Leon had already gone to work when I woke up the next day. And Ms Zhen told me he wanted me to rest at home and do nothing.
Actually there was nothing I could do. Being just released from confinement, my spirits were still low and the effects of the confinement lingered. What could I possibly do?
But I just wanted to keep myself busy. Because for the previous month, I had been doing absolutely nothing. Basically eating and sleeping constituted my whole daily life. And I was getting more like a pig. But then I got my freedom back, and I didn’t want to continue to live like that.
So I called Leon and asked him if I could take a walk outside.
He told me it was fine. I could go wherever I wanted to because someone would protect me.
I was surprised. “Aren’t you afraid that Chenlei Hua will capture me again?”
“He doesn’t have the guts, nor does he have the chance to do so. Because it is daytime and he himself is in a messy situation. You can take a walk if you want. Xuanlong will ask someone to protect you.”
I was completely at ease when I heard this.
“Okay. I will go. You can go back to work.”
“Wait. You can go outside, but you can’t drive. I’ll ask Xuanlong to pick you up.” Leon said.
I agreed.
The first person I wanted to meet was, of course, Ying Hua. In Hai City, she was the only female friend of mine that I could trust completely. And she was also the person I wanted to meet the most at that time.
She was surprised when I called her. “You finally appeared. I heard that you went abroad and I couldn’t get in touch with you.”
Leon was such a good lair. I was confined, and he told people I went abroad.
I didn’t explain. I told her I was back in Hai City and asked her out to have a cup of coffee with me.
“Sure. Today is my day off. We can meet each other at the cafe house named ‘Street corner'”
Ying Hua agreed cheerily.
Ying Hua was obviously getting thinner, and she looked more attractive.
When she saw me, she walked to me and embraced me tightly and said, “You are finally back. I miss you so much.”
We ordered coffee and some desserts.
She looked at me unblinkingly and said, “You seem to have put on some weight. Did you have a good life abroad? How come you are getting plumper?”
I felt embarrassed. I was confined and I should have lost some weight, but instead, I got even fatter. I didn’t know what to say.
“Don’t worry. It’s not that obvious.” Ying Hua said when she realized I was feeling awkward.
I took a sip of coffee. It was very delicious, and it had been a very long time since I drank coffee that tasty. When I was confined, they also gave me coffee, but it was instant coffee and it was not very good.
“Why did you go abroad, to visit your kid?” Ying Hua asked.
“No. I was confined by Chenlei.” I said plainly.
“What!?”
From her reaction, I could tell that Leon didn’t tell Ying Hua what happened about Chenlei.
Then I wondered whether it was a good idea to tell her that incident. I wanted her to know what kind of person Chenlei really is, but it would be a shattering blow to her, and I had no doubt about that.
“You mean my Second Brother? How is that possible?” Ying Hua rounded her eyes.
She heard what I said clearly and it would be too late to change my mind. So I told her the story.
“About a month ago, Leon and I were confined by Chenlei in a small room. He only gave us one egg every two days. And we were almost starved to death.”
Ying Hua’s pretty eyes widened. “One egg a day? How is that possible?”
“You heard me wrong. He gave us one egg every two days. That is to say, Leon and I could only eat one egg every two days.”
“What? Is Second Brother mad? How could he do such a despicable thing?” Ying Hua said in disbelief.
“I don’t understand it either. How could he do this. But it indeed happened, whether you believe it or not.”
“I trust you. But I think it is too horrible. I can’t believe my Second Brother is that kind of person. Why did he do that?”
“He wanted to force Leon into listening to him. He wanted to manipulate Leon. And he admitted that your Big Brother and aunt Xiang were all killed by him.”
Ying Hua screamed. “How is that possible? He wouldn’t do that!”
I knew she wouldn’t believe, because I also wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t see it with my own eyes.
“I know it is hard to take. But it is the truth. Chenlei Hua is a murder who is always hiding behind. I was confined by him for a month. He also hid your father, so that he can threaten Leon.”
And then, I told her what happened recently in detail. She was in silence when I finished.
“You don’t need to feel so sad. It’s all in the past now. Leon has found your old man and he is in a safe place right now. Don’t worry, Leon has broken free from his control.”
“But I watched news only two days ago, and it said Second Brother has joined the group to help, and his performance is very good. I was very glad and I thought Hua Family will be better with Second Brother’s help, and I never expected this is how things would unfold. I am just so sad.” Ying Hua said and tears brimmed in her eyes.
I didn’t know how to comfort her. Because I would also be very upset and found it hard to take if I were in her situation.
“So what is Leon’s plan? He killed Big Brother. Will Leon let Second Brother get away with it? Will he be punished?”
“Leon is still trying to figure out a solution, but currently there is nothing to be done. He admitted his crime only in front of us, and we don’t have any other evidence. He will never admit it to the police.”
Ying Hua nodded and said, “If Leon needs my help, just tell me. I’ll help him because I’m on his side.”
“Thank you. Actually I’m also a little bit concerned about you. Because Chenlei knows you are also a very important person to Leon, so I’m afraid that he would bring you under control and then threaten Leon. So you must be careful. That’s why I asked you out today.”
Ying Hua nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful and I won’t let that bastard have a chance.”
And then, Ying Hua’s phone rang. And she looked very nervous and said, “It is Chenlei. What does he want?”
I also got nervous when I heard his name.