The Porsche’s trunk was in the front, right where Li Jin Yu was sitting. Hearing her voice, he retracted his foot that was about to step forward and could only move aside. Jiang Lu Zhi threw a large package of bird’s nest and dried seafood into the trunk and said to him: “The bird’s nest is for grandmother to eat, and you boys can eat it too. I’ve also ordered a carton of premium cigarettes from the supermarket to give to grandmother later.”
Before Li Jin Yu could say anything, Jiang Lu Zhi immediately preempted: “Don’t refuse. This time it’s truly my fault. I should apologize to you both. Especially to grandmother—I let her down. I don’t know what grandmother can and cannot eat, which is why I asked you to come with me. Otherwise, buying too much would be wasteful.”
Since she had said everything, Li Jin Yu could only touch his nose and get in the car with her.
Just as Jiang Lu Zhi was backing out, she caught sight of Ye Meng still standing by the roadside and casually asked: “Did you give her the item?”
Li Jin Yu lazily propped his elbow on the car window and made a sound of agreement.
Jiang Lu Zhi turned the steering wheel and followed with a sigh, showing a sense of helplessness: “Nothing I can do.”
Li Jin Yu didn’t quite understand the conflicts and emotions between women and wasn’t interested in expressing any opinion. After maintaining a moment of silence, he pulled his hand back from the window sill, lowered his head to check his phone, and asked seemingly casually: “The sisters don’t get along? Because of that Gou guy?”
By then, Ye Meng had also gotten into Fang Ya En’s little Golf with the white gift box. Jiang Lu Zhi stepped on the brake behind them and asked in return: “Is she beautiful? Who do you think is more beautiful, her or me?”
Why do women always like to ask this kind of question?
Li Jin Yu stared at her for a while, and Jiang Lu Zhi turned her head away self-mockingly.
“Are you two fighting over a boyfriend?” he asked.
Jiang Lu Zhi turned the car out of the alley entrance onto the main road and said: “Gou Kai is our boss. There’s nothing else between us.”
Gou Kai was known for pursuing women by any means necessary, and Ye Meng had a straightforward personality. These two were like fire meeting gunpowder—if something had happened between them, it wouldn’t be surprising. Li Jin Yu only felt that the world was very small.
Jiang Lu Zhi said: “But as far as I know, she never got together with Gou Kai. Gou Kai looks down on her because she studied journalism but didn’t graduate from a prestigious school. Her professional skills aren’t strong, and she’s lazy with no ambition, but she’s like a cockroach—she can survive anywhere. You could casually drop her in a refugee camp, and she’d end up becoming a joint district leader with the locals.”
Li Jin Yu listened while looking down at her messages on his WeChat, with all those “baby” endearments. Hearing this, he couldn’t help but curl the corners of his mouth. But she hadn’t sent him any messages for half a month, so his smile faded, pressed into a straight line.
The two were lost in their thoughts. Jiang Lu Zhi seemed to have found an outlet to vent and kept talking as she drove: “She had someone investigate me, believing that Gou Kai and I pushed her out together. Honestly, the company isn’t mine. I’m just a legal counsel partner. How the company operates is entirely up to Gou Kai with a single word.”
“Why?” Li Jin Yu didn’t even raise his eyelids.
“I don’t know the full details, but I know Gou Kai is a bit twisted,” Jiang Lu Zhi said. “From the little he’s mentioned, he wanted Ye Meng not to change, yet wanted her to depend on him—to be a ‘loyal dog’ he could call on anytime, anywhere, living at his beck and call. Ye Meng wasn’t content with that; she wanted to establish herself in Beijing. She secretly tried to start her own business, but Gou Kai found out and sidelined her, not giving her any projects. Ye Meng couldn’t take it and resigned. Gou Kai probably never expected Ye Meng would leave. He thought she’d just be upset for a couple of days and then return. Now he can’t let go, you see? After the New Year, he says he’ll come personally to win her back.”
As soon as Ye Meng got in the car, she opened the white gift box and took a look. After seeing what was inside, she felt nothing, expressionless as she tossed it onto the back seat.
Fang Ya En curiously glanced back, “What is it?”
Ye Meng rested her head against the car window, saying carelessly: “A camera.”
Fang Ya En clicked her tongue twice, “For intimate photos? I didn’t know you two were so adventurous.”
“When will you wash that brain of yours filled with yellow waste?” Ye Meng straightened up, leaned against the car seat, and glanced at her. “It’s photos from that business trip to Guangdong. That night I was bewitched and almost slept with him. He probably thinks that looking at this camera will give me some beautiful memories. Sorry, I don’t have any.”
“I’m quite supportive of you going back. I don’t think you should be here,” Fang Ya En said.
“I’m not going back. I’ll start work in the city after the New Year. I’m going there to rent an apartment in a few days,” Ye Meng said.
Fang Ya En was stunned, “So you’re not pursuing the little brother anymore?”
Ye Meng cursed: “He’s like a stone in a toilet—both stinky and hard. Even if I were fermenting pickles, they should have been ready by now! He dared to go out with Jiang Lu Zhi. Aren’t they afraid people will think he’s the third wheel?”
…
“This matter is my fault towards Jin Yu. He’s not a third wheel. At that time, I was quarreling with my boyfriend and listened to my mother’s advice to come back for an arranged date with Jin Yu,” Jiang Lu Zhi sat in the dim hospital room, sincerely apologizing to the old lady in a soft voice. “Later, I accidentally learned that my ex-boyfriend was getting married, so I acted first and registered marriage with him. You can imagine what happened next—home turned into a mess, and I really couldn’t attend to Jin Yu’s side. So I came especially this time to apologize. If there are rumors in town saying bad things about Jin Yu, I will have my mother clarify the situation with them.”
Grandmother’s eyes were full of sorrow. After sighing several times, she finally said regretfully: “No need. It’s just that our Jin Yu doesn’t have good fortune.”
Jiang Lu Zhi looked at the old lady, filled with guilt, not knowing what else to do to show more sincerity. She instinctively turned to look for Li Jin Yu, only to find he was gone.
After searching everywhere without finding him, Jiang Lu Zhi could only send Li Jin Yu a WeChat message.
Jiang: Jin Yu, I’ve explained everything to grandmother. I’m very sorry. If there are still rumors in town speaking ill of you, I’ll help clear them up. In any case, take good care of your grandmother and yourself too.
In the dark, quiet hallway, a phone dinged.
With a “tick,” someone unlocked it. A faint screen light illuminated Li Jin Yu sitting on the top step, his long legs stretched across two or three steps.
He replied with a simple “mm” and casually tossed the phone aside. He buried his head in his bent knees, absently rubbing his faintly throbbing temples.
From the stairwell entrance came faint voices, one belonging to a male nurse. Ning Sui had only one tertiary hospital, and in the entire hospital, there was only one male nurse.
“Nurse Gao, off work so early? In a good mood today? Got your year-end bonus?”
“The year-end bonus was given out ages ago,” the male nurse’s voice was elevated, unable to hide his excitement and happiness. “A sister I like invited me to dinner. We met through a matchmaking introduction before. She’s been rather lukewarm toward me, but today she suddenly invited me to have dinner at Dai Ji.”
“Dai Ji? That place isn’t cheap. Looks like our little Nurse Gao is about to be off the market?”
“My horoscope said I’d have romance soon. I wonder if it’s accurate. Gotta go, sis! Please keep an eye on the patient in bed 10. That grandmother just finished chemotherapy and might vomit tonight.”
This male nurse had graduated not long ago. He was indeed very handsome, well-behaved, and had a sunny disposition that Li Jin Yu lacked. He was extremely patient with patients, always calling the old lady “grandmother” with great affection whenever he came to change her dressings.
But for some reason, today when the male nurse came to change grandmother’s dressings, Li Jin Yu felt uncomfortable. A feeling suddenly arose within him—this nurse had stolen Ye Meng, and now he wanted to steal his grandmother too.
But when did Ye Meng become yours? Didn’t you reject her? Didn’t you adamantly refuse to date? Didn’t you not want to change your life trajectory? Didn’t you not want anyone else to enter your life with your grandmother? Didn’t you say you would never again put yourself in someone else’s hands!?
The rooftop corridor was dark and spacious. No one came up here; it was very secluded. Someone sent another message, and the phone dinged as the screen suddenly lit up, the faint light appearing desolate in this lonely corner.
He hadn’t experienced this feeling for a very, very long time.
Dizziness, anxiety, insecurity, feeling like he couldn’t grasp anything. His temples throbbed, pulling at his entire being, the pain making it hard to breathe.
It felt as if thousands of ants were crawling through his blood, over his hands, his spine, his nerves, finally swarming into his chest and heart, occupying all his breathing space.
He felt terrible.
He didn’t even know why he felt terrible.
His mind was empty except for Li Ling Bai’s words—
“You are a seed of evil. Do you think your brother shared your love? Wrong, Li Jin Yu. No one will ever love you. No one. Nothing belongs to you. Your possessiveness is so strong, you’re sick!”
“You’re sick! You’re just sick!”
“You can’t hold on! You’ll never hold on to anything!”
…
His brain felt invaded. Li Ling Bai’s ferocious face gradually became clearer. Li Jin Yu finally couldn’t bear it anymore. He clutched his head and let out an uncontrollable, deep, hoarse roar.
The sky seemed to split open. There would be no more peace in heaven or earth.
Then the sky darkened completely, gloomy and oppressive like a great black curtain covering the entire town. Not a trace of light remained in the corridor.
At that moment, Ye Meng sat in Dai Ji restaurant, humming a tune, and posted to her Moments:
Lemon Leaf: Dai Ji changed chefs? Ah, then I won’t need to bring my baby here next time.