The ancient bell tolled with a deafening sound, reaching the ears of Jiang Cong and Chen Er from afar at the very top of the mountain.
Jiang Cong and Chen Er looked at each other. In each other's eyes, they saw the same thing - the determination and firm belief that no matter what happened in the future, they would walk hand in hand in this relationship.
"A promise is a promise. We'll never leave each other," Chen Er said, stepping forward actively and putting her arms around Jiang Cong's strong waist.
Jiang Cong didn't say a word. He hugged Chen Er back, tightening his arms gradually.
They spent an ordinary day like this. Early the next morning, Jiang Cong and Chen Er took the bus down the mountain. Compared with when they came, there were far fewer people on the bus. Maybe the driver was skillful, driving smoothly without much bumping.
The hotel Jiang Cong booked was at the foot of the mountain, echoing the ancient temple. On both sides of the street, there was a sharp collision between modern civilization and ancient decoration styles. Just taking a simple look around was a great pleasure.
"I like it here. It's free and clean," Chen Er said, holding Jiang Cong's hand and looking around at the magnificent scenery.
Jiang Cong smiled faintly. Instead, he broke free from Chen Er's hand, took out his camera, aimed it at Chen Er, and said, "Beautiful scenery with a beautiful lady. It would be a great pity not to take a photo at this moment."
Chen Er quickly recovered from her surprise. Under Jiang Cong's guidance, the picture was frozen at the moment when she turned around and looked back at Jiang Cong.
"How about it? Is it nice? It's not taken from a straight - man's deadly angle, is it?" After taking the photo, Chen Er was extremely curious. She pestered Jiang Cong, eager to see the photo.
Jiang Cong held the camera high. Taking advantage of his height, no matter how hard Chen Er tried to reach it, it was in vain.
"Be good. I'll show it to you after it's developed. It's a little surprise," Jiang Cong said mysteriously, not mentioning anything about showing the photo to Chen Er right now.
Chen Er had no choice. After all, she had to yield when under someone else's roof. She chose to compromise. Biting her lips, she reluctantly said, "Okay, but I want to be the first one to see it after it's developed!"
"Sure," Jiang Cong replied readily, so quickly that Chen Er even suspected whether he had really heard what she had just said.
But Chen Er's suspicion didn't last long, because the annual fair was about to start, and all kinds of local specialties emerged. Chen Er was attracted and had long forgotten about the photo.
Unlike in the city, there were not many regulations here. Instead, the local customs were simple and honest. Chen Er stopped in front of a sugar - figure painting stall and looked thoughtfully at the human - face models made of syrup by the stall owner.
Jiang Cong timely pressed the shutter of his camera, recording every smile and every move of Chen Er from all angles.
"Little girl, do you want to buy one? My craftsmanship is passed down from my ancestors. Don't miss it. If you miss this opportunity, you'll have to wait for me at the next store," the stall owner said humorously. With just a few words, he made Chen Er burst into laughter.
"Okay, then make a sugar figure of me and this man, side by side," Chen Er said, making further demands.
"Sure!" The stall owner waved his hand boldly. "I'll definitely satisfy you and your boyfriend!"
The stall owner had obviously been in business for many years. In just five or six minutes, the sugar figure was ready.
"Here, hold it well! This is the most successful double - headed sugar figure I've ever made. You should cherish it," the stall owner said, looking at his masterpiece with satisfaction and handing it to Chen Er.
The sugar figures on the bamboo sticks were simply miniatures of Jiang Cong and Chen Er. After the stall owner's Q - version beautification, they looked even cuter. Chen Er carefully picked up the sugar figure. "Look, doesn't it look like us? Isn't it nice?"
Jiang Cong replied obligingly, "It's really nice. I have to say that your taste in choosing a boyfriend is really good. If it were someone else, the result would be like that." As he spoke, he pointed to the sugar figures placed on the other side of the stall to attract customers.
Chen Er: "..." Narcissism is a disease and needs to be cured.
Stall owner: "???" Is he praising me or criticizing me?
Chen Er loved the sugar figure so much that she had no interest in continuing to stroll around. She simply went back to the hotel.
Looking at the sugar figure in Chen Er's hand, Jiang Cong felt a headache. The little girl's mind was now completely occupied by this useless sugar figure. She treated him as if he were air.
Jiang Cong was very unhappy. He coughed twice to show his presence. "Are you going to hold that all the time? Aren't you tired? Put it down first."
After saying that, his hands were itching to grab the sugar figure.
Chen Er took several steps back in succession, looking at Jiang Cong warily. "I'll do it myself! This is a souvenir and can't be damaged!"
Hearing Chen Er's serious tone, Jiang Cong didn't force her anymore. He comforted himself silently. After all, half of the face on the sugar figure was his. He was quite pleased that his wife was admiring his face.
After dinner, considering that they had been walking around all day and were a bit tired, they simply went back to their respective rooms early to rest.
Chen Er carefully put away the sugar figure as if it were a precious treasure. Just as she was about to turn around and go into the bathroom to wash up, a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, leaving a blinding white light.
Immediately afterwards, the wind howled outside the window, and the raindrops pattered against the window. Chen Er quickly got up and closed the window.
The thunder rumbled one after another. Chen Er was secretly startled. That sense of uneasiness welled up in her heart again. Was this the calm before the storm?
Chen Er leaned alone against the window, looking at the swaying branches, lost in thought.
This night was doomed to be restless.
When Jiang Cong was about to rest, he received a call from the private detective. The words from the other end of the phone completely shattered the last glimmer of hope in Jiang Cong's heart.
"Mr. Jiang, after investigation, Ji Pei once took supplementary classes in the tutorial class run by Wei Fuping," the private detective reported word by word.
Jiang Cong sat up and leaned against the headboard of the bed, giving a soft "hmm".
All the puzzles were solved. Chen Huan died because of Wei Fuping, and Chen Er had been hiding her abilities because of some unspeakable reasons.
The truth was that Chen Er was the murderer who caused Wei Fuping's death, and Ji Pei might be a witness. That was why Chen Er had been so wary of Ji Pei.
Jiang Cong's heart tightened instantly, and he could hardly breathe.
On the other end of the phone, the private detective's words continued. "Chen Huan's death back then didn't cause much of a stir, even though she jumped from the most prosperous building in the city center. And in the cemetery where Chen Huan was buried, Wei Fuping had also visited frequently, but each time he only stayed for a short while."
The private detective's words further confirmed Jiang Cong's suspicion.
With the truth revealed, Jiang Cong didn't feel relieved as he usually did. Instead, he felt more bitter and helpless.