Chapter Sixty-Seven: Will I Die?

Luo Yixia hurriedly got out of the car, anxious and eager, thinking that by catching a cab, she would soon see Song Chengyi. She reached for her phone to check how far it was from here to the guesthouse. Instinctively, she patted her waist—only to find it completely empty.

A cold shiver ran through Luo Yixia; whatever sleepiness she felt was instantly swept away. She glanced again at her waist—nothing, not a single trace of her bag.

Her bag was gone—her phone was gone—her money was gone—everything was gone.

Looking up at the sky, she guessed it was about four in the afternoon. In the distance, she could see the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji. Yet she had absolutely no idea where she was at this moment. The roads before her crisscrossed in all directions, and she had no clue which way to go. All she had left was the “precious” thing she cradled in her arms.

Meanwhile, Song Chengyi waited anxiously outside. He had called her twice, but no one answered. At first, he thought she might still be on the road with poor signal, but after dialing several more times and still getting no response, a sense of dread crept over him.

She had been gone far too long. He grew frustrated—why hadn’t he asked her more clearly where she was going before she left? Now, even if he wanted to search for her, he had no idea where to start.

He waited anxiously a while longer and tried her phone again. This time, the call went through. Song Chengyi breathed a sigh of relief—only to hear a Japanese man answer. Frowning, Song Chengyi spoke with the man and finally learned that the bag and phone had been left in the car, and the owner had gotten off near Mount Fuji.

Song Chengyi was half-mad with anger. How could she forget her bag just from taking a ride? Was she sleeping in the car? But at least he knew she was safe, and that she had gotten off somewhere nearby. At last, there was a lead. He hurried out and began searching the area.

As night fell, and with no sign of her, Song Chengyi finally called the police. Together with them, he searched the surroundings.

On her end, Luo Yixia clutched her tote bag pitifully. She had just fallen while walking, scraping her leg, which now throbbed with pain. The sky was growing darker, and she grew more flustered by the minute. She wished she could slap herself—how could she sleep and lose her bag? Someone must have stolen it on the bus. Curse those wicked thieves, she fumed inwardly.

Limping along, she hopped for a while before her panic finally overwhelmed her.

Whereas before she could at least see people and houses nearby, now it seemed as if she had wandered deep into the mountains. Not a soul was in sight, and darkness closed in on all sides. Luo Yixia trudged to a crossroads and slumped to the ground, hugging her knees, feeling utterly wretched. She had been gone so long—why hadn’t Song Chengyi come looking for her? Would there be wolves in these forests? Monsters? She was most afraid of such things. Perhaps she really was going to die here.

Her stomach was growling; she hadn’t eaten since noon. In the end, she might die of hunger and become food for a pack of wolves, leaving Song Chengyi with not even a body to find.

At this thought, Luo Yixia felt even more miserable and began to cry softly, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. She had bought this gift, hoping to cheer Song Chengyi up, but instead, not only had she failed to make him happy, she might have lost her own life as well. She wondered if, once she was gone, Song Chengyi would simply find someone younger and prettier. It had taken her so much effort to finally marry him.