Xia Xuan felt unreasonably anxious, her fingers tightly gripping her phone as she said to the driver, "Can you please drive faster?"
Unfortunately, it was rush hour and the road was jammed for a long time. It was completely dark and the neon lights became particularly dazzling.
Xia Xuan didn't call again. She stared anxiously out the window as the streetlights receded. Finally, the familiar gate of the residential complex came into view. She paid the fare by scanning the QR code on her phone, pushed open the door, and got out.
Several people returning from get off work were walking into the community with tired steps. She didn't see Chen Songbai among them, so she followed them in slowly, holding the access card in her hand.
Xia Xuan opened the door of the building, holding her bag strap, and walked into the elevator.
The old lady who lived in the same building was holding a brown Teddy Bear. She glanced at Xia Xuan and recognized her: "I haven't seen you for several days."
Xia Xuan was in a bad mood. She smiled and politely replied, "Well, I'm staying at my mother's house these days."
"I see." The old lady said with a smile, "I haven't seen your husband for several days. I thought you two were out traveling."
Xia Xuan didn't know why, but she breathed a sigh of relief: "He hasn't been back for several days?"
"I came back today," the old lady said. "Before dinner, I went to the neighborhood supermarket to buy soy sauce. When I came out, I ran into him and he greeted me."
After a few words, the elevator stopped. The old lady pulled the dog leash and the little Teddy followed her out of the elevator.
The elevator door closed and continued up two floors, arriving at Xia Xuan's floor. Her breathing became a little short, and she paused for several seconds before stepping out, the old woman's words lingering in her mind.
Chen Songbai came back before dinner, so he should not be busy, but he didn't answer her call or even reply to her message.
Xia Xuan fished her key out of her bag, inserted it into the lock, opened the door, and changed into slippers in the hallway. Sure enough, she saw the pair of leather shoes Chen Songbai often wore on the shoe rack. She clattered her sandals inside. The living room was quiet, no one was around.
"Song Bai?"
Xia Xuan called out, but no one responded. She glanced around, her gaze suddenly pausing. Several dishes were laid out on the dining table. She slowly approached them. They were all Chen Songbai's favorite hometown dishes, ones she'd learned to make especially for him, but clearly, none of them were as authentic as the one before her.
For a moment, Xia Xuan thought it was her mother-in-law coming from her hometown.
Suddenly, her toes kicked something, and it started rolling with a crisp sound. Xia Xuan looked down and saw a red wine bottle lying on the ground, the remaining purple-red liquid spilling out as it rolled.
Xia Xuan squatted down, straightened the bottle, and gathered a few paper towels together to wipe the floor. Her fingers were stained by the red wine soaked through the paper towels, and they felt cold. She didn't drink red wine, and neither did Chen Songbai. There was no red wine at home.
Xia Xuan was dazed for a moment, stood up, threw the tissue into the trash can, and noticed two sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table.
Maybe Chen Songbai and Miao Yijiajia had dinner together, so where are they now?
Xia Xuan didn't clean up the leftovers on the table for the time being and went to look for someone else.
There were a few clothes hanging on the balcony, including Miao Yijiajia's skirt and underwear, fluttering in the wind.
Xia Xuan wiped away the sweat dripping down her cheeks. Just then, she heard a noise from the bedroom. Just as she was wondering, the door opened from the inside. Miao Yijia emerged wearing a lotus-pink lace suspender nightgown, one strap slipping off her shoulder and dangling from her arm.
She looked like she had just woken up, her hair was slightly disheveled and her eyes were blurry.
Xia Xuan looked at her, with surprise and confusion on her face. She didn't say anything for a long time, waiting for Miao Yijiajia to explain to her why she came out of her bedroom.
She remembered that she had cleared out a guest room for her to stay in. Could it be that Miao Yijia had been sleeping in the master bedroom during her absence?
Xia Xuan was a little angry at the other party's lack of tact. Normal people would know the most basic etiquette when visiting someone else's home. She was not sure if Miao Yijia had touched anything else of hers.
Miao Yijia was still silent, and Xia Xuan grew impatient. She frowned and demanded, "Aren't you going to explain yourself? Why are you in my bedroom? Are you sleeping in there?"
Miao Yijiajia still didn't say anything. She took a step to the side, touched her neck with her fingers, looked away, and her expression and movements were unnatural.
Xia Xuan was really convinced. Was she feeling guilty?
"you……"
Just as she said a word, Xia Xuan looked inside through the open door and saw a person lying on the bed. It was far away and her face could not be seen clearly, but from her figure, it was not difficult to recognize that it was Chen Songbai.
There was a lump in her throat, and Xia Xuan was stunned and stepped back in disbelief.
Miao Yijia's face was pale, and she only showed signs of panic at this moment. Every time she blinked, large, glistening tears fell. She had a delicate appearance, and when she cried, she looked a little weak and pitiful.
Xia Xuan still didn't want to believe the absurd idea that rushed into her mind. They were brother and sister, and cousins were also brother and sister. How could it be possible... She must be overthinking it.
Xia Xuan rushed into the bedroom. Chen Songbai was sound asleep, his breathing heavy, as if he'd been drinking too much. The corner of the quilt was draped over him, and he was only wearing his underwear. Xia Xuan's eyes flickered. She called out several times, but he didn't wake up.
At the door, Miao Yijia sobbed and said, "He, he is drunk."
Hearing her voice, Xia Xuan turned back suddenly and suppressed the nausea that was surging in her: "You, you..." Her chest was heaving, and the words were turning between her lips and teeth, but she couldn't say them.
Xia Xuan still remembered the doctor's advice to stay calm and avoid extreme mood swings. She had undergone several surgeries since birth, her fragile heart patched and battered, a constant burden on her family. When the family was in trouble, Xia Xi had sacrificed so much to raise the money for her surgery.
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