By the time Neil brought Zoe back to his home, the city was lit up, and it was 8:30 in the evening. The weather in this city changes drastically between day and night; during the day, the sun blazes, but in the blink of an eye, it turns dark and the drizzle begins, accompanied by a biting cold wind that makes one shiver. As Neil climbed a few steps and looked back, he saw Zoe still standing at the bottom of the steps. He turned around and went down to stand in front of him.
“It’s late, and even if you wanted to find a place to stay, it would take a lot of time,” Neil said. He put his hands in his pockets and pulled out a small object, holding it up in front of Zoe. “Do you know what this is? It’s a pocket knife for self-defense. Just press the button, and the blade will extend. It’s very sharp and can cause significant harm. If I do anything that makes you feel threatened, you can use it to defend yourself, even to stab me if necessary.”
Neil handed the knife to Zoe, who took it with a look of astonishment. His emotions became confused as he looked at Neil, feeling a warm sensation slowly settling in his heart. Neil seemed to understand his worries and thoughts that had never been expressed in words. What kind of person was he to understand and trust him so much? Zoe didn’t even understand himself clearly.
Before Zoe could say anything, Neil took his hand and guided him up the steps.
“Why do you trust me? We’ve only known each other for less than a day. Aren’t you afraid I might cause you trouble? Because I am…”
Zoe stopped, not withdrawing his hand. His voice was even softer, as if afraid someone might overhear, “You must have seen me come out of the reformatory… I’m not a good person.”
Neil turned around, his deep black eyes fixed on Zoe without any hesitation or reluctance. He took Zoe’s hand again and led him forward, speaking with genuine sincerity.
“What harm could you possibly cause me? I’m taller and larger than you, and remember, this is my home; I know it better than you do. Whether you’re a good person or not, I’ll sense it myself.”
The bright streetlights illuminated the two figures, one in front and one behind, connected by a handhold that seemed fragile yet was very firm and sincere. Below, cars sped by, creating a dazzling, endless ribbon of light in the night.
The door opened to a spacious apartment with two bedrooms and a living room, simply and cleanly furnished. There were many windows with white glass that let in natural light during the day and allowed a view of the street at night. Zoe observed the house while Neil went into a room to tidy up. He pulled the curtain aside, revealing the night cityscape.
 Outside, the busy traffic created a shimmering, endless streak of light, making the city even more glamorous and magnificent. On the narrow pedestrian path next to the highway, the night breeze made pedestrians shiver and adjust their coats. On the other side, a homeless person huddled in the corner, clutching a thin blanket, occasionally sneezing from the cold. Zoe stood by the window, feeling a bit disoriented. Without Neil, he would be like that homeless person, cold and alone in a dark, unfamiliar part of this glamorous city. 
This thought brought a warm sensation to his heart. Apart from his deceased parents, Neil was the first person to be kind to him. Zoe silently thanked the heavens for bringing him to Neil. Even if it was just for a few days, he was grateful for the kindness from a stranger, though there was a bittersweet feeling of a wanderer with no family or loved ones.
As he gazed out at the busy street, he heard footsteps behind him. Turning around, he saw Neil emerging from the room.
“You can sleep in this room,” Neil said, pointing to the door of the adjacent room. “That’s my room. If you need anything, just call me. The bathroom is over there; you should take a shower while I prepare dinner. You must be starving.”
Neil turned back a few steps. “There are clothes in the bathroom; they belong to my younger brother. I think they will fit you.”
With a gentle smile, Neil walked into the kitchen. The young man’s broad shoulders and back were impressive, but his heart was even more beautiful and vast than his appearance.
As a gesture of gratitude, Zoe hurriedly called out to Neil, “Thank you.”
Neil didn’t turn around but waved his hand with five fingers, as if to say, “You’re welcome.” Zoe smiled and entered his room with his backpack.
He unpacked a few items from the bag he brought from the reformatory and spread them on the bed. Looking at them, he realized they were nothing special. When he was released, Zoe only gathered a few items, such as clothes given to him by a mysterious person, which he was lucky not to have been taken by the other kids at the reformatory. 
That was all he had; nothing else. Jill had advised him not to bring things from prison as it would be bad luck, but Zoe felt that being followed by a ghost was more unfortunate than having these items. Besides, they were gifts from someone, and he felt he should keep them. Although he didn’t know who the mysterious person was, he always hoped to meet them someday to express his gratitude. These gifts made him feel less lonely amidst a world of sorrow and misfortune.
Looking at the items on the bed, Zoe thought of Jill. He wondered where that troublesome ghost was now, or if it had found someone else to haunt. Zoe shook his head, wanting to dismiss thoughts of Jill. From today onwards, he would live a new life without fearing being disturbed or troubled by people or ghosts.