Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

"Did you..." Li Xiangqian's voice trembled a little, "Someone stole my money?"

Xu Damao was silent for a while, his expression becoming serious. He stood up, slowly walked to Li Xiangqian, and whispered, "Look at the people around you."

Li Xiangqian looked in the direction of his sight. Some diners in the restaurant were still talking in low voices. The atmosphere was quiet, but he was increasingly suspicious. He suddenly felt that everyone had become a suspect. Every person who walked around, even every wall, seemed to be hiding some invisible threat.

He turned around and saw the waiter at the counter talking and laughing with other customers. The water in the cup on the table had formed several circles of tiny water droplets. The atmosphere around them was still relaxed and casual - but in Li Xiangqian's eyes, everything became extremely unreal, even a deep irony.

"Do you think someone stole my money?" Li Xiangqian's voice was low and almost self-deprecating. "Who could it be?"

Xu Damao's eyes swept around and became sharp. "You came in a hurry today. I didn't pay much attention when you first came in, but the waiter seemed a little strange."

Li Xiangqian raised his head suddenly, and Xu Damao's words shocked him. He didn't think much about it at first, as if he was too sensitive, but now after hearing what Xu Damao said, the sudden sense of uneasiness rose again. He suddenly felt like he was being stared at by something, and all his vigilance and suspicion were directed at the waiter.

"You mean..." Li Xiangqian paused for a moment. He could hardly believe his own speculation. "She stole my money?"

Xu Damao didn't answer, but just nodded slightly. Li Xiangqian's face gradually became gloomy, and the anger in his heart burned silently, like a gradually expanding flame. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turned white, and his eyes were fixed on the young girl who was still busy at the cash register.

"Go and see." Xu Damao whispered, "see her reaction."

Li Xiangqian took a deep breath and turned to walk towards the waitress. With every step he took, his anger grew higher and higher, and his steps became heavier and heavier. When he came to the waitress, he did not speak first, but silently took out his wallet and stared at her. The girl did not seem to notice his change, and continued to pay with her head down.

"What's wrong?" The girl looked up at him with an annoying smile on her face, "Do you need help?"

Li Xiangqian didn't answer her, but just waved his wallet in front of her and said in a low voice: "Where's my money?"

The girl was slightly stunned, then showed an awkward smile: "What money?"

"You didn't take my money?" Li Xiangqian stared into her eyes and asked almost gritting his teeth.

The girl's expression suddenly became unnatural. Her eyes flickered, and then she turned around and frantically flipped through the bills on the cash register. "Maybe you remembered it wrongly. This is where I collect money. There won't be any problems."

"Do you think I can't tell?" Li Xiangqian's voice was as cold as ice. "Explain to me clearly what you did in my wallet today?"

The girl's hands were obviously shaking, and her face was getting paler and paler. She was obviously at a loss. Li Xiangqian's eyes were getting colder and colder. He could almost see a trace of uneasiness, even panic, in the girl's eyes. At this moment, Li Xiangqian's anger finally broke out. He grabbed the girl's wrist and pulled her out from behind the cash register.

"I say, did you steal my money?" Li Xiangqian lowered his voice and asked almost gritting his teeth.

The diners around began to notice the movement here, and turned their heads and whispered. Some customers stood up and wanted to get closer, but Xu Damao quickly stopped them and whispered, "Don't mind your own business."

The girl had an unnatural smile on her face, and tears seemed to be approaching from the corners of her eyes. "I... I didn't." Her voice was a little choked, "I really didn't steal your money..."

Li Xiangqian could hardly hold back his anger. His heart was filled with rage. Everything in front of him made him feel so heavy that he could not breathe. He saw the tension and guilt in the girl's eyes, but he never got a clear answer. This uneasiness made him feel even more confused and angry.

"If you don't tell the truth, I'll call the police." Li Xiangqian threatened in a low, cold voice.

The girl's expression froze for a moment. Finally, she lowered her head and spoke in a voice so low that it was almost inaudible: "It's...it's me..." Her voice was almost squeezed out from between her teeth, "I don't know why, I just...I feel that you have so much money in your wallet..."

Li Xiangqian was stunned, and stood there, his mind suddenly went blank. The girl's confession made him stunned, as if all his emotions were drained away. Whether it was anger or powerlessness, he had no way to continue asking.

He let go of the girl's hand, his face gloomy. Xu Damao stood beside him and patted his shoulder gently, "Okay, now that the matter has been clarified, you don't have to be too angry. Even if it was her fault, it's fine as long as it's resolved."

Li Xiangqian left the restaurant, his heart still churning. The air seemed to become unusually heavy, and every step he took made him feel like he was surrounded by an invisible oppression. The scene of the girl bowing her head and admitting to stealing the money kept echoing in his mind. Although her tone was weak and full of remorse, the uneasiness and anger still lingered. Li Xiangqian couldn't help but wonder, if he hadn't noticed it at the time, or if he hadn't asked so directly, would the girl continue to do this?

The anger did not dissipate after leaving the restaurant. Instead, it gradually grew more intense like a suppressed fire. Li Xiangqian held his wallet tightly in his hand and walked faster and faster on the street until he felt that he could no longer endure the torment in his heart.

He needed to do something, he needed to find an outlet to let out his emotions. The only person who could calm him down was his boss - the owner of the restaurant.

The owner of the restaurant is Zhao Jianguo, a former classmate of Li Xiangqian. The two met again by chance, and Li Xiangqian often came to this restaurant, sometimes to party with friends, sometimes to drink a bowl of soup quietly by himself to relieve his worries. Zhao Jianguo is a middle-aged man who looks honest and reliable. When chatting with Li Xiangqian, he always gives people a sense of comfort. Li Xiangqian is not clear about Zhao Jianguo's private life, but he knows that although this boss doesn't talk much, he has a lot of patience and doesn't get angry easily.