Chapter 21 The bullied older sister is doing well
Chapter 21
Qin Wu's injuries worsened, and the doctor frowned at her slow recovery.
The doctor gave him a few instructions and told him to go home and continue to rest, but Qin Wu went crazy and insisted on being hospitalized.
"It's her! She ruined me! I'll be tormented by her at home!"
Looking at Qin Wu's appearance, Qin's mother felt a pang of sadness.
She knew that Qin Yan had always been ostracized and bullied, but she didn't dare to say anything.
Seeing Qin Wu frame Qin Yan like this, her guilt towards Qin Yan deepened even more.
Qin Yan stood quietly to the side, her head bowed, seemingly unconcerned about what Qin Wu said.
Looking at Qin Yan in this state, Qin's mother felt even more heartbroken.
She had just shown so much concern for Qin Wu, yet she received such accusations and insults in return.
The doctor felt hospitalization was unnecessary, Qin's mother felt it was unnecessary and a waste of money, and Qin Wu was still venting her anger hysterically.
Finally, Qin Yan, who had been standing in the corner and seemed to have no presence, spoke up: "Since Qin Wu wants to be hospitalized, let's do as he says. He's in good condition, so he'll recover faster."
Those watching the commotion felt that Qin Yanming was reasonable and considerate; even though her younger brother was throwing a tantrum, she remained silent and considered his feelings.
On the other hand, the patient's younger brother was unreasonable and had a bad temper. If it weren't for the fact that he was injured, one would really want to beat him up.
Qin's mother was still worried that Qin Fu might come home at any time. After settling Qin Wu in and receiving Qin Yan's assurance that she would stay and take care of Qin Wu, she hurriedly rushed home.
She still needs to bring food to Qin Wu later.
Qin's mother was traditional in her thinking, lived a humble life without a sense of self, couldn't even protect her daughter, and had to devote herself entirely to her husband and son.
She wanted a complete family, so she chose to give up Qin Yan.
Qin Wu was placed in a multi-person ward, which he was very satisfied with.
With so many people around, he didn't believe Qin Yan could resort to underhanded tactics.
Seeing Qin Yan move a stool and sit on the edge of the bed, he suppressed his fear and said harshly, "We don't need you here. Stay away from me."
Qin Yan sat down as if nothing had happened: "I promised Mom I would take good care of you."
She emphasized the word "good" very much.
Qin Wu found Qin Yan increasingly unsettling, especially the glance she gave him from the corner of her eye, which instantly extinguished his bluff.
Although her appearance hasn't changed, Qin Yan's temperament seems to have become a completely different person.
Suddenly Qin Yan stood up, and Qin Wu was delighted: "You're going home?"
Qin Yan turned her head and smiled, "I'm just going to the restroom. Don't worry, I won't leave."
Who's worried?
He doesn't want her here at all, okay?
Qin Yan didn't like the smell of the hospital, so she went straight downstairs and outside.
It was already dark, and there were far fewer people coming and going to the hospital than during the day.
Qin Yan was a little hungry and wondered if her mother would remember to bring her her share of the meal.
Hopefully, her guilt will remind her that she has another daughter.
She breathed in the relatively fresh air for a while, but it was unbearably hot outside, so she decided to go back to the ward to avoid Qin Wu's eyes.
As I approached the elevator, the elevator doors opened.
The boy who came out paused for a moment, a look of surprise flashing across his tired, injured face. Then, his expression hardened, and he indifferently brushed past Qin Yan.
This side of Gu Rong piqued Qin Yan's curiosity.
Her legs moved faster than her brain; by the time she realized what was happening, she was already following behind Gu Rong.
The tense boy was clearly keeping an eye on what was happening behind him.
So after walking out of the hospital, he turned around and looked at Qin Yan, who had stopped at the same time.
Having likely composed himself in those few dozen seconds, Gu Rong turned to Qin Yan with an impatient look: "What are you doing here?"
Qin Yan looked at him and said, "Take care of your younger brother."
He looked very tired.
Gu Rong seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but his face still showed impatience: "Don't follow me."
"Qin Yan, I'm warning you, don't follow me anymore."
The boy's face was tense, and the outstretched fingers of his left hand gradually curled into a fist. "She's just a little pretty, but there's nothing about her that I like."
Gu Rong lowered his eyes and said in a harsh voice, "Leave me alone."
His face seemed to be trying hard to show disgust. He looked up, his nails digging into his flesh, and said to Qin Yan, word by word, "Qin Yan, I get annoyed just looking at you. Stop following me."
He was speaking to Qin Yan, but it was as if he was forcefully telling himself, "Stop following me."
After saying that, Gu Rong left without looking back.
She was so tired that she couldn't even straighten her shoulders and back.
Qin Yan watched the receding figure, feeling somewhat dazed.
If it weren't for the fact that he was the one who relentlessly searched for "Qin Yan" after she disappeared, Qin Yan probably wouldn't have been so forgiving towards him.
Ultimately, "Qin Yan" could no longer endure the abuse from her father and younger brother, as well as the pain caused by school violence, and chose to take her own life.
Neither his relatives nor the police found his body.
Rather, it was the boy who had always treated himself with a frivolous attitude.
*
When Qin's mother returned home, she found that Qin Fu had not yet come back, probably because he was having too much fun to come home so soon.
She was used to it. It was common for Qin Fu to not come home for two or three days at a time, but if he suddenly came back and found that she hadn't been cooked, he would start cursing and swearing. When he was in a bad mood, he would even punch and kick her.
Therefore, Qin's mother would cook Qin Fu's portion at every meal.
She understood that this was domestic violence.
But she dared not get a divorce.
What will the villagers say about her?
What should be done about the child?
What should she do now?
She just... always wanted a home.
She quickly reheated the already cold food, packed it up, and rushed to the hospital.
Upon entering the ward, Qin Wu was engrossed in a game, occasionally calling out a few times.
Qin's mother walked over and took out the lunchbox. "Where's your sister?"
Qin Wu didn't hear him and started cursing at her teammates in the game.
Qin's mother frowned, then raised her voice and asked, "Qin Wu, where's your sister?"
Qin Wu replied absentmindedly, "Huh? She said she went to the toilet. Maybe she fell into the latrine."
Qin's mother felt uneasy, as if some peace was about to be broken.
*
Qin Yan did not return to the ward after Gu Rong left.
Having died such a miserable death in my past life, I must make some contribution in this life.
To make it easier for her to use, Qin Fu bought her a basic mobile phone that even elderly people dislike. It could only make calls, send text messages, and play Snake; it didn't even have a camera function.
The phone card is a secondary SIM card for Qin Fu's mobile phone number.
Neither Qin's mother nor Qin Wu knew where Qin Fu was gambling heavily, but Qin Yan did.
After all, she is an NPC with the ability to see the truth.
She knows this little home inside and out.
Qin Yan walked in the night, the dim streetlights unable to illuminate the village roads.
Qin Fu gambles mainly in his own village or in a nearby village, and he goes to a few fixed places in rotation.
If you're caught gambling for ordinary reasons, the worst you'll get is detention, education, and a fine.
Qin Fu couldn't handle the kind of shrewd business of opening a casino and making a profit from it; he simply loved gambling, so he had no money.
However, it's good to let Qin Fu stay in jail for a few days; out of sight, out of mind.
At worst, we can continue to report him after he gets out.
After all, people addicted to gambling won't quit easily.
Gambling and drugs are both addictive, and once you're hooked, it's hard to quit.
As for why she didn't choose to continue making Qin Wu uncomfortable in the hospital, it was because she didn't intend to stay with him at the hospital.
In the large ward, without a bed for a caregiver, and having to listen to snoring all night, Qin Yan didn't intend to torture herself.
After returning home, Qin Yan took out her phone and sent an exceptionally detailed report via text message.
It was detailed down to the addresses of all the gambling venues Qin Fu had visited, including locations in his own village and neighboring villages, the main people involved in gambling, the core organizers of the casinos, the staff who recruited gamblers, and the lookout locations.
After sending the text message, Qin Yan walked home in a cheerful mood.
The thought of using Qin Fu's phone number to report Qin Fu himself is exhilarating.
After Qin Yan got home, she cooked a simple meal.
That night, she was the only one in the house, and she slept soundly.
Qin's mother, who was staying with her child at the hospital, was not sleeping well. She vaguely heard her phone ringing.
"Are you a family member of Qin Fu? This is XX Police Station..."
Qin's mother's weariness vanished instantly. She gripped her phone tightly, sitting blankly by the bedside with vacant eyes.
The other party hung up the phone, but Qin's mother still held the phone to her ear, her knuckles turning white as she gripped it.
It took her a while to gradually recover.
Looking at Qin Wu, who was sleeping soundly on the bed, Qin's mother propped up her aching body and quietly left the ward.
Qin Yan woke up naturally, comfortably made herself a simple breakfast, and then leisurely went to the hospital.
He's my own brother, so I should still care about him.
I wonder if the police managed to catch my stepfather last night.
I'm a little bit looking forward to it.
As soon as Qin Yan stepped out of the elevator in the inpatient department, she heard a commotion throughout the entire floor.
She recognized the loudest voice; it belonged to her poor younger brother who refused to go home to recuperate.
Qin Wu wasn't staying in a VIP ward; the three-person ward was full, and there were also family members accompanying him. Despite the large number of people, he still shouted hysterically without any regard for his image.
"He got arrested? He got arrested for gambling?"
Qin Wu glared angrily at her mother, who had dark circles under her eyes and looked exhausted: "Why don't you keep a closer eye on him? Do you know how much a criminal record would affect me?"
"If I have problems with the political background check, I can't take the civil service exam or become a police officer!"
Qin's mother silently shed tears, wanting to stop Qin Wu from saying anything, but she was so choked up that she couldn't utter a single word.
She was told to manage her own husband.
What right does she have to interfere?
Remarrying with a child in tow is not a good condition to begin with, and given that she is not a strong-willed person, she dared not speak up when faced with Qin Fu's ruthlessness.
She devoted herself entirely to her family, taking care of her husband and children, working outside to earn money, and managing household chores at home.
All these years have only brought me blame from my own children.
If Qin Wu hadn't had difficulty walking, he would have jumped off the bed and vented his anger long ago.
He might even go to the police station to question why his father was arrested.
Instead of thinking about why his father didn't quit gambling.
Unable to bear the sight of her husband being detained and her son's indiscriminate scolding, Qin's mother covered her face and quickly left the ward.
She didn't even see Qin Yan brush past her.
Qin Yan entered the ward, while Qin Wu was still cursing.
The moment Qin Wu saw Qin Yan, the fire in her heart instantly died down.
Qin Yan's faint smile, in particular, made him uneasy.
"Little brother, so you want to be a policeman?"
Qin Yan naturally sat on the stool where her mother had previously sat, looked at the fruit on the small cabinet, and picked up an apple to peel.
Qin Wu watched as the sharp knife peeled away the thin, almost transparent layer of apple skin, and fell silent.
For some reason, starting last night, he felt a silent fear of Qin Yan.
The way she was peeling the apple made him inexplicably imagine himself as that apple, having his flesh peeled away bit by bit by Qin Yan.
The key point is that Qin Yan was shaving exceptionally slowly.
Qin Wu even softened his breathing considerably.
"It's okay if I can't become a policeman. I can just apply for a job as a cleaner at the Public Security Bureau. I'll be going in and out of the station sooner or later, and I can still tell people that I work at the Public Security Bureau."
Qin Yan finally finished peeling the apple, cut a small piece, and held it to Qin Wu's lips: "Little brother, what do you think?"
Qin Wu looked at the small piece of apple that had been cut into pieces, unsure whether to eat it or not.
It was as if those weren't apple slices, but poison.
"Little brother, my arm is getting tired from holding it up."
Qin Wu was stunned for a moment, then opened her mouth, tilted her neck forward, and swallowed it whole in two bites.
Despite his inner encouragement, he thought, "She's just your cowardly older sister. How could you be so timid over such a small act of resistance?"
Qin Yan had resisted before, but she was always overpowered by him.
But another part of her mind kept recalling the rumors circulating at school recently, the gossip about Qin Yan, and everything her classmates and friends mentioned about her.
The Qin Yan those people were talking about was completely different from the Qin Yan I remembered.
He waited with skepticism until Qin Yan returned.
Then the Qin Yan in that story gradually overlapped with the Qin Yan in other people's stories.
She is not his sister.
This is definitely not the Qin Yan he remembered from the past ten years.
Qin Wu said in a hoarse voice, "If he has a criminal record, it will also affect you."
Qin Yan cut off another small piece of apple and held it to Qin Wu's lips again: "Hmm, I never thought about becoming a policeman."
She smiled and said, "After all, I'm not as outstanding as my younger brother, and I've never had any lofty ambitions."
Qin Wu remained motionless, his neck stiff, and he didn't utter a word.
"If you don't open your mouth," Qin Yan pushed the knife forward again, "your face is going to be slashed."
Qin Wu's eyes widened.
She was serious.
He could even feel the apple pressed against his lips.
She dares, she really dares.
Qin Wu's mouth reacted faster than her brain, and she quickly bit into the apple.
Please, please stop feeding her.
He was afraid.
Qin Yan felt that she had threatened her enough and it was time to stop.
She didn't peel the rest of the apple, but put it to her mouth and took small bites.
I wonder how my stepfather is doing in the detention center.
*
"Xiao Gu, dinner's ready!"
Old Zhao warmly greeted Gu Rong, who was still carrying sacks.
Gu Rong responded to the call, carried the sack on his shoulder to its destination, wiped the sweat dripping from his cheeks with his upper arm, and walked towards Old Zhao.
After his previous experience, Gu Rong became much more restrained.
Especially when out in public, they try to keep a low profile.
"Here you go," Old Zhao handed a lunchbox to Gu Rong. "I've never seen a young man like you before. I see you're still injured, yet you're still doing heavy work. You need to take care of your health."
Gu Rong said thank you and took the lunchbox.
“My daughter just finished her high school entrance exam, and the results just came out. I heard they were very good,” Old Zhao, a chatterbox, loved to talk about his daughter, whom he doted on. “Xiao Gu, I don’t know much about choosing a school. Do you have any suggestions?”
Old Zhao arrived at the construction site on the same day as Gu Rong, and they unconsciously became closer. After finishing their work, Old Zhao would often chat with Gu Rong.
Although Gu Rong was underage, he possessed a composure beyond that of a minor. When asked about his family situation, he would change the subject, so Old Zhao didn't press him further.
Gu Rong paused for a moment: "What score did you get?"
Old Zhao announced the score, his face beaming with undisguised joy: "How was it? Not bad, right?"
Gu Rong nodded: "Choosing No. 1 Middle School is a bit risky, but No. 2 Middle School is no problem. However, I suggest you consult your daughter's homeroom teacher. He will give you appropriate advice. You should also listen to your daughter's opinion."
Old Zhao scratched his head: "I don't understand these things either. Her mother and I are both very busy and haven't paid much attention to her studies, but she is really good at studying. I heard that she did well on her exam this time, and we are so happy. I was thinking of taking on a few more jobs to buy her a gift."
Gu Rong had been listening calmly, but after hearing the word "gift" from Lao Zhao, he slowly looked up and asked, "What are you planning to give her?"
Old Zhao: "Actually, I don't know what young girls like these days, but we've never bought her a cell phone. Sometimes when we chat, we mention that her classmates all have cell phones, but she knows that our family isn't well-off, so she's never asked us for one."
Old Zhao ate his meal in big mouthfuls, saying between chews, "I don't really know what young girls like these days, so I'm just planning to buy her a cell phone."
"Sigh, these days young people, how can they not have a cell phone? Xiao Gu, don't you think?"
Gu Rong recalled the phone he had seen Qin Yan using by chance. Someone had previously mocked Qin Yan for using an old-fashioned phone. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly: "Yes, you're right."
Gu Rong got off work after 11 p.m.
Whether it's a shopping mall or a shop, they've already closed at this time.
His head injury had not fully healed and was still throbbing with pain.
Fortunately, this injury didn't damage any bones or tendons; the superficial wounds should be fine with some rest.
Compared to other jobs he could get, construction work paid well, included meals, and was just a bit tiring.
He has to support himself while also earning tuition and living expenses for college, in addition to paying off loans. So far, he can't find a job that pays him faster.
He came to work on the construction site after the college entrance examination. He was paid daily, and the contractor didn't delay paying his wages or run away, which was already very lucky.
The school scholarship has arrived; if I live frugally, it will last me a long time.
If we don't buy gifts.
*
To avoid being morally coerced by her mother into taking care of her younger brother at the hospital, and to prepare three meals a day for him, and occasionally even a late-night snack to relieve his hunger caused by playing games that had exhausted his brain cells, Qin Yan found a job as a cashier at a nearby convenience store.
The salary wasn't high, there weren't many customers, and there was relatively much freedom, but it was just right for Qin Yan.
It's a little different from the retirement life she wanted, but it's still the kind of retirement life she can enjoy now.
She has been living a very comfortable life these past few days.
The convenience store closes at 10 a.m., and Qin Yan, as the most dedicated employee, closes the store exactly at 10 a.m., without being a second early or a second late.
Another enjoyable day of slacking off.
Walking along the familiar road home, about thirty meters from my house, I noticed someone squatting under a tree in front of my house.
He leaned against the tree trunk, his hands on his knees, his head drooping, as if he were asleep.
Qin Yan walked right up to him but he still didn't wake up.
Compared to how Gu Rong knew her home address, Qin Yan was more curious about why he came here.
Didn't he say something harsh just a few days ago, telling people not to follow him? Now it seems more like he's the one who's stalking someone else.
"Gu Rong".
The boy was sleeping soundly, and Qin Yan called him twice but couldn't wake him up.
Gu Rong's clothes and pants were washed until they were almost white, and now they were covered in dirt, mud, dust, and some unknown stains, making him look filthy.
She was completely different from the arrogant school bully in everyone's eyes.
Qin Yan stretched out her foot and touched Gu Rong's shoe with her toe: "Gu Rong."
The sleeping boy finally reacted, and slowly raised his head, somewhat dazed.
There were no streetlights in the alley in front of Qin Yan's house; only a faint light shone through from the main road at the end of the alley.
But Gu Rong's outline was still swallowed by the night, blurred and indistinct.
Qin Yan took a step back.
Gu Rong seemed to finally remember the situation and used one hand to support himself as he stood up.
Qin Yan looked up at Gu Rong, whose features were finally barely discernible: "Is something the matter?"
Gu Rong stretched out his other hand, which he had been clutching tightly even while asleep, and handed over the gift box that had already been wrapped. His expression was nonchalant, but his voice carried a barely perceptible tension: "Happy birthday."
Qin Yan was somewhat surprised.
She herself didn't even know her own birthday.
On this holiday, she did not receive any care or greetings from any of her relatives.
No one in this family cares about me.
Gu Rong was a more contradictory person than she had imagined.
She looked at the gift box but didn't take it: "Thank you."
With his hand holding the gift box suspended in the air, Gu Rong tensed his jaw, and his nonchalant demeanor became somewhat more composed.
He tightened his grip on the gift box, gave a self-deprecating laugh, and spoke again: "It's a thank-you gift."
Qin Yan looked up at him: "What are you thanking me for?"
Gu Rong's eyes dimmed: "That day, you saved me."
He provoked Qin Yan, but never imagined that he would put her in danger because of him.
He shouldn't have had any involvement with her in the first place.
"Actually, I just helped call 120 and 110."
Qin Yan tilted her head: "The people who saved you were a policeman and a doctor."
That hand stubbornly refused to come down.
Gu Rong pursed his lips: "Qin Yan, I'm not your brother, and I'm not mentally challenged."
Qin Yan suddenly laughed: "Of course you're not my brother."
Her brother was one of the indirect culprits who caused her death.
For a moment, the two were locked in a stalemate.
Qin Yan sighed: "Gu Rong, I don't like owing people favors."
Gu Rong stared at her intently: "Me too."
She still accepted the gift box.
Gu Rong's tense nerves relaxed.
"No need to see me out."
"goodbye."
*
After finishing her work, Qin's mother went home and prepared dinner for Qin Wu before rushing to the hospital.
Qin Wu was tired from playing games in the afternoon, and now she was fast asleep in her hospital bed.
"Xiaowu, wake up, dinner is ready." Qin's mother shook his arm, took out the bowls and chopsticks, set them out, and served Qin Wu some food.
Qin Wu mumbled something but didn't wake up.
Qin's mother urged again, "Wake up and get up to eat."
Perhaps disturbed by the noise, Qin Wu forced her eyes open a crack: "Huh?"
"Eat your food," Qin's mother placed the bowl in front of him, "hurry up, or it will get cold."
Qin Wu turned her head to the side and closed her eyes again: "I have no appetite, I don't want to eat. You can take it back to Qin Yan."
Upon hearing this, Qin's mother casually asked, "Has your sister come over recently?"
"Tsk, wasn't she going to work a summer job? She's a very busy person, how could she have time to come to the hospital to see me?"
That's what they said, but what they really thought was, "Thank goodness they didn't come; their presence only brought unpleasantness."
These few encounters with Qin Yan have already given Qin Wu a psychological shadow over his older sister.
She really scared herself.
Qin Wu had no doubt that Qin Yan was truly capable of stabbing herself.
How did she manage to keep it so well hidden for over a decade?
He usually thought he was pretty weird, but he never expected Qin Yan to be even weirder than him.
Could it be that the evil deeds I committed awakened her?
...No way?
After thinking about it, Qin's mother realized that she hadn't seen Qin Yan for a long time. The two of them left home at different times and returned home at different times, so they hadn't been able to meet for the past few days.
She decided to call Qin Yan and ask if she could look after Qin Wu during her vacation, as Qin Yan was currently juggling work, hospital, and police station and was quite busy.
My body is tired, but my mind is even more tired.
She clearly dialed Qin Yan's number, but it showed that the phone was switched off.
She looked at her phone screen suspiciously, confirming that the contact name was Qin Yan.
Qin's mother hung up the phone and dialed again, but it was still switched off.
Qin Yan should still be at work at this time. There are charging stations in convenience stores, and besides, young people these days are unlikely to let their phones run out of power.
When my phone battery is low, I get incredibly anxious and have to find a place to charge it immediately. I borrow cables and plugs from all over the place, and if all else fails, I have to use a shared power bank.
Qin Yan turned off her phone, but something felt off.
After thinking for a moment, Qin's mother said to Qin Wu, who was already awake and had straightened up on the bed to eat, "I'll go to the convenience store to check on your sister."
Qin Yan gave her her work address at the time.
Seeing that her mother was about to leave, Qin Wu added, "Tell her to rest at home and not to come to the hospital to see me."
Qin's mother found the convenience store according to the address. There was a young girl working there, around twenty years old, who was not Qin Yan.
Qin's mother was somewhat surprised: "You're working here?"
The little girl stared blankly at the aunt who wasn't there to buy anything but had inexplicably struck up a conversation with her: "Yes."
Qin's mother frowned: "How long have you been doing this?"
The little girl found this woman very strange: "She's only been here a few days, what's wrong?"
"Do you know the girl who used to work at this store? When did she quit?"
The little girl was very wary: "Why are you asking so many questions?"
Qin's mother then realized that she had been a bit abrupt and quickly explained, "My daughter, Qin Yan, was working here before. I don't know if you know her. When did she stop working here?"
She even showed the girl the call log from earlier: "I couldn't get through to her on the phone, so I thought I'd come to the shop where she worked. But I didn't expect her to quit without saying a word or telling us."
Although the young woman still had doubts, her concerns were slightly alleviated: "It must have been five days ago when I came to apply for the job, and a high school student did hand over the work to me."
Qin's mother became even more anxious upon hearing this.
Qin Yan resigned without telling me, and now her phone is off. Could something have happened to her?
Qin's mother hurriedly rushed home.
The house was completely dark.
She was truly terrified at that moment and immediately called the police: "My daughter is missing! I tried calling her, but her phone is off. She quit her summer job, and I can't find her! Huh? How long has she been missing? I... I don't know... I haven't seen her for over a week, maybe five days? I only realized I couldn't reach her today... Me? I'm her mother. I've just been too busy lately and haven't had time to look after her. She's usually very well-behaved; she wouldn't just disappear for no reason..."
After hanging up the phone, Qin's mother collapsed onto the sofa.
Her eyes were vacant, and she looked exhausted and listless.
She was finding it increasingly difficult to maintain this family.
*
"Xiao Gu, how did it go when you took half a day off to deliver a gift to that little girl?" Old Zhao asked his coworker again during a break from lunch.
"No contact."
Old Zhao's eyes widened: "No, I'm telling you, Xiao Gu, is this how you pursue a girl? What, you give her the gift and then you're not going to care anymore? Are you just waiting for her to make the first move?"
Gu Rong said with some helplessness, "We don't have that kind of relationship."
Old Zhao is sometimes too enthusiastic, and Gu Rong sometimes just can't keep up.
"Do you have the girl's contact information? Send her a message or make a call, be direct. We can't just sit here waiting. Sigh, Xiao Gu, I'm not trying to be mean, but back in the day, your brother Zhao used to keep surprising you with little tricks and schemes to win over your sister-in-law."
Gu Rong buried his head in his food: "She really dislikes me."
"That's not right of you. If she dislikes you, would she accept your gifts? We should cut our losses and get rid of this kind of two-faced girl."
“I forced her to accept it.”
"...Xiao Gu, you made a big mistake right from the very first step in pursuing a girl."
Old Zhao was exasperated: "How did you deliver it?"
"We'd wait outside her house and force it on her when she came back."
Old Zhao: "..."
Xiao Gu is strangely handsome, but his behavior is like that of a pervert.
After work in the evening, Gu Rong had gotten used to the physical exhaustion and was much better than when he first started.
On his way home, he couldn't resist pressing that string of numbers he knew by heart.
He didn't save the phone number in his contacts, but for some reason, he memorized it once and still remembers it now.
"Hello, the number you dialed is currently switched off..."
Gu Rong frowned and checked the number again.
The number is correct; he wouldn't have remembered it wrong.
He tried playing it again, but it still prompted him to shut down.
Is your phone out of battery?
Gu Rong felt vaguely uneasy, but he suppressed his restlessness and dragged his tired legs home.
After taking a shower at home, Gu Rong estimated that the battery should be almost fully charged, and he should be able to turn it on.
I dialed again, but the phone was off.
He began to wonder if he had remembered the number wrong.
Unable to suppress his inner anxiety, Gu Rong put on his clothes and went out.
It was already past midnight, and every household had turned off their lights and gone to bed.
He didn't plan to stake out Qin Yan's house.
In the orthopedic ward of the inpatient department, Gu Rong found Qin Wu, who was sleeping soundly, by looking at the patient's nameplate hanging on the door of the ward.
Qin Wu was awakened by being slapped in the face.
It hurts, but not terribly, but it still hurts.
"Are you crazy? Who hit me?" Qin Wu, still half asleep, opened her eyes but her mouth was already open.
Gu Rong cut to the chase: "Where is Qin Yan?"
Qin Wu felt the voice sounded somewhat familiar, and tried hard to open her eyelids, but it was difficult.
He finally managed to open his eyes, only to see that face that had tormented him in his dreams appear before him: "Damn it, Gu Rong, are you crazy? You specifically came to the hospital to beat me up?"
"Where is Qin Yan?" Gu Rong was too lazy to waste words with him.
"Qin Yan?" Qin Wu was still half asleep and her mind was a little foggy. She spoke without thinking, "She must have run away from home during her rebellious phase."
"Run away from home?" Gu Rong laughed in anger.
He leaned down, grabbed Qin Wu's throat, and slowly tightened his grip, grinning maliciously: "Qin Wu, are you even human?"
Qin Wu hadn't expected that Gu Rong would not only slap him upon arrival, but also grab him by the neck. His weariness vanished considerably, and he felt much more alert: "Let go! I'm calling for help!"
Qin Wu's incoherent rants woke up the family members who were already having trouble sleeping, and they all gave him unfriendly looks.
Gu Rong wasn't there to cause trouble, and seeing that he had already caused a commotion, he stopped: "Where exactly is your sister?"
Qin Wu was already annoyed by being woken up, and seeing Gu Rong made her even more annoyed, so she said in a bad tone: "How should I know? My mom can't find her. She quit her summer job, her phone is off, and she hasn't been home for several days. We called the police, but they haven't been able to find her."
Gu Rong's heart sank. He looked coldly at Qin Wu, who remained unfazed as if he were making a fuss: "So, she's missing?"
Qin Wu corrected him irritably: "What do you mean missing? She clearly ran away from home, not kidnapped. She resigned voluntarily, okay? No one kidnapped her, and she even handed over her work properly to others."
"Qin Wu, that's your sister."
Qin Wu gave him a provocative look: "Gu Rong, you don't actually want to be my brother-in-law, do you?"
Gu Rong smiled, a chilling smile: "Qin Wu, do you deserve to call me brother-in-law?"
After leaving the hospital, Gu Rong reported the disappearance and provided all the clues he could.
The police station stated that they had received similar reports and would continue to follow up; they would notify him immediately if any issues were discovered.
After hanging up the phone, Gu Rong felt a deep emptiness inside.
He recalled the last time he saw Qin Yan.
I recalled my conversation with Qin Yan that day.
At the time, I didn't think there was anything wrong with it, but now when I think back on it, I always feel that it is inextricably linked to her disappearance.
"Gu Rong, I don't like owing people favors."
"No need to see me out."
Gu Rong clenched his fist, then let it clench weakly.
What exactly is Qin Yan trying to do?
*
Six months later, Qin Yan's disappearance case was still unsolved.
Even after being released from detention, Qin Fu couldn't shake his deep-seated gambling habit. As a result, he was arrested again after only a few days of gambling.
After several repetitions, Qin Fu felt that either he was just having bad luck, or someone was sabotaging him.
After things calmed down for a while, his cronies persuaded him to do something big, and Qin Fu was tempted.
The group acted on their impulse, buying a piece of land in a village in a neighboring city and planning to run a casino.
They also hired a lot of errand runners; some were responsible for attracting customers, some for driving customers, and some for keeping watch.
I worked in fear for six months, but nothing happened.
Qin Fu's anxiety gradually subsided.
They did this so discreetly, and since we're all in the same boat, this boat won't capsize easily, maybe it never will.
As their casino business grew, it was raided after operating for a year.
Qin Fu couldn't figure out where things went wrong, or how the police managed to find out from the smallest clues.
This time, instead of detention, Qin Fu was sentenced to ten years in prison due to the severity of his offense and the abundance of evidence.
Upon learning the news, Qin's mother was utterly devastated and chose to divorce Qin Fu.
Qin Wu belongs to her.
Qin Wu, who used to bully others but never others bullied him at school, became the one being bullied under the label of "gambler's son".
Unable to withstand the bullying and accept such a huge drop in status, Qin Wu ultimately chose to end her life.
His body was found on the riverbank.
Just like "Qin Yan" in her previous life, she chose to commit suicide by drowning.
After suffering the triple blows of her daughter's disappearance, her husband's imprisonment, and her son's suicide, Qin's mother suffered a mental breakdown. She lost all will to live, became depressed and unhappy, and soon passed away.
Six months later, news reports revealed the successful cracking of a major transnational drug trafficking case involving a criminal gang, with the ringleaders being apprehended in one fell swoop.
All criminal gangs in the city were wiped out.
*
“Ayan, that person has come to ask about the progress again. He’s been so persistent all these years.”
In an outdoor coffee shop, a man in his early twenties with a buzz cut received a message and couldn't help but tease the person sitting next to him: "Your old flame seems to really like you."
Qin Yan, engrossed in her drama, glanced over when she heard this: "He went to the police station again?"
The man with the buzz cut put away his smile: "Your main job is to slack off, and your secondary job is to be an informant. It's not that you can't appear in public."
"It's been eight years. He's been looking for you for a full eight years."
The man with the buzz cut shrugged: "Your mother is dead, your brother is dead, and your father, who is not related to you by blood, is still in jail. Ah Yan, there is still one person in this world who remembers you."
"You were a minor when you became an informant. Do you know how much riots that caused?"
The man with the buzz cut looked at her with an expression that seemed to see right through her: "Do you know how shocked I was when I heard your story? To save your classmates from the troubles of loan sharks, you risked your life to infiltrate the underworld. You only contacted the police after you were already inside, saying you could be an informant. Ah Yan, you really, how dare you? How can you be so awesome!"
"If you tell me this isn't love, I won't believe you."
Qin Yan patiently explained, "I just don't want to owe anyone favors, and I know my limits."
"Mmm, it's about favors and boundaries," the man with the buzz cut nodded perfunctorily. The "boundaries" coming from a high school student who was still a minor were truly worrying. "The favor of a new cell phone requires the destruction of the entire city's criminal organization to repay it."
Qin Yan looked at her phone, which she had used for eight years. It worked quite well and was indeed worth about ten thousand yuan.
However, what she repaid was not the favor of the phone.
It was the boy's unwavering determination to find her, no matter what.
Indeed, whether it was that "Qin Yan" or the current Qin Yan, he was the only one who remembered her in both lifetimes.
Now that the favor has been repaid, they have no further ties.
Qin Yan got up, went to the convenience store next door to buy notepads, a pen and a small envelope. After returning, she wrote a few words, folded them, put them in the envelope and handed them to the man next to her.
The man took the envelope, looking puzzled. "What's this? Why are you giving it to me?"
"Give it to your policewoman girlfriend when you pick her up from get off work."
"Um?"
Qin Yan turned the TV series back on: "Next time he goes to the police station, give him this note."
The man paused for a moment, then realized who "he" was referring to.
He had no say in Qin Yan's decision; it was someone else's business. "Mind if I take a look?"
"Being casual is nothing to be ashamed of."
*
Gu Rong routinely goes to the police station every six months to inquire about the progress of Qin Yan's disappearance.
Despite repeated assurances from the police station that they would notify him immediately if there were any updates, Gu Rong still made the trip himself.
Habits formed over so many years are not so easy to change.
"Hello……"
He walked to the front desk, where the staff recognized him and turned to call out, "Yueyue, the person is here."
The girl called Yueyue came out in a police uniform and greeted Gu Rong, saying, "Someone asked me to pass something on to you."
This is a different process than before.
Gu Rong's heart tightened, and he stared intently at the envelope in her hand: "For me?"
Yueyue looked at him with some hesitation. Handsome, persistent, and devoted—could she give up on a man like that so easily?
"This is the final result I can give you; there's nothing more I can do."
Gu Rong's outstretched hand trembled uncontrollably: "Thank you."
Yueyue said apologetically, "If there's nothing else, I'll go back and get back to work."
Fearing that Gu Rong would ask her anything else, Yueyue quickly left.
Gu Rong stared at the envelope in his hand, opened it, and found only a small note inside. He poured the note out and slowly unfolded it.
For a moment, I didn't know whether I felt more joy and excitement, or more disappointment and heartache.
She is still alive.
But she didn't want to see him.
Qin Yan was always there.
She knew she had been looking for her.
But eight years have passed, and all he can give him is a note and a disconnected number that can no longer be dialed.
She even knew people at the local police station, and her disappearance case remained under investigation.
She seemed to be doing things that he couldn't get involved in.
Gu Rong held the note tightly, his gaze dark.
Qin Yan resolutely put an end to their relationship.
-
Everything is fine, don't worry.
—Ayan.
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