Chapter 26: Which Leg Is He Really Lame In?

Qiu Yiyao was taken aback. She lifted her arm and gave it a sniff; there was no scent at all.

Ever since she had returned, aside from going out, she had been living in the same set of pajamas, too lazy to tidy up. As for perfume, that was something she hadn't touched since last month.

Just as she was feeling puzzled, she heard Li Zhen say, "I really envy the young people today. They have such good circumstances, getting whatever they want. It’s nothing like when we were young, never having enough to eat or wear."

Grandma Wang chuckled. "You’re doing quite well yourself, keeping yourself looking as fresh as a young girl. You should hurry up and find someone new while you're still young, so you can give Congcong a little brother or sister."

Qiu Yiyao assumed Li Zhen would be offended by such a joke, but to her surprise, Li Zhen didn't seem to mind at all. She laughed, "Look at me—who would even want me? I’ve got a child in tow, and I have nothing to my name. I suppose the only thing of any value is this face, which is still decent enough to look at."

As she spoke, she glanced at Qiu Yiyao. "Don't you think so, Yaoyao?"

Qiu Yiyao didn't expect to be put on the spot. She quickly replied, "How could that be? Sister Zhen, you’re so beautiful. If I were a man, I’d marry you and take you home."

"Is that so? Haha, Yaoyao, you really know how to talk."

Sure enough, women love to hear compliments, and Li Zhen was no exception; she beamed, unable to hide her delight.

Beside them, little Congcong looked up at her mother, pouting her small lips, and tugged at her clothes. "Mommy, can we go back now? My tummy is hungry."

"Is the little one hungry again?" Grandma Wang reached into the drawer of her bedside table and pulled out a pack of biscuits. "Grandma has biscuits here."

But Congcong showed no interest, bluntly refusing, "No, I want to eat a big chicken leg."

Hearing this, Li Zhen realized, "I almost forgot, I still have chicken legs boiling on the stove. Look at my memory."

She took the basket from the side and placed it on the bedside table. "Take these."

Grandma Wang quickly declined. "I’m just an old woman. I’m already satisfied that you come by to keep me company. Why bring gifts?"

"They’re nothing of value. Keep them if you like them; if not, just throw them out."

Li Zhen pulled Congcong along, said goodbye to Grandma Wang, and headed toward the door.

"Grandma Wang, I should head back too. Get some good rest. Goodbye."

Qiu Yiyao, who dreaded being in a room with people she didn't know well, hurried to follow them out.

As she reached the doorway, a "crunch-crunch" sound suddenly pierced her ears.

Qiu Yiyao froze. It was broad daylight; was she hallucinating?

She couldn't help but look back, only to see Grandma Wang sitting on the edge of the bed, motionless, staring at her with an expressionless face—a completely different person from the kindly grandmother she had been moments before.

Qiu Yiyao rubbed her eyes in disbelief. When she looked again, Grandma Wang had returned to her original appearance. "Yaoyao, what’s the matter? Did you leave something behind?"

"No... nothing. I’ll be going now."

Qiu Yiyao hurriedly ran out of the room.

Standing in the living room, she felt a wave of stifling heat; her back was already damp with sweat.

"This hallucination really came at a bad time."

Qiu Yiyao walked out the door and pulled it shut behind her. Turning her head, she saw Grandpa Qin standing at the entrance of the clock shop, leaning on a cane with one hand and holding a broom with the other, sweeping the fallen leaves.

Qiu Yiyao wanted to go over and help, but after taking two steps, the scene from that morning suddenly flashed in her mind: Grandpa Qin, leaning on his cane, walking toward her while holding a pear.

She clearly remembered that it hadn't been this leg that was injured.

At this thought, Qiu Yiyao stopped in her tracks. Everything from the previous night resurfaced, so vivid and terrifying, along with the words: "Come here, I saved this for you."

Even with the sunlight shining on her, Qiu Yiyao felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar; her entire body felt chilled to the bone.

She didn't want to use the word "tease" to describe an elderly man with white hair, but how could such a severe leg injury suddenly switch sides?

She pinched her cheek; it was just as usual—very painful.

Qiu Yiyao felt uneasy. Was this a hallucination, or had it really happened?

Passersby walked past her, and every look they gave her seemed to carry a hidden meaning.

She ran back home. Qiu Shengming was sitting on the sofa watching TV. Seeing her rush back, he asked with concern, "What’s wrong? Is someone chasing you?"

Qiu Yiyao didn't speak. She sat down beside him, grabbed his hand, and slapped it hard against her own face.

"Smack!" The sound startled Qiu Shengming.

Qiu Yiyao rubbed her cheek, frowning as she scolded, "Why did you use so much force?"

"Huh? Didn't you grab my hand and force me to hit you? I didn't even have time to react."

Qiu Shengming looked innocent. Seeing the red five-fingered print on her small face, he felt a pang of heartache. "Are you alright? Does it hurt?"

"Of course it hurts! It’s all swollen."

As she rubbed her face, she remembered the important matter at hand. She said seriously, "Dad, I’m sober right now, right? I’m not hallucinating?"

"Well, as long as you see me and not the old man next door, it shouldn't be a hallucination."

"That's good," Qiu Yiyao nodded repeatedly. "Good. Dad, let me ask you something."

She cautiously checked outside the door and lowered her voice. "Which leg did Grandpa Qin across the street injure?"

Qiu Shengming answered without a second thought, "His left leg. Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

"Are you sure?"

"What do you mean, sure or not? I was right there at the time, and I was the one who drove him to the hospital. Why, what's wrong with him?"

When Qiu Yiyao had first returned, she had heard Qiu Shengming mention that two months ago, Grandpa Qin had accidentally fallen on the mountain. Fortunately, there were several people nearby, and he was rushed to the hospital in time to save the injured leg.

"But I just saw him limping on his right leg."

"No way? Did I remember it wrong?"

Qiu Shengming rubbed his head and stood up to go to the door, but Qiu Yiyao pulled him back. "Maybe there were too many people around, and I saw it wrong."

"You must have seen it wrong. How could a leg injury switch sides? It’s not like filming a TV show..."

As Qiu Shengming spoke, he seemed to remember something else and comforted her, "Don't think too much about it. Go back to your room and get some rest."

"I know."

Qiu Yiyao didn't argue; she didn't want to worry Qiu Shengming.

...

On the computer screen, the search bar for Yueli Town remained empty.

Whether it was the previous cases or the forum Qiu Yiyao had been searching for, there wasn't a shred of information to be found.

It was as if this place called Yueli Town had never existed in this world.

The clock on the desk pointed to nine. Outside the window, aside from the crickets, frogs were calling incessantly. The entire town seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.

There was no nightlife like in the city, no street food stalls, no bars.

She hadn't thought much of it before, but now the more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

Qiu Yiyao closed the computer, quietly opened her bedroom door, and peered out. The living room was pitch black.

She turned on her phone's flashlight, closed the bedroom door, and tip-toed toward the front door.

But she hadn't taken more than a few steps when a voice came from behind her.

"Where are you going?"