“If you don’t leave, I…”
He saw the knife point less than a millimeter from my neck, and his expression changed. “Stop playing.”
“I…”
As I started to speak, my wrist was suddenly gripped firmly. His movement was extremely fast.
“I know you hate me; I’ve pushed you to a dead end.” He wrapped my hand with his other hand, the knife pressed against his heart. “Stab me. Will it make you feel better?”
I thought he was just talking, but unexpectedly…
He guided my hand to stab. Blood seeped from the knife’s edge.
“No!”
I pulled back my hand, the knife clattering to the ground.
I panicked, grabbing the medical kit and tearing the gauze roll messily. Completely forgetting the first aid methods I’d learned, I pressed a bundle of gauze on his wound, feeling his heavy heartbeat beneath my palm. A sharp pain spread from my hand throughout my body; that stab might as well have been in me.
“Do you still hate me?” he asked.
I shook my head. “You know I can’t bear to see you hurt…”
“Give me one more chance, wait for me three years…”
Blood soaked through the gauze, hot and bright red.
The next day, I forced myself to get up, shower, and pack my things. Just as I was about to go to school, I received a call from Yin Zhongtian.
I remembered when I first came to Japan, Yin Zhongtian would often call me or leave messages online. Since I mentioned having a boyfriend, he had never contacted me actively. I was surprised when he suddenly called, hesitated, and answered the phone.
“Hi!” I said, unsure of what else to say.
“Xiao Bing,” his voice was serious. “Are you busy in Japan?”
“Not bad, quite busy recently.”
“Can you come back home for a trip?”
This request seemed abrupt. Yin Zhongtian had always been cautious, so his sudden request must have a reason.
“What happened?” I asked urgently.
“Uncle Bao… just finished surgery…”
I felt my blood freeze, falling onto the bed. Whenever I called home recently, my parents’ voices were calm, and they would quickly hang up.
“What illness did he have?” I pressed.
He was silent for a moment. “Come back, and I’ll tell you.”
