Événements étranges dans la chambre 202

Chapitre 7

Me: I will never go to you for treatment again.

Cao said: That's a pity. You'll regret it. Why did you come to see Rose on a rainy day last time?

Me: This?

Cao said: Let me tell you, you've got your eye on her, haven't you? But she is indeed beautiful, haha.

Me: You're really annoying. I'm really worried about Rose working for you.

Cao said: I won't lay a finger on her. If you like her, you can go see her anytime, anywhere.

Me: That's none of your business.

Cao Yue Da: What do you think of Huang Yun?

Me: She is unpredictable.

Cao said: She might like you.

Me: Don't talk nonsense.

Cao said: Perhaps she will come to find you soon.

Me: Shut up!

Cao said: Okay, remember to come to me for treatment.

Me: Absolutely not, you're a liar.

Cao said: Why don't you believe in science? I think the field I study is science that transcends science. It is indeed difficult for you ordinary people to understand. Through the mind, we can have everything.

Me: I can't listen to your toxic content anymore. I'm logging off.

Grass said: You will dream of me tonight.

I fled the chat room as if escaping a disaster, logged out of Ghostly Tomb, and shut down my computer. I carefully reviewed the nonsense Dr. Mo had uttered, especially what he said about Rose and Huang Yun. His eyes were indeed sharp, but he couldn't see into my heart. Deep down, I had a special feeling for Rose—was it love? I couldn't say, it certainly wasn't what people usually called love. And what about Huang Yun? That bastard Dr. Mo actually said Huang Yun liked me? That's absolutely impossible. I knew he was just playing hard to get; how despicable.

It was late, but I still couldn't fall asleep because I kept remembering Dr. Mo's last words—"You'll dream about me tonight." Even though I knew it was nonsense, I was still worried. What if I really did dream about him? I usually dream about all sorts of random things, and with his words still lingering in my mind before bed, the chances of me dreaming about him were definitely increased. Oh no, I'm going to have another nightmare. I really want to punch that Dr. Mo.

I finally fell asleep in a daze, and luckily, I didn't dream about Dr. Mo that night.

I dreamt of the 21-year-old empress.

February 22nd

Today is the eve of the Lunar New Year.

The eve of the Lunar New Year is a day for Chinese people to pay respects to their ancestors, mostly by burning paper money at home. Unlike Qingming and the Winter Solstice, there's no need to visit graves. It's less about ancestor worship and more about praying for their blessings for a prosperous new year. Many families light paper money and tinfoil in open spaces, continuing the ancient ritual. We are a large family, and almost every Lunar New Year's Eve, as the eldest grandson, I'm always the first among the younger generation to kowtow. Actually, I somewhat dislike these rituals, especially as I've grown up, but I still respect the adults' reverence for their ancestors. This year, they canceled the kowtowing ceremony and simply burned some things. On my way home, I saw many people burning paper money, silent while doing so, but chatting and laughing afterward. Some even set off firecrackers after burning the paper money—after all, it's the Lunar New Year!

I returned to my room and saw someone standing there. When I got closer, I realized it was Huang Yun.

"Why is it you?" I was surprised. Why was she waiting at my door? Today is the eve of the Lunar New Year.

“I found your address in the address book that Lu Bai left behind.” She smiled at me, and I noticed that she seemed to be getting fuller.

I quickly opened the door and let her in: "How long have you been waiting?"

"It's alright, I've only been here for a short while." She sat down on my sofa and looked around my room. "Your room is quite nice."

I blushed immediately. I live alone now. As an only child, I was spoiled by my parents and never knew how to take care of myself. You can imagine what my room must look like.

"Are you mocking me?" My room is a complete mess.

"Hehe, no."

I wanted to find her something to drink, but I didn't have any tea at home. I searched for coffee for ages but couldn't find any, and cola was too cold—it's not summer now. In the end, I could only pour her a glass of hot water, which made me very embarrassed.

She politely took a sip of water and said thank you. Her complexion was rosy, her lipstick applied naturally, and she was more beautiful than ever before I'd seen her. I secretly stared at her, speechless for a long time. If this were online, perhaps I could have freely expressed myself; if we were on the street or in a public place like a coffee shop, I could have stammered and managed to get by. But in my own home, in my own private space—a space that should be where I can do whatever I want—a beautiful woman suddenly barged in, face to face with me, almost within arm's reach, and I felt a chill run down my spine. Because I'm someone who's good at thinking but not at doing, at this moment, of course, I was filled with all sorts of wild thoughts.

"How old are you?" she suddenly asked me.

"Illusory or real?"

"Of course, it's your first birthday."

"I'm already 22 years old," I answered truthfully.

"Oh. Just right." She muttered to herself.

"Suitable for what?"

“It’s nothing. I just mean, you’re of legal marriage age.”

"Why ask that?" I've never thought about such a thing before; it's too far removed from my reality.

She didn't answer, just stared at me. Her gaze frightened me, so I turned my head away and looked out the window, avoiding her eyes.

"I'm sorry, but I have something I'd like to ask you." She finally broke the silence.

"Speak."

"This may be hard for you to understand, but I have to tell you because I have no other choice." She spoke very seriously, which made me very nervous.

"Go ahead and say it."

"Marry me."

I immediately stood up and took a few steps back. She also stood up, nodded to me, and said softly, "I'm sorry, you must be very surprised. If you don't agree, there's nothing I can do."

I felt sweat starting to appear on my forehead, and I quickly said, "Please tell me why."

She sat down again: "I'm so sorry, I lied to you last time at the coffee shop."

"You deceived me?"

“I’m telling you, I was moved when Lu Bai went to Mount Putuo to offer incense and pray for my mother, which is why I agreed to marry him.”

Isn't that so?

“I lied to you. It didn’t happen at all. He never went to Mount Putuo, and my mother never had a tumor. I made up a lie to dispel your doubts. The real reason is—I’m pregnant. It was a mistake. Three months ago, Lu Bai and I had a big fight and got drunk. It was a mistake that happened unconsciously.”

"Perhaps Lu Bai was too impulsive."

"No, Lu Bai wasn't wrong; it was our shared mistake. I never intended to marry him and had already decided to break up. But after I found out I was pregnant, I started to reconsider. I considered aborting the child, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I'm not a selfish person; after all, it's a life. In the end, I decided to give birth to the child and agree to marry Lu Bai, even though I no longer love him." I noticed her eyes were already wet.

She continued, "After Lu Bai committed suicide for no apparent reason, I was in despair. I couldn't let my child be born without a father. You know, I'm an illegitimate child. I have no father. Shortly after he met my mother, he vanished like the wind, leaving her without a trace. My mother was only eighteen years old then. But she gave birth to me and raised me alone on a meager income. I have the greatest mother in the world. But because I'm an illegitimate child, I've suffered discrimination since childhood. My mother and I have always been looked down upon, and we live in a state of inferiority. I'm terrified. I'm afraid that if I give birth to this child, I'll repeat my mother's mistakes. This fatherless child might have the same tragic childhood as me. How will I explain this to my child in the future? My father is dead, but why has my mother never married? I've thought about this in anguish for a long time, and I feel I only have two choices: either abort the child or find someone to marry and make him the father of my unborn child. So—"

"So, you chose me?" I replied to her question.

"I'm sorry, I had no other choice." Her tears finally slid down her cheeks, and I could clearly see a string of teardrops, gleaming brightly.

"But why me of all people?"

"Besides you, who else is there? You are Lu Bai's friend, and you will treat Lu Bai's child well. Based on my interactions with you these past few days, although it has been short, I think you are a kind and trustworthy person, and that is enough. As for whether you have money or status, none of that matters. What matters is whether you can accept someone else's child calling you father."

"I understand." I nodded, but am I really "a kind person, a trustworthy person"?

"Don't worry about your future—you can divorce me after you've gone through the marriage formalities."

"A fake marriage?"

"It's actually a sham marriage, but legally it's a real marriage. We'll divorce after Lu Bai and I have our child. That way, my child will have a father in name only, and the child won't have to bear the pressure of being an illegitimate child in the future. During the time between our marriage registration and the divorce registration, we'll live separately, and everything will be quiet. No one will know."

"But--"

“I know your concerns. This marriage will definitely be recorded in your file. Legally, you will be a divorced person, and you will have a child in name only, who will take your surname. Of course, I will never ask you to bear any obligations or responsibilities as a father. You are just a father in name only, nothing more. I know this is still unfair to you, and you will pay some price for it. So, I will not force you. If you are unwilling, I will never resent you. We can still be friends. However, the child in my womb will die in the hospital in ten days.”

I was speechless. I looked at this woman, admiring her courage and intelligence, but my mind was a mess, and I couldn't make any decisions. But her last words shook me: "Huang Yun, I really don't know how to answer you."

"On January 31st, government offices will resume work after the Spring Festival holiday. I will be waiting for you at the entrance of the district marriage registration office at 10:00 AM that day. If you agree, please bring your ID card and household registration book and arrive on time to meet me. If I do not see you by noon, I will go to the hospital I have already contacted to have an abortion."

"You're really amazing."

"You have ten days to think it over. It's all up to you. Don't tell anyone else." She stood up and moved closer to me, so close I could feel her breath on my face. I trembled like a coward, unable to meet her piercing gaze.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Happy Chinese New Year." She was about to leave.

"Happy Chinese New Year." It took me a lot of effort to squeeze out those four words.

I saw her to the door, and she gently pushed me away, saying softly, "Don't bother seeing me off. Get a good night's sleep. Also, don't go online anymore, especially not to Tomb Raider. For the sake of the baby in my belly, I won't go near the computer anymore."

"goodbye."

She took a few steps, then turned back: "Remember, 10:00 AM on January 31st, at the entrance of the district marriage registration office, I'll be waiting for you."

As darkness fell, she gradually disappeared into the slanting rays of the setting sun.

I was stunned for a long time.

New Year's Eve

I temporarily returned to my parents' side.

The whole family finally gathered together for a New Year's Eve dinner, including Ye Xiao. We had originally planned to eat at a restaurant, but Mom said I hadn't had a proper meal at home in a long time, so we stayed. The house the government allocated to my parents was spacious; even with a dozen or so people sitting together, it didn't feel crowded. Mom kept putting food on my plate; she knew my tastes best, and all the dishes were exactly what I wanted, but I had no appetite. I never drink alcohol, but I poured myself a small glass of red wine and sipped it alone.

My mother quickly noticed my difference and deliberately shifted the conversation to me, but I remained unmoved, making everyone else find me utterly boring. Numbly, I downed the entire glass of red wine in one gulp. Perhaps I'm allergic to alcohol, because my stomach started to upset after a short while. Extremely rude, I left the table without a word, went to my old little room, closed the door, and without turning on the light, put on my old CDs in the darkness. They were Chage and Asuka's; the music filled my ears, Asuka's gentle voice enveloped me, and with my eyes closed, my mind was filled with Huang Yun's words.

After a moment, I felt another person walk in. "You seem to have something on your mind." I recognized Ye Xiao's voice.

I opened my eyes, looked at him, and remained silent for a long time.

"You've been to the Ghostly Tomb again? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said such unlucky things on New Year's Eve," Ye Xiao said in a low voice.

I shook my head.

"Why is that?" he then asked.

I still won't answer.

"Is it for a certain girl?"

I nodded.

He suddenly let out a breath and muttered to himself, "It's all because of a woman again."

"You sound like you're in the same boat?" I finally replied.

"Let's not talk about it anymore. Let bygones be bygones. I don't want to bring up my past anymore. What about you?" He said with a hint of helplessness.

"I am facing a choice."

Have you made a decision?

"I have no idea."

He patted my shoulder and whispered, "Everything will be alright." Then he walked out.