In the heart of New York’s Chinatown, Arman’s restaurant was bustling during lunchtime.
However, Arman and his friends were already preupied, moving about and attending to various tasks.<fn9037> Chapters first released on Find~Novel</fn9037>
While engaging with his guests, Arman couldn’t help but nce out the door every so often.
He noticed that since morning, a car had been parked consistently across the street from his establishment.
Even though the upants switched cars four times and changed their positions, Arman realized that all the vehicles had a clear view of the entrance to his roast goose shop.<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">
This unsettling pattern stirred a sense of anxiety within him.
Arman understood that the New York police were likely keeping an eye on him.
The thought of being under police scrutiny made him increasingly nervous.
Noticing his unease, one of his friends stepped closer and asked, “Uncle, is everything alright?”
“It’s nothing…” Arman replied with a forced smile, “Just go ahead and focus on your work, I’ll be fine.”
The friend nodded, saying, “If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a break. I can handle it from here.”
Though Arman appreciated the offer, he had no intention of stepping away just yet.
Suddenly, the car parked across the street roared to life and drove away from Chinatown.
Arman had anticipated that another vehicle would quickly take its ce, but to his surprise, none followed.
This unexpected turn of events brought him a moment of relief.
Yet, his relief was short-lived as his worries returned.
Quickly, he removed his sleeves and apron, instructing his friend, “Gunbir, suspend business for now. Once the guests leave, just close up ande find me downstairs.”
Puzzled by Arman’s sudden urgency, Gunbir nodded and replied, “Alright, Uncle, I understand!”
After rying his instructions, Arman made his way to the basement, where there were two rooms—his and Gunbir’s.
Once inside his room, Arman immediately began to gather his belongings. He only packed the items most meaningful to him, leaving behind even a change of clothes.
Half an hourter, he had managed to fit his essentials into a small suitcase.
Gunbir rushed down the stairs and called out, “Uncle, the guests have all left, and I’ve locked up!”
“Good,” Arman responded, “Come in, Gunbir.”
As Gunbir entered the room and noticed Arman packing, he asked in surprise, “Uncle Arman, where are you heading?”
Looking at Gunbir, Arman replied, “I might need to return to Hong Kong Ind soon. Once I’m gone, the shop will be yours. You’ve learned nearly all my skills over the years. If you manage the ce well, you should be just fine.”
Gunbir’s eyes widened in disbelief: “Uncle Arman… you can’t go back to Hong Kong Ind! That guy named Liu will kill you…”
Arman offered a slight smile, responding, “I was living here illegally, which makes me an undocumented immigrant. Now that the police have found me, it’s likely I’ll be deported soon. Even if I wanted to stay, it’s beyond my control.”
Gunbir eximed, “Uncle Arman, you can’t just wait to be sent back! Why not leave New York and hide out instead?”
“No,” Arman said firmly, shaking his head. “I’ve been in hiding for over 20 years, and I’m exhausted by it. If I keep running, I’ll lose respect for myself.”
He looked earnestly at Gunbir and continued, “I’ve always wanted to return, but Icked the courage. Now, with this situation, it feels like fate is giving me a nudge to finally make that decision.”