"Is that Xiaoliang? Is that you?"
Her voice was so shrill it nearly cracked.
Wang Xiaoliang froze for a second, then recognized her.
His cousin, Zhao Nan.
"It's me. Sis, why is it you?"
No sooner had he spoken than the other end fell silent. A clatter followed: a table knocked against a chair, something toppled over, everything crashing and rattling. Then came hurried footsteps, high heels tapping against the floor, click-click-click-click, moving at a run. Panting poured through the phone, heavy and urgent, punctuated by a startled cry as she nearly tripped.
"Zijin! Zijin!..."
Zhao Nan called out, her voice growing louder.
Her voice receded, then drew closer again, as though she had pushed open a door.
Then everything went quiet.
Wang Xiaoliang switched the phone to his left hand. His palm was slick with sweat.
"Hello?"
No one answered.
"Hello?"
Another two or three seconds passed.
A voice came through the receiver. Very, very soft, as though she feared the call would disconnect if she spoke any louder.
"Hello... Xiaoliang."
Just those few words.
Wang Xiaoliang's breath caught. He knew that voice all too well. But he had never heard that tone before. Timid and cautious, as though speaking any louder would frighten her herself.
His nose stung. He hurriedly drew a breath and forced it down.
"Zijin, it's me."
"Waaah-"
Sobs erupted from the other end.
Not quiet sniffling, not silent tears. It was the kind of wailing that had built up for a month, been held in to its limit, and finally found an outlet. She couldn't put together a single complete sentence, only broken sobs, gasps, then more sobs.
Wang Xiaoliang sat on the edge of the bed, his phone pressed to his ear, utterly still.
The stone that had been lodged in his chest