FMT 29

Chapter 29  Exposure

The window was pushed open again. The cold wind of early winter blew into the room. Chen Shuangning’s eyes looked out at the bleak sight of yellow leaves flying in the air, and he said faintly, “As planned, tell them they can begin preparations. When the time comes, say to the outside world that Monk Yuanjing took disciples out traveling. Once the second antidote is made, Lingyun Temple will close, and everyone will return to the sect.”

Xue Ming’s eyelashes trembled. She lowered her head, clasped her fists, and said, “Yes, I will do it at once.”

Chen Shuangning turned back and added, “As for Xinglong, the Left Protector will not return. There is no need to stay here any longer.”

Xueming replied respectfully, “This subordinate obeys.”

….

That night, Chen Shuangning did not return.

After Liandan fed Xiao Dan milk, as usual he played with him for a while, then coaxed him to sleep.

This day, Liandan’s attention was scattered. When playing with the child, he often got lost in his thoughts. Only when Xiao Dan pulled at him with his chubby hands would he suddenly come back to himself. But not long after, he would daze again.

After Xiao Dan fell asleep, the house became quiet, without the slightest sound.

Liandan tossed and turned in bed. Although the stove was pressed with coal ash and the room was not cold, he still felt a strange chill, which kept him from sleeping.

He didn’t sleep well at night, the next morning he woke tired.

Tang Hua came to visit him. As soon as he saw him, he touched the skin under his eyes with pity and said, “Your eye rims are so dark and swollen. Did you cry last night?”

Liandan turned his face away, not wanting him to look, and said in a low voice, “It’s nothing. I didn’t cry.”

Tanghua held his face between his hands, not letting him avoid, face to face, speaking very seriously: “Don’t be sad. Grandma Chen was not a good person. Now that she’s gone, no one in the family will bully you.”

Liandan nodded sullenly.

Tanghua continued, “Besides, she’s gone, but you still have your husband. He doesn’t talk much and is cold, but he treats you well. If you have something stuck in your heart, talk to him more.”

Liandan wanted to turn away again, but Tang Hua was stubborn, so he could not escape.

Tears spilled down uncontrollably. Liandan finally broke down. He leaned against Tang Hua’s thin shoulder, sobbing: “He lied to me. He won’t tell me anything.”

Tang Hua patted his head and his back like he was soothing a child and asked, “Did he go gamble?”

Liandan shook his head.

Tang Hua asked again, “Did he fool around with someone else?”

Liandan shook his head again.

Tanghua thought, then asked, “Then is it that he doesn’t bring money home anymore?”

Liandan still shook his head.

Tang Hua clicked his tongue and said, “Other than those, there’s nothing between husband and wife that can’t be overcome. If you really can’t swallow it, just beat him up.”

Liandan lifted his head from his shoulder and stared at him blankly.

Tang Hua knew what he was thinking, so he smiled, bumped his forehead against his, and said, “Don’t worry, not everyone is like your heartless father. If Chen Shuangning truly loves you, even if you beat him, he won’t fight back.”

“Once you’ve beaten him, let things pass. Our Liandan isn’t a petty person, right?” Tang Hua hugged him and shook him gently.

Liandan kept looking at him, tears streaming. Tang Hua wiped his face with his sleeve and sighed softly.

….

Two days later, a tall figure in white silently appeared in the Chen family courtyard.

Chen Shuangning tilted his head, listening intently, his brows faintly furrowing.

The house was empty.

He lifted his head to glance at the sky. It was nearly dark. At this hour, Liandan should have been at home. Just then, his gaze suddenly shifted toward the neighboring house.

Immediately, he tapped his feet lightly, and like a hawk, he rose into the air and landed on the neighbor’s rooftop.

Inside the house, Wu Daniu was sewing cotton padding into her granddaughter’s jacket.

She said, “Ay, why do I feel Liandan hasn’t been right these past two days? Could it be that his mother-in-law passed away and the grief hasn’t eased?”

Tingzi was feeding Xiao Dan mashed vegetables with a spoon. “Ah, a big bite, good boy. Your daddy asked me to watch you for a while, and I’ll feed you till you’re full!”

After feeding him a spoonful, she clicked her tongue twice and said, “Mother, you don’t understand. It’s not because of Chen Grandma.”

“Then why?” Wu Daniu asked.

Tingzi said, “Can’t you see? Liandan must have quarreled with his husband.”

Wu Daniu said, “Ah, now that you mention it, that seems right. But hasn’t it been days since anyone’s seen his man?”

Tingzi said, “Liandan said he went out to work and won’t be back for a while. But this ger can’t lie. When he said it, his expression was wrong. Anyone could tell.”

Wu Daniu sighed. “Liandan has had it hard. No need to mention his family. And Grandma Chen wasn’t kind either, she tormented him enough.”

“As for the Chen family’s son, the man himself isn’t bad, but he’s one who crawled back from death’s gate, scary enough. It’s hard for Liandan, he lives every day with fear.”

Tingzi finished, “Liandan is stubborn. Once he decides on something, he won’t turn back. He’s not really that temperless on the surface. The Chen family’s man has to be patient and deal with him slowly.”

The figure on the roof tapped his toes lightly and left without a sound.

….

Outside the village, under the abandoned pier at the west end, a small thin figure crouched against it, squatting on the ground, curled into a ball.

His cries drifted in the wind for a long time. Only when the sky grew darker did he wipe his face hard with his sleeve, stand up, and leave.

After he left, a figure in white landed where he had crouched. He bent down and picked up the scattered scraps of paper on the ground.

Chen Shuangning sorted through the fragments and pieced them together roughly.

Incomplete names fell into his eyes.

They were the names he had taught Liandan to write, like a family register of three.

….

At night, the full moon hung high. Xiao Dan slept soundly on the kang in the next room.

In the other room, Liandan tossed and turned in bed, groaning as he clutched his stomach. A hand touched his forehead. The pain faded, and heat rose inside again.

A figure in white sat at the bedside, supporting Liandan’s neck, trying to feed him a pill. But Liandan clenched his teeth and refused to open his mouth.

The figure sighed, put the pill in his own mouth, bent down, and with the tip of his soft tongue slowly pried open the closed teeth, passing the pill to him.

The pill went down into his stomach. Liandan’s lashes trembled. The writhing and tearing movements gradually stilled.

The figure by the bed waited patiently for a long time. Sure enough, after a stick of incense, Liandan rolled over again in distress. Half-open eyes, he reached toward the bedside figure, wanting to hold him.

The figure did not neglect Liandan. He extended his palm, caught that seeking hand, and held it.

Then, following Liandan’s pull, he leaned down over that soft, thin body.

Everything went smoothly. As he entered, Liandan wrapped his arms around the figure’s neck, lifting his head, trying to kiss him.

The figure’s body stiffened for a moment, but only for an instant. Then he parted his lips and leaned in, their mouths meeting.

Things continued. The bed curtains swayed. Inside seemed to grow hotter and hotter, suffocating.

Until the figure’s body suddenly froze, his movements halting.

Liandan lay on the bed, blinking many times. His eyes, once hazy with passion, cleared. In just a moment, his whole expression came alive.

His eyes turned, dazed like just waking from a dream, but soon he was fully awake.

“Ah!” Liandan cried out, pulling back.

In the silent night, the sound was loud. Liandan froze.

Chen Shuangning lifted his head, eyes closed, he clenched his hand on the bedding beside Liandan, veins bulging on his forehead.

Then he heard Liandan’s cries.