fragments d'os oracle

Chapitre 3

Tang Wan possessed a flawless body: a slender waist, high breasts, long limbs, and skin as delicate and white as jade. Water droplets fell on her body, splashing quickly or sliding down slowly. Nourished by the water, her body had a crystalline texture; her graceful lines held plump water droplets, like rose petals laden with dew in the morning.

However, after being washed with icy water for a long time, the body became strangely pale.

The night was cool as water, and Tang Wan's body felt as cold as ice.

As Tang Wan recalled the past while in the elevator, she couldn't help but feel a chill.

Everyone has untouchable corners in their heart. Time can cover these corners with disguise, but there will inevitably be times when you feel the real emotions emanating from those corners. At that time, you will panic, you will be afraid, and you will feel like you have nowhere to escape.

Tang Wan's mood inexplicably darkened. Perhaps it wasn't inexplicable, but at least at this moment, the gloom seemed particularly untimely. Tang Wan thought it was all because of the skinny man she had seen at noon. At that moment, the skinny man's image reappeared in her mind: his unusually pale face, his sunken cheeks, the gloomy and uncertain gaze behind his black-rimmed glasses, the deep helplessness he later showed when facing Yuan Li, and the flickering look in his eyes as the elevator doors closed.

Tang Wan shook her head, trying her best to get rid of the skinny man's shadow.

It was rush hour, and Tang Wan suddenly felt something was off in the elevator. Usually at this time, the elevator was packed, with people often unable to get in due to overcrowding. But today, she was alone. Her reflection shone through the stainless steel walls, blurry and distorted, like some restless ghosts.

Tang Wan leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. Long-held fears had undoubtedly returned, gripping her once more. She now only hoped that more people would get into the elevator, or that it would descend faster, faster, faster. There had been a time when she was terrified of crowds, terrified of being surrounded by strangers. But now, she felt a deep longing for people. For sunshine, for noise, for so many things she had once avoided at all costs.

The elevator stopped, and Tang Wan rushed out, crossing the lobby without stopping. The afterglow of the setting sun slanted down from the top of the building, and the buildings across the street reflected the sun's glow in Tang Wan's eyes.

That was exactly what she needed; the light made her impatient. Besides, she knew that someone she loved was waiting for her across the street.

Tang Wan's figure disappeared through the revolving door. She didn't see the staircase on the west side of the lobby, where a pair of eyes, filled with sorrow, were following her closely.

It was that lean man, still wearing his black shirt and pants.

He was too thin; he shouldn't have chosen black clothing. Because of his frailty, his sleeves were all down, and only the top button of his collar was undone, so his whole body was wrapped in the clothes, but the clothes swayed precariously, as if his body couldn't support them at all.

As usual, the stairwell was the darkest spot in the lobby, and his face appeared even paler in the gloom—almost glaringly pale.

He gazed at Tang Wan's retreating figure, his eyes filled with profound sorrow. If it weren't for the wide-rimmed black glasses he wore, that sorrow might have been even more intense.

—He and Tang Wan were complete strangers, having only met once in the elevator. Why would he be saddened by Tang Wan's passing?

He stepped out of the stairwell, his once straight back now slightly hunched, as if being in the bright light was a headache for him. His brows furrowed, but he walked towards the door without hesitation.

The skinny man walked in a strange way. At first glance, he seemed to be walking very slowly because he seemed to think for a moment before taking each step, hence his slow pace. However, he was very tall, with long, lean legs, and each stride covered the distance of one and a half steps for others, so he moved forward very quickly.

The skinny man had already stepped out of the revolving door and was standing on the building's steps when he witnessed Tang Wan being hit by a car. In that instant, the sorrow in his eyes deepened even more. He couldn't even bear to step forward to check on Tang Wan's life or death like many of the onlookers.

Would the death of such a beautiful girl be as beautiful as her appearance?

He hesitated for a moment on the steps, because the slightly higher ground allowed him a clear view of Tan Dong punching the driver to the ground and then bending down. At that moment, the onlookers surrounded Tan Dong and Tang Wan even closer, preventing him from seeing what happened after Tan Dong embraced Tang Wan. But what did it matter? A predetermined ending had already occurred, and no one could change it. At this moment, what feelings could a bystander have besides sorrow?

However, the reality was not as he had imagined.

He saw Tan Dong pick up Tang Wan, and then he seemed to quiet down. He opened his eyes wide, and then saw Tang Wan break free from Tan Dong's embrace and stand straight in the middle of the crowd.

It's really strange that Tang Wan, who was hit by a car, was completely unharmed.

He could hardly believe his eyes, but the facts were undeniable. His breathing began to quicken, and he felt a surge of power coursing through his body.

There is only one possibility that Tang Wan was unharmed: the car stopped before hitting her, and out of fear, she instinctively fell in the direction the car was going. Due to excessive shock, she fainted upon falling.

The driver over there rubbed his nose, the blood smeared on his grinning face.

The onlookers had mixed expressions; some were pleased, some disappointed, and others went up to ask questions. Tan Dong and Tang Wan were clearly not used to being the center of attention in this situation. Tang Wan turned her gaze to Tan Dong, who understood her feelings. He put his arm around her, parted the crowd, hailed a passing taxi, and quickly left the scene.

Tang Wan left, but the lean man remained standing on the steps. Even through his glasses, his eyes betrayed his undisguised disappointment. Disappointment and sorrow mingled on his face, making his expression somewhat strange. Some people passing by stared at him with odd looks, but quickly looked away and hurried on their way.

The lean man's chest heaved as he faced the gradually dispersing crowd. He stood there for a while, as if in deep meditation, before finally descending the steps and walking forward.

He walked slowly but quickly, and soon he disappeared from our sight.

As the sun set and finally disappeared from the sky, the vibrant clouds of the west were dispelled by the deepening twilight. Then, the city lights came on, and the neon lights of the streets shone brightly in an instant. Night had fallen, and the city lived in the desolation of the night.

After finishing the proposal and sending it to the director's email, Yuan Li considered her day's work over. She lazily stretched and realized that everyone else in the office was gone. Only the lamp in her cubicle was still on in the large office. She muttered something under her breath, venting her frustration, and then took out her makeup bag to touch up her makeup.

Pretty girls always care a lot about their appearance, while women who are average-looking or not good-looking are the ones who don't bother with makeup. Yuan Li hummed a song as she fussed over her face for a full half hour. Although night had fallen, it wasn't too late yet; people who are used to nightlife always treat the night as their best adornment.

Yuan Li finally chose a rose-red lipstick and applied it to her lips, instantly making her look even more alluring. Just then, she seemed to hear soft footsteps coming from the corridor outside. The footsteps were strange, as if they were moving a half-beat slower than normal. She listened intently for a moment, and then the footsteps disappeared.

Perhaps someone from another office just left, Yuan Li thought.

Yuan Li left the office and waited for the elevator for ages before it finally came up. By then, there were hardly any people left in the building.

As she entered the elevator, she suddenly felt a chill, as if a gust of wind had brushed against her body. She subconsciously glanced around the elevator and smiled. How could there be gaps in this elevator? What a ridiculous thought. Yet, the chill felt so real; she could even see goosebumps on her bare arms when she looked down.

What's even stranger is that, just like Tang Wan when she entered the elevator, she suddenly thought of the pale, thin man she'd seen at noon. That man was so thin; a man that thin probably wouldn't amount to much in this world, Yuan Li thought. Whoever dated such a man would be the biggest disaster of their life. Fortunately, she had no connection to that man; they'd only passed each other by, and perhaps they'd bump into each other again in this elevator. But Yuan Li decided she would never look at that man again.

Thinking of that man made her feel even colder.

Yuan Li shook her head, trying to banish the image of the lean man from her mind, but his pale face kept replaying in her thoughts. Yuan Li wondered what was wrong with her; why was she thinking about that person so much? She then tried to think about where to eat later. A colleague mentioned a new steakhouse called "Hao Ke Lai" that had just opened on Nanji Road, and that the beef was imported from the United States. Yuan Li considered going to Hao Ke Lai, but even there she had to wait for the elevator to stop, and today it seemed to be going particularly slowly.

Yuan Li suddenly wondered if the pale-faced, thin man would be waiting for her at the elevator entrance when the elevator stopped.

Chapter 4 Skewer Delights - Every Skewer is Delicious

Despite Tang Wan's objections, Tan Dong took her to a nearby hospital. The doctor examined her and said there was nothing seriously wrong, just some scrapes on her knees and arms. After disinfecting with iodine, Tan Dong wanted the doctor to bandage Tang Wan's wounds, but Tang Wan firmly objected, saying she couldn't go out if her arms and legs were wrapped in bandages.

Tan Dong smiled wryly. In the minds of these girls nowadays, beauty is more important than health.

Knowing that Tang Wan was safe and sound was ultimately a happy thing, but the thought of leaving the city early the next morning quickly dampened Tan Dong's spirits. Tang Wan, unaware of Tan Dong's worries, cheerfully asked where they were going to eat.

Tan Dong helped Tang Wan walk down the street, glancing down at the injury on her leg. "Your leg is injured like this, where can we go? Let's just find somewhere nearby." Where we eat isn't important; what matters is being with the person you love. Tang Wan thought for a moment and said, "Then let's go to Haiyun Street for some skewers." Tan Dong was taken aback. "Don't you dislike street food?" Tang Wan smiled. "What you like can change. Maybe I'm starting to like it now?" Tan Dong understood Tang Wan's feelings; she was trying to enter his life. However, reality is cruel; many things can't be done well simply because of personal preference or desire.

Looking at the girl with a smile on her face, Tan Dong felt a pang of heartache again. How could he bear to leave such a girl and go to a foreign land alone? How could he possibly say goodbye?

Let's go eat some skewers first.

Chuan Chuan Xiang is similar to Chongqing's Mala Tang, where various vegetables and meats are skewered and customers can choose their own. Unlike Mala Tang, in Chuan Chuan Xiang, the owner puts the skewers you choose into a pot to cook, then puts them in a small bowl, pours on broth, and adds seasonings according to the customer's taste.

Tang Wan never used to eat at street food stalls, but after trying skewers with Tan Dong once, she fell in love with this kind of snack.

Now, Tan Dong and Tang Wan were sitting in the small shop on Haiyun Street, a small bowl filled with hot skewers in front of them. Tang Wan had eaten a lot, and her stomach felt bloated again. She patted her stomach and sighed, "So full. Why do I eat so much when I'm with you?" Tan Dong had been staring at Tang Wan for a while, and when her gaze met his, he hurriedly looked away. He said, "Even when you're not with me, you should eat more. I hope you can gain some weight." Tang Wan laughed, "What, you think I'm too thin?" She suddenly remembered the skinny man she'd seen in the elevator at noon and casually said, "You've probably never seen what a truly thin person looks like. You could hang him on the wall with just a nail." Tang Wan stopped talking, because she felt that unease again. Maybe it's because I ate too much, she thought. But that unease was the same as the feeling she had in the elevator after get off work that evening—a vague sense of fear crept into her heart. But what is there to worry about when she's with Tan Dong? No one can hurt her. Tan Dong will be like a prince in legends, driving away any devil who dares to come near her.

Thinking this way, Tang Wan became happy again. Only then did she notice that Tan Dong's expression was a little strange, and that he was carrying a large travel bag, which was bulging as if it was full of things.

Tang Wan said, "Why are you carrying such a big bag today?" Why was he carrying such a big bag? Tan Dong was momentarily dazed, a fleeting look of sorrow appearing on his face. The pain in his heart quickly spread, and a touch of sadness also crept onto his forehead. He wanted to hide it, but the pain and sadness had already taken root in his heart and in his eyes, and he could no longer conceal them.

Tang Wan immediately sensed it, and her smile instantly froze on her face. She grabbed Tan Dong's hand and asked, "What happened? Something must have happened, right?" Tan Dong remained silent, unable to answer.

Tang Wan shook Tan Dong's hand: "Tell me, what exactly happened?" A hint of despair appeared in her eyes, for she had never seen Tan Dong so depressed in so long. She paused, then suddenly calmed down, though tears welled up in her eyes.

“You’ll tell me sooner or later, won’t you? So just tell me what happened now. Tell me if you don’t want me to worry. Tell me, okay?” she said.

What could he tell her? Tan Dong remained silent. He couldn't tell Tang Wan that he had given up the rented apartment, nor could he tell her why he was leaving the city. But no matter what, Tang Wan would know what was about to happen: he had a train ticket for tomorrow morning in his pocket, and he would be leaving the city tomorrow morning.

How exactly did this happen? Tan Dong racked his brains but couldn't remember.

Everyone has their own history. History is the past, and as long as time cannot be reversed, no matter how powerful you are, you cannot change a single trace of it. Sometimes, we must be very careful to hide our history, because if some history were to appear in reality, it would become a ferocious beast, devouring not others, but yourself.

Tan Dong now feels like he's walking alongside wild beasts, and he has no choice but to stay far away.

However, he couldn't reveal his true nature to Tang Wan. He loved Tang Wan, and if losing her became inevitable, he would rather maintain his current feelings for her. Many years later, when Tang Wan had recovered from her pain and recalled a past romance, she would surely feel a touch of sadness, and she would certainly not forget the name Tan Dong.

This might be the best possible outcome.

Tan Dong remained silent, forced to harden his heart. At that moment, he felt incredibly vulnerable, because the enemy he faced was himself, not someone else, and this enemy was unkillable.

People often use escapism to face reality, but who knows how deep a sense of helplessness escapism actually is?

Tan Dong said to Tang Wan one last time, "I'm leaving. I'm leaving this city forever and never coming back." Tang Wan was devastated. She stared blankly at Tan Dong, speechless with shock. Then, tears welled up in her eyes, and her gaze turned cold.

"Are you leaving me? You promised to protect me, to protect me for life. Now, have you forgotten your promise? Are you going to abandon me? Do you think protecting me is a difficult thing?" "No!" Tan Dong said heavily, "I haven't forgotten my promise, but things are different now. I can't even protect myself, how can I protect you?" "I don't care!" Tang Wan shook her head repeatedly, shouting loudly. Her outburst made her the center of attention in the small skewers shop. "I don't care, I want you to stay with me for the rest of your life!" Tan Dong looked at the girl in front of him, his eyes full of helplessness: "Maybe, leaving you is protecting you." Tang Wan didn't speak, just staring blankly at Tan Dong. Her beautiful face was now somewhat distorted, her originally soft lines becoming stiff. Her hair, which had been disheveled from shaking, had a few strands stained with tears, running across her cheeks. Her expression was a mixture of despair, indifference, and hatred, as if Tan Dong had committed a heinous crime by abandoning her. In the end, the indifference and hatred gradually dissipated, leaving only despair.

Tan Dong watched in astonishment as Tang Wan's expression changed, feeling that she had become a stranger to him at this moment. Perhaps it wasn't a stranger, but rather that when he first met her, she often revealed this despair in her eyes, occasionally mixed with indifference and hostility.

And fear.

—Is there something hidden in this girl that I don't know about?

None of that matters now, Tan Dong thought sadly. This night will eventually pass, and he will eventually board the train to leave tomorrow morning. His relationship with Tang Wan will inevitably become history. Now, he only hopes that many years later, if he has the chance to brush past the girl in front of him on the street again, she will still remember his name.

The sky is strange tonight; behind the dark clouds, some lights seem to appear and disappear intermittently. A warm feeling lingers in the air, but this warmth is different from usual; it seems to have taken shape, constantly pressing down on you, making you feel depressed and irritable.

On the way home, Tan Dong saw a large rat, more than half a foot long, squeaking as it crossed the road on the sidewalk. Tang Wan screamed and hid in Tan Dong's arms. In an instant, Tan Dong stretched out his arms and hugged the girl tightly.

Tan Dong's embrace felt as warm and strong as I had imagined.

Tang Wan cried in Tan Dong's arms. Her soft sobs made her sound like a helpless child. Tan Dong gently stroked her back and noticed the girl trembling slightly. He too felt a pang of urge to cry.

Crying seemed a distant memory for Tan Dong; the only time he could recall crying was during his middle school years. That evening, he stood in his yard, looking at a large pit, and silently shed tears. Where that pit should have stood was a lush gardenia tree.

At the entrance of Tang Wan's residential compound, Tang Wan turned to face Tan Dong. At that moment, Tan Dong suddenly noticed a resolute expression on Tang Wan's face that he had never seen before. Tang Wan said, "Don't go, wait for me here. I know what happened. I'll come back to you after I've resolved it." Tan Dong panicked instantly. He waved his hands repeatedly, but only managed to utter two words: "No!" Tang Wan didn't linger and turned to run into the compound. Tan Dong tried to chase after her, but Tang Wan ran incredibly fast, already more than ten meters away. Tan Dong hesitated outside the compound gate, a sudden, overwhelming fear gripping his heart.

What exactly is he afraid of?

What exactly made him have to leave the girl he loved and leave this city?

"You're back." Tang Wan walked straight through the living room to her room, seemingly not hearing her father's voice. The door slammed shut, and the two elderly people outside exchanged a glance, both silent. After a sigh, they turned their gaze to the television in the living room. A police drama was playing, featuring a deputy director of the Public Security Bureau personally leading a team to apprehend a murderer. The old couple stared intently at the television, neither paying attention to the content being shown.

There was some movement in Tang Wan's room. The old lady looked worriedly at the door and then at her husband. The father frowned, wanting to go and check, but ultimately refrained from doing so.

After a while, Tang Wan opened the door and came out wearing casual sportswear, carrying a large suitcase. The elderly couple were momentarily bewildered, but once they understood Tang Wan's intentions, they panicked. The mother rushed forward and hugged her daughter, while the father quickly stepped in front of Tang Wan to block her path.

With a sob in her voice, the mother said, "Wan'er, what are you doing?" The father's face was full of anger. He pointed at Tang Wan, wanting to scold her, but he was speechless for a moment, and his finger trembled incessantly.

My father has truly aged. Although his hair isn't completely white, it's all grayish-white. His skin, which he took such good care of a few years ago, now shows many wrinkles, and the age spots under his temples are becoming more and more noticeable. Standing in front of Tang Wan, he no longer possesses his former composure and magnanimity. Only to show the extent of his anger does he stand ramrod straight, revealing his military background.

"What exactly do you want to do!" the father finally said.

Tang Wan's face was cold, her eyes devoid of any emotion as she stared at her father: "I'm not a child anymore. I have the right to choose my own life." "What kind of life have you chosen?" her father roared. "You chose to stay with that street thug? For him, you ran away from home, abandoned us!" Tang Wan shook her head: "But you've forgotten, all of this is your doing." Her mother gripped Tang Wan's arm tightly: "Wan'er, what parent doesn't want the best for their children? We did all this for you." Tang Wan still looked at her mother expressionlessly: "Do you know what I need? You only impose your will on me, completely disregarding my feelings. Do you know, all these years, only when I'm with Tan Dong do I feel at peace, only then do I feel that I can live a happy life like most girls around me. Now, you're going to destroy the happiness I've just found." "Enough!" her father roared. At that moment, he felt dizzy, clearly sensing his own powerlessness. Perhaps he couldn't change his daughter's mind, but he firmly believed that Tan Dong was a devil, only that this devil was currently asleep. He would one day wake up and tear apart those closest to him.

The father took a breath, thinking that if he really had no choice, he would explain everything to his daughter and let her see Tan Dong's true colors. At that time, his daughter would understand his good intentions. However, he still felt a little scared, because at this moment, his daughter's expression seemed to have returned to many years ago. The indifference in her eyes seemed to have nothing that could move her, not even family affection.

The father's fear deepened. He couldn't go back to the past; he couldn't let his daughter suffer such deep pain again. The old man felt caught in a dilemma, and thus his voice trailed off.

"Wan'er, believe us. We are your parents, and our greatest wish is for you to live a happy life. We have our reasons for opposing your relationship with Tan Dong. Perhaps you don't understand now, but you will in the future. So, even if you resent us now, we have to be ruthless." Tang Wan sneered, "What are you going to do with this ruthlessness?" "We will resolutely prevent you from having any further contact with Tan Dong!" "That's why you've repeatedly sent people to threaten Tan Dong, using both soft and hard tactics." Tang Wan sneered, "How much money did you send to Tan Dong? How much is his breakup with me worth in your eyes? You even had the police intimidate him, using his past misdeeds to threaten him. Now, you've finally succeeded. He's leaving this city. But now I'm telling you, if he leaves, I will leave with him. You can never separate us." "Wan'er, how can you be so heartless..." Her mother burst into tears first.

The father stared at his daughter with a grim expression, his disbelief palpable. His daughter seemed completely different now; her usual obedience and gentleness had vanished, replaced by a cold indifference that made her appear icy, as if—as if possessed.

“Wan’er, listen to me. I have indeed tried many ways to separate you from Tan Dong. But this time, his decision to leave this city is not something I forced him to do. He wants to leave, what can I do?” “Do you think I will believe you?” Tang Wan said contemptuously. “I don’t believe you!” “Whether you believe it or not, you are not leaving this house today.” Her father also became firm.

“What if I insist on going out?” “Then try!” The father took a step forward, his slightly hunched back straightening again. “No matter how much you hate me now, I still won’t let you be with that devil.” “Devil?” Tang Wan paused, then sneered, “Even if he is a devil, I will still be with him…” Tan Dong was still outside the residential area. He didn’t know how long he had been there, only that he had finished the pack of cigarettes he had just opened in his pocket. Tang Wan had asked him to wait for her there. He didn’t know if she could avoid her parents’ questioning tonight, and he didn’t want to exacerbate the conflict between Tang Wan and her parents just before he was about to leave. However, despite his repeated attempts to leave, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

I'm about to leave the girl I love. After this separation, many years will pass. Even if we meet again, everything will be different.

The girl he deeply loved was someone he vowed to protect with his life.

Time had passed, and Tan Dong sat leaning against a wall near the gate of the residential complex. He took out another pack of Redwood cigarettes from his travel bag, but the lighter wouldn't light. He tried to find another lighter in his bag, but to no avail. Frustrated, he stood up, intending to borrow a light from the security guard at the gatehouse. Just then, he suddenly froze.

The stars and moon were now completely obscured by dark clouds. By the dim light of the streetlamp illuminating the entrance to the residential complex, Tan Dong saw a blue-green hue in the sky he had never seen before. It was as if a powerful, intense blue light was about to shine down from behind the clouds, but the thick clouds couldn't penetrate it, making the dark clouds appear almost transparent. It was a strange sight: darkness enveloped the earth, while the sky was a nearly transparent blue-green. Tan Dong stared up at it for a while, muttering something indistinctly, before heading towards the duty room. Suddenly, his body swayed.

It wasn't just his body that was shaking; the gate and guardhouse of the residential complex in front of him, the rows of buildings in the complex, and even the concrete road beneath his feet all shook for a moment.

Tan Dong quickly regained his balance; the days he spent practicing martial arts with Hei San had made him agile and gave him a stable stance. Nevertheless, a deep sense of fear still arose in his heart.

After a moment of panic, he remembered the rumors circulating in the city that an earthquake was coming.