Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Later, when I was in high school and he was in college, things didn’t get any better; instead, they grew worse.
While I was preparing for the college entrance exams, I would receive text messages from him at all hours.
*What are you doing?*
*Have you eaten?*
*Are you talking to other men?*
*I’m coming home tomorrow. If I don’t see you when I get there, I’ll come to your school and drag you back myself.*
Suppressing my discomfort, I would reply: *I’m studying. I’ll be home tomorrow night.*
After a while, a new WeChat message would arrive: *I miss you. I want you.*
I couldn’t take it anymore and threatened him: “Jiang Mengzhou, if you ever say things like that to me again, I’m telling Mom and Dad.”
WeChat finally went silent. I thought he was afraid.
Until midnight, when I received a text: “It would be pretty thrilling if Mom and Dad found out. It doesn’t change the fact that I want to fuck you.”
He was a lunatic-a complete and utter lunatic.
The exams were almost here. I just had to endure him for one last month.
After the exams, I planned to show all the chat logs to my parents and let everyone see this madman’s true colors.
However, before the exams even arrived, he went abroad with my parents. My parents were going for a business trip, and he was going to study abroad.
My parents boarded a certain airline’s flight and never returned.
As for him, because his school changed the enrollment date at the last minute, he arrived in the United States a day early and escaped that plane crash.
A “ding” sound pulled me back from my memories to reality; the second email had arrived.
I immediately ran to the computer. Looking at the unread red dot, my teeth chattered with nerves as I opened the email with trembling hands.
Inside was a diagnostic certificate issued by Nanyi Hospital: Jiang Nanfeng suffered from chronic neurasthenia, with symptoms including insomnia and weakness in the limbs.
There was a line of small text at the end of the email: *If the police question you, do not be afraid. Tell them your memories exactly as they are.*
I downloaded and printed the medical record.
Before I could finish reading the rest of the message, the doorbell rang again. It was the police once more.
The officers told me they had confirmed that the dismembered body found Under the Wutong Tree was indeed my brother, Jiang Mengzhou. They now needed me to cooperate with their investigation.
Since things had come to this, I turned off the computer and followed them to the station.
The police asked me when I had last seen Jiang Mengzhou.
I followed my memory and answered truthfully: exactly one week ago.
At that time, shortly after Jiang Mengzhou returned to the country, he discovered my relationship with Ling Changjun. He imprisoned me, forbidding me from going out to see Changjun, and even confiscated my phone.
Day and night, he was the only person I could see.
That lunatic would also force me to take unknown drugs. If I refused, he would pin my hands down and force them down my throat.
I waited, hoping that Changjun would rescue me soon.
I knew he was looking for me like crazy every day because he would come to my front door and stay for a while, waiting for me to appear.
Jiang Mengzhou lied to him, saying I had gone abroad for graduate school.
Changjun didn’t believe it. How could someone as smart as him not be suspicious?
Until a week ago, when Changjun brought a locksmith in an attempt to break down the door.
Hearing the noise inside, Jiang Mengzhou went out and got into a confrontation with him.
Inside the room, I used every ounce of my strength to call out to Ling Changjun for help.
My room had specially renovated soundproof walls. I didn’t know if Changjun heard me, but my throat grew hoarse from the exertion.
I waited and waited in that room until a beam of light broke through.
I looked up, full of hope. I wanted so badly for the person standing in the light to be Changjun.
The light dissipated, and a face that was both wicked and bewitching gradually revealed itself.
It was Jiang Mengzhou.