MY - 29

The fine drizzle lightly fell on the umbrella. Jiang Xi answered her phone and held it to her ear.

“Hello?”

The other end of the line was very quiet, silent as if the signal had been lost.

She said “hello” again.

There was no answer. A few seconds later, the call went to a busy signal.

She had only answered the phone because she was worried about missing a work message. Since the other party didn’t call back, it was probably just a wrong number, so Jiang Xi didn’t pay it any mind.

________________________________________

Driving home, Xia Xinyan was tinkering with her flowers under the eaves. Seeing Jiang Xi return, she looked up and said, “You’re back.”

Jiang Xi walked under the eaves and closed her umbrella.

Xia Xinyan knew she had gone out to meet Chen Lin, but she didn’t ask about it, only if she had eaten enough.

Jiang Xi leaned her umbrella against the wall and sat down on the wicker chair next to her: “I’m full.”

“I made some small cookies in the kitchen. Take some with you when you leave later,” Xia Xinyan snipped off a dead leaf.

“Okay.”

Half a month ago, Xia Xinyan was actively trying to set up Jiang Xi and Chen Lin, but after Jiang Xi returned home this time, she hadn’t mentioned it once.

Jiang Xi quietly watched Xia Xinyan prune and trim the potted plants.

Xia Xinyan didn’t bring it up, and neither did she. After a while, Xia Xinyan spoke, “Xiao Xi, how are your emotions and well-being doing lately?”

Xia Xinyan tried to ask this question as casually as possible, and Jiang Xi could tell. She chuckled, “Do I look like I’m not doing well lately?”

Jiang Xi was behaving normally at home, no different from before. Xia Xinyan said, “Auntie was just asking.”

Jiang Xi hummed.

It was just these few casual words that made Jiang Xi immediately guess that Xia Xinyan had probably seen the news, which was also why she hadn’t been trying to set up Jiang Xi and Chen Lin lately.

Xia Xinyan had always stayed out of her children’s romantic affairs. When Jiang Xi and Lu Nandu were dating, she generally knew Jiang Xi was in a relationship and didn’t ask too many questions, but she knew Lu Nandu to some extent.

The child had a sweet tongue and would greet her after meeting a few times. But then they broke up not long after, and Xia Xinyan gradually forgot.

Until the recent rumors about Jiang Xi appeared. Due to Jiang Xi’s demeanor, she rarely had rumors clinging to her. The only two times were recently, but Xia Xinyan didn’t believe the one with Cen Wanzhe, though she knew this time it wasn’t false.

In recent years, she had only become anxious about Jiang Xi because Jiang Xi had reached a suitable age but still showed no signs of dating. That’s when she started to worry.

“Xiao Xi, if you don’t like Chen Lin, Auntie won’t try to set you up anymore. And I won’t rush you. Whatever kind of person you like, whatever kind of person you want to marry in the future, Auntie will respect your choice. These things, it’s best to choose what makes you happy.”

“Why the sudden talk about this?”

Xia Xinyan put down the shears and took off her gloves: “Haven’t I been talking about this? From last year until now, I haven’t seen you take it to heart.”

Jiang Xi chuckled: “No rush.”

Xia Xinyan moved a few small potted plants against the wall, saying, “That’s true, no rush has its benefits too; you can be more meticulous in your search.”

After Jiang Xi helped Xia Xinyan move the plants, they both went inside.

When it was time for Jiang Xi to go to the airport, Xia Xinyan came out of the kitchen with a box of warm cookies: “Take these to eat. Remember to eat well over there.”

“You’ve said that at least ten times since last night,” Jiang Xi chuckled.

“More saying helps, otherwise you won’t remember.”

Xia Xinyan only saw her off to the doorway. The rain outside hadn’t stopped, and Jiang Xi didn’t let her come out.

________________________________________

The plane took off at 3 PM and landed in Beijing in the evening.

Beijing’s air was dry and cold, unlike the damp chill that seeped into the bones in the southern towns. After spending a few days in gloomy, rainy weather at home, returning felt a little unaccustomed.

Jiang Xi left the airport and went straight home.

The large bag of snacks Jiang Chi bought last time was still on the table, almost untouched, except for a bag of potato chips Jiang Xi opened the day he visited.

This bag of snacks reminded Jiang Xi to order takeout. She casually picked up a bag of puffed snacks and opened it, while using her phone to order a meal.

The house was quiet, but she didn’t find it too lonely.

Tong Yun always discouraged her from eating junk food. Jiang Xi hadn’t eaten such things for too long, and after just half a bag, she found her stomach feeling uncomfortable.

As one gets older, one really feels not as good as in youth.

________________________________________

Just as she put down the chips, her phone, lying on the sofa, suddenly lit up.

Jiang Xi picked up her phone. The number was somewhat familiar. She remembered it was the call from earlier that afternoon. This time, the caller didn’t dial but sent a text message.

It was the owner of the Maybach that had been scratched a few months ago, contacting her to discuss compensation.

Too much time had passed since this incident, and for them to contact her about compensation now, Jiang Xi found it a bit odd, but she didn’t think much of it. After all, she was in the wrong first for scratching someone else’s car.

The car owner happened to be free now and sent her an address. Jiang Xi put on her coat and left.

She navigated according to the address given by the other party, finally stopping in a villa area. The location was excellent yet not noisy, indicating it was an expensive area.

This was within Jiang Xi’s expectations; anyone who could drive a Maybach would be wealthy or distinguished.

Jiang Xi stopped in front of a detached house, in an ivory white Western style. She pushed the door open and got out of the car. Only a faint light shone from the French window on the second floor.

Jiang Xi didn’t enter the courtyard gate. She stood outside and called the other party, but the call didn’t connect.

She checked the address; it was indeed the right place. Just as she was about to call again, the other party sent her a text message.

-Second floor study, just come in.

It also told her the location of the study on the second floor.

Even if Jiang Xi was usually calm and didn’t gossip, looking at this text message, two words subconsciously popped into her mind: sick in the head.

But she didn’t say anything, putting her phone back in her pocket and pushing the gate open.

________________________________________

The first floor of the villa was brightly lit, excessively clean and cold, with the scent of a long-unoccupied home, or perhaps a home with only one owner.

It was too quiet.

Jiang Xi didn’t look around and went straight upstairs. The second floor wasn’t as brightly lit as the first, with only a wall lamp turned on.

A faint layer of light and shadow covered the walls; the surroundings were silent.

The study was in the west direction. Jiang Xi walked over and stopped in front of the door. The door was closed. She raised her hand and knocked.

“Hello?”

She had expected someone to open the door, but after waiting a while, there was no movement.

Jiang Xi frowned slightly, pressed the doorknob, and the study was completely dark inside.

Just as she felt something was wrong, her wrist was suddenly seized from behind. In an instant, she was pulled into the opposite room.

She had no time to react and was already restrained. When a cold, thin blade was pressed against her neck, Jiang Xi froze. Something warm and wet clung to her neck.

The man behind her had a strong heartbeat, a barely perceptible low gasp, and such a strong grip that it felt like he wanted to crush her.

Her arm hit the light switch by the door.

Even in this situation, Jiang Xi didn’t panic. She only furrowed her brows slightly and spoke in a calm voice: “Who are you?”

________________________________________

As soon as her voice fell, the blade pressed against her neck tightened slightly.

Jiang Xi had no idea what the man behind her intended. To her surprise, he seemed to be slowly releasing her, with hesitation.

It was in this moment of his hesitation that Jiang Xi bumped her arm backward, but the man reacted quickly, blocking her attack.

During the struggle, the light switch by the door was pressed, and the room instantly became fully lit. The moment Jiang Xi clearly saw the person behind her, she froze.

And the hesitation and fierce intensity in Lu Nandu’s eyes vanished in an instant the moment he saw Jiang Xi.

He looked at Jiang Xi, calling out in a daze, “Jiejie.”

This appearance reminded Jiang Xi of the confusion felt upon waking from a dream. Her gaze fell on Lu Nandu’s hand.

Lu Nandu seemed to realize only then, quickly hiding his hand behind his back, like a child who had done something wrong.

Anxiety, fear.

Jiang Xi felt strange. When she entered, she could even sense that Lu Nandu hadn’t recognized her, or rather, had mistaken her for someone else.

Lu Nandu looked at her neck, hesitant to speak. Jiang Xi generally knew what he wanted to say and asked, “Where’s the restroom?”

Lu Nandu gestured to that side: “The bathroom.”

Jiang Xi glanced back, said nothing, and turned to enter the bathroom.

The frosted glass door separated her from the outside. The stark white light hit the wall mirror and tiles. Jiang Xi walked to the vanity.

She glanced at her blood-stained neck in the mirror. She was fair-skinned, and the crimson blood was particularly jarring.

Jiang Xi knew it wasn’t her own blood. A few seconds later, she shifted her gaze, bent down, and quietly rinsed off the bloodstains.

When she came out of the bathroom, Lu Nandu was still standing in the same spot. Seeing her emerge, his eyes had nowhere to settle.

Jiang Xi’s face showed no emotion. Leaning against the door, she asked him, “Do you have a first-aid kit at home?”

Lu Nandu just stared at her neck.

Jiang Xi knew what he was looking at. Without waiting for his answer, she didn’t ask again and surveyed the room.

Her guess was correct; there was indeed a first-aid kit in Lu Nandu’s room, placed by the bedside table.

She turned back and looked at Lu Nandu: “Come here.”

After several days, Jiang Xi said this to him again. Lu Nandu seemed to remember the last time and hesitated, unwilling to come forward.

Jiang Xi just looked at him.

Despite his inner resistance, Lu Nandu still relented after a few seconds.

Seeing him obediently walk over, Jiang Xi moved towards the bathroom, and Lu Nandu followed her inside.

Jiang Xi had her back to him, looking at him in the mirror. A few seconds later, she turned to face him.

Their gazes met. Jiang Xi said, “Hold out your hand.”

Lu Nandu hadn’t expected Jiang Xi to make this request. He seemed a little nervous, instinctively licking his lips lightly: “I’m fine.”

Jiang Xi: “Did I ask you?”

Lu Nandu was speechless. She said, “I just told you to put out your hand.”

Jiang Xi could see that Lu Nandu was struggling, as if afraid she would discover something.

Jiang Xi lost her patience and directly reached behind him to pull his hand forward.

The situation was worse than Jiang Xi had imagined. Lu Nandu’s hand, his arm, had several raw, bleeding wounds.

Lu Nandu didn’t want her to see them and tried to pull his hand back: “It’s nothing.”

Jiang Xi held on, raising her eyes to look at him.

Lu Nandu immediately fell silent. Jiang Xi didn’t look at him anymore, turned on the faucet: “Clean your wounds yourself.”

As she said this, she took the tightly clutched combat knife from his hand, then walked out of the bathroom.

Closing the bathroom door, Jiang Xi stood outside, looking down at the combat knife in her hand. There were only a few drops of blood on it; perhaps Lu Nandu had secretly wiped it clean while she wasn’t looking.

She walked towards the bed, bent down, and opened the medical kit to check it. Everything she needed was there.

The complete array of medicines in the medical kit also indicated that Lu Nandu frequently treated wounds.

What exactly happened? He didn’t even recognize her.

Lu Nandu came out of the bathroom a moment later. Jiang Xi turned on the bedside lamp, straightened up, and asked him, “Is it okay if I sit on your bed?”

He quickly nodded.

Jiang Xi sat on the edge of the bed. This time, without her saying anything, Lu Nandu came over.

Seeing him obediently stop in front of her, Jiang Xi turned to rummage through the medical kit: “Sit down.”

Lu Nandu sat beside her. Jiang Xi took out the alcohol: “Are the wounds clean?”

Lu Nandu just nodded: “Clean.”

Jiang Xi didn’t look at him. She took his hand and used the alcohol to disinfect it.

Without parents to rely on, Jiang Xi had been quite independent since childhood and was especially skilled at treating wounds.

She silently disinfected, applied medicine, and bandaged Lu Nandu’s wounds.

Throughout the process, she didn’t say a single word to Lu Nandu, nor did she look at him.

Lu Nandu stared at her lowered eyes.

“Do you know you called me?” Jiang Xi suddenly asked.

Lu Nandu froze.

He had been told not to look for her again, but he had still called her.

He was like a child caught doing more than one wrong thing, feeling down and uneasy: “Yes.”

Jiang Xi asked again, “Then do you know you sent me a text message telling me to go to the study?”

After saying this, she looked up at him.

As her words fell, Lu Nandu instantly looked bewildered, staring at her. A few seconds later, his gaze darted away, stammering: “Y-yes.”

He clearly didn’t remember.

Jiang Xi didn’t expose him and continued to lower her gaze, helping him treat his wounds.

There were a few scattered wounds, all newly acquired today. Jiang Xi didn’t see any old wounds; it seemed he hadn’t been in this state for a long time.

The wounds were deep and clean, not self-inflicted for torment, but rather like a swift and decisive attempt to stay clear-headed.

Soon, the wounds were treated, and his arm was bandaged.

From beginning to end, Jiang Xi hadn’t asked him a single “why,” and Lu Nandu breathed a sigh of relief.

But Jiang Xi suddenly spoke: “Did something happen back then?”