Chapter 10 The Scent of Grass and Wood
After Song Mei got in the car, she greeted us with a smile.
“Tang Xi, Ye Wangbai.”
I smiled and complimented her. “It's been a while. You're getting more and more beautiful. Do you have a boyfriend yet?”
Hearing that, Song Mei looked toward Ye Wangbai.
She tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing a flash of fair skin at her chest.
With a meaningful tone she said, “I do. He's just like Ye Wangbai—handsome, outstanding, and treats me really well. Tang Xi, next time I'll introduce you two.”
I curved my lips. “Sure.”
Beside me, Ye Wangbai's expression darkened.
He ignored Song Mei and simply held my hand.
Softly he asked, “Tang Xi, are you tired? Want to find a place to rest?”
In the back seat, Song Mei's gaze was like knives.
She stared hard at our joined hands, jealousy burning as if she wanted to stab holes through me.
I smiled.
“Not tired. Let's head up the mountain first.”
The mountain air was fresh and cool, easing my Pregnancy Reaction a little.
In the evening breeze, I caught a familiar scent.
A few days earlier Ye Wangbai had come home late.
He said he worked overtime.
But I had smelled mountain grass and trees on him.
The exact same scent I was smelling now.
So he hadn't been working late that day.
He had come here ahead of time to scout the location.
My hunch was right.
He planned to make his move here.
Right at the place where I once saved him, he would kill me—and our children.
The car stopped at a clearing halfway up the mountain.
The road ahead was too narrow for vehicles.
We could only pitch tents here.
“Tang Xi, stay in the car for a bit. It's cold outside. Wait until Song Mei and I finish setting up before you come out.”
I nodded and leaned back in the seat, closing my eyes to pretend I was resting.
After they got out, I quietly opened my eyes and watched their movements.
At first everything seemed normal.
But half an hour later, both of them disappeared from the tent entrance.
It was completely dark now. We were quite far away, and the tent flap was zipped shut.
Normally I wouldn't be able to hear anything from this distance.
But mantises are nocturnal by nature.
At night our vision and senses sharpen dramatically.
So I clearly heard Song Mei throw herself into Ye Wangbai's arms the moment they went inside.
“Husband, I missed you.”
She kissed him eagerly, lips locked together, voice soft and coy.
“Are you crazy? Tang Xi is right outside!”
Even as he scolded her, Ye Wangbai's hands roamed greedily over her body.
“What are you afraid of? She's so far away—she can't hear anything. Look at how sick and weak she is. Does she even have the strength to get out of the car?”
“Damn, you're so horny.”