Without much guesswork, what Yang Sisi sent me must be evidence of Cao Jinbo's crimes. Wang Xiaoling and I both miscalculated. Cao Jinbo didn't trust An'an. In the end, he still handed this thing that could change the fate of many people to his son... And Yang Sisi had planned this all along!
Just then, I suddenly remembered a detail: that night, An'an and I were talking about this by Erhai Lake when we heard a sound. At first, we thought it was a seabird entering the water, but now that I think about it, it's very likely that Yang Sisi overheard our conversation. Otherwise, she wouldn't have thought that this was something I was so concerned about. She must have thought that I was so persistent because I couldn't let go of Ye Zhi.
She misunderstood; I had already decided to let go. Otherwise, I would never have made the decision to rush home for the Chinese New Year no matter what. And after making that decision, I felt much more at ease.
I have everything I need. I have a career, money, and a future... I can already enjoy life, so why should I make things difficult for myself?
I have changed. I am no longer the Michael I used to be. Now, I also seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. But Yang Sisi doesn't understand... She thinks I am still the Michael I was a few years ago, full of obsessions, and only recognizes right and wrong without considering advantages and disadvantages.
My mind was in complete turmoil, and I lost my composure. I didn't expect the package to arrive at all. My intuition told me that this would be the beginning of a nightmare... No matter what means Yang Sisi used to obtain the evidence, Cao Jinbo would not let it go. Given Cao Jinbo's character, he was capable of doing anything extreme to protect himself.
...
I instantly realized that the most important thing I should do right now was to contact Yang Sisi and tell her to leave Cao Xiaobei immediately and find a safe place; or, if she told me where she was, I would set off to find her right away.
Having figured this out, I hurriedly grabbed my phone from the table, typed a message, and sent it to Yang Sisi: "Sisi, if you see this message, please call me back... I'm very worried about you because what you're doing is extremely dangerous... I don't want you to put yourself in danger, and you've really misunderstood me. I've already chosen to give up. Now I just want to go home and have a good New Year, to reunite with my parents... For me, what I look forward to most is everyone being safe... You know what? My mom has even thought about buying you new underwear for the New Year. Not only me, but my family is also really looking forward to you coming home with me for the New Year... I've never asked you for anything before, but this is the only time I'm asking you in my life: if you see this message, please reply... please!"
After sending that message, my heart was pounding, and my eyes were glued to my phone screen...
Time ticked by, and I still hadn't received a reply from Yang Sisi, let alone a phone call; I finally couldn't hold back any longer...
I dialed her number, but it was already switched off, which further confirmed my suspicion that something uncontrollable must have happened.
I considered calling Wang Xiaoling and telling her this important information; but I quickly changed my mind. If I had this evidence, I would still have leverage to talk to Cao Jinbo. Once the evidence was given to the police, the variables would be hard to control.
At that moment, I couldn't care less about anything else. I immediately prepared to go to Tie Nan and Coach Ma's farm. I needed to get the package first, see what was inside, and then make a decision.
...
As I was leaving the inn, Ye Zhi called me. After I answered, she asked me in a very urgent tone, "Where are you now? I'm coming to find you right away."
"Did Sisi contact you about the inns in Caicun?"
"Okay, let's talk when we meet. I'll be right there."
Before I could respond, Ye Zhi hung up the phone. I could sense that she was just as anxious as I was. As clever as Ye Zhi was, she had probably already considered the danger involved... The so-called evidence wasn't scary; what was scary was Cao Jinbo. He was no longer just an ordinary gangster; he had murder on his hands. If such a vicious person turned his attention to Yang Sisi, we could easily guess what the consequences would be for Yang Sisi.
If Yang Sisi really is the biggest victim in this incident, I will never be able to forgive myself for the rest of my life, because she did it all for me, and there is no other explanation.
...
Ten minutes later, Ye Zhi drove to the inn where I was staying. After I got in the car, she said to me with a serious expression, "Sisi just sent me a message. Take a look."
As she spoke, she handed me her phone. It was a text message, just a few simple words, but they tore at my heart. Yang Sisi said, "I've sent Cao Jinbo's criminal evidence to Tie Nan and Instructor Ma's farm. I don't mean anything by it; I just hope that after all this, you two can finally be together. I've left the car keys with Mi Gao. You and he should go back to the small town together. I know he's a bit vain. He wants me to go back with him just to satisfy his own vanity, but he'll be genuinely happy if you go back with him... That's where I'll never be as good as you... I accept this fact. Don't let him down again, and don't let yourself down either. The happiest thing in the world is being with the one you love most... That's probably the only thing I'm better at than you, because I realized this before you did and tried my best to achieve it. I have no regrets..."
I let out a heavy sigh, then closed my eyes, leaned back in the car seat, and stopped all mental activity; suddenly, certain fragments of memory came to mind again.
We traveled together from Shanghai to Dali. When I was at my loneliest, she rushed back from abroad to spend the New Year with me. When Ye Zhi had an accident in Thailand, she was there for me. When I lacked start-up capital in Thailand, she delivered the money to me. At this moment, her slightly smug smile and the way she looked at me with deep affection have become an incurable wound in my heart.
How can I get her back?
How can I salvage what I'm going through now?
I was confused... until I saw Ye Zhi beside me, and my heart calmed down a little... At this moment, she must have more opinions than me, and I should ask for her opinion.
In that instant, I suddenly realized that as long as she was there, she was never absent during the most difficult times in my life...
I couldn't describe the feeling in my heart. I suddenly felt that I was their biggest nemesis. No one of them would be truly happy with me... What had blinded me? I had clearly seen through it all. I should find an ordinary woman or a woman who loves money to live with. So why did I still go and provoke Yang Sisi?
(End of this chapter)
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