observing Old Horse.

Old Horse had recently moved back from America to live in the Shek Kip Mei Estate. His arrival became a topic of discussion, especially due to his solitude and wealth, making him a subject of gossip among the neighborhood.

She had been a widow for half her life. Now that her children were grown up and had their own families, she helped take care of her grandchildren. Over time, the loneliness of having no one to talk to became more apparent.

Just then, Old Ma appeared, and she had the notion of seeking a companion.

Old Ma chuckled. "I'm not that old yet; I can still walk around and ride a motorbike to enjoy the scenery. I've lived abroad for nearly twenty years, so I've long forgotten what Hong Kong looks like."

"Indeed," the elderly lady acknowledged, then paused before asking, "Old Ma, didn't I ask you before? If you ever feel bored, we could keep each other company."

She was always a straightforward person who spoke her mind.

The little girl held her grandmother's hand and hid behind her grandmother's thigh, peering at Old Ma timidly from the side. When their eyes met, the girl darted back behind her grandmother's leg in fright.

"I'm fine. What about your children?" Old Ma slowly crouched down and took out a small candy wrapped in colorful paper from his pocket.

Bathed in sunlight, the candy wrapper shimmered with a rainbow of colors.

With a gentle grip on the small candy, he slowly extended it toward the little girl, his hand playfully rising and falling as he spoke, "Come, grandpa is offering you a sweet treat."

"No," the little girl said with a childish voice and firm conviction, "Grandma taught me not to eat anything from strangers."

"South South," the old lady felt awkward and took the candy from Old Ma initiative. "Grandpa Ma isn't just anyone; he's our neighbor."

Hearing Old Ma's concern about his children's approval, the old lady reassured him, "Don't worry, my children all wish for someone to keep me company in my old age. They won't object."

A hint of anger flickered in Old Ma's eyes, but by the time he stood up again, his expression had returned to calmness.

He smiled and said, "We'll talk about it then."

The little girl, intimidated by Old Ma's ambiguous gaze, trembled with fear and tugged desperately at her grandmother's hand. "Come on, let's go to the park!"

"Alright, alright," the old lady replied, trying to leave a good impression on Old Ma. She put the candy in her pocket, puzzled by her usually well-behaved granddaughter's sudden outburst of excitement.

The little girl eagerly pulled her grandmother towards the door.

Looking back apologetically, the old lady said, "Old Ma, I'll be going now. If you have time, do drop by my place."

Old Ma nodded and turned around. The smile on his face vanished, replaced by a gloomy expression.

There were no elevators in the housing estate.

So, he climbed the stairs one floor at a time. On the second floor, he spotted a seven-year-old girl playing alone with a jump rope on the staircase.

Old Ma revealed another enigmatic smile and waved at the little girl. "Fenfen."

"Fufu," the little girl came over.

Old Ma glanced at the spot where Fenfen had just been, noticing the open door. "Where are your mom and dad?"