Five years later

Five years later

It was eerie, somber, and chilling.

I hadn't felt that kind of gaze in so long. At that moment, the string that had been taut in my mind seemed to snap. I turned my head stiffly and nervously.

Tall shelves, bright lights, spacious aisles, and customers coming and going.

The iconic and adorable bulldog balloon decorations can be seen everywhere.

Everything seemed perfectly orderly, as if the gaze I had just received was merely a hallucination caused by my own excessive nervousness.

"Mom...?" Jiang Shan tugged at my skirt and called my name softly, "What's wrong? You look terrible."

The central air conditioning above my head was blowing cool air at a comfortable temperature, but I still felt shivering. My mind was in turmoil, and I quickly picked her up. "It's okay, Mommy isn't feeling well, she seems to be sick."

"Really?" She raised her soft little hand to touch my forehead, then touched her own, and said to me in a serious tone, "It's a little hot, Mom. What should we do? Dad will be angry when he comes back and sees that I didn't take good care of you."

"Now that we've bought everything, let's go home, okay?" I said gently to her, and she nodded.

As I was pushing the stroller and turning to leave, a man suddenly appeared from behind the toy shelf. He blocked my way, and I was terrified, taking several steps back while holding my child.

The man wasn't particularly handsome, but he wasn't bad-looking either. In Southern California, a place with a high level of leisure, he was dressed very brightly and fashionably, wearing head-to-toe luxury brands that you could recognize.

He was quite tall and thin, with shrewd eyes. When he saw me, his eyes revealed undisguised amazement.

"Hello, miss, I've been watching you ever since I entered the supermarket. You're so beautiful."

Seeing me cautiously sizing him up, he gave me a very professional smile and said solicitously, "Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm an agent, and I live in the villa over there. Are you a model or a signed internet celebrity with any company?"

I frowned slightly and shook my head.

The man's enthusiasm remained undiminished. "Are you interested in joining this industry? I think you're perfect for it. Whether it's your looks, figure, or temperament, you could easily sign with a company. I guarantee you'll become a globally popular leading lady within three years. I've been keeping an eye on you; I think you have an amazing presence."

Was he the man who was staring at me just now?

I recalled the strange gazes I occasionally felt when I turned around, and then looked at the man's direct gaze. The tension in my heart seemed to ease a little. I politely apologized to him, "Thank you, but I'm not interested in these things. I have a stable job."

The man was surprised, and Jiang Shan turned her head to look at him from my arms. "My mother is very busy with work every day, she doesn't have time to be a star."

He smiled graciously and said, "Well, that's a shame."

I carried Jiang Shan out of the supermarket and put her in the child seat. She hugged my shoulders and said, "Mommy, why don't you agree to him? That way, our family can live in a bigger house."

“Then I won’t be able to be with you every day anymore. You’ll have to wait for the school bus to take you home from kindergarten every day, then cook for yourself, and no one will be there to sleep with you every night. Can Shan’er accept that?” I said to her.

Jiang Shan looked very aggrieved and troubled, and finally hugged my neck tightly, "No, I want my mom..."

I could faintly hear a sob in her voice, and I couldn't help but laugh. She said in her childish voice, "Mommy, don't leave me."

I hugged the girl in my arms tightly.

Yu Xu works at a large software company near Irvine, while I'm pursuing my graduate studies and working as a prop designer at an independent film studio in Southern California. My life is uneventful. I've almost forgotten what happened five years ago.

Jiang Shan was already asleep. I slowed down the car. It wasn't far from the city to our community. The summer was dry and hot, with no clouds in the sky, and rows of palm trees could be seen everywhere on both sides of the street.

As I watched the indicator light ahead slowly turn red, I stopped the car. Inadvertently, I glanced at the rearview mirror and saw a pure black Maybach following behind me.

The West Coast is never short of wealthy people, and luxury cars are everywhere. But that car was too unique compared to the flamboyant convertibles and SUVs around it, so I couldn't help but take a second look.

The car and I were about three parking spaces apart, neither too far nor too close.

At first, I didn't take it seriously. I watched the traffic light turn green again before releasing the handbrake. But as I drove away from the bustling city and headed towards the suburbs, the car continued to follow me. I bit my lip and unconsciously increased my speed.

The neighbors in this neighborhood all know each other very well. Although each house is a detached house, there are many community activities in Pingli, and everyone comes and goes frequently. I can recognize almost every neighbor's car, and the neighbors living here are the same. If they see strangers walking on the streets, they will even immediately contact the police to take them away.

This Maybach that suddenly appeared was utterly unfamiliar and frightening...

I changed direction, made a turn, and drove towards the public tennis court in the community, then parked the car in the parking lot next to the court.

My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, and I didn't even dare to take my eyes off it. Fortunately, the Maybach didn't seem to be following me closely. It drove straight ahead and finally entered a white villa with a very luxurious entrance.

"..." My heart wasn't so uneasy anymore. I waited for a long time, but the car didn't appear, so I drove home.

Yu Xu was preparing dinner when he saw me holding my daughter. He quickly came out, looked at the sleeping child, and then looked at me with concern. "What's wrong, Xiao Fu? You look so pale."

"She might have heatstroke." I forced a smile at him. Yu Xu took the child, and we went upstairs to the second floor and took her back to her room.

Although Yu Xu is very busy, he cares a lot about his daughter's kindergarten life. He is usually responsible for picking her up and dropping her off at school. He also helps her with her homework. I can tell that he likes this child.

I was somewhat absent-minded. Even though dinner was on the table, I just held my spoon and ate absentmindedly; I didn't have much of an appetite. After dinner, Yu Xu and I cleaned up the dishes side by side. I looked at Yu Xu, hesitant to speak, unsure whether I should bring up what had happened.

Suddenly my waist tightened.

I awkwardly snapped out of my daze. Yu Xu hugged me from behind, bent down, and gently asked, "Xiao Fu, are you in a bad mood? What happened?"

“…I…” I hesitated under his gaze.

Yu Xu gave up almost everything for me. He could have found a well-paying job in the Empire State, but he left home with me, abandoning his friends, classmates, and family. We came to Southern California and started almost from scratch.

For the first few years, we rented a cheap apartment. Besides working at an internet company, he also took on part-time jobs at night. During the year I was pregnant, Yu Xu didn't even take a break. After our daughter was born, he switched to a software company with a higher salary, but also a busier job. He took out a loan of several million yuan in the name of a company employee and bought this quiet and beautiful house in the suburbs.

My aunt only found out we were living here last year, but in order to avoid being discovered by those people, she can only visit us occasionally under the guise of going on vacation.

I am now a mother, and I have to protect her, instead of being helpless like I was five years ago.

Besides, I've been keeping an eye on the winds blowing in the Empire State for the past few years. Everyone there lives their lives in a very structured and routine way.

The only exception is the "female lead," Lim Ji-eun, who seems to have deviated from the ballet dancer identity that the "game" designed for her.

She readily inherited the entire Lin family business, even expanding it into hotels and resorts, and also investing in Southern California. Currently, in the Empire State, the Jiang family is the dominant force, with the Jiang family close behind.

Jiang Mingzhuo's studio developed an intelligent AI system that can almost control the entire Federation's public surveillance and systems. His AI is virtually omnipotent, and naturally, Jiang Mingzhuo has also established a relationship with the Federation, solving many of their problems.

Since becoming the Minister of Finance, Xie Yong's father has been supporting his son, helping him rise from a member of parliament to become the mayor of the current Imperial State.

Lin Jindong has risen from state prosecutor to independent attorney general, and his current power is no less than that of Xie Yong.

The only one who surprised me was Ye Fenglin.

He naturally became a lawyer as well, but in Xie Yong's opposing party.

On the surface, Ye Fenglin, Xie Yong, and Lin Zhi'en have completely broken up, with no possibility of reconciliation.

I gently lifted my eyelashes and told Yu Xu, "It's nothing. Today at the supermarket, a guy suddenly asked me if I wanted to be a star." @Unlimited good articles, all at Literary City

Southern California boasts a thriving entertainment industry and is a veritable paradise for movies. Countless celebrities and internet personalities reside in its upscale estates, and it's common to see agents from various studios approaching people on the street.

Yu Xu readily feigned surprise, "Really? How come it's only now that we've realized our Xiao Fu is suited to be a star? We're way too late."

He made me laugh, so I turned around and patted his shoulder in his arms, instantly banishing the unpleasant feeling that had been hanging over me.

Late at night, Yu Xu and I were resting in the bedroom. I suddenly felt a tickle in my throat, so I got up to go downstairs for a drink of water. After I poured myself a glass of warm water and slowly sipped it, and then sat and watched a late-night variety show for a while, I suddenly noticed that the floor lamp in the living room had suddenly gone out.

Next, the television, which had been playing a reality show not long ago, also seemed to break down completely, with no sound and the screen going completely black.

In an instant, I felt as if I had entered a strange, excessively quiet and dark world.

I reached out and carefully made my way to the main light switch in the living room. I fiddled with it for a bit, but even the overhead light didn't respond.

All the lights in the house seem to be broken.

What happened?

I was breathing heavily, unable to see what was happening around me, but the sounds became increasingly clear. I could clearly hear someone coming down from upstairs. The moonlight outside the window spilled onto the ground, and I could vaguely make out the outline of a man, whose figure was tall and slender.

“Yu Xu…” I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched him get closer and closer, especially since the man still smelled of the light lemon shower gel from the bathroom.

He walked up to me, and I instinctively reached out my hand, which was then grasped by "Yu Xu".

"It seems like the power's out at home," I told him, a slight sob in my voice. "I'm so scared..."

Yu Xu paused for a moment, then raised his other hand and gently stroked my shoulder. Perhaps because of the long power outage, he was unbearably hot and had taken a shower, making his body temperature even higher than before.

"The fuse has blown."

Yu Xu comforted me. I heard his voice was a little hoarse, and it was different from his voice during the day... It was strange. Could there be someone else?

I couldn't help but chuckle. It was the middle of the night, and I was starting to let my mind wander again.

Before I could respond, Yu Xu hugged me tightly again, his fingers stroking my collarbone. I felt a little ticklish and tried to push him away: "Yu Xu, wait a minute, let's fix the electricity at home first. Shan'er will be too hot to sleep later."

@Unlimited great articles, all at Literary City

"No, Xiao Fu." @Unlimited great articles, all at Literary City

Yu Xu smiled and whispered in the darkness, "Xiao Fu, call me by a different name."

My face flushed slightly. In the dim light of the night, in a place where the moonlight couldn't reach, I could barely make out the handsome outline of his face. I hadn't called him that in a long time, except for the occasional time in bed when I would act coquettishly.

"Honey, stop fooling around."

Yu Xu immediately kissed me. I leaned back and my body pressed against the wall. Fortunately, Yu Xu only kissed me a few times. He quickly realized that he still had to fix the outside circuit. I heard the door open and then sat quietly on the sofa to wait for him.

It might be a few minutes, or it might be a dozen minutes.

Worried that something might happen to Yu Xu, I had just stood up when I heard steady, slow footsteps. I subconsciously looked up, and in the pale moonlight, I saw that the man at the door was exceptionally tall, with the top two buttons of his black shirt undone, revealing his long, slender neck.

His gaze was sharp, carrying a natural, condescending indifference and dominance, only colder and more mature than I remembered. I stared blankly at Jiang Zhao, and even smelled that extremely invasive, niche cigarette scent.

Unpleasant memories rushed back, making the hairs on the back of my head stand on end. I looked away, avoiding those cold and dark eyes, and felt an urge to run away.

Where is Yu Xu? My fingers trembled with fear. I dared not go over, nor could I believe that Jiang Zhao in front of me was real. Sweat slowly slid down my cheeks, from my neck to the bear's mouth. I felt my breathing becoming more and more rapid, my heart pounding like a drum...

"Mom, it's so hot..." In a daze, I heard Jiang Shan's groggy voice. I felt like I was on fire. I didn't care that I had bumped into the table and tripped. I stumbled over and picked up my daughter.

"Mom..." Jiang Shan asked, confused, "It's so hot. Why isn't the air conditioner blowing?"

"Don't be afraid, Mom will take you home now." I didn't dare to turn around, but my heart was pounding. I couldn't let Jiang Zhao hurt my daughter!

I carried Jiang Shan and rushed back to her room. I held her tightly, and she seemed to sense my fear, nestled obediently in my arms. The room was silent, the window was slightly ajar, and the only sound I could faintly hear was the slamming of car doors on the roadside, which sounded particularly loud in the quiet night.

Immediately afterwards, the wheels rolled over the road.

The world fell silent again. It felt as if it were just my daughter and me.

I didn't dare to speak. Besides repeatedly stroking her head, I was so scared I kept crying. Jiang Shan raised her hand and kept wiping my tears, saying, "Mommy, don't cry..."

My nerves tightened even more. Jiang Shan's small hand pressed against my pounding heart as she clumsily sang me a lullaby. In that childish voice, my eyelashes slowly drooped.

The door opened, and I was suddenly startled.

"Dad, Mom had a nightmare!" Jiang Shan said to the man. Yu Xu came to my side, and there was that familiar lemon scent. My nerves had been on edge all night, but I slowly relaxed, and sleepiness finally came over me. I fell asleep in Yu Xu's arms.

In the sweltering summer, only the gentle morning breeze, carrying a touch of coolness, slowly woke me from my sleep.

I slowly opened my eyes. There was still a fever-reducing patch on my forehead. When Yu Xu saw that I was awake, he smiled and said, "Xiao Fu?"

“Yu Xu…” I looked at him, “Last night, was the line broken? You went outside to fix it…did anyone come in?”

"Yes, yes, I woke up in the middle of the night and when I didn't see you, the house was dark and unbearably hot, I went to the garage to check on things, and when I came back I found you had fainted in Shan'er's room." Yu Xu took off the fever-reducing patch, and then considerately let me lean on his shoulder, feeding me medicine and water.

It was a dream, I thought, still half-asleep, but I felt a sense of relief.

It's been five years, and I haven't dreamed about them in a long time. I've even forgotten what they look like. I never expected that I could clearly see what Jiang Zhao would look like five years later in my dream. It's really outrageous.

"Why don't you take the day off today, Xiao Fu? Get some rest at home." Yu Xu's eyes were full of worry.

I smiled and shook my head, then suddenly remembered last night. I leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Honey, let's take Shan'er to the neighbor's house first tonight, and then go for a walk on the beach, okay?"

Yu Xu was stunned for a moment. His face flushed slightly at this extremely intimate address. I gently bit my lip, feeling that he was much bolder last night than he was now.