Forbidden Land – CH 034

At 10 PM, Zhang Chao was still curled up in his chair surfing the internet.

“Zhang Chao, Zhang Chao,” Bai Qiu, wearing a red down jacket, called out from outside the window.

Zhang Chao quickly ran over, leaned against the window, and said, “Bai Qiu, you’re out so late again?”

Bai Qiu smiled faintly. “Couldn’t sleep, came out for a walk.”

Zhang Chao said, “Wait for me; I’ll come out and talk to you.”

Bai Qiu nodded and wandered on the grass.

Zhang Chao hurriedly ran out of the dormitory building and to the grass behind it. This time, Bai Qiu was indeed still waiting for him. He excitedly grabbed Bai Qiu’s hand and said, “Shall we go for a walk in the back?”

Bai Qiu nodded calmly, “Okay.”

Zhang Chao saw that Bai Qiu seemed to be in much better spirits today, and he couldn’t help but feel happy. He took Bai Qiu’s hand, and the two walked together to the grass by Qizhen Lake in the back and sat down.

Bai Qiu looked at Zhang Chao’s face, touched his cheek with concern, and said slowly, “You had a cold; are you feeling better now?”

Zhang Chao smiled and said, “It’s just a cold.” He quickly turned his head away, saying, “I can’t talk to you; I’m afraid I’ll infect you.”

Bai Qiu smiled, reached out to touch his face, then turned away again, saying, “It’s okay.”

Zhang Chao took her hand and said, “Your hands seem very cold; you should wear more clothes.”

Bai Qiu said, “I’m wearing a down jacket; that’s quite enough.”

Zhang Chao said, “By the way, did you know I had a cold? That’s why you came to see me?”

Bai Qiu nodded and said, “I met Lin Yi’ang today, and he told me. I’m relieved to see you’re alright. But it’s chilly; you should go home and rest early.”

Zhang Chao said, “It’s alright; seeing you makes me feel better. By the way, I have something really infuriating to tell you today.” He told Bai Qiu about how he’d run into Zhu Xiaoyu that morning while getting an IV drip and how he’d been insulted for his bad breath when he went up to greet her.

He’d intended to make Bai Qiu laugh, but she didn’t seem amused or sympathetic at all. She was silent for a moment, then said, “Thank you for going to see Zhu Xiaoyu yesterday.”

Zhang Chao said, “Why are you being so polite with me? You’re my wife!”

“Wife?” Bai Qiu seemed a little confused by the word. She turned her head, glanced at the starry sky, and slowly said, “Yes, I’m your wife.”

Zhang Chao asked with concern, “Bai Qiu, what’s wrong?”

Bai Qiu sobbed, turned her head, and forced a smile, “Nothing.”

Zhang Chao urged, “Bai Qiu, don’t keep everything bottled up inside. Tell me, okay?”

Bai Qiu seemed silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into tears and buried her face in Zhang Chao’s arms.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry…” Zhang Chao tried to comfort her, at a loss.

They had been together for three years, yet he always felt he couldn’t fully understand her, as if his thoughts could never reach the depths of her soul. He was afraid of Bai Qiu crying; in the past, when she cried, he never knew how to comfort her.

A couple of lovers walked by on the road about ten meters away, glancing at them and whispering amongst themselves.

Zhang Chao also felt that Bai Qiu seemed to be crying a little too loudly. This patch of grass was visible from the balcony of the girls’ dormitory in Building 4 of Baisha. Fortunately, it was nighttime, and no one would recognize him, so it wasn’t a big deal.

After crying for a while, Bai Qiu stopped, looked up, her eyes red from crying, and her small mouth slightly pursed. Zhang Chao reached out to kiss her, but Bai Qiu pushed him away first, saying, “No.”

Zhang Chao gave an awkward laugh and said, “It’s okay, haha.” He laughed so hard that even he found it inexplicable.

Bai Qiu chuckled, then her face returned to its usual coldness and faint sadness. She said to Zhang Chao, “Yesterday, I asked you to go find Zhu Xiaoyu, but you have to promise me you won’t go to the School of Medicine at night anymore, okay?”

Zhang Chao asked, “Why can’t I go?”

Bai Qiu frowned slightly, glanced at the lake, then slowly shook her head.

For a moment, Zhang Chao forgot about her illness; he only wanted to know the truth. He said, “Qiu, what do you know? Tell me, please tell me!”

Bai Qiu seemed to be thinking, remaining silent for a long time before finally turning her head and saying, “There’s a woman there.”

Thump!

As if struck by lightning, Bai Qiu indeed saw the woman!

Without thinking, Zhang Chao asked directly, “Was it a woman in white clothes and black shoes?”

But Bai Qiu shook her head blankly, saying, “What white clothes and black shoes?”

Zhang Chao said, “I saw a crazy woman in white clothes and black shoes, always wandering around that area.”

Bai Qiu shook her head: “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I only know… she’s a woman who sings opera.”

A woman who sang opera!

Zhang Chao’s heart pounded violently. The woman who sang opera really did exist! Could it be someone else besides the woman in period costumes?!

He couldn’t help but ask, “What does a woman who sings opera look like? Did she scare you?”

Bai Qiu suddenly trembled, then slowly turned her head. Her eyes were no longer blank; instead, there was a sharp glint in them!

Zhang Chao was startled, involuntarily leaning back, afraid to meet Bai Qiu’s gaze.

But then, the sharpness in Bai Qiu’s eyes slowly faded, replaced by blankness. She said calmly, “There’s no woman who sings opera, nothing at all. I didn’t see anything. Don’t go there again.” Every syllable sounded exactly the same, without any intonation.

Zhang Chao suddenly remembered Bai Qiu’s illness. He had asked too hastily; if he had upset her and worsened her condition, he would regret it. He quickly coaxed her, “Nothing’s wrong; don’t overthink it. I won’t go there again, okay?”

Bai Qiu nodded obediently, then fell silent.

Just then, a “meow” sounded behind them. Zhang Chao jumped in fright and turned around. About five meters away, a completely black cat was staring at them with its bright green eyes.

Zhang Chao cursed, “Get lost! You scared the hell out of me!”

The cat didn’t go away after his scolding; instead, it let out another low meow and walked towards them step by step.

Bai Qiu seemed panicked, clutching Zhang Chao’s sleeve tightly. Zhang Chao pulled her up, stood up, bent down, picked up a small pebble, and threw it at the cat. It missed, and the cat let out another strange cry, continuing to walk a few more steps towards them, its body slightly arched.

Most people knew that a cat arching its body was a defensive posture when it sensed danger or was preparing to attack. Zhang Chao naturally understood, and Bai Qiu, clinging tightly to his arm, was even more terrified. Zhang Chao wasn’t afraid of dogs, because although dogs were bigger than cats, they weren’t as agile. Cats, on the other hand, had sharp claws and could jump high; if they pounced and scratched your face, you’d be disfigured!

Zhang Chao, with a mix of threats and shouts, kicked the cat a couple of times, then pulled Bai Qiu away quickly. When they were about ten meters away from the cat, looking back, the black cat was still standing, looking at them.

Bai Qiu said, “It’s getting late; let’s go back first.”

Zhang Chao nodded, saw Bai Qiu to her dormitory building, and then went back himself.