Xiao Yan woke up with a start, his back drenched in cold sweat.
The first thing he did after opening his eyes was to pick up his phone. He scrolled through all the news pushed today and then called Xue An. Only after confirming that it was just a dream did he heave a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness it was just a dream.
Although he had already woken up from the dream, he still had an illusion of being unable to distinguish between reality and dream. He took a deep breath and then called Song Yu.
Song Yu was surprised to receive a call from Xiao Yan so early in the morning, only to find out that he was asking about a dream. Song Yu couldn't help laughing. "A Yan, if I remember correctly, you're a materialist, aren't you?"
Previously, when Song Yu was studying criminal psychology, he said that there was a connection between dreams and the subconscious. So he specifically read some books about dream interpretation.
During that period, he applied what he had learned. Whenever he met someone, he would ask them what they had dreamed about. Later, he was jokingly called the "Number One Dream Interpreter in the Circle".
Song Yu didn't mind, but he never expected that one day Xiao Yan would come to him to interpret a dream.
"Dreams are always the opposite. It means Jiang Li must be doing well now. Don't worry unnecessarily," Song Yu comforted him over the phone. "Stop overthinking and don't lose your composure."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.
After a while, Xiao Yan let out a soft laugh. "I've really gone overboard. Worrying about all these things."
It turned out that there was something even scarier than her leaving him.
That was her leaving this world, and never being seen again in any corner.
After exchanging a few polite words with his friend, Xiao Yan was about to end the call. "I'm sorry for calling you so abruptly today. I'll treat you to dinner another day."
Song Yu didn't mind. He said into the receiver, "It's normal. Once you have someone in your heart, you'll naturally worry about them more."
"I heard that you've been helping someone find their relatives recently. Is it for Jiang Li?" Song Yu asked knowingly.
"Yes, but I haven't got any clues yet. If you have any, please let me know."
"Don't worry. Since we're friends, I'll help as much as I can. But—" He paused for a moment and then continued, "A Yan, this style of caring about someone secretly without taking any action doesn't seem like you."
They were all in the same circle and had known each other for so long. Who didn't know that Xiao Yan was a person who only cared about the final result?
It was really the first time for him to worry about something that didn't really exist.
Xiao Yan wasn't embarrassed even though his thoughts had been seen through. He just said indifferently, "I just feel that I owe her too much and I'm thinking about how to make up for it."
It turned out that love was always feeling indebted.
Song Yu pretended to suddenly realize. "So you also know that you owe Jiang Li. I thought President Xiao was oblivious to everything outside."
"Stop it." Xiao Yan was too lazy to listen to his veiled teasing. He interrupted him. "Taking pleasure in others' misfortune is not what a professional defense lawyer should do."
"This isn't a professional behavior. It's just my lack of self - restraint," Song Yu argued reasonably. "Besides, we're both losers. How can this be called taking pleasure in others' misfortune? It's more like seeking comfort from each other."
Xiao Yan: "..."
Song Yu couldn't stop laughing. When he heard that there was no sound on the other end of the phone, he decided to stop. Then he brought up another topic. "A Yan, I had a cat when I was a child."
"It was very cute and beautiful, with fluffy fur and a pair of sapphire - blue eyes. I played with it every day. I thought it was carefree. But one day it suddenly died. The doctor said it had feline infectious peritonitis and had been in great pain every day, but it never showed it before."
Xiao Yan was completely confused. He frowned slightly. "What are you talking about?"
"A Yan, cats are very good at enduring pain." Song Yu coughed lightly and his tone gradually became serious. "Although this was just a dream, you should pay more attention to Jiang Li in normal times."
"She's very similar to a cat in this aspect. She can endure pain well. Before..."
He wanted to say that Jiang Li had a high fever at home alone and didn't ask for help, but the words stopped at his lips.
Xiao Yan: "Before what?"
Song Yu: "… Nothing. It's just that when we chatted before, I could feel that she's a person who is used to hiding her pain."
Xiao Yan didn't suspect anything. "Okay, I know. I'll try to pay attention."
After hanging up the phone with Xiao Yan, Song Yu put his phone aside. He took a deep breath and then picked up the latest case file again.
For some reason, at that moment, he didn't want to tell Xiao Yan that he had once saved Jiang Li.
Even though there was no possibility between them anymore, there had been once when he had been her guardian angel and helped her.
This was his own secret.
On the upper left - hand corner of the desk, there was a neatly arranged divorce agreement. He had already signed it in advance.
Half an hour later, Song Yu's phone rang again. The name "Bai He" flashed on the screen.
...
Jiang Li didn't stay at Sheng Jingxi's place for long. She proposed to go back to her own villa, saying that she couldn't sleep well in a strange environment.
Sheng Jingxi could relate to this. "I couldn't sleep well in the hotel a while ago. I understand this feeling."
Some people just didn't fit in with the environment. Staying for too long would affect their appetite and sleep, and even their health. "Go and pack your things. I'll take you there."
On the way to Ruiyuan, Sheng Jingxi asked her if she needed anything. She shook her head. "The facilities there are very complete. It's just that the security is a bit weak. Other than that, it's all good."
Sheng Jingxi immediately frowned, looking a bit incredulous. "The security is a bit weak?"
"Yes. There was a case of someone breaking into a house and hurting people there before. Fortunately, nothing serious happened," Jiang Li said casually. "It shouldn't happen again now."
Those debt collectors would never come again.
Sheng Jingxi still felt surprised. "I specifically paid attention that night. When we left at eleven o'clock, there were at least ten security guards patrolling nearby. It doesn't seem like a place with weak security."
Jiang Li was stunned at first and then fell into silence.
Seeing that she seemed absent - minded, Sheng Jingxi said, "Maybe someone has improved the security since you haven't been back for a long time?"
Jiang Li lowered her head. After a while, she replied, "… Maybe."
He had done his best to protect her, in countless details she didn't know.
Jiang Li felt a burning sensation in her chest, and her eyes also turned sour. She unconsciously tightened her fingers and didn't even dare to breathe deeply.
The snow that day wasn't very heavy. It stopped soon and there was no snow accumulation.
Jiang Li stood in front of the door of Ruiyuan.
She finally returned to the place where they had once lived.
The place that was only for her and Xiao Yan.
"I'm back," she murmured softly.