Coincidence

  Returned without success, feeling a bit disappointed, walked back to the mouth of a stream, looked into the distance, and then took out the GPS on my body to check the location. It seemed that the legendary Stone Gate was closer than when I was at the ticket office before. I don't know if I can cross the mountain by taking this small path and reach that place. Just as I was hesitating, a voice suddenly came from the side: "I advise you not to have that idea, otherwise you may be another missing person. Inside is a deep mountain and old forest, without a local guide, once you go in, don't think about coming out."

  He turned around and saw Lu Xun walking towards him from the mountain. His gaze floated to the GPS in my hand, and he said, "Believe me, that thing of yours won't be of much use once we're inside."

  A surge of anger shot up, and he glared at him fiercely with his eyes, "What's wrong with you? Wherever I go, you follow. Tell me, what's your purpose in pursuing me so relentlessly? Let's just open the window and speak clearly, no need to hide or cover up."

  After a while of silence, he asked in a low voice: "Do you think I'm following you?"

  "Hah!" I let out a strange laugh, then raised an eyebrow and asked in return: "Or what? Don't tell me this is just a coincidence. A coincidence that brought us both to Heizigou Town, a coincidence that allowed us to meet in this mountain valley. If it's really like that, then why not travel together? Otherwise, wouldn't we be wasting the fate that heaven has given us?"

  He was scolded by me, didn't make a sound, his face wasn't good either, and he stared at me fiercely, nodding in agreement: "That's right, I followed you up the mountain." Just as my mocking smile was about to rise to the corner of my mouth, he said again: "But meeting here in Heizigou Town is a coincidence, or maybe it's not a coincidence, that depends on what you say."

  This conversation is full of twists and turns, really has depth, turned several corners, and unexpectedly ended up on me. So his meaning is that the "unexpected encounter" in Heizigou Town was arranged by me? Why? For this face of his? Is he too arrogant, thinking I'm interested in him and followed him to Heizigou Town? Damn it! Can't help but curse.

  But just as I was about to erupt, Lu suddenly asked out of the blue: "Why did you come here?"

  "This question is extremely rude, my temper can't be suppressed anymore. I directly asked: 'Is this mountain your home? Is this road opened by you? Why can't I come here?' From now on, I don't need to give a good face to this person."

  He narrowed his eyes, looking at me with a scrutinizing gaze. I didn't back down in terms of momentum, and my anger was suppressed in an instant, my eyes cold and detached.

  The atmosphere became stifling, but finally, after a moment of silence, he changed the subject: "On June 1st, did you receive a phone call?" I said irritably, "Mr. Lu, it's already August now, and you're asking me to recall something from over two months ago - that's really an overestimation of my abilities. Besides, I receive many phone calls every day, so I don't know which one you're referring to."

  "You lied, the data simulator terminal is open all day, and you just received a call. You can't not remember, because that person must have asked you about Xiang Wan, with your relationship with Xiang Wan, it's impossible to forget so easily. To be honest with you, the one who called you was me... friend, she has gone missing and hasn't been found yet."

  Upon hearing this, I furrowed my brow and scrutinized him. Seeing that his eyes were clear and bright, it didn't seem like he was lying. Indeed, as he said, I couldn't have forgotten the phone call on June 1st because the other party had called non-stop for nearly twenty times. Usually, when encountering such a persistent caller, I also have my own way of handling it. When I picked up, it was a woman with very bad manners and an arrogant tone asking, "Are you Wan Wan?" Using the voice changer I had prepared beforehand to change my voice to a male tone, I told her, "You've dialed the wrong number."

  He muttered something and hung up the phone, then put this number on the blacklist.

  It only took a moment's thought for him to realize why he had hesitated before saying the word "friends" earlier - that woman must be his fiancée.