"Don't be so coy, like a child. Just say what you have to say!" Chu Xiyin knew that Hua Shao was most afraid of being called a child, so she deliberately provoked him with these words.
"What? I'm being coy?" Hua Shao was so angry he almost jumped up. "Fine, you told me to say it, so don't regret it!"
"What's there to regret? Speak freely," Chu Xiyin declared boldly like a chivalrous woman, but if there were a pill to undo her words, she would definitely take them back.
"Yichuan, I like you, I like you..." Hua Shao imitated a woman's voice in an extremely disgusting way.
"Stop, stop, stop, disgusting!" Chu Xiyin couldn't stand Hua Shao's transvestite appearance at all. It's better for him to be normal.
"Isn't it that I'm disgusted? That's what you said." Hua Shao looked at Chu Xiyin with a smug expression, trying to find some change in her expression.
"You actually believe that kind of talk? It's just something to fool a kid like you. Do you think I'm that naive?" Chu Xiyin clenched her fists and pretended to be nonchalant as she spoke.
"Alright, alright, what you're thinking is only known to heaven, earth, and you, not others." Hua Shao put his hands in his pockets and sighed softly. "Self-deception is a disaster!"
A sense of sadness welled up in Chu Xiyin's heart. Some people are destined to be lost, and some wounds are destined to be borne alone.
A burning pain shot through his back, from the place where he had once breathed. The pain traveled through his skin to his heart; longing, it turned out, truly was a pain that could be felt even while breathing.
Chu Xiyin touched the sandalwood prayer beads in her hand, then looked up at the sky and stopped talking.
Chapter 5 Ghostly Temptation
This city has nothing special about it, except for its large population! Especially the subway; as far as the eye can see, it's a sea of people. Chu Xiyin and Hua Shao were squeezed onto the subway by the surging crowd, and then roughly pushed apart by the rude people. Chu Xiyin was squeezed to a spot near the door, while Hua Shao was pushed to the middle railing. The crowd was pushing and shoving wildly, and Hua Shao clung tightly to the railing with both hands, his handsome face distorted by the squeezing, looking quite comical.
Finally, the subway started moving, and people stopped crowding, each occupying their own small space without moving an inch.
The subway, like a ghost of the night, sped through the dark tunnels.
Chu Xiyin stared silently at her own pale, clean face reflected in the window. It turned out she simply couldn't forget him! That lonely man! That cold man! That man who left her nothing but his back view!
Chu Xiyin gently brushed the hair from her forehead, as if trying to erase a certain figure from her memory, but the figure of that person became clearer and clearer in her mind.
The swaying of the subway gave Chu Xiyin a hallucination. In the world of light and shadow outside the window, it seemed as if a pair of melancholy eyes were watching her, listening to her stories, smelling her scent, and soothing the sorrow in her heart. She gently turned her gaze to the window, trying to see those melancholy eyes clearly, but all she saw was darkness.
With her arm being pulled and shaken, Chu Xiyin desperately wanted to break free from the hands that were shaking her, but she was powerless to do so.
"Xi Yin, we've arrived at the station, get off!" Hua Shao grabbed Xi Yin's arm and forcefully dragged her out of the crowd.
"What were you thinking about on the subway? You were staring out the window without saying a word." After exiting the subway station, Hua Shao asked this question as if he had been holding it in for a long time.
Chu Xiyin bit her lip, her face growing redder and redder until finally, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Chu Xiyin, are you alright? People probably think I have a lunatic next to me." Taking advantage of a moment of joking around, Hua Shao naturally withdrew his gaze from Chu Xiyin's face.
"If there were a mirror right now, you could definitely tell which of us is the lunatic." Chu Xiyin laughed so hard she almost choked. She figured that if the vain Hua Shao saw his new, much-anticipated hairstyle ruined beyond recognition, he'd be furious. "Oh, right, I have a mirror in my bag. Let me show you." Chu Xiyin quickly pulled a makeup mirror from her bag and handed it to Hua Shao.
"Oh!" Hua Shao exclaimed in surprise, quickly fiddling with his golden curly hair.
"Is it clear now? Isn't my mirror amazing?" Chu Xiyin teased with a smile.
Hua Shao glanced at her and said, "Childish!"
When the two arrived at the "Xiyin Pavilion" teahouse, Mo Yun was already leisurely enjoying his tea in a corner on the west side. Seeing Chu Xiyin and Hua Shao, Mo Yun excitedly waved his short, thick arms. His bald head was particularly conspicuous in the sunlight.
Chu Xiyin sat down by the window and ordered a cup of black tea. Hua Shao sat down next to Chu Xiyin and ordered a cup of Biluochun tea.
Mo Yun took out the story outline and carefully analyzed the script's structure for Chu Xiyin before launching into a long, rambling monologue. Indeed, Mo Yun was an exceptionally talkative person; he could talk for three days and three nights without a problem, let alone an afternoon.
Chu Xiyin stared at Mo Yun's rapidly trembling lips, her mind already wandering.
“Teacher Mo, it’s getting late. Xiyin lives in a very remote place. It’s not safe for a young girl like her to go home too late. What do you think?” Hua Shao quickly said while Mo Yun was talking and gulping down his tea.
Actually, "Where?" This was just an excuse Hua Shao made up. Don't let his usual carefree attitude fool you; he's actually extremely chauvinistic. In his man's handbook, the first rule is "Protecting women is a man's duty." So, no matter how late it is, he'll always make sure to take Chu Xiyin home first.
“Yes, yes, it’s not safe for a young girl to go home at night. Let’s call it a day then. Xiyin, go back and think about the script carefully. When you feel you’ve figured it out, call me and we can schedule a time to talk. How about that?” Mo Yun put down his teacup and said leisurely.
Chu Xiyin nodded heavily, afraid that if she hesitated, Mo Yun would start his endless rambling.
Back in her room, it was completely dark. Chu Xiyin took a hot shower, changed into a nightgown, and took out the story outline Mo Yun had given her from her bag, carefully reading it under the lamp.
This neighborhood is eerily quiet, especially at night. It feels like there's no sign of life except for her own breathing. When she first rented this room, the agent said that the other rooms were also occupied, but two days have passed, and Chu Xiyin hasn't seen or heard a single sound from anyone.
However, this is fine, she likes quiet.
Chu Xiyin thought about the story Mo Yun had told her—a time-travel romance. There have been so many time-travel scripts lately! She never expected that even a seasoned screenwriter like Mo Yun would fall into such a cliché! But then again, aren't people just trying to make a living? Isn't Chu Xiyin living that same cliché right now? Art? Can art put food on the table? Unless the person is incredibly wealthy and allows them to squander their money on art, otherwise, they can't even solve their basic needs. Ha! All that's left are a pile of bones sacrificed for art—can that really be called art? Perhaps it could be loosely called performance art!
Chu Xiyin felt she had acted out of place again, so she shook her head and continued studying the story outline. Perhaps she had been too mentally exhausted from listening to Mo Yun talk during the day, because before long she fell into a deep sleep on her desk.
“Xi Yin…”
“Xi Yin…”
"Who's calling me?" The magnetic male voice seemed similar to the ghostly voice from last night, but upon closer listening, it sounded much younger and lacked that unpleasant panting.
“Xiyin…” the man called out again in a low voice.
Chu Xiyin opened her eyes; the bedside lamp in the room had been turned off at some point.
"Xiyin... come here..." The cabinet door of the rosewood cabinet made a strange sound, like an old wooden door. Then, the cabinet shook violently and the cabinet door was opened with a "creak".
Chu Xiyin was certain that the deep call came from the depths of the wooden cabinet. She wanted to explore further, but there wasn't a single light inside; it was so dark she couldn't see her hand in front of her face, and the deeper she went, the darker it became. Although she liked darkness, this endless darkness filled her with dread.
Chu Xiyin reached out to turn on the lamp next to her.
"Xiyin, don't turn on the light. Follow this rope and come with me..." The man's call echoed hollowly from deep within the wooden cabinet.
By the light from the window, Chu Xiyin saw a rope being thrown out from deep inside the wooden cabinet.
The ghostly calls still echoed in her ears. She bent down, picked up the thin rope from the ground, and peered into the depths of the wooden cabinet...
Chapter 6, the sixth chapter: Those who deserve to be killed!
Deep within the wooden cabinet lay a profound, deep darkness! Like a bottomless abyss, its end completely obscured. The cool moonlight streamed through the window, casting a pale blue veil over Chu Xiyin's petite frame. In a short while, the moonlight was obscured by dark clouds, plunging the room into utter darkness. Chu Xiyin's brow furrowed, her dark, bright eyes peering into the depths of darkness, her slender, pale hands gripping the thin rope leading to that mysterious void. A chilling, hellish wind, like countless disheveled ghosts, crawled outwards, emitting eerie howls.
Chu Xiyin felt an intense chill, shivered, and dared not step into the darkness.
"Come here, don't be afraid..." The man's gentle, magnetic voice whispered alluringly in her ear. It was like the call of a long-lost lover, like a deep, buried longing in the deepest recesses of her memory... This voice was like a thousand-year-old summons, so urgent, so fervent. It was as if, for all eternity, he had been waiting for her at the end of that darkness, for ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years...
Chu Xiyin tentatively took a small step forward, but the ghostly wails seemed to grow increasingly shrill. The wails made her shrink back; she trembled and withdrew the leg she had just stepped out, taking a step back.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here, they won't hurt you." The man's pleasant voice rang out again. He was like a king on a high throne, and his words were so certain that they made people feel inexplicably at ease.
As if they had heard the king's command, the ghosts' shrill cries gradually ceased. In the instant the mournful cries stopped, the hellish, chilling wind seemed to gradually warm up, and Chu Xiyin's body felt very comfortable from the warm wind.
She seemed less afraid and calmly gazed into the depths of darkness. Suddenly, at the end of that endless darkness, a tiny glimmer of light appeared.
Chu Xiyin gripped the thin rope tightly, took a deep breath, and stepped into the wooden cabinet. Perhaps her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, but from the moment she entered, everything around her gradually became brighter and clearer. A strong sandalwood scent wafted around her on the warm breeze, and she greedily inhaled it, finding each breath incredibly comforting. Further in, the light brightened, and the sandalwood scent seemed even stronger, mixed with a peculiar aroma. She sniffed hard—it was that bloody smell again! Every time she smelled blood, it filled her with inexplicable fear and unease.
"Are you still there?" Chu Xiyin asked softly, as if afraid of waking up the ghosts from before.
"I'm here," the man's gentle voice seemed to drift from somewhere far away, yet it also seemed to whisper right beside her ear. She could feel the man's warm breath lingering in her ear.
The ghosts lurking in the darkness seemed to stir with unease once more. Pairs of bloodshot eyes gradually emerged on either side of the wooden cabinet. Each ghost had a狰狞 (zhengning, meaning ferocious or hideous) face, as if charred, a gruesome sight. The ghosts wailed, speaking in words she couldn't understand.
"Could you lend me one hand? I'm a little scared," Chu Xiyin made this absurd request to the stranger behind her.
The man seemed to hesitate, remaining silent. Chu Xiyin gripped the rope tighter, afraid that if she let go, she would fall into hell and be devoured by the ghosts. She wanted to go back, but when she tried to reach for the previous section of rope, she found that the thin rope had inexplicably disappeared. She had no choice but to grit her teeth and walk towards the light ahead.
What would she do if she could never go back? What would she do if she were trapped in this cabinet forever? What would she do if she were to become that terrifying ghost, forever trapped in this endless darkness? A nameless fear gripped her; her hands, gripping the rope tightly, grew colder and colder, and the gentle breeze could no longer bring any warmth to her body.
A soft, large hand gently covered her slender, cold right hand. The moment that hand touched her, Chu Xiyin couldn't help but shiver. This hand was so cold that it had no warmth at all.
But this hand looks so much like his! His hands were so soft, and when he held hers, they were so firm. Why am I thinking of him again? That silent man, he was almost always silent when he was with her. That lonely man, she always wanted to get close to him, but he never let anyone near. That melancholy man, when he was melancholy, he would silently light a cigarette, gently exhale smoke rings, and let them slowly spread until they completely enveloped his melancholy face.
Chu Xiyin couldn't help but call out his name, "Yichuan."
The man seemed startled by her call, and the hand holding her trembled violently.
"I'm sorry, I just suddenly thought of a friend," Chu Xiyin explained calmly.
The man took Chu Xiyin's left hand into his own, and the instant their palms met, Chu Xiyin felt the man tremble slightly with nervousness. Chu Xiyin held the man's hand tightly, just as she always held his. She wanted to give him more warmth, just as she always wanted to give him more warmth.
"Where are you taking me?" Chu Xiyin seemed to have just remembered this important question. Ever since she stepped into this darkness, she had been bewitched by this mysterious voice, never thinking about where he would take her, nor what would happen after they arrived. She trusted him as much as she had always trusted him. If he was willing, she would follow him to the ends of the earth. But he left without a word. She didn't blame him. He was that kind of man; he had always been free, and she didn't want to bind him.
The man sighed heavily, remaining silent, seemingly lost in heavy memories. This man was truly the most devoted man in the world! For his beloved, he could wait a thousand years in this darkness, where the sun never shines. He endured loneliness, solitude, and the pain of unrequited love alone, silently bearing the boundless darkness and the long wait.
Chu Xiyin envied that woman, to be remembered by a man like that. And him? Would he remember her forever like he did? How had he been in the year since they parted? Had he met other women? Would he fall in love with another woman? Would such a woman ever enter his world?
"We're almost there!" the man suddenly said.
Chu Xiyin stared fixedly ahead as the light grew larger and larger...
She felt the man slowly releasing her hand. "Aren't you coming with me?" Chu Xiyin asked, confused. Only with this man could she feel at ease in this unfamiliar world. How could he let go of her hand so easily, like he had?
"Without her, I would rather be trapped in this darkness for all eternity," the man replied painfully.
"If you can find her, does that mean you can get out of this darkness?" Chu Xiyin asked with heartache, hoping that the man's answer would be yes.
But the man didn't answer her. In fact, it was a question even he himself couldn't answer. Why was he in that closet? He had waited for her, but what could he do now? Could he give her happiness now? Could she lead him out of this darkness?
"I want to see what you look like," Chu Xiyin made her final request. She genuinely wanted to see what this mysterious man looked like. She didn't understand why he was staying by her side, nor did she understand why he had brought her here. But Chu Xiyin had a vague feeling that this man wouldn't refuse any request she made.
"No, my appearance will frighten you," the man stammered. He knew the woman before him wasn't his Xi Yin, at least not yet. Yet, this woman possessed the exact same face as Xi Yin, even the same name. Since she came into his life, he felt his world had come alive again. He watched her sleep peacefully like a child at night, and during the day, he watched her lazily wake up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Although it was only a short day and night, he felt an unprecedented sense of fulfillment; the thousand-year wait had been worthwhile. Although she couldn't remember him yet, he believed that one day she would. "Xi Yin, you will definitely come back to me. Didn't she just call my name? The name that no one has called for over a thousand years. The name I myself had almost forgotten." The man thought to himself, unaware that Chu Xi Yin's expression was somewhat strange.
As if gathering her courage, Chu Xiyin took a deep breath and shouted, "I'm sorry!" She turned around abruptly. In a very short time, she etched the man's image into her mind. The man wore an unusually grotesque ghost mask, and on the parts not covered by the mask were deep burn marks. This man had the exact same eyes as hers—melancholy and profound.
The man hadn't expected Chu Xiyin to suddenly turn around. He exclaimed in surprise and forcefully pushed her away. The frail Chu Xiyin couldn't withstand such a push, and she fell into the light with his force.
Chapter 7: A Gift to a Tyrant?
Chu Xiyin was pushed towards the light by the mysterious man. While inwardly cursing the heartless man for being so cruel to such a frail girl, she lamented that her prime years were about to end so inexplicably. Well, she could only blame her own excessive curiosity—why had she crawled into that dark closet in the middle of the night? Why had she followed that man to this eerie place? But there was no going back. Oh well, might as well die!
Close your eyes and wait for the moment when you are shattered to pieces.
My eyelids are getting heavier and heavier...
"This girl is pretty good-looking, let's choose her!" Chu Xiyin was awakened by the man's rude voice. She lazily opened her eyes, and two handsome faces came into view in her dark eyes.
"Qi Yu? Hua Shao? You...you...what are you doing here?" Chu Xiyin stared wide-eyed at the two men in front of her in disbelief. How could Qi Yu and Hua Shao be here? And their clothes were so strange. The man who looked like Hua Shao glanced disdainfully at the man who looked like Qi Yu and said, "This girl actually knows your name?"
Qi Yu frowned and asked in return, "Doesn't she know your name too?"
"It's not surprising that people know my name! Every woman in the Ziling Dynasty knows me, Young Master Hua," Young Master Hua said, smoothing his long, flowing black hair.