Chapter 5: Grievance (1)

Tong Xi did not respond to his words, turned around and entered the elevator, quickly pressing the close door button. Seeing him cut off from her line of sight and not coming after her, she leaned against the elevator wall and let out a heavy sigh.

Tong Xi originally wanted to ask him when he had come, but suddenly found it uninteresting; it was a matter long past, so what was there to ask? She reached out to take the bag from his hand, but Nie Xiu stopped her, saying, "I will help you carry it up."

This sudden reunion feels like a stone thrown into still waters, stirring up a thousand waves, which truly leaves one feeling disturbed and eager to explode with anger

Tong Xi became impatient, "You can't possibly still be thinking that I will invite you in for tea? I'm sorry, but it's not convenient; there is a man living with me."

Tong Xi casually had a bit of breakfast and then took a taxi straight to the car rental agency in the southern suburbs

The car rental contract is just two pages long, but that one glance just now unsettled her mind. She read the contract particularly slowly, and for a long while, there was no movement. That figure really resembled someone; if it were standing upright instead of hunched over, she would have been able to recognize it at a glance.

Tong Xi's patience was exhausted, and her temper could no longer be contained. She clenched her fist and said, "Let go of me." Unbeknownst to her, perhaps due to the loudness of her voice, it actually shook the snow off the tree. With a puff, a clump of snow brushed against her bangs and fell to the ground, sending a flurry of white particles flying into the air.

I will go tomorrow, the holiday is early this year, I will go get the car shortly

Why not keep me company? It is so lonely for me to spend the Spring Festival alone

I know I have made many mistakes, and regardless of whether you forgive me or not, I will do my utmost to make amends. Nie Xiu

In previous years, Modan took care of him, bringing water and administering medicine. This year, he is alone, resting at home for a few days, and his illness has worsened. Last night, he coughed intermittently throughout the night. In a 300-square-meter house, there are only him and a live-out nanny. At this moment, it is not yet the nanny's working hours, and there is not even anyone to assist him.

Her heart skipped a beat; why did that figure look so familiar? But then she thought it was strange; how could he possibly be here? Truly, she was feeling guilty, seeing him in everyone.

When do you plan to go to Lushan Township, so I can inform Lu Kuan?" Shen Xiquan's voice was somewhat hoarse, interspersed with a few low coughs

Shen Xiquan hummed a phrase on the phone: "No conscience"

In a state of half-dreaming and half-waking, I felt drowsy and unable to fully awaken. Eventually, it was a call from Shen Xiquan that roused me.

Boss Zhao, unaware that she was lost in thought, joked with a smile: "Being at work is indeed different; it is much more composed and rigorous than when I was a student."

Nie Xiu's gaze shifted from her forehead to her chin as he softly said, "You have lost weight"

"No need, please leave." At this moment, it was already quite difficult for Tong Xi to maintain a calm tone

She was in an extremely bad mood all night, lacking the enthusiasm for anything. The television in the room was on, playing Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf. It was still the channel that Tong Hua usually watched; she did not change it, merely wanting to have some noise in the room

Nie Xiu held the steering wheel with his left hand and said, "I will drive."

Shen Xiquan sighed on the phone: "You are truly stubborn, holding on for two years without giving up. I have long said that he does not dare to return home."

The car rental agency is located in the southern suburbs, in a somewhat remote area. A spacious yard accommodates more than ten vehicles, and to the right of the main entrance, there is a row of single-story houses. The innermost room is the office of Boss Zhao

Boss Zhao has been waiting for a long time and warmly invites her to sit down, handing her a contract. He mentions that the car has just been checked and is fully fueled, assuring her to drive with peace of mind

Tong Xi gritted her teeth and chuckled: "Of course I want to slice him up piece by piece."

Tong Xi visits once every year, skillfully ascending the steps. Next door to Boss Zhao's room, a door is open, revealing a green billiard table inside. As she passes by, she glances inadvertently and sees a man's back, bent over and facing inward, holding a cue stick, in the act of making a shot.

Tong Xi looked at him and asked, "How did you know?"

She haphazardly prepared some dinner in the kitchen, and after finishing, she tidied up the kitchen, habitually cleaning the countertop until it was spotless. At the moment she stopped, looking at the clean surface, she suddenly realized that this was Nie Xiu's personal habit. In a fit of anger, she took the pot that had been put away in the cabinet and placed it back on the gas stove, tossing the rag aside, which flew to the edge of the sink.

Nie Xiu finally released the bag and reached out to brush the fallen snow from her hair

Tong Xishen took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and asked him: "How did you know I live here? Did Mo Fei tell you?"

Tong Xi replied: "Rest assured, I will not act recklessly"

Tong Xi reflexively closed her eyes, regretting that she had once again failed to control herself

The two remained in a stalemate for a moment, and Tong Xi angrily said, "What exactly do you want to do by following me all the time?"

Shen Xiquan is a person who interacts with all walks of life and knows a particularly large number of people. The owner of the car rental company is surnamed Zhao, and he was also introduced to her by Shen Xiquan. In the past two years, Tong Xi has rented a car from him to drive to Lushan Township. The car should not be too new or too good, as it would be too conspicuous in a poor and remote area, inevitably attracting attention. The first two times she rented were Changhe cars, which are very common in rural areas, spacious inside and convenient for resting.

Tong Xi's attitude was indifferent: "I accept your apology, you may leave now"

Once again passing by that house, the person was no longer there. Tong Xi felt a sense of relief in a daze, truly it was a case of seeing things in a blur

I know everything. So I apologize to you

Shen Xiquan was taken aback and hurriedly said: "You must not do anything foolish; you still have Tong Hua to take care of."

Boss Zhao stood on the steps, pointing at a Changhe vehicle three meters away, and said, "Give it a try"

Tong Xi bit her lip, how could this be possible. When Shen Xiquan married Mo Dan, Nie Xiu was in the UK, and the two had little contact. Furthermore, recently, Shen Xiquan went to the UK to relax, and somehow ran into Nie Xiu. According to Mo Fei, Nie Xiu gave Shen Xiquan a good beating to vent his anger for Mo Dan. Therefore, the two should currently have a relationship of complete estrangement.

Tong Xi held the steering wheel and began to take deep breaths. It really was him. In such a large city as T, what were the odds of encountering him in this remote southern suburb? This was absolutely impossible

However, after a while, when she went in to pour herself a drink, she found the pot and the rag to be quite glaring. In the end, she put the pot away in the cupboard and stored the rag. Closing the cabinet door, she felt a bit powerless, as if this were a small battle; in this round, Nie Xiu won, and she lost

She felt a bit strange in her heart, and the first sentence she saw upon opening it was: 77. Upon seeing this address, her heart raced, and without looking at the content in between, she directly scrolled down to the end.

He just broke his leg, I can't believe he is truly worse than a beast, not even returning home to take a look during the New Year

Tong Xi got into the car and took it for a test drive around the yard, finding no issues. She obtained her driver's license during the summer after her college entrance examination, but she rarely had the opportunity to drive. Whenever they went to Lushan Township, it was always Lu Kuan who drove, as the rural road conditions were poor and her skills were not yet proficient, so she did not want to overexert herself. After taking on the responsibility of Tong Hua, she became particularly cautious about her life.

He floated down the stairs like a wandering soul, searching for two cold medicine tablets in the drawer to the left of the TV cabinet and swallowed them. After taking the medicine, he felt too weak to float back upstairs, so he settled in the living room and called Secretary Zhang, instructing her to come over shortly with the documents that needed to be handled by the company, and to also bring a bottle of licorice tablets, specifically noting that they should be produced by XX Pharmaceutical Factory

After signing the contract, Boss Zhao handed her a key and said, "You go try the car."

Shen Xiquan knew that he could not dissuade her; once she had set her mind on something, she would not rest until she achieved her goal. After a pause, he asked, "If you really manage to catch him, what do you plan to do?"

The seaside is damp and cold, with the chill penetrating to the bone. As soon as winter arrives, he often falls ill from time to time. Recently, the temperature dropped sharply, and unfortunately, he was affected again

The snow has not melted, and the road is slippery; if you are not familiar with driving, it is easy to have an accident. Although Nie Xiu's voice was gentle, his gaze and tone conveyed an undeniable firmness. In the past, she was particularly enamored by this trait, but at this moment, she wished she could push him out with a slap or kick him down. However, given his height and build, she knew she could not accomplish that.

In a moment of distraction, Nie Xiu took the bag from her hand.

Tong Xi asked without reservation: "What are you doing here?" The word "follow" turned over in her heart but remained unspoken

An apology after three years holds no significance. At this moment, she only wishes for him to leave her sight as soon as possible. Reaching out to grab her bag, Nie Xiu still insists on escorting her upstairs

Nie Xiu looked at her earnestly and said, "Qiqi, I want to make up for all the things I didn't do before"

"Shen Xiquan sent me here"

Tong Xi replied earnestly: "That won't do. A man like you, who is fickle in love and can change at any moment, makes me worry that you will lead Tong Hua astray"

The car circled around and stopped at the steps in front of the bungalow. Tong Xi applied the brakes, turned her face to Boss Zhao to say goodbye. Just as she was about to leave, there was a sound from the car door beside her, and when she turned her head, she saw that someone had already gotten into the passenger seat.

Her fingers brushed against her forehead, and she suddenly jolted awake, her eyes flying open

The excessively quiet atmosphere made her unable to resist reminiscing about the past. Those memories, lurking and restless, seemed to permeate the air everywhere, causing her to feel uneasy and irritable with every breath she took. The phone on the coffee table rang once; she picked it up and saw a WeChat message. Opening it revealed a document sent by Yuanxiu Film Industry.

It is quite heavy, I will help you carry it up

Tong Xi came to her senses and smiled apologetically: "I often review contracts at the company, so I've developed a habit of being meticulous about wording."

Tong Xi said: "I am accompanied by Xu Yan."

Nie Xiu nodded: "Understood, a four-year-old man"

Nie Xiu said, "I have been here before"

That night, Tong Xi tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and finally dozed off in a daze at three o'clock in the morning. In her dreams, there was a chaotic mix of Nie Xiu, always exuding confidence and composure, as if there was nothing in this world that he could not obtain or accomplish. ... In her dreams, she reminded herself not to become infatuated, not to become infatuated ... . ... It was his demeanor that had captivated her back then.

Upon seeing the two characters "Nie Xiu", Tong Xi felt as if something had pierced her eyes. Without any hesitation, she chose to delete it. She had no desire to know what was written in that letter. All she wanted was to restore her tranquil state of mind.

Shen Xiquan let out a sigh of relief and asked what Tong Hua would do during the Spring Festival these few days

No need, I will take the initiative