Even if this person doesn’t have some amazing inheritance, he can still fake it! Just like many folk skills with unclear origins—aren’t they all about bluffing, hyping, and then faking credibility?

The siblings came to their own conclusion based on their logic, then continued their cold war. After walking for a while, they finally reached the bottom of the steps. Olivia Thompson called out cheerfully, “That’s it up there, let’s hurry!”

“Xiaomeng, if you really like it, why not just buy a hamster when we get home?” David Carter saw through her little scheme.

“How can a hamster be the same as a squirrel? Hamsters only know how to eat, eat, eat!”

“Well, squirrels eat, eat, eat too!”

“Tch, you don’t get it!”

With a few bickering words, the three of them started climbing the steps. The stairs were steep and slanted, making it quite exhausting. As they climbed, the sky above gradually lowered and became clearer, with drifting white clouds, pure and transparent.

After a while, they finally reached the top.

“Phew…”

David Carter had climbed this once yesterday and again today, so he was a bit worn out. He panted lightly, while his older sister glanced around anxiously and asked, “Where is he? Where is he?”

“He’s over there, to the right…”

Screech!

He was like a duck with its neck pinched, mouth open but unable to make a sound. All he saw was the flat ground, a bench, and an old, lush tree—but under the tree, it was empty, not a soul in sight.

“This, this… impossible!”

David Carter instantly freaked out, circling the area in shock and frustration. His sister just added fuel to the fire, pestering him, “Hey, do you even know his name?”

“……”

“Do you know where he’s from?”

“……”

“So you don’t have his phone number either?”

“……”

Yvonne Carter pointed at him and said, “You really are dumb—coming to look for someone when you know nothing?”

“Enough! Don’t all the vendors set up here every day? How was I supposed to know he wouldn’t show up today?” David Carter shouted back.

“So what now? Where are we supposed to look?”

“How the hell should I know?”

The atmosphere grew tense. Olivia Thompson looked around and sensibly tried to calm them down: “Don’t get upset yet, maybe he just hasn’t arrived. Let’s wait a bit.”

Saying that, she forcefully pulled her boyfriend to sit down.

Yvonne Carter paused, then plopped down on the bench as well. She was actually annoyed too, but seeing her brother so flustered gave her a secret sense of satisfaction.

With nothing else to do, the three of them could only wait.

Time ticked by, and more and more tourists arrived. First-timers weren’t surprised, but the regulars couldn’t help but mutter, “Hey, wasn’t there a stall here?”

“Yeah, last time the tea eggs were amazing. I wanted to try them again today.”

“Maybe he’s quit. Sigh, I remember that young guy was pretty nice.”

After a few groups of tourists passed, the place quieted down again. Only a sanitation worker came up, changed the black plastic bag in the trash can, and left—no one else.

After a long while, David Carter checked his phone again and couldn’t help but exclaim, “It’s almost noon already—even the laziest guy should be out by now, right?”

“Maybe he’s just not coming today. Forget it, we came for nothing!”

Yvonne Carter didn’t want to wait any longer. She stood up and said, “I’m heading down. If you want to wait, go ahead.”

“Xiaofei…”

Olivia Thompson’s stomach was growling, and she looked at her boyfriend with pleading eyes. David Carter hesitated for a moment, then said helplessly, “Forget it, let’s go.”

And so, the three of them left, disappointed.

When they reached Old Ox’s Back, someone was even more let down. His sister didn’t even blink as she strode right across. Olivia Thompson, on the other hand, was so scared her liver trembled, barely making it across with a mix of pulling and dragging.

Counting today, the siblings had already wasted three days. They each had projects at work and couldn’t be away for too long. They’d planned to settle things today, but the other party’s evasiveness was off the charts—they’d totally missed him.

With worries on their minds, both wore long faces and said nothing the whole way. By afternoon, they reached the big square at the mountain gate, where there were lots of tourists and a lively atmosphere.

Yvonne Carter was about to leave when she happened to glance over and saw a sanitation worker in an orange uniform collecting trash at the edge of the square. He looked a bit familiar. She had a sudden idea and, grasping at straws, walked over and called out, “Sir!”

“Huh?” The old man was startled.

“I have a question—how long have you been working here?”

“F-five years.” The old man looked a bit confused.

“Oh, so do you know all the vendors up on the mountain?”

“Yes, yes.” He nodded.

Oh!

David Carter heard this and pulled Olivia Thompson over as well, listening as his sister continued, “I’m looking for someone—the young guy who sells things below Old Ox’s Back. Do you know him?”

“Old Ox’s Back…”

The old man thought for a moment, then said, “Oh, you mean Little William! He’s a good guy—always chats with me, and I don’t even have to clean up, he sweeps everything himself. Sometimes he even gives me food and drinks. Why, are you looking for him?”

“Yes, yes, we need to find him for something, but he didn’t come today. Do you know where he might be?” David Carter asked.

“Where? Oh, I really couldn’t say, but…”

The old man squinted, giving a raspy laugh: “He’s definitely somewhere in the mountain!”

Chapter 11: Invitation

Phoenix Mountain, east slope, cemetery.