Chapter 7 Chapter VII

Another four or five days passed after the strange theft. To put it correctly: This cannot be called a theft, because nothing was stolen, at least as far as Masako knew, nothing was lost. "Is there anything lost in your collection?" Changzi asked her husband more than once. "No...no." The husband shook his head displeased. Since nothing was stolen, it cannot be called a robbery incident. This "stealing" incident is too strange.The house is not without valuables.There is something else besides cash.In the closet are the suits newly made by her husband, as well as the clothes Masako wears when she travels.But the thief took nothing.

The closet was rummaged through, but nothing was missing.The drawers had all been pulled out, but only messed up.Therefore, it is better to say "troublemaking" than robbery. However, the mess in the house was made by people, and it was scary to think about it.It was as if someone had thrown a rock in their peaceful life, and it sent chills down the spine. From then on, Masako stayed at home alone when her husband went to work, feeling uneasy.Cooking in the kitchen and dreading even going to the living room.When I came back from shopping, I dared not put the key in the locked door.

The husband told him never to report it to the police, and Masako was not even allowed to tell her family. "Since nothing has been stolen, talking about it will make the family worry more." - This is the husband's reason. However, Masako felt that her husband's words could not convince her.She always felt that her husband knew the truth about the "robbery" incident. For example: In this kind of situation, you should report to the police immediately, but your husband resolutely stops it, and there is always something he can't tell.It was for the same reason that he was not allowed to tell Changzi's natal family.

The husband is not in a good mood.The difference is that in the past, when I returned home, although it was a little later, I always boasted about how I and my boss socialized and so on.Ever since the "theft" incident, Horizawa has always had a sad face. Horizawa often fell into deep thought alone.Sometimes while smoking a cigarette and reading a newspaper, I suddenly remembered something, immediately put down the newspaper, and meditated alone. His changes are too subtle.Changzi held his breath and stared at her husband's bitter expression, but dared not ask him. The husband is still coming back late as usual, nothing has changed.

On the fifth night after the incident, Horizawa suddenly said, "I'm going to Kansai for a five-day business trip tomorrow." Horizawa had never been on a business trip before, and this came so suddenly. "What time is the train?" "For the train in the morning, I will go to the class first, and then go to the station from there." Changzi hurriedly packed his luggage for him, stuffing a suitcase full. "You don't need to bring so many things, it's too heavy." Masako doesn't know how to pack.When she was at home, she saw her mother prepare the luggage for her father, and her mother liked to ask her father to bring all the bits and pieces, and her father was very happy.

Horizawa didn't like this.He only brought simple luggage, enough for a night's stay.This shows how different the father and Horizawa generations are. "Where in Kansai?" "Osaka, Kyoto, and maybe Wakayama." Horizawa didn't explain the detailed schedule, and Masako didn't ask him.Because Horizawa didn't like her asking too much. This night.Horizawa violently demands Masako?So Masako was bored.Ever since she was dissatisfied with her husband's behavior, her love for her husband has gradually faded. "Changzi, do you love me or not?" Horizawa held Masako's face with both hands and shook it back and forth.

"What's the matter with you? Do you really love me?" Masako closed her eyes and nodded.She dared not say that she did not love him. "Really? Then I'm relieved." Her husband's warm breath sprayed on Changzi's face. "I love you too, look, I love you that way." Horizawa sucked Masako's forehead, ears, nose, lips, and chest with his lips.Masako felt that Horizawa tonight was not like her husband, but an instinctive male.Therefore, the husband's courtship words are to treat himself as a plaything for him to seek stimulation.Changzi had to endure it.

The next day, Horizawa went to work as usual, except that he had an extra suitcase in his hand. Masako remembered that her husband was going on a business trip today, and walked him all the way to the bus stop. "I'm not at home, so don't go back to your mother's house often." Horizawa said. Changzi didn't intend to go back to her natal family.The last robbery incident made her husband unhappy, and she still hasn't forgotten it. The bus was full, and Horizawa pushed his way through the crowd.After the car started, Masako saw Horizawa's face peering at her from among the crowd.Then, the reflected light from the window glass erased it.

From tonight, her husband will not come home, Masako seems to be freed from bondage.In the few days before her husband returned from a business trip, Masako planned to adjust her emotions. She neither intends to go back to her natal family nor stay at home doing nothing.But her heart is full, and she doesn't have to wait for Horizawa tonight. The day after my husband left home. Mother came quietly.Changzi was overjoyed and welcomed him. "You can sit a little longer today." Changzi said, holding his mother's hand. "Horizawa is on a business trip and is not at home."

"Where are you going on a business trip?" "It's going to Kansai. If it's convenient, mom, you can live here tonight!" "That can't be done!" Mother's Biaoqian was the same as usual at first.While talking, Masako felt that her mother seemed a little abnormal.It's just that she couldn't hold her breath, and her face was very ugly. "How did Mr. Ying become?" Mother asked. "Well—it's still the same." She was most afraid of her mother asking about Horizawa.Even if it is her own mother, she is unwilling to reveal her true thoughts.She knows that speaking out may not be able to get her mother's understanding.

"Has Ling Zi been here?" Mother changed the subject. "Lingzi didn't come." Masako sat down in front of his mother. "Come here two weeks ago. What's the matter with Lingzi?" "Well—to tell you the truth," my mother whispered, "Lingzi went on a trip three days ago. She said she was going to Sendai with her classmates, so I hurriedly sent her away." "So you haven't come back yet?" Chang Zi asked, frowning. "Yes, I'm planning to stay there for two nights, and I was supposed to come back yesterday. But she didn't come back, and there wasn't even a word from her. I thought she came to your place, so I came to see." "I didn't see her at all. Strange! Who did she go with? You didn't ask her classmate's name." "I asked, the surname is Guan Wu." Guan Wu is Lingzi's good friend.Changzi had heard Lingzi mention this name before. "Then just ask Guan Wu." "Oh, you don't know..." the mother said sadly. "I called Guan Wu's family, but Guan Wu answered the phone. She said that Ling Zi didn't go on a trip at all. I didn't know what to do, so I hung up the phone vaguely." "Is Lingzi lying? Did she tell you clearly that she went with her classmates?" "Yes." Mother nodded. Ling Zi was fond of joking, but he never lied.This is the first time she has cheated on her mother. What does Lingzi's trip mean? Changzi secretly has an ominous premonition. Lingzi often associates with elderly people.Lingzi didn't seem to care what kind of people the company manager and female reporter Kikuko Ono were. Changzi felt the blood on his face fade away, and asked: "Where did she go?" "Yes! She clearly said to go to Sendai." Mother's face was pale. "You won't do anything wrong, will you?" Changzi knew that his sister's character was different from his own. She was more casual and bold in dealing with people. She was quite assertive and a shrewd and capable person. He was not as good as her and even a little envious of his sister. She verbally scolded her sister for associating with older men and women, but she wasn't really worried.She trusts her sister.But her younger sister's behavior this time was something she never expected, as if she collapsed suddenly. The younger sister has not yet returned, so no conclusion can be drawn immediately.She thinks that nine out of ten her sister must be with those people she usually associates with.The younger sister lied to her mother and went out, stating that the purpose of the trip could not be made public.Thinking of this, she ignited her anger towards her sister. "If Mr. Ying is at home, ask him to find his sister," said the mother.And Masako thinks Horizawa is unreliable. "Did you tell Dad?" "I still dare to say anything. It's better not to let the old man know until the matter is clear. Maybe your sister came back quietly, and nothing happened to worry us. Why let your father know?" That's a good point.Judging from Lingzi's past behavior, the mother's hope is not unreasonable, and Changzi secretly holds the last hope. "However, it's only a day late, maybe it's okay." "I can't do it one day later. How can I not worry about it. She is a young girl after all." "I think so too. But Ling Zi is too bad. The classmate she said went with her is at home well. It's too unpleasant for her to do so." "Yes! What's going on?" "It's useless to think about it here!" Changzi's words made the mother feel uncomfortable. "Wait and see," Changzi said. "Usually, if she has something to go home late, she must call home. I don't know what happened this time?" "Mom, Ling Zi is back, let me know immediately." "Um... oh! What a headache." Mother was helpless.She came to Changzi because she couldn't calm down and wanted to use Changzi's strength. Masako, however, couldn't help her much.Usually my mother would sit for a while longer, but this time she left in less than an hour. After her mother left, Masako found a business card from her husband's desk drawer.Hurry to the public phone in front of the manager's room.She dialed the number dial according to the number on the business card. The other party is the switchboard of the magazine. "Is there a Miss Kikuko Ono in your place?" The switchboard checked for a while and replied: "She didn't come today." "Are you coming tomorrow?" "Wait a minute, I'll put your call into the editorial room." A man's voice came from the phone. "I'm the editorial department, what can you do with Ono-kun?" "Yes. I have something urgent to find her. Isn't she coming today?" "She comes once a week. She is not a regular employee, but a temporary staff member entrusted by us." "Then is she coming tomorrow?" "This...not very clear. If you have anything, I can tell her." "yes." Since he didn't know when she would come, it was inconvenient for Changzi to ask someone to tell her such an important matter.She was even more anxious. "My surname is Horizawa. When I see Miss Ono, please ask her to call me." Masaoko repeated the phone number for fear of making a mistake. "Understood." Masako returned to the room, still anxious and restless. Could it be that my sister already has someone in love?If anything, she should have told herself, but she didn't. The younger sister associates with those elderly people, and she will unconsciously be infected with the idea of ​​pleasure, but Masako believes that her younger sister is not such a person. The next day, Changzi couldn't wait for his mother to call, so he called his natal family first. "I waited for her without closing my eyes last night." "Still no news?" "No. I don't know what to do." "It's too bad, shouldn't you tell your father!" "Yes. Your father never knew that Lingzi was traveling. Maybe he'll ask about Lingzi today. I'm terrified." Changzi was married, and his father had only Lingzi, so he loved his little daughter very much.If he's not at home for a few days, he'll definitely ask. "Mom, wait until this evening!" Masako said. "If there is no more news, I will go to your place." "Well, to be honest, I'm alone." Changzi hung up the phone and went back to the room, still unable to calm down.She promised her mother that if Lingzi didn't come home again, she would go back to her natal family to be with her mother.There was nothing she could do until she got definite news. Kikuko Ono didn't call either.If she came, the manager would ring the bell to notify her.But after waiting for a long time, the electric bell never rang. The window is full of strong sunlight, and the white clouds are dazzling.The trees and buildings on the ground cast huge shadows in the sun, which makes people feel lonely. The bell rang.Masako jumped up like an electric shock. "Mrs. Horizawa! Your phone number." cried the overseer's wife from downstairs.Changzi hurried downstairs to answer the phone.When she picked up the phone to listen, she thought it was her mother or Kikuko Ono calling. "Are you Mrs. Horizawa?" — It was a young woman's voice. "I'm Section 8 of the Economic Planning Agency." This is Horizawa's workplace. Masako answered "Yes", and immediately changed to a man's voice. "Are you the Horizawa family?" "Yes, I am Horizawa's wife." "Is that your wife? I'm Takemura from Class A." Takemura had attended their wedding and was the section chief whom Horizawa often praised.Changzi didn't expect the section chief to call, and his whole body was almost stiff with restraint. "Horizawa is often under your care..." "No, no, you're welcome." "Forgive me for not visiting you for a long time." "No, no, ma'am, I'm sorry, but is Horizawa-kun home yet?" "No, not yet." Chang Zi replied.My husband was on a business trip for five days, but now it's only four days. "yes?" The voice on the phone paused, and the other party seemed to be thinking about something. Changzi felt very strange.The business trip is scheduled for five days, the unit should know, why come to inquire before the time? "Did Horizawa-kun not call?" the other party asked. "No, no." Changzi gritted his teeth and asked, "Didn't he go on a business trip for five days?" "What? Five days?" The other party was surprised. "He only asked for two days off, and it's time to go to work today." Changzi was so shocked that he couldn't speak.The husband clearly said that he was on a business trip for five days.What's going on here? The other party urged again: "Hey! Hey!" "yes." "He asked for leave here for two days and said he was going to Sendai. He should be back tomorrow." Changzi suddenly felt as if the sky had collapsed before his eyes. "Yes. I don't know. Maybe I'll be back." "He is back, please notify me immediately. Excuse me." Masako even forgot how to get back to the room. Sendai? —— Isn't this where my sister told the family to go?Lingzi didn't come back.The husband lied about a five-day business trip, but actually asked for two days off.The husband didn't come back either. Is this a random coincidence? Changzi recalled what his mother had said, and after careful calculation, his sister left a day earlier than her husband, not on the same day. This temporarily eased Changzi's mood.However, Changzi's heart was still in a state of agitation, and this accidental coincidence seemed to be connected with inevitable rationality. Changzi shook his head alone. No, no, there will be no such thing.Lingzi looked down on Horizawa at all, and when mentioning Horizawa, Lingzi's eyes and mouth expressions were fully revealed, and even made herself embarrassed. Horizawa, on the other hand, kept Reiko at arm's length, and he never had a good feeling when it came to Reiko. When Horizawa was at home, Reiko never came.She always came when Horizawa was at work.This may be a coincidence. Could it be that she only came at this time? What happened to these two people. The ominous premonition weighed heavily on Changzi's heart like a heavy lead.