I don't know when it started, but my cousin Dai Qiang began to act strangely... He never cared about changes in relationships, so no matter what my relationship with Ye Zhi was, he always had to tell me about Ye Zhi's situation, and it was always something unpleasant. The more he did this, the less I knew how to respond.
In my silence, Dai Qiang said again, "Brother, aren't you shocked? This basically confirms that what your sister-in-law encountered in Thailand was not a natural disaster."
I didn't respond, but said, "Dai Qiang, isn't our brotherhood a bit too weak?... I've had my leg broken for over half a month, and you didn't even call me once; when I finally got your call, you talked about trivial things. How can I not feel hurt?!"
"Is this matter insignificant?"
"You're fucking hopeless... Would it kill you to ask about my leg?"
"You're such a resilient person, what do I have to worry about?"
"We're not on the same wavelength, so we can't chat."
Before Dai Qiang could speak, I continued, "Don't rush to answer, I also need to tell you something... My parents have been in Dali for half a month. If they want to enjoy life, I'd welcome them to stay, of course. But they don't think that way at all... Things are already chaotic enough here, and they nag me every day. I'm really annoyed... Can you help me persuade them? I'm an adult, I can't be any more adult. I have my own ideas. Even if they want to interfere, they can't change the course of my life. In the end, it just makes everyone unhappy... Isn't that a losing proposition?"
"They just want you to marry Lu Jia... Don't you know why you refused?"
"Stop talking nonsense."
"You just like to deceive yourself... Don't forget how you waited for your sister-in-law back then. If it wasn't true love, would you have waited so desperately?"
I lit a cigarette, waiting for Dai Qiang to continue, but he suddenly stopped talking, making the word "wait" all the more jarring... I still remember how I felt then, in a daze, each day feeling like an eternity, my spirits completely broken...
I have never denied my feelings for Ye Zhi... but so what?
People always get tired and disappointed... and isn't that how feelings gradually fade away in the process?
I finally spoke to Dai Qiang, saying, "Dai Qiang, whatever your purpose is... I really hope you won't tell me these gossip stories anymore... I'm just an ordinary man, I can't change anything... Please leave me alone!"
"Brother... what you're saying... it really makes me feel bad!"
"Let's leave it at that."
Before Dai Qiang could say anything more, I decisively hung up the phone.
...
I finally had some peace and quiet, but even after calming down, I couldn't help but think about Ye Zhi's situation... If what Dai Qiang just said...
If there's no exaggeration, then she would inevitably be in an extremely dangerous situation... because a game of strategy is a back-and-forth exchange; it's impossible for her to take action while the other side simply sits and waits to die... If the incident in Thailand was true, one can imagine how vicious the other party must have been.
While I was worried about Ye Zhi, I felt even more powerless to help her.
Because I've always been an outsider.
Thinking about it more deeply, the identity of "outsider" really resonated with me...
Ye Zhi didn't want me to get involved in this situation.
All our suffering stems from this predicament... I, unable to enter, wish for her to leave; she, unable to leave, does not wish for me to enter... Thus, we can only drift further and further apart on our two separate paths.
I can consider this the best possible outcome... but what about her?
Unable to get an answer, I closed my eyes and took a deep drag of my cigarette... The smoke came out of my mouth, but I still didn't want to open my eyes. I just squinted my eyes and watched the afternoon sunlight filter through the trees and fall at my feet. My body felt comfortable, but I just couldn't feel happy.
...
That afternoon, An'an was just as disappointed as I was... She finally came to find me.
She moved a stool and sat down opposite me. She looked around first, then asked me, "Your parents aren't coming, are they?"
"It's alright if you come... I've already explained things to them on your end."
An'an was finally relieved.
I asked her, "What have you been busy with lately?"
"Same as always, either wander around or go to a bar... I just came from Nicole's bar."
"It's really the same as always!..."
An'an looked somewhat resentful as she complained, "I don't know what he's been busy with lately... He hasn't come to see me for a week... Every time I call him, he says he has something important to do... Haha, what could be so important that he's been so busy for a whole week like it's a major crisis?"
After pausing for a moment, An'an chuckled self-deprecatingly and said, "Actually, it's all just an excuse. He's just tired of me... A man like him must have countless women around him... He has too many choices... Anyway, I'm not in a legitimate relationship with him, so I have to put up with whatever he does!"
She was indeed not in a legitimate position, so it was difficult to advise her on this matter. I just listened to her complaints and didn't say anything.
...
After An'an finished speaking, we were silent for a while; then she asked me, "What about you? How are things going with that woman?"
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