The person on the other end of the phone said something, Gu Xiaodong simply replied, "Wait for me, I'm on my way."
Then he entered his bedroom to change into casual clothes, said goodbye to Chen Qiumei, and left the house. Chen Qiumei called after him, "Where are you going in the middle of the night?"
Once out of the building, Gu Xiaodong realized he couldn't get a military vehicle at this hour, so he pulled his bike from the basement and raced into the city.
Upon reaching a quiet alley behind the department store, Gu Xiaodong looked around before wheeling his bike into the most secluded home.
It was a small courtyard with three rooms. As Xiaodong entered, a young woman with slightly anxious yet guilty eyes rushed out to meet him. "Xiao Zhe has a fever. I had no choice but to call you," she said.
"How did he get sick so suddenly? Wasn't he fine when I checked on him yesterday?" Gu Xiaodong asked as he walked into the house.
