“The really skinny man from before?” she asked. Gao Yi used to be really muscular, but now, he was really skinny-unhealthily so. Xia Ruoxin was a little shocked to see him that way. It must have taken days of exertion for him to end up like that.
“En, that’s the one.” Madam Mei Fu nodded profusely. “The tall and skinny man who drove a white car. He wore a black sweater with a silver jacket.”
From Madam Mei Fu’s impeccable memory, Xia Ruoxin was able to confirm that the man Madam Mei Fu was talking about was indeed Gao Yi.
“What about him?” Xia Ruoxin asked as she picked up another dumpling, seeming rather at ease.
“Aiya…” Madam Mei Fu struggled to pick up a dumpling with her chopsticks. In the end, she decided to poke the chopsticks through the dumpling to pick it up.
Madam Mei Fu ate the dumplings one after another. I should really learn to make these from Ruo. Right, where was I?
“Right, let’s continue,” Madam Mei Fu said as she poked through another dumpling. “That friend of yours, it’s better that you stay away from him.”
“Why?” Xia Ruoxin did not understand. She looked up at the woman. She did not know Gao Yi; neither was she aware of what has transpired between the two. Why would she say something like this? Gao Yi was not a dangerous individual.
“It’s nothing. It’s quite common around here. He’s on drugs.”
Bang! Xia Ruoxin’s chopsticks fell to the ground, startling everyone.
“Sorry.” Xia Ruoxin bent over and picked up her chopsticks and went into the kitchen. When she came back out, it was as if nothing had happened. Only she knew that her feelings were in a jumble.
How could that be? How could Gao Yi be on drugs?
That was impossible. Gao Yi was a doctor. As a doctor, how would he have taken drugs, knowing their effects? He was not out of his mind; neither was he stupid.
He must have been tempted or forced. Or maybe he consumed it without him knowing. A multitude of thoughts flooded her mind. She felt like her head was throbbing and about to explode.
“Mei Fu, you didn’t make a mistake, did you?” Xia Ruoxin asked again, still in disbelief.
“No.” Madam Mei Fu picked another dumpling up. “There used to be a lot of people who looked like that where we used to live. That man has been on drugs for over a month. His addiction is really strong.”
Xia Ruoxin placed her palm on her knee limply. She stood up and entered her room. She wanted to make sure. Many things were forbidden and untouchable. Things that, once touched, would have disastrous consequences.
Drugs was one of them.
With shaky hands, she took out her phone and dialed the number that she had etched in her memory, but she had not called in ages.
As she placed her phone next to her ear, her heart beating anxiously.
Pick up… hurry up and pick up.
She paced around anxiously as tears began to well up in her eyes. Pick up, why isn’t he picking up?
The call finally went through after a while.
“Hello, who are you looking for?” It was a female voice.
It was Bai Luoyin.
Xia Ruoxin gripped her phone tightly as her palms got sweaty.
“I-I’m looking for Gao Yi.”
The voice on the other end of the line scoffed.
“Xia Ruoxin, you’re Xia Ruoxin?”
Xia Ruoxin gripped her phone tightly, neither confirming nor denying.
“You don’t have to pretend anymore. I know you’re Ruoxin.” Bai Luoyin leaned her body into the couch. “Why, your skin’s just that thick, huh? We chased you out, and yet you’re still thinking about my husband. Don’t forget,” she said, her voice an octave higher as she shot up from her seat, “Gao Yi’s already married. With me.
“I heard that you were a bar girl back at home. Why, are you that depraved? If you are, I can help you out. I can get you a dozen or so men. I’m sure they’ll satisfy you.”
“I’m looking for Gao Yi.” Xia Ruoxin repeated, her lips trembling. Her heart ached like someone had ripped her wound apart. She had nowhere to hide.
“Dream on.” Bai Luoyin laughed coldly. “I don’t want to see any phone calls from you; neither do I want to hear your voice. I know where you live now. Xia Ruoxin, don’t test my patience. Believe me, if you dare appear before us, I’ll end you.”
With that, Bai Luoyin slammed the phone on the table. That annoying b*tch.
She picked the phone up again and put the number in the blacklist. Even though the number was blacklisted, she could always just call using another number.
She opened the phone violently and pulled out the SIM card. With a snap, she broke the card into two.
“Have you seen my phone?” Gao Yi asked he opened the door.
“No,” Bai Luoyin replied as she hid the SIM card behind her and kicked the phone aside. “What’s wrong?” She put on a surprised look. “Your phone’s missing? Did you lose it? Or lose it somewhere?”
Gao Yi rubbed his throbbing head. He felt that his memory had been deteriorating recently. It seemed like he had to take a trip to the hospital tomorrow.
Maybe I really did lose it somewhere. He thought to himself as he tried to recall where he had left it. Was it the living room, the bedroom? Or did I accidentally leave it somewhere? No matter how hard he tried, his memory had been in a jumble.
Losing the phone was not a big deal, but he had used the SIM card for years. It was a pain to try and replace the card. Even if he did, the contacts would probably be gone.
“There’s a bunch of phones at home. Just grab one and use it first.”
Bai Luoyin stood up. “You’re tired; just take a break,” she said as she walked over to hug Gao Yi’s waist.
The man nodded lightly without refusing. He was really tired.