“Didn’t you go back to celebrate your mom’s birthday? How did you end up looking like this?”
Looking at the disheveled Li Gang before him, Wang Anguo was utterly shocked.
In his eyes, Li Gang had always been a very presentable person. Although he didn’t pay much attention to his clothes, he was always clean and neat, no matter the occasion.
But the man before him bore no resemblance to his usual self—not only were his clothes torn and tattered, but he was filthy from head to toe.
Even harder to look at was his hair—half of it singed black. From a distance, it looked as if a dog had chewed on it.
Li Gang, however, paid no heed to any of this. He staggered over to Wang Anguo and said, panting, “Bro, thank you!”
Wang Anguo was completely taken aback and immediately asked, “What’s going on here, kid? What are you thanking me for?”
Li Gang’s expression remained somewhat agitated. He braced his hands on Wang Anguo’s desk and said in a solemn voice, “Brother Wang, I just had a narrow escape…”
At that point, he was at a loss for words, and Wang Anguo could even see tears welling up in his eyes.
Realizing what a terrifying ordeal his childhood friend might have gone through, Wang Anguo immediately walked over to him, patted his shoulder, and said, “It’s okay… it’s okay. It’s all over now!”
Then, Wang Anguo poured him a glass of water and gestured for him to drink it.
Li Gang downed the water in one gulp, then paused for a moment before saying, “Bro, Li Yi is absolutely amazing. If it weren’t for him, you’d be holding my memorial service tomorrow!”
Hearing Li Gang mention Li Yi, Wang Anguo hurriedly asked, “What exactly happened?”
By then, Li Gang’s agitation had finally subsided, and he immediately recounted the events in detail to Wang Anguo.
Then, Li Gang said earnestly, “I won’t lie to you—I had one foot inside already. If I hadn’t hesitated for half a second because of what Brother Li Yi said, I would’ve been hit square in the face by the collapsing gatehouse!”
“Even if I’d miraculously survived the initial impact, I would’ve been killed by the subsequent explosion or burned alive by the raging fire. In short, it would’ve been the kind of death where no intact body is found—there’s absolutely no chance of surviving by sheer luck!”
Upon hearing Li Gang’s words, Wang Anguo broke out in a cold sweat.
He really hadn’t expected that what Li Yi had said earlier would come true so quickly—it was nothing short of miraculous!
Compared to what he had gone through before, what Li had just experienced was also a life-or-death ordeal!
And the outcome was even more devastating.
Even if he had died, it would have been just a single gunshot wound—at least he would have had a whole body.
If Li Gang had actually charged in, he would have been reduced to nothing but ashes!
At that moment, Wang Anguo’s mind echoed the words Li Yi had spoken when he first met Li Gang: “Lacking water and afflicted by fire—a short-lived ghost!”
Clearly, Li Yi had foreseen this calamity befalling his own brother. Wasn’t this exactly “offended by fire”? And dying young at the age of 26—wasn’t that the very definition of a “short-lived wretch”?
Thinking of this, Wang Anguo couldn’t help but exclaim, “Brother Li Yi really is a divine being!”
Li Gang, speaking from deep personal experience, added, “Yes, so there really are such prescient seers in this world who can make such unerring predictions. We were just too ignorant before!”
“Do you remember what Brother Li Yi told you that day?” Wang Anguo suddenly asked.
“I remember. A deficiency in the Water element leading to a clash with Fire, the mark of a short life…”
“Stop right there—that’s not it!”
“Then what is it?”
“A 500-yuan reading fee!”
Only then did Li Gang recall that Li Yi had told him at the time that the reading wouldn’t be free—it would cost 500 yuan—and that if it wasn’t accurate, he wouldn’t charge a dime.
Now that he’d not only predicted it correctly but also indirectly saved his life, it was time to honor that promise.
“If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would’ve completely forgotten!”
Suddenly, Li Gang’s face fell as he said, “500 yuan? Where am I supposed to come up with 500 yuan right now?”
Wang Anguo immediately frowned and said, “You make 40 yuan a month, and with all the allowances, you take home at least 48 yuan. You’ve been working for eight years—how come you can’t even come up with 500 yuan?”
Li Gang gave a wry smile. “You know me better than anyone—I earn one yuan and spend two. I can’t save a single penny!”
“So what do you plan to do now? Try to renege on the debt?”
“It’s not that I’m trying to dodge the bill—I just can’t come up with that much money. You’ve got to help me out!”
“How am I supposed to help?”
“Lend me some money!”
Wang Anguo said with a hint of exasperation, “Fine, how much do you need?”
Li Gang thought for a moment and said, “I’ve got fifty!”
Wang Anguo: “*%￥%……&”
Seeing Li Gang’s utterly unconcerned expression, Wang Anguo was reminded of the time this kid bought a bicycle—same story, same routine.
“I don’t have 450—and even if I did, my wife wouldn’t let me lend it to you. Here’s 220; that’s all I’ve got!”
With that, Wang Anguo pulled a stack of 100-yuan bills from his pocket and handed them to Li Gang.
Li Gang didn’t stand on ceremony; he stuffed the money straight into his pocket and said, “I’ll go ask my dad for the rest!”
Wang Anguo said with a hint of regret, “Pay me back as soon as you have the money. That’s my bonus for the past few months—you’ve taken it all, and it’s killing me!”
“Hahaha, I won’t let you down!”
“Alright, go change into some clean clothes and head home. Don’t keep your mom waiting!” Wang Anguo said.
“Got it!”
With that, Li Gang left Wang Anguo’s office!
Watching Li Gang’s receding figure, Wang Anguo fell deep in thought.
Today’s incident had once again completely changed his perception of Li Yi!
Such ability could no longer be called mere physiognomy; it was tantamount to foresight.
And even if such a person seems ordinary now, one day they will surely rise to greatness.
At that moment, Wang Anguo felt it necessary to adjust his approach to dealing with Li Yi.
Previously, he had simply found Li Yi to be a remarkable individual; coupled with the fact that Li Yi had saved his life, he felt nothing but gratitude toward him, and thus had wanted to look out for him in whatever ways he could.
But after the missing child case and the incident involving Li Gang, he suddenly realized that it wasn’t him looking out for Li Yi at all—rather, it was Li Yi who was looking out for him.
Moreover, Li Yi’s value to him extended far beyond saving his life; it was now clear that he was also providing immense support for his career.
A person like this absolutely cannot be treated as just a casual friend; he must be treated as a closest ally.
Although this line of thinking might seem a bit utilitarian, Wang Anguo believed it was absolutely necessary.
Setting aside how much time and effort a mentor’s guidance could save him, Li Yi’s almost prophetic abilities alone were enough to alter a person’s destiny.
Whether for his own sake or for the sake of his family and friends, Li Yi was someone he had to take seriously; he absolutely could not let him down.