Chapter 31
In the third week after Lin Xiaotang completely blocked him, stopped answering his calls, and stopped replying to his texts, Bai Sinian was almost consumed by anxiety and despair. Like a wandering soul, he spent his days outside of his necessary work, waiting outside the tightly closed "corner" shop, hoping for that one in ten thousand miracle—that she would come back.
That evening, he finally saw a glimmer of hope. The shop door was ajar!
He practically rushed over, pushed open the door, but instead of the person he had been longing for, he saw Xiao Wei inside, tidying up and preparing to close the shop completely.
"Xiao Wei!" Fu Sinian grabbed her arm urgently, his voice hoarse, "Where's Xiao Tang? Where is she? How is she?"
Xiao Wei was startled by his sudden appearance. When she saw it was him, her eyes were filled with complex emotions, a mixture of sympathy and resentment. She pulled her hand away from his and sighed, "Mr. Bai, what are you still doing here... Sister Xiaotang went back to her hometown."
"Hometown? Where is her hometown?!" Bai Sinian asked repeatedly, as if grasping at a straw.
Xiao Wei hesitated for a moment. She could tell that Bai Sinian's haggard appearance and the pain in his eyes seemed genuine. Thinking of Xiao Tang's distraught state when she left, she felt a pang of sadness. "...In an ancient town in Jiangnan, called Lintang Town, but I don't know the exact address."
Lintang Town.
Before he could even thank him, Bai Sinian turned and rushed out. He jumped into his car and entered the unfamiliar place name into the navigation system—more than a thousand kilometers away from his city.
For over ten hours, he barely slept. The driver fatigue warning lights flashed, and bottle after bottle of coffee failed to stop him. Only one thought occupied his mind: find her! He had to find her! He couldn't lose her again! This time, he had to explain, he had to beg for her forgiveness, no matter how difficult.
When he finally arrived, weary from his journey, at this Jiangnan water town, almost invisible on any map and with a population of only 50,000, it was already the afternoon of the next day. The town was built along the river, with crisscrossing bluestone paths, white walls, and black tiles, like a maze.
He didn't know exactly which alley or house number Lin Xiaotang lived in. He could only drive slowly through the narrow streets like a headless fly, his eyes greedily scanning every similar figure, each expectation dashed, each heartbeat followed by disappointment.
Two days. He wandered around this unfamiliar town for two whole days. He stayed in a simple inn, unable to eat or sleep, unshaven and haggard, completely out of place with the tranquil atmosphere of the ancient town. Despair washed over him like a tide, almost drowning him.
Until tonight, he inexplicably wandered to the riverside food stalls, perhaps hoping to dispel the chill in his heart with a touch of lively atmosphere. And then, amidst the noise and lights, he instantly saw that figure etched into his very bones!
She stood by the river, the evening breeze ruffling her hair, her profile slightly blurred in the lamplight, yet instantly igniting all his dying nerves!
In that moment, all reason, plans, and explanations vanished. Overwhelming elation and the thrill of regaining her overwhelmed all his restraint. Only one primal, instinctive thought remained in his mind—grab her! Hold her! I can't let her disappear again!
So he rushed over and pulled her tightly into his arms without hesitation. Feeling her warmth and her real presence, his wandering, tormented heart finally seemed to have found its shore. He trembled with excitement, unable to utter a word, wanting only to hold her like this until the end of time.
He never expected that a Cheng Yaojin would suddenly appear out of nowhere. The man who looked like a local lad reacted so fiercely and violently. Those punches landed solidly, filled with undisguised anger and protectiveness.
At this moment, Persian stood still, staring at the empty alleyway, his cheeks and arms burning with pain. But he paid no heed to this physical suffering. He raised his hand and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his knuckles, his eyes unusually sharp and clear.
He saw it clearly.
On the back rack of the motorcycle that carried her away quickly, there was a not-so-obvious but clearly visible metal sign: [Junhao Auto Repair].
And when the man erupted in rage, someone nearby exclaimed the name—"Brother Hao!" "Xie Junhao!"
Junhao Auto Repair. Xie Junhao.
Fu Sinian slowly took a deep breath of the humid night air of Jiangnan. The pain made his thoughts clearer and calmer. His gaze returned to the direction where the motorcycle had disappeared, and instead of pain and despair, it ignited a calm and unwavering determination.
He found a clue. This time, he would never let go.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
