CH 51.2

Chapter 51 Part 2

There was no direct bus to the villa area. Zhang Man couldn’t get a taxi, so she had to take the bus to the nearest station. She took a look at the map on her cell phone. There were three kilometers left.

Three kilometers.

It’s only three kilometres.

Zhang Man looked at the winding road. She shook her head and smiled. Fortunately, the rain stopped since she didn’t even bring an umbrella. She was a mess.

The winding road was on the mountain cliffs and was built along the dark blue sea.

This sea was different from the crowded bay in the center of N City. It was very quiet. Large areas of golden sand beaches had not been industrialized, nor had tourists touched it. It radiated the beauty of being an original part of nature. At this moment, the sun was setting. The street lamps that were ten meters apart  on both sides of the road gradually lit up.

The sea was still ebbing at this time, making simple harmonic movements.

This original part of nature seemed to be isolated from the festive occasion happening to humans.

Whether it was New Year’s Eve or an ordinary day, it was the same.

The villa area was halfway up the mountain. The road did not have a sidewalk. It looked like it was not built for walking. In the villa area, all the families had a car. Zhang Man walked along the deserted winding mountain road. The cold and piercing wind made it hard for her to breathe well, and her knees began to ache.

Walking up the mountain was much slower than walking on a flat road. After more than an hour, the night grew darker. Zhang Man finally saw the brightly lit villa area.

The community had a touch of luxury. The unique buildings were situated on the mountainside, and overlooked all of N City.

She had to swipe a card to enter the community. Zhang Man waited to the side of the entrance. A few minutes later, someone finally came in. She immediately followed the resident into the community.

The villa area was not big, and there were only a dozen households in the area. She walked up the path, one by one to look at the house number.

Five, seven, nine.

It’s here.

The villa in front of her occupied a large area. Its style was very magnificent and elegant. The enormous courtyard was not fenced. It was designed like a small European garden, with a wooden swing placed in there. In the courtyard, there was a two story mini mansion that was extremely white, grand and exquisite.

The lights were not on in the villa.

Zhang Man stood at the door in a daze. The air at night was cold, and the cold air was irritating her from her windpipe to her lungs. It hurt a lot.

She squatted down slowly, putting her arms around her head, and took a deep breath helplessly.

She had walked for a long time under the extremely cold weather. Her head was becoming more and more dizzy at the moment.

But the discomfort her body felt was nothing compared to having a meltdown again.

Each of the villa’s windows had its curtains drawn. It looked different from the other homes decorated with red lanterns around it. It looks lifeless.

It was obvious that no one lived here.

He was not here.

Zhang Man squatted at the door. She clutched her chest. She felt the throbbing pain in her heart through the clothes. She really guessed wrong.

The endless despair came like the tide.

Where are you… Why can’t I find you… I’ve tried looking at so many places. Every day I have to watch the news, watch my cell phone, and worry about something happening.

Why don’t you just give me a message?

Even if you don’t tell me where you are, can’t you tell me that you are safe? I just want to know if you are safe and if you are eating well. 

How can you ask me to live my life when you said it like that…

I can’t eat and can’t sleep. I think of you as soon as I close my eyes, and I want to find you as soon as I open my eyes… Everytime I become full of hope, I become disappointed again and again. If it happens again, I am scared that I will never find you for the rest of my life.

How can I live after that? Or do you want to live past 30 in confusion and put up with the suffering, just like in our previous lives?

It’s New Year’s Day today. Each and every family has hung up their red lanterns. How can you celebrate the New Year alone?

At the gate of the courtyard, Zhang Man finally gave up hope again and cried.

Bang…

At this time, the sudden loud noise startled her.

She turned around and saw that someone had set off fireworks on the coast.

Big red fireworks exploded in the dark sky. They were huge, blooming fireworks—it looked like the end of the previous year and the beginning of a new year was being celebrated.

The sparks then fell and disappeared into the boundless night. It was full of the best wishes during the New Year celebration for those who have worked hard all year.

Zhang Man rubbed her eyes. 

The youth she was thinking about was standing at the intersection close by, under the red fireworks, staring at her deeply.

Although his hair was messy, his facial hair was stubbly, and he was unkempt, it was fine since he still had his arms and legs.

Zhang Man stood up. She breathed very quietly and wiped away the tears.