Jonathan: The Heavenly Fortune Teller in the City

Ch 05

After walking for quite some time, he spotted a modest hotel by the roadside. The building wasn't large, but it looked clean, and its signboard was still brightly lit.

"At least I can sleep peacefully tonight," he muttered softly as he walked inside.

Behind the front desk, a young receptionist in a neat uniform greeted him with a professional smile.

"Good evening, sir. How may I help you?"

"I'd like to rent a room for one night," Jonathan replied quickly, hoping he could finally get some rest.

The receptionist nodded as she picked up the guest register and a pen.

"Certainly. May I see your ID card for registration?"

Jonathan froze. His face immediately stiffened. He lowered his head for a moment before replying in a quiet voice.

"I lost my ID card."

The receptionist stopped writing and looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"I'm sorry, sir. Without an ID card, we can't accept any guests. It's hotel policy. Every guest must be registered with a valid form of identification."

Jonathan let out a long sigh, trying to suppress his frustration.

"Please. It's only for one night. I really need a place to sleep. I'll leave first thing tomorrow morning."

The receptionist shook her head, looking genuinely apologetic.

"I understand your situation, sir. But rules are still rules. If I break them, I could lose my job. I hope you understand."

"But..."

Jonathan wanted to insist, but his voice trailed off.

The receptionist spoke more gently.

"I truly can't, sir. If my supervisor finds out, I'll be fired. Please don't make this harder for me."

Jonathan looked at her for a long moment. He wanted to get angry. He wanted to slam his fist on the counter. But deep down, he knew she was just an ordinary employee bound by company rules.

"Alright. I understand," he said quietly.

Jonathan left the hotel with a gloomy expression. He took Mella's business card out of his pocket and stared at the name for a moment, recalling the gaze of the woman who was both cold and captivating. After a brief hesitation, he finally dialed the number printed on the card.

The phone rang several times before a gentle yet sarcastic voice answered.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"It's me, Jonathan," he said cautiously. "I'd like to ask for my ID card back. Without it, I can't even stay at a hotel. Could you please..."

Before he could finish, Mella interrupted him with a mocking tone.

"Oh, so it's the little thug from earlier. You still have the nerve to call me?"

Jonathan fell silent, suppressing his frustration while continuing to plead.

"I really don't have anywhere else to go. At least let me get my ID card back tonight so I can stay at a hotel. That's all I'm asking."

"That's your problem. Consider it a little karma for hurting a beautiful woman."

After saying that, Mella ended the call without waiting for his response.

Jonathan immediately tried calling again, but this time an automated voice answered.

"The number you have dialed is currently unavailable."

"Damn. She's really a heartless woman," he muttered quietly.

With his worn backpack in hand, Jonathan trudged aimlessly through the city streets.

He had no idea how long he had been walking until he finally stopped at a place that felt strangely familiar. Before him lay a small, simple park with several shady trees and old benches whose paint had long since peeled away.

"This park..." he whispered, almost inaudibly.

His memories drifted back to his childhood. This park had once stood right beside their residential neighborhood. It was here that he ran around, played hide-and-seek with the neighborhood children, and spent countless carefree days. Although the residential complex had long since been demolished and replaced by modern buildings, the park somehow still remained, like a tiny fragment of the past refusing to disappear.

At the center of the park stood an artificial hill about a dozen meters high. At first glance, it seemed insignificant, nothing more than a mound of dirt and rocks carefully arranged together. But to little Jonathan, it had once been the tallest mountain in the world. He often climbed it enthusiastically, imagining himself as a conqueror standing atop the highest peak.

A faint smile appeared on his lips as he recalled those memories.

"From up there, I could see my home," he murmured softly.

Jonathan decided to spend the night in the park. He had no other choice. It was better than wandering aimlessly or sleeping under the awning of a closed shop. At least here he could rest peacefully. Fortunately, it was summer, and the night air was warm and gentle instead of bone-chilling.

He looked at the artificial hill in the middle of the park. Back then, it had seemed like a giant that needed to be conquered. Now, after nineteen years of martial arts training, he only needed a single effortless leap to reach the top.

"It's no different from jumping onto a small rock," he said with a faint smile, feeling the contrast between his past self and the man he had become.

The moment his feet landed on the summit, he stood there for a while and looked around.

He then sat cross-legged on the slightly damp ground, closed his eyes, and steadied his breathing as he entered meditation. He intended to immerse himself in the techniques he had cultivated for so many years. Yet as he embraced the silence of the night, different thoughts unexpectedly surfaced.

Memories of his childhood flooded back one after another. He remembered the faint faces of his parents, especially his mother's warm smile as she waited in front of their house every time he came home from playing outside.

"It's really been a long time," he whispered.

Jonathan suddenly remembered his childhood friend, a cheerful little girl everyone called Carolina. She was six months younger than he was, and they had lived in the same residential complex. They played together almost every day.

"Carolina..." Jonathan whispered, as though her name still lived within his heart.

Whenever they played house, Carolina would happily become his "little wife," while he pretended to be the overly serious head of the family. Even now, he could almost hear their laughter echoing faintly in his ears.

He also remembered the day Carolina insisted on climbing to the top of the artificial hill with him.

"I want to see your house from up there too!" she had said with a determined expression.

But Carolina had been a little chubby, making the climb difficult for her. She became breathless after only a few steps and eventually gave up with a pout on her face.

Little Jonathan had felt sorry for her. He reached out his hand and made a solemn promise.

"When we grow up, I'll carry you to the top. Then we can look at our homes together."

Carolina looked at him with sparkling eyes before hooking her little finger around his.

"Then let's promise. When we grow up, we have to get married!" she said innocently, wearing a sweet smile that made her round cheeks look even chubbier.

Jonathan, who had been nothing more than a child himself, nodded enthusiastically.

"Okay! I promise!" he declared loudly, treating that childish vow as though it were a lifelong oath.

"Now isn't the time to get lost in old dreams. I have to keep moving forward."

He trained continuously throughout the entire night until dawn finally arrived. The morning sunlight brushed across his tired face, bringing with it a little warmth and renewed determination.

After finishing his training, Jonathan lightly descended from the artificial hill. He walked to the park restroom and washed his face with cold water.

"If I don't get my ID card back soon, I'll become nothing more than a wanderer without an identity. And tonight, I might end up sleeping on the streets again."

An empty taxi happened to drive past. He immediately raised his hand.

The taxi stopped, and he climbed inside.

"To Dayantara Tower," Jonathan said calmly.