Chapter 56 Clues

Chapter 56: Clues

Zhou Zhihan drove, accompanied by Gandy Dove, toward a well-known island—Long Island.

Long Island lies within the northern temperate zone, surrounded on three sides by sea. The island is lush with vegetation, abundant rainfall, and a humid climate, classified as maritime. Summers are mild, making it one of the most habitable islands in the world.

Though before traveling through time he had only driven the highest model of the tiny QQ car, Zhou Zhihan found handling a 1930s automobile more than manageable.

The power was modest—far less than the QQ, roughly equivalent to a large electric bike.

This vintage car was a convertible, an antique Ford from the early days, with round headlights resembling toad eyes. Its body bulged slightly on both sides, and the tires were narrow, reminiscent of modern mountain bike tires, though taller, thicker, and larger.

Such an old Ford was, even by today's standards, considered quite fashionable and popular.

Once on the road, the car’s speed topped out around thirty to forty kilometers per hour, but its craftsmanship was exquisite—there was no fear it would fall apart.

If this vehicle were in the 21st century, it would undoubtedly be worth the price of a Rolls-Royce. When returning home, it would be best to buy several to bring back.

Of course, that was assuming he lived to see the 21st century.

At the end of April, beginning of May in New York, the weather was cool only at dawn and dusk. For most of the day, temperatures were pleasant. Driving the convertible leisurely along the road, Zhou Zhihan felt like the most formidable man in the world.

Wasn’t he?

In the 21st century, no matter how wealthy one was, they could not buy the car he now drove.

In 1936, no matter how impressive one was, their car could not match the speed or comfort of the QQ he had driven before traveling through time.

“Where are you taking me?” Gandy Dove asked with a smile. She knew this handsome Chinese man harbored no ulterior motives; if he did, something would have happened already.

“To Long Island. I’ll buy some swimsuits and dresses, and I want you to be my model, to help me try them on.”

“Swimsuits and dresses? Try them on for you? Are you crazy? Who wears swimsuits this season?” Gandy’s mouth formed an ‘O’ as she looked at Zhou Zhihan, half laughing, half exasperated. She hadn’t expected he’d bring her along just to try on swimsuits.

Though she did like swimsuits.

She liked wearing swimsuits to bask in the golden beach sun.

And she was willing to wear swimsuits for him.

“Oh, it’s like this. I often see beautiful swimsuit models in your American newspapers and magazines. So after I return to China, I want to open a shop by the seaside selling swimsuits and dresses.

Therefore, I need to prepare now—buy some beautiful swimsuits to study their style, cost, craftsmanship, and fabric, so when I go back home, I can get started immediately.”

That was a solid reason.

Though some men lie as easily as breathing, sometimes a well-intentioned lie is necessary.

Gandy Dove gathered her golden hair, tousled by the wind. “Then why not choose summer? That’s the swimsuit season, and there are many styles.”

“Because I might be leaving here soon. So before I leave, I want to get this done.”

“What? You’re leaving?”

Gandy’s beautiful, large eyes fixed on Zhou Zhihan.

“Yes. Possibly in a week, maybe at most two weeks, I’ll leave here and go to another city.”

“Oh!”

There was a clear note of disappointment in Gandy’s voice.

“Of course, even if I’m in another city, I’ll often come back to visit old friends like you.”

Upon hearing this, Gandy immediately smiled. “I don’t even know if there are swimsuits for sale by the seaside at this time of year.”

“I believe there are. Because no matter the season, there are women who love beauty, and swimsuits exist for beautiful women.”

Gandy’s teeth were bright white, and her sky-blue eyes sparkled charmingly as she smiled. “Then why choose me as your swimsuit model?”

“Because you have eyes as beautiful as the ocean.

Because I don’t know many girls around here.

Because your figure is perfect, naturally beautiful, and swimsuits are made for girls like you.

Because with you as my swimsuit model, my business will surely flourish when I return home.”

Gandy’s heart bloomed at such praise from a handsome man; it felt sweeter than honey.

Look at this—that’s the classic “never trust a man’s sweet talk” line.

At this moment, this saying had not yet become popular among Americans.

Zhou Zhihan did not show Gandy the swimsuits and underwear he had taken from Kaoyama Meiko’s home, fearing she might mock him.

That day, when he extracted Kaoyama Meiko’s dying memories, there was an abstract-like scene—a photo taken at a beachside store, where a man in a traditional Chinese long gown stood.

The image was too abstract, the lighting inside the store dim, the man’s outline vague—only enough to tell he was middle-aged.

In a large drawer in Kaoyama Meiko’s bathroom were many swimsuits, most unworn.

Another drawer held many pieces of women’s underwear, all with labels intact. Several pairs of panties were identical in color and style, suggesting they had never been worn.

Judging by the texture of the lingerie on her bed, the underwear in the drawer was quite ordinary—not what a wealthy woman like her would wear. The brand tag read “Changle,” with small characters on the back saying “comfortable and breathable.”

The swimsuits bore the brand “Longisland,” with the word “hotspicy” printed near the crotch.

“Longisland” translated literally means “Changle.”

Zhou Zhihan’s face darkened—it turned out these had already been manufactured here.

The morning after Kaoyama Meiko’s death, Zhou Zhihan researched and found that Long Island was a beach in New York. This beach must be connected to the photograph from her final memories.

Why did Kaoyama Meiko have so many unworn swimsuits and underwear?

The underwear and swimsuits were different brands, and many swimsuits were identical in style and color.

Why?

She wouldn’t buy so many identical swimsuits without wearing them—there must be some hidden reason.

Why buy so many underwear and swimsuits?

Could she have such a fetish?

Impossible.

If she did, she wouldn’t buy them without wearing them.

Though city shops sold swimsuits, they were more popular by the seaside. This matched Kaoyama Meiko’s memory of blue sea and golden beach.

The underwear was of ordinary quality, likely the kind sold at seaside shops for women to wear once and discard, akin to disposable underwear today.

If Zhou Zhihan’s guess was correct, this spy Kaoyama Meiko likely met with her superiors or subordinates at the beach every time.

Nine times out of ten, the meeting place was probably the store selling these swimsuits and underwear. She couldn’t leave empty-handed, as that would arouse suspicion. So each time, she either bought a swimsuit or a pair of underwear, brought them back, never wore them, and casually stored them in the drawer.

Zhou Zhihan believed many seaside shops sold both swimsuits and underwear, but few sold Longisland swimsuits and “comfortable breathable” underwear together.

(End of chapter)