Chapter 13

Xia Zhuxi’s mind blanked for a moment. “Huh?”

Her temple itched faintly, strands of hair clinging stickily to her skin as sweat trickled into her eyes. She blinked hard.

Shen Jingsong pulled out a wet wipe and reached over. Xia Zhuxi’s cheek brushed against the cool, damp touch as Shen Jingsong gently wiped the sweat from her face. The smart lock had already disengaged, and Shen Jingsong stepped through the door. “Please, have a seat.”

Sinking into the plush, cloud-like sofa, Xia Zhuxi felt a surreal sense of unreality. She was actually in Sister Jingsong’s home.

She sat up straight, discreetly taking in Shen Jingsong’s living space. The room retained much of its original furnished state, with minimalist soft furnishings in low-saturation tones. There were few personal items, and the cabinets stood mostly empty.

In the entryway foyer stood a small fridge. Shen Jingsong retrieved a bottle of Alien from it and handed it to Xia Zhuxi. “This okay?”

Xia Zhuxi took it hurriedly. “Yes, thank you.”

Shen Jingsong said, “You’ve had a long day, so no sugary drinks for you. I find them too cloying anyway.”

Xia Zhuxi nodded. “Me too.” Though if Shen Jingsong had offered her a cola, she would have drunk it anyway.

Shen Jingsong shrugged off her coat and hung it up, then took Xia Zhuxi’s jacket and did the same, pointing down the hall. “The bathroom’s that way.”

Xia Zhuxi took a sip of her drink. “I’m good for now.”

Shen Jingsong headed off. “I’ll just freshen up then. Make yourself at home.”

Shen Jingsong’s place was far simpler than Xia Zhuxi had imagined. She’d pictured something cozy and warm, but it felt a bit cold instead.

More precisely, it lacked any real sense of lived-in warmth.

Of course, with an entertainer’s schedule—filming, events, endless work—there wasn’t much time to spend at home. And since Shen Jingsong lived alone, it wasn’t all that surprising.

Beyond a hibiscus-flower screen lay the corridor leading to the bedrooms. Xia Zhuxi heard noises from that direction and glanced over curiously. A shadow approached, accompanied by the slap-slap of flip-flops on the floor.

Xia Zhuxi stood up. What was going on?

The figure drew nearer. Flip-flops appeared beneath the screen, followed by the head of a shirtless young man scratching his tousled hair.

Xia Zhuxi froze. The man froze too. He adjusted his waistband, clamping the cigarette in his mouth. “Oh!”

A sharp crash echoed from behind him—“Clang!” A fruit tray shattered on the floor. Shen Jingsong stormed over in a fury. “What are you doing here?!”

The man exhaled a puff of smoke, slouching with hands on hips. “What’s with the yelling, Shen Jingsong?” He leered lightly at Xia Zhuxi. “Oh ho, got a client? Don’t mind me—go on and do your thing.”

A client? What client?

Xia Zhuxi’s mind went blank. The cheap cigarette stench made her stomach churn.

Shen Jingsong’s gaze toward her was filled with panic, like a wounded animal caught in the rain—eyes glistening, limping through perilous terrain with its injury exposed.

Seeing that look, Xia Zhuxi’s heart ached even more. She still didn’t understand what was happening. Did Shen Jingsong know this man? What was their relationship?

Shen Jingsong snapped at him. “Li Baopeng, you stand right there! How did you know I was home? How did you get into my house? Where’s Pandi?”

Li Baopeng smacked his lips irritably. “What’s with the attitude, Shen Jingsong? You and your sister were born to wait on I, your father.” He spread his hands in a shameless shrug. “Where’s Dad’s living expenses?”

“Where’s the money for me to get married? I, your father, still owe twenty-eight grand on a business loan!”

“Hand it all over, and hook me up with a job while you’re at it.”

Shen Jingsong’s face flushed red. Li Baopeng glared at her for a moment. “Pathetic.” He turned away, cigarette dangling from his lips, and started toward the bedroom. Shen Jingsong grabbed him hard. “Get out!”

Li Baopeng stumbled and fell, knocking over the screen with a thunderous crash.

From the corridor, Pandi dashed out of the guest room. “I told you not to mess around! Big Sis will yell at me—” She spotted Shen Jingsong and Xia Zhuxi, and stammered in panic. “Sis… um, I…”

Shen Jingsong pressed a hand to her temple with a weary sigh, her posture swaying unsteadily. Xia Zhuxi rushed to steady her and turned to Pandi. “Are you Shen Jingsong’s sister?”

Pandi clutched the hem of her clothes, hunching her shoulders as she nodded. “I’m Li Pandi.”

Xia Zhuxi shot a disgusted look at Li Baopeng. “And him?”

Li Baopeng spat, “I, your father, am her real brother.” He clambered to his feet, a cut on his lip, and lunged at Shen Jingsong in a rage. “You’re dead!”

Xia Zhuxi shoved him back. “What do you think you’re doing? I’m warning you—don’t you dare lay a hand on her.”

Li Baopeng crossed his arms and sneered from the sidelines. “Aren’t you here to sleep with her? Got some real sincerity in you, huh?” He turned. “Shen Jingsong, your game’s getting slicker. Impressive. You make all this cash, and it’s all for me and Dad—got it?!”

Shen Jingsong pulled free from Xia Zhuxi and bellowed, neck rigid. “Shut your mouth!” Her voice quavered violently. “I left that village behind long ago. I have my own father!”

She whirled on Pandi, forcing composure as she pointed at Li Baopeng. “Pandi, did you let him in?”

Pandi ducked her head low, shrinking into the corner as she whimpered, “Wuu…”

Shen Jingsong gripped her shoulders: “Isn’t that right!” She shook her forcefully: “Tell me!”

Pandi burst into tears with a wail: “Sister, I really had no choice, I-I…”

Shen Jingsong covered her face with her hands, then slowly dragged them down. Bloodshot veins floated in the whites of her once-clear eyes. “Pandi, I picked you up from the bus station at dawn and brought you home. I gave you living expenses and pocket money.”

“You said you wanted to take the adult college entrance exam, so I enrolled you in classes, bought you books, gave you a door access card and keys…”

“Didn’t you say you were living in the dorms for classes? So what’s the deal with Li Baopeng? You’re my sister. You said I’m your only support. I’m trying everything to save you, so why are you treating me like this!!!”

Pandi wailed in heaving sobs: “Sister! I’m sorry! Sister! Waaah… Dad said that as long as I acted pitiful and found you, he wouldn’t marry me off to that old widower. You have lots of money and can help me find a good husband. They tied me up in the pigsty and forced me. I really had no choice, Sister!”

Shen Jingsong screamed hysterically: “Didn’t I tell you not to contact anyone from the village? You’ve already escaped to my place—what are you still afraid of!”

Pandi: “But Dad still hasn’t paid me my wages from working! He’ll only give them back if I obey him!”

~~~

Shen Jingsong fell silent. A chill caught in her throat, knotting into something deadly.

She’d escaped the tiger’s den, yet she was still chained by those measly few hundred bucks in wages.

Some people, after wallowing in ignorance for too long, think they can shed their victimhood by becoming accomplices.

Was that even possible?

In that moment, Shen Jingsong understood: she and this pitiful sister before her could never see eye to eye.

Shen Jingsong closed her eyes in heavy sorrow: “This is all on me. I brought it on myself.”

“What are you yelling about, Li Pandi? Who locked you in the pigsty? Bullshit.” Li Baopeng shoved Pandi.

“What are you doing? Don’t hit me! I gave you all the money Sister gave me!” The two of them tumbled into a brawl.

Shen Jingsong’s chest heaved violently as she screamed hysterically: “Get the hell out of here!!!!”

Shen Jingsong called property management. Security dispatched personnel who arrived, recorded the information on the suspected illegal intruders, bowed in apology to Shen Jingsong, and promised to strengthen protection going forward.

The room fell silent. The floor tiles gleamed coldly, while outside the window, all was pitch black.

Shen Jingsong sat in the icy chair, her gaze lowered. Shards from the porcelain tray and torn panels from the folding screen lay scattered at her feet.

Xia Zhuxi swept away the fragments with a broom. Shen Jingsong clutched her chest and coughed. Her flushed face hadn’t yet returned to normal, and her throat was hoarse and dry. “Xiao Xi, I’m sorry.”

Shen Jingsong didn’t know what else she could say. Anyone who witnessed that scene and heard Li Baopeng’s filthy words would feel disgusted.

It was the rawest wound she kept hidden most tightly, the one she guarded so carefully and bore alone—yet Xia Zhuxi had still stumbled upon it.

Why did it have to be Xia Zhuxi? Seeing the shackled side beneath Shen Jingsong’s polished exterior, Xia Zhuxi must be deeply disappointed.

“Don’t apologize.” Xia Zhuxi spoke in her usual calm tone, carrying a soothing power that eased Shen Jingsong’s heart. “Sister Jingsong, I’ll stay with you.” She handed her a glass of water. “Those people just now… they were really your brother and sister?”

Shen Jingsong gripped the cup with both hands. At the mention of “brother and sister,” her wrists trembled uncontrollably, spilling a few drops. Xia Zhuxi quickly wiped them away with a tissue.

“Yeah, I left them when I was very young.” Shen Jingsong didn’t want to say more.

Perhaps after today, Xia Zhuxi would leave her, just like all those others from her past who learned her background… So there was no point in pointless confessions. The other woman had no obligation to understand.

Xia Zhuxi’s eyes darkened a little, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she said, “Didn’t you want fruit earlier? I’ll go peel some.”

Shen Jingsong composed herself and spoke softly, “Xiao Xi, it’s late.”

Xia Zhuxi paused: “Oh? Oh… yeah, it is.”

Shen Jingsong handed her an outer coat: “Let’s head downstairs.”

It was April, and the weather hadn’t warmed up yet. The night air carried a chill.

The night breeze swept fallen leaves across the ground with a rustling sound.

Shen Jingsong waited for Xia Zhuxi to pull the car out: “I won’t walk you all the way.”

Xia Zhuxi hurriedly said, “It’s windy out here, Sister Jingsong. Go back inside quickly. Get some rest. Good night.”

Shen Jingsong wrapped her shawl tighter and waved: “Good night.”

Shen Jingsong watched as Xia Zhuxi’s car gradually receded into the distance. The final glow of the taillights washed over her, then slowly vanished.

For some reason, property management was doing electrical repairs today—the lights in the greenbelt were all out.

Shen Jingsong didn’t want to return to that house, betrayed by Pandi and invaded by Li Baopeng. Ignoring the cold wind, she wandered slowly through the greenbelt.

So cold.

Shen Jingsong tilted her face upward. She couldn’t tell if it was night dew or fine rain, but icy droplets flecked her cheeks.

It felt just like that stormy night when she’d fled at twelve.

Shen Jingsong was born in Xiaoxiuhe Village in the Liulin Mountains. The village primary school had only about a dozen students in total.

Teacher Shen, who had come from the city to teach in the village, took a great liking to her and praised her intelligence. After finishing sixth grade with her, Teacher Shen planned to return to the city. He discussed with Shen Jingsong’s family about donating money to send her to school in the city, only to be met with curses: “My girl is fifteen and it’s time for her to get married! You want to steal my daughter, you shameless bastard!”

Teacher Shen had no choice but to leave a little money for Shen Jingsong and end his time as a volunteer teacher.

The town had a junior high school, and twelve-year-old Shen Jingsong naively believed her father would let her attend because she was pretty, studious, and well-liked wherever she went—everyone praised her.

But her naivety and beauty became weapons used against her.

Li Tiezhu locked her in the melon shed, spittle flying as he ranted: “Zhao Di, there are plenty of guys after you! I’ve already found you a husband’s family. What does a girl need with school? Just take good care of your in-laws and your dad later, and save up enough bride price for your brother to get a wife.”

Shen Jingsong refused to accept her fate. She pretended to submit, staying home to work the fields while secretly preparing the money Teacher Shen had left her and a backpack sewn from a urea sack. Seizing the chance when Li Tiezhu was dead drunk, she fled into the wind and rain, trudging dozens of li across barren land until she reached the county town. There, kind strangers helped her get to Liulin City.

Shen Jingsong clutched the crumpled homework paper with the phone number scrawled on it. The supermarket boss cheated her out of ten yuan to make the call from the public phone.

When the call connected and she heard that gentle, refined male voice, Shen Jingsong broke down in tears after her hundred-kilometer solo journey. “Teacher Shen, I want to go to school.”

Teacher Shen rushed to the small supermarket near the train station and saw the dust-covered girl. He pulled her into a tight embrace, tears streaming down his face.

Teacher Shen brought Shen Jingsong home, and after discussing it with his wife, they decided to adopt her.

When they went to sign the adoption papers, Li Tiezhu demanded an outrageous sum: “You’re just trying to steal my girl! No ten thousand, and I’ll sue you!”

Teacher Shen said bitterly, “Ten thousand it is! Here’s your ten thousand—don’t you ever come bothering this child again!”

Teacher Shen and his wife each held one of Shen Jingsong’s hands as they walked home from the Adoption Registration Office.

Teacher Shen said, “From now on, I’ll be your dad, and Aunt Qi will be your mom. Okay?”

Shen Jingsong said softly, “Okay.”

Mama Shen said, “Mom and Dad will give you a new name. Hmm… ‘Her words enter Yellow Flower Stream, following the green brook’s flow. Her voice echoes amid the rapids, her color serene in the deep pines.’ Jingsong is nice. From now on, you’ll be Shen Jingsong. Jingjing, do you like your new name?”

Shen Jingsong gripped her mom and dad’s hands tightly. “I like it. Jingsong—my name is Shen Jingsong.”

~~~

Clear tears streamed down her face.

Shen Jingsong wiped her cheeks. She was grown up now, financially independent—no longer that silly girl from the mountain village.

She could protect herself.

She no longer needed to rely on anyone.

She could stand alone.

Shen Jingsong sat on a park bench and glanced up at her apartment building. It was a dark void.

She planned to go back for a few things and ask Betty to help her find a new place to stay.

The leaves nearby were coated in a layer of warm yellow.

Shen Jingsong turned her head, a faint light flickering in her eyes.

The red Ferrari pulled silently to the roadside, and the window slid down gracefully.

Xia Zhuxi’s deep gaze softened, a gentle smile blooming on her strikingly handsome face.

“Shen Jingsong, when you’re feeling down, would you like to go see the sea with Xia Zhuxi?”