Cambiaformas

Capítulo 13

Feng Qi raised an eyebrow: "Even her mother has noticed the changes in her daughter?"

"The people who know their children best are, of course, their parents."

"Do you think it's possible that Han Jiaxi had plastic surgery to look like Gu Yun, then took the blame and lived Gu Yun's life, while the real Gu Yun has already been killed by them?"

"More wild speculation! Without concrete evidence, all speculation is futile!"

Feng Qi rolled his eyes: "Making bold guesses is also an effective way to solve the mystery!"

Cao Xiangui tapped him on the head without hesitation: "Speculation is based on facts!"

"Then I'll go find the evidence!"

"Yes, this child is teachable."

"Well, old man, it seems you'll have to put up with my intrusion for a while longer."

Cao Xiangui smiled knowingly: "Welcome to bother me."

That same day, Feng Qi bought a second-hand GPS-enabled phone at the electronics market. He "coincidentally" appeared at the hospital just before Song Zijin finished get off work, and "coincidentally" wanted to go home. Unable to refuse Song Zijin's hospitality, he gave him a ride, and then "accidentally" left his phone, which was still on, under Song Zijin's car seat.

After waiting for three days, Feng Qi finally noticed Song Zijin's unusual behavior. That night, after leaving Gu Yun's house, Song Zijin drove to Daoxiang Road and never left again.

It was a secluded alley at the end of Daoxiang Road. Under the dim streetlights, Feng Qi recognized Song Zijin's car parked by the roadside. Faint music drifted from the alley. He turned on his phone and, using the soft blue light, walked into the alley. The air inside seemed even more humid than outside. The walls on both sides were covered in moss, smooth to the touch. After walking for less than a minute, the space suddenly opened up, revealing a small square in front of Feng Qi. The music was coming from a bar in the center of the square.

The bar has a strange name: Asakusa.

The music stopped abruptly as the heavy wooden door was pushed open. Everyone looked at Feng Qi, and the previously noisy world suddenly fell silent. The bar wasn't actually very big; it could only fit four or five tables.

Feng Qi's lips moved slightly, his face showing helplessness. This was the second time in less than a week that he had become the center of attention. Shouldn't a normal bar allow customers to enjoy themselves even when someone comes in? But ever since he entered the bar, everyone's eyes had followed his every move.

Feng Qi, puzzled, found an empty seat in a corner and quickly scanned all the customers in the bar. Song Zijin wasn't there. Just then, a long-haired man in a navy blue shirt walked up to him and smiled elegantly: "I'm the owner here. You can call me Asakusa. May I ask who you are?"

The man's voice was deep, seemingly emanating from his abdomen. Despite his smiling face, Feng Qi felt a chill. However, he couldn't deny that the man was exceptionally handsome. Unlike the modern definition of a handsome man, the bar owner, Asakusa, possessed an unusually classical appearance. His long, glossy black hair was loosely tied back with a dark green ribbon, and his almond-shaped eyes were alluring yet not effeminate.

"Isn't this a bar?" Feng Qi laughed. "Why is everyone looking at me like I'm a monster? Is it some kind of shady place?"

"Guest, do you have a referrer? Or perhaps our business card?" Asakusa flipped her hand, revealing a pale green card between her fingers: "For example, something like this."

Feng Qi took the card, caught a whiff of a familiar grassy scent, and couldn't help but bring it to his nose: "This scent...it's so familiar..."

“You’re Yezi’s guest.” Asakusa reached out and took Feng Qi’s arm, gently pulling him up from his seat. Before Feng Qi could even be surprised at how she did it, he was already at the bar.

Asakusa lifted the beaded curtain behind the bar, revealing a dark brown wooden hidden door. He knocked lightly twice and said to the person inside, "Yoko, your guest."

A few seconds later, a woman's angry roar erupted from inside: "Asakusa! How many times have I told you! Don't knock on the door when you have guests!"

Asakusa completely ignored the woman's words and continued knocking on the door. Finally, the person inside couldn't take it anymore and flung the door open with a bang.

"I said—" A short-haired girl poked her head out of the door, about to snap, when she suddenly saw Feng Qi next to Asakusa: "Ha, it's you? Came to see me?"

The moment Feng Qi saw the girl, his mind went blank. The familiar scent of vanilla—how could he not have recognized her? It was her! The one who seduced Mo Ran into seeking revenge, and then stole his unborn child with Mo Ran. How could he forget!

“Yu Ye…” he murmured the girl’s name.

The girl chuckled, "I'm so glad you still remember my name." But turning to Asakusa, she gritted her teeth and said, "I've told you nine times, if not ten, not nine. Don't knock when there are guests!"

Asakusa had already picked up a glass and was wiping it herself, her tone indifferent: "I've said it many times, my guests don't like strangers. They're uncomfortable with him here. Yezi, take him to the next room. Don't let me see him tonight." Yu Ye snorted coldly, took Feng Qi's hand, and prepared to go through the wooden door. But Feng Qi shook off her hand. Yu Ye turned to look at him, her eyes completely unmoved.

"Is your current guest Song Zijin?" Feng Qi frowned, rubbing his temples repeatedly. The series of events that had just occurred replayed in his mind like a movie. He didn't believe in ghosts or monsters, and he dismissed Mo Ran's story as the ramblings of someone insane. However, this young woman gave him an uneasy feeling. Subconsciously, he felt that things would become much more complicated and dangerous once she was involved. Song Zijin's car was parked at the alley entrance, and his unusual behavior these past few days made him suspicious.

Yu Ye narrowed her eyes, a smile playing on her lips. "I have a strong sense of professional ethics; I can't just reveal a client's information." She paused, staring intently at Feng Qi, her voice suggestive and her expression seductive. "Would you be willing to become my client and let me fulfill your wish?"

Before they could answer, Feng Qi and Yu Ye were shoved through the wooden door by Asakusa, and the seemingly flimsy door closed silently. Before the world went dark, Feng Qi only heard Asakusa say, "You better behave yourself and go inside to lure customers in."

There was no light in the room, but Feng Qi could still feel a gentle night breeze blowing through it. The room wasn't completely sealed off. After his eyes finally adjusted to the darkness, he suddenly realized that Yu Ye was right in front of him, her eyes fixed on him intently. Her expression seemed to suggest she was observing him, trying to understand his inner thoughts.

“I… do not wish to be your guest.” Feng Qi looked directly at her, though in the darkness, he could only see the faint light in her eyes and her blurry figure.

"That girl... that person named Mo Ran, is she dead?" Yu Ye suddenly asked, her tone even carrying a hint of curiosity. Feng Qi frowned again, clenched his fist, and tried to remain calm as he said, "I don't believe in ghosts or witchcraft, I have no religious beliefs. It seems you've come to the wrong person if you're trying to recruit someone."

Yu Ye grinned and chuckled a few times: "You're the one who contacted me, aren't you?"

"The person I'm looking for is Song Zijin, my old classmate."

Her eyes lit up, and she enthusiastically suggested, "Then shall I take you to see him? But does he know you've been following him, old classmate?"

Feng Qi paused, lowered his eyes, and secretly regretted his rashness, now finding himself in a dilemma.

"Don't be nervous, I won't make things difficult for you. I still have business to do, you know. Your classmate was indeed my customer, but he's already left. I really can't reveal the details of the transaction to you, let's understand each other." As soon as he finished speaking, a soft white light emanated from the four corners of the room. Feng Qi saw a short passageway directly opposite the wooden door, with three wooden doors at the end of the passageway.

The glowing objects were actually four luminous pearls, previously concealed by a thick black curtain, which explained the darkness. Now, Yu Ye pulled back the curtain, twirling a rope in her hand, a smile playing on her lips: "I'll let you off today! Go through the rightmost door, and a few steps further out you'll reach the main street. If you encounter any problems you can't solve in the future, you can consider coming to me. I'll give you a 20% discount."

Feng Qi finally showed his first smile since seeing Yu Ye: "You may never be able to do this business with me."

"Life is unpredictable, so don't speak so absolutely."

He looked at her with unwavering eyes: "Instead of relying on others, I'd rather solve this myself. In this world, the only person I trust is myself."

She laughed, but immediately put on a serious expression, though she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes: "That's great, I hope you can keep it up."

Feng Qi's face turned cold, and he walked straight toward the rightmost door.

After Feng Qi completely disappeared from Yu Ye's sight, she still smiled with her arms crossed, in high spirits: "This person is very interesting, isn't he, Asakusa?"

It turned out that Asakusa had appeared behind her silently at some point.

He neither confirmed nor denied it: "He's a journalist."

"You even know that? That's amazing!" Yu Ye turned around, affectionately took his arm, and nuzzled her face against him.

Asakusa withdrew her hand and said calmly, "I saw him when he was making the cleanup record for you. Aren't you afraid he'll write something wrong and expose us?"

Yu Ye stuck out her tongue and brushed her hair aside: "How much could he possibly know? Even if he wrote it down, people would just think he's crazy."

"Be careful," Asakusa said before going outside to continue mixing his cocktails.

"So tired~ I haven't slept enough! Song Zijin is such a hassle." Yu Ye stretched lazily, then rubbed her left and right sides, and finally just lay down in a V-shape on the stone bed in the room and fell fast asleep.

Chapter Four Han Jiaxi

Song Zijin's family lived on Binjiang Road in Zhicheng, their towering building standing out abruptly amidst a cluster of residential houses that had not yet been demolished. His parents lived in this newly built building. Because there were no obstructions in front, they could clearly see the mountains opposite and the gently flowing Yangtze River.

Feng Qi stood across the street, gazing up at the tall building. The sky, clear after a recent sun shower, was a deep, azure blue, without a trace of mist or moisture. Pure white clouds stretched out, trailing long tails. The surrounding desolation and ruin contrasted sharply with the modernity of the skyscraper.

It seems like it's been years since I've seen such good weather in Zhicheng.

He smiled as he put the camera in his bag.

Originally, Feng Qi came to Song Zijin's house to look for clues, but unexpectedly encountered a brief sun shower. Seeing the city after the rain made Feng Qi feel much more refreshed.

The person who opened the door for him was Song Zijin's mother, a thin middle-aged woman. She paused slightly upon seeing him, then asked kindly, "You're Zijin's high school classmate, right?"

Feng Qi had met Song Zijin's mother before. During high school, he would stay after school to help the homeroom teacher with chores at every parent-teacher conference—distributing report cards and greeting parents. Song's mother was one of the few parents who was kind to him.

"Auntie, you still remember me?" Feng Qi was also surprised. He had only met Song's mother three times, but he didn't expect her to remember him.

Mrs. Song chuckled mischievously, "Let me think... Hmm, the young man surnamed Feng, Feng... Feng Qi! He always got first place in high school and even served me tea." After saying this, she looked at Feng Qi, who was standing smiling at the door, and suddenly slapped her forehead, ushering him in. She said with annoyance, "Look what I've done. Come in quickly, I was so busy talking that I completely forgot about manners."

Feng Qi watched her bustling about, bringing fruit and drinks. Knowing he couldn't stop her, he could only let her do as she pleased. Song's mother insisted on handing him a peeled apple, her face full of regret: "You've come at the wrong time. Zijin hasn't come back from her shift yet."

Feng Qi also showed a regretful expression, but he then smiled faintly and said, "Auntie, I came here for Song Zijin's wedding. But I have things to do in the provincial capital and can't stay long. I might not be able to attend the wedding that has been re-held." As he spoke, he took out a sealed red envelope from his pocket: "Please keep this and give it to him when he comes back."

"Why don't you hand it over to him yourself..."

“I booked a flight for tonight, so I probably won’t be able to wait until he gets off work. But there are still more than three hours before I board the plane. If you don’t mind me being in the way, Auntie, I can stay here and chat with you.” Feng Qi took a bite of the apple and said with a satisfied smile, “It’s so sweet.”

"You can stay as long as you like." Song's mother smiled kindly at Feng Qi: "Little Feng, you seem to have changed a lot."

Upon hearing this, Feng Qi raised an eyebrow and smiled, "You won't turn bad, will you?"

"No. It's just that you seem much more cheerful. You used to always seem unhappy."

"So many years have passed, it's impossible for things to remain unchanged."

"Something good must have happened."

Good things? Feng Qi lowered his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips. If what happened to him was considered good, then what would be bad? He chuckled, then looked up again, his eyes bright and full of laughter.

“Speaking of good things, Song Zijin has really had a lucky break. Such a beautiful bride, we’re all so envious. Back in high school, we thought he would end up with Han Jiaxi—” Feng Qi stopped abruptly, looking worriedly at Song’s mother. Her face turned pale the moment she heard Han Jiaxi’s name.

Realizing her loss of composure, she forced herself to remain calm and said to Feng Qi after a long while, "Jiaxi... please don't mention this in front of Zijin."

Feng Qi patted Song's mother comfortingly and asked with concern, "Auntie, are you alright? Don't worry, I won't mention Han Jiaxi to Song Zijin. It's just... a little sad to see how unpredictable life is."

An unconcealable grief welled up in Song's mother's eyes. She propped her head up with her hand, remaining silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Who can argue with that? It was fate, fate. What a pity for Jiaxi, such a good girl, to have encountered such a thing. If it weren't for Xiaoyun's meticulous care, perhaps Zijin would have gone with Jiaxi too..."

Han Jiaxi is dead?

The sudden news shocked Feng Qi. He had assumed that Song Zijin's new relationship was due to parental opposition or infidelity, but it turned out that Han Jiaxi had already passed away.

Then why did Song Zijin call Gu Yun "Jiaxi"? Wouldn't Gu Yun be angry? Or—Feng Qi thought of the words "possessed by a ghost," but immediately dismissed the idea. He still didn't believe in ghosts and spirits. He believed there must be some secret involved.

Perhaps, the person named Yu Ye knows.

Could this be the same as last time, where hallucinations are caused by hallucinogenic drugs?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

...

Why do I feel so peaceful?

Song Zijin lay on the sofa, her eyes glued to the woman sitting on the floor, peeling an apple while watching TV. The TV was showing an archaeological documentary, which she watched intently, even letting out soft sighs.

A beautiful face, a slender figure, even those large, clear eyes told him this was Gu Yun. Gu Yun, the pride of heaven, Gu Yun who had everything, his wife. But Gu Yun never watched archaeological documentaries; she only loved romantic Korean dramas. Gu Yun never peeled fruit herself; she liked to kick him with her foot and coax him into peeling it for her.

Who exactly is this person in front of me?

As if sensing his gaze, she turned her head and smiled slightly at him. The smile was faint, but her eyes were gentle.

How could he forget that smile, the smile that had been with him for over 20 years?

"Jiaxi...you're not done peeling yet?" He hugged her from behind, his lips gently touching her neck. "You're so focused on watching TV, it's making me jealous."

Her sigh escaped, her tone full of helplessness: "Zijin. It's fine at home, but don't call me that in public."

Song Zijin snorted: "I can call you whatever I want, it's my freedom."

Upon hearing this, she stiffened, then let out a long sigh: "You... are even more willful than before."

He laughed, turned her face, and kissed her lips deeply: "Anyway, I have you."

...

“I have two sons…” Seeing Feng Qi’s confusion, Song’s mother explained, “They were twins. Zi Jin’s older brother was named Zi Lü. He drowned when he was 15 years old.”

"Ah," Feng Qi grasped Song's mother's trembling hand and comforted her, "Aunt Song, don't talk about sad things you don't want to remember."