Chapter 15 — When the Spider Plant Turned Black

The test results were incomplete; the doctor first reviewed the preliminary ultrasound and blood work. Pointing to the medical report, she said, "There are no clear signs of organic tissue damage yet, but several indicators are unstable. You must strictly avoid taking any unregulated restorative tonics in the near future, and we need to monitor your condition and schedule a follow-up exam." I let out a long breath of relief. My mother, however, remained uneasy.

"Doctor, she soaked her feet in that water; will there be any lasting effects?"

The doctor asked, "How long did she soak?" I replied, "Just once, really. After that, she didn't touch it again." The doctor visibly relaxed as well.

"Then it should be fine. Skin absorption is limited, but if there were irritating chemical components, numbness or a chilling sensation is entirely understandable. The crucial question is whether any of it was ingested. As for the herbal soup your family mentioned, you should make every effort to find physical evidence."

Evidence. Those two words drove into my heart like a sharp iron nail. Stepping out of the hospital, twilight had already settled over the city. My mother urged me to come stay at her place. I shook my head. "No, I have to go back to the house." My mother immediately objected.

"Are you insane? If you go back there now, what if those people decide to do something desperate?"

"I am not going alone."

I called the police, recounting Aunt Willow’s phone call and the signed consent form. The officers advised us against taking any rash actions; if I needed to retrieve my personal belongings, it was best to notify the neighborhood committee head or bring a relative along, and to record the entire process on video and audio. After a moment of thought, I sent a text message to our neighbor. She replied almost instantly. Just come back, I will be standing right outside your door waiting for you, do not be afraid. Looking at her words, a surge of warmth rushed through my chest. It turned out that sometimes, a complete stranger could show more human decency than the person sharing your bed. At eight o'clock that evening, my mother and I returned to the apartment. Sure enough, the neighbor was standing in the hallway, clutching her phone tightly.

"Little Yu, I am here to witness this for you. Just open the door, I will stay right out here."

I whispered, "Thank you." She lowered her voice.

"Your mother-in-law crept back this afternoon carrying a black plastic bag, looking terribly flustered."

My mother and I exchanged glances. The person who opened the door was Chen Yan. Upon seeing our neighbor, his expression darkened instantly.

"Why did you drag so many people here with you?"

I answered, "To pick up my identification papers and personal belongings."

"Didn't you already take them during the day?"

"There are still some things left."

My mother-in-law sat in the living room, looking a decade older. Yet her gaze directed at me remained as murky and malicious as ever.

"You still have the shamelessness to show your face back here."

My mother cut her off sharply, "This house does not belong solely to you. We came to collect our things, so stop running your mouth." Chen Yan stepped forward to block the bedroom door.

"Ha Vu, I will pack up your things and bring them over to you later."

I stared straight into his eyes.

"Step aside."

He did not budge an inch. The neighbor outside the door deliberately raised her voice.

"Do I need to call the police here once more?"

Chen Yan's expression twisted unpleasantly, and he finally stepped back. The interior of the bedroom looked entirely different from when I had left it that morning. The wardrobe doors were tightly shut, but the drawer of the nightstand had been thoroughly ransacked. I unzipped the hidden pocket of my old handbag; the interior was completely empty. The spot where I had hidden the mineral water bottle showed distinct signs of having been searched. Dropping to my knees, I looked under the bed—the suitcase had been pulled halfway out. The document folder inside was gone. I whipped my head around to glare at Chen Yan.

"Where is my folder of documents?"

He replied coldly, "I don't know." My mother-in-law sneered from the living room.

"Who knows which ditch you threw them into."

My mother lunged toward the living room.

"Did you people touch my daughter's things?"

Before the older woman could fire back, a faint noise suddenly came from the balcony, sounding like something snapping under tension. Everyone froze in place. I strode forward and pushed open the balcony door. The overturned potted orchid still lay in the corner, and the seal placed by authorities earlier that afternoon showed no signs of tampering. However, beneath the metal plant stand, a streak of fresh, wet mud had appeared, stretching all the way behind the washing machine. I crouched down and switched on the flashlight of my phone.