Occasional wisps of blue smoke rose above him; Jing Xin knew he was smoking. As she approached, she noticed several cigarette butts on the ground, indicating he had been there for a while.
She placed flowers before the grave and walked a few steps closer to him.
Jiang Xiangyang seemed to be waiting for her. When he saw her, he extinguished the cigarette, his lips moving as if to speak but then stopping.
He lowered his eyes, brow furrowed, exuding unresolvable melancholy. His handsome face looked haggard, with dense stubble sprouting like bamboo after rain.
His black and white eyes were filled with bloodshot lines, looking painfully sharp.
Jing Xin thought he must have been suffering terribly. His deep bond with his mother and her situation had exhausted him. If pain could be shared, Jing Xin wanted to relieve some of his burden.
Jiang Xiangyang’s gaze fell behind her, finally finding a support point. He slowly spoke: “Jing Xin, my mother is in the hospital, and her condition isn’t good. She keeps mentioning you. Could you go see her?”
He had never begged anyone in his life, even when the Gao family bullied him. These words came out awkwardly.
Jing Xin felt guilty; Aunt had been kind to her, and she should have visited her.
“Xiangyang, I’ve wanted to visit Auntie. I went a few days ago and waited at the door for a long time, but no one was home. I’m sorry!” She lowered her head, unsure if she was apologizing for her negligence or his pain.
“A few days ago, my mother’s condition worsened. She vomited everything she ate. I forcibly sent her to the hospital. She said she didn’t want to stay there, claiming the smell of medicine was unpleasant and the bed uncomfortable. I know she didn’t want me to worry.”
He took another deep breath, his fist clenching involuntarily.
His dim eyes were filled with fragility, a trace of vulnerability flickering before quickly being covered.
Dark clouds pressed lower, and a muffled rumble came from the distant sky. The clouds transformed into a turbulent black sea. The wind rose, the dense pine forest trembled, lightning flashed across the sky, and with a thunderous boom, a silver-white light split the clouds, unleashing a torrential rain on the marble floor.
Jing Xin looked helplessly around the empty surroundings, without a place to shelter from the rain.
“Xiang Yang, let’s go down the mountain,” she said.
She turned around to find a jacket draped over her head. Jiang Xiang Yang grabbed her hand, and they ran down the mountain.
The raindrops formed a silver-white line, weaving into a dense curtain. He pulled her through the wild wind and heavy rain. Although they were running aimlessly, Jing Xin enjoyed being pulled along. The rain was so heavy she couldn’t open her eyes, but she felt inexplicably at peace.
They finally reached a roof’s shelter, their run through the rain leaving them slightly breathless.
Jing Xin’s clothes were soaked through, water flowing from her hair into her eyes. Jiang Xiang Yang was even worse, as if pulled from water, his wet hair clinging to his forehead. He shook his head in frustration, droplets falling in an arc and splashing onto Jing Xin’s face. She let out a light cry and jumped away, but he quickly caught her, roughly wiping the rainwater from her face with his calloused hand.
Jing Xin turned his hand over and noticed his thick calluses and several prominent scars interrupting his clear fingerprints, reminiscent of a severed future.
An endless sense of regret welled up in her heart. She remembered his mother’s words: “This child is always hanging out with unsavory people. I’m worried to death. Jing Xin, could you help me persuade him?”
Though she knew she had no right to interfere, she bit her lip and mustered her courage: “Xiang Yang, stop mixing with bad people. You’re always fighting and hurting yourself. Your mother is very worried.”
Jiang Xiang Yang quickly withdrew his hand, disgust filling his eyes. Glancing at Jing Xin, who was biting her lip, his tone became cold and distant: “Tian Jing Xin, mind your own business. Who do you think you are?”
When have my affairs ever needed your management? Stay away from me.”
Jing Xin felt angry, rage accumulating on her face. She hated his uselessness, his self-destruction, and how he didn’t care for himself.
Finally, anger overwhelmed her fear. A bitter smile crossed her lips as she said sarcastically, “What right do I have to manage you? You’d better take care of yourself and pray you don’t get chopped up, to spare Auntie’s worry.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Even when angry, she shouldn’t wish him harm. She didn’t want to see him hurt.
Deciding she didn’t want to stay with Jiang Xiang Yang anymore, she sighed and ran into the rain.
Jiang Xiang Yang stared at her retreating figure, then followed, roughly grabbing her and pulling her back. “Damn it, are you crazy? Can’t you see all the cars? If you want to die, stay away from me.”
Why was he so angry? She was driving him mad.
They stood close to the wall, surrounded by the rustling of leaves and raindrops hitting the cement. They remained silent.
In this calm silence, their emotions traversed thousands of mountains and seas, known only to heaven and earth.
After a long time, the sky gradually brightened, the clouds dispersed, and the rain stopped. They parted ways under the eaves.
Jing Xin visited Jiang’s mother, aware that Jiang Xiang Yang did not mention his whereabouts, and she hesitated to ask after being scolded previously.
Chapter Sixteen: Shocking Wounds
It was the weekend again. Jing Xin remembered Jiang’s mother would be discharged on Thursday and should be home this week.
She woke early, preparing papaya and fish tail soup to take to the Jiang home, as she had heard it was beneficial for patients.
The morning light spread warmly across the yard, with purple chrysanthemums blooming in the dew. Jing Xin felt as vibrant as the lively courtyard as she walked through the open gate. The house was quiet, almost eerily so, with only her heartbeat audible.
The only closed door was Jiang Xiang Yang’s room. She knocked softly but received no response. When she tried the handle, the door opened with a creak.
Thick curtains blocked the bright light. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw a man on the sofa beneath the window, adjusting bandages on his arm. Several bottles and bandages lay on the small table, suggesting he was changing his dressings.
Upon hearing the door, he looked up panic-stricken, his gaze sweeping over Jing Xin before slightly relaxing.
In a low voice, he said, “Close the door,” then continued wrapping his bandages, wanting to hide these wounds from his mother.
She was already so ill; he couldn’t let her worry anymore.
The door closed gently, and the room darkened, contrasting sharply with the bright sunshine outside. Jiang Xiangyang’s figure was hidden in the gloom, exuding a gloomy aura.
He struggled to remove the bandage from his arm. The knot was tightly tied, and after several attempts, he gave up, roughly pulling at it.
Jing Xin was startled. Who would treat a wound like this?
Without thinking, she set down her bag and approached him, gently touching the bandage. “Let me help!” she said, assuming he couldn’t change his dressing in his condition.
Jiang Xiangyang remained silent and didn’t refuse. He needed help.
He sat back slightly, resting his arm on his knee, letting her do as she pleased.
She carefully untied the knot with her slender fingers, quickly undoing what he had struggled with.
Jiang Xiangyang glanced in disbelief, then looked away, feeling her warm breath on his hand.
He shifted slightly on the sofa, uncomfortable with the unusual palpitations in his heart.
Jing Xin was focused entirely on the wound on his arm.
