Chapter Seven, A Secret Passage to Chen Cang

He paused for a moment, walked towards them, nodded at He Zhen, threw the cigarette in his hand onto the ground and extinguished it with his foot. When he looked up, his eyes were fixed on Xin Yitian, his gaze profound. He wanted to say something, but suddenly found himself at a loss for words, preferring to maintain this silence.

Is it not acceptable to not get married? He asked this as if it were a matter of course

Despite having known her answer for a long time, Xie De's expression still darkened involuntarily. He nodded and brushed past her shoulder as he left. This was probably the reason why he could not forget her

Wei turned his head away as if to escape. The rows of streetlights stretched infinitely before him, magnifying into a blur of light and shadow

Xin Yitian chatted with her for a moment about tea, mentioning that she preferred Pu'er tea. "However, Wei Xian doesn't like it; he prefers Tieguanyin. Tieguanyin is known as the people's favorite, and most people enjoy drinking it." She turned her head to see Wei Xian curled up alone on the other end of the sofa, neither speaking nor moving. Thinking he was tired, she jokingly said, "Why do you look unhappy? I didn't say anything bad about you."

She found herself habitually standing in front of He Zhen's dormitory, and just as she was about to knock on the door, she hesitated and put her hand down. There was no point in complaining to anyone about this; it would only increase their worries.

Xin Yitian let out an "oh" and was momentarily at a loss for words. The conversation fell silent once again. She no longer attempted to salvage the situation; let it be silent. Either one would erupt in silence or drift away in silence.

Xin Yitian could only avoid the heavy topics and steer clear of this subject, "Sigh, I just don't understand. You already have a husband and children, so why are you still so fond of gossiping? You say all sorts of things without any basis."

He has no sense of guilt at all, waving his hand and saying: "I can't handle him, I can't keep up with his logic. He is also very gloomy, giving off a feeling that he is hard to approach. I wisely walked away, which should have been exactly what you wanted, so why are you complaining! Alas, I said—

Xin Yitian felt a chill in her heart, her hands trembling uncontrollably, "She said your watch was left at her house, forgotten to take away"

"Why do you want to marry him?" he suddenly asked

Xie merely responded with a "mm," displaying a lack of enthusiasm, yet there was no indication that he intended to leave

The next day, Xin Yitian had a flight back to Shanglin at 8:30 AM. Wei got up early to first take her to the airport before heading to the office. Xin Yitian reminded him to check on the progress of the house renovation, to urge where necessary, and to communicate promptly if there were any issues. She also said, "In twenty days, I can return to Beijing."

Her expression became serious, and she looked him in the eye, answering without hesitation: "Of course not!"

Xin Yitian accompanied He Zhen to the municipal hospital for a prenatal check-up, and unexpectedly ran into Xie De. He was standing alone in the corridor outside the hall, with his left hand in his pants pocket and his right hand holding a cigarette, which he did not smoke, allowing it to burn quietly. Dong Quan drove the car over from the parking lot, and as he turned to prepare to descend the steps, he saw them.

Wei Xian seemed to hesitate, as if there was something important he wanted to say. Having had such experiences before, she patiently waited. After a considerable amount of time, she heard him say: "Let's get married, the sooner the better." He tightly embraced her with both hands, burying his head deeply in the nape of her neck.

She finally understood why she had been feeling inexplicably anxious during this period. It turned out that she had subconsciously sensed it long ago, but it had been suppressed by her own "self-righteousness." She thought she was being overly sensitive, that she was overthinking, and even believed that the troubles caused by Xie had made her become neurotic and paranoid. Therefore, every time she started to think in that direction, she would immediately stop herself. She thought she was being overly sensitive, that she was overthinking, and even believed that the troubles caused by Xie had made her become neurotic and paranoid. Therefore, every time she started to think in that direction, she would immediately stop herself

Xin Yitian took out the key to open the door, and seeing that he had no intention of coming in, she inquired with her eyes what was wrong. Wei Xian hesitantly asked, "May I stay?"

Xin Yitian did not feel proud because people remembered her this way; she only felt anxious

Wei was not very talkative, solely listening and focusing on helping her with the crab roe. Xin Yitian heard his suit jacket, which was placed on the chair, vibrating and reminded him, "Your phone is ringing." He took out his phone from the jacket pocket, glanced at it, pressed the button to dismiss it, and turned it off directly.

She was surprised to find that the account was in arrears, wondering if it was due to a night spent making international calls. With a sigh, she resigned herself to going to the mobile service center near the university to pay the bill. After completing the payment, she hesitated for a moment, then walked over to the self-service machine, followed the prompts, and printed out Wei Xian's call records for the past two months. She quickly skimmed through the numbers, noticing that the one that appeared most frequently was a 139 number, with the most recent call lasting two hours. A sudden chill ran through her, and she immediately had a bad feeling.

Not only did Xin Yitian momentarily fail to react, but even He Zhen couldn't help but turn his head to stare at him. The two close friends quickly exchanged glances, conveying their mutual shock and silently questioning how to continue the conversation. He Zhen rubbed his nose and decided that the best strategy was to retreat; he pointed to the glass door of the hall and said, "I will go in first, you all continue your discussion." He swiftly escaped from the dull and awkward scene

He Zhen sensed the unusual atmosphere in the air, his curious gaze shifting back and forth between the two individuals

Regardless

Xie De initially looked at her with a "puzzled" expression, making her think that she had said something wrong again. After a while, the corners of his mouth slightly curled up, his eyes squinted a bit, and the strong lines on his face softened. He changed the subject and asked: "Are you accompanying Teacher He Zhen for her prenatal check-up?"

He started to chat casually, which indicates that his mood should have improved, right? Xin Yitian quickly nodded and said, "Yes, she was vomiting quite severely and wanted to ask the doctor if there was any solution."

A pot of tea had not yet been finished when someone knocked on the door. Xin Yitian thought it was Xiao Guo returning, but upon opening the door, it turned out to be Wang Yishi. Before she even stepped inside, she smiled and said, "Wow, this Tieguanyin is truly fragrant"

Wei Xian shook his head and said, "No. Why did you suddenly return to Beijing? Have you finished with the matters at Lin?"

Two days later, she met Wei Xian. She observed him carefully; he was still the same as before, with no significant changes. However, human hearts are the most intricate and complex things in the world. She could neither observe nor control them

He Zhen saw her push the door open and asked with a smile, "So soon? Where is he? Has he left?"

Do not engage in unfounded suspicion, as it is not a good habit and is a form of disrespect towards others. One should have a basic level of trust in people, especially in Wei Xian. This is what she reminded herself

She tentatively dialed the number using her own phone, and the name "Wang Yishi" suddenly appeared on the screen. She immediately hung up, feeling a chill pass from the top of her head down her spine, all the way to the soles of her feet

He Zhenli immediately seized the key point and said with a sly smile, "So, you admit that he has a preference for you, right?"

Xin Yitian invited her in and took another teacup from the cabinet, "Just in time to brew some tea"

As He Zhenyi left, the two no longer needed to be polite, staring blankly at each other, yet still had nothing to say. After a moment of silence, Xin Yitian quietly asked, "Are you okay?" He slowly shook his head, "I don't know either." The few short words that came from his mouth felt so difficult to utter. He seemed to have lost his ability to speak, and his entire demeanor was one of despondency that she had never witnessed before.

We can only replace it with a new one, and there is nothing we can do about it

Oh, so that's how it is. It is indeed quite troublesome at this late hour. Although Xin Yitian felt that her arrival was rather abrupt, the urgency of the situation made it understandable. Thus, she took Wei to Truffle Garden for a visit. After inspecting, they discovered a crack in the back of the toilet tank, which was causing a continuous leak.

Wei Xian did not banter with her as usual, only saying "good" with a weary expression on his face, even appearing somewhat haggard. Xin Yitian thought he had not slept well and was worried he would be late for work, so she urged him to leave.

He affectionately rubbed her nose and said, "Then let's go."

Oh. He doesn't care much, and he took a tissue to wipe the smudge off his glasses

Wei Xian walked out of the bathroom wearing a bathrobe, searching everywhere for his glasses. Xin Yitian got up, picked up the glasses from the coffee table, and handed them to him, staring at his face and saying: "Someone called looking for you just now"

Xinyi Tian, surprised, also smiled, "I have just returned, you truly have remarkable abilities!"

She rubbed her forehead and said, as if in pain from a toothache, "Uh... since we came into this world, we never intended to go back alive—if we think this way, wouldn't it be a bit better?" After saying this, she cautiously glanced at him.

Only the dead can find peace and naturally feel cool. Alas, do not save electricity, turn on the air conditioning.

Xin Yitian was thrown into disarray by the bomb he tossed her way. She immediately felt that allowing him to freely choose topics without restraint was a grave mistake. She couldn't simply retort with "I don't want to answer," so she forced a bitter smile and sighed, saying, "Because I want to."

Wei hurriedly said into the phone, "I will call you later," and then hung up. When he turned around to look at her, the shocked expression on his face had not yet faded.

Xin Yitian let out a huff and complained, "How can you leave me to face such a terrifying problem all alone? That's really inconsiderate!"

"Last time, I didn't get to eat Thai food." Xin Yitian still remembers it fondly

Xin Yitian scooped a bit of curry with a spoon and put it directly into her mouth, raising an eyebrow and asking, "What if the company needs to reach you?"

Wei first saw her, but instead of greeting her as usual, he sat on the sofa without moving. Wang Yishi glanced at him and then said nonchalantly: "I was shopping at the supermarket downstairs and happened to see you all coming back, so I came up to say hello"

Is uncle in good health?

Boy or girl

"Oh dear, I missed you, so I came to see you." Xin Yitian said with a smile while linking her arm with his, then turned to look at him, "Please don't tell me you still have to work overtime tonight"

The advancement of science and the progress of civilization are all due to human curiosity. The moment I think of someone as distant and unattainable as Xie actually being fond of you, the blood in my body immediately boils.

Xin Yitian saw him looking exhausted, with a faint bluish circle under his eyes. It felt as if his heart had been sharply pecked by a bird, causing intense pain. "There is no way out, so one must try to be more optimistic and not torment oneself..."

No, I am a bit too full

Xin Yitian noticed that he had been tense, appearing to be deep in thought. It was not until Wang Yishi walked away that she curiously asked, "What’s wrong with you? You’ve been acting strange all day."

She smiled shyly, pointed to the room of the neighbor, Xiao Guo, and gently shook her head, "The old house is not soundproof, and besides, it would have a negative impact."

This torment of the mind quickly transformed into physical pain; her chest suddenly spasmed, making it impossible for her to stand. She had no choice but to crouch down and pretend to tie her shoelaces to avoid suddenly collapsing. Pairs of shoes in various colors, styles, and materials flashed before her eyes. After about half a minute, the pain subsided, and she stood up, feeling dizzy as she merged into the vast crowd.

Dishes such as curry stir-fried king crab, tom yum soup, and pineapple rice, which are characteristic of the subtropical region, greatly whetted Xin Yitian's appetite. As she ate, she said: "Let me tell you, when I was in college, I went to Xishuangbanna with my classmates once. There was an abundance of delicious food everywhere. A pineapple rice this large only costs 8 yuan, and it was even tastier than this; there was also dried meat, a kind made from deer, wow—I've never had such delicious dried meat since then..."

On a day in August, she bought a plane ticket back to Beijing, but did not inform Wei beforehand. Sometimes, she is willing to invest thought and time into doing things that can bring surprises to the other party

Wei wanted to deepen the kiss, but the footsteps coming from downstairs interrupted them. Xin Yitian turned around and closed the door, "Let's go, I'll take you down."

He paused his actions, turned his head to look at her, hesitated for a moment and asked: "What did she say?"

She walked out of the mobile hall in a daze, facing the incessant flow of traffic, her mind blank. She walked forward mechanically, her tangled and complex thoughts forming a knot. "How could this happen?" she could not understand.

After finishing the meal, Wei first escorted her back. Xin Yitian brewed tea for him, saying, "This is this year's new tea, gifted by a student from Fujian. It is better than what is sold outside"

She called him, unsure of how to begin. Betrayal has always been difficult to articulate. Wei Xian did not pay attention to her silence and continued speaking: "I was just about to call you to say that in a couple of days, I will be going on a business trip to Lin and will be staying at the same hotel where you are. I specifically instructed my assistant to book a suite. This way, we can be together."

"Oh dear, it's easy to change the landscape, but hard to change one's nature!" He Zhen's attention was immediately diverted by her, and with a look of frustration, he said: "Please stop attacking my character. Lu Shaofeng keeps calling me a shrew all day long..."

As soon as Xin Yitian saw her expression, she knew what she was about to say and used her gaze to stop her from continuing. He Zhen completely ignored her threat, embracing her relentless gossiping spirit, and said with great interest: "He looks at you in a very different way, as if he wants to suck you in like a vacuum cleaner. Last time you said you have known each other since childhood, so is it 'The young man rides a bamboo horse, circling the bed to play with the green plums'?"

Xie De was different from those ordinary young people she had interacted with; there was no familial love or nagging, no friends to laugh and play with. Alone and isolated, she was reminiscent of her reclusive middle school days. The material halo surrounding her was too dazzling, making it easy to become infatuated and lose oneself, leading to self-destruction. She hoped he could meet some young and lovely girls, like the junior she had seen last time, who also had the character "Yi" in her name, and then quickly forget about her.

Look at my father

She was very pleased and broke off a crab leg for him, "Not bad, it's worth a reward. Tonight is ours"

Hmm... where do you want to go?" Wei Xian glanced around as he backed the car out of the underground parking lot, asking her through the rearview mirror.

He looked at her strangely and said, "It's not mine, so what do I have to like or dislike about it"

Should I thank you for your tactful inquiry? Xin Yitian was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, "Put away your curiosity, lest you negatively influence the child in your womb"

"Why aren't you speaking? Are you feeling unwell?" He naturally reached out his hand to touch her forehead, checking for a fever. Xin Yitian stared at him in a daze

Wei first asked her to change her seat, advising her not to sit under the air conditioning. He also said, "You should avoid eating cold food; have a glass of freshly squeezed juice instead." He was so attentive, considerate, and gentle. In this situation, Xin Yitian found it impossible to press him for answers and could only lower her head and eat in silence

Oh, good. This is also fine; having a couple more days will help her better sort out the situation. She closed her eyes and thought, her expression having shifted from shock and pain to endurance.

However, Wei betrayed her trust in him right under her nose

Wang Yishi accompanied them all the way to the entrance of the community, watching Xinyi Tian, who was linking arms with Wei Xian, with a half-smile and said: "You two have such a good relationship"

Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Xin Yitian smiled somewhat unnaturally, cleared her throat, and said, "Hey, long time no see." She greeted him.

What is it? Why are you looking at me like that? He smiled

Where shall we go for dinner this evening

Liver cancer, advanced stage. He stated the facts in a calm tone

She smiled slightly and said, "Indeed, it's not about arriving early but about arriving at the right moment. I am fortunate today." She sat down opposite Xin Yitian, picked up her cup, took a sip, and praised, "Good tea!"

"Um, what brings you to the hospital?" It seems that there is always a certain difficulty in the pleasantries exchanged between the two after each encounter. Noticing that the other party remained silent for about ten seconds without any intention of speaking, Xin Yitian had no choice but to take on the heavy responsibility of initiating the conversation.

At this moment, it was the hottest time of the year. She complained to He Zhen, "The weather is so hot that I feel restless and irritable, and I don't want to do anything." She was desperately fanning herself with a palm fan. He Zhen scoffed, "It is your own restlessness that is the problem, not the weather. Stop fanning, it makes me feel hot just watching. When the mind is calm, one naturally feels cool."

I don't know. What do you prefer? she casually asked

As for Wang Yishi, it is not worth discussing. Wei Xian is someone she knows very well. Did they really conspire behind her back? Wang Yishi's sarcasm and sneers do not inflict much harm on her, after all, she did not invest much emotion in her; however, the pain of being deceived and betrayed by Wei Xian has seized her entire soul, making it feel as if her soul has detached from her body, floating above her, coldly observing her anger, pain, helplessness, and numbness. Wang Yishi's sarcasm and sneers do not inflict much harm on her, after all, she did not invest much emotion in her; however, the pain of being deceived and betrayed by Wei Xian has seized her entire soul, making it feel as if her soul has detached from her body, floating above her, coldly observing her anger, pain, helplessness, and numbness.

This is Wang Yishi

Thank you all, I will have someone come to replace it tomorrow. As long as it doesn't leak tonight and flood the house, I can continue to rest easy

Xin Yitian did not want to disturb the pregnant woman’s rest, so she had no choice but to step outside and stand in the corridor of the teachers' dormitory to enjoy the breeze. She took out her phone to call Wei Xian, but a sweet female voice came from the other end, saying, "The number you have dialed is out of service due to insufficient balance..."

Wang Yishi cast a sidelong glance at the person in the corner, then smiled at Xin Yitian, saying that her toilet had been leaking for a while, to the point that it was almost flooding the bathroom. The property management had already closed for the day, so she wanted to trouble them to take a look. "I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble Wei Xian again. I think he’s a man, so he should understand these matters of water and electricity better than we women do"

His phone vibrated inside his clothes. Xin Yitian initially ignored it as usual, but after a while, she came to her senses, slowly walked over, and took the phone out of his pants pocket. The incoming call displayed no name, only a string of numbers, yet it was glaringly obvious— it was precisely Wang Yishi's phone number

She seemed a bit strange and asked, "What’s wrong? Did I scare you just now?"

She waited downstairs at Wei Xian's company, and when she saw him hurriedly walking out while talking on the phone, she seized the opportunity and nimbly jumped over to snatch the phone from his ear, exclaiming loudly: "Robbery, don't move!" Upon seeing Wei Xian's momentarily surprised and bewildered expression, she bent over and laughed heartily, then returned the phone to him

With each additional encounter with Xie, the disturbances brought to Xin Yitian deepened further, prompting her desire to leave Shanglin as soon as possible

He said without any expression: "How can one be optimistic? From the moment a person is born, it is a tragedy."

He quickly said, "Not today."

"Oh dear, this is in the street—" Xin Yitian reminded him with a flushed face to pay attention to his image

He did not persist and immediately explained in a flustered manner: "Don't overthink it, I, I just have a little..." Xin Yitian gently patted his hand, "Shh—, I understand everything. However, it is not good to be seen by others, don't you think?" She walked over and tiptoed to lightly kiss the corner of his mouth

She immediately recalled Wei Xian's abnormal behavior that night, as well as the expression on Wang Yishi's face that always seemed to be a half-smile, half-mockery. Now she understood that it was a blatant mockery and sarcasm

"He doesn't fancy you, so what are you so excited about?" Xin Yitian said irritably

Alright, then we will go to 'Banana Leaf'

"Hello, I am a pregnant woman, okay!" She turned over and continued to sleep, covered by a thin blanket.

She slowly walked back to the hotel, her thoughts gradually becoming clearer along the way. She could not speculate recklessly here by herself; first, she needed to understand the extent of the situation. She wanted to hear it directly from Wei Xian.

Upon returning to the hotel, Wei first went to take a shower, while Xin Yitian remained outside in a daze. She kept pondering whether to ask about this matter now or wait for him to bring it up on his own

Wei gently held her hand as they walked back