Chapter 9: The Disappearance of Lin Xiaoting

The old woman’s figure was slightly hunched, as if time itself were a ruthless chisel that had carved deep and shallow wrinkles into her face—lines that seemed to recount the trials and hardships of the past few decades.

Her silver hair was pulled neatly back into a vintage bun, with a few stray wisps falling loosely against her ears. She was dressed simply in a grey tunic and loose, floral-patterned trousers. She kept her head slightly bowed, her eyes cast downward; strangely, even if you managed to memorize her features in one moment, they would seem to blur in your memory the very next.

Her pace was slow and steady, each step measuring the long years she had traversed. Her hands were habitually clasped behind her back, fingers slightly curled, swaying gently from time to time. Carrying a small bundle, she stood alone, surrounded by a pervasive sense of inexplicable loneliness.

"Grandma, are you here to rent a room?" asked a young man. He was the landlord’s son, managing the rentals during his winter break.

"Yes, young man," she replied. Her voice was raspy, yet not harsh; rather, it sounded like wood smoothed by fine sandpaper—plain, mellow, and carrying that unique charm belonging only to age.

"Grandma, why are you renting alone? Where are your children?" The young man, warm and cheerful, asked as he entered the information for Jiang Wanning.

"Sigh," Jiang Wanning let out a long breath, her voice sounding like a tune from an old, worn-out gramophone. "Don't ask. They are all unfilial descendants. They found me useless, this old woman, and kicked me out. They say many children bring many blessings, but they are all just debt collectors."

"That’s too much! Grandma, you could actually sue them. By law, they have an obligation to support you."

"Forget it, forget it. It would be too unsightly for a family to drag each other into court. I don't have many years left to live anyway."

Seeing her say this, and knowing it was a family matter, the young man didn't press further and fell silent.

"Grandma, I need your ID to register."

"Oh, yes, of course." Jiang Wanning fumbled through her clothes for a long while before her expression suddenly shifted; she shrieked in panic and confusion.

"Where is my wallet? Where has it gone? God damn it! Of all the people to steal from, why pick a poor old woman like me? How am I supposed to live now? I might as well just die; staying in this world is just a burden on others. Wuwu..."

She collapsed to the floor, pounding the ground, wailing so heart-wrenchingly that she perfectly embodied the image of a miserable, lonely old woman.

"Grandma, Grandma, please, don't do this! Get up..." The young landlord was terrified. He rushed to help her up, fearing that if the old woman bumped or bruised herself, he couldn't afford the consequences.

"Let me die! Rather than sleeping on the streets and freezing or starving to death, I might as well smash my head in right here..." As she spoke, she lunged toward the table, but cushioned her forehead with her hand so that not a single patch of skin was broken.

Having spent years as an extra, often serving as a stunt double, Jiang Wanning knew countless ways to perform a scene realistically without ever suffering the slightest injury.

"It’s alright, it’s alright, Grandma. Just stay here for now. You can go to the police station to replace your ID in a couple of days."

What a pure, kind-hearted boy! Tricking such an innocent soul—she truly was a sinner.

"Really? But I have no money."

"No charge. Just stay as long as you need. You can pay me back whenever you have money."

"That’s so embarrassing. Which room will I be in? I don't want the first floor, you know—it's damp, and it's bad for an old person's joints."

"?" The shift in her demeanor gave the young landlord his first taste of the world's malice. A clear-eyed college student always needs to face a bit of a beating from society.

Afraid his parents would find out he’d let her stay for free, the young landlord tucked Jiang Wanning into the most remote corner room on the second floor. It was only seven or eight square meters, poorly lit, and usually vacant because no other tenant wanted it—it was perfect for her.

Just then, the large LCD TV on the wall was playing an emergency news bulletin:

"Recently, a young woman robbed a luxury car in broad daylight, attempted to indecently assault the owner, and then fled in the vehicle. Her whereabouts are currently unknown. The suspect, surnamed Jiang, is involved in indecent assault and robbery, posing a severe threat to public order and the safety of citizens. After evading police capture, she has remained in hiding, presenting a significant challenge to the investigation and social stability. The police urge the suspect to surrender voluntarily for leniency, which is the only wise choice. We also remind the public to immediately call the police if any suspicious individuals or leads are discovered."

Jiang Wanning’s large portrait flashed clearly on the screen.

...

Indecent assault? Who came up with that term? Jiang Wanning found it hard to express her feelings.

"There’s all sorts of strange things these days. The girl is young and quite pretty, how could she do such a thing? A woman assaulting a man—that’s a first," the young landlord remarked with a click of his tongue.

"News can be true or false. Maybe the car owner forced the poor girl into a corner, and that’s why she had to steal the car. It’s not impossible that the owner is turning the tables. Look at this girl, she looks spirited and pretty; she doesn't look like a bad person at all." Jiang Wanning chatted naturally while munching on sunflower seeds with the landlord, taking the opportunity to praise herself.

"That’s true. Nowadays, if a news story isn't backed by solid evidence, it might just be flipped later. Grandma, would you like some tea?"

"I would. Tea and sunflower seeds are a match made in heaven. Do you have black tea? An old woman like me is a light sleeper, and other teas might keep me up."

"I do, I have all kinds of tea. I actually snuck some of the 'Jiuqu Hongmei' my dad treasures. Shall we try it?"

"Sounds wonderful..."

...

For the first time in a while, Jiang Wanning enjoyed two days of peace. With no need to worry about the threat of having her kidneys harvested, she sat in a grand chair, rocking back and forth in comfort. A gentle breeze brushed against her cheeks, and the fragrant tea on the small table beside her sent plumes of steam curling into the air. She felt intoxicated by the unique, leisurely atmosphere of the winter day. Closing her eyes, it felt as if all her troubles had been blown away by the autumn wind; she wished time would simply freeze at this moment, allowing her to savor this tranquility.

The news began playing on the TV again, and a familiar name quietly slipped into her ears.

"We now interrupt with an emergency bulletin. Recently, a missing person case occurred in Hai City. According to reports, Lin Xiaoting went missing on Guangxiang Street on her way home and her whereabouts remain unknown. Lin Xiaoting is 25 years old and was last seen wearing a pink top and jeans. The police have launched a full investigation. We will continue to follow the progress of this event, and we hope that if any viewers have information, please contact the police immediately."

Lin Xiaoting, huh...

Jiang Wanning’s rocking chair came to a halt.