“What do you mean unwilling?”

Yan Tuo stopped in his tracks, wanting to hear more. However, the elevator’s arrival made a sound, and the people in the adjacent sitting room immediately noticed.

After a moment of silence, Lin Xirou’s voice came from inside: “Xiong Hei? Didn’t I tell you to wait downstairs?”

It turned out that Lin Xirou and Lin Ling were talking in the sitting room. Yan Tuo composed himself and walked in with a smile. “Aunt Lin, it’s me.”

Lin Ling’s eyes were rimmed red, and upon seeing him, she turned her face away, probably feeling embarrassed. Lin Xirou, however, seemed pleasantly surprised. “Little Tuo, why are you back?”

From her expression, Yan Tuo knew that Lin Xirou had forgotten about him amid the many important and sudden events of the past two days.

That was fine by him; he didn’t want to be constantly on someone’s mind. Yan Tuo said, “Brother Xiong told me everything was settled. It was boring at Ah Peng’s place, so I came back… Aunt Lin, are you going out?”

He noticed that Lin Xirou was dressed formally, not in her usual nighttime loungewear. Plus, she had just said, “Didn’t I tell you to wait downstairs?”

Lin Xirou nodded. “Just came back to pack some things. The farm’s been busy these past few days.”

Yan Tuo immediately seized the opportunity. “I heard about it, Aunt Lin. Can I come along? That Jiang fellow owes me a piece of flesh—I need to knock out at least two of his teeth to feel better.”

Lin Xirou hesitated, not wanting to refuse him outright. After all, Yan Tuo had suffered before, and wanting revenge was only natural.

She compromised, “You just got back, what’s the rush? He’s not going anywhere. Rest for a couple of days first.”

Taking this as approval, Yan Tuo felt relieved and turned to Lin Ling. “What’s wrong with Lin Ling?”

Lin Xirou smiled. “Ask her yourself. We’re trying to help arrange something good for her, and she’s acting like we’re trying to harm her.”

“Arrange something?” Yan Tuo was surprised. “A blind date? With whom?”

Before Lin Xirou could answer, Lin Ling twisted her neck around. “I’m not interested. I’m still young. Yan Tuo is older than me, why not start with him first?”

Yan Tuo was speechless, feeling that Lin Ling was being unfair—weren’t they supposed to be on the same side? Why was she using him as a shield?

Lin Xirou’s face darkened, and her tone hardened. “I’m not worried about Little Tuo. He hasn’t settled down yet, and his relationships either don’t last or aren’t suitable, but at least he has them. You, on the other hand—I’ve never seen any sign of interest from you. If you had shown any, I wouldn’t need to be so concerned.”

Lin Ling’s lips quivered, but she didn’t dare speak. She occasionally defied Lin Xirou, but whenever Lin Xirou’s face darkened with real anger, she wouldn’t talk back.

“We’re all family here, so I don’t need to mince words. What I’m about to say might not sound pleasant, but it’s the truth. Don’t you know your situation?”

Lin Ling’s nose stung, and tears immediately welled up. Yan Tuo felt sorry for her and uncomfortable with the situation. “Aunt Lin, let’s drop it for now and discuss it later.”

Lin Xirou gave a cold laugh. “Drop what? This isn’t the first time we’ve discussed this. What’s wrong with Lu Xian? How is he not good enough for you?”

Lu Xian?

Yan Tuo was quite surprised, and a thought suddenly occurred to him: Lin Xirou was technically Lin Ling’s foster mother, and if this match succeeded, she would become Lu Xian’s mother-in-law—Lu Xian truly lived up to his reputation of always being the mother-in-law’s favorite.

Lin Xirou leaned back against the sofa. “In terms of age, looks, ability, and education, he’s better than you in every way. Plus, he’s a doctor—if you ever get sick, you’ll have a physician right by your side. How convenient is that?”

Yan Tuo sensed something wasn’t quite right. “Wait, Aunt Lin, have you discussed this with Lu Xian?”

He had just left Lu Xian’s place, so how come he hadn’t heard anything about this?

Lin Xirou replied flatly, “As long as she agrees, Lu Xian won’t be a problem.”

Yan Tuo couldn’t help but draw in a cold breath. As the saying goes, it takes two to tango, but in Lin Xirou’s matchmaking efforts, neither party was interested—only she, the middleman, was eager.

The conversation seemed to be wrapping up, and Lin Xirou stood. “I’m leaving now. Little Tuo, try to talk some sense into her when you have time.”

Lin Ling had been keeping her head down and lips pressed together in silence. Only after hearing the elevator go down and making sure Lin Xirou wouldn’t return did she finally break down, tears rolling continuously down her face.

Yan Tuo sighed and grabbed some tissues to wipe her tears. “Stop crying, Aunt Lin is gone.”

He hadn’t expected that right after coming back, he’d walk into a marriage intervention scene.

He continued, “Let her say what she wants, you do what you want. This isn’t feudal times—she can’t force you. Don’t take it to heart.”

Lin Ling took the tissue and squeezed it, wiping her eyes roughly, still choking back sobs. “No, you don’t understand. You just happened to walk in on it this time, but she’s brought it up many times before. I just don’t get it—what’s the rush? Yan Tuo… has she ever pressured you like this?”

Yan Tuo shook his head.

Lin Ling was disappointed. “Then why… why does she only pressure me? This is gender inequality.”

Yan Tuo couldn’t help but laugh. “Didn’t you hear what she said? Maybe it’s because I occasionally date, while you’ve never shown any interest.”

Lin Ling grew curious. “Why can’t you… keep a girlfriend for long?”

Yan Tuo gave a bitter smile. “You know our family situation, don’t you? It’s bad enough that our lives are complicated—why drag others into it? Sometimes it’s just for show, letting her know you’re doing what normal people do.”

However, he felt something was off about this whole situation.

“She’s brought this up many times? Was it always about Lu Xian?”

Lin Ling first nodded, then shook her head. “The previous times were about other people. This time it’s Lu Xian.”

“The previous candidates, were they people close to her or outsiders?”

Lin Ling thought for a moment. “Outsiders, I think. She didn’t seem very familiar with them—friends of Xiong Hei from social circles, someone’s nephew from the company…”

As she spoke, she seemed to sense something was wrong and grew anxious. “Is there a problem?”

Yan Tuo said, “Yes, there are several. First, you’re still young. Second, she’s raised you for so many years—a few more wouldn’t cost much more, so why is she suddenly so eager to marry you off? What benefit would she get from it? It can’t be for the bride price, right? Third, her tone just now was off.”

In situations like this, where marriage arrangements fall through, some complaints would be normal, but there was no need for real anger.

But in that moment, Lin Xirou’s face had truly darkened.

Lin Ling froze for a moment. After hearing Yan Tuo’s analysis, her initial frustration about being pressured into marriage transformed into a chilling fear that spread throughout her chest.

She suddenly became terrified. “Yan Tuo, with her tone like that, if I keep refusing, do you think she might force me? Someone’s been in my room at night… She wouldn’t arrange for someone to… to force the situation, would she?”

By the end, her words were jumbled, and her body trembled repeatedly with waves of cold fear.

Yan Tuo wanted to say “It couldn’t be that bad,” but then he thought better of it—one shouldn’t be optimistic about people who don’t hesitate to commit murder and arson.

Still, he tried to comfort Lin Ling: “It’s okay, at least for now nothing’s happened. As for later, we’ll take it one step at a time.”

However, Lin Ling had already been terrified by her imagination. After trembling for a while, she suddenly made up her mind and grabbed Yan Tuo’s hand. “Yan Tuo, can you help me escape?”

Yan Tuo was surprised to find that his first reaction to hearing these words was an urge to laugh.

What was going on lately? Why was everything falling on his shoulders?

He had to help rescue Jiang Baichuan, place needles on Dog Tooth, prevent people from investigating Chen Fu and Han Guan, properly arrange for Nie Jiuluo, figure out what those three Di Xiao were doing at the farm, maintain daily dealings with Lin Xirou and Xiong Hei, and now Lin Ling wanted his help to escape…

He was about to say something when Lin Ling tightened her grip on his hand. “Yan Tuo, I’m not just saying this. Before, I was afraid of everything and thought I could just get by one day at a time. But today, I suddenly had this strong intuition that if I stay any longer, something terrible will happen to me. Please help me, Yan Tuo. You’re my only hope!”

Yan Tuo remained silent for a long while.

Seeing his silence, Lin Ling’s face suddenly turned white. Her legs grew weak, and she sank to the ground still clutching Yan Tuo’s hand. Her mind buzzed as she thought that truly no one in this world could be relied upon—when real trouble came, you could only count on yourself.

Why was she so alone? Where were her relatives? Where was her home? She couldn’t count on home anymore—about home, she only remembered a big black pig, a gap in the earthen courtyard wall, and that framed black-and-white memorial photograph.

In her daze, she heard Yan Tuo’s voice: “Lin Ling, get up.”

Lin Ling wanted to stand but had no strength.

Yan Tuo spoke again: “This needs time to plan, to consider every aspect. If we’re too hasty, it definitely won’t work.”

Was there… hope?

Lin Ling didn’t know where the strength came from, but she suddenly stood up, clutching Yan Tuo’s shirt as she laughed and cried: “You agreed? You’ll help me?”

She hugged Yan Tuo, sniffling continuously. “Yan Tuo, you’re so good. When we were little, you used to hit me, and I thought you were a bad person.”

Yan Tuo felt both annoyed and amused. After a pause, he looked down at Lin Ling’s head buried in his chest and patted it gently.

Everyone should leave.

But at the bottom of this putrid swamp lay the bones of his family members—he couldn’t leave.

“Let whoever can leave, leave.”

He whispered instructions to Lin Ling: “Let me think of a way and find the right moment. During this time, don’t oppose Aunt Lin directly. Pretend to go along with it, maybe even put on an act with Lu Xian. I’ll handle the rest.”

Lin Ling nodded vigorously.

After settling Lin Ling, Yan Tuo went out briefly to drive the car back to the villa and carried the canvas bag containing Chen Fu upstairs, locking it in the storage room.

By the time he finished all this, it was already two in the morning.

Despite the exhaustion from days of travel and high tension, Yan Tuo remained wide awake. He turned off the main light, leaving only the desk lamp on, and sat at his desk for a long time. He tried to plan Lin Ling’s escape, but his mind was like a paste, torn between different events.

After a while, he suddenly stood up, moved the stepladder to the bookshelf, and climbed to the highest level. He shifted a stack of books outward and reached behind them.

This shelf section had a hidden compartment in the back panel.

Yan Tuo felt around and moved the compartment cover, withdrawing his hand with a thick notebook.

Back at his desk, he placed the notebook squarely on the surface.

It was a hardcover notebook, about A6 in size. Though now worn, it had been popular in the mid-1990s, with pages in different colors—light purple or pale green—printed with floral patterns that didn’t interfere with writing.

When the notebook was new, the pages had given off a faint fragrance, but now, after more than twenty years, only the musty smell of aged paper remained.

Opening the hardcover, a tiny white bookworm scurried across the title page, where several lines of elegant blue pen writing graced the slightly yellowed paper.

[Keep a diary, let it become a lifelong good habit. These are the droplets of life, the most vivid and brilliant memories when your hair turns gray and the years have passed.]

Signed: Lin Xirou.

Yan Tuo randomly opened a page.

March 12, 1997 / Wednesday / Sunny (Tree Planting Day)

Today is Tree Planting Day. On my way back from buying groceries, I saw schoolchildren carrying small saplings up the mountain to plant trees under their teachers’ guidance.

I heard this year’s tree planting is especially meaningful because of Hong Kong’s return—they’re calling them “reunion trees.”

People are funny, giving trees so many titles. The trees don’t know; they just keep growing upward.

Today is also the tenth day since I moved out with Xin Xin.

Sometimes I wonder if I gave Xin Xin the wrong name. Her nickname is “Kaixin” (Happy), but since she was born, I haven’t had a single happy day.

What am I thinking? These are adult problems; what do they have to do with my daughter?

I miss Little Tuo. The day I left home, Li Shuangxiu had taken Little Tuo out to play. In my anger, I only took Xin Xin with me. I wonder how Little Tuo’s been these past few days and if he’s eating well and sleeping soundly.

Thinking about Little Tuo, he was adorable. When Xin Xin was just born and Little Tuo was brought to see her, I thought it would be such a sweet moment between little brother and sister.

But Little Tuo just frowned, looking very disapproving.

After holding back for a long time, he asked me: “Mama, why is little sister so ugly?”

It made me laugh so hard my stomach hurt—well, it was hurting since I’d just given birth. I said, “All newborns look like this. She’ll become pretty as she grows.”

Little Tuo didn’t believe me, and after a while couldn’t help but ask: “Mama, is little sister bald?”

I almost died laughing.

Such a silly son. You’ll understand when you have your children—newborns naturally have little hair.

In the evening, I got a call from Da Shan, saying he wanted to talk tomorrow.

Tomorrow it is then. I’ve bought the medicine; I’m prepared.

I only replied: “Come alone. This is between husband and wife. Don’t you dare bring her?”

March 14, 1997 / Friday / Light Rain

Yesterday was chaotic, everything was chaotic. Today I have time to write about it—after all, it was my first suicide attempt in this life.

Of course, a fake suicide.

I always thought that a husband’s infidelity would never happen to me, and even if it did, I should be decisive and graceful enough to just leave.

But when it happened, I realized I couldn’t accept it. Min Juan also advised me: “Why should you? After all the hard work building a family, with both children now—you leave gracefully and let that pair of dogs have everything? In the end, all you get is being ‘graceful’?”

She has a point.

I finally understand why so many women fight so viciously when faced with a third party—three words: can’t accept it.

I asked Min Juan to watch Xin Xin for a day.

I had bought 100 sleeping pills and took them half an hour before my appointment time with Da Shan. He’s always been punctual, and for something this important, he shouldn’t be late.

Of course, I wasn’t worried if he was late. I had notified Chang Xi to wait downstairs—if Da Shan hadn’t arrived by that time, he would come up to check on me.

Chang Xi is a reliable, honest kid. I trust him.

I wanted to gamble—after so many years of marriage, Da Shan, would you save me or not? Was there no feeling left between us? If you could just stand by, then I would give up, and stop trying to save anything. After that, we could separate however we needed to, and never be involved with each other again in this life.

…

A hundred pills was something—the stomach pumping was torture. I probably won’t attempt suicide again in this lifetime.

However, I might be somewhat resistant to medication. When Da Shan came in, I hadn’t completely passed out yet, so I heard all his reactions.

When he desperately shook me calling “A Rou,” when he frantically ran out calling for help, when his tears fell on my hand—I felt it wasn’t an act. It couldn’t be faked.

…

When I woke up in the hospital, Da Shan was by my bedside, looking completely haggard.

I asked him: “Da Shan, are we going to continue? Do you still want this family?”

Da Shan nodded desperately, nodding and crying at the same time.

I cried too. The day I left home, he shouted at me: “Lin Xirou, if you don’t want to continue, then leave!”

I said: “Then why did you do this? Why did you get involved with Li Shuangxiu?”

Da Shan didn’t speak. After a while, he suddenly grabbed my hand, his voice low and panicked, saying: “A Rou, do you believe me? Will you believe what I say?”

I said: “Tell me first.”

His voice trembling, he said: “A Rou, I don’t understand what happened either. It was like I was possessed—whatever she told me to do, I did it. If she smiled at me, I forgot everything, only wanting to make her happy. Thinking back now, it gives me chills, like… I wasn’t myself.”

My heart truly turned cold.

I pulled my hand away and said coldly: “Are you trying to say she was that charming, or are you trying to push all the blame on her to make yourself look innocent? Yan Haishan, why don’t you just say you met a fox spirit from ‘Strange Tales’ who stole your soul?”