Silk and straw

If this person is merely faking their death, then the murderer who killed them is, of course, the new identity they have.

How could it be the same person I used to be?

Nie Chuiying's finger hovered in mid-air, unable to form words for a moment, but it was clear that she already knew.

In this script, no one knows who the murderer is; everyone guesses and proves through the process of deduction.

Meng Yike received the script for "outsider"—as a disguised police officer who only reopens the case nearly three months after someone's death.

The first thing to do upon arriving in the village was naturally to visit the bookstore.

This shop was opened four or five months ago. It has a very cozy atmosphere, like a relic from the end of the last century, which is quite interesting.

The bookstore is run by a husband and wife couple named Xia Yun and Lin Qi. According to the conversation between the police and the couple, they were childhood sweethearts, and after many years of settling down, they finally decided to come to the fishing village by the sea to open a bookstore and live a simple life.

The couple, played by Xi Ai and Chu Yiqi, gave the police a detailed account of the entire case.

"After graduating from university, Bai Shan and Yu Ying broke up peacefully. Seven years later, they met again, but Yu Ying was with He Xi. Bai Shan stayed at their home temporarily while traveling."

“When Bai Shan was not at home, people would always hear Yu Ying and He Xi disagreeing. He Xi always felt that Bai Shan still had feelings for her and wanted to steal her away, but Yu Ying disagreed and insisted that Bai Shan had never even spoken to her alone.”

A performance is presented once again.

Bai Shan sent Yu Ying an invitation, clearly a wedding invitation, but He Xi still looked skeptical.

On that day, Yu Ying and Bai Shan watched the stars on the roof for a while. When He Xi returned, she saw that the two of them had set up a table with some wine on it, and Bai Shan was waving to He Xi to join them.

Half a month after the trip to Baishan, a landslide occurred in the mountains. When the person was found, he was unrecognizable. Only his engagement ring, his clothes, and the tattered diary in his backpack proved that it was him.

Late that night, when it should have been time to return from fishing, someone saw He Xi and Yu Ying arguing on a small boat, and Yu Ying pushed He Xi into the sea.

After a moment of panic and confusion, Yu Ying seemed not to hear the objections and followed them down, as if she wanted to find her husband. As a result, both of them were never found.

After reviewing the plot, Meng Yike, who had correctly identified the murderer, slowly spoke up: "Xia Yun and Lin Qi correspond to Yu Ying and Bai Shan respectively, right?"

“I think so,” Chu Yiqi nodded and said, “so I voted for myself.”

[Wait, wait, wait, can someone explain this to me?]

[She loved him, but she didn't love him; he loved him, but she didn't love him; she loved him, and he loved her, so they killed him and then faked their deaths together, becoming them.]

[？？？]

[！！！]

I can't tell who loves whom anymore, but it's true that I hate you!

People who were sitting around the coffee table watching the plot very seriously and in a very relaxed atmosphere were unaware of how fun the bullet comments were, and were still commenting on them.

Yu Nianxi: "I really think I acted very, very well this time."

"You've captured that ghostly aura perfectly."

Xi Ai smiled, her eyes crinkling, the almond flavor still lingering on her teeth, but her words were anything but sweet: "Don't say that, this is really a ghost, utterly wronged."

[I still can't accept it. How could someone with such a strong yin energy be the first to be killed?]

[I thought Xixi was playing a psychopath, but it turns out she was the psychopath who wrote the script.]

"Who are the villains this time? It's the whole group, of course."

Meng Yike pretended to slam her hand on the table and said, "I'm a good person, okay?"

"You're a bad cop pretending to be a civilian, maliciously trying to trick me into talking and slandering me." Chu Yiqi's argument lacked conviction and confidence.

Xi Ai aided and abetted the wicked, a den of snakes and rats: "Chu Yiqi is right, Meng Yike is bad."

"Here's a whack for you!"

[So Yu Ying and Bai Shan got back together at least four or five months ago. Bai Shan, I thought you came here on vacation to fulfill a vow and deliver invitations, but it turns out you were delivering love invitations between yourself and Yu Ying?]

[Actually, Bai Shan was quite "kind" (not really); after killing He Xi, he even sent him an invitation to carry with him.]

[This Bai Shan quietly pursued his first love, quietly killed He Xi, and quietly got together with his first love.]

[Wait, wait, there's another part.]

The last paragraph was an additional performance added after everyone had sorted out the plot; it served as a supplement to the storyline.

Yu Ying got in touch with Bai Shan because of a letter that was sent on a schedule three years ago.

A long letter, carrying the fragrance of white plum blossoms and a specimen of white plum blossoms, every sentence filled with longing and blessings.

But when Yu Ying looked up, all she saw was a mess: dealing with the pressure to get married, He Xi's irritability after marriage, her mother-in-law's nonsensical behavior, and the helplessness of being pressured to have children...

I'm reminded of a past love from my student days, a love that seemed to be filtered through a lens, distorted yet dreamlike.

So she replied, saying, "Let's meet, even if it's just to say goodbye."

If you let go, I can accept my fate.

If I could regain the courage I once had to run away, would you come with me? Anywhere, anything is fine.

If it's still us.

Thus began a murder plot.

I don't know whether it's a tragedy or a blessing in disguise.

Thankfully, at least before it all ends, I can still remember what I truly love.

Tragic, but... that's all there is to it.

Chu Yiqi didn't say anything. Xi Ai quietly squeezed her fingers that were propped up on the carpet and said, "What are you thinking about?"

“I was thinking…” Chu Yiqi’s gaze fell on Xi Ai’s face, tracing her features inch by inch, and finally whispered, “I was thinking about the first time we played a murder mystery game.”

That's really...

A long time ago.

Xi Ai withdrew her gaze, ending the noisy live stream.

As she finished saying goodbye, Xi Ai looked up at Chu Yiqi and simply asked, "May I ask you a question?"

"certainly."

"Can I hear the truth?" Every time, Xi Ai wanted to confirm, even though she could tell that Chu Yiqi was lying.

Chu Yiqi paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "That depends on what the problem is."

Seeing everyone else busy, Xi Ai didn't move and remained sitting next to Chu Yiqi. Their fingertips were very close, as if the slightest movement could cause their temperatures to intertwine.

"Are you leaving because you want an end, or a new beginning?"

Chu Yiqi didn't speak, he just looked at Xi Ai for a long time, so long that Xi Ai thought Chu Yiqi was going to refuse to answer.

Chu Yiqi finally spoke, but his answer was irrelevant: "If you had tried to persuade me to stay back then, I would have been conflicted."

This is the issue beyond telling the truth.

Yeah?

Xi Ai looked at her and said, "Then can I play the role of a suitor?"

“I’m not the same as before, Xi’ai. That’s what everyone says.”

Xi Ai shook her head: "I know."

But what impact will that have?

I still like it.

"You don't need to do that."

Xi Ai didn't answer, but simply stood up and collected the plates.

During their brief conversation, Chu Yiqi curled his fingertips, then released them, only to have them land on the back of Xi Ai's hand.

In that instant, Xi Ai stood up, and the warmth she felt was fleeting and momentary.

It's like a fleeting illusion, impossible to grasp or hold onto.

It inevitably brings to mind a cup of hot milk from a long time ago.

It has sugar in it.

The first murder mystery game we played together was a scenario related to family relationships.

Some unpleasant memories suddenly surfaced from the icy depths of her mind. Chu Yiqi's hand holding the script trembled slightly, but she didn't notice it at all, and just wanted to suppress the discomfort and continue watching the plot.

A voice in my head keeps telling me that it's all in the past and it won't happen again.

But then there was another voice, repeating the accusations of Chu Rou when she was emotionally broken down, followed by Chu Rou's choked apology when she came to her senses. Then this voice disappeared completely, leaving only unanswered phone calls, and Chu Rou's demands for "alimony" and threats.

In that instant, Chu Yiqi suddenly couldn't distinguish which of the words floating in front of him were lines from the script and which were text messages from Chu Rou.

But at that very moment, someone took her hand. As the only person who knew some of the inside story, Xi Ai looked at her with a gaze that was not one of worry.

It was just strangely calm.

The person's gaze was still on the table, but they shifted their body slightly and said, "Feeling a bit stuffy?"

"possible."

"Your eyes are tired, would you like to go for a walk with me?" Xi Ai's gaze finally fell on Chu Yiqi's eyes, but it was only a question.

It seemed that Xi Ai's gaze towards her had never changed; it was always composed and perfectly measured, never mixed with any so-called "pity" or "sympathy."

It is always just a calm and gentle gaze, looking straight ahead.

Just like the full moon night on the rooftop after the semi-finals, Xi Ai looked up and handed her a piece of cake, saying it was for "celebration".

The unchanging, equal gaze remained, as if the person was completely unaware and indifferent, always able to offer a straw to Chu Yiqi when he was troubled by Chu Rou—a straw wrapped in silk.

It avoided the sharp edges inherent in all redemption.

So Xi Ai and Chu Yiqi left, and the murder mystery game was temporarily changed to a four-person escape room.

When Chu Yiqi and Xi Ai returned home, they received a cup of hot milk. It was early winter outside, and the temperature on their fingertips felt intense, so much so that it still retained its warmth after all these years.

The roses in the greenhouse were blooming beautifully, but when you opened the refrigerator, there was a little snowman occupying a separate compartment, wearing the hat that Chu Yiqi had worn when he returned, and next to him was an ugly rabbit, made by Xi Ai, wearing Xi Ai's fluffy hair clip.

That day, Xi Ai didn't ask any questions. She just picked a few songs to play and curled up on the sofa with Chu Yiqi, reading books for the entire afternoon under a cashmere blanket.

Chu Yiqi pinched the tip of her index finger, leaving a faint mark, then stood up and checked the afternoon's arrangements with Meng Yike.

Two hours ago it was a warm, sunny early autumn day, but now, just as predicted, the sky is overcast, as if a dark cloud could descend at any moment and bring rain.

But all of For 8 went up the mountain.

Carrying pliers and a garbage bag, Yu Nianxi brought a bamboo basket, hoping to find mushrooms in the afternoon with her 5.0 eyesight.

Meng Yike witnessed Yu Nianxi carrying a basket in one hand, a garbage bag in the other, and tongs in her right hand to collect garbage. In the end, she just took a picture with her phone and held back all her words.

This is a tradition of For 8. If we're in one place, we'll always set aside one day a week to go to the mountains and forests in the suburbs. I don't know what the purpose is, but we always manage to clear out an area free of trash.

Xi Ai sprayed herself with the spray, and then sprayed Teacher Chu, who had already taken care of herself, with the spray as well.

Chu Yiqi had no choice but to close his eyes and wait for Xi Ai to finish her tantrum. Then he reached out and grabbed the spray, replaced it with his own mosquito repellent, completely masking the bamboo and mugwort scent on Xi Ai's body, turning her into a walking mosquito repellent.

Xi Ai laughed and ran away, but she couldn't escape the litter either. She had to keep an eye on the trash as she ran, stopping every now and then.

Fortunately, Teacher Chu is focused on her work. Once she sees even a little bit of trash, her mind is completely occupied with her job, so the playful fighting only goes as far as it's supposed to.

"I said to them, who is still wearing a face mask when they come out? They're being too good to themselves."

"Who on earth is it that doesn't know to take their trash with them when they go out!" Nie Chuiying gritted her teeth.

Shi Yunshan glanced at her and handed her a pure white water glass: "You've been wondering about this for a long time now."

Nie Chuiying didn't mind at all. She took a sip of passion fruit lemon tea from Shi Yunshan's water glass, and then heard Chu Yiqi continue Xi Ai's original words: "She probably thought that applying a repairing product while sunbathing would be very effective, and she would also throw it aside to prevent the grass from getting tanned."

"That's really disgusting how this trash was thrown away. The little bugs' tanning project has failed." Yu Nianxi's voice was calm, but the sarcasm was obvious.

Xi Ai chuckled but didn't reply.

The six people gradually dispersed, and from then on, they mainly communicated via walkie-talkie.

Su Luojian and her two assistants spread out a picnic blanket early and sat down to play Dou Dizhu (a card game). They didn't call the children back until it was almost dark.