[Gotham] She's from Gotham

【One】

Oswald first met her at Gotham University.

He was Fish Mooney's umbrella boy back then, and she was just a college lecturer's assistant.

Gotham University, Department of History.She was showing a piece of historical material on the podium that day, wearing a long black dress.

These Oswalds remember very clearly, every place is very clear.

But, unfortunately, Fish had to go in and take someone away that day.Just to collect debts, at most break a leg or something.

It's not a big deal, just an inconspicuous point in the long history of the Gotham gang.

But only she is different.

"Why do you take away my students?"

She stood at the door and stopped a group of thugs.

Fish squinted at her, beckoned——

Simple to poor, ignorant assistant lady.

Oswald thought so.

She was punched to the ground.

But this is not the end.

Of course, if this was the end, Oswald would have no need to remember her.

She didn't know when she got up, rushed over from the slant and knocked down Fish - she was very smart to know the principle of subduing the boss - the tip of the pen rested on her throat.

The atmosphere solidified.

Then, she made a phone call.

No one understood what she said, she was Asian, she seemed to be Chinese.She spoke Chinese with a clear accent and a sense of alienation and indifference in her tone.

After a while, His Excellency Falcone called Fish and told her to go back.

"That's it-"

"—Never." His Excellency Falcone's tone became cold.

"Don't mess with Yin and her students. That's it, Fish."

Before leaving, Oswald took another look at the woman.

Black hair and black eyes, a pair of soft round eyes with pointed tails, thin and straight eyebrows, and the corners of the mouth curled down because of the lingering anger.

Typical Asian looks, with a bit of a mean and difficult temperament.

But it seems to be more than that.

But he didn't think too much about it. Fish had hit a snag today, and the most important thing was to calm her down as soon as possible.

【two】

Oswald saw her for the second time half a month later.

At that time, he returned to Gotham after escaping from feigning death, and worked in Maroney's restaurant.planning a bigger goal.

He helped pass the plate that day, and that table happened to be her and one of her Asian students.

Perhaps because of the difference in race, Oswald can't remember those Asian looks that he glanced at.But she is different, maybe it's the black eyes with the tails on the tail, maybe it's the innate indifference and alienation.

He recognized her immediately.

He put the dinner plate on the table, she glanced at him, raised her eyebrows, and quickly dropped them.

Except for that raised eyebrow, she hardly changed her expression.

Oswald wondered if she recognized him.But if there is, then she can't stay—

"Thank you."

She put the tip in his hand.

"Happy Sunday."

When she smiled, only the corners of her mouth were raised, but her eyes remained unchanged.

It wasn't a real smile, Oswald knew that, but he wasn't going to have trouble with money.Not much, but now after all...

poor.

【three】

Whether to kill her or not is still a question.

Oswald was in the kitchen, washing dishes, watching her every move through the small glass window.

She ordered pasta and mushroom bisque.Her Asian student is about the same as her, anyway...

They use chopsticks.

Picking up pasta—noodles, after all—with chopsticks is not a difficult task.

On the contrary, it's normal.

You can eat with chopsticks in an Italian restaurant, which is really remarkable.

Oswald told himself so.

That's why I keep watching her.

Finally, she and the students walked out of the restaurant.Oswald immediately followed—he always had to figure out whether this woman was a threat to him.

A person who can get in touch with Falcone, who dares to threaten Fish, and who is likely to recognize himself now...

He cannot afford to fall short.

He put down the plate in his hand, asked for leave with the person next to him, and followed him all the way.

He saw her put the students into the taxi, and he saw her stop at the intersection for a long time.

Instead of a ride, she walked.

He didn't know if he was following too closely, or if his limping leg made a special walking sound, she could tell.

Oswald just nervously held the knife in her hand until she walked into an apartment and closed the door—

He rushed out and wanted to put the knife on her neck, but she turned around and pulled him against the door.

The door of the apartment was closed tightly, Oswald was stuck against the door, her arm was cut behind her back, and the knife fell to the ground.

"Are you really a skilled murderer?"

Her English accent is flat to the point of being almost emotionless.

"Follow me...why?"

Oswald struggled a few times, but this slender woman who was the same height as him was surprisingly strong at this moment.

"If you don't tell me, I'll hand you over to Fish Mooney—"

Oswald froze.

"Wow." She laughed. "Then why are you following me?"

silence.

She sighed, pulled the handcuffs from her bag, and pinned Oswald to the chair.

She spoke a few words in Chinese, then acted as if he did not exist, and began to sort out historical materials.

A large stack of heavy documents, and hardcover books bigger than the head.She picked them up in one go, and Oswald could barely see her there.

"Ma'am, I think this should be a misunderstanding..."

He paused, and began to think of ways to get himself out of this predicament.

"I didn't mean to kill you—"

"Ah, I see."

She had a sudden epiphany.

"You're not by Mooney's side now, but you're working in Maroni's restaurant... Are you afraid that I'll recognize you, so you killed me to silence you?"

She threw the books on the table and leaned over to look at him.

"Then you don't have to worry about it, because I am the most law-abiding resident in Gotham. I don't make troubles and don't cause trouble. Everyone sweeps the snow in front of their own doors, and don't care about others' roofs."

"...the last sentence you said in Chinese."

"Ah, sorry." She blinked. "forget."

Then it was like a flash of inspiration.

It's still a sentence in Chinese.

She walked into the kitchen, and the aroma of food gradually came out.

So... don't you let me go?

Oswald sighed angrily.

"Miss--"

Tablets and chopsticks were suddenly placed in front of him.

It is a bowl of steaming Chinese noodles with clear soup, topped with green onion.

When she looked up again, the woman was already eating across the table with another pair of bowls and chopsticks.

"I didn't lock my right hand tightly for you, you just flick it and it will open. I only have chopsticks at home... you just make up for it? You can leave after eating, just pretend that we haven't seen each other before."

She didn't even look at him when she said this, and her tone was normal, as if she was saying that the weather is really nice today.

But Oswald didn't eat that bowl of noodles that day.

Later, such confrontation became the norm.

But even though sitting opposite each other at the same table became the norm when they met, every time Oswald thinks back to this day, he still regrets being overly guarded about that bowl of noodles and that person.

But she said.

Oswald, defense is essential.

No.

he thinks.

In fact, I can still trust you.

Let go of prudence and all vigilance, let go of all wariness and all trembling.

A bowl of clear soup with plain noodles and a wooden dining table.

There were also two people sitting opposite each other in silence.

This was probably the only pure land he could find in the dark Gotham, except for his mother's embrace.

[Four]

"Madam, please allow me to take the liberty of inviting you."

She ate again with the students at Maroney's, and Oswald appeared in front of her when it came time to pay the bill.

He had changed into a fitted suit and a cravat with a red fringe that resembled a swallowtail, looking chic.

He also carried a civilized stick, but with his limping gait, he was more comical than gentlemanly.

She blinked and signaled the students to leave first.

"invite?"

"Yes." Oswald smiled.

"I apologize for my intrusive visit last time, so I hope you will give me a chance to have dinner with you this time—"

"It seems that you didn't listen to what I said that day."

She changed the subject.

"Well, I agree. But you'll have to think about the price you'll pay for it... Don't take anyone lightly, sir. Remember that."

Perhaps what attracts us to each other is that we are all weaklings.

Later Oswald told her so.

"Weak?"

she asked back.

"It's weak in the eyes of others, but not weak in itself. They discriminate against me for being Asian, and they laugh at your appearance. But that doesn't mean we are really weak. Oswald, you'd better have a sip of tea Calm down and do something sensational with me again."

Hmm...she has a bad temper.

But she was right.

We are all weak in the eyes of others, and no one knows how strong we are except ourselves.

Except each other.

The later Oswald looked at the later her, and there was silence at both ends of the table.

As long as you are here, even silence is good.

Dinner that day did not go well.

She barely ate, and she refused to answer Oswald's topics.

It's like a stone that oil and salt don't get in.

The word was later learned from her.

"I kind of miss the sandwich truck owner, not very tasty, but he's on the way from my apartment to Gotham University."

She suddenly brought it up and looked at him.

"If only you hadn't killed him then."

Oswald's expression froze for a moment.

"what……"

"Nothing." She waved her hand. "I used to be nosy, and I won't be now or in the future. Oswald, I am not something that can be studied or used. I am just a member of the Department of History at Gotham University... Oh, yes, Congratulations on your promotion to manager. I have also changed from a lecturer assistant to a full-time lecturer."

"Ok."

He sorted out his expression and replaced it with a suitable smile.

"Congratulations, Miss..."

"Yin Rongyu...Forget it, none of you can pronounce this name." She lowered her eyes.

"Yin, or Yu. But my colleagues call me Yu, and only the students call me Miss Yin. Uh, it's always weird for you to call me this surname."

"……Jade?"

That was the first time Oswald called her by her name.