Chapter 43
In the past four years, Jiang Siyi had dreamt many times of traveling or shopping with Shen Shiwu.
Until she remembered the saying—dreams are the opposite of reality.
She would then snap back to reality and continue wandering alone in her empty world, year after year.
“Ms. Jiang, still angry?” Shen Shiwu leaned closer, offering her a portion of takoyaki. “Have a bite, calm down.”
Jiang Siyi glanced at her, remembering her words at the book signing, her teeth itching. “No.”
Well, she would rather it be the opposite now.
Because of the previous theft incident, she didn’t have a good impression of the Beicheng night market. Now, her vigilance was high, and she clutched her bag tightly as she walked through the crowd.
Shen Shiwu, seeing her cautious movements, effortlessly took the bag from her and reassured her, “It’s okay.”
“If anyone dares to steal from you, they must be tired of living.”
Her tone was calm, even gentle, yet it sent a chill down Jiang Siyi’s spine.
Jiang Siyi had wanted to snatch her bag back, but after hesitating, she let Shen Shiwu keep it—she was too lazy to carry it anyway.
She saw that Shen Shiwu’s hands were full of plastic bags, beef patties, lamb skewers, enough to start a zoo. She asked, puzzled, “Didn’t you used to dislike these?”
Nothing good ever came out of Shen Shiwu’s mouth.
Shen Shiwu responded with a drawn-out “Ah,” then said smoothly, “You remember that clearly, huh?”
She smiled. “You still like me, don’t you?”
After walking around for so long, Jiang Siyi hadn’t bought anything to eat, and her only bag had been taken away.
Her arms felt empty, and feeling insecure, she fidgeted with the corner of her clothes.
Her face remained expressionless for a while, then she finally managed to say, “Bullshit.”
Shen Shiwu clicked her tongue and tapped Jiang Siyi’s head lightly. “Ms. Jiang, language.”
You have the nerve to lecture me about my language?
Jiang Siyi scoffed inwardly. Where was your elegant language in bed?
“Secretly cursing me again?”
“…You know it.”
Shen Shiwu shook her head slightly, seeing a crowd gathered ahead, and pulled Jiang Siyi along.
Jiang Siyi usually disliked physical contact, but when it came to Shen Shiwu, she always found herself unable to resist.
“Someone’s live-streaming their singing.” Shen Shiwu, like an adult leading a child, tightened her grip on Jiang Siyi’s hand as they approached the crowd and even looked back to remind her, “Hold on tight, don’t get lost.”
Jiang Siyi, initially obedient, felt a surge of rebelliousness and immediately let go.
Shen Shiwu’s hand was suddenly empty. She looked back and put her arm around Jiang Siyi’s waist. Her lips thinned. “There’s a punishment for being disobedient.”
Hearing the word “punishment,” inappropriate images flashed through Jiang Siyi’s mind. She pouted, this time not making any sudden movements. “Oh.”
“Is it a famous internet celebrity? They sing quite well.”
Jiang Siyi didn’t usually pay attention to these things. Before she could reply, Shen Shiwu said, “Just as good as you.”
She frowned, puzzled. “When have you heard me sing?”
“Ah,” Shen Shiwu pretended to just realize her mistake, apologizing, then leaning closer to whisper in her ear, “I misremembered. They sing, you scream.”
“…”
Language, huh?
You should listen to your own dirty talk.
Jiang Siyi, both embarrassed and annoyed, pulled her hand away and walked in the opposite direction—this person was unreasonable, it was best to avoid her.
The crowd was a mix of locals and tourists, noisy and chaotic. It was easy to get lost.
And when Jiang Siyi was angry, nothing could stop her, her pace quickening almost to a speed walk.
Only when she was tired did she slow down and look back.
Something wasn’t right.
Jiang Siyi looked around, calling out, “Shen Shiwu?”
Her shout attracted many stares, but Shen Shiwu wasn’t among them.
The girl froze, clutching her phone.
Damn it, she was lost.
***
“Hello, the number you have dialed is powered off…” This was the umpteenth time she had heard the automated message. Jiang Siyi sighed and rushed into the police station.
A police officer recognized her, remembering Shen Shiwu, and thinking it was best not to offend her, quickly approached. “Hello, another theft case?”
“No, a missing person!”
Seeing the officer’s shocked expression, Jiang Siyi quickly corrected herself. “I mean, I can’t find someone.”
Inside the surveillance room, several officers gathered around Jiang Siyi, who sat in the middle. Her eyes narrowed as she saw a familiar figure. “Stop, that’s her.”
But as the image zoomed in, Jiang Siyi froze, her eyes clouding over.
She stared at the screen for a long time.
“Miss Jiang, are you sure it’s this person?”
The police officer’s voice broke through her daze.
Jiang Siyi looked at the two figures walking side by side on the screen, a perfect match. She closed her eyes, then, after a few seconds, replied, “Yes, I’m sure.”
Two sets of footsteps approached.
Shen Shiwu, unable to shake off the person behind her, rushed to the police station.
“Where is she?”
“Still in the surveillance room, don’t worry, we’re…” But when the officer opened the door, the room was empty, only the buzzing of mosquitoes disturbing the silence.
Before he could finish, he felt a chill emanating from the person beside him.
Shen Shiwu took a deep breath. “Check the surveillance footage.”
***
It had been a long time since Jiang Siyi had hailed a cab from the street.
Finding it too time-consuming to book a ride on her phone, she stood by the roadside, waving her hand.
Luckily, a car soon approached, the driver rolling down the window and asking where she was going.
Jiang Siyi hesitated, then asked softly, “Do you take long-distance fares?”
Female drivers were usually more agreeable. She thought for a moment. “Sure, to the next city?”
“No, to Chang’an.”
This time, it was the driver’s turn to be speechless.
After a long while, just as Jiang Siyi was about to give up hope, the driver gritted her teeth. “Okay, get in.”
“But the fare will be high, it’s not worth it.”
After getting into the car, Jiang Siyi shook her head. “It’s okay, money is not a problem.”
Hearing this, the driver’s spirits lifted. She turned the steering wheel and headed towards a nearby gas station, popping a piece of candy into her mouth. “Alright, fasten your seatbelt.”
At nine o’clock in the evening, the car was on the cross-sea bridge. Suddenly feeling a little breathless, Jiang Siyi opened the window slightly and rummaged through her bag for her medication. Then she realized she only had her phone with her.
Her bag was still with Shen Shiwu.
She rubbed her temples, seeing that her phone was about to die, and replied to Xu Yuan’s last message.
“I’ll tell you everything when I get to Chang’an. Thanks for picking me up so late at night.”
“Don’t mention it!”
The other person sent a barrage of messages, and Jiang Siyi glanced at them occasionally. But in the end, her phone died.
She held the useless brick in her hand and sighed.
“Do you have a portable charger?”
“Yes, here.” She added, “But it might not have much power left, check it.”
It wasn’t much, only about 10% left.
But it was better than nothing. Jiang Siyi thanked her and plugged in her phone.
The drive from Beicheng to Chang’an took more than five hours. By the time they arrived, it was late at night. Jiang Siyi had dozed off briefly during the ride, and waking up to the darkness outside, her lips thinned.
Shen Shiwu had also sent her many messages, practically flooding her notifications.
She glanced at them and turned on Do Not Disturb.
“Thank you for the ride.” When she opened the car door, Xu Yuan was already waiting. Jiang Siyi thanked the driver and gave her a generous tip.
The driver refused to take it. “That’s too much, just a few tens is enough.”
Seeing them arguing, Xu Yuan coughed and started counting down softly.
Jiang Siyi immediately understood and, when Xu Yuan reached “one,” she quickly paid the driver and ran off.
“Quite cozy,” Jiang Siyi said, changing into slippers and looking around Xu Yuan’s apartment.
“Of course, living alone, you have to make your place comfortable, otherwise you’ll want to die every morning when you wake up.”
Jiang Siyi chuckled. Although her mood hadn’t improved, she at least managed a smile.
“You haven’t eaten yet, have you?” Xu Yuan rummaged through her fridge and took out a plate of leftover rice. She scratched her head. “Is egg fried rice okay? No scallions.”
Jiang Siyi’s stomach rumbled loudly.
She nodded. “Anything is fine, I’m not picky.”
Caught off guard, Xu Yuan hadn’t had time to prepare anything. She watched as Jiang Siyi devoured the fried rice in minutes, finishing the entire plate. “Your ex-wife’s older sister doesn’t feed you?”
Jiang Siyi swallowed the last mouthful, then looked up at the ceiling, as if trying to find the right words. After a long while, just as Xu Yuan was about to fall asleep, she finally spoke. “Do you remember Yang Yi?”
“Of course I remember, how could I forget?” Xu Yuan stretched, then rested her head on her hand. “What, are you thinking of dating her?”
Seeing Jiang Siyi’s expression, she chuckled, satisfied with her teasing, and waved her hand dismissively. “Just kidding. What about her?”
“Her older sister likes Shen Shiwu.”
“And…” Jiang Siyi cracked her knuckles, her voice slightly muffled. “They’re always together.”
Despite the vague and disjointed sentences, Xu Yuan understood.
She processed the information. “They were together again today?”
“Mm-hmm.”
There was nothing a good meal couldn’t fix.
Xu Yuan immediately ordered dozens of barbecue skewers to comfort her friend.
“Hey, there are plenty of fish in the sea, let’s move on to the next one.” Xu Yuan poured her a glass of sparkling water, but Jiang Siyi shook her head.
“I want alcohol.”
Xu Yuan couldn’t refuse her and took two cans of low-alcohol beer from the fridge, popping them open. “Okay, let’s drink our sorrows away.”
“It’s been a while, let’s catch up.”
Neither of them had a high tolerance for alcohol, and they both ended up sprawled on the floor, drunk.
Jiang Siyi mumbled incoherently, as if talking to someone, then spat at the air.
Frustrated, she grabbed her phone and opened Shen Shiwu’s chat.
After sending several silent voice messages, she finally spoke.
“Shen Shiwu, I really hate you.” Her head heavy, her voice slurred, she continued, “If I could, I would never see you again…”
“Never.”
The voice message was sent.
Jiang Siyi couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer and drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile, on the elevated highway, Shen Shiwu gripped the steering wheel, driving through the rain.
Seeing that Jiang Siyi had finally replied, her eyes flickered, but her expression darkened after listening to the message.
Never see her again?
She sneered, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her face.
Don’t be naive.
Shen Shiwu looked at the location her assistant had sent her and stepped on the gas pedal.
She thought calmly amidst the falling rain,
I let you go once.
So this time, no matter what, I won’t let you escape again.
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