Chapter 1

On the desolate road, two people walked one after the other. Han Sheng lowered her head, walking slowly, her eyes fixed on the small patch of ground beneath her feet, as if all her attention was devoted to the act of walking, her expression particularly focused. The blood on her forehead had not stopped flowing quickly; the wound was oozing blood little by little. Perhaps because she was holding her breath, she did not feel dizzy, only experiencing a sharp pain in her wound from time to time. In fact, her body had deteriorated significantly over the years, yet being able to walk her own path with a semblance of dignity made her feel quite accomplished.

Tong Yehui was initially worried that Han Sheng would shut him out, but when he saw her open the door, he hurried up a couple of steps. To his surprise, after Han Sheng entered, the door remained wide open with no intention of closing. He paused at the entrance for a moment before stepping inside.

Tong Yehui knew what the people behind her were saying, that Han Sheng had grown up here but had a bad reputation. As a child, she was a foolish girl who was not particularly likable. As she grew older, she stole her mother's pension to support a man, and after many years away from home, she ultimately ended up in prison. This is what they knew, but it was not the whole story. Han Sheng had always been foolish, and all the infamy eventually fell upon her.

Walking along a straight path into the community, Han Sheng stopped in front of a grocery store located in front of a building. There was a simple stall set up at the entrance of the store, displaying some fruits and vegetables. She raised her not very loud voice and said inside: "Give me one pound of eggs and two bundles of noodles"

The woman wore a sullen expression, holding a persimmon, collecting money and handing over items. Han Sheng lowered his head to receive them, silently turning to leave. Tong Yehui stood behind, like a bystander, watching quietly, suppressing his feelings yet unable to reach out.

A puddle of water remained on the ground, along with several crumpled pieces of paper stained with blood. Perhaps they had never been given much attention, but they had once been clean, their snow-white color now tainted by striking red. They lay there, limp, having become trash. For some reason, Tong Yehui was reminded of Han Sheng, the entirety of his youth that he had personally squandered. He raised his eyes and could only see a silhouette of Han Sheng, a frail figure, hunched over, wearing oversized clothes, with a plastic bag awkwardly tied around his waist. He was filled with a sense of desolation, to the point where it was hard to define beauty or ugliness. He was a person whose life had derailed, someone who had reached the edge. Tong Yehui suddenly felt suffocated; he opened his mouth but found it difficult to breathe. He raised his eyes again, only to see the silhouette of Han Sheng, a frail figure, hunched over, wearing oversized clothes, with a plastic bag awkwardly tied around his waist. He was filled with a sense of desolation, to the point where it was hard to define beauty or ugliness. He was a person whose life had derailed, someone who had reached the edge. Tong Yehui suddenly felt suffocated; he opened his mouth but found it difficult to breathe.

As Han Sheng was seriously looking at the person in front of him, Tong Yehui took a step forward, a relaxed smile on his face, and said: "Han Sheng, I am here to pick you up, let's get in the car first"

Tong Yehui experienced a moment of daze, and his body's reactions were somewhat sluggish. When Han Sheng cleaned the wound and stood up, passing by him, he continued to stare at the spot where she had crouched, gazing blankly at that place.

A man and a woman stood almost shoulder to shoulder, as if time and space had solidified around them. Tong Yehui, overwhelmed by shock, showed little expression on his face. Han Sheng had few tears; after two streams flowed out, her eyes became dry. She noticed that the man still would not let go, and she looked down at the brick in her left hand. Before she could make another move, the grip on her right arm loosened. Without hesitation, she raised her hand to throw away the brick and turned to leave.

Tong Yehui did not dare to get too close, following Han Sheng at a distance of about two meters. The current situation had already exceeded the scope of his control; he could neither leave nor approach. He felt that this was exactly what Han Sheng wanted, so he had to cooperate with her. He owed her that much, and no matter how she chose to torment him, he could only comply with her wishes

Han Sheng is a rather tall woman. Before her imprisonment, she was somewhat overweight. On the day she was taken away by the police five years ago, she was wearing a short-sleeved white shirt and a pencil skirt, which was the most fashionable attire for white-collar women at the time. During her five years in prison, no one came to visit her. Now that she has been released, she can only wear the clothes from five years ago, but they are noticeably several sizes too big for her now. The shirt is acceptable, but the skirt keeps slipping down. After taking a few steps, she initially tried to pull it up, but then she noticed that the waist was stuck at her hips and couldn't go down any further, so she just let it be. During her five years in prison, no one came to visit her. Now that she has been released, she can only wear the clothes from five years ago, but they are noticeably several sizes too big for her now. The shirt is acceptable, but the skirt keeps slipping down. After taking a few steps, she initially tried to pull it up, but then she noticed that the waist was stuck at her hips and couldn't go down any further, so she just let it be.

Compared to Han Sheng, this journey is much more composed. Getting on and off the vehicle, although it is crowded and hot, her face does not show any signs of discomfort. Covered in blood and dirt, she attracts quite a few glances, yet she maintains a bland expression, showing no signs of embarrassment. Tong Yehui protects her throughout the journey; although their bodies occasionally come into contact, Han Sheng does not require his care. When their bodies happen to be close, she neither flinches nor shows any impatience, remaining expressionless like a stranger.

Han Sheng actually just wanted to take a good look at this person, whom she had not seen for five years. The difference between her memories and the present was significant. Comparing the appearance before her with her past recollections, many scenes surged forth from her memory like a tidal wave. She was immersed in a certain dazed emotion, but the man's sudden step forward shattered her fantasy. The face that suddenly enlarged before her brought her back to reality in an instant. In a moment of slight daze, she slowly turned to the side and walked past Tong Yehui.

Tong Yehui did not stop Han Sheng from bending down to pick up the brick, as he thought Han Sheng was going to use it on himself. He stood there resolutely, not intending to let go and calmly prepare to endure a blow from the brick. However, as Han Sheng turned his head, the tears in his eyes made his heart tremble. Before he could react, the brick in Han Sheng's hand came down with a loud "bang" on his own head.

Since entering the community, Han Sheng has not lifted her head. From behind, Tong Yehui noticed that her back seemed to have hunched over a little more.

The car is an excellent one, a Porsche Cayenne, and the person is as dazzling and luxurious as the car

Tears mixed with blood streamed from the corners of her eyes down to her chin, eventually凝成滴滴滚落到干净的路面上. In her left field of vision, everything was blood red, and her eyes were filled with hatred. She hated herself. When she first grasped the brick, her intention was to smash it onto Tong Yehui's head, but at the last moment, she could not bring herself to do it. Unable to strike him, she turned the brick on herself instead. She felt utterly pathetic and despised herself. When she first grasped the brick, her intention was to smash it onto Tong Yehui's head, but at the last moment, she could not bring herself to do it. Unable to strike him, she turned the brick on herself instead. She felt utterly pathetic and despised herself.

When she reached the main road, the front of her shirt was stained with a patch of blood, her forehead was smeared with blood, and the blood on her face had already been wiped clean with the sleeve of her shirt, yet it still looked frightening

As the brick was picked up, Han Sheng turned to look at Tong Yehui. In the moment of bending down and turning, the previously expressionless face transformed completely, with tears welling up in the eyes, features contorted together, and an expression of deep pain.

The corridor was dirty, chaotic, and dimly lit, with various small advertisements and large footprints covering the walls. There was hardly a place to grip on the handrail, which was coated in a layer of dust. Upon reaching the fourth floor, Huan Sheng stopped in front of the door on the left. She still moved slowly as she took down the plastic bag from her waist and retrieved two keys from inside to unlock the door and enter the room

A loud voice from inside responded: "Just wait, I will support you out."

Their appearance caused the elderly people who were leisurely chatting while fanning themselves to stop their actions, with expressions of surprise evident on their faces as they stood there in a daze. As they walked past, a wave of whispers followed in their wake

At this moment, Han Sheng was thinking: If she were a man, she and the person before her would surely have a deep-seated grudge. But she is a woman, and in the entanglement between a woman and a man, love is intertwined with hatred, blurring the lines of enmity. Yet love can be a sharp knife, leaving her in a state of bloody confusion, unable to express her suffering

Han Sheng walked up to the front, looking up at the person standing in front of the car. Tong Yehui, during his teenage years, had a tall and slender figure, as if he had barely any flesh on his bones. He had a handsome face, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, a prominent nose, and fair skin. The only downside was his naturally thin lips, giving him a somewhat indifferent appearance. Compared to five years ago, he had bulked up significantly; his facial features seemed to have matured a bit more. With broad shoulders, a slim waist, and narrow hips, the muscles beneath his crisp white shirt were subtly defined. This person had truly grown into a man, Han Sheng thought.

On the horizon within sight, two small black dots appeared hazily, looking somewhat unreal through the diverging and distorted light. As they slowly approached, it became clear that there was a person and a vehicle parked by the roadside

Regrettably, she wondered how this person could smile so calmly, a thick, viscous wave of blood surged from the depths of her heart, and she pressed her lips tightly together, watching the man in silence.

From the moment they met, Tong Yehui carefully observed Hansheng, prepared to settle the debt. The moment he decided to repay the debt, he began to envision their meeting. Over a considerable period, he repeatedly thought and imagined, rehearsing every possible scenario. Now, the situation had not deviated from his expectations. He reached out and grasped the arm of the person passing by him, wearing the most natural smile on his face, his tone warm yet neither servile nor arrogant: "Hansheng, let me escort you back along the long road to the library." He repeatedly thought and imagined, rehearsing every possible scenario. Now, the situation had not deviated from his expectations. He reached out and grasped the arm of the person passing by him, wearing the most natural smile on his face, his tone warm yet neither servile nor arrogant: "Hansheng, let me escort you back along the long road to the library."

This day is the 8th day of the 6th month in the lunar calendar, corresponding to July 28 in the solar calendar. It marks the beginning of the hot season, characterized by sweltering weather. When Mo Hansheng stepped out of the prison gates, she felt a momentary dizziness. Instinctively, she closed her eyes for a brief moment, and when she opened them again, the scene before her still appeared somewhat hazy. She suffers from mild hypoglycemia, and in the high temperatures, she often experiences feelings of dizziness.

As evening approached, they returned to an old residential community in the city. The buildings in the community were aged, all four to five stories tall, resembling gray matchboxes. Tong Yehui was very familiar with this place, as they had grown up here.

After a moment, a plump woman emerged carrying a bag of egg noodles. Upon seeing the two people at the door, she clearly froze for a moment. It was evident that she recognized them, and in an instant, the smile on her face faded. With her head lowered, she almost mumbled, "I still need a few tomatoes"

Han Sheng is a woman, and this year she is 27 years old. She has served 5 years in a prison located in a certain county of Hebei Province, and today is the day of her release.

Two people walked into the community, one in front and the other behind. Many elderly people were resting in the shade in front of the houses and behind the buildings, while children were running and screaming among the buildings. It was indeed a lively time in the community

Han Sheng took the water and tissue, turned around to walk a short distance away, squatted down with her back to the road, and began to clean her wound by opening the water bottle. Tong Yehui followed closely behind her, his view only able to see her hunched back and a thin, swaying arm. This sight of Han Sheng appeared quite frail and pitiful, causing a slight discomfort in his heart.

A small road leads to the national highway three kilometers away, devoid of any vehicles or people. The weather is excessively hot, and Huan Sheng trudges under the scorching sun, keeping her head down as she walks forward. This road connects to the national highway at its end, where she can catch a minibus that will take her back to the suburbs of City B. After that, she can transfer for just two yuan to get home. Huan Sheng's thoughts are simple; as she walks with her head down, her mind is solely focused on this matter.

Han Sheng stiffly struggled forward, but Tong Yehui tightened his grip and did not let go. Han Sheng had not spoken much for many years; she could not bring herself to engage in the melodramatic struggles and outcries. Glancing at a brick by the roadside, she instinctively pulled her arm and bent down to pick it up.

Before me lies a straight asphalt road. Last night, there was a rain, and the road surface is very clean. In this desolate wilderness, half-human-high mugwort grows wildly around the road. Water vapor rises from the surface, and to the naked eye, the light appears somewhat distorted and diffused. This day is not a visiting day; the surroundings are vast and silent. As the iron gate behind me closes with a "clack," I reluctantly take a step forward.

It is likely because this road leads to the prison that the woman selling goods appears to be well-informed and experienced, displaying an unflappable indifference when receiving money in exchange for her items

At the intersection, there was a small stall set up by a villager with a sunshade. Underneath the faded umbrella, there was a freezer selling drinks, mineral water, and snacks. Han Sheng walked over, took out a small black plastic bag from his waist, opened it, and handed ten yuan to the middle-aged woman selling the items to buy two bottles of mineral water and two packs of napkins

After returning from the suburbs to the city, Tong Yehui took a minibus for two hours and then transferred to two buses. The heat was unbearable during this time. It had been several years since Tong Yehui last used the common public transportation. After all this hassle, his tie was askew, his hair was damp, and the high temperature had left his face shiny with sweat, significantly tarnishing his image

When Han Sheng was nine years old, he met Tong Yehui. They spent their entire adolescence and youth together. Over the past ten to twenty years, all of Han Sheng's thoughts have been devoted to this person, truly all of them. The best parts of her life, everything she could give and everything she could not give, she has given entirely to this man

As Han Sheng approached, the two locked eyes for a few seconds, and the man, with his handsome and deep features, revealed a smile: "Han Sheng"

Han Sheng felt quite cheap, as if encountering her current situation, even if she could not bring herself to speak harshly, at the very least, someone with a bit of dignity would have chosen to walk away. However, she had spent five years in prison contemplating this man, and she was reluctant to just walk away. Yet when it came to speaking to him, her throat felt choked and silent.

The man in front of the car stood by the roadside, his hands on his hips, gazing intently as Huan Sheng approached. He was very tall, and his presence there was quite imposing