Without saying a word, Chen Ying came in and simply placed something in my hands.
It is a memory card, a storage device commonly utilized by many mobile phones.I asked, "What is this?"Chen Ying replied, "These items belonged to my brother and were given to us by the workers at the construction site."Chen Ying shut the door and carefully said to me, "I know you must have a phone that can read this, so check it out."
I made a sound to signal Chen Ying to take a seat, then I pulled out my laptop, opened it, and plugged in the card using the multi-function card reader. The card was cluttered with various files, including some disturbing selfies of Chen Kai.
Chen Ying noticed me browsing aimlessly and then urged me, "There's a voice file... that one."
I then opened the file using the player on my laptop.
This was a recording that shocked me greatly after listening to it.Chen Kai's voice was strained as he spoke, panting heavily: "Damn it... damn it... listen, Shengli, I think I'm in trouble... I don't know who these people are... they look like gangsters, but not really... Shengli, I saw Xiaoyun with them, there's no doubt, she's in the same blue uniform... you have to believe me, it's definitely her... they want to catch me... I'm really scared... it's not the police... damn it... I'm in some strange place I don't even know... a construction site... they're chasing me in a car... damn it, damn it! I recorded this, I hope you can hear it. I heard a car approaching..."I was stunned, and Chen Ying started to weep. I replayed it; without a doubt, that is Chen Kai's voice, I swear on my life.I closed the laptop slowly, and heavily squeezed out the words, "Chen Ying, who gave this to you? Did you listen to it?"Chen Ying replied, "The workers at the construction site gave it to me. We went there last week to mourn my brother, and I think their foreman was the one who handed it to me.""How could they have this thing?""Picked next to the wall. We brought a picture of my brother. They recognized him.""Who else knows this card?""My parents, but they didn't listen to the recording.""How did you come here?""By bike. Shengli... Xiaoyun... is it true?"I feel even more bewildered than Chen Ying. Hearing Xiaoyun's name in the recording struck me like a heavy blow, causing me intense pain."You go back first. Take care on your way. Leave the card."
"Shengli..."
"Go, now!" I suddenly shouted.
"Then take care of yourself." Chen Ying walked away with tears in her eyes.I feel as though my entire world has crumbled. Chen Kai would never record something like this to scare me. This recording must have been made before Chen Kai was hit and killed; he recorded it with his phone and saved it on a memory card. He cleverly removed the card and left it there; perhaps for him, this was his last hope. When people are in hopeless situations, they often consider everything around them to tell those who come after what happened. Chen Kai is a smart person, without a doubt.I listened to the recording several more times, and the more I listened, the heavier my heart felt. Xiaoyun... why was she doing there? Did Chen Kai make a mistake? No, Chen Kai wouldn't make a mistake. He has praised Xiaoyun's beauty before and could easily spot her in a crowd of thousands.I met Xiaoyun in November last year. At that time, I was on a business trip to Shanghai and was at a bar with a guy from the client company in the evening. Xiaoyun was there with one of her colleagues. The guy from the client company was experienced and ended up going to a hotel with Xiaoyun's colleague that night. I really didn't have the courage to do that, so I just exchanged phone numbers with Xiaoyun.Our relationship began soon. I've known Xiaoyun for under a year, and we don't see each other often, usually only when we have business trips at the same time. Xiaoyun is wonderful, and I genuinely like her; it's not easy to meet someone so thoughtful. I hope to maintain a good relationship with her.However, I'm not entirely sure about Xiaoyun's true identity. I can't recall the complete name of her company; it appears to be something like "Wanshitong International Trade Co., Ltd.," but that might not be correct. All I know is that she works in international trade and frequently travels for work, but I'm unclear about her specific responsibilities. I'm not involved in the trade industry, and even though I've heard her talk about it, I still don't understand what it really entails.
I was feeling bewildered, sitting on the couch doing nothing, hesitant to think about anything, and I even lacked the courage to call Xiaoyun. I lost track of time until my phone rang. When I saw the note to the caller, my hand shook uncontrollably; it was "Xiaoyun"!
After it rang for quite a while, I finally answered it.Xiaoyun's sweet voice came through the phone, "Honey, took your time answering hey." "Ah... Xiaoyun, where are you?" I'm not sure why I asked about her location."Guangzhou. Told you yesterday."
"You are not in Beijing then."
"Of course not, I'm in Guangzhou."
"Okay. When can you come to Beijing?"
"No idea. You miss me?"
"Ah... yes... oh, do you have a landline? I'll call you there."
"I have. Why? Why not the mobile?"
"Please tell me your landline number. I'll call you.""You're so strange, what's wrong with you?""Nothing.""No, you are really strange."I fell silent."Hey... hello... are you there?""I am... Xiaoyun, I want to ask you a question, I hope you won't be offended. Can you tell me where you were on the day Chen Kai died?" "The day Chen Kai died. Which day?""That day! Were you in Beijing!?" I suddenly raised my voice; I am not someone who can hold back."I was not in Beijing, I came to Beijing later! What's wrong with you!""You weren't in Beijing, so how could anyone have spotted you?!""Who spotted me?" Xiaoyun said angrily."Who spotted you? Guess who! Chen Kai!" As soon as the name Chen Kai was mentioned, I suddenly felt a chill and deeply regretted saying his name."Chen Kai? He saw me?... Honey, are you alright?""I... I don't..." I felt a wave of panic and hung up the phone.A minute later, Xiaoyun called again. I was extremely frightened; I felt as if Xiaoyun was right outside the door while making this call to me.
I was shaking and I don't know why I was shaking so hard.I directly rejected the call and turned off the phone.I spent the entire night sitting there, shaking and gazing at the door.
The following day, I skipped work and chose to visit Chen Ying instead.
Chen Ying has gone missing, and her phone is turned off. Colleagues at her workplace reported that she did not show up today. I called her parents, and they mentioned that Chen Ying left home in the morning.Chen Kai's card is in my pocket, and it feels like a ticking time bomb on me.
I wandered aimlessly on the street for a day and started to feel like someone was following me again. The feeling became stronger in places with fewer people around.I took the subway over and over again, and by 10 o'clock, I took a cab to a bar in Sanlitun, staying there until the bar was about to close.Yes, there were indeed people following me. The moment I stepped out of the bar, I sensed two pairs of eyes looking away. But I can't be sure where.I was being watched...
Flee - as Chen Kai told me to. But to where? My hometown? However, when I consider Chen Kai's gaze, I feel a lack of courage.
At a street corner of Sanlitun, I suddenly heard someone shout my name: "Li Shengli!"