"Xiaoliang, there's something I have to tell you."
Kong Xiuyun's tone changed.
Wang Xiaoliang could tell this wasn't idle conversation or a lead-in.
She had made her decision.
"Go ahead, sis."
"More and more people haven't been waking up lately."
Wang Xiaoliang said nothing.
"If I end up like Zhou Qiang too..."
"Sis!"
"Don't interrupt me." Kong Xiuyun's voice was frighteningly steady. "If I end up like him, this will stay buried. No one will ever know."
Wang Xiaoliang didn't dare interrupt her again.
"Zhou Qiang has reminded me every day these past few days not to tell you two, no matter what. He wouldn't let me tell you or Dahuang. But I've been turning it over in my mind these last two days. What if I collapse too?"
"What is it?"
The other end of the line went quiet for a few seconds.
"The day you and Dahuang came to our door, Zhou Qiang was so happy."
Wang Xiaoliang froze for a moment.
He hadn't expected her to start with that.
"As soon as you left, he wilted. He sat on the couch alone, and when I brought him water, he wouldn't even take it. I asked him what was wrong, but he said nothing. Only when I asked again did he speak."
Kong Xiuyun paused.
"He said you two had changed."
Wang Xiaoliang's chest tightened.
"He said every word Dahuang said was a probe. He was suspicious of him the whole time. He said Xiaoliang had learned to watch people too, that he was probing him too. From the moment you came in until you left, you never once called him brother."
The phone almost slipped from Wang Xiaoliang's hand.
He really hadn't. Not once.
"He wouldn't let me tell you. He was hurt. You two mean so