Chapter 6: Double-Sided Eel Rice

"Ah? Did you dial the wrong number?"

On a whim, Chen Yuan called his aunt, which made the other side pause, almost hanging up the phone.

"No. Auntie, I'm Xia Xinyu's classmate."

"If you're her classmate, why did you call me auntie?"

The voice on the other end belonged to a middle-aged woman, the kind who wears glasses and has a stern, expressionless face. Even though it was a simple question, Chen Yuan could sense the authority in her tone, as if she was saying, "If you can't answer, you're dead."

However, she quickly changed the subject: "Classmate, why are you calling me? What's wrong with Xinyu? Is she okay?"

The woman suddenly became worried, and her tone was urgent.

It was clear that what Xia Xinyu had been through recently was enough to make her consider suicide.

"She's okay, but she hasn't been to school for a few days. I live very close to her, so I asked a teacher at the school for Auntie's phone number to check on the situation."

Since her parents were out of town and she was studying in Xiahai, the school would definitely contact her aunt if anything happened, so his lie should hold up.

"Did Fu Xiumei give you the number? Why didn't she ask me directly?"

Damn, I forgot she's a teacher at the school!

"Teacher Fu said..."

"This matter is indeed sensitive. She probably didn't want to ask too much."

The woman had her own logic and didn't suspect he was lying.

"Um, I saw Xia Xinyu today. She looks terrible, like she's in a daze."

"You saw her? Can you tell her to come to Auntie's place? I'm very worried about her. She's been introverted since she was little."

"May I ask...?" It seemed she guessed something, but Chen Yuan couldn't help but ask, "Did something happen in her hometown in Jingnan?"

After a long pause, the woman replied, "Last week, her parents were caught in a landslide while going down the mountain."

"..."

Chen Yuan's heart tightened, and he closed his eyes.

He couldn't bear to listen anymore.

"Xinyu is an only child. They need to hold a funeral in her hometown, and she has to go back. But when she heard the news, she hung up the phone. A few days ago, I went to see her, hoping to take her to my place and bring her back to Jingnan, but she refused to go anywhere. I had no choice but to ask the school to give her a leave. If you see her again, please tell her that Auntie is very worried about her." The woman's voice was already breaking, not sounding like a seasoned teacher at all.

"Okay, Auntie, I will."

After hanging up, Chen Yuan's face darkened.

The story was even more desperate than he imagined.

A landslide, both parents dead.

He could imagine how much Xia Xinyu must have hoped it was a dream when she heard the news, but the wet pillow every night and the empty, dark room in the morning would remind her that it was real. Then, the pain would come like a flood, and she couldn't bear to return to her hometown to arrange her parents' funeral, toasting relatives and elders, and showing her determination to move on.

The only way to relieve her sorrow was suicide.

If it were me, I would die too.

...

Opening her eyes, Xia Xinyu saw a tear on her eyelashes.

Suddenly, her lips curled, and a wave of bitterness rose to her nose. She buried her head in the blanket and sobbed again.

Last night, she had a dream that her parents were in the hospital. The doctor told her they would need to stay for a long time, and she was happy.

Because they weren't dead, they were still being treated.

But this thought in her dream reminded her that her parents had died in a mudslide, with no chance of rescue.

So, the dream was false.

In the dream, she recognized the truth.

And in the dream, she discovered the pattern—

The end of the dream is waking up.

She was afraid to wake up, but the gradually clear consciousness and the light slanting through the curtains still woke her up.

To face this cruel reality.

After crying, Xia Xinyu, with red eyes, picked up her phone. She saw that her aunt had called her many times, and there were several unread messages on QQ from her classmates.

Most were from girls she was close to, and only one was from a boy.

[Wen Boheng: Why aren't you in class? Are you sick?]

[Wen Boheng: I've taken notes recently. Where do you live? I can bring them to you.]

This boy was a classmate who sat behind her. Although Xia Xinyu had never been in a relationship, she knew he liked her.

Actually, girls can always tell these things.

Even though they weren't close, he often initiated conversations on QQ, which was a subtle sign of a boy's affection.

However, she never noticed that Chen Yuan liked her, not even a hint until the moment he confessed.

After all, every time they met, he never looked at her more than a normal glance.

If he really liked her, it shouldn't be like this, right?

Thinking about it, the words he said were probably a "temporary measure," realizing she was going to commit suicide, he wanted to delay it, waiting for her to get through this before explaining.

So, her serious rejection yesterday was really self-centered...

Thinking of this, Xia Xinyu, feeling embarrassed, slapped her cheeks: "Next time, I absolutely can't drink anymore."

No, there won't be a next time.

After making that meal for Chen Yuan... I'll die again.

Apart from the nausea and dizziness when waking up, this method wasn't too painful.

After getting out of bed, Xia Xinyu saw the iron basin.

The charcoal inside had been extinguished with water.

The situation yesterday must have been like this—Chen Yuan smelled something odd, knocked on the door, and when she didn't respond, he broke in, opened the window, and tried to take the basin out when he came in, burning his hand in the process. Finally, he had no choice but to carry her off the bed.

Thinking about it now, he must have been terrified yesterday.

I'm really sorry to him.

"If there's a soul after death, I'll watch over his home for seven days before the黑白无常 (Black and White Impermanence) take him away."

Xia Xinyu thought of the only way she could repay Chen Yuan.

By now, Chen Yuan should already be at school.

It was already 7:30, the time she usually arrived at school.

Even if Chen Yuan is a good person, he wouldn't take leave just to watch over her and prevent her from committing suicide... What am I thinking.

Although she thought this, she still walked to the door and pushed the loose door open.

Then, she saw a box of food on the ground.

This! This isn't the steak and eel double-sided rice?

Xia Xinyu immediately recognized it as the popular product on display at the nearby supermarket counter.

Of course, she didn't know if it was good, as the 78 yuan price tag made it a luxury she could never afford before she started working.

But since so many people bought it, it must be delicious.

"How did this end up at my doorstep?"

Squatting down, her eyes almost glowing, Xia Xinyu hesitated for a while before picking up the box.

Then, she saw a note underneath.

Picking up the note, she found a key underneath.

It's from yesterday's unsold stock, on sale at half price this morning. I left the key at the door. Eat half, and put the rest in the fridge. Also, you can stay at my place during the day until you change the lock—Chen O.

Why did he abbreviate his name to O when he wrote so much?

Holding the colorful, crispy, and generously portioned double-sided rice, to be honest, Xia Xinyu was almost drooling.

No, this is for him, how can I eat half...

But he said to leave half for him.

Wouldn't that make it leftover food?

I'll save it for dinner.

But...

I really want to eat it.

It must want to be eaten by me too.

After much hesitation, Xia Xinyu brought the double-sided eel rice into her home and opened the landlord's small fridge: "Ham, eggs, cucumber, eight-yuan plum strips... I'll deliver the food to the school before the last class in the morning."