Chapter 3, The Misty Shadows
Ye Youli received a call from her subordinate, learning that someone had seen the fugitive passing through the Xiaoba toll station in a silver Bentley two minutes ago. She was calculating how many minutes it would take for Luo Yiheng's driving skills to catch up, and then urged, "Hurry up."
The cold and沉 voice brought back the drifting thoughts of Jian Nuo. She raised her eyes to look at him, her gaze凝结成 a line in the air. To her surprise, she curved her lips into a smile, but that smile was clearly devoid of joy, filled only with bitterness and fatigue. He heard her softly say: "What I want is an answer, not a self-justification"
Two cars drew a perfect arc in front of the Bentley, coming to a halt directly ahead. The driver cursed under his breath, startled and drenched in cold sweat, completely unprepared for someone to dare cut him off like that. In a panic, he slammed on the brakes, screeching to a stop less than half a meter away from the two cars.
Jin Nuo's expression instantly froze on her face, her lips slightly parted, and her eyes wide open, clearly captivated by the scene that had just unfolded.
She spoke so bluntly, leaving no room for any turn of phrase. That kind of stubborn strength is utterly disempowering
The people in the car fixed their gaze on the figure ahead, their eyes dark and deep like a whirlpool in the deep sea, their penetrating gaze, as profound as a cold pond, locked onto that familiar small face, as the stern features were suddenly veiled with an indescribable sorrow and helplessness
Luo Yiheng saw two people quarreling in the cramped space, and the tense lines of his face softened as he smiled slightly
Seeing that she had regained some spirit, Ye Youli raised an eyebrow and provocatively said with a grin: "Whoever doesn't speak is a fool"
"Go to the Xiaoba toll station." Ye Youli retracted her nonchalant demeanor, her expression suddenly darkening, "I have been stationed at the West Bridge for most of the day, and they actually ran away from the Xiaoba side."
A muffled thunder rumbled through the chaotic sky, and the rain intensified, quickly submerging him in coldness and dampness
After passing the Xiaoba toll station, the car sped along the highway. Jian Nuo held onto the backrest of the front seat with both hands, her dark eyes flickering towards the road outside the car window. When a white Bentley sports car faintly entered her line of sight, she exclaimed: "In front."
How long has he been gone? Her low, slightly hoarse voice asked the question, and a delicate thread of memory was gently stirred within her heart. She suddenly felt utterly exhausted, accompanied by an endless pang of bitterness, as the sealed thoughts of longing and reluctance surged forth in an instant
The man in the business vehicle trailing behind Luo Yiheng observed the earlier scene of overtaking and being overtaken, his previously frozen expression softened. A peculiar light ignited in his indifferent, cold star-like eyes. His long fingers swiftly turned the steering wheel, guiding the car steadily into the left lane next to the Bentley. After pressing the horn three times, he suddenly accelerated
My car broke down. " Ye Youli's voice involuntarily rose a bit as she cursed, " I can't get a taxi in this godforsaken place, come pick me up.
Upon arriving at the parking lot, Luo Yiheng used the remote control to unlock the car. Jian Nuo quietly bypassed him and slipped into the back seat. The hand resting on the car door stiffened for a moment, then gently pulled it open. He said to Lin Shan, who had paused in her tracks: "You sit in the front."
What?" Luo Yiheng was taken aback
Lin Shan was already tormented by the eerie atmosphere inside the car, and she vaguely understood that Luo Yiheng intended to take a detour to pick someone up. She thoughtfully spoke up, saying: "Lawyer Luo, you can just drop me off by the roadside, and I can take a taxi back myself"
Jian Nuo swiftly grabbed his hand and opened her mouth as if to bite, provoking Ye Youli to exclaim, "Did you see that, Yi Heng? She is simply like a dog."
This approach is unlikely to succeed, when will your people arrive? It would be more advantageous to have two vehicles sandwich him from both sides. This is quite risky, but for Luo Yiheng, who is passionate about racing, it is almost certain to succeed, provided that the other vehicle possesses the same skills and speed; otherwise, it could easily lead to danger
At last, she found her voice, brokenly calling his name: "Gao Chi!"
Ye Youli and Luo Yiheng were high school classmates, the kind of good brothers who share both hardships and joys. After graduation, Luo Yiheng was admitted to the International Law Department of Yicheng University C, while Ye Youli chose to attend the police academy in the same city. As for Jian Nuo, he was naturally introduced through Luo Yiheng. The cheerful and simple-minded Jian Nuo matched well with Ye Youli's temperament, and after getting acquainted, he even pursued Ye Youli for a time, during which they had quite a few amusing incidents. Eventually, the two became good friends and began to engage in verbal sparring, which has continued for several years.
In an instant, the fronts of the two vehicles seemed poised to collide with each other. However, just as they were about to crash, they suddenly came to a screeching halt.
Once again, there was a moment of silence
"Can a business vehicle really reach this speed? Unbelievable." Ye Youli was the first to react, not bothering to ascertain who the person assisting was, she quickly opened the car door, disregarding the torrential rain outside, and rushed with her gun to the front of the Bentley.
The ensuing silence was prolonged, and neither of the two spoke again
Luo Yiheng slightly furrowed his brows, attentively observing the road conditions without looking away, as he pressed down firmly on the accelerator.
Jin Nuo's complexion suddenly turned pale, unable to suppress the agitation and chaos within her heart any longer. Her eyes were quickly filled with deep sorrow as she said softly: "It has been one thousand five hundred twenty-six days"
Beneath the sky engulfed by a sudden storm, Jian Nuo stood in a daze. She gazed at him, whose expression was stern, as he retreated backward, his gaze both cold and profound.
The hazy mist rising within the clear pupils has not yet completely dissipated, and it feels as though one is stepping on clouds and fog, creating a sense of unreality. Jian Nuo seemed to be speaking to herself as she softly asked: "How long has it been?"
The rain intensified, recklessly washing away everything. The visibility was not good, yet the speed of the car only increased. If it were someone else, they would have been terrified, but Jian Nuo remained calm, not even lifting her eyelids. She enjoyed the feeling of the street scenery rapidly retreating before her eyes; she preferred the speed of the car, as if it could cast away all her worries, throwing them further and further away.
With her lips lightly pursed, Luo Yiheng gazed at the fleeting pain that surfaced in her eyes, feeling a suffocating discomfort in his left chest. The girl before him looked at him in confusion, her delicate appearance particularly heart-wrenching. Restraining the impulse to embrace her by putting his hands in his pockets, he chose silence, as that painfully obvious number was perhaps a form of harm to both her and himself
When he received a call from Ye Youli, Luo Yiheng inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief and almost without hesitation decided to bring her along. He knew that when Jian Nuo was in a bad mood, only he could quietly dispel the sadness surrounding her. Sometimes he couldn't help but think that if he could have brought them together at that time, perhaps everything that followed would not have happened
Jian Nuo watched him stand in front of the car, his face bearing an icy indifference. Suddenly, she understood something, her heart racing violently. Trembling, she reached out her hand to grasp the car door handle, and in the next moment, her slender figure merged into the misty rain
She fell into memories, recalling the day that person left when it was pouring rain. She stood in the mist of the rain, allowing the cold liquid to drip down her cheeks, feeling her mind go blank, her heart sinking deeper and deeper until it plunged into an abyss with no bottom, powerless to redeem herself
Upon receiving such an accurate answer, the gentle expression that usually adorned Luo Yiheng's face had completely faded, replaced by desolation and loneliness. He had always known her intentions. However, what he did not expect was that she could persist until today. He had thought that after so many years, she might change, that one day she would no longer be attached to her initial choice, but today he finally understood that neither of them had changed. Despite their exhaustion, they had never given up. For as long as that person had been gone, he and she had waited just as long. He had thought that after so many years, she might change, that one day she would no longer be attached to her initial choice, but today he finally understood that neither of them had changed. Despite their exhaustion, they had never given up. For as long as that person had been gone, he and she had waited just as long
In fact, since that person left four years ago, she has begun to spend a considerable amount of time in silence. However, in front of others, she remains the cheerful and lively Jian Nuo. She has stated that one should not impose their own suffering onto others, as no one should bear her pain, just as no one should be responsible for her happiness, including the person before her.
Hearing the sound of a horn coming from behind, a swift shadow of a car rushed past in front of him. Luo Yiheng's expression changed instantly, his grip on the steering wheel tightening silently, his thoughts swirling in an instant, and finally he coldly reminded, "Hold on tight." He then steered the car into the overtaking lane on the right side of the Bentley.
Upon hearing this, Ye Youli's brows immediately knitted together. Seeing Luo Yiheng also looking at him with a puzzled expression, he shot a glance at the two of them and said, "Your perspective as a little girl is indeed problematic." He had merely worn a uniform too often; was it really that exaggerated to change into casual clothes?
In the hazy rain and mist, the people in the two cars, whose fronts are touching, cannot see each other's expressions clearly. They maintain the posture of holding the steering wheel with both hands, gazing at each other through the glass.
There was no deliberate calculation; it was simply a natural habit to mark a line on the calendar every night before sleep, counting the days since his departure. Until last night, it had been exactly 1,526 days, four years and two months
In the pouring rain, the girl's slender figure stood there like a rock, completely motionless
What?" Luo Yiheng was taken aback
The sky, which had been overcast for a long time, grew even darker, and in an instant, the rain poured down like a sea. Jian Nuo sat up straight, leaned towards the car window, and extended her slender fingers to touch the cold glass, as if caressing the silent tears of rain sliding down the window.
Seemingly accustomed to his loud voice, Luo Yiheng's expression showed no change. After inquiring about his location, he hung up the phone without waiting for a response from the other end
The man withdrew from her sight, retreating into the desolate mist of rain
As he sat in the car, Luo Yiheng glanced at her through the rearview mirror. Jian Nuo's eyes gently lowered, her expression unusually cold and indifferent. She leaned against the seat, remaining motionless, exuding an air of unapproachability.
Time has frozen all things. Everything is at a standstill here
Luo Yiheng followed her gaze and saw that the closed door was tightly shut without a single gap. He turned his head to look at her, his heart fluttering slightly, and couldn't help but softly call out to her: "Junior Sister?"
Four years. A full four years. They have all been waiting for the obsessions in their hearts, waiting for hetushu .com .com.
Luo Yiheng nodded and said, "Then I won't see you off. I will organize the materials for the divorce case this afternoon, and I have scheduled to meet with the parties involved tomorrow." Lin Shan nodded in agreement and then heard him say, "Lawyer Jian and I won't be going back this afternoon." He then stopped by the roadside, and after she got out, the car sped away.
The car sped through the rain and mist like an arrow, stirring up layers of water waves wherever it passed
Indeed, what is there to say? The answer she seeks has never been something he can provide, and he knows it, they all know it. Yet the more they know, the harder it is to let go. Luo Yiheng shifted his gaze, directing it towards the window.
Many times when I think about it, I find it quite incredible. Once a person becomes stubborn, there is truly no remedy!
Jian Nuo calmed down and looked up in confusion. Large raindrops pelted against the car window, obstructing her view. Just as she was about to call out to Luo Yiheng, she saw him unbuckle his seatbelt and raise his hand to push open the car door
"If you call that little girl again, I won't hesitate to use the Wingless Kick from Foshan on you." Jian Nuo glared at him
She knew he would not easily let her off the hook, so Jian Nuo had to gather her emotions and replied with a matching expression: "Who are you calling a fool? Do you want to die?"
Ye Youli stared intently at the Bentley car in front of her, quickly making a phone call to confirm the exact location of her subordinates and instructing them on how to intercept the target
A coarse male voice came through the phone, loud enough for Jian Nuo to faintly hear: "Yiheng, where are you? Do you have time right now?"
As my thoughts drifted aimlessly, I suddenly heard Ye Youli, after finishing the call, say in a deep voice: "Turn around, Yi Heng"
Ye Youli's Adam's apple moved slightly, and he couldn't help but curse: "Damn it, are you looking for death?" As he spoke, he had already drawn his service pistol and held it in his hand
"Still practicing the Foshan Shadowless Kick, I see. Look at how thin you are. Can you even lift your legs? Huh?" Leaning over, Ye Youli poked her head with her hand, displaying a face full of sorrow as if she were a piece of wood that could not be carved.
Jin Nuo shot him a glance, noticing his attire, and her mood suddenly improved significantly. She chuckled lightly and said, "Why do you look so strange in a suit, like someone selling tea eggs at the school gate"
Thus, a situation was formed where the business vehicle was on the left, the Lexus on the right, and the Bentley in the center. As the three cars nearly reached a parallel position, Luo Yiheng responded by honking the horn, and then the two drivers tacitly pressed the accelerator, their vehicles speeding down the highway. Once the distance was deemed appropriate, the two business Lexus cars suddenly turned their heads at the same time.
However, that "if" can only be contemplated in one's mind. After all, nothing can be restarted.
The misty and elusive gaze lingered on the man left in the business car, and her heart was pierced heavily by a sharp object; that kind of pain was a long-lasting sorrow that could not dissipate. Tears streamed uncontrollably down Jian Nuo's face, drop by drop, merging with the rainwater, flowing through her heart, and ultimately shattering beneath her feet, just like her fragile heart, suddenly cracking into pieces.
"Why not say it out loud?" Luo Yiheng finally spoke, his deep eyes seemingly devoid of any emotion, yet also appearing to be filled with an overwhelming complexity of feelings, making it difficult for one to discern whether it was joy or sorrow.
Luo Yiheng was fully aware that he was on a mission. He raised his eyes to the rearview mirror and abruptly turned the steering wheel. The car traced a long horizontal line on the road and made a sharp turn
Luo Yiheng took a deep breath, maintaining silence as he drove out. It was not until his phone rang that the suffocating silence was finally broken. He picked it up to check the caller ID and answered: "Yuri?"
After a long while, the man slowly started the car, retreating at a speed that seemed slow yet was actually fast, under Jian Nuo's gaze
Gazing blankly at that fading silhouette, memories drift back in an instant, and the blurred images begin to gradually clarify, silently surging to the depths of her heart. Jian Nuo's sorrowful realization is that what she once thought was a starting point may perhaps become an endpoint, and the stubborn waiting ultimately results in nothing but a separation across the horizon. Retrieving her bewildered gaze, she strives to push back the tears in her eyes. She tells herself that she must not cry, that she must be strong, strong.
The little girl has quite a good eye. Ye Youli said with her eyes half-squinted: This is it, go over and block it.
The Bentley exhibited a sense of awareness, attempting to block the car's path with its body after Luo Yiheng overtook it, speeding past like a runaway stallion. Despite the windows being tightly closed, the sound of the wind howling, sharp enough to tear through eardrums, could still be faintly heard.
Perhaps due to the heavy rain, there were very few vehicles on the road. However, in order to ensure safety and avoid unnecessary collisions or scrapes, Luo Yiheng still activated his turn signal to alert the vehicles in front and behind that he was about to overtake. He then pressed the accelerator to the floor and decisively overtook at full speed
Luo Yiheng said calmly: "On the way back to the office. Is there something?"
When the car came to a stop, the tall Ye Youli rushed out from the gas station by the roadside. After settling in, he shouted at Luo Yiheng with a loud voice, "As expected of a race car driver, this kind of road condition actually allows for a speed of over 120." Completely ignoring the gloomy atmosphere inside the car, seemingly oblivious to the two people's sullen expressions, he turned to look at Jian Nuo, who was dressed in professional attire, and irritably asked, "Fool, what is your name? What is your background? How did you end up in my friend's car?"