After Wei Manwen entered her room, Zhou Hang followed her inside. Luo Ben, who had just been hysterical, suddenly calmed down, sat back in a chair, lit a cigarette, and smoked emotionlessly.
I said to the village chief standing beside me, “Uncle Li, could you help us find a place to stay? We really can’t leave today— even if we make it out of the mountains, we might not find a ride to the county town, right?”
The village chief looked at us hesitantly before finally saying, “It’s not that I don’t want to help, but Miss Wei… she’s in a delicate situation.”
“Miss Wei is upset with that young man right now, but the rest of us are innocent bystanders. Why don’t you just send that guy out of the mountains? The rest of us can stay.”
Looking at Luo Ben, the village chief nodded and said, “Yes, he really should be sent out of the mountains. His temper is too wild!”
Though meant as a joke, Luo Ben responded seriously, “Don’t even think about it. I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here.”
Leyao snapped back, “Not going anywhere? Are you meditating in seclusion now? And we’re all supposed to stand guard for you like some grand ceremony?”
Luo Ben ignored Leyao, never taking his eyes off Wei Manwen’s room.
Leyao gave me a meaningful look, signaling me to step aside for a private word. I nodded, and the two of us pushed through the crowd to the back of Wei Manwen’s house.
“What did you want to talk about?”
While fanning herself, Leyao said, “Convince Luo Ben to leave. I think things are actually working out pretty well now—Wei Manwen marrying Zhou Hang means CC won’t have to go through this heart-wrenching pain anymore.”
“I think it’s a good outcome too.”
“Then go make him leave!”
“But do you really think Wei Manwen has truly let go of Luo Ben?”
Leyao countered, “At this point, does it even matter anymore? You and I both know what Wei Manwen needs now is someone steady and dependable, not a man like Luo Ben whose behavior is unpredictable.”
I remained silent for a while, unable to find a rebuttal. I could only blame Luo Ben for not fighting hard enough in their relationship. Back then, instead of giving up, he could have used his musical talent to strive for a better life and provide Wei Manwen with the ideal future she deserved. At the very least, he should have learned about her life after their separation—then this three-year tragedy might have been avoided.
“Zhaoyang, why are you so quiet?”
I sighed softly, “There’s really nothing left to say.”
“Then hurry up and get Luo Ben back to the city. Let him continue being a reckless drifter. Just don’t let him stay here in the mountains tormenting Wei Manwen anymore. Honestly, I can’t stand the way he’s clinging on like this. In the end, the ones who suffer won’t just be him, but also Wei Manwen and CC.”
“Can’t someone ever get a second chance after making one mistake?”
Leyao looked at me for a long time before asking, “Do you think it was right or wrong when you slept with me back then?”
“Wrong.”
“…But you did it anyway. Do you think we could ever take it back? Or erase that night completely?”
After chatting with Leyao for a while, we returned from the back to the front of the house. Luo Ben was still sitting exactly where he had been, and CC was still beside him, looking so pitiful. Such a strong and extraordinary woman had fallen victim to love’s cruelty, not even giving herself a chance to fight back. Meanwhile, Wei Manwen remained inside, not giving Luo Ben even a single word.
The villagers gradually dispersed, leaving only the original four of us at the scene of this love tragedy. After a brief silence, Leyao kept giving me meaningful glances, urging me to convince Luo Ben.
I didn’t want Luo Ben to drag this out endlessly. Finally, with great reluctance, I spoke up: “Let’s go back. Leave this mountain life behind for her, and continue living the life you want—like the bright lights and bustling nightlife of the city.”
“Bullshit! How do you know I wouldn’t like life here?”
I got angry, pulled my belt from my waist, raised it toward him, and shouted, “You think I won’t beat your stupid ass with this? You’re as stubborn as a rock in a toilet!”
Luo Ben just looked up at me without reacting, but CC grabbed the belt from my hand, motioning for me not to act rashly and letting Luo Ben handle things himself.
Suddenly Leyao exploded, shouting at Luo Ben, “Then handle it already! Are you really going to sit here meditating? You’re supposed to be a real man from Beijing, but your blood must’ve gone bad in your veins. Do you even have any guts left?”
Luo Ben kept his head down for a while, saying nothing, seemingly completely at a loss. But really, who could blame him? Anyone who had gone through such emotional highs and lows would struggle to remain composed.
Leyao pressed further, “Say something, will you? Don’t make all of us anxious for no reason!”
Still silent, Luo Ben showed no reaction. Helpless and frustrated, Leyao nearly jumped up in anger, wishing she could snatch my belt from CC and give Luo Ben a good thrashing. But just then, Luo Ben suddenly stood up, stormed toward the door, and with one powerful kick, sent the flimsy wooden door crashing down!
Luo Ben’s sudden outburst startled Leyao, who cried out, “Oh no, he’s turned into a demon after meditating too long! Zhaoyang, stop him—don’t let him do anything stupid!”
I rushed to the doorway, where I saw Wei Manwen and Zhou Hang staring at Luo Ben in shock. Luo Ben, eyes bloodshot, glared back at them, seemingly truly enraged. I quickly called out to Leyao behind me, “Hurry and get help. We need to tie him up—I can’t handle him alone…”
Leyao nodded repeatedly and ran off in the opposite direction of the house. I threw myself at Luo Ben, tackled him to the ground, twisted his arms behind his back, and pinned him down with one knee on his back, restraining him. He let me subdue him completely without any resistance. Looking at Wei Manwen sitting on the bed, he finally choked up and said, “…I know I’m not worthy of you… and I never expected you to come back to me. But just seeing you… just being near you makes me feel at peace, truly at peace. Let me stay, okay? I’ll watch your wedding. Once you’re married, happy and content, I’ll leave. I’ll never come back to this mountain again, and I’ll never bother you or your husband.”
Looking at the utterly broken Luo Ben, Wei Manwen’s eyes finally welled up with tears. She turned away and said, “Out there in the world there are distant sails upon rivers, brilliant lanterns, and countless mountains and rivers. Why must you stay here and torment me?”
“Because you still haven’t returned my soul… Go ahead and get married. Get married quickly, then give me back my freedom, give me back my soul. Without freedom, without a soul, what are distant sails, brilliant lanterns, countless mountains and rivers? They’re all just crap—complete crap!”
Luo Ben’s voice had become hoarse, his words broken by sobs. And I truly saw before me a man—without a soul, desperately enduring the torment of his existence.
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