As Ya Ya walked along the cobblestone path in the town, lost in thought, she didn't even realize how far she had gone. Just as she reached a fork in the road, she suddenly looked up.
? ? ?
The path was very dark, with high walls on both sides, no lights in front or behind, and not a single person in sight.
Ya Ya immediately realized that something was wrong!
Where are Zhurong and Uncle Gonggong? Weren't they just following me?
Looking back, there wasn't a soul in sight on the pitch-black road!
"Am I lost?"
Ya Ya felt a little uncertain, but she instinctively sensed something was wrong. In any case, Zhu Rong and Gong Gong wouldn't let her get lost; where had they gone?
Ya Ya spun around in circles a few times, but couldn't find a single person. Just as she was about to call out loudly, she turned around and suddenly realized that the intersection, which had been empty just moments before, now had a figure standing there silently, as if carrying a shadow...
It was a strange figure, a black robe trailing on the ground. He was tall and imposing, with broad shoulders. For some reason, as Ya Ya looked at this figure, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity…
The figure moved and slowly walked towards him. Because the robe trailed on the ground, the figure looked as if it were "gliding" towards him.
At that moment, Ya Ya felt a pang of fear, but as the figure drew closer, a subtle feeling arose within her. It seemed... this guy... seemed...
This guy was a head taller than Ya Ya. He walked up to Ya Ya and looked down at her.
This guy was clearly a man. He had long silver hair, but his face was covered by a gold mask. The mask had two small holes in the outline of the eyes, but the gaze that came out of it was not frightening.
Even... there's a certain approachable quality that makes you want to get close to them?
Then, the man spoke, his voice carrying a special electronically synthesized tone, like the clanging of metal.
"You're Ya Ya, I recognize you." The person seemed to lower their head slightly, their gentle eyes looking at Ya Ya.
Ya Ya looked at this guy... Logically speaking, she should be very afraid of someone who suddenly appeared, but at this moment, looking into his eyes, Ya Ya felt no fear at all.
"Excuse me... how do you recognize me? Who are you?" Ya Ya hesitated for a moment before asking very carefully.
"I..." The man's tone was very gentle. Although the synthesized voice was a bit strange, the calmness of his tone made Ya Ya dispel the last bit of hesitation in her heart. The guy even reached out and gently pressed his hand on Ya Ya's head. His palm was wearing a pair of thick and soft gloves.
"Of course I recognize you." The man seemed to be smiling. Although Ya Ya couldn't see his face, she could feel a hint of amusement in his eyes. "And we've known each other for quite some time."
Ya Ya looked puzzled, but she felt that she didn't seem to mind the other person stroking her head, and even felt a sense of closeness.
"Did you... come here specifically to see me?" Ya Ya asked cautiously.
The man's smile deepened, and his tone became gentler: "Yes, you could say that, Ya Ya. I came here specifically to see you."
Ya Ya finally felt a little strange. She instinctively took a step back, tilted her head, and dodged the other person's hand: "Who, who are you?"
The man stared at Ya Ya, seemingly silent for a moment, before slowly speaking, his tone somewhat low: "I can tell you my name... Usually, everyone calls me 'JOKER.' Yes, JOKER, that's my name."
Chapter 276 of the main text [Evening Flute]
Ya Ya thinks she should be scared.
Isn't that so? On such a night, in a remote town, along a dark alleyway with no lights on either side, moss growing in the corners of the blue flagstone path, and a slightly damp smell in the air...
A man in a black robe, with silver hair and a golden mask... everything about him seemed so eerie and unusual.
But Ya Ya didn't seem scared at all.
Even when this guy who called himself "JOKER" stood in front of her and reached out his hand, his thick, soft gloves gently stroking her hair, Ya Ya didn't feel a bit scared.
She even felt a sense of closeness in her heart, though she herself didn't know where this feeling of intimacy came from.
JOKER?
Ya Ya just thought the name was strange.
"So, may I ask what you need me for?" Ya Ya carefully raised her head.
JOKER moved his hand away, looking down at Ya Ya's face, his eyes hidden behind the golden mask: "You are beautiful and cute, hehe..."
The intimate tone made Ya Ya feel a little awkward: "Excuse me, when did we meet?"
"Oh...you don't need to remember those, dear Yaya." This guy actually chuckled, this time out loud, though the synthesized metallic voice sounded rather strange: "Tell me, what are you looking for, walking here alone so late at night?"
"I..." Ya Ya hesitated for a moment, then told the truth—in fact, this innocent girl still hadn't learned to lie. Her heart was as pure as a crystal that was untouched by any dirt. Neither Chen Xiao nor Xu Ershao Baicai had taught Ya Ya the most basic human skill: lying.
"I want to find someone, but I don't know whether I should go to him or not."
"Chen Xiao?" JOKER's eyes smiled again.
Ya Ya's eyes widened immediately: "Do you recognize him?"
"Believe me, dear Ya Ya, I know him very well." JOKER naturally took Ya Ya's hand. Although there was a significant height difference between them, when they stood together, Ya Ya suddenly felt a strong urge to be close to this person welling up from the deepest part of her heart and soul.
"Chen Xiao is nearby right now. If you'd like, I can take you to see him."
"Really?!" Ya Ya jumped up, her face beaming with surprise and joy, but then a hint of disappointment appeared: "But Uncle Tian and the others said..."
“You don’t have to listen to what they say. Maybe they’re wrong? Maybe Chen Xiao wants to see you right now too? Why should you listen to others telling you what to do?” JOKER turned around, bent down, and stared intently at Ya Ya. “Listen, Ya Ya. You need to understand one thing: you are an independent person. You should make your own decisions about what to do and what not to do. You don’t need to listen to everything others say. I think that whether it’s Chen Xiao or your friends, they have always hoped that you can learn everything you need to survive in this world as soon as possible.”
"But..." Ya Ya seemed completely unguarded around this person: "But I've already learned a lot. I've learned to cook, and I've learned not to flirt indiscriminately, and..."
"No, the most important thing, you haven't learned yet. Chen Xiao hasn't had time to teach you." JOKER actually stretched out a finger and gently scratched Ya Ya's small nose. This overly intimate gesture finally made Ya Ya blush a little. She pulled her little face back with effort, and her bright eyes stared at this person nervously.
"Independence! The most important thing you need to learn is independence! Be independent and make your own judgments on all the decisions you make in your life. Whether your decisions are right or wrong, at least they are your own will! Small things, like when to eat and when to sleep. Bigger things, like what friends you should make and what clothes you should wear... These are things you decide for yourself."