Мечта о переселении душ

Глава 27

With tears in her eyes, Xi Li finished writing that song, which was called "Dream".

The song contains Xili's dream, the fans' dream, and the dream of those 17 children. Yes, those 17 children who died should also have dreams. Their dreams shouldn't be about using their lives to awaken an unattainable idol, but something else entirely. Like becoming heroes, writers, businesswomen, or even just housewives.

He stood in the living room and sang the song with great emotion. There was no background music or stage effects, but it was enough to bring tears to everyone's eyes.

At that moment, Wang Xiaofeng was putting the blood bag into Ding Yan's refrigerator, Yang Xin was sitting on the sofa analyzing the relationships between the people in the case, Lao You was looking for flaws in the fake Xi Li from the video footage, Aunt Mei was making soup, Jia Yi Bing Ding were licking the milk in their plates, Xiao Mi was sewing buttons on Da Mi's suit, and Ding Yan was staring blankly at Xi Li.

Yes, dreams. Whether grand or humble, righteous or evil, everyone should have dreams, and everyone should live for something.

What are we living for, really?

"That's amazing, Xili!" Ding Yan stood up, tears welling in her eyes. "This song is enough. No need for background music, no need for stage effects. Just stand on the stage, pick up the microphone, and sing this song without moving. That's enough to move everyone, enough to prove that you are the real Xili!"

“I’m afraid it won’t be that easy,” Old Postman said. “Right now, the fake Xili is more like Xili than the real Xili. In the public eye, Xili won’t look as pale as he does now, Xili’s voice won’t be so hoarse, and Xili won’t have scars on his forehead and wrists.”

Wang Xiaofeng frowned as he arranged the blood bags in the refrigerator. "Ding Yan, do you want some?"

"Although it doesn't taste as good as Xili's blood, it's better than nothing. Have a cup, a little chilled, please." Ding Yan sat cross-legged on the sofa and continued to say to the old postman, "Is there really no other way?"

“I have a way.” Wang Xiaofeng, who had already understood the whole story, said, “If the fake Xili is really He Yu, then he should have He Yu’s weakness.”

"What is He Yu's weakness?" Xiao Mi looked up and inserted the needle into the wire board.

"Loneliness. To achieve fame, to replace Xili, he lost all his loved ones. But this is not the deepest loneliness. The deepest loneliness is that he denied himself. He denied his former self. If a person loses even himself, isn't he the loneliest person in the world?"

"Wow! Wang Xiaofeng!" Ding Yan took the blood he handed over. "I didn't know you were so amazing."

“It’s nothing…” Wang Xiaofeng lowered his head and said sadly, “Who in this world hasn’t lost themselves at some point?” Then, he raised his head and smiled, “Fortunately, I’ve found myself again now, and I’ve found my own dream.”

The old mailman suddenly said, "I know what to do."

19.

Xi Li's solo concert filled the stadium to capacity.

It is said that in addition to the other big-name singers invited by Xili as guests, there will be a mystery guest at this concert.

Before going on stage, Shaowen said to the fake Xili with concern, "Who exactly is that mystery guest? I have the right to know, don't I?"

"Haha, Ding Yan's idea is never wrong." Fake Xi Li laughed.

"Don't trust that girl too much!" Shaowen said. "Don't forget that she hasn't completely resolved the issue of the property yet!"

"Why wouldn't I trust her?" Jia Xili looked coldly at Shaowen. "She has never doubted me. In the past, she was my most trusted assistant. Since I can entrust her with managing my assets, why would I doubt her when it comes to a guest performer?"

"You really think you're Xili?!" Shaowen roared!

“That’s right. It’s not a matter of whether I take it seriously or not. Rather, I am Xili to the core. The Xili of the past trusted Ding Yan, and the Xili of today still trusts Ding Yan.”

Shaowen angrily shook her hand. She naturally couldn't understand why, for the fake Xili, only by doing this could he feel that he was the real Xili.

Moreover, according to Ding Yan, this mystery guest was a loyal fan who had previously impersonated Xi Li. This is a common practice in the entertainment industry now; Jay Chou has performed alongside impersonators on several occasions. Many people thought that if Jay Chou were sick, even if those impersonators temporarily filled in for him, the fans wouldn't notice.

As the concert reached its climax, the host excitedly announced, "Next! Please welcome our special guest!"

The hall fell silent. The stage went dark, then a spotlight shone on a figure in black in the center of the stage.

The audience erupted in cheers. It's so similar! So similar! Except for looking a little haggard, it's exactly the same as Xili!

The man in black gripped the microphone, seemingly choked with emotion, unable to speak for a long time. Yes, he was finally back, to this familiar yet unfamiliar stage.

“I am He Yu. I am a loyal fan of Xili. I love everything about Xili. For this love for Xili, I am willing to lose myself and become another Xili.”

Jia Xili was taken aback. "He Yu?" This name, which had appeared in his dream, actually existed.

Shaowen rushed into the dressing room, chased away the other staff, and said hysterically, "Stop that person right now! Get that person off the stage, or you're finished!"

"Why?" Jia Xili frowned.

"Why?!" Shao Wen roared, "You really don't know why? You are He Yu!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Are you crazy?!" Beads of sweat appeared on the fake Xi Li's forehead. He was clearly Xi Li, so how could he be He Yu? But... the name He Yu really sounded familiar.

At this moment, the person who identified himself as He Yu said on stage: "This song is dedicated to all Li fans, including the 17 Li fans who have left us. I remember Xi Li often telling us that if you give up your dreams, you don't deserve to be a Li fan. Those 17 people gave up their lives and their dreams. They don't deserve to be Li fans!"

20.

"Dream" touched all the audience members, both at the venue and watching on television.

Some fans whispered, "I feel like this He Yu is the real Xi Li."

"Yes, those words, that expression, that demeanor... to imitate it to this extent, it's amazing..."

"Maybe it's Xi Li! She just changed her clothes after stepping off the stage."

"That's a really fast change, isn't it?"

"How can there be people in the world who look so alike? Don't you find it terrifying?"

It was terrifying, truly terrifying, and the fake Xili found it terrifying. Because that song about dreams had not only moved others, but also him. He suddenly felt that the person on stage was more suited to be Xili than he was, more like Xili than he himself was.

Perhaps, I am not Xili at all? His head throbbed with pain again.

Xi Li stood on the stage, listening to the continuous applause from the audience. After a long silence, he picked up the microphone again and said, "A long time ago, a fan named He Yu deeply liked and admired Xi Li, and imitated everything about him. His dream was to become the real Xi Li, stand on Xi Li's stage, and sing the songs that Xi Li wanted to sing."

The audience erupted in applause again, a gesture of encouragement. In their hearts, the man on stage was telling his own story.

"Later, his dream came true. He truly stood on Xili's stage. But, for this dream..." These lines, though pre-designed by the cunning old postman, were precisely what Xili himself wanted to say. In fact, when he learned that the fake Xili was none other than He Yu, the former die-hard Xili fan, he already deeply understood him. He choked up, "For this dream, he sacrificed so much; for this dream, he became the loneliest person in the world, because he not only lost his youngest brother He Lei, but also his brother He Feng, who had always understood and supported him. In the end, he even lost himself..."

“He Lei… He Feng… why do these names sound so familiar…” Jia Xili He Yu held his head and squatted on the ground in anguish.

"You good-for-nothing!" Shaowen kicked He Yu hard, and was about to kick him again when a policeman stopped him. Behind the policeman stood a girl he disliked.

Yes, she was very annoying. Shaowen had always hated her. She hated that she had gained Xili's true trust and that she had stolen her limelight in Xili.

Ding Yan laughed and said, "Sister Shao, hitting someone isn't ladylike..." As she spoke, she squatted down and helped He Yu up. "He Yu, get up quickly, it's your turn to go on stage."

"I'm not He Yu! I'm Xi Li!" He Yu shoved Ding Yan away, his facial muscles trembling. "I am Xi Li! I am clearly Xi Li!"

“Okay, Xi Li.” Ding Yan wiped his face, just like when he was sweating from nervousness before the impersonation show. “Xi Li, you are Xi Li. But, Xi Li, do you still remember He Yu? The kid who participated in the impersonation show three years ago.”

"What happened to He Yu? What happened to He Yu?"

"He Yu is alright, but her younger brother He Feng is dead, and He Lei is dead too..."

"Is my brother dead?" He Yu murmured. "Is my brother dead? How did my brother die? How did my brother die?!" He suddenly buried his face in Ding Yan's shoulder and burst into tears.

Xi Li stood on the stage, paused for a few seconds, and continued, "He Yu has realized his dream. The Xi Li who was singing on the stage just now is the real He Yu. And I am the real Xi Li."

This is the role-reversal activity arranged for this concert. But... I sincerely hope that my fans, while you must have dreams, don't lose yourselves in your dreams, like in the song..."

This is Xili, a Xili who will try their best to protect their fans even when they are hurt by them.

twenty one.

Actually, Da Mi had already said this. Once the real Xili appeared, the fake Xili wouldn't have a chance to continue acting up. With science so advanced these days, it's incredibly easy to identify someone's true identity.

For example, Xi Li has heart disease, while He Yu does not. This is the most direct and powerful evidence, but Xi Li does not want to do so.

Xi Li said that if he did that, he would ruin He Yu's life. Since this incident started as a farce, let it end as a farce as well.

Old Postman asked Dr. Liu to hypnotize He Yu.

Dr. Liu said that He Yu had an identity delusion that "I am Xi Li," and this identity delusion intensified. With the help of external forces, his belief was further strengthened.

The so-called external assistance was naturally Shaowen.

Several years ago, ever since Ding Yan appeared, Shao Wen was no longer the closest or most trustworthy person to Xi Li; she wasn't even invited to his funeral. Her jealousy reached its peak after she inadvertently learned that Xi Li had transferred all his assets to Ding Yan.

She found He Yu and spent three years training him to become the real Xi Li. On the one hand, she couldn't accept the reality that Xi Li was dead, and on the other hand, she was unwilling to let Xi Li's huge fortune fall into Ding Yan's hands.

She placed all her hopes and expectations on He Yu. She told him everything about Xi Li, and made sure his behavior, speech, and mannerisms were all consistent with Xi Li's.

For He Yu, this was an opportunity he had never seen before. The most important person in his heart was dead, Xi Li was dead. Countless fans were plunged into grief. But he was different. He would turn grief into strength. He would inherit everything Xi Li had. He would take Xi Li's place and become the anchor in the hearts of the children. He would bring Xi Li back to the stage, back to the fans. He would become Xi Li. This was his dream.

As Xi Li often says, every Li fan should have a dream.

However, he was unaware of the price he would pay for this dream.

He had no idea that Shaowen would orchestrate that mass suicide tragedy to satisfy her own ambition. He was even less aware that Shaowen had exploited her younger brother He Feng's love and expectations for his older brother, becoming the organizer of the mass suicide, and that he would be killed by Shaowen after the success was achieved; and of course, he was even less aware that Shaowen had hired someone to kill He Yu, hiring a truck driver to run over and kill her youngest brother He Lei, in order to completely erase He Yu's past.

"If it weren't for that brat rushing into the road and pushing He Lei away, He Lei would have been dead long ago. But it was truly a stroke of luck that the child ended up dying at the hands of a monk." Shao Wen confessed everything at the police station.

She maintained her usual cold smile, seemingly resigned to her fate.

She had thought this was the greatest achievement of her life, but it vanished in an instant. So, what reason did she have to continue living?

twenty two.

All of this is a secret.

The media and the public simply assumed that it was He Yu who was suffering from mental illness, not the returning Xi Li. They were unaware that the Xi Li who had previously returned was a fake.

Since that concert, Xi Li has refused to meet with any media reporters and has refused all performances and related public relations activities.

He locked himself in his apartment and spent his days repeatedly watching the video of the 17 children committing suicide.

A month later, he walked out of his room, smiling, with an expression of righteous indignation.

“I should really stay on stage, forever,” he said.

"That's wonderful, Xili!" Ding Yan jumped up. "You should have thought of that a long time ago!"

“So…” Xili lowered her head, “I’ve decided to die. Don’t try to persuade me. This is my decision. I can’t continue living as if nothing happened after bearing the weight of 17 young lives. I’ve decided to die. Make my body into a statue, stand on the stage, and forever maintain the posture of singing…”

“Xi Li, you…”

"The name of that corpse sculpture is—Dream."

“Xili…”

"I've made up my mind, so don't say anything more!" Xi Li looked at Ding Yan with the same determination he had when he decided to become Ding Yan's blood donor: "You must have a way, right?"

Ding Yan nodded, tears streaming down her face. Yes, she could do it, because Wang Xiaofeng had already told her about his ongoing dream.

Xi Li left a suicide note for her fans, which included the following passage:

I have not left you, just as my dreams have not left you.

I know that each of you has your own dream, and you will continue to live for that dream.

Xi Li also has her own dream: to stay on that stage forever, in the prime of her life, while still singing.

If you encounter confusion on your journey to pursue your dreams, come to me, come to the ever-singing Xili, the Xili that forever exists in dreams. I believe you will find encouragement from me to continue moving forward.

Ding Yan built a unique memorial hall for Xili.

The memorial hall was like a small concert venue, with Xili's corpse sculpture standing on the stage, maintaining the pose of a dream. The song "Dream" was always playing in the hall, and every day, his fans would walk into the memorial hall in a daze, and then leave with smiles on their faces.