Chapter 129: True Feelings in Adversity
The morning sun had driven away the darkness, but the air still held the chill from the night. Bai Feifei, by herself following the address listed in her notes, arrived at a slum area.
"This should be the place!" Rubbing her hands together, she then made her way through rows of low wooden huts, finally coming to a small house.
"Is Ye Xiaoxiao at home?" Bai Feifei stretched out her hand and knocked on the door of the small house.
After a few minutes, a young man opened the door warily, looking at Bai Feifei, "Who are you? What do you want with Xiaoxiao?"
Since Bai Feifei was in plainclothes and not in her police uniform, "I am Bai Feifei from the Yanjing Criminal Police Team..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the man slammed the door shut and yelled angrily, "Get lost! We're already in this state, why can't you leave us alone?"
A heavy look flashed across Bai Feifei's face, but she did not give up and continued to knock on the door, "Could you please open the door? I am here to help you!"
"We don't need your help, get lost!" the man shouted, "Can't you just leave us in peace to have a quiet life?"
Bai Feifei kept knocking, but there was no response from inside.
Bai Feifei sighed, then took a seat right at the doorstep. Since the other party refused to open the door, she had no choice but to wait for them to do so.
"Jiang Yu, what's happened?" a young woman's voice came from inside the house. "I heard someone come by?"
Carrying breakfast, Jiang Yu entered the room with a pained expression, "Someone was just peddling something; I sent her away. Here's some porridge I've made, give it a try!"
Ye Xiaoxiao took a few sips gently, then said, "I'm full, you have some!"
Licking his lips with a smile, Jiang Yu replied, "You go ahead, there's still some in the pot! The weather is nice today, later I'll take you out for some sun. The doctor said you should get plenty of sunshine."
Looking at her paralyzed legs, a guilty expression crossed Ye Xiaoxiao's face, "Jiang Yu, you really don't have to do this. You're a good man, you shouldn't waste your precious youth on a useless person like me. I'm just a jinx, I..."
Before Ye Xiaoxiao could finish, Jiang Yu wrapped her tightly in his arms, "Xiaoxiao, please don't say that! In my heart, you will always be the girl who loves to laugh and shout, always the woman I love the most! Please don't push me away, ever! Because you are now the deepest tie in my life!"
Ye Xiaoxiao held the man gently, filled with gratitude, guilt, and attachment.
The phone rang suddenly, Jiang Yu looked at the caller ID, and said, "It's a call from work. I'll step outside to take it."
As he spoke, Jiang Yu stepped outside.
A gust of north wind blew fiercely outside and the door creaked open, causing Ye Xiaoxiao to shiver. She was about to call out to Jiang Yu when she heard his voice carry over.
"Manager, I've got some things to do this morning, can we discuss me starting work later... No no, I'm not slacking off, I really have something... What? Dock a day's pay? Manager, I haven't used my overtime leave yet, today I... Hello?
Hello? Damn it! Bloody Zhu Bapi!"
About five minutes passed before Jiang Yu came back in. "How did the door get open? Xiaoxiao, you're not cold, are you?"
His face was lit with a smile, hiding any hint of anger.
"Work stuff? What happened?" Ye Xiaoxiao asked, feigning indifference.
"Haha, the company can't seem to turn a wheel without me; they need me for everything!" Jiang Yu laughed, "I've just talked it over with the boss, I'll go to work this afternoon. Honestly, they're helpless without me, ahaha..."
Seeing Jiang Yu's hearty laughter, Ye Xiaoxiao suppressed the bitterness in her heart and said, "That's great, I'm waiting for your good news then!"
"Don't worry, I will surely succeed!" Jiang Yu carefully brought a coat for Ye Xiaoxiao. "Let's go, let's take a walk outside and get some sunlight. It's good for the recovery of your legs!"
Ye Xiaoxiao's refusal was swallowed back before it could leave her lips. They all knew that the necrosis of the nerves in her thigh meant there was no hope for recovery—for them, it was nothing but self-deception, clinging to a minuscule hope, lying to themselves.
Gently, Ye Xiaoxiao was lifted into the wheelchair, and Jiang Yu opened the front door.
Bai Feifei was squatting at the door, and when it suddenly swung open, she almost fell.
"You..." Jiang Yu's expression changed, "Why haven't you left?"
"Jiang Yu, who is this..." Ye Xiaoxiao, looking at Bai Feifei, asked with confusion.
Bai Feifei gazed at Ye Xiaoxiao, sitting in the wheelchair, her complexion pallid and her frame frail. The smile on her face did little to mask the utter desolation in her spirit.
"Hello, my name is Bai Feifei, I'm the deputy captain of the Yanjing Criminal Police Brigade, and this time..."
"Get away, you imposter!" Jiang Yu, agitated, shoved Bai Feifei, but she swiftly overpowered the tall and muscular Jiang Yu with a martial arts hold.
When Ye Xiaoxiao heard Bai Feifei's identity, a spark of life suddenly burst within her calm eyes, "Officer Bai, if you don't mind, please come in and let's talk!"
Jiang Yu was frantic, "Xiaoxiao, this person is a fraud! Don't be deceived!"
Ye Xiaoxiao looked at Bai Feifei, "Officer Bai, could you let him go?"
Bai Feifei shrugged her shoulders, then released her grip, leaving Jiang Yu feeling as if his arm had gone limp.
"Xiaoxiao, can't you just forget the past? Can't you forget it with me and build our future together?" Jiang Yu asked with a complex expression on his face.
Ye Xiaoxiao took a deep breath, "Jiang Yu, I'm sorry! I know you love me and don't care about my past, but I can't easily forget. I can't erase the hideous face of Liu Xin from my memory, nor can I forget my parents lying in a pool of blood! How many times have I awakened from nightmares... I've tried to forget, but I just can't!"
Jiang Yu leant defeated against the wall.
Ye Xiaoxiao said to Bai Feifei, "Officer Bai, let's go inside to talk."
Inside the room, with an apologetic tone, Ye Xiaoxiao said, "We don't have much to offer for hospitality, I hope you'll forgive us, Officer Bai."
Looking at the bare room, a heavy feeling settled in Bai Feifei's heart, "It doesn't matter! You might have guessed why I'm here."
Ye Xiaoxiao nodded, "Ever since I learned about Liu Xin's case, I knew my opportunity had come! The only way for Liu Tingyu to save herself would be to strike at the root of the problem."
Bai Feifei marveled internally, "Good, it seems we share a common goal. Can you help me?"
"Of course, helping you is helping myself!" said Ye Xiaoxiao, "It all started four years ago..."
An hour later, Bai Feifei had gathered sufficient evidence from Ye Xiaoxiao, who also agreed to testify in court. When Bai Feifei was about to leave, she found Jiang Yu standing at the door.
"Jiang Yu, I'm sorry!" Ye Xiaoxiao showed a remorseful expression, "I can't let go, I..."
"If you can't let go, I can shoulder it with you!" Jiang Yu slowly knelt down, taking Ye Xiaoxiao's cold hand, "I've said before, you are the bond I can't sever, I'm with you in this."
Witnessing the touching scene before her, Bai Feifei silently left. Standing outside, under the bright sunlight, she took out her cellphone, "Now we start the counterattack on public opinion!"
No matter how cold the night, dawn will always break through.