Yang Qi suddenly stopped in his tracks. "An untamed python? In this bustling restaurant lobby?" he thought.
Yang Qi looked around. The lobby contained dozens of tables and was almost packed to capacity. Waiters bustled back and forth carrying trays, while guests chatted, laughed, and clinked glasses in a lively atmosphere. It didn't look like there was a snake anywhere.
After turning around twice, Yang Qi's gaze landed on a booth about seven or eight meters away, near a large potted plant. Two women and a man sat in the booth, seemingly gathering as friends. What drew Yang Qi's attention was the woman sitting on the outer edge, her back facing him. She had shoulder-length short hair and wore a simple cream-white T-shirt; from behind, she appeared very quiet and gentle. On the empty seat next to her rested a dark brown leather bag that looked quite old but very well-maintained.
"Is the snake in the bag?" he wondered.
