Zhao Xiaolan on the other end of the phone seemed to have guessed Qiu Xiaodong's reaction. Her voice carried a hint of impatience. "Stop staring blankly. Hurry up and come open the door. I don't have the strength to stand for too long."
"Oh, oh, okay." Qiu Xiaodong finally came to his senses. He hurriedly hung up, not even bothering to pick up the bag of chips on the floor, and ran toward the entryway in his slippers.
The moment his hand touched the doorknob, he heard faint breathing outside. He drew a deep breath and turned the knob.
With a click, the sound of the lock springing open rang unusually clearly through the quiet room.
The instant the door opened, Qiu Xiaodong froze from head to toe. His eyes widened, and although his mouth opened and closed, no words came out.
The Zhao Xiaolan before him was like a completely different person from the one he had seen last time. She used to love wearing brightly colored dresses, curling her hair into neat waves, and always wore exquisite makeup.
But now, her clothes were stained not only with grass clippings but also with mud.
Her gorgeous face was pale and bloodless, with heavy dark circles beneath her eyes. Strands of graying hair hung beside her cheeks, and even her lips were cracked and peeling. She looked as though she had aged ten years.
"Don't block the way." Zhao Xiaolan's voice was soft, but carried an unquestionable authority.
Only then did Qiu Xiaodong come back to himself. He quickly stepped aside to let her in, then poked his head out and swept his gaze up and down the corridor.
The motion-activated light in the hallway had already gone out. It was pitch-black, without even a shadow in sight.
After making