Der Weg der zu Unrecht behandelten Geister, Teil 1Der Weg der zu Unrecht behandelten Geister

Kapitel 14

Sad boy, why are you sad?

Su He felt a sudden pang of pain in her heart. She wondered if it was really this man in front of her who had moved her. He was so young, and seemed so fragile. What would love be like for a man like him?

"You like me?" Su He stared at him and said slowly.

—Do you like me?

Tong Hao was momentarily confused, then a thunderous roar erupted in his heart as those sorrowful memories surged up like a flood, churning within him. The woman who had once illuminated his life came alive again in his mind. He remembered it was springtime, the streets filled with the fragrance of gardenias. A woman in a long black dress, her long hair flowing freely, stared at him intently in the rising sunlight.

"Do you like me?" she asked.

Many years ago, Tong Hao was even more shy than he is now. At that moment, his breathing quickened, and he even felt his legs trembling slightly. He wanted to tell that woman he liked her. He wanted to say it out loud, and he wanted her to believe that he truly liked her. But he couldn't speak; his throat felt blocked, and the air passing through it turned into sobs. He didn't understand why he had cried, and whenever he thought about it later, he would feel ashamed and think of himself as a useless man.

He really cried when a woman asked him if he liked her.

What was even more embarrassing than crying was that he later actually ran away. While running, his eyes could uncontrollably fill with tears; it wasn't sadness, but a kind of happiness. She finally knew he liked her, even though he hadn't said anything, she must have understood. That spring sunshine fell into his tear-filled eyes, making the whole world sparkle like a large, dazzling diamond.

As Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 4, Chapter 57: The Face (3)

"What’s wrong with you?"

He heard someone speaking, and the dazzling brilliance of the diamond gradually faded. He saw clearly that the woman standing before him was named Su He, her face bathed in sunlight, much like the woman who had illuminated the spring of his life many years ago. He felt his eyes welling up again; he could no longer suppress the power of sorrow, which was about to surge forth.

Su He stared at Tong Hao in astonishment, not understanding why his words had elicited such a strong reaction. He seemed like a meditating old monk, his gaze momentarily unfocused, as if he had wandered into the void. Then, tears welled up in the young man's eyes, shimmering but not falling. They gathered larger and larger, threatening to spill, when the man reached out and wiped them away. The sunlight vanished from the tears, and his eyes immediately dimmed.

"I like you--"

She heard the man shout slowly and hoarsely, each word seemingly uttered with all his might. His face was flushed red, his neck slightly tilted forward, and his back bent from the effort. At that moment, the strength emanating from the man gave Su He a different feeling; the person before her was now a complete man, not a boy.

"I—like—you—" Tong Hao repeated again. This time, after he finished speaking, it seemed as if all the strength in his body had left him. He bent over and stared at Su He with pleading eyes, like a prisoner who had committed a capital crime listening to the judge's final verdict.

Su He felt a warmth rise in her heart, and some feelings were quietly beginning to grow. She couldn't believe she would fall for a man younger than herself, but at this moment, she truly had the urge to go forward and embrace him. Like embracing a vulnerable younger brother.

Tong Hao took a step forward, and the tears in his eyes finally fell, landing on the ground in front of him, where he stomped over them.

"I like you. I fell in love with you the moment I saw you, just like I like another woman," he murmured, his body swaying slightly. Su He instinctively reached out to support his shoulders, and his head rested limply on hers.

“She’s dead. I’ll never see her again,” he said weakly.

Su He gently stroked his back with both hands, a genuine pang of heartache gripping her heart. She thought that if the love that had happened to Tong Hao had become a tragedy, then his sorrow would continue to haunt his life. It was a bad premonition. She looked down at Tong Hao on her shoulder, inhaling the unique scent of a man emanating from him, and suddenly felt a strange shyness rise within her.

Maybe I really will fall in love with this fragile little man, she thought.

Later, they went to the bar that Qin Ge and Dong'er had seen. The bar wasn't luxuriously decorated, but it was quite tasteful. A handsome young man with long hair stood behind the small bar, and he led Su He and Tong Hao to a seat by the window. Su He ordered two glasses of water, and after he brought them over, he returned to the bar, put on a pair of headphones, and listened to music, looking very engrossed.

Su He clutched the cup in his hand, staring at Tong Hao in front of him, suddenly at a loss for words. Tong Hao seemed still very weak, slumped over the table, his head pressed against the surface, his eyes wide open, but his gaze was empty and devoid of any spirit. Su He knew that it must be that woman who had caused him such sorrow.

What kind of woman would she be? Su He was somewhat lost in thought. She thought of the woman who kept appearing in her dreams, a woman whose beauty, even the most beautiful words in the world, could hardly describe. Perhaps beauty itself was no longer important to her; what mattered was the impulse and passion she evoked. Su He thought, even as a woman, she couldn't resist the charm emanating from her. What if it were a man?

Lost in her own thoughts, she seemed to step back into that windy early autumn evening, wearing a flowing white cotton dress, walking down the windy street. As dusk settled and the streetlights came on, she stared at her reflection in the shop windows, and suddenly, an overwhelming fear gripped her. She ran frantically through the wind, her long hair disheveled, her pale face filled with despair.

When she stopped, she saw the woman who would change her life.

"Do you miss her a lot right now? Then, just pretend I'm her and tell me everything you want to say." Su He gazed at the young and delicate face in front of him and said softly.

Tears streamed down his face onto the table, and Tong Hao's choked sobs made his body tremble slightly. Su He instinctively reached out to comfort him, and Tong Hao immediately grasped her hand, pressing it to his face. The sorrow emanating from his palm was palpable, and Su He could instantly feel the deep sadness in this man.

With tears welling up in his eyes, Tong Hao began to recall the woman who had illuminated the spring of his life.

A few years ago, Tong Hao was shy but not sad. His youth allowed him to live a carefree life, just like many of his peers. At that time, he was studying at a university in a southern city. In his junior year, he went out to meet an online friend for the first time, and from then on, the online girl named Chu Yan became his girlfriend.

Chu Yan studied at another university in a southern city. Young and beautiful, with short, dyed golden hair, she stood out on campus. She loved wearing fashionable and trendy clothes, always adorned with trinkets, and her MP3 player and digital camera were her constant companions. She fell for Tong Hao's innocence and shyness, and even more so for how he cherished her like a precious treasure. Even after their breakup, Tong Hao would feel a sweet warmth in his heart when he thought of that doll-like girl. In our youth, we may not understand love, but we understand happiness. Love may fade with time, but happiness will forever remain imprinted on our lives.

As Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 4, Chapter 58: The Face (4)

Chu Yan studied at another university in a southern city. Young and beautiful, with short, dyed golden hair, she stood out on campus. She loved wearing fashionable and trendy clothes, always adorned with trinkets, and her MP3 player and digital camera were her constant companions. She fell for Tong Hao's innocence and shyness, and even more so for how he cherished her like a precious treasure. Even after their breakup, Tong Hao would feel a sweet warmth in his heart when he thought of that doll-like girl. In our youth, we may not understand love, but we understand happiness. Love may fade with time, but happiness will forever remain imprinted on our lives.

Chu Yan wasn't a wild girlfriend, but her personality was quite flamboyant. When she was with Tong Hao, the contrast between their quiet and energetic personalities was striking. Many friends advised Tong Hao that Chu Yan was too wild and not suitable for an honest man like him. But Tong Hao simply loved being with her. They would go shopping together, sneak back to school late at night, dance until they were exhausted at a disco, and sing loudly in the streets late at night. These were all experiences Tong Hao had only had since being with Chu Yan. Although he felt rather listless lying in his dorm bed afterward, at least those boring days became fulfilling because of them.

University life is incomplete without love, although Tong Hao didn't know at the time whether it was love or not.

Until that woman appeared.

Self-made DV films have been popular on university campuses for quite some time now. Students from different schools frequently exchange their short films and even upload them online for download. One of Chu Yan's female classmates made a campus horror film, which received rave reviews for a while. Which university doesn't have some ghost stories? Bored students often make up stories to scare others, and these stories are passed down from generation to generation. Chu Yan also knew some ghost stories and wanted to make one herself, so she asked her family for money and bought a DV camera made in Western Europe. Initially, some people recommended Canon cameras from Japan, but she resolutely refused to use Japanese goods. She would criticize any classmate who bought anything related to Japan, let alone herself.

With the equipment ready, filming could begin. She wrote the script herself, found classmates to act, and even dragged Tong Hao into being a production assistant. She originally wanted Tong Hao to play the male lead, but the shy Tong Hao couldn't get into character, so he ended up as a support staff member. A busy month passed quickly, more than half the filming was done, but everyone was exhausted. It was Sunday, and Chu Yan arrived at the agreed location early in the morning, only to find Tong Hao alone. She quickly tried to contact him by phone, but either no one answered or they said they were still in bed. With no other option, they had to take a day off. But while others rested, Tong Hao couldn't, so Chu Yan dragged him out to the street to film some supplementary shots.

"People who make ghost movies choose eerie locations. What can you film on the street with so many people around?" Tong Hao said.

"You don't understand. Who can a ghost scare in a deserted place? I'm going to let this ghost move around among people. Maybe it's right next to you right now," Chu Yan said smugly.

No matter what Chu Yan said, Tong Hao had to listen obediently and follow her around. "Let's go take pictures on the street," they thought, "we don't have any other plans for the day anyway." Once on the street, Chu Yan wasn't exactly focused on taking pictures; she went wherever there was excitement. Later, when things got quiet, she started following couples. If you're going to take pictures secretly, at least do it discreetly, but she did it blatantly, not afraid of being discovered at all. Finally, she angered a burly, bald man. He was middle-aged, but the young woman beside him was in her early twenties, walking like a snake wrapped around him. When the middle-aged man rolled up his sleeves, revealing colorful tattoos on his arms, Chu Yan and Tong Hao were terrified. They ran away as fast as they could, afraid of falling into the hands of that menacing-looking man.

In the ensuing run, the two got separated. When Tong Hao stopped, he realized Chu Yan was gone, so he immediately went back to look for her. But with so many people on the weekend streets, where could he possibly find her? He tried calling Chu Yan's cell phone, but he couldn't get through no matter how many times he tried. With no other option, Tong Hao could only wander slowly through the streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of Chu Yan.

It was almost noon when the call finally went through. Chu Yan told Tong Hao her location, and Tong Hao groaned in dismay. In such a short time, Chu Yan had already moved quite a distance from where she had been discovered taking photos. She said she had been taking pictures all along and hadn't stopped since. Tong Hao quickly took a taxi to find her, and the two met in front of a restaurant. Chu Yan giggled and took Tong Hao's arm as they went into the restaurant to eat.

During a break from eating, Chu Yan turned on the DV camera and showed Tong Hao her work from the past half-day.

Tong Hao first saw that woman in Chu Yan's DV camera.

"There are many women in this world, and even among beauties, there are many types. If I had to define the type of woman I like, I would choose three words: beautiful, elegant, and sexy. Beautiful women are already few and far between, and elegant and sexy beauties are even fewer. Therefore, I must break down these standards and search among different women so that I can find my target and make something of myself. After struggling for so many years, my dreams have gradually shattered, and I don't even dare to dream of meeting a perfect woman who completely meets my standards."

This is a sentence from a book Tong Hao recently read. If he were to summarize it, he would add "fashionable" to beauty, elegance, and sexiness. He strongly agrees with the author Cheng Gang's viewpoint: in our real world, who dares to hope to meet their ideal woman?

Tong Hao saw it; it was in Chu Yan's DV camera.

The woman wore a long black dress, her light blonde hair flowing naturally in curls over her shoulders, exuding a mature and captivating power. Her eyebrows were long and slender, slightly upturned at the ends, giving her a somewhat condescending gaze. Her eyes, brimming with a gentle shimmer, even in the sunlight of a street, seemed to bathe you in the tranquility of a starry sky, where the cold, exquisitely beautiful starlight, like a hazy, alluring mist, enveloped you.

As Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 4, Chapter 59: The Face (5)

Tong Hao was so stunned that he didn't even notice when Chu Yan leaned over and glared at him reproachfully.

A few days had passed. That night, it was a birthday celebration for one of Tong Hao's classmates. They went to the Hanyancui Bar on Lingxi Road to celebrate. Around 10 PM, Chu Yan sent Tong Hao a text message saying she was passing by his school and was currently on the school playground, urging him to hurry back. Over time, Tong Hao had become accustomed to treating Chu Yan's words as orders, and this day was no exception. After his classmates teased him good-naturedly, they let him go.

Tong Hao came out of the Hanyancui Bar and waited for the bus at the bus stop across the street. He stood there bored and looked around unconsciously. His eyes were soon drawn to the window of a photo studio on the sidewalk, where a picture of a woman was hanging.

The woman in the photo was mature and beautiful, inspiring admiration at first sight. Tong Hao stared at her blankly for a while, feeling a certain nerve in his heart being touched. The photo seemed familiar, as if it had always been hidden deep within him. He stared, almost forgetting the time; buses came and went behind him, but he remained rooted to the spot. Later, he finally remembered that he had indeed seen this woman before, in Chu Yan's DV camera.

He started walking towards the photo studio. As he entered, he brushed past a girl in a white dress. The girl walked away in a hurry, but he was completely absorbed in the moment.

"I want to book a photoshoot for my girlfriend, but I need a sample photo right now," he said to the receptionist in her green uniform.

The girl in the green uniform glanced out the shop window, her eyes full of doubt, and said, "If you can pay a deposit in advance, you can take this photo back to show your girlfriend."

As she spoke, she pushed a five-inch photograph towards him; it was of the woman in the shop window. This time, it was Tong Hao's turn to be puzzled. How did the girl in the green uniform know that this was the photograph he actually wanted?

"The girl in the white dress just booked a package here. Her requirements are exactly the same as yours, and she specifically asked for the one in the window. I think that's what you want too."

Tong Hao tilted his head, trying to recall the girl in the white dress who had just brushed past him. He couldn't even remember what she looked like. But what did it matter? The important thing was that he had obtained the woman's photograph. If what he had seen on the DV camera was just a fleeting image, then the photograph made the woman real in Tong Hao's mind.

The photo was now in Tong Hao's hand. Tong Hao slowly raised it towards Su He, whose face already wore an extremely strange expression. She stared at Tong Hao as if she were looking at a legendary figure. When the photo was finally in front of her, she breathed a few soft breaths, and an extremely helpless expression appeared on her face.

She also took out a photo from her pocket and held it up to Tong Hao.

The women in the two photos look exactly alike.

This time, it was Tong Hao's turn to be utterly bewildered. He had no idea how Su He could have this photo. Time seemed to stand still, or perhaps it was as if he had returned to that night many years ago, standing at a bus stop, staring blankly at a photograph illuminated by the light. He had brushed past a girl who was leaving the photo studio as he entered.

Tong Hao suddenly realized that the girl in the white dress who had brushed past him was Su He in front of him.

At this moment, both Su He and Tong Hao sensed a mysterious force at play, silent and invisible, yet influencing every aspect of our lives. If it caused two people to pass each other by, they were destined never to meet, and vice versa. Who can escape the manipulation of fate?

Tong Hao's gaze lingered between the photograph and Su He's face. He couldn't help but lament the cruel twist of fate. After forever losing the woman who had illuminated the spring of his life, he had encountered another woman in this eerie valley. Moreover, without careful examination, the two women looked almost identical.

The woman in both photos has the same face as Su Hesheng.

Now Su He finally understands why Tong Hao fell in love with her at first sight.

As Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 4, Chapter 60: Life and Death (1)

Before leaving Haicheng, on the eve of Qin Ge and Dong'er's wedding, they went shopping at a mall. The mall was having a promotion: anyone who spent a certain amount could leave their personal information for a lucky draw. Whether lucky or unlucky, Qin Ge and Dong'er won—a seven-day trip to Southern Xinjiang. Qin Ge hadn't originally planned a destination wedding, but winning the prize made him decide to take Dong'er on a proper trip.

After learning they had won the lottery, Qin Ge and Dong'er went to the shopping mall to complete the formalities. When they left that day, they saw a large crowd gathered in the middle of the street, with long lines of cars on both sides. Traffic police were maintaining order, and some uniformed officers were busy with tape measures and cameras. Without even going to see, they knew there had been a car accident. Qin Ge had wanted to go check on it that time, but Dong'er dragged him away. No girl likes to see bloody scenes, and Dong'er was no exception.

Although not much time had passed since this incident, Qin Ge and Dong'er had almost completely forgotten about it.

In the town of As, a copy of the Haicheng Daily reminded them of the incident, but they never imagined that the car accident would become so closely linked to their lives.

[Our Correspondent Reports] Yesterday afternoon, a traffic accident occurred in front of the Jinfeng Commercial Building on Xiushui Road in Cangwu District of this city, resulting in two deaths and one minor injury.

Yesterday afternoon at 3:40 PM, a young couple was crossing the road when they collided with an Audi traveling normally, killing both instantly. According to witnesses, the couple had just finished shopping at the Jinfeng Shopping Mall, each carrying many items they had purchased. As they were crossing the road, the woman's paper bag suddenly fell. The man, who had already reached the other side, returned to help her pick up the scattered items. At that moment, an Audi traveling from east to west, due to excessive speed, was unable to avoid them, resulting in the tragic accident.

Police officers arrived at the scene within five minutes and learned from the identification carried by the deceased that the male victim was a police officer in the city's criminal investigation team. They also learned that the female victim was his soon-to-be-married wife.

The news article was only a small piece, without any pictures or details about the deceased, but Qin Ge and Dong'er were struck dumb upon reading it, their bodies seemingly frozen in a bone-chilling cold. A buzzing sound filled their ears, and even the street in front of them blurred. In their minds, a voice boomed: —You are already dead.

The two sat motionless, their bodies stiff, as if they had stopped breathing, stopped feeling body temperature, and stopped experiencing any human sensation. They had no doubt about the news's veracity, because the scene they had witnessed when leaving the shopping mall that day was vividly clear in their minds. Many people, many vehicles, and many police officers. Qin Ge wanted to go forward to see, but Dong'er pulled him away. At that moment, they had no sense that the dead person surrounded by the crowd was actually themselves.

This is too unbelievable. If they really died, then everything that happened afterward wasn't real? The lively wedding, the passionate wedding night, and the subsequent honeymoon—looking back now, they all seem so real, almost tangible. Yet, all of this happened after they died.

Perhaps, sometimes people truly don't know they're dead, and continue to do many things on earth according to their own will. Qin Ge recalled a film she had once seen, *The Sixth Sense*, in which Bruce Willis plays a psychiatrist who tirelessly helps countless children and their families. On the night he receives a top professional award, he is shot by one of his former patients. He then heals a child's emotional wounds with deep guilt. Only at the very end of the film does he realize that he was already dead, a dead man from the night he was shot. The boundary between life and death becomes blurred here; our subjective consciousness simply cannot give us a correct judgment. This theory is explored even more vividly in another film, *The Others*. A mother lives with her two children in an old house, constantly living in fear. Various signs in the house indicate the existence of ghosts, and she can only watch helplessly as danger approaches them. At the end of the story, they finally confront these forces, only to discover that the ghosts are herself and her two children. "The living have all made a mistake; they are too clearly divided. Angels often do not know whether they are moving among the living or the dead. The eternal torrent always sweeps away all ages from both regions and is louder than either of them." This is a line from the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke's "Duino Elegies." If even angels are like this, then what about humans and ghosts?

Qin Ge also thought of what Takahashi had said that morning.

"Don't you understand yet? Now that you've come here, you're all already dead. Dead people can only stay in the dead. You'll never be able to enjoy the wonderful world outside again."

Is this truly a town of death, where only the dead arrive? At first, no one believed Takahashi's words, because everyone could feel their own heartbeat and body temperature, their weariness and fear—sensations unique to humans. But now, these feelings suddenly became blurred, because the process of death had been specified in terms of time and place. If all of this was fake, then who would know about the car accident they witnessed when they left the shopping mall that day?

"Let's go back," Qin Ge said softly. Dusk had fallen, and the streets had become deserted, with the few pedestrians appearing as indistinct shadows like ghosts from legends.

As Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 4, Chapter 61: Life and Death (2)

Dong'er was too weak to even speak. She leaned against Qin Ge, staring blankly into a certain place. Her pale face was lifeless in the twilight.

"Dong'er!" Qin Ge suddenly raised his voice and said loudly, "Our lives are not determined by a newspaper, and reality is not the same as those movies. Only we ourselves know best whether we are alive or dead."

He held Dong'er tightly in his arms and whispered in her ear, "Now, I'm right beside you. You can hear my voice, and I can hold you tight. We're no different from before. If this counts as dying, then what's the difference between life and death?"

Dong'er's eyes flickered; Qin Ge's words had already moved her.

“I firmly believe we are all still alive, and the truth about these newspapers and all the strange events that have happened here will eventually come to light. Until the truth is clear, we must believe in ourselves.” Qin Ge hugged Dong’er so tightly that Dong’er felt oppressed. This feeling was good; at least it allowed her to clearly perceive Qin Ge’s presence.

"Don't forget your husband is a policeman. If a policeman can't even protect his own wife, then he's an utterly pathetic man." Qin Ge lifted Dong'er's chin. "Do I look like an utterly pathetic man to you?"

Dong'er wanted to say something, but the words were choked back by sobs. She could only shake her head violently, letting more sobs burst out.

Qin Ge stared at the girl in his arms, his heart growing heavier. If all of this was a conspiracy, then the person who orchestrated it was far too meticulous. Anyone would feel heavy-hearted having such an enemy. Although Qin Ge didn't believe he was truly dead, the shadow of death still lingered in his heart. Now, he couldn't wait to rush back to the Imperial Guard Hall and see the others. This newspaper, carrying the aura of death, couldn't be just one copy. What about the others? Had everyone received such a newspaper? Did everyone now have their own version of death?

Those days, like mist, will linger in Tong Hao's heart for the rest of his life.

After that autumn night, the woman kept appearing in his dreams, smiling at him and softly calling his name. Each time, he woke up with a mixture of surprise and joy, letting his body grow colder and colder in the long night. Fortunately, he had a photograph of her. When he woke up, he would turn on the light and gaze at the woman in the photo for a long time. In his heart, the woman was like an angel from heaven, her smile radiant, possessing a mature innocence and an irresistible allure. Tong Hao could feel the passion and impulse he felt when gazing at the photograph in the dead of night. It had nothing to do with desire; the power of that passion and impulse made him feel incredibly sacred. "Your kingdom come, your name be made glorious, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." At that moment, Tong Hao truly prayed to the gods, praying that one day, divine power would bring that woman to his side.

He began searching for the woman in the city, making use of every spare moment he had.

Chu Yan had already burned the footage from his DV camera onto a disc. Although the woman in black only appeared for less than two minutes, he had watched it countless times. He thirstily captured her every movement and posture, trying to perceive her life through the images. In the pitch-black room, only the images on the computer screen changed. The woman in black emerged from an office building, gracefully crossed the plaza, and disappeared into the crowd. Her expression as she approached was haughty yet not indifferent. The beauty overflowing between her brows seemed within reach, yet when you reached out, it floated high in the sky, inspiring a reverent respect that made you dare not presume to look up at her.

That office building became a place Tong Hao frequented. Whenever he had time, he would stand silently in the plaza outside, watching everyone who entered or left the building. The building had two exits, so he was always wondering if he had missed his chance to meet that woman.