Qian Tao smiled. She was at ease. "So, Aunty, all the more reason for you not to worry. What could happen to me? Why can't all of you believe that I can wish them well? Aunty, I've forgotten the past."
"I hope that you've really forgotten the past!"
That moment, Qian Tao became tense.
She could hear Xiao Yuanhang's voice not too far away and it was clearly transmitted through the phone. Conversely, Su Ye's voice became farther away. "Yuanhang! What are you doing? Give me back my phone."
It looked like Xiao Yuanhang knew that Aunty Su was talking to her and had snatched her phone.
Before Qian Tao could speak, she heard Xiao Yuanhang's tone of suppressed anger. "Qian Tao, I regret loving you so much previously."
Qian Tao's hand shook.
She was glad that although she was still near her house, there was not a single familiar person there who could see her helter-skelter look.
"Qian Tao, listen up. From today onwards, my wife is Churui. Even if you are her sister, I won't care for you an extra bit!" Xiao Yuanhang said coldly as if to release all his built-up anger at her on his wedding day. "Carry your arrogance to your deathbed! If I, Xiao Yuanhang, were to take another look at you, I will change my surname to yours."
"Yuanhang!" Su Ye's screams could be heard on the other side.
Qian Tao was taken aback.
It had been so many years. She knew that Xiao Yuanhang hated her but she did not know that the hatred was so intense. Today was like a rupture between them.
Qian Tao lowered her head and tears flowed down her cheeks. She controlled her tears so as not to sound unusual through the phone. With great strength and calmness, she replied, "Alright, I hope you will always keep your surname."
"I wish that I didn't find you at Lin Shui that year! Qian Tao! How nice it would be if you had just disappeared!" Xiao Yuanhang roared. "The Qian Tao that I loved died in Lin Shui!"
He might have recalled many of their memories on his wedding day, and some feelings had passed and could never return. That was why he felt more furious.
He had once loved her so deeply.
What could be done? There was such a big ridge in her heart which she couldn't cross.
"Xiao Yuanhang, you've made your choice. Don't turn back. I genuinely wish you happiness."
"Sh*t!" was what she heard, followed by the sound of the phone hitting the ground. The call ended.
Su Ye used her fixed-line telephone to call her but Qian Tao did not pick up. She switched off her phone and put it in her bag.
Maybe Aunty Su had reasons for her worries. Based on Xiao Yuanhang's current emotions, maybe she shouldn't attend their wedding.
Qian Tao could sense that someone was near and so, she moved aside to give way and to compose herself. When she stopped, the sound of footsteps stopped too.
It was morning and the sun was up. She could see the shadow of the person behind her and she felt uneasy.
However, just as Qian Tao had composed herself and quicken her pace to leave that place, a car suddenly braked and the person behind her grabbed her shoulder.
Before she could struggle, her nose and mouth were covered by a piece of cloth. When she realized that it might…, the pungent chemical smell had reached her. Her mind turned blank and her body weakened. Her vision slowly became blurred…