I Will Never Submit to Miss Grim Reaper - Chapter 21

The car slowed down, and it was a completely new world. Because the steps were too large, I had to hold onto the handrail next to me and descend one step at a time, “clattering” down. After getting off the bus, I adjusted my hat, which had originally tilted to the back, and pulled it forward to shield the sun in front of me with the brim.

The weather today is indeed very nice, with clear skies and the sun high in the sky. It feels like it has been a long time since I’ve experienced such good weather, or maybe it’s because I’ve been busy with deadlines and job hunting and haven’t been paying much attention?

I brushed my bangs that were blocking my eyes to the side and took out my phone to check the location. I headed towards the Memory Pearl Square, as I remembered.

The direction opposite the bus stop is the famous “Pearl Tower” of Shenzhen City, which is currently the tallest building in the city. According to official data, the Pearl Tower is a total of 404 meters tall, and its design is somewhat similar to the Eiffel Tower, but it has a more “cyberpunk” overall design. At night, the tower lights up, while during the day, it’s a very tall silver tower that glistens in the sunlight.

In addition to that, on all four sides at the base of the tower, there are the largest LCD screens in the country, typically displaying various advertisements to cover the maintenance expenses of the tower.

This tower was built more than 80 years ago when Shenzhen City had only three districts. It went through two renovations before gradually becoming what it is now.

It is said that initially, this tower was sponsored by a very wealthy local tycoon who originally intended to do charity work. However, for some reason, possibly due to disagreements with a charity organization or a realization of the complexities of social realities, he had a change of heart. He spent billions to purchase a piece of land in the center of Shenzhen City and built this tower.

With the establishment of the Pearl Tower, “Pearl Square” and “Pearl Avenue” gradually came into existence. The nearby property prices soared, making it the hottest real estate in Shenzhen City.

I visited Pearl Square once when I was still in college to participate in a club activity. My impression of this place was that it was enormous, particularly upscale, and the Pearl Tower was very tall, with tourists everywhere.

In recent years, with the rise of “internet celebrity” culture, there have been many social media influencers coming to Shenzhen City to take photos at the Pearl Tower. This quickly boosted the local economy. However, whether by coincidence or some internal maneuvering, many of these influencers experienced strange occurrences upon their return. For example, a popular influencer with millions of followers live-streamed from the Pearl Tower for a short time and later posted on social media that they felt someone was in their home. They suspected they were becoming paranoid, stopped their live-streaming, and, within a few months, deactivated their account.

Moreover, an adventurer and outdoors enthusiast influencer came to the Pearl Tower to explore, took photos with the tower’s billboards, and at the time, they didn’t notice anything unusual. They praised the beautiful scenery of Shenzhen City and the grandeur of the Pearl Tower. However, a few days after returning, they claimed to have heard a call from another world and announced that they would no longer participate in adventure activities.

Similar incidents have occurred in various parts of Shenzhen City, and it’s unclear whether it’s being orchestrated or if there’s any truth to these occurrences. Nevertheless, over time, Shenzhen City has become increasingly “mysterious” in the eyes of people from all over the country.

Shortly after, someone posted that when you visit Shenzhen City, you must bring a local with you, or else you’ll encounter strange occurrences because the city’s deities are exclusive and will curse you if you’re not accompanied by a local.

Perhaps there is indeed some sort of “survivorship bias” at play, as some influencers and internet celebrities, after hearing these rumors, started bringing local guides with them every time they came to Shenzhen City. As a result, the legend of “you must bring a local when coming to Shenzhen” quickly spread.

“Any streamers in need of a guide, I’ve got a great deal! 30 bucks an hour!”

“Professional companions for Pearl Square! Only 25 bucks an hour!”

“Authentic Shenzhen locals, just 20 bucks!”

Now, it’s the May Day Golden Week, and the square is filled with all kinds of people.

Listening to the street vendors around me, I couldn’t help but wonder in my mind: Were these rumors of “being cursed without a guide” actually spread by you or your bosses?

Because no matter how you look at it, the beneficiaries of this situation are the people involved in these fringe jobs.

After glancing at the location Pipi sent on my phone, I had walked out of the bus station and now surveyed the vast Pearl Square in front of me. I made my way towards a lush garden not far away.

This small garden was quite spacious and mainly planted with sunflowers, roses, daffodils, along with towering fruit trees and tropical plants. There were shaded pavilions, benches, and a large grassy area for people to relax on. Every day, dedicated gardeners took care of the flowers and plants. Normally, it was frequented by local residents who lived nearby and walked their cats and dogs there in the morning or evening.

Now, during the holidays, there were probably quite a few internet celebrity influencers conducting outdoor live broadcasts there.

“Hey, my brothers, I’ve now arrived at the legendary Shenzhen City, in the most famous part of Pearl Square, the Flip-flop Garden… uh, I mean, the Pearl Garden. I don’t believe in ghosts or deities, and I didn’t bring a local with me, so please double-tap that little heart if you want me not to get lost!”

“Thanks for the captain’s heart, Captain, kisses…”

“Other than the beautiful scenery, there doesn’t seem to be anything special here. Why does the internet make it sound so mysterious? Probably just hype.”

Carefully, I walked into the garden, cautiously peeking my head through the cobblestone path at the entrance. Amidst the crowd of people taking selfies and videos with their smartphones, I scrutinized the surroundings, searching for anyone who might be the “author.”

Luckily, it was still morning, so the place wasn’t too crowded. Otherwise, in the afternoon or evening during prime time, it would be a challenge not only to find people but even to find a place to stay.

“How many people are we expecting this time?” I asked.

“Who knows, there are 103 members in the group, so if we get 50 to actually show up, that would be good, right?” replied my conversation partner.

After walking for about five or six minutes in the garden, just when I was considering whether I should message “Divine Pet Pipi,” the conversation of three young men sitting on a small bench ahead caught my attention:

“50? You’re giving those pigeons too much credit. Most people in the group are probably too lazy to even join if it weren’t for your divine favor. Only 23 people confirmed in the group announcement yesterday.”

The speaker was a slightly chubby young man, sitting next to him was a bespectacled, bookish-looking guy, and there was also a tall, well-built young man who looked like a fitness trainer.

The three of them were squeezed onto the same small bench, each playing with their phones and chatting away, looking somewhat comical.

“So, you mean there are at most 23 people coming for the authors’ rights protection action?”

“Hard to say. Old Bai and his group did show up, but it seems they’re not too interested in rights protection. Those rich kids don’t care about a few thousand yuan in compensation. This morning, they were talking about that… Rong District? Honor District? Anyway, it’s the wealthy area, playing over there,” replied the chubby young man.

The slightly chubby man on the far left, wearing a T-shirt featuring an image of Marisa Kirisame from the Touhou Project, let out a long sigh, “In reality, it might just be a few of us.”

“Yeah, these rights protection actions are just too exhausting. If my family didn’t live close to Shenzhen, I probably wouldn’t have come either.”

“What about Uncle? Wasn’t his place nearby?”

The muscular young man on the far right, with a calm smile, nudged the guy in the middle with his elbow and said, “Pipi, give Uncle a call.”

—

Hmm… could these three be…Pipi and the others?

“Huh?”

At this moment, perhaps sensing my gaze, the slightly chubby young man on the far left raised his head, examined me for a few seconds on the grass, a hint of delight on his face, then waved in my direction.

“Hey! Little girl!”