This nightclub is located at a three-way intersection. The left and right sides are full of bright lights and extravagant lifestyles. The street behind it is a normal residential area with shops, pharmacies, and hotels. Strangely, there is also a police station less than 100 meters away.
When Yi Tongxi saw Lu Shengyao, he was leaning against the graffiti wall to sober up, holding a box of glucose in his hand, the bottle mouth was broken, and he drank it all in one go.
"Are you okay?" Yi Tongxi stepped forward, picked up the small glass bottle he had finished drinking, threw it into the trash can, and put the remaining half box into her bag. "Did you throw up? Are you feeling unwell?"
Lu Shengyao put his arm around her shoulder, looked down at her and asked, "Why do you always like to tease me and watch me make a fool of myself?"
"Just kidding," Yi Tongxi said, holding his waist. "Let's go. I'll take you back to your dorm."
The two waited for a taxi on the side of the road. The dim street lights shone down. Lu Shengyao looked at her side face and said, "I don't want to go back to the dormitory. Let's go to the hotel and open a room, okay?"
Yi Tongxi was absent-minded and didn't understand what he meant for a while. She thot he wanted to live more comfortably, so she said, "It's better to go to my house. You're so drunk that you'll probably throw up in the middle of the nite. You need someone to take care of you."
So she took Lu Shengyao home, cleaned up the room, made the bed, and the sheets, pillows and quilts were all clean. After she finished tidying up, she went to the kitchen and poured him a glass of warm water.
Lu Shengyao didn't drink it. He just put the water cup aside, leaned over, put his arm around her waist, and made a request for sex.
Yi Tongxi felt that he was already drunk and should lie down and rest, so she politely refused.
Lu Shengyao didn't say much, but took action directly, burying his head and kissing her mouth.
At first, Yi Tongxi just dodged gently, hoping he could understand that she really didn't want to, but the more she refused, the more impatient he became, his lips and tongue intertwined, and his palms impatiently reached into her clothes.
Yi Tongxi felt difficulty in breathing, and her head was dizzy. When she found that the hand had gone into her bra and was holding her small breasts and kneading them, a strong anger surged into her mind. She did not know where the strength came from, and she pushed him away fiercely, and then she shouted sternly, "Are you done? Have you taken aphrodisiac? Can't you think of something else beside going to bed?!"
This should be the first time she had lost her temper at Lu Shengyao, and she had not concealed her annoyance and disgust. Of course, he felt strange, but he felt it was more real, much more real than when she was acting cute and coquettish.
Lu Shengyao leaned his back against the wall, wiped the wetness from the corner of his lips, then raised his eyes to look at her and said, "Other? Is there anything else between us?"
"What do you mean?"
Lu Shengyao smiled: "Even my high school classmates can see that you are just going thru the motions with me. This relationship is dispensable for you. Stop deceiving yourself."
"Zeng Xue?" Yi Tongxi's smile was even colder than his. "She's trying to poach my people, of course she can see everything."
"It's rare that you actually know Zeng Xue," Lu Shengyao said expressionlessly, "I thot you didn't care which woman appeared by my side."
"What do you mean?" Yi Tongxi couldn't understand. "One moment you say it's dispensable, the next you say I don't care. Do you think I can develop a relationship with someone who's dispensable, hold hands, kiss, and go to bed? Am I that cheap?"
Look, this is the real her, sharp, pointed, and able to punish others with words that hurt herself.
Lu Shengyao stiffly pursed his lips: "Maybe you really like me."
"Not maybe," Yi Tongxi's voice was cold, "If I don't like you, I won't even let you touch my finger."
His palms were sweating, and he clenched his fists tightly. "Your liking and my liking may not be the same. Can you stop pretending to be stupid?"
She took a deep breath: "Lu Shengyao, can you not be so afraid of losing?"
"So why don't you get anxious?"
Yi Tongxi was suddenly blocked, speechless.
He shook his head. "Let's separate for a while."
He said they should break up without warning, and then he left.
This was not a momentary impulse, nor was it a momentary fit of pique. He must have struggled for a long time, and finally made up his mind on this occasion.
Lu Shengyao gently closed the door without saying goodbye to her.
***
In fact, Yi Tongxi was not sure whether the "separation for a period of time" he mentioned meant breaking up. They did not contact each other or meet each other, and it seemed that they had broken up, but all the friends around them thot that they were just having a cold war.
"That's enough," Li Shan reminded her, "Be careful that someone takes advantage of your weakness. Zeng Xue has been very active these past two days."
Yi Tongxi said, "What else can I do? Everyone needs to calm down now."
"Maybe he's waiting for you to stand up and fight for him?"
"No, it won't."
She knew that Lu Shengyao was really tired, and so was she. Those little thoughts and tricks were too boring for them. No one would think about playing hide-and-seek when they were seriously injured.
Moreover, Qiao Mo had already contacted her and asked her to go out for a chat on Saturday nite. Yi Tongxi was so confused by the unexpected events that followed one after another. She had no one to discuss with or confide in. She really hated herself for being the unlucky one who broke the secret. On one side was her third aunt, and on the other side was her cousin. It was betrayal to expose or conceal the secret.
Let's hear what Qiao Mo has to say.
At 9 p.m. on Saturday, she arrived at the bar as agreed. It was the same nightclub as last time. Qiao Mo had arrived long ago and was sitting at the bar waiting for her while smoking.
On the stage, Liang Xiao was playing the electronic organ and singing. Yi Tongxi walked over. As the prelude began, she saw Qiao Mo whistling along with the tune, and then translated the lyrics: "The sky over Kamchatka is covered with a light mist again, and we hope that tomorrow will be a good day. The drifting waves lean on the sleeping coastline, and the young sailors are waiting for the call to sail far away."
There was a distant fascination in her eyes, as if a naive girl was looking forward to the future. She smiled suddenly and said to Yi Tongxi, "Listen, his pronunciation is really sexy."
"Is that Russian?"
Qiao Mo nodded: "Liang Xiao and I are the same, we like Russia, we like cold cities, I don't know when we can go and see them together."
Yi Tongxi asked in a low voice, "When did you two get together?"
Qiao Mo withdrew her gaze and flicked the ash off her cigaret. "Actually, I was with him during the Spring Festival. It's just that you were cooped up at home and didn't pay much attention to my whereabouts."
"Have you two met before?"
"Yes, we met in Shenzhen. When I went to work in Beijing, he helped me find a way."
Yi Tongxi sneered: "He asked you to go to the club to accompany him to drink? He's really nice."
Qiao Mo shrugged her shoulders: "Making money, just to make a living. We are all the same kind of people. He understands me, and I understand him."
Yi Tongxi frowned and said with some difficulty, "But he is the man of the third aunt."
"So what?" Qiao Mo laughed awkwardly. "When the time is right, he will leave. I will go with him then."
"What timing? How long do you want to keep it from your third aunt?"
Qiao Mo glanced at her and said, "It's only been a little over a month since Liang Xiao and I confirmed our relationship. Many things are unexpected. Beside, he has a soft heart. After all, it's been so long. He doesn't want to hurt his third aunt too much."
Yi Tongxi seemed to have swallowed a fly, and her stomach couldn't help but feel nauseous. She didn't dare to think deeply about how Qiao Mo could be so calm in this kind of deformed relationship between three people, not to mention that it was her third aunt, her own third aunt.
"I know you look down on me," Qiao Mo narrowed her eyes, "but you have no right to accuse me, no one has the right."
"Sister," Yi Tongxi desperately tried to restrain the impulse to leave, "Do you really like Liang Xiao, or do you like the man of your third aunt?"
Qiao Mo's eyes lit up, and she smiled in surprise: "You asked a good question."
"Do you hate your third aunt so much?"
She looked mocking: "Auntie is old. Does she think she is still as beautiful as she was when she was young, and can charm all living beings? A woman in her forties should be old no matter how well she maintains herself. Liang Xiao told me that she looks thin on the outside, but the skin and flesh under her clothes are loose, and she has the smell of a middle-aged woman, which cannot be covered up by the most expensive perfume. Also, you can't imagine that she is so old, but she is so surprised in bed like a virgin. Liang Xiao told me that he still can't adapt to her coy style, which is so funny!"
Yi Tongxi raised his hand and splashed the beer at hand on her face.
"Qiao Mo, are you still human?" She no longer called her sister, and probably wouldn't in the future: "I won't hide this for you. You and your lover can take care of yourselves."
After saying that, she couldn't stay for a moment longer and left in big strides.
Qiao Mo pulled out a tissue and indifferently wiped the wine off her face. A fire of anger that had been building up for many years rushed to her limbs and bones. She jumped off the high stool and chased after Yi Tongxi.
She wanted to have a good talk with her and make it clear who was not a human being.
She would teach her a lesson and let her know that no one in this world was qualified to scold her, not even her parents, let alone a mere cousin. Who did she think she was?
Qiao Mo's face turned green. She walked out of the nightclub and saw Yi Tongxi turn into the back street from afar. She followed her in big strides. At this time, two drunk men were the first to get there and dragged Yi Tongxi into the alley of the residential building.
Qiao Mo was stunned. She vaguely heard a scream, but the sound was instantly drowned out by the endless car horns and music. She subconsciously followed to the entrance of the alley. There were no street lights, and it was dark. She vaguely saw the two men holding down Yi Tongxi's mouth, tearing her clothes while beating her face hard, telling her to be honest.
All of this happened so suddenly that Qiao Mo's heart was pounding like thunder and her mind was as blank as a sheet of paper.
If she shouted loudly, it should have some deterrent effect, right?
Otherwise, she could go back into the club and get the bouncers, who would have these two drunks subdued in a minute. Maybe not even a minute.
But...
But...
A thot popped up in Qiao Mo's mind, and it grew stronger and stronger.
Why did she save Yi Tongxi?
Back then, when she was in Shenzhen, she was so helpless and needed to confide in someone. How did Yi Tongxi treat her?
Why is it that everyone in the family likes Xixi, and why is it that she, Qiao Mo, has to drop out of school and go out to work and earn money early?
And that time, she was stripped naked in the street, beaten up, and the video was uploaded to the Internet. At that time, who came to save her? In the end, it was Liang Xiao who came. And her own third aunt, seeing her being besieged, avoided her, and ran away leaving her behind.
Now, she has only made the same choice as her third aunt.
Yes, maybe when Xixi has experienced some pain, she will understand her feelings. At that time, she will make up for her and love her.
Yes, that's what sisters are for, that's what family is for.
Qiao Mo clenched her fingers tightly, turned and left the alley, and walked forward woodenly.
***
When Yi Yufei received Qiao Mo's call, he was calculating the engineering data that had been copied back.
Yin Weiyao sat on the bed and rubbed on body lotion. She was going on a business trip the day after tomorrow, and after taking a bath, she was ready to sleep.
Budgeting requires great concentration and patience. A slight mistake could cause huge losses. So whenever Yi Yufei worked overtime in the living room, she would stay quietly in the room and try not to disturb him.
"Why are you only telling me now!" I suddenly heard him roar, like a thunderbolt from a clear sky: "How is the person? ... I'll be right over."
Yin Weiyao was startled and hurried out to ask, "What's wrong?"
Yi Yufei had already walked to the entrance to put on his shoes. "Something happened to Xixi. I'm going to the police station now."
"What's going on? I'll go with you."
"No need." He grabbed the keys and left in a hurry.
***
When he arrived at the Nancheng Police Station, Yi Tongxi had already finished his statement and injury assessment, and the two suspects had also been taken into custody.
Qiao Mo's face was pale. When she saw him, she explained haltingly, "Fortunately, the police arrived in time, and Xixi was not seriously injured..."
As they were talking, Yi Tongxi finished pressing his handprint, got up from his seat, and wiped the red ink pad with his head down and no expression on his face.
Yi Yufei suddenly saw her face and took a deep breath. He almost roared at Qiao Mo, "This is what you call not injured?!!"
He stepped forward and reached out to put his arm around Yi Tongxi's back, but she gently avoided him.
A policewoman patted her shoulder in a comforting manner and said, "This area of the bar street is very chaotic. We receive many cases of fighting and sexual assault every month. Girls should be careful. It is best to call your friends when you come out to play, so it is safer."
The three of them walked out of the police station, and Yi Yufei asked Qiao Mo, "Did you report the case?"
Qiao Mo was a little evasive: "I saw Xixi being dragged into the alley by those two people, so I came to the police for help... Fortunately, the police station is very close, just a few steps away."
Yi Tongxi seemed not to hear them talking, and walked to the side of the street to wait for a taxi.
Yi Yufei quickly grabbed her hand and turned to Qiao Mo, saying, "I'll take her back."
"Okay, okay," Qiao Mo nodded quickly, "Go back and have a good rest... My friend is still waiting for me at the bar, so I won't go with you."
***
Yi Yufei sent Yi Tongxi back home.
She remained silent, as if he didn't exist. After entering the house, she silently changed her shoes, then took her bath towel and pajamas and walked into the bathroom to take a shower in an orderly manner.
Yi Yufei was restless and uneasy. The words "attempted rape" kept popping up in his mind. He really wanted to rush into the detention center immediately, tear those two pieces of trash into pieces, and then chop them into meat sauce to feed the dogs.
After an unknown amount of time, Yi Tongxi finally opened the door and came out. She wiped her hair, sat down in front of the coffee table, took out the ointment and mirror, and carefully applied the ointment to the wound.
Yi Yufei was about to be driven mad by her calm appearance. Why didn't she cry? Why didn't she make a scene? Why did she swallow her anger?
He stepped forward and grabbed her arm. "Let me see."
Yi Tongxi pushed his hand away: "It's okay, you go back, I'm fine."
God knows, her right cheekbone was a mass of purple and black, her lips were blue, and as she spoke, blood flowed from her nose again. She pulled out a tissue and wiped it away numbly, and the sight of her was simply shocking.
The mobile phone on the table suddenly rang, and the caller ID showed Yin Weiyao.
Yi Tongxi got up and moved away from him, standing by the sofa, and asked, "Aren't you going to answer it?"
He frowned, picked up his phone, and hung up.
Yi Tongxi sighed slightly, turned and walked to her room, and he immediately followed: "Xixi."
"Can you leave?" she asked, sitting on the edge of the bed, looking tired. "I want to rest. Can you go back to your own home?"
Oh God, his heart was breaking.
"Please turn off the light."
Yi Tongxi lay in the quilt, turned over, and stopped talking to him.
Yi Yufei felt it difficult to breathe, almost to the point of being unbearable. He stood for a while, walked over, bent down, and hugged her from behind.
"Xixi," he whispered in a hoarse voice, as if begging, "Xixi, baby, don't drive me away..."