My relationship with Shen Jianqing reverted to its initial state, or perhaps even worse than at the very beginning. We couldn’t even maintain a semblance of harmony.
After he recovered from his injuries, he became busy again, going out every day. More and more people started coming to the stilt house. I often heard conversations from downstairs, though I couldn’t understand a single word. He was increasingly acting like a busy leader.
However, no one ever came upstairs. One time, a man seemed to be trying to come up; I even heard footsteps on the stairs, but Shen Jianqing loudly reprimanded him, stopping him. Before, Shen Jianqing used to have others bring my meals. This time, he did everything himself, probably genuinely fearing that I’d get involved with someone else again. It’s truly laughable; he’s like a child guarding his candy, like a dragon protecting his treasure, yet he doesn’t realize that in others’ eyes, this “candy” or “treasure” might be worth nothing at all.
I don’t know how long he intends to keep me confined; as he said, it might truly be for life. The days were incredibly difficult, every minute and every second consumed by extreme boredom. The thought of potentially staying here for an entire lifetime made me wish I could just bash my head in and die.
Of course, I had considered death. But as soon as the thought arose, I immediately rejected it. I haven’t committed any wrong, so why should I die? I cannot punish myself for someone else’s problems. I firmly believe that death doesn’t solve problems; it’s merely an extreme way for the weak to escape them. Furthermore, I didn’t want my ashes to be improperly handled after my death, stubbornly kept in some place and unable to be buried.
A turning point arrived one afternoon.
I can’t recall how long I’ve been confined; perhaps it’s been two or three days, or maybe half a month. The passage of time is remarkably indistinct in this stilt house.
This particular day, Shen Jianqing had just left, and I was sitting on the bed, utterly bored. He had reverted to his gentle, self-possessed demeanor, as if all the previous confrontations and arguments had never happened. He even wore a helpless, indulgent smile when he looked at me, clearly treating everything as if we were just playfully bickering.
For the past few days, Honghong had been left in the room to keep me company. It was very good at cheering people up, its way of waving its front paws was both silly and adorable, certainly much cuter than its owner. But today, perhaps due to some task, Shen Jianqing had taken Honghong with him.
With nothing to do, I simply lay down to sleep. Sleep was the only diversion in my utterly boring life.
Soon after I lay down, I suddenly heard a strange tapping sound. It wasn’t loud; it was deliberately controlled and very cautious. At this point, any slight disturbance would grab my full attention.
I sat up, turning my ear to listen.
“Thump! Thump-thump!”
It sounded like something tapping on the rows of wooden bars over the window. I focused my gaze and indeed saw a stone suddenly appear from below the window, lightly tapping against the wooden bars with a “thump,” hanging in the air for a second, then falling weakly.
Someone was downstairs!
I rushed to the edge of the bed, pulling the bars apart with my hands to look down. The gaps between the bars were very small, not nearly wide enough for me to poke my head through. I could only try my best to squeeze my face out and look down.
Outside my room’s window was a patch of forest. I saw a blue figure, tall and slender, bending down to pick up stones.
“Wan Ying!” I recognized the figure instantly.
The person indeed looked up, revealing a charming and beautiful face: “Li Yuze! Are, you, alright?”
It’s good to see someone other than Shen Jianqing. I cherished it and forced a pale smile. “I’m okay!”
Wan Ying said worriedly, “A few days ago, Ah Song, cried, and ran back, saying he, met Shen Jianqing, in the forest. He had a dark face, very, fierce, and scared Ah Song.” She spoke haltingly, likely referring to that confrontation in the woods a few days prior. I hadn’t realized Ah Song would run back crying for help.
Wan Ying continued, “I’ve been very, worried, about you. Shen Jianqing, didn’t, make things, difficult for you, did he?”
I nodded, but then, thinking that revealing those things wouldn’t serve any purpose, I shook my head again. “I’m fine, I’m really good.”
Wan Ying, whether genuinely believing me or choosing not to expose me, patted her chest in relief and said, “That’s, good. These past few days, Shen Jianqing, has been guarding, so I, didn’t dare come, to see you. Since, you’re alright, then I’m, relieved!”
“Today, Shen Jianqing had, something, to do, he isn’t here, so I, dared to come, see you. Since you’re fine, I need to, go…” She said, turning to leave.
I didn’t want the conversation to end so quickly. Besides, Wan Ying had previously expressed a desire to help me leave. I couldn’t miss this chance; if I did, who knew when the next opportunity would arise?
“Wan Ying, Wan Ying, don’t go yet!” I quickly called out to her. “You… you said before you could help me leave. Can you still do that now?”
Wan Ying’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. “I thought, you had, fallen in love, with Shen Jianqing, and didn’t, want to, leave anymore.”
Before she even finished speaking, I felt a lump in my throat, unsure how to respond. It was true that Wan Ying had urged me to leave before, and I had chosen to stay. Do I regret it? Of course not. I don’t regret any of my decisions, but I will consider my future more carefully.
Seeing I didn’t answer, Wan Ying shrugged and said, “If you, still want, to leave, you must hurry. Once Shen Jianqing, truly becomes, the leader, the people, in the village, will obey, his commands, and you’ll be, even less, able to, leave.”
That meant my opportunities were limited.
I nodded. “Thank you. I’ll try to get out as soon as possible. But if I get out, how do I find you?”
Wan Ying didn’t hesitate. “I live, right above, Uncle Lu Qi. You know, his house, right?”
I’d been to Lu Qi’s house when Shen Jianqing was injured, so I remembered it.
“En!”
“You helped, Uncle Lu Qi before; he’s very, grateful, to you. When you, get there, just light the Wuzi grass, in front of, his house. My Gu insect, really likes, that smell. They’ll let me, know.”
I finally grasped a glimmer of hope for escape. Though I didn’t know if I’d succeed or what I’d face if I failed, I didn’t want to consider those things now. I just wanted to try my best.
After making arrangements with Wan Ying, she looked left and right, then urgently said, “Shen Jianqing’s back; I have to go. You must, seize the time, yourself.”
I watched her figure disappear completely. Sure enough, within minutes, I heard rustling movements beneath the stilt house.
Now, I had to figure out how to escape from this sealed room. This was something Shen Siyuan had never managed to do in his lifetime, but I believed I was different from him. I could try.
