David Walker had never thought that such an ancient art could sound so wonderful. Listening to a group of amateur performers singing a cappella on stage, David Walker sipped his tea, cracked sunflower seeds, and passed a leisurely afternoon. Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, David Walker squinted at the performers dancing and singing on stage, his mind drifting. If he really joined some sect, mastered cultivation, and gained supernatural powers, what would he do?

He was just a small-time guy—somewhat lecherous, a bit timid, and couldn’t even find any strengths in himself. So how did this so-called heavenly pearl end up finding him? Thinking of the heavenly pearl, David Walker suddenly snapped back to reality: Right, the heavenly pearl—the thing everyone kept talking about—what exactly was it?

David Walker racked his brains, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart: Could it be that glass marble? But that was his lucky charm. He took out the glass marble and, under the sunlight, looked at it with a sense of mystery. The marble seemed extraordinary. The sunset was blood-red, and the chaos inside the marble turned red as well. David Walker squinted, still feeling a bit dazed. In that daze, the chaos inside seemed to shift a little. Suddenly, a current of electricity ran through his fingers holding the marble, jolting David Walker awake with an indescribable sensation...

That current roamed freely through his body, and David Walker didn’t try to control it. Sitting in the teahouse in the sunset, the original heat faded away under the constant movement of the current. The current moved up and down—sometimes in his head, sometimes below, sometimes on his back. David Walker didn’t understand what this current was, but it was strange: it felt like the tingling numbness of an electric shock, yet why did it feel so comfortable?

Just like that, time slipped by unnoticed. Everyone around had left, but he didn’t realize it. Only when someone suddenly slapped him on the back did the current, like a startled fish, vanish in an instant.

David Walker reluctantly turned around, a bit annoyed and ready to question the person, but as soon as he saw who it was, his anger turned to a smile. “Little Emily, it’s you?” It was the girl network admin from Red Bird Internet Café. David Walker had thought he’d never see her again, but unexpectedly, they met here.

Little Emily blushed. “I should be the one asking you that.” David Walker scratched his head. “I had nothing to do this afternoon, a friend introduced me to this place...” A trace of disappointment flashed across Little Emily’s face—so he hadn’t come specifically to see her. Seeing her, David Walker got excited. “Heh, what are you doing here? I was planning to go to Red Bird Internet Café to find you. I even helped teach a lesson to that bald guy who bullied you.” Little Emily said happily, “Really? You went looking for me?” David Walker grinned foolishly, and Little Emily felt puzzled: she’d seen this guy many times before, but why did he seem so different this evening? He seemed much more deep and composed than before.

“Emily Smith, you’re slacking off again, not helping Grandpa with the chores!” a voice called out. David Walker thought it sounded familiar. He turned to look and saw it was Emily Smith!

Emily Smith pouted, “Sis, I’ve been working hard. Look at all these tables—I wiped them all.” Emily Smith looked at David Walker and smiled, “You’re still here? I thought for sure you wouldn’t like this kind of thing.” David Walker smiled, “Why wouldn’t I? This is a national treasure.”

Emily Smith was surprised, “You two know each other?” Emily Smith was even more surprised, “You two know each other?” David Walker chuckled, “We all know each other, we all do.” The three of them laughed together.

This opera teahouse was run by Emily Smith and Emily Smith’s grandfather. Now that the Peking Opera market had shrunk, with a narrow audience, business was slow. Only old customers came, and there wasn’t much income. Emily Smith was still in college and had come home during summer break to help out and earn some money. Unexpectedly, she caught the eye of Baldy Geng Qi, who pestered her relentlessly. In a fit of anger, Emily Smith quit, losing a month’s wages.

When David Walker heard this, he said, “That’s outrageous! Wait here, I’ll go get your wages back.” He stood up to leave, but Emily Smith, knowing Geng Qi’s background, hurried to stop him. “Hey, don’t go! They’re all gangsters...” Emily Smith stopped her and gave him a look. “Don’t worry...”

Emily Smith scolded her sister, “Sis, he’s your colleague. Aren’t you worried at all?” Emily Smith grinned, “This colleague of mine has it way better than me—sits in the editor-in-chief’s office and does nothing. His background, tsk tsk!” Emily Smith asked curiously, “You mean his family is powerful?”

Emily Smith smirked and patted her sister’s head. “Of course! My dear little sister, if you could find me a brother-in-law like him, I’d never have to work again...” “Sis, what are you talking about!” Emily Smith blushed, feeling inexplicably nervous.

Volume One: A Stroke of Luck

Chapter 10: Even Little Sweethearts Can Get Upset

David Walker arrived outside Red Bird Internet Café, feeling a wave of fear. If he got surrounded and beaten up, wouldn’t he be left calling for help in vain?