Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

She blew the smoke out, and her lips pursed.

“What’s good about leaving?” She took in another breath. “That’s where I belong. People like you wouldn’t understand. Some people were destined to belong there, like me. If I wasn’t there, I wouldn’t have been able to survive till now.”

She didn’t know whether it was resignation about life or self-mockery. Xia Ruoxin felt a wave of deja vu.

When she was forced to her wit’s end by a man and was abandoned by her family—if not for Rainy, she would still be in that state; and no one would know whether she was dead or alive.

“You’ll get better.” Xia Ruoxin took Shen Wei’s hand. “I know I’m not that competent, and there’s not much I can offer; but as long as there are things I can help you with, I definitely will. I won’t bat an eye even if it’s to climb a mountain of swords or to jump into a pot of boiling oil.”

Shen Wei snickered. “Climb a mountain of swords or jump into a pot of boiling oil? Is this the ancient times or the olden days? But I’ll hold you to your words. If one day, I can’t hold on anymore, remember to take me in.”

“Okay.” Xia Ruoxin promised her. She was serious and solemn. She remembered her words clearly.

On the other hand, Shen Wei did not take it to heart. All her life, she was always at that place... and would always be there till the day she dies. Perhaps, she wouldn’t even be alive tomorrow. Promises were always the most worthless and fleeting things, especially those of men.

Shen Wei took out a cigarette again. She seemed to have remembered something and was frustrated—but was more silent. When she finished her third cigarette, the house was filled with choking smoke.

“Sorry.” Shen Wei felt like she was being rude. She had forgotten that there was a child in the house, and it wasn’t good for children to take in second-hand smoke.

“It’s okay. The smell will be gone if we air the house for a little while.” Xia Ruoxin was not distasteful in the least. She stood up, walked towards the window, and opened it wider. The air outside was fresh. This city was filled with lazy peace as well as nervous bustling.

She walked over and sat in front of Shen Wei. “Are you feeling better now?”

Shen Wei flicked her fingers and glanced at the ashtray on the table. The single red-hot cigarette head affected the air inside. She pulled her legs back and kicked the slippers to the side. Her long slender legs were perfectly curved. Just like the most elegant drawing, her every action was filled with femininity.

She propped her chin up with her elbow on her leg. “Yes, much better. Thanks.”

Xia Ruoxin liked the Shen Wei now much better. Underneath all the facades, Shen Wei was just Shen Wei—not anyone else. No matter if she was good or evil, she was her own person.

“Where’s your Gao Yi?”

Shen Wei asked suddenly.

Xia Ruoxin was stunned. Her Gao Yi? Her heart stifled a little. She wasn’t sure what feeling it was, just that it was slightly pressurizing.

“He has an operation today.” She looked down at her interlocked fingers. Perhaps she was counting her fingers, or perhaps her mind had already wandered far off.

Shen Wei sat up suddenly and reached her hand out to rest on Xia Ruoxin’s shoulders. A faint cigar scent wafted from her fingertips as if they were hiding some sadness.

“Seize your chance. Not every woman can meet a suitable man.”

Xia Ruoxin’s red lips parted, but in the end, she just smiled dimly.

Some things were not to be said out loud. They both knew that one would only understand once experiencing things themselves. Only when time had passed would be when they would realize, many years later, that time had really passed.

“I’m leaving.” Shen Wei had wanted to take another look at Rainy, but she was already asleep.

If she had time, she would be back in the future. Here, she could have a free bowl of noodles like what a mother would cook. She put on her sunglasses. A car stopped in front of her, and the chauffeur stepped out to open the door for her. She sat inside, and the look in the corner of her eyes changed. With a sultry smirk on her face, she was no longer Shen Wei, but the top pimpstress of Gangnam district.

Xia Ruoxin pulled the curtains close. The car had already left. She leaned her back against the window. In the dim light, her eyes were dark and full of regret.

She couldn’t help Shen Wei with anything at all.

She touched the dress that was hanging outside. It was small so it dried fast. She would take it in later and put it on the doll. She would never be able to make another dress as small as that.

She checked on her daughter in the bedroom first. The little one was burrowed beneath the blankets, revealing only her small head. She was sleeping soundly. Her shallow breathing could be heard, and her cheeks were also red and rosy. Her nap would last for a few hours, and she wouldn’t wake up before that.

She checked the clock. It was time for her to go grocery shopping.

If she was fast, the little girl might still be asleep when she returned.

She took her purse and locked the door. She didn’t waste any time on the way as she brisk-walked her way there. However, unbeknownst to her, a man was sneakily following behind her.

After she finished buying the vegetables, she mentally listed out all the food left in the fridge and was planning what dishes to make when she suddenly stopped in her tracks. Human instincts worked strangely at times. She sensed danger and quickened her footsteps, her hand gripping the basket tightly.

The faster she walked, the faster the person behind her walked as well.

Xia Ruoxin didn’t understand how she piqued that person’s interest. Money? She wasn’t rich at all. Lust? She felt like her looks were just average, especially now that she was a housewife. She couldn’t compare to those young girls. She was ordinary, without money and looks, so why was that person following her?

She ran and ran, not daring to look back. After she was a distance away, she stopped, panting heavily. She glanced back surreptitiously. It seemed like no one was there anymore. She ducked into an alley as she patted her chest and looked back again. There really wasn’t anyone there.

Then, she walked out and patted her clothes down. She decided to buy groceries where there were more people in the future. It was tough going out of the house.

What she didn’t know was that, meanwhile—in an empty alleyway not far from where she was, a man wearing an expensive designer suit rolled his wrist. Lying on the ground was a lecher who was beaten up like a dog.

The man on the ground cradled his head, his face battered and bruised like a pig. Even then, the man who beat him up still hasn’t appeased his anger; and he stepped hard on the man’s face. The man couldn’t make a sound. He wanted to plead for mercy, but his lips were swollen like that of a sausage.