Chapter 6, Fear

After entering the room, Ye Zhong'e's eyes never left Zhi Lu. After listening to the account of the incident, he said in a deep voice: "So you called just to ask me this? Someone actually broke into the house. You really— you really are reckless! What can I say to you!"

It simply cannot be. She is alive. Zhi Lu opened her mouth and said: "Who is there? Who is there! What are you looking for?"

He felt a wrenching pain in his heart, a pain that quickly spread throughout his entire body. Yet, the questions that needed to be asked and the words that needed to be spoken could not be overlooked: "Zhong Zhilü, what have you been doing lately? Have you looked at yourself in the mirror and seen what you look like now?"

Zhi Lu said: "Indeed. I think there is no need for another meal next time. One should not receive rewards without merit; even if there is merit, one should not casually accept rewards. This meal has already made me feel quite embarrassed, thank you."

Ye Zhong'e paused and said, "It should be here."

I am too, " Yang Li's voice was very soft, " I was so scared that I completely forgot.

Ye Zhong'e let out a brief laugh, very plain, so that no one could discern anything unusual from it. "Do you think I would throw things around at home?"

The other person, whether in stature or appearance, was someone she was all too familiar with. The beam of the flashlight was limited, and she could only see his ashen face, his gaze sharp as a knife, with rainwater dripping down from his hair, and that expensive casual outfit was nearly soaked through

That day, after returning from the police station, she cooked and ate, waiting for Yang Li to come back from evening study. As spring chill returned, when Yang Li arrived home, she was shivering from the cold and took a while to warm up after sitting down. Zhi Lu sat beside her, helping her smooth her hair, and then took out a nearly new mobile phone to give to her, saying: "Xiao Li, carry this phone with you from now on. It contains my and Officer Lu's phone numbers. If anything happens, just call me."

Lu Jianzhong's expression turned serious as he picked up the telephone line, glanced at it a few times, and then asked: "When and where did you see that person?"

Zhi Lu fell silent for a moment, patted her palm, "Don't think too much about it"

Zhi Lu finally reacted, breaking into a smile, "Is the self-study session over? Let's head back."

Lu Jianzhong glanced at Zhi Lu, and the two walked to the end of the corridor. He spoke: "It seems that the murderer will not rest until that document is found. You and Yang Li should be extra cautious in the coming days. The murderer threatened you the first time, and there is no guarantee there won't be a second. I will apply to my superiors to mobilize more personnel to follow you."

Yang Li said: "I woke up during the thunderstorm and got out of bed to go to the bathroom. At that time, the power had just gone out. When I came out of the bathroom, I saw a shadow at the kitchen door; as soon as the lightning flashed, that person disappeared again. I was so scared that I went to the bedroom to look for Sister Zhi Lu."

However, on the surface, apart from appearing somewhat dispirited, others can hardly notice anything amiss. She continues to commute to and from work as usual, only returning home earlier and rarely lingering outside, whether on the bus or elsewhere, her mind solely focused on this case

She rarely engages in conversation with others, simply waiting quietly. If she were to have a child, she would probably wait here as well. The reason for the divorce is also closely related to the child. Ye Zhongke desperately wanted a child and tried every means to encourage her, but she remained unmoved. At that time, they had agreed to discuss it again after she had worked for three years, but unfortunately, they divorced before reaching that three-year mark, and the matter of having a child ultimately became a mere illusion.

Zhi Lu could only hold her tightly and said, "We will not be in danger." Suppressing extreme anxiety, he groped his way to the kitchen, took a knife, and placed it on the coffee table. The two of them curled up on the sofa, waiting for an unknown fate

The trivial details made Zhi Lu feel dizzy, and the sensation of being drunk surfaced in her heart. She set the manuscript aside and rummaged through the drawer of her desk to find a few pills, swallowing them down with water. Just then, Deng Muhua walked over, took a look at the medicine bottle, frowned, and since there were many people in the office, she pulled Zhi Lu into the conference room, adopting a serious expression as she asked her: "Aspirin? Why are you taking medicine when everything seems fine? Zhi Lu, you really worry me; you seem distracted all the time now."

During her first year of university, Zhi Lu spent a considerable amount of time on the book "Calling in the Drizzle" and wrote several reviews about it. At that time, she believed she had thoroughly understood this profound work, yet here and now, she once again felt her ignorance. She was astonished by her own dullness, realizing that it was only on this stormy night that she first thought that what permeated the air was never about the night itself, nor about the unknown, but rather—about the suffering of life, about the act of living.

Several criminal police officers, including Lu Jianzhong, are present at the scene conducting evidence collection. Once the case of Sister Xu's murder emerged, the landlord locked the house. Given such an incident, it is nearly impossible to rent it out again. The room has been turned upside down, with even the pillows and quilts punctured by sharp knives, and cotton filling scattered all over the bed

The sound of knocking echoed. Zhi Lu rushed to open the door; if someone had come, they would be saved. As soon as the door opened, she was immediately stunned. The wind from the corridor swept in with the rain, and she couldn't help but shiver.

On this stormy night, she inexplicably recalled this conversation. Yes, he was right; he had always been right. She then remembered the first time she returned home, when Zhong Zaiguo spoke to her about his prospective son-in-law, commenting: "Ye Zhong'e is a person with strong internal business capabilities, and externally, he is as discreet as a diplomat. What is particularly rare is his keen insight into people, and he has a remarkable ability to assess others accurately." After saying this, he suggested that they should listen to him after they got married.

Ex-husband? So we meet again. A sense of unease rose within Lu Jian, and he struggled to suppress that feeling, forcing himself to temporarily set aside the chaotic and disorganized thoughts in order to think as a police officer. He carefully observed Zhi Lu and the silent Yang Li on the sofa in the dim light. The anxious heart that had been restless along the way finally relaxed, and he took a deep breath, saying: "It is good that you are both safe. Is there any possibility that that person is still in the house?"

Zhi Lu opened the wardrobe door, half-squatted down, pulled out the bottom drawer, and found a white casual jacket to hand to him, explaining: "It's new, tailored for you before you left."

"Do you still have a set of the house keys? Is it still with you?" said Zhi Lu. Although they are divorced, he took one set of the keys to this house with him.

Thus, this case is inextricably linked to Li Fan and Wanbo Company, and Lu Jianzhong's investigation is nearly at a standstill. This case is indeed as complex as everyone initially anticipated.

"Yes, when I opened the door, I also saw a dark shadow standing by the wine cabinet, and in the blink of an eye, it disappeared."

He immediately took leave in a hurry and rushed to the Third Middle School where Yang Li was located

Zhi Lu opened her mouth to speak, but that delicate voice said again, "So it is her." A bucket of cold water was poured down, leaving her heart in despair. Why did she ask him for help? What right did she have to ask him for help? Ultimately, these matters were her own problems. He always had countless issues, and more importantly, there were other women lying beside him. Having already fallen to a disadvantage, what significance did it have to say anything further? It seemed utterly meaningless. He always had countless issues, and more importantly, there were other women lying beside him. Having already fallen to a disadvantage, what significance did it have to say anything further? It seemed utterly meaningless.

After hanging up the phone, Zhi Lu glanced around the room, and no one emerged from the darkness, as if that person had never appeared. The shadow she had seen was merely the silhouette of some object.

Lu Jianzhong also extended his hand and said, "Hello, Mr. Ye"

Two gentlemen walked into the living room, one after the other, ascended a step, and took a seat on the sofa. A flashlight was placed on the coffee table, casting an orange light outward; however, the living room was too large and the darkness too profound, resembling a black hole that deeply absorbed the light, leaving no echo. Zhi Lu thought that there was an advantage to the power outage: she did not have to see the expressions on the faces of the others. She introduced, "This is Criminal Police Officer Lu Jianzhong from the Public Security Bureau, and this young lady is Yang Li, the daughter of Sister Xu Huishu," pausing for a moment, she looked in another direction and said, "This is my ex-husband, Ye Zhongke." Zhi Lu thought that there was an advantage to the power outage: she did not have to see the expressions on the faces of the others. She introduced, "This is Criminal Police Officer Lu Jianzhong from the Public Security Bureau, and this young lady is Yang Li, the daughter of Sister Xu Huishu," pausing for a moment, she looked in another direction and said, "This is my ex-husband, Ye Zhongke."

Later, when the two were in a romantic relationship, he held her in his arms and gently advised her: "Zhi Lu, your personality is not suited for being a journalist. You should stay in school and focus on your studies; you will achieve true success. After graduation, you can directly pursue a doctor's degree and become a professor at the university. I can support you, so just study diligently."

Zhi Lu knew that this matter was difficult to explain, and was even more worried that he might catch a cold. Her words carried a hint of pleading that she herself was not even aware of: "Your hair and clothes are all wet, go change your clothes. There is a set of clothes for you at home."

Zhi Lu forced a smile and said, "How is that possible?"

They had just seen each other in the parking lot downstairs, the elevator was out of service, and the two walked up the stairs. Their eyes met a few times, and they politely nodded to each other, speculating where the other might go in such stormy weather. Finally, they both stopped in front of the same door, and the awkwardness and tension suddenly reached a peak

Well

"That is not what I meant." Zhi Lu found it hard to articulate her thoughts and said with difficulty, "I just want to know if the key is still with you."

She stood behind the window and looked for a while, feeling weary. In the blink of an eye, all the lights went out. The bedroom was engulfed in darkness, which immediately consumed everything, including her sight

Zhi Lu smiled, and fortunately, the phone call from Lu Jianzhong rescued her

Logically, the climate in spring should be pleasant, but during that period, it was evidently a bit abnormal, suddenly becoming hot as if summer had arrived early. It was difficult to fall asleep at night without air conditioning. As Zhi Lu finished work and looked out the car window at the increasingly dense clouds, she thought to herself that the Earth's environment was deteriorating, indicating that a thunderstorm was approaching. The clouds hung lower, sweeping over the tops of the tall buildings in the city. The wind struggled to slip in through the open car window and out the other side. The wind was not strong, yet pedestrians on the road found it particularly difficult to walk. When encountering acquaintances, they exchanged greetings, but there were no smiles.

Zhi Lu was truly at a loss for words at that moment, feeling even more apologetic than he was. She shook her head repeatedly and said emphatically, "Mr. Ye, it really is nothing at all, just a meal. It's not a big deal, I had forgotten about it long ago."

He is responsible for investigating Sister Xu's case and has helped me a great deal

Lu Jianzhong's voice grew heavy after listening to the account: "Is that person still in your house?"

"Then stay put and do not move," Lu Jianzhong said urgently, "You must not act rashly. The fact that the person has not shown himself indicates that he currently does not intend to harm you."

Did it not get lost? Nor was it taken by anyone?

The phone is unreachable, and the mobile phone cannot be found. She holds Yang Li, wondering if they are to be trapped here today. A flash of white light suddenly appears, her gaze drops, and she feels a chill all over, then immediately denies this possibility—amidst the intermittent flashes of white light, her gaze follows the telephone line as it wanders. The phone is placed between the two sofas, leaning against the wall; a slight glance behind the coffee table reveals clearly—a half section of the telephone line hangs in the air. A flash of white light suddenly appears, her gaze drops, and she feels a chill all over, then immediately denies this possibility—amidst the intermittent flashes of white light, her gaze follows the telephone line as it wanders. The phone is placed between the two sofas, leaning against the wall; a slight glance behind the coffee table reveals clearly—a half section of the telephone line hangs in the air

That appearance truly evokes sympathy; Zhi Lu could not bear to ask further and sent her back to the bedroom to sleep. Since Yang Li was unaware of the existence of that document, perhaps no one else would know the truth before the perpetrator was caught. However, some matters cannot be so absolute

In fact, he looks much better in motion than in a still photograph. When still, he is merely a handsome man; in motion, he exudes the charm of a mature man

Is it only these

Therefore, Zhi Lu did not understand why he had been looking at that obscure school newspaper for so long. She anxiously wondered if she had made a mistake. The newspaper, in a tabloid format, featured his interview occupying half of the page. The account was objective and steady, and she had not altered a single word of what he said. The newspaper printed a black-and-white image of a remarkably handsome young man, dressed in a dark suit, with his face slightly turned, chin raised, a high nose bridge, and his narrow eyes filled with a smile, exuding just the right amount of elegance and confidence.

Suddenly, Yang Li handed her phone over. Yang Li also noticed the severed telephone line, which weighed heavily on her heart, making her speech falter: "Sister Zhi Lu, this, your phone, is on the sofa, I just touched it."

Zhi Lu is extremely afraid of the dark. She begins to tremble, as every part of her body and her subconscious remind her that today's situation is somewhat dire. She struggles to suppress the increasingly intense fear, and in the darkness, she fumbles for the switch on the wall, pressing it several times with a "click-click-click" sound, confirming one thing—there has been a power outage.

With a forced smile, Zhi Lu held a glass and took a few sips of water, seemingly calm as she spoke: "Xiao Li, tell me, do you know about this document?"

Yang Li added from the side: "I looked at the time, it was just twenty-nine minutes."

At that time, there was no incoming call. One of the visitors, Lu Jianzhong, carried a flashlight. He was wearing a raincoat, and water was flowing out along the adhesive tape. His gaze was filled with astonishment.

"Enough, Zhong Zhilü, are you calling me at this hour just to ask this?" Ye Zhong'e said in a tone that was no longer calm, "What on earth has happened?"

She remained silent. She understood the situation well; there was only one reason for this: the man who was reprimanding him no longer wanted her. She handed him the towel, contemplating whether to mention the matters concerning Xu Shuhui and Yang Li. After some thought, she decided to omit the part about being threatened, as she truly did not want him to think that she was utterly worthless to that extent

Zhi Lu recalled and shook her head in frustration, "I can't see anything clearly."

After a moment, her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the bedroom, and she could roughly make out the doorknob glimmering in the shadows. Suddenly, a series of urgent knocks echoed louder and louder, accompanied by Yang Li's panicked and frantic voice: "Sister Zhi Lu, Sister Zhi Lu, please wake up..."

As he changed his clothes, he took out a clean towel, turned around, and saw him hanging the wet clothes he had just changed out of on a hanger. Then he sat on the edge of the bed, his hair, which was stuck to his forehead, was completely soaked. This scene was so familiar that she momentarily froze in place

Like a glimmer of hope. Zhi Lu called Lu Jianzhong, and he answered the phone immediately. Police officers are indeed different; their voices are clear and carry a strong sense of authority, which calmed the originally anxious Zhi Lu.

Yang Li declined to accept it.

Zhi Lu suddenly raised her head. A flash of lightning split the sky. The living room's floor-to-ceiling curtains were not fully drawn, leaving a half-meter gap through which the bright electric light penetrated into the living room, illuminating everything. She stood at the bedroom door, with a clear view of everything in the living room. In that fleeting glow, Zhi Lu vaguely saw a shadow hidden behind the wine cabinet.

Yang Li, however, did not know where the courage came from, and timidly spoke up: "Brother Ye, please do not blame Sister Zhi Lu; no one could have anticipated this situation."

How could she possibly listen to him? She treated her father's words as mere background noise, letting them fly past without leaving a trace, not even a cloud. At that time, she was too young, like a fledgling bird spreading its wings for the first time, determined to fly out regardless of the consequences, ignoring all advice, and only beginning to regret after experiencing hardship

"How did you get in?" Zhi Lu continued her inquiry, while she already had an answer herself. She opened her phone again, not even looking through the contacts, but directly inputting a string of eleven digits and dialing. She carefully raised the phone to her ear, waiting for that voice to appear, each elongated "beep" felt like a form of torment.

"It should be, but I didn't see anyone," Zhi Lu said.

Zhi Lu shook her head, "They probably don't think so."

This time was no exception; he lowered his gaze slightly and, not unexpectedly, noticed her hand gripping his coat, the color of her skin nearly indistinguishable from that of the coat, leaving him momentarily unable to tell them apart. He silently observed her pale face and heard her murmur: "Thank you for coming. Tonight... could you not leave? I am afraid"

My mother used to say, "Why is it always about living a lifetime?" Yang Li gently replied, "It's too serious, it's exhausting"

However, she miscalculated. She returned home, cooked, and ate, waiting for Yang Li to come back from evening study, yet the rain still had not fallen. The only change was that the clouds had descended lower and the sound of the wind had grown louder

Yang Li was in math class, completely oblivious to what had happened. Zhi Lu explained the situation to her on the way: "Officer Lu called me. He said that last night, someone broke into your house again and was discovered by a neighbor when leaving, who then reported it. He hopes you can go to the scene to take a look, as you might have missed some clues in your excitement the first time."

Two people left the school under one umbrella. Yang Li asked her, "Sister Zhi Lu, what were you just thinking about?"

Yang Li's voice seemed to tremble as he said, "Perhaps he has left, ah, he must have left. He had a way to come in, and he also has a way to leave."

Ye Zhong'e extended his hand and said, "Officer Lu, hello. I just ran into you downstairs."

I don't know, said Zhi Lu, "We have been sitting in the living room for so long, and I haven't felt anyone coming and going."

She opened the door, and Yang Li suddenly threw herself into her arms, screaming hysterically: "Sister Zhi Lu, I just saw someone, in the room, I saw someone..."

How tall is that person

Not long after, he called to state that he wanted to see the report she had written, so Zhi Lu had no choice but to deliver it to him. In his spacious office, he held the thin school newspaper and read it for a long time. He had undergone quite a few interviews before, as he claimed that during the time of establishing a foundation and building a career, a certain level of exposure was beneficial and never harmful to one's endeavors. In the years following his marriage, he had become more low-key, and when his career flourished, he no longer needed such exposure.

During her lunch break at work, Zhi Lu opened her notebook and began to jot down some scattered thoughts. Her experience as a journalist taught her that whenever an idea arises in the mind, it is essential to record it; otherwise, those flashes of inspiration will quickly slip away. Written records are often far more reliable than our memory. Given the current situation, Xu Shuhui's death is undoubtedly related to that document still shrouded in darkness. Her life is so monotonous, and she is widely known to be a good person; apart from work, there are no other opportunities to come into contact with such a document. According to Sherlock Holmes, once all impossible factors have been eliminated, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. Given the current situation, Xu Shuhui's death is undoubtedly related to that document still shrouded in darkness. Her life is so monotonous, and she is widely known to be a good person; apart from work, there are no other opportunities to come into contact with such a document. According to Sherlock Holmes, once all impossible factors have been eliminated, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth

The lights in the bedroom suddenly turned on. Zhi Lu almost ran over to stand up and turn on the lights in the living room one by one. After returning, she stood in front of the coffee table, pointed at the telephone line, and said: "Look. And the telephone in the bedroom, I suspect the line has also been cut."

What is this situation? Such heavy rain. If something happens on the road—Zhi Lu didn't even have the strength to smile bitterly. She turned to let them in, groping to take out two pairs of men's slippers from the shoe cabinet, arranging them, and when she stood up, she repeatedly said, "Thank you, thank you." She didn't even know who she was thanking.

For some reason, Ye Zhong'e looked at her with an expression of displeasure and said, "Have you already forgotten?"

With that said, Yang Li finally took the phone, his expression one of great shock, his gaze still fixed blankly ahead. "Sister Zhi Lu, that person, did they ask you for the documents and then try to kill you?"

Lu Jianzhong, seemingly lost in thought, uttered a soft "Hmm," stood up, and said, "I will go check on it."

Two people stood by the roadside waiting for a taxi, Yang Li bit her lip and asked, "Are you thinking about Brother Ye? Since you divorced, have you ever regretted it?"

Well

As a result of this incident, Zhi Lu's previously alleviated insomnia symptoms have worsened again. Every night, it seems as if a knife is pressed against her neck, and closing her eyes brings a chilling breeze. Upon waking in the morning, she feels dizzy, somewhat akin to the sensation brought on by low blood sugar, with a constant buzzing in her head and her brain's nerves taut, as if they might snap at any moment. Although she is sitting, it feels as though everything in the room begins to sway, leading to a deep concern that she might fall into some bottomless abyss before her. Additionally, during her commutes, she instinctively looks back to see if anyone is following her.

He furrowed his brows and said, "Well written, I will treat you to a meal, how about that?"

Lu Jianzhong knew that her house was large, making it exceedingly easy to hide a person. He reassured himself by asking, "Is Xiao Li there?"

Ye Zhong'e also wanted to speak with her privately, furrowing his brows as he followed her into the bedroom, and with a firm grip, he closed the door.

Yang Li looked astonished, "There is nothing left in that room, how could anyone still be robbing it?"

The speaker has intentions, and the listener also has intentions, yet it is still unimaginable that it unexpectedly becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy

She was silent for a moment, and the other side was also silent. It seemed as if an eternity had passed before Zhi Lu finally spoke: "It is me." Fearing that he might not recognize her voice, she hurriedly explained, "It is me, Zhong Zhi Lu. I would like to ask you something."

Zhi Lu shook her head in surprise at how he could have thought of this, and replied with certainty: "How could it be me? It was chosen by the layout editor of the school newspaper."

He sat on the edge of the bed, while she stood beside him, clutching the pure white towel in her hand, hesitating to hand it over.

She immediately widened her eyes in strong opposition

The sound of rain outside gradually diminished, and Ye Zhong'e smiled faintly, revealing a warm yet indistinct smile, which was also the smile she had once been most familiar with. He hastily dried his hair, then stood up and walked outside, saying, "Let's go out and see if he has found any clues." As he spoke, he casually hung the towel on the coat rack.

This sentence caused Ye Zhong'e to scrutinize Yang Li, and he smiled at her gently and amiably; then he looked up at Zhi Lu, and immediately transformed into a different person, his expression becoming quite unceremonious

After that interview, she thought that she would have no further relationship with him. One was a brilliant young talent in the financial sector with limitless prospects; the other was a female student struggling to complete her graduate studies, as green as a newly formed pumpkin. The disparity between the two was so great that she believed that once the article was finished, they would have no intersection. At that time, she truly had no thoughts about him, merely appreciating this man; who could have imagined that she would later marry him and then divorce? The disparity between the two was so great that she believed that once the article was finished, they would have no intersection. At that time, she truly had no thoughts about him, merely appreciating this man; who could have imagined that she would later marry him and then divorce? The mystery of life lies in this.

Ye Zhong'e suddenly asked, "Xiao Li, were you the first to see that shadow?"

She and Yang Li supported each other as they arrived in the living room, their palms clammy with cold sweat, their gazes cautiously darting around. The rain outside was pouring heavily, and every sound in the room made their hearts race. Zhi Lu felt her way to the sofa and, after some fumbling, managed to find the phone. She picked it up, but there was still no sound, and the indicator light remained off.

Lu Jianzhong said: "Could it be your illusion? It is highly likely to experience illusions at night"

He looked at his photo and asked her, "Did you choose this photo?"

Ye Zhong'e looked at her, his sharp gaze resembling a pen in the hand of a painter, first outlining her silhouette, then detailing her entire form. She appeared to be in poor spirits and thinner than before, which made her look slightly taller, as if the wind could easily knock her down to the ground

As a result, that meal was postponed for two weeks. At that time, she was dining in the cafeteria and did not immediately recall who was calling when she received his phone call. When they met, he sincerely apologized and then took the initiative to invite her to dinner again as compensation.

For a full twenty-seven years, Zhong Zhilü's life has never been as tumultuous as it has been in these past few days. Conspiracy and betrayal, despair and resistance, murder and being murdered, and now it is the ultimate contemplation of existence and death

The helplessness, hopelessness, and sense of uselessness in life compelled her to retreat into her imagination, which rose slowly like mist, obscuring her past and future, devoid of purpose and direction, akin to the road to the underworld. Indeed, the underworld; it would be better to be dead.

Without a doubt, before being awakened by the phone, Ye Zhong'e was sleeping. His voice was lazy and somewhat hoarse, which made it sound very sexy. After several years of marriage, even if she was careless, there were certain small details about him that she could not possibly overlook. For instance, this kind of voice. Sure enough, another soft and charming voice rang out: "Zhong'e, who is calling so late?"

She is by my side

A few steps later, she felt someone tugging at the hem of her coat, a signal for help that he was once very familiar with. Zhi Lu had never been one to easily give in; the few times she did were just like this. She clutched at his clothes, and when she turned her head, she could surely see her eyes downcast, biting her lower lip, struggling to complete her words.

Yang, with a pale complexion, walked around the room, carefully examining the places the murderer had turned over. In a very certain tone, he told Lu Jianzhong: "No, when I left last time, I checked everything thoroughly. They won't find anything useful."

Zhi Lu knew she would have this reaction, so she recounted the events of last night in detail, adding: "The murderer may come after me, and they might also find you. Here, take this; it is better to be prepared than to be caught off guard"

Sister Lu. Yang Li, not knowing when he had come to her side, tugged at her hand

Gradually, the rain intensified, and the thunder and lightning diminished. The body may remain still, but the thoughts drifted far away. It reminded me of the beginning

The phone went unanswered and was disconnected. Zhi Lu dialed again, and this time the voice she had been eagerly anticipating finally came through on the other end of the line, both distant and familiar: "Hello."

No one answered, and the rainstorm pounded against the window, making a clattering sound. Zhi Lu groped her way back to the bedside in the dark, picked up the landline, but the indicator light did not illuminate, and there was no sound in the receiver. She then felt along the bedside for her mobile phone, which she usually kept by her pillow, but today everything had deviated from the normal course, and naturally, the phone was not in its usual place. She was both startled and anxious, and Yang Li reminded her: "There is also a phone in the living room." She groped along the bedside for her mobile phone, which she usually kept by her pillow, but today everything had deviated from the normal course, and naturally, the phone was not in its usual place. She was both startled and anxious, and Yang Li reminded her: "There is also a phone in the living room."

Ye Zhong'e put down his knife and fork, gazed into her eyes, and said: "Did this meal make you unhappy?"

Yang Li's voice has no weight, so light it seems as if it might float away: "I don't know, really, I don't know."

He listened, sighed, and thereafter did not bring up similar topics again

Looking out from the open bedroom door, the living room is shrouded in darkness, an all-encompassing blackness that conceals countless possibilities, one of which is a murderer wielding a deadly weapon, bearing a hideous visage. Yet, she cannot avoid the living room, for the phone is her only means of seeking help.

Zhi Lu said: "It's nothing."

The rain was too heavy, and both of their pants were completely soaked when they returned home. That night, Yang Li obediently went back to the bedroom, and Zhi Lu tucked her in. When Yang Li fell asleep, she looked like a child, her brows furrowed, and her delicate features were filled with exhaustion that had reached its limit. As Zhi Lu silently watched her sleeping face, she suddenly felt a twinge of envy, recalling the past when she had never known what insomnia was, while now she longed for a good night's sleep but could not attain it. No wonder the philosopher said that being able to sleep is the highest form of happiness.

She hung up the phone. In the darkness, Yang Li nudged her and, in a state of panic, spoke up: "Sister Zhi Lu, why didn't you tell Brother Ye that we are in danger now"

It was not at all like that. They enjoyed the meal quite a bit; his conversation was refined, and they had many common topics to discuss. Zhong Zhilü was somewhat naive, but her extensive reading left Ye Zhongke astonished at the breadth of her knowledge. They could engage in excellent discussions on politics, philosophy, literature, and science, complementing each other perfectly.

Zhong Ge, Zhong Ge, how sweetly she calls him, melting the hearts of those who listen. Very few women can call him so intimately. Zhi Lu felt suffocated. Just two minutes ago, she thought that half a telephone line was the most terrifying thing she had encountered, but now she realized that the voice of this woman was the most lethal, causing her internal organs to shift painfully. He has never lacked women to warm his bed; as Deng Mu Hua said, after her departure, countless women would flock to him. Just two minutes ago, she thought that half a telephone line was the most terrifying thing she had encountered, but now she realized that the voice of this woman was the most lethal, causing her internal organs to shift painfully. He has never lacked women to warm his bed; as Deng Mu Hua said, after her departure, countless women would flock to him. The only consolation was that Ye Zhong Ge did not respond.

Zhi Lu was slightly taken aback; it seemed excessive to treat her to a meal for such a report. She shook her head, intending to decline, but he continued, "Today is not possible. How about in a few days? I will call you."

She remembered that Yang Li did not bring an umbrella, so she took an umbrella and took a taxi to send him to school

Returning to the bedroom, Zhi Lu turned on every light and activated the home theater, beginning to watch the movie "The Lord of the Rings," which she had seen countless times. She kept the volume very low, yet the walls still vibrated. At first, she was surprised; after the loud noise, she got up and drew back the curtains, only then realizing the reason.

"Find something for self-defense, check if the door lock is secure, and go hide at a neighbor's house," Lu Jianzhong said, "You must remain calm; even if you encounter that person face to face, try to reason with them"

After Ye Zhong'e finished listening, he had already regained his composure and calmness. The left eyebrow of his slightly raised, and Zhi Lu knew that this was the expression he would show when faced with extremely difficult problems. However, he changed the subject and asked, "What is your relationship with Lu Jianzhong?"

The night is vast and dark, and the gentle breeze that was present two hours ago has now transformed into a fierce wind, carrying an indescribable dominance, violently striking against the tempered glass of the bedroom's floor-to-ceiling window, each sound resembling the roar of a lion; outside the window, lightning flashes and thunder rumbles, with blinding white light piercing through, the thunder deafening, the flashes of lightning dense and almost continuous. After an extremely loud clap of thunder, torrential rain pours down as if carrying the will of the Creator, attempting to engulf the entire world. One cannot say that it is April at this moment; even during the scorching summer, such a tempest is rare.

During this period, she absolutely does not go out at night; even if she does, she takes a taxi, as the last experience of being threatened left a deep impression on her. When she arrived at the school, the senior year students had just finished their evening study session. Surrounding her were groups of parents with umbrellas coming to pick up their children, quietly chatting among themselves, with no one showing any signs of annoyance. This is how parents are; when it comes to their children, they never utter a word of complaint. After the thunder and lightning, the rain poured down heavily from the sky, and the sound of the rain intertwined with the voices of conversation, creating a blend of sounds.

Enduring hardship is an inevitable process of maturation, from which no one can escape. However, the price she paid for it was so painfully high

What is it

Yang Li nodded slightly

Zhi Lu was taken aback, thinking about how intelligent Yang Li was. She did not hide her feelings, saying, "Perhaps, sometimes a person just likes to indulge in wild thoughts. I used to be unwilling to face the facts, but now that I see them clearly, it doesn't seem like much. Xiao Li, I know many people think I am asking for trouble, and the reality is indeed like that. However, when it comes to regret, there is actually nothing to regret; we all have to reach this point sooner or later."

The once spirited Zhong Zhilü now appears listless, as if she has forgotten how to smile, easily lost in thought at any moment. The light cascades down from her dark hair, casting a faint, dim glow.

For the first time in so many years, she saw his face darkened to this extent. Zhi Lu was stunned, and under his gaze, her eyes fell to a place where others could not see.

Zhi Lu lowered her voice: "I dare not move... We have lost power..."

Ye Zhong'e seemed emotionless, his voice devoid of any fluctuation: "I am listening"