She sat alone for a long time before she recovered and thought of checking the number from the call, only to find it was a private number.
It was difficult to trace such phone numbers, and the voice of the person who spoke earlier seemed to have been specially processed, not their real voice.
Wu Xiufang calmed down and thought that this person was most likely trying to extort her.
Zhu Qin and her son couldn't possibly still be alive!
But how did this person know her former name? Those who knew her former name and past were long gone. Everything and everyone had been dealt with cleanly, leaving no loose ends.
What was going on?
Wu Xiufang was still uncertain and decided she had to find someone to investigate her old village again, to find this person no matter what.
...
Mengyao had a restless night, only managing to doze off close to dawn, only to be woken by her preset alarm.
She opened her eyes, having made up her mind, and took leave from the research institute.
Mengyao got up early, telling Wu Xiufang she was going to work, but in reality, she went to the nursing home where Song Jiaping's mother used to live.
A caregiver at the nursing home recognized her and, upon learning she was there to visit Zhu Qin, sadly informed her that Zhu Qin had passed away from cancer.
Mengyao went to Zhu Qin's former room again, only to find it completely empty.
She then inquired about Song Jiaping.
The caregiver said that after Zhu Qin left, her son came to clear out her belongings, and they didn't know anything else.
Unwilling to give up, Mengyao asked which hospital Zhu Qin had been transferred to later and went to that specialized oncology hospital, but still couldn't find Song Jiaping.
She couldn't afford to bother with niceties and went to Song Jiaping's former residence. From the building's property management, she learned that Song Jiaping had moved out. The security guard at the entrance guessed that he had likely left Lancheng.
The security guard told Mengyao that on the day Song Jiaping moved out, he had a large suitcase and hailed a taxi at the entrance, saying he was going to the airport.
Mengyao stood on the roadside, feeling an indescribable sense of loss and sadness.
He was gone.
After such a big event, he hadn't even said a word to her, not even a single sentence, just left Lancheng without a word.
She could no longer find any trace of him. Were they merely passersby in each other's lives, destined never to meet again...
A sports car stopped by the roadside, and Hong Jiaxi got out and walked over to her.
She didn't notice him at all until Hong Jiaxi called out to her, "Mengyao, why didn't you go to work today?"
Mengyao snapped back to reality and was a little surprised to see Jiaxi. She asked, "You, how did you find me?"
Jiaxi's expression was a bit grim. "I went to the research institute to pick you up after work, and your colleagues said you took leave today. I guessed you might be around here, and I didn't expect to actually see you on the roadside."
Mengyao saw his car not far away and said, "Are you driving such a flashy car to the research institute again?"
"This is already the lowest-spec car I usually drive." Jiaxi asked, "Do you think it's embarrassing for me to show up at your workplace? In your heart, am I that presentable, not as good as that Song Jiaping?"
"I didn't mean you were embarrassing, I just wanted to work low-key." Mengyao was already in a bad mood, and he brought up Song Jiaping again, implying a comparison, which she found very tiresome.
"Alright, I won't drive to the research institute anymore." Jiaxi pressed, "You still haven't answered me, why are you here instead of going to work?"
Mengyao said impatiently, "Didn't you already guess? Why are you still asking?"
"Oh, last night at dinner, as soon as Uncle and Sister Mengqi mentioned Song Jiaping, you looked like you'd lost your soul. And today, you didn't even go to work and rushed to find him. You still can't let him go! What's so great about him?"
Mengyao felt it was impossible to explain to him and prepared to get into her car, saying, "I'm tired, I'm going back. I'll contact you when I have time."
Jiaxi grabbed her arm, feeling wronged, and said, "I'm your boyfriend now, shouldn't you give me an explanation?"
Mengyao retorted, "He and my sister actually have nothing going on. Last time they had dinner together, how did you happen to be at that restaurant? You don't usually eat at such unpretentious places, and it was right near this hospital. Did you already know something then?"
Jiaxi's heart skipped a beat, and he avoided her gaze, saying, "It was just a coincidence. I felt hungry nearby and just found a place to eat."
Mengyao recalled the situation at the time and felt that Hong Jiaxi was acting strangely, but she didn't have the mood to argue with him on the roadside now.
"Whatever is going on, you know it in your heart. Let go, I'm going back."
"My car is right next door, I'll give you a ride." Jiaxi insisted, "If you don't get in my car, I won't let go."
Mengyao struggled to break free and said, "I drove here myself, and I can drive back. There's no need to take your car..."
"Get in my car, and I'll find someone to drive your car back." Jiaxi felt extremely uncomfortable. His girlfriend was still thinking about another man, which was unbearable.
"Stop bothering me and let me be alone." Mengyao turned to open her car in the parking lot opposite, not wanting to say anything more to him.
Jiaxi watched her resolute departing back, feeling both angry and upset.
Mengyao offered no explanation for her behavior today, nor any apology to him. She even seemed to dislike him, which greatly hurt his pride.
He had waited for her for so many years, and after begging her repeatedly in a low and humble manner, she had reluctantly agreed to be his girlfriend again.
Now that both their families acknowledged their relationship, Mengyao still treated him as if he were at her beck and call, casually trampling on his dignity.
He couldn't help but clench his fists tightly, veins bulging, and resolutely turned to get into his car. He sped off to a bar, wanting nothing more than to drown his sorrows.
When Jiaxi sat down in the bar, there weren't many customers yet. It wasn't fully dark, and it wasn't yet the busiest time for the bar.
He ordered a bottle of the most expensive liquor and drank alone, utterly dejected.
Not far from him, a woman was also drinking alone, though she was having a common cocktail.
This woman, glancing over, saw the man next to her ordering wine so lavishly and felt she had found a target. She walked over to Jiaxi and sat down, greeting him, "Handsome, why are you drinking alone? How about we have a competition to see who can't hold their liquor?"
Jiaxi didn't reply, looking at her askance with impatience. He intended to shoo away such a woman, but then he felt that this woman's features bore some resemblance to Mengyao's. Angrily, he said, "Who are you calling unable to hold their liquor? A bet is a bet."
Saying that, he signaled the waiter to add a glass and began a drinking contest with this stranger.
One drink after another, Jiaxi ordered another bottle of the most expensive wine, determined to drink to his heart's content.
The woman had a high tolerance for alcohol. Jiaxi was already getting drunk, but she seemed completely unaffected.
As Jiaxi was about to leave the bar, he couldn't even walk steadily and said he needed to find a designated driver.
The woman supported Jiaxi and said, "Handsome, where do you live? No need to call a designated driver, I'll take you home."