Chapter 2: Never Leaving You Again

Qingyu Community, Building 6, Unit 1601.

Chen Jin snuggled against Xiao Fei’s side and said in a cooing voice, “Dear, have you seen Qiao’an recently? The last time I saw her, she looked so thin and frail. Why don’t you take me along next time you visit? We can bring more food for her, alright?”

Xiao Fei did not hide the truth from Chen Jin since she was the first to bring up Bi Qiao’an. “I actually just went to see her today and brought her some food. I thought you might not be happy if I mentioned her.”

“Of course not! We’ve known Qiao’an for almost ten years, and this was her home after all. I actually want to bring her back to live with us. Then there’d be someone else to keep me and the baby company.” Chen Jin gave Xiao Fei a faint smile filled with calculating intent.

The door suddenly swung open, revealing Zhang Chenjun who had just returned home. Upon overhearing Chen Jin’s words, she scoffed and interjected, “Hmph! You sure have some nerve to say that, Chen Jin! As if you don’t know exactly why Qiao’an is skin and bones now!”

“What are you talking about, Chenjun? It’s difficult to survive in these times; everyone outside is gaunt. We only get decent meals because we were lucky enough to follow Xiao Fei. Don’t be ungrateful!” Chen Jin remained unfazed by Zhang Chenjun’s accusation. After all, without evidence or witnesses, Bi Qiao’an would die regardless.

“You…you’re a snake in the grass!” Zhang Chenjun was seething with anger as she pointed a finger at Chen Jin.

Despite her dislike for Chen Jin’s duplicity, Zhang Chenjun held back from revealing her lies.

After all, there were already several women in the house. Did they need another one? She wasn’t going to jeopardize her own comfort for it.

Besides, Chen Jin wasn’t someone she could easily confront.

Chen Jin feigned hurt and put on a tearful display. “Ow! Dear, the baby just kicked me! He must be unhappy because someone was being mean to his mommy!”

Xiao Fei wrapped his arm around Chen Jin protectively and glared at Zhang Chenjun. “Cut the nasty attitude! And stop being so volatile! Why can’t you be more gentle like my Ah Jin?”

“You…hmph!” Zhang Chenjun was so furious she jabbed a finger at the pair on the couch, but one had an angry scowl while the other wore a taunting expression.

Zhang Chenjun wished she could claw Chen Jin’s fake mask right off, but seeing the dangerous glint flash in Xiao Fei’s eyes made her deflate. She shot a final scathing glare at Chen Jin before stomping off to her bedroom.

Chen Jin watched her leave as a smug smile creeped on her face. “Chenjun and Qiao’an used to come from the same background before the apocalypse. Who knew they could be so different?”

“Yeah, Qiao’an is kind but also a bit stubborn.” Xiao Fei agreed absentmindedly.

“Honey, the environment in the slums is truly awful. Let’s go see Qiao’an again tomorrow. I’ll tell her I’m pregnant and ask her to help take care of me since we used to be close friends. I’m sure she’ll be willing.” Chen Jin’s voice dripped with veiled malice.

“Alright, you’ve been through a lot for me,” Xiao Fei held her tightly, oblivious to the darkness in her eyes.

‘Come back? Over my dead body!’ Chen Jin thought to herself.

With four women already under one roof, she wouldn’t allow anyone who could threaten her position to enter.

“Slums?” A disbelieving scoff echoed in the hallway, seemingly out of place.

Unbeknownst to everyone else, a tall figure stood in the doorway who silently took in the scene.

He didn’t know what had transpired in the past years to make Bi Qiao’an leave this place, but now that he’s back, he’s determined to find out and bring her back.

Shen Yanming turned and strode out towards the city’s outskirts.

Night had fallen and the winds howled as the relentless snowfall continued.

Shen Yanming tirelessly inquired about Bi Qiao’an’s whereabouts from everyone he encountered until he finally found the location of her residence.

Standing outside her door with his heart pounding in his chest, Shen Yanming hesitated. He didn’t know how to explain his years-long absence or if Qiao’an would even want to see him.

He mustered his courage and knocked gently on the door.

There was no response.

He knocked again, then again, but still no answer.

Fear gnawed at him so with a surge of urgency, Shen Yanming shoved the door open.

As he entered, a jolt of ice coursed through his veins at the sight before him. The room, empty of furniture, was stripped bare save for three solitary bricks resting on the frigid floor.

Chen Jin and Xiao Fei’s conversation echoed in his mind, and a wave of despair washed over him. Something terrible had happened to Qiao’an.

He rushed to the neighbor’s door and the sound of his frantic knocking echoed through the silent winter night.

However, the residents shrank back in fear and unwilling to open their doors for a man they perceived as seeking revenge.

Although they hadn’t directly harmed Bi Qiao’an, their silence and inaction in the face of her plight filled them with a guilty dread.

Desperate and enraged, Shen Yanming resorted to threats. “Open up, or I’ll tear your house down! Tell me where she is!”

Finally, one neighbor, trembling with fear, cracked his door open just enough to reveal a sliver of his face. He clutched a cleaver in his hand, a meager defense against the storm of emotions swirling around him.

“Wh-what do you w-want?” he stammered, his voice barely a whisper.

“Where is the woman who lived next door? Bi Qiao’an!” Shen Yanming roared, his voice raw with emotion.

The man’s gaze darted around nervously. He didn’t dare speak the truth and he also feared repercussions for his role in the events that unfolded.

“Tell me! Where is she?” Shen Yanming demanded, his voice rising in intensity. He gave the door a shove which flung it wide open. The neighbor was caught off guard and tumbled to the floor.

Shen Yanming immediately snatched away the cleaver. At the sight of that, panic took hold of the neighbor that he blurted out, “Two groups came for her this afternoon. A man and a woman, each with their own people. When the woman left, she took Bi Qiao’an with her!”

“Taken? Where?” Shen Yanming’s voice was laced with desperation as he grabbed the man’s collar.

“I don’t know! They just…headed towards the mountains. Maybe you can search in that direction?” he stammered with fear.

Without wasting another moment, Shen Yanming released the man and the cleaver and raced toward the mountains while his heart pounded with a renewed sense of purpose. He had to find Qiao’an!

“Thank heavens he didn’t come for revenge,” the neighbor muttered under his breath while clutching his chest as his legs continued to tremble.

Meanwhile, Shen Yanming stood amidst the swirling snow as he gazed at the desolate landscape before him. The mountains loomed ahead like an endless expanse of white stretching in all directions.

“Qiao’an, where are you?!” he cried out, his voice barely audible over the howling wind.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down Shen Yanming’s face which froze before they could slide off his skin.

He raised his head towards the moon, its luminous glow offering no solace in the face of his overwhelming grief. After so long of searching, he couldn’t find his Qiao’an.

Suddenly, a flicker of movement in the distance caught his eye. A patch of black amidst the white no bigger than his palm, beckoned him forward.

Hope surged through him as he sprinted towards it while his heart started to pound with frantic anticipation.

He knelt, his hands shaking as he gently brushed aside the snow.

There she lay, Qiao’an, her lifeless body frozen in the unforgiving winter.

The world seemed to fade away as grief overwhelmed him. He gently scooped her fragile form into his arms, her cold skin sending shivers down his spine. Tears streamed down his face as he whispered apologies.

“Qiao’an, I’m back. Your brother Yanming is here. Please open your eyes and look at me. I’m so sorry for leaving you, for letting you suffer for so long…wake up, tell me who did this to you. I’ll get revenge, I promise. Qiao’an, I’ll never leave you again…”

The night wore on, accompanied by the howling wind and the relentless snowfall that continued to shroud the world in a cold and silent embrace.

One snow storm raged through one after another…

“Old Li went to chop firewood again, huh?” someone remarked.

“Yeah, too damn cold this year. We didn’t prepare enough beforehand. Someone else froze to death, they say.”

“Really? Who is it?”

“Two people locked in an embrace were found in the mountains…”