Shang Yechu walked across an endless wasteland.

The sky was desolate and empty, the parched land was cracked in every direction, and jagged rocks swirled everywhere.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Shang Yechu saw a lake appear in the wilderness.

Shang Yechu walked quickly to the lakeside and was shocked to find a corpse floating in the water!

Even though the corpse was so far away, Shang Yechu could see it clearly and strangely. She saw that the corpse in the lake was deathly pale, and her long black hair floated straight in the water, looking as if someone had drawn many black straight lines along the top of her hair.

The man closed his eyes peacefully, his face showing neither sorrow nor joy.

That was Sheng Wenzhi's face.

Sheng Wenzhi is dead?

Shang Yechu was a little confused. Wasn't she alive and well?

The confusion lasted only a moment before Shang Yechu realized—oh, so Sheng Wenzhi really was dead.

In her previous life, Shang Yechu had never been to that lake. Perhaps Sheng Wenzhi drowned on that day.

Shang Yechu glanced wistfully at the person in the lake, shook her head, turned and left, continuing to walk deeper into the wilderness.

Shang Yechu continued walking across the wasteland. After walking for a long time, he saw a different scene again.

It was an oasis, and in the oasis stood a small bookstore, its faded white sign bearing four words:

Guyue Bookstore.

Shang Yechu jogged into the bookstore, and sure enough, the kind old lady was sitting in her usual spot, seemingly looking down at a book.

Shang Ye went up and called out, "Grandma?"

Grandma Hu did not respond.

Shang Yechu paused for a moment, then suddenly reached out and gently pushed Grandma Hu.

The old lady suddenly leaned back and fell onto her favorite wicker chair. A smile still lingered on her face, but she was already lifeless.

Grandma Hu is dead.

Tears welled up in Shang Yechu's eyes, but she couldn't cry.

This is fake.

Old Mrs. Hu did not die peacefully and dignifiedly in the bookstore, but in her own home. She lay humiliated on the bed, her head tilted back to her son and daughter-in-law's breath. Such a clean person, yet she died smelling foul and filthy, her body covered in filth.

Shang Yechu was unable to cry out in grief, because regarding the death of Old Mrs. Hu, Shang Yechu always felt more regret than sorrow.

Shang Yechu once read a book that said some people are like a small oasis in the desert. They can help passing travelers, keeping them from dying of thirst and hunger, giving them some hope, warmth and comfort, but they cannot lead travelers out of the desert, nor can they turn the entire desert into a lush paradise.

Standing here, looking at the deceased Old Mrs. Hu, Shang Yechu suddenly understood these words.

"Grandma, I'm sorry," Shang Yechu whispered.

After saying this, Shang Yechu turned and ran out of the bookstore and the oasis, heading towards the wasteland.

Shang Yechu ran very fast, but she wasn't tired at all. After running for an unknown amount of time, Shang Yechu saw something different again.

That was a coffin.

Shang Ye seemed to sense something, and slowly walked forward to the coffin, peering inside through the glass lid.

Inside the coffin lay a grotesquely obese body, its face pale and bluish, with tear stains at the corners of its eyes. Though clearly a corpse, it appeared as if it were still crying.

At that moment, Shang Yechu's heart seemed to be struck by something.

Shang Yechu reached out and stroked the chubby face, the wrinkled neck, the dented body from the car crash, and the expensive, gorgeous dress on the body through the glass... No matter how she stroked it, her hands remained an untouchable distance from the person in the coffin.

The hand on the glass gradually clenched into a fist.

This person finally died.

How did this person die?

After a long, long time, Shang Yechu withdrew his hand.

Shang Yechu closed her eyes and slowly turned around.

No, it wasn't her.

Shang Yechu took difficult steps, one step, two steps, slowly leaving the coffin. She didn't look back even once.

Where to go next? Shang Yechu himself didn't know.