It was rainy season in Dian Nan. He remembered its dampness and warmth distinctly.
Just distinctly as the girl who was wearing a cotton linen T-shirt and a pair of knee-length pants. Her skin was tanned by the bright sunlight. He always thought about her when he was free.
Dian Nan was situated at the borders of three nations. One could find poppy flowers everywhere.
It was there among the flowers where an eleven-year-old girl had dragged him to the shore.
She was wearing a red string in her left wrist. He could see the string swinging in front of him while she was tending to his wound.
His camouflage clothing was stained with the dark red blood around his waist.
She soon took out a pair of scissors from her rattan basket. Then, she squatted down next to him and cut out a piece of cloth from around his wound. She pursed her lips together tightly and she seemed so serious for her age. He was leaning against the wooden bed. He could not help but wonder. "Aren't you scared?"
"No." She did not even look up at him. "Ah Xi was once hurt by the shotgun. I saw how my mother had tended to the wound."
"Who's Ah Xi?"
"My pet dog.
Then, she looked up at him with her childish face.
Her cheeks were stained with some dirt because she had sneaked into the small broken house.
Back then, she looked at him like she was looking at an idiot.
It seemed to be his fault that he did not correctly guess who Ah Xi was.
Song Boyan stared at the girl's black and shiny eyes. He was amused by how she pursed her lips together. He could not help but laugh. Suddenly, he seemed to have forgotten about the pain in his stomach. He reminded her, "There's some dirt on your face."
Every girl wanted to appear pretty no matter how young they were.
She raised her arm and wiped her own face. "Where?"
Song Boyan straightened his body and helped her as she did not manage to wipe away the dirt. He used his right thumb to wipe away the dirt on her cheek. It was just a light touch but the girl subconsciously dodged his touch.
His hand was used to carrying guns for a long time. Now, it was covered with callous. It was rather rough for her soft skin.
Song Boyan did not even remember many details about his life as a soldier.
But, he still remembered that incident when he was saved by her quite vividly.
Ji Ming did not interrupt his thoughts. He just stood behind him quietly.
After a long while, Song Boyan spoke again. "Remember to inquire about her if Xiao Si asks you to go to the college again."
Surely, he was referring to Miss Tang.
***
Tang Li had a terribly long nightmare the first night she went to live in the hostel in Mountain Qi.
She saw the familiar but evil faces of everyone from the Li family. She even saw Han Jifeng turning away from her coldly. She also saw herself taking care of Mama Han every day and every night until she was extremely exhausted.
Tang Li woke up from her nightmare when she heard a gunshot.
Her entire body was soaked in cold sweats.
She wanted to switch on the light. But, she could feel a wall only when she stretched her hand out.
She realized soon that she was at the hostel.
It was not the cage that imprisoned her.
The electricity of the hostel would be cut off after half-past ten at night.
Hence, she grabbed her phone and checked the time. It was 2 a.m.
There was a new message on her phone.
[Xiao Tang, it's been a while since you came to meet me. I'm worried about you. Please reply to my message if you're free.]
She had received that message around 11 p.m. last night.
Tang Li hugged her knees when she realized who had messaged her.
She had gone to visit Qin Yueru in both her former life and this life.
In her former life, Qin Yueru wanted Tang Li to be her daughter-in-law. It was because her father was Li Wenyan even though she was only an illegitimate daughter.
When she was locked up by Han Jifeng back then, Qin Yueru would always come and visit her weekly during the first half of the year.
All she had ever done was sighing in front of her. But, she had never blamed her son.
It was also impossible for her to save Tang Li from that pathetic state.