Where are the spare keys?
The email was sent to Zhou Qin’s public work email. Due to work reasons, Zhou Qin has a habit of checking her emails every night before bed.
Initially, when she saw the email titled “Happy New Year” from an unknown email address, Zhou Qin thought it was just a student sending their well wishes.
To her surprise, the email had no signature, only a sentence saying, “Teacher Zhou, your New Year gift, please check.” The email had a mysterious attachment. Without much thought, Zhou Qin downloaded the attachment, curiously opened the photos with a smile.
In the next moment, her smile suddenly froze on her face, and the blood in her body seemed to cool instantly, her complexion gradually turning pale.
The attachment had only a few photos. The first photo, taken at night, had terrible image quality, very blurry, only vaguely showing the location at the entrance of Jingnan University. The photo was taken from an angle in front of a car, showing the silhouettes of two women with long hair sitting in a white car, one of them seated in the driver’s seat leaning towards the woman in the passenger seat, their faces close together as if in an intimate kiss. The pixels were too blurry for Zhou Qin to see the faces clearly, but she saw the license plate number.
Having known each other for many years, they were as close as can be – it was Xiao Wanqing’s car.
If the woman in the driver’s seat was Xiao Wanqing, then who was the woman being affectionate with her on the side?
Zhou Qin’s heart trembled, too afraid to confront the truth.
The second and third photos had clear pixels, capturing beautiful scenes by the riverside. One showed two women with flowing hair seated back to back on a riverbank, each drawing a semi-circle in the air to form a heart shape. The other image featured the same two women, fingers intertwined, walking in a narrow alley. The young girl tilted her head to look at the graceful woman beside her, revealing a delicate and gentle profile, full of affection.
By the hair color, by the figure, how could Zhou Qin not recognize her daughter, her friend of nearly twenty years, by their silhouettes? The last two photos seemed to have been taken during their National Day trip together.
If Zhou Qin only looked at the last two photos, she might have thought that the emotions Lin Xian subtly expressed in the third photo were overly gentle and the atmosphere a bit too ambiguous, and she wouldn’t have thought further. However, with the addition of the first photo, Zhou Qin couldn’t help but make more connections.
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Perhaps the first photo was just a matter of perspective? Zhou Qin struggled to convince herself.
But her mind began to gradually recall the past, remembering how Lin Xian always spoke of Xiao Wanqing with an unusual tenderness, recalling the extraordinary intimacy between Lin Xian and Xiao Wanqing, recalling the pairs of items found at Xiao Wanqing’s home, and even thinking about Lin Xian suddenly changing her mind, refusing to go abroad, making secretive phone calls at home, and several attempts to probe her about her views on marriage and homosexuality…
Memories pieced together, forming a shocking answer. Why exactly did Xiao Wanqing fall out with her parents in the past, and why had she never mentioned anything about her love life in recent years? The doubts that had lingered in the depths of her heart for many years seemed to find an explanation.
A heavy feeling sank to the bottom of Zhou Qin’s heart, the fingertip holding the mouse trembling lightly. The doubts and unease in her heart, like an inflated balloon, kept expanding, ready to burst.
“No, impossible!” Zhou Qin stared at the photos on the screen, gritting her teeth tightly, struggling to catch her breath. Even if Xiao Wanqing was a lesbian, her character and integrity wouldn’t allow her to harm Xianxian – it couldn’t be, shouldn’t be! Xianxian was so young, her own niece, someone she trusted deeply, someone she had personally entrusted to her, it couldn’t be true.
Incredulous, anxious, afraid, angry, a mix of emotions clouded her mind, preventing her from even thinking clearly about who sent the email and their intentions.
With a strong grip, she shut the laptop, her nails digging into her palms unnoticed. She hurriedly left the study and rushed to the bedroom, disregarding that Lin Zhan had already fallen asleep. With a loud click, she turned on the bedroom light, swiftly walking to the bedside, forcefully opening the bedside drawer and rummaging through its contents.
“Why aren’t you asleep at this hour?” Lin Zhan inevitably awoke, sighing in complaint in a half-asleep state.
“Do you remember where I put Xiaowan’s spare key she gave me before?” Zhou Qin asked urgently, her voice tense and strained.
Lin Zhan turned his head to look at her, puzzled. “Why do you need it at this hour for no reason?”
“Don’t ask! Just tell me, do you know where it is?” Zhou Qin’s sudden irritability raised her voice, expressing frustration. “Asking a mute person for directions, what could you possibly know? Just go back to sleep.” Impatiently, Zhou Qin turned to leave for another place to search.
Confused by being abruptly woken up and then teased, Lin Zhan also grew a bit angry. In a low voice, he said, “Zhou Qin, watch your words. It’s in the drawer of the study desk. What do you need it for? What’s going on?”
Zhou Qin’s voice trembled imperceptibly, she turned to look at her husband and said, in a strained tone, “It’s better if nothing has happened. I’ll go over to Xiaowan’s place and come back to tell you. Go to sleep.”
“You’re not going to sleep? Can’t this wait till tomorrow? It’s the middle of the night, you can’t possibly go over to see Xiaowan now, can you?”
Zhou Qin’s steps hesitated for a moment. Yes, she should wait until morning… It would be best if nothing had happened at all. If she went in now and there was an explanation needed?
However, the thought of Lin Xian, the possibility of a ludicrous relationship between her and Xiao Wanqing, every minute and second now was too agonizing for her. She couldn’t wait a moment longer.
Taking a deep breath, Zhou Qin turned and left a brief remark for Lin Zhan, “Go to sleep.” Then, she returned to the study for the key, casually changed clothes in the wardrobe, grabbed the new year gift she had prepared to give to Xiao Wanqing through a friend from overseas, and hastily rushed out.
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In the tranquil night, she stared at the key, her expression stern as she drove towards Xiao Wanqing’s home.
“Sister, Grandma… Grandma is critically ill.” Xia Zhiqi’s tearful voice came through the phone.
Xia Zhijin’s body went weak, her steps faltering, almost falling to the ground. She leaned against the wall, her fingertips turning white from exertion, struggling to keep her voice steady. “Don’t cry, Zhiqi, tell me calmly, what happened.”
Xia Zhiqi had arrived with the ambulance, sitting alone on a chair outside the county hospital’s emergency room. Upon hearing her sister’s comforting voice, she burst into even more tears, gasping for breath. “Sis… Grandma, Grandma had a stroke, she’s being treated at the county hospital.” She had tried calling Xia Zhijin numerous times before, but she was constantly unreachable.
In an instant, Xia Zhijin felt all the strength drain from her body, her hand on the wall sliding down slowly as her head buzzed, tears streaming down her face. Reality didn’t allow her time to be fragile; she quickly sniffled, disregarding the exhaustion that made her body feel like it was about to collapse. She stood upright, comforting her sister while hurrying downstairs, “Zhiqi, don’t be afraid, I’ll be there soon. Keep an eye on Grandma’s condition, wait for me.”
Grabbing her handbag, taking the car keys, without bothering to say goodbye to the sleeping Shi family members, she hurriedly left the Shi family mansion.
On the way, she drove at the fastest speed of her life, not even caring if there were speed cameras capturing her reckless driving. She raced to the hospital, urgent and swift.
Inside the hospital, Grandma was still in the emergency room undergoing treatment. Xia Zhiqi sat alone at the entrance, her small figure curled up, head bowed as she held onto her arms, sobbing quietly.
With just one glance, Xia Zhijin’s heart felt like it was being ruthlessly torn apart by a knife, tears uncontrollably flooding out once more.
Zhiqi was only fifteen years old. While others were still enjoying the love of their parents, she had already lost both her mother and father. And now, even the grandmother she had always relied on was in trouble. It felt like the world was collapsing around her, how scared must she be all alone.
Approaching Zhiqi, Xia Zhijin hugged her, letting the girl lean against her chest, soothing her with a choked voice, “Zhiqi, sister is here, I’m sorry, I’m late…”
Xia Zhiqi embraced Xia Zhijin and burst into tears, apologizing in a choked voice, “Sis, it’s my fault. Grandma had been complaining of headaches for days, and I didn’t notice at all… Sis, am I being unfilial, am I not caring enough, am I bad…”
Xia Zhijin’s throat tightened, almost unable to catch her breath. She held the girl tightly, patting her back, her voice trembling as she comforted her, “No, it’s not your fault, Zhiqi, you’ve done well. It’s my fault, I didn’t take care of Grandma properly, nor did I take care of you.”
Since she started high school, she hadn’t spent much time with them. Zhiqi, at such a young age, took up the responsibility of caring for Grandma. After starting college, Xia Zhijin had been busy with work, her studies, and her personal life, spending less and less time with them. This time, she hadn’t seen Grandma and Zhiqi for almost half a year. Grandma’s illness couldn’t have come out of nowhere, but she had no idea. Xia Zhijin felt overwhelmingly guilty, with remorse and shame consuming her heart.
The door of the emergency room finally opened, and the pale-faced elderly person was wheeled out. Xia Zhijin and Xia Zhiqi immediately stood up, tears in their eyes as they approached.
The doctor asked, “Who is the patient’s guardian?”
Xia Zhijin replied hoarsely, “It’s me.” She patted Xia Zhiqi’s hand, asking her to follow Grandma’s hospital bed, while she went with the doctor to the office.
The doctor said, “We managed to save her, but the arrival was too late. The situation is still very critical, and she hasn’t completely recovered from the danger. It might be difficult for her to wake up.”
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Xia Zhijin felt as if she had been struck by lightning, trembling all over, her whole body stiffening.
The doctor, accustomed to such situations, continued calmly, with a numb expression, “The patient is older, and the surgical risks are too high. We can only provide conservative treatment. You need to prepare yourselves mentally. You can go pay the bills first.” The girl in front of him was very young, and he was worried she might not be able to handle it all at once, so he didn’t elaborate. If the situation didn’t improve, the hospital would recommend stopping the rescue efforts to prevent further loss.
“Doctor, please, save her, I’m willing to pay any amount.” Having experienced her mother’s passing, she understood the implications behind the doctor’s words. Xia Zhijin’s body trembled, her throat tightening with helpless pleading.
The doctor sighed and pointed out a dim but only remaining possibility for her, “Given the limitations of the county hospital, if conditions permit, try transferring to another hospital.”
Xia Zhijin mechanically walked out of the doctor’s office, heading towards the intensive care unit where Grandma was. Through the glass, she stared at the lifeless figure inside, the once loving eyes of her elderly relative now no longer gazing back at her, a feeling of heartbreak overwhelming her.
Zhiqi, still anxiously awaiting her, bit her lip, holding back tears. She resisted the urge to cry, gently patting Zhiqi’s head as she struggled to comfort her, “It’s okay, everything will be okay. Don’t be afraid, Zhiqi. Your sister is here, go rest for a while.”
“I won’t go, I want to stay here with Grandma…” The girl stared inside at the elderly person with reddened eyes, reluctant to look away. “You used to say the same to me before, and then, I fell asleep, and Mom was gone when I woke up.”
Every word pierced Xia Zhijin’s heart, she couldn’t hide her emotions, and tears slid down her face. Awkwardly turning away, afraid of her sister seeing her, she said in a hoarse voice, “Wait here for a bit, sister will go inquire about the transfer to another hospital.”
She seemed to flee, covering her mouth to stifle any cries, quickly stepping out of Xia Zhiqi’s sight. She ran to a corner, leaning against the wall, slowly slumping down in utter powerlessness, crying silently, her heart torn apart.
Where would she find a way, and where would she find the savings required for the costly treatment in the intensive care unit, like water flowing out. She had to admit her own incompetence. At this moment, the only thing she could think of, the only person she could rely on, was Shi Man.
However, when she took out her phone and abandoned all pride and reserve, desperately calling Shi Man twice for help, all she heard was the merciless automated female voice saying, “Hello, the number you have called is switched off.”
Under the harsh, pale light, Xia Zhijin’s face was as white as paper, tinged with an unusual flush, her eyes bloodshot. She tasted the salty bitterness of her tears, letting out a low, bitter laugh, feeling utterly defeated.
LP: I expected drama but this it too much ૮₍ ˃ ⤙ ˂ ₎ა