Chapter 3
She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and walked back to the small cottage she shared with grandma, where she saw grandma trembling as she handed her a letter.
She quietly unfolded it, and then her heart became cold as water.
Huai'an said that because he had never loved her, she should forget him.
That moment, her eyes suddenly ran dry of tears.
That night, she just sat in front of the door, her body chilling through on the sweltering evening.
The next day, before she could take grandma out to see the doctor, her uncle and aunt brought in a short middle-aged man, claiming to have found her a future husband.
She was shocked, only to hear her aunt sneer, "Worthless girl, only by marrying you off can we afford grandma's medical treatment!"
Then the strange uncle grabbed her abruptly and pushed her into the arms of the middle-aged man, saying the man had already paid the dowry and had come to claim his bride.
She came to her senses and bit her uncle's arm, finally breaking free from his grasp and rushing out the door.
She ran and ran, with only the whirring of the wind in her ears and the roaring of her uncle behind her... She ran out of the cottage she shared with grandma, out of the fishing village, and eventually, she didn't know how she ended up in the back of a truck filled with dried fish, then the truck started moving, leaving the two men who were chasing her far behind in her thoughts.
And there she was, hiding among the dried fish, her heart turned to ashes.
It was night when the truck brought her to City A. She waited until the driver went to deliver the dried fish to the store and quietly got out of the truck.
Barefoot, she walked on the bustling streets, at this moment not knowing where to go.
She had no money, her sandals had fallen off during her escape, and she couldn't go back for grandma...
Jingjing walked on despite the astonished looks of passersby, wandering aimlessly in this unfamiliar city, then stopped on a bridge.
The raging river, towering commercial buildings reaching for the clouds, the ceaseless stream of traffic—all was so vibrant, so beautiful.
Yet her heart was like the sky overhead, clouded with darkness.
She stepped onto the railing of the bridge barefoot, dancing in the wind, letting the strong breeze tousle her dress and hair.
Then a drop of liquid fell upon her cheek, then two, then three...
Then thunder rolled, lightning split the night sky...
Then she crouched down, hugging herself, sobbing as the rain poured down.
After a long while.
"Are you all right?" a low, mellow voice asked, blending with the rain yet exceptionally clear.
She looked up to see a handsome, tall man standing before her.
His short hair and shirt were soaked with rain, his deep and cold eyes, his handsome face sharply contoured, his hair rebellious, all revealing an aura of profound hurt.
This was her first glimpse of him.
Staring at the ceiling, she was sleepless.
Her pillow still carried the pleasant scent of his hair. She rubbed her little face against the soft pillow, gathering her thoughts.
The memories of her past had become somewhat vague since meeting this man. Now in her life, in addition to grandma, there was also him.
He offered her a place to live, supported her in attending A University, and provided money for grandma's medical treatment and medication. But the condition was that after she graduated, she would bear a child for him. After the child was born, the deal would be dissolved, and they would part amicably.
This was the transaction between them. From the moment he brought her to this apartment, he had made it clear to her and signed an agreement.
It seemed unbelievable yet very real, didn't it?
She tossed and turned in bed countless times, ultimately sleepless. So she put on a shawl and walked to the french window. Opening it, she walked barefoot onto the balcony.
Outside was pitch darkness; the lights of the adjacent apartments were all out. It was very quiet, and the sound of the waves hitting the shore could be heard distinctly.
The sea breeze blew in her face, messing up her black nightgown and dark hair. She inhaled deeply, the mixed scent of sea air reminding her of the days picking fish on the beach with grandma, the times watching the sunset shoulder to shoulder with Huai'an. She wondered how Huai'an had been doing in America these four years.
Huai'an, his smiling face was already somewhat blurred. Those things about him, she had long buried beneath the sands. It took her four years to learn how to forget, and if she were to see Huai'an now, she thought she would probably wish him well.
Feeling the coolness of the sea breeze, she suddenly felt a bit cold. So she went back inside and closed the french window.
She left her room and walked toward the corner leading to the staircase. His study was there, with the door left ajar, a faint light emanating from within.
Walking barefoot on the soft carpet, she moved as quietly as a night sprite.
She first went downstairs to make a cup of green tea, then quietly approached his study.
Peering through the crack, she saw his desk piled high with papers and dossiers, and the laptop screen filled with a complete spreadsheet of closely packed numbers. His large hand held the mouse, busily scrolling through the information. Eventually, he set down the mouse and lightly massaged his brow, his tall silhouette weary.
She held the green tea, gently knocked on the door.
He turned his head, raised his eyebrows, his deep eyes filled with surprise, "You're not asleep yet?"
She nodded lightly, walked in, and handed him the green tea. Looking at the chaotic desk, she asked in sign language, "Do you need help? I can't sleep right now."
He took the transparent cup and quietly placed a framed photo from his desk into a drawer, his voice deep as he thanked her.
She smiled faintly, neatly organizing the clutter on his desk.
Minutes later, the desk was tidy, and he had shut down his laptop, waiting for her on the couch next to the coffee table.
She wrapped the shawl tighter around herself and lightly stepped over to sit beside him.
"I'll be very busy for a while. I'll try to come by when I can; make sure you're prepared," he stated decisively, with the efficiency of someone at work. Then he took out a checkbook and pen, filled out a figure, and placed it on the table in front of her.
"If it's not enough, tell me," he added, his dark eyes devoid of emotion.
She looked at him, clutching the corner of her nightgown.
"Go to sleep," he said as he stood up, his towering figure in his pajamas imposing.
He didn't wait for her, unlocked the study door, and went straight to the bedroom.
That night they shared the same bed, yet they were like strangers to each other.