Incendie mystérieux

Chapitre 37

The man next to me smiled knowingly. "It's exactly the same as the song." He pointed to the overhead speaker, and somehow, the passengers stopped in unison, leaving only Faye Wong's languid voice unexpectedly standing out in the carriage.

"Along the way, some see through the lines of life and the mysteries of fate too early, some realize too late that what is destined to come will come and there is no escaping it; along the way, some hope for fate but do not believe in its necessity; along the way, the young bird of youth sheds feathers that will never grow back..." The song seemed to contain a strange spell, like a light veil gently descending upon everyone's heads, including Fu Qinghua. The middle-aged man in the front row revealed a vain yet happy expression, even his tightly furrowed brows relaxed. "What do you plan to do in the future?" she asked him, "Find a new job, or else..."

The man shook his head violently like a rattle-drum. "What a joke! I'm doing just fine in this line of work, why would I switch?"

“But weren’t you laid off…?” Fu Qinghua said cautiously.

"Laid off?" The man's eyes widened in surprise. "What a joke! As a model worker and advanced worker, I'm about to go to Beijing for an awards ceremony, and when I come back I'll be sharing my experience. I'm so busy, how could I be laid off? Don't curse me, young lady!"

"Huh, that's strange..." Before she could figure it out, the heartbroken boy suddenly shouted, "Youyue'er, you were lying to me all along! You just wanted to make me jealous!" His affectionate gaze was fixed on the old man beside him, as if he were looking at his lover, and then he suddenly grinned, "You're so naughty!"

As he spoke, he hugged the old man tightly, refusing to let go. The old man, without any resistance, reached out his trembling hands, embracing him while tears streamed down his face, "My dear... I've finally seen you again..."

Volume 3: Hell Records, Streetcar Named Desire (Part 2)

They've all gone mad. In this frenzied carriage, the only ones who seem to be sober are probably Fu Qinghua and the man next to her. "What's troubling you?" the man asked again. "Tell me, and you'll find satisfaction."

I'm afraid... after revealing your troubles, you might become mentally unstable like the people on the bus, right? Fu Qinghua couldn't help but feel apprehensive. "What about you?" she asked, taking the initiative. "I don't believe you haven't. If you speak first, I can consider it."

"What a cunning girl." The man smiled, a smile so elegant it made her want to scream. "But... even if I told him my troubles, this mere record wouldn't be able to get rid of them."

He's an astrologer whose profession is to fulfill his clients' wishes. He seems to be able to do anything, from heaven to earth. If he wanted to, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he could fulfill the dreams of 6 billion people worldwide. However... even if all 6 billion people worked together, no one could fulfill his wishes.

“My true wish…” He suddenly lowered his head and breathed softly into Fu Qinghua’s ear. It tickled! She wanted to scream, but another extremely comfortable feeling firmly told her to keep listening.

"My true wish is... to die."

"Free yourself from the shackles of this body, redeem yourself from the bondage of thousands of years, and from now on find peace of mind in the dust, which will be eternal peace until the end of time."

Unbelievable… there are actually people who want to die… I haven’t even lived long enough! Fu Qinghua thought to herself. Well, it’s her turn next. “I have nothing to say, really,” she said, seemingly nonchalant and carefree, but in reality, her heart was bleeding with shame. “To be honest, I’m just an ordinary member of a senior high school cram school.”

She was a child burdened with the name "Tsinghua," her parents' hopes for her to "get into Tsinghua University" placed upon her from childhood. She didn't disappoint them, consistently ranking among the top students in her class. However, she bombed the college entrance exam in her senior year of high school. Although her score was more than enough for a top university, she resolutely chose to give it up for the sake of her "Tsinghua dream." After repeating a year, she again narrowly missed her dream university. The third year, the fourth year, the fifth year… her classmates had long since graduated and entered the workforce, while she continued to strive for the college entrance exam year after year, day after day. Getting into Tsinghua was no longer just a simple dream; it had almost become her belief, her motivation to live. She had fought for it for so many years, and she would continue to fight for it until the last day of her life.

The college entrance exam bell rang, and she began answering the questions. This time, as if divinely inspired, she answered every question with complete confidence, as if she could see the answers at a glance. Naturally, she estimated a score as high as 680 and, without hesitation, applied to Tsinghua University. The final result completely satisfied her; a month later, she finally received the long-awaited acceptance letter. Filled with excitement and anticipation for the future, she clutched that acceptance letter, more precious than her life, and boarded the express train to Beijing…

The train was crowded, and she finally managed to find a seat next to a man. This man, seemingly unconcerned about the heat, was wearing a black trench coat and carrying a paper bag from which the faint aroma of roasted chestnuts wafted…

“Excuse me,” the man stood up, “I’m getting off here.”

Fu Qinghua stared blankly, unsure whether she was on the No. 13 bus or the Beijing Express. The only thing she was certain of was that the paper bag contained the boss's chestnuts, a sacred item she had sworn she would never touch before getting into Tsinghua University.

"Now you can eat it." The man gently handed the chestnut to her.

Without even peeling the shells, she grabbed a handful of chestnuts and stuffed them into her mouth. "Delicious, so delicious," she mumbled, tears welling up in her eyes.

The astrologer got off the bus, and the No. 13 bus behind him drifted away like a ghost. The dim streetlights cast his shadow on him, making him appear so lonely and tall. If half of his black hair swallowed the darkness, then the other side of his snow-white hair reflected the purity of the human heart.

"Is it done?" Sometime during the day, a figure appeared under the bus stop sign—the figure of a thin, desperate woman.

"Hmm." The astrologer responded calmly, "Since I've accepted your record as a thank you gift, I will naturally fulfill your wish."

"That child...that child...so pitiful..." the woman sobbed, her small sobs revealing her deep sorrow. "It's all our fault...we only knew how to put pressure on that child, making him fixated on 'getting into Tsinghua University'...even if it meant death..."

Even if they die and become ghosts, they will still go back and forth between their homes and tutoring classes, immersing themselves in a sea of questions year after year to prepare for the college entrance examination the following year—all for an admission letter from Tsinghua University.

"Although seeing my dead child makes me happy, I can't let her wander like this anymore..." The mother struggled to stop her sobs. "Rumors of ghost students have been spreading from the tutoring center, and with that Tsinghua student, even being a ghost is so difficult for her. I just can't bear it..."

The astrologer nodded silently. So the woman made a deal with him; if he hadn't accidentally discovered a hell record hidden in her house, the astrologer would have lost a fortune this time.

However, I truly hadn't expected… He rested his chin on his hand. The power of the Hell Record was so immense; even the copied CD possessed such abilities. The astrologer had merely played the CD on that abandoned bus, and before long, the bus was attracting countless wandering ghosts, making them drivers and passengers, and allowing them to fulfill their unfinished wishes from their earthly lives through the songs—including Fu Qinghua, of course. The empty seat left after the astrologer got off will likely be filled by a new ghost, won't it?

The ghosts of the college entrance exam, the ghosts of laid-off workers, the ghosts of cuckolds… Will the No. 13 bus, filled with ghost passengers, become the legendary "ghost bus," replacing the "ghost tutors"? As long as the record continues to play, their dreams will never disappear. Those humans who couldn't fulfill their wishes in life finally obtain their own happiness after death. What secrets does the Hell Record hold?

Oh, right, there's one more thing before that. The astrologer lifted the brim of his hat and gave the mother a meaningful smile.

"The chestnuts you gave me are really delicious," he said.

Volume Three: The Sheep's Song from Hell Records (Part One)

AgnusDei,quitollispeccatamundi,

Lamb of God, you bear the sins of the world.

donaeisrequiem.

May they rest.

donaeisrequiemsempiternam.

May they be granted eternal rest.

—Mozart's Requiem Mass, VII. Agnus Dei (Hymn to the Lamb)

A pair of hands wearing black leather gloves rummaged through the record rack, picking up a CD.

“Dolly Amos’s ‘Little Earthquake’ album? No, no, you’re too young for this.” He put the record into the CD player. Under the tinkling piano concerto, the blood-red, cruel shadows in the music seemed to slowly spray and spread, releasing a strange yet alluring beauty. “All the Silent Years, dedicated to Dolly!” He closed his eyes, his nimble fingers tapping rhythmically on the table to the beat of the music, seemingly immersed in the beautiful song. “This is Faye Wong’s cover of the original ‘Cold War.’ But for young kids like you…”

The girl's limbs were tied to the legs of a dining table, her mouth was taped shut, and her eyes were wide open, as if repeatedly confirming the handsome intruder before her. Tears of terror slowly welled up in her eyes.

"Do you know who Faye Wong is?" he asked gently, pressing his forehead against hers affectionately.

She shook her head mechanically.

"What a pity!" he exclaimed dramatically. "The diva of the last century is indeed a bit unfamiliar to you young girls." He shook his head with deep regret. "In her songs, women's bodies twist and groan as they die... I love Faye Wong!" He suddenly leaned down and forcefully pecked at the girl's mouth, which was sealed with tape. The girl visibly flinched, appearing to be in great pain.

"Does it hurt?" His ten fingers were as nimble as if he were playing the piano, gently plucking at every nerve in her body. The girl's skin trembled violently until something cold touched her cheek.

“Pain, suffering, sorrow, and so on, they will never be able to disturb you again,” he said tenderly, as if gently blowing a spell into the girl’s heart. Her muscles gradually relaxed, and her eyelids grew heavier and heavier… “It won’t hurt more than it does now,” his words seemed to contain endless magic, causing her to involuntarily close her eyes, “because you will have already died before you feel the pain.”

Doll

Dolly's name; her name

She had that dream again. The last time was two years ago, the time before that four years ago, and before that… she couldn't remember. The same dream, the same self, floating in pitch-black darkness, like a small boat adrift on a vast night sea. She heard intermittent breathing beside her, felt her body uncontrollably rising into the air, her clothes dragging downwards with gravity, and then, a warm current swept over her delicate palms. She instinctively struggled free, but a moist, tingling sensation flowed continuously from her fingertips. Her sensitive, slender hands were being enveloped by something not warm but soft, leading her to a deeper, darker, dampness… Starting from her fingertips, her entire body seemed to melt into this wonderful touch, hopelessly intoxicated, her body as light as a feather, trembling as it flew towards the sky…

When Dolly woke up, her fingertips were still in her mouth, and the tingling pleasure from her dream lingered in her body. She looked up at the girl in the mirror by the bedside; a pale, haggard yet still beautiful young woman's face was looking back at her. She was eighteen. Her expression was calm, but she couldn't hide the anticipation in her heart. Today was her eighteenth birthday. Did her aunt and uncle still remember the promises they made to her back then?

Dolly was an orphan who grew up in an orphanage with other children. Unlike other orphans, she was cared for by a wealthy couple who maintained regular contact with her through years of correspondence. Every holiday, they would send her gifts, and strangely enough, as if by telepathy, these gifts were exactly what she had always wanted. From a young age, Dolly firmly believed that her aunt and uncle were always watching over her; otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence? On her eighteenth birthday, a letter told her that it was her big day of adulthood, and her aunt and uncle would send her a very special gift to celebrate.

Just three months after leaving the orphanage, Dolly felt she had matured considerably. After graduating high school, she faced numerous rejections and cold shoulders when job hunting, but fortunately, her pretty face helped her find work at a sportswear store. The pay wasn't much, and the work was quite hard, but it was manageable. Dolly then rented a small studio apartment, and after some simple tidying up, the 20-square-meter space exuded a warm, homey feel.

I wish my aunt and uncle would remember to give me a "birthday present." She slowly rolled up her stockings, then carefully pointed her toes and slipped them in. How should she celebrate today? Should she invite her girlfriends from the shop for a shopping spree, or order a birthday cake and take them to McDonald's? The house is too small; there's simply no room to move around.

"Knock knock knock." Someone knocked on the door.

"Coming!" she called out cheerfully, her heart pounding. Forgetting that she was only wearing a stocking on one foot, or a cotton nightgown, and hadn't even put on her slippers properly, she jumped out of bed and rushed over, barefoot. "Is it really a birthday present?" she exclaimed, her heart pounding in her throat with joy.

That's the one, it can't be wrong!

She had only seen it once, when she was ten years old. That single glance was etched into her heart, unforgettable for eternity. Her small hands gripped the rusty iron railing tightly, her eyes fixed intently on its every move, her gaze unwavering. Unbeknownst to her, large tears welled up and streamed down her cheeks. The first sight of it had captivated her, and for the next eight years, she could only reunite with it in her dreams.

Its pure white fur shone brightly in the sunlight; through the wire cage, its gaze met that of the crowd outside; it paced restlessly in its small cage, its powerful body trembling uncontrollably, unable to contain its wild passion; its eyes, normally colorless and transparent, emitted a sapphire blue luster when sunlight refracted, a fleeting brilliance like the most precious and profound sapphire, beautiful enough to drive the whole world mad.

It is a white tiger.

“Yes, White Tiger.” Young Dolly prayed silently in her heart, hoping that heaven would pass on her wish and devotion to the kind couple. It was her only wish in eight years, a beautiful dream that would appear even in broad daylight, “I don’t want anything but White Tiger.”

She yanked the door open.

Volume Three: The Sheep's Song (Part Two)

A huge, cube-shaped cardboard box lay quietly outside the door, resembling a CRT monitor box but much larger, almost reaching Dolly's chest in height, about the size of a small shipping container. The box was sealed tightly, covered with countless layers of clear tape, and a birthday card was attached to the top. Dolly initially assumed it was from her aunt and uncle, but after searching the entire card, she couldn't find a single word, only the four printed red characters "Happy Birthday." If not them? Then who could it be?

The box was large and heavy; Dolly couldn't move it an inch by herself. She stood there for a moment, hugging her slender arms, then got up to find the scissors. She was incredibly impatient, eager to see what this mysterious birthday present was.

She carefully cut the transparent tape, composed herself, closed her eyes, and opened the cardboard box with the utmost reverence.

A handsome man lay quietly in the cardboard box in a baby-like sleeping position. His hands and feet were tightly bound with tape, and even his mouth was taped shut. Dolly gazed at his peaceful sleeping face, almost mesmerized. His eyelashes rested on his eyelids, trembling slightly with his breath, unexpectedly giving him an innocent, childlike quality. The man's skin was far from fair, displaying a healthy, sun-kissed tan, which, combined with his straight nose and slightly upturned lips, exuded a wild, masculine charm. For some reason, Dolly felt he was secretly smiling. Beneath that handsome, sleeping face, like that of a newly born angel, did a devilish smile lurk? Dolly couldn't resist reaching out and shaking his shoulder. He awoke, his long, narrow, delicate eyes flashing with a sapphire blue light.

"Who...who are you?" Due to her extreme shock, Dolly's seemingly ordinary question was all the more unusual, as if it carried a hint of destiny.

A radiant smile shone in the man's eyes. Bathed in his warm, spring-like gaze, Dolly's heart pounded like a deer's, and for a moment she completely forgot everything else. It wasn't until the man's bound hands were almost poking her nose that she snapped out of her reverie, frantically cutting the tape binding his hands. The man, just freed from his restraints, moved only slightly; Dolly didn't even see what he used to cut the tape binding his feet. He was tall and well-proportioned, and when he stood fully in front of Dolly, one hand gripping the doorframe, Dolly suddenly felt a surge of fear.

"Who are you? Why are you in the box?" she mustered her courage to ask.

The man chuckled silently, his mouth, which had just been taped shut, now uttered a strangely captivating masculine voice, "Someone sent me here. He said..."

He deliberately kept her in suspense to see if she was listening attentively.

“I am Miss Don Dolly’s birthday present. Happy Birthday!” His eyes shone with joy.

"Uncle, Aunt, is it really you?!" She was so excited she almost jumped for joy! But what she had asked for was the King of Beasts! The person in front of her looked like a normal human being from every angle...

“I am the White Tiger,” he said, “the king of beasts who embodies both beauty and elegance and ferocity.” His malevolent gaze swept over Dolly’s body, and a wicked smile appeared on his lips. “Would you like to see for yourself?”

The white tiger's eyes are colorless and transparent...

“People say I have sharp, clear blue eyes, like Antarctic ice,” he said, widening his eyes. “Look, it’s the real deal!”

The white tiger's fur was entirely snow-white...

"Oh dear, this is a bit tricky!" He stroked his smooth chin with a serious expression, looking troubled. "Actually, my face is only dark because of the sun and wind! My skin on the rest of my body is much whiter. Want to see? Let's make it clear beforehand, you can only look, not touch, and it's ten dollars a minute!"

"Alright, alright, I believe you!" Dolly was both amused and annoyed as she ushered White Tiger into the house. How to put it? At first glance, he seemed quite lively and cheerful, even bordering on frivolous, but his natural attitude was undeniably endearing. Perhaps his charmingly handsome appearance played a significant role? His speech and actions exuded a frank and dashing air, perfectly matching his handsome face. The fragrant aroma of coffee filled the small room, and through the rising steam, she began to question White Tiger about his origins.

"Were you delivered here by a courier company?" How could such an absurd thing happen? A tall, healthy man, bound hand and foot and sealed in a box, as a birthday present? He's a human being, after all! Even if he was hired, he shouldn't be treated so roughly, right? Doubts slowly rose in Dolly's mind. Perhaps, it had nothing to do with her aunt and uncle?

"No, that's not it." White Tiger casually grabbed a handful of peanuts and tossed them into his mouth. "Actually, they just told me to come find you. As for the cardboard box at the door..." He grinned mischievously, revealing a set of pearly white teeth, "You're surprised, aren't you?"

What? She was stunned.

“‘The Mail Bride’!” He gestured with his hands in the air. “It’s an American movie, have you seen it? That’s what I learned from it, what do you think?” He leaned closer, his eyes sparkling. “It’s fun, isn’t it?”

So, this crazy man tied himself up, crawled into an airtight cardboard box, all to surprise her? "You...you..." Dolly was speechless. Faced with that smug face, she could only manage a forced compliment, "You're amazing..."

"Of course! I've been thinking about it all morning!" White Tiger was clearly still immersed in his masterpiece. "The key is how to seal the box from the inside, so that you'll think it's sealed from the outside... Do you know how I solved this problem?"

"I...I don't know." It was already the greatest miracle of Dolly's life that she could utter these words—she was already speechless with anger.

Baihu rested his chin on his coffee cup, getting more and more excited as he spoke, "Actually... only the bottom of the box wasn't sealed with tape."

Volume Three: The Sheep's Song (Part Two)

A huge, cube-shaped cardboard box lay quietly outside the door, resembling a CRT monitor box but much larger, almost reaching Dolly's chest in height, about the size of a small shipping container. The box was sealed tightly, covered with countless layers of clear tape, and a birthday card was attached to the top. Dolly initially assumed it was from her aunt and uncle, but after searching the entire card, she couldn't find a single word, only the four printed red characters "Happy Birthday." If not them? Then who could it be?

The box was large and heavy; Dolly couldn't move it an inch by herself. She stood there for a moment, hugging her slender arms, then got up to find the scissors. She was incredibly impatient, eager to see what this mysterious birthday present was.

She carefully cut the transparent tape, composed herself, closed her eyes, and opened the cardboard box with the utmost reverence.

A handsome man lay quietly in the cardboard box in a baby-like sleeping position. His hands and feet were tightly bound with tape, and even his mouth was taped shut. Dolly gazed at his peaceful sleeping face, almost mesmerized. His eyelashes rested on his eyelids, trembling slightly with his breath, unexpectedly giving him an innocent, childlike quality. The man's skin was far from fair, displaying a healthy, sun-kissed tan, which, combined with his straight nose and slightly upturned lips, exuded a wild, masculine charm. For some reason, Dolly felt he was secretly smiling. Beneath that handsome, sleeping face, like that of a newly born angel, did a devilish smile lurk? Dolly couldn't resist reaching out and shaking his shoulder. He awoke, his long, narrow, delicate eyes flashing with a sapphire blue light.

"Who...who are you?" Due to her extreme shock, Dolly's seemingly ordinary question was all the more unusual, as if it carried a hint of destiny.

A radiant smile shone in the man's eyes. Bathed in his warm, spring-like gaze, Dolly's heart pounded like a deer's, and for a moment she completely forgot everything else. It wasn't until the man's bound hands were almost poking her nose that she snapped out of her reverie, frantically cutting the tape binding his hands. The man, just freed from his restraints, moved only slightly; Dolly didn't even see what he used to cut the tape binding his feet. He was tall and well-proportioned, and when he stood fully in front of Dolly, one hand gripping the doorframe, Dolly suddenly felt a surge of fear.

"Who are you? Why are you in the box?" she mustered her courage to ask.

The man chuckled silently, his mouth, which had just been taped shut, now uttered a strangely captivating masculine voice, "Someone sent me here. He said..."