On the way back, Chen Xi sat in the taxi looking at the snow-covered streets outside the window, her eyes feeling slightly sore.
It seemed like nothing particularly sad had happened, yet she just felt like crying.
When she got home, Chen Xi packed up everything she had bought from Baiji and mailed it all to Liu Boyang, asking him to distribute it to the other families after receiving it.
After finishing this, Chen Xi took out her suitcase from the walk-in closet and began packing things to take home.
In half a year, Chen Xi had accumulated quite a few more clothes.
There were the two sets of pajamas and several autumn outfits that Qin Lie had taken her to buy at the mall during her first few days here.
There were also several sweaters she had bought online after winter arrived, two pairs of snow boots, and a baseball cap.
Chen Xi stuffed all her clothing into the suitcase.
The walk-in closet returned to how it looked four months ago, without leaving any trace that she had lived here.
After packing her suitcase, Chen Xi walked to the balcony and silently smoked a cigarette.
She leaned against the railing, watching the setting sun gradually dye the accumulated snow orange-yellow.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she returned to the walk-in closet.
She crouched down, opened the suitcase, and hung back up several autumn outfits she wouldn’t need immediately and the two sets of pajamas.
That night, she fell asleep before Qin Lie came home.
Perhaps because of what she had been thinking about during the day, she dreamed of San Huang in the middle of the night.
In the dream, she seemed to be at her aunt’s house, searching for San Huang’s figure in vast stretches of vineyards.
After looking for a long time, she finally saw a fuzzy earth-colored back darting in and out of the grass.
Chen Xi felt great relief in her dream and hurried into the grass after him.
She chased San Huang’s figure, weaving through the grass.
Grasshoppers hidden in the grass were startled by her and flew about in all directions with spread wings.
In the dream, it was a bright autumn day, and Chen Xi’s breath seemed to carry the dry, rugged scent of the northwest small town’s high sky and light clouds.
She ran, joy bubbling up from her heart like a dried spring suddenly gushing clear water.
But just as she was about to catch up to San Huang, the grass and grape vines before her suddenly disappeared, and her surroundings became a vast desert.
She saw Grandma’s back, sitting in front of a small earth-colored mound.
Chen Xi ran over in a few steps, crouched down, and called out, “Grandma, what are you doing?”
Grandma turned around, and Chen Xi’s heart suddenly lurched.
The wrinkles on her face were so deep they looked carved by a knife – she was almost unrecognizable.
Chen Xi turned and saw San Huang lying on the ground, his body stiff and straight.
Chen Xi rushed to hold San Huang, but Grandma stopped her.
“What’s wrong with San Huang?”
Chen Xi asked frantically.
Grandma sat on the sandy ground, her voice flat as she said, “He’s dead. You came at just the right time – bury him.”
Chen Xi instantly broke down in tears, “How could he die?”
Grandma smiled, her voice sometimes near, sometimes distant.
“Silly girl, whether it’s people or dogs, when they get old, they die.”
Chen Xi hugged San Huang and began wailing.
Gradually, a voice began calling her name in her ears, low and deep.
“Chen Xi, Chen Xi.”
Chen Xi suddenly opened her eyes and saw Qin Lie’s face.
A small lamp was on at the bedside, casting a warm glow.
“Having a nightmare?”
Qin Lie stroked her hair and asked softly.
Chen Xi wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and asked groggily, “What time is it?”
Qin Lie: “Two in the morning.”
Chen Xi: “How did things go at the company?”
Qin Lie: “The leak is being investigated. Nebula 9 has to be delayed. We’re planning to use Nebula 10’s specifications directly for Nebula 9.”
Chen Xi made a sound of acknowledgment, then suddenly said, “I want to go back to Dunhuang first. You can come back after you finish your work.”
Qin Lie nodded, “I saw the suitcase in the walk-in closet when I came back and already booked your ticket.”
He pulled Chen Xi into his arms and said quietly, “I’m sorry.”
After saying this, he suddenly felt a wave of melancholy.