Mysyery

Chapter 1: Pulling the Trigger (Part 1)

In the long-dry late autumn, an unexpected torrential rain fell that day.

Before it was even four in the afternoon, the sky darkened heedlessly. The wind followed shortly, as if it had conspired with the rain, beating and washing away, attempting to strip away the warmth that people had clung to with such effort.

Chi Xiaoying held a cup of green tea, gazing blankly at the raindrops sliding down the glass window. The reflection on the glass showed that her black hair had grown to her shoulders, softening her gaunt, melancholic face considerably. Her colleagues said that her current appearance made her look like a girl fresh out of school, and she would always respond with a faint smile.

The appearance may deceive others, but it cannot deceive oneself.

Twenty-seven, a number far from twenty and close to thirty. Am I getting old? She raised her hand to gently touch her cheek.

A brilliant flash of lightning streaked across the window, and she instinctively flinched and took a step back. Turning around, she set down her tea cup and saw someone standing outside the door.

She looked up and smiled. "Bai Yuan, what are you doing here?"

Bai Yuan was casually dressed in a trench coat. With an unshaved face, unkempt hair, and no deliberate grooming, he looked somewhat worn and haggard.

"What's wrong? Can't I come visit my junior?" Bai Yuan teased as he walked in, shaking off a few raindrops from his hair.

"Of course you can, anytime and anywhere." Bai Yuan was Chi Xiaoying's senior by three years in college.

Chi Xiaoying glanced at the dense curtain of rain outside. "But with such heavy rain, I'm a bit surprised that you came all the way to see me. Are you looking for the dean? Unfortunately, she's in Tianjin for a conference."

She poured him a cup of hot tea, and the steam filled the air. Through the mist, Bai Yuan’s expression grew serious as he gazed at her intently, and with a sigh, he said, "Xiaoying, I’ve divorced Nannan."

Chi Xiaoying was stunned, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find her words. After a long pause, she finally managed to ask, "Are you joking?" Once, she had believed that Bai Yuan and Yan Nannan were the most loving and perfect couple in the world.

Fate has come to an end. Luckily, we don’t have children, so it saves a lot of trouble.” Bai Yuan pretended to be casual as he spread his hands and shrugged, but his eyes betrayed an undeniable weariness.

"Stop with the diplomatic rhetoric; there must be some reason behind it," Chi Xiaoying said.

Bai Yuan took a few quick sips of tea, pressed his lips together, and furrowed his brows in frustration. "It's better if you don't know the reason; it's really d*mn funny," he said, scratching his head. He then looked at her with concern and asked, "Xiaoying, are you okay?"

Chi Xiaoying blinked in confusion, wondering if the question was asked the wrong way around. “I’m fine!”

Bai Yuan gave a bitter smile, patted her on the shoulder, and said, “That’s good. I should be going now.” He set down his tea cup and walked towards the door.

Chi Xiaoying stood there, stunned, as she watched him go downstairs. Across from the main door, a black sedan was parked. Bai Yuan, the director of the city construction bureau's demolition office, was young and accomplished, valued by his superiors, and had an unmeasurable future. He was always chauffeured in a dedicated car.

“Bai Yuan, did you come all this way just to tell me this?” As Bai Yuan reached for the car door, Chi Xiaoying called out to him.

Bai Yuan froze and turned back with a somewhat conflicted expression. He withdrew his hand, pulled her under the porch, and hesitated for a moment before saying, “Alright, Xiaoying, since you want to know, I’ll tell you. My today will be your tomorrow.”

“Uh?”

“Nannan and Xuanxiao got together at some point, it seems like it's been a while. I’ve been busy with work and socializing, and she’s also been swamped, so I didn’t notice anything unusual until the day before yesterday when she mentioned wanting a divorce. That’s when I found out. They agreed to get divorced at the same time and then be together. I suspect you’re just as in the dark as I was, so I came to tell you. Xuanxiao will probably speak to you soon as well. Xiaoying, you need to hold on.”

Nan Nan, her classmate and close friend.

"Xuan Xiao, her husband of four years."

Did it happen to have the same name, or did she hear it wrong?

The sound of the rain was so loud that Chi Xiaoying's ears were buzzing. She watched Bai Yuan's mouth move, but couldn't make out what he was saying."

Finally finished speaking, Bai Yuan waved at her, and the car door opened again. Before it closed, she vaguely saw a strikingly beautiful face inside the car, but couldn’t get a clear look before the car drove away."

Life is always on high alert, while fate unexpectedly pulls the trigger. No one knows from which direction the bullet will come; all they hear is the sound of their own heart hitting the ground. Chi Xiaoying pressed her hand against her chest. Was she hit?

She didn’t know how she made her way back to the office, how she organized her bag, or how she greeted her colleague next door. By the time she came to her senses, she was already walking down the street.

The way home seemed much longer than usual. The umbrella was too flimsy, its frame almost falling apart, shaking unsteadily in the rain.

"Is the Xuan Xiao that Bai Yuan mentioned her husband? She regretted not asking clearly earlier."

"Xuan Xiao, Xuan Xiao, Xuan Xiao?????? She repeated the name aloud, suddenly standing by the roadside, unmoving. After a while, she numbly lifted her arm to touch her face. It felt cool, without tears, and there was no pain like a knife in her chest."

"Who is Xuan Xiao, and is he related to her? A sudden question arose in Chi Xiaoying's mind. She quickened her pace, frantically walking into the middle of the road, raising her hand to stop a car."

"‘Are you trying to get yourself killed?’ A taxi screeched to a halt, the driver’s face twisted in anger as he stopped the car right in front of her."

She hurriedly apologized, got into the car, and urgently gave the address. Seeing her pale face, the driver grunted in annoyance.

The office isn’t far from home; usually, she walks to work, and it only takes a minute by car.

The elevator stopped at the twelfth floor, and she stood at the elevator door, rubbing her hands anxiously. With a ‘ding,’ the doors opened, and she rushed in headlong, colliding directly with someone who was just about to come out.

"‘Why the rush, are you being born again?’ On a rainy day, everyone's temper is a bit short."

She didn't look up, pressed the close door button, and just stared at the number panel, counting the floors.

Building A on the twentieth floor is her home. She moved in just last year, and everything is brand new. The largest room was made into a study, where useful documents and some texts are kept in the study's bookshelf drawers. The marriage certificate isn’t considered a very important document and is stored in the very bottom drawer.

She carefully took out the slightly curled red notebook and made two copies. She opened it slowly. On that day, when they were in a hurry to get the certificate, the two of them didn't know that they needed to prepare two group photos, so they took a random photo at the marriage registration office. They didn't change clothes or put on makeup. Both of them looked serious and stiff, and they could compete with the heroes in the notice.

Four years ago, she was truly a girl—fresh and innocent. Xuan Xiao, who is five years older than her, already appeared shrewd and somewhat old-fashioned, with a sharp and confident expression in her brows.

Her fingers touched the cold photograph as she held her breath. Was the man sitting next to her really her husband? She clutched the two marriage certificates tightly, her thoughts in disarray, and turned to run out the door. As she left the elevator, she realized she had forgotten to grab her umbrella.

Outside the upscale neighborhood, there were many taxis. She hadn't been caught in the rain too much and quickly got into a car. 'Xuan Xiao Road and Bridge Studio,' she told the driver.

"Oh, the front-page headline of the Red Road!" the driver said with a teasing smile.

Red Road is a nickname used by the public for the riverside road lined with government buildings. On that road are the government offices, the court, the judicial bureau, the public security bureau, and pretty much every department and agency related to the Communist Party. Building No. 1 on that road is a 24-story office building for sale. The first to fourth floors belong to the Xuan Xiao Road and Bridge Studio.

The wind grew fiercer, and rain lashed against the car windows. As the driver turned a corner, the view suddenly opened up. With the streetlights just coming on, the wide road surface, washed clean by the rain, mirrored the tall poplar trees standing upright on either side.

It was very quiet here, with cars moving slowly and no sound of honking.

Chi Xiaoying got out of the car and climbed up the steps. The sky was dim, and the Xuan Xiao Studio was brightly lit. The staff were either absorbed in blueprints or huddled in front of computers, with no one noticing Chi Xiaoying standing outside the door.

She stood there, without pushing the door or making a sound, her hands tightly clutching the two marriage certificates.

Suddenly, everyone in the room lifted their heads in unison and turned towards the stairs leading to the upstairs offices. On the stairs, a distinguished man in a black shirt was descending rapidly. As he surveyed his surroundings and was about to speak, his gaze fell upon the slender figure standing outside the door.

She saw him open his mouth and walk towards her, and all the gazes in the room quickly turned to her along with his.

Chi Xiaoying slowly raised her hand and pressed it against her chest. That was Xuan Xiao, her husband of four years, with whom she had shared a bed. She was sure of it.

The feeling of being hit wasn't pain but relief. Finally, she no longer owed him anything. Chi Xiaoying let out a relaxed sigh, a faint smile appearing on her lips."