Longing
You Huan led the way, making several turns, to the snack shop with Wen Ya and Si Mucheng.
When they arrived at the destination, the two people and the ghost were dumbfounded.
The place You Huan mentioned is now a small barbershop, completely renovated, with the tricolor pillars at the entrance spinning merrily.
You Huan fell silent. Wen Ya wasn't picky about food, and she remained unmoved as she faced the hair salon. She asked, "Now? To another shop?"
Si Mucheng, however, was unwilling to give up. He was captivated by the snacks You Huan had described and was determined to eat them today, no matter what. So, he once again activated his charming and flirtatious nature, went straight to the shop next door, and greeted an old lady warmly: "Grandma, where did the Lao Chang Snack Shop next door go?"
The old lady felt a sense of goodwill towards Si Mucheng when she saw his gentle smile, and said with a smile, "You haven't been back for a long time, have you? That shop has been moved for more than a year."
Si Mucheng didn't seem to notice anything, but You Huan was stunned.
"Yes. Grandma, do you know where they moved to?" Si Mucheng's words were ambiguous, neither denying the old lady's guess nor pretending to be a returning home.
The old lady pointed outside: "It's right on Luohua Road, a really big shop. Old Chang and his wife are really capable. They've grown their shop from a small restaurant to a big hotel over the years. They're hardworking and diligent, and now their hard work has finally paid off!"
Si Mucheng received the information and readily said goodbye to the old lady, even buying two bottles of water from her shop.
As they left the shop, Si Mucheng handed a bottle of water to Wen Ya and asked You Huan, "Do you know which way to Falling Flower Road?"
You Huan nodded hesitantly. She didn't say anything. Most of the shops on Luohua Road were well-decorated restaurants with all kinds of food. She really couldn't imagine how that small shop had transformed into a big restaurant.
Falling Flower Road wasn't far from here, and Si Mucheng and Wen Ya followed You Huan there. As its name suggests, Falling Flower Road was lined with magnolias, and it was the season for them to bloom. The white flowers were in full bloom on the branches, and they were breathtakingly beautiful in the afterglow of the setting sun.
It was dusk, and the street was bustling with activity as many people came here to eat after a day of work or study.
Si Mucheng found the snack shop without any trouble, except that it had changed its name and the sign read "Lao Chang Ecological Restaurant". The entrance was decorated with a fake arch bridge, giving it a bit of a small bridge and flowing water feel.
Si Mucheng glanced at You Huan: "This... used to be a snack shop?" Who could tell? Besides, now that it's even remotely related to "ecology," the price skyrockets. They call it green and healthy, and strangely enough, people are willing to pay for it.
You Huan didn't know either; she was somewhat dazed: "I... haven't been back for a long time either..."
She died half a year ago. Before that, she had been studying away from home. There was no one or anything in Changshi that she cared about, only things she wanted to escape from. Even her ashes were never brought back. If Zheng Miao hadn't returned, even as a ghost, she wouldn't have been willing to come back here.
Although the snack shop had been upgraded from its humble beginnings to a much larger establishment, Si Mucheng remained hopeful, enthusiastically flipping through the menu. You Huan also joined in, and seeing her former favorite snacks relegated to the very last page of the menu, their prices having quadrupled, she felt a little speechless.
Si Mucheng didn't think too much about it; he was starving. He handed the menu to Wen Ya first, but Wen Ya wasn't picky about food and waved her hand, indicating that he could decide. Only then did Si Mucheng try to figure out Wen Ya's tastes and order a few dishes, including some of the snacks You Huan had mentioned earlier.
They arrived during peak dining hours, and Si Mucheng was so hungry he was practically starving. He ate two plates of cat ear noodles before the main dishes finally arrived.
However, after the meal, Si Mucheng fell silent. The food was delicious, but just ordinary deliciousness, nothing special.
You Huan also remained silent, especially after the braised chicken feet were served. She stopped talking altogether, even though she wasn't much of a talker to begin with.
Noticing that "she" didn't look well, Si Mucheng asked, "What's wrong?"
You Huan hesitated for a moment before pointing to the plate of chicken feet: "...It wasn't like this before."
"Huh?" Si Mucheng thought You Huan felt guilty because of the change of the snack shop, so he comforted her, "It's okay, it's not bad, the taste is alright, as long as you're full."
You Huan's mood sank even lower: "No, it doesn't look like the proprietress made it." Ghosts have long lost their sense of taste and smell, so You Huan can't eat it or smell it, but the appearance of those chicken feet just doesn't resemble what "she" remembers. Even though it's now piled on an exquisitely beautiful plate, with a meticulous presentation and a layer of braising sauce on top, You Huan still knows it definitely won't taste the same as before.
Wen Ya looked at You Huan's drooping eyelashes, paused, and asked, "Do you know your friend's address? Shall we go find her today?"
Si Mucheng was still a little stunned. Weren't we talking about chicken feet? How did the topic suddenly change?
He quickly asked, "Shall we go now? Won't it be too late? Have you eaten?"
Wen Ya had already put down her chopsticks. Upon hearing this, she simply hummed in agreement and added, "Let's resolve this as soon as possible. I have other things to do."
Si Mucheng perked up: "What is it?"
"...We'll talk about it after the soul is exorcised."
Wen Ya felt the impatience in her heart.
Since the Soul-Returning Lamp started acting strangely, they've been on the defensive, with ghosts coming one after another. She wandered from south to north, then from north to west, and now seems to be heading back to where she started. She's a little annoyed. On one hand, she wants to see what happens after the Soul-Returning Lamp is activated and what the person behind it is planning. On the other hand, she wants to take the initiative and find out who's suspicious first.
Of course, Si Mucheng didn't know what she was thinking; he just sensed that she was unhappy.
Upon hearing Wen Ya's words, You Huan stopped worrying about the snacks. "She" nodded: "I'll take you there."
You Huan hasn't been back to Changshi for far too long.
If "she" hadn't died, her 23rd birthday would have been in a few days. Last year, Zheng Miao had told "her" that they would go to a small island abroad to celebrate her birthday. You Huan had agreed, and Zheng Miao had done a lot of research and was very excited. However, "she" still broke her promise.
You Huan didn't tell Wen Ya and Si Mucheng these things. "She" found them because one day a mysterious voice suddenly rang in her ears, telling "her" that if she had any unfinished business, she could use a spiritual artifact to return to life.
She had been a wandering ghost for a long time, and she once thought that she was trapped in the world because she had committed suicide. She never expected that even in death, she could not be freed.
Later I learned that "she" had an obsession.
Her obsession is with Zheng Miao; she can't let go of him. Especially when she sees Zheng Miao coming to her rented apartment every day to cry.
You Huan died in her rented room. She knew she had caused trouble for others again, and although she felt sorry, she couldn't defeat the monster inside her this time.
Zheng Miao was thoroughly scolded by You Huan's landlord, but the cheerful and generous Zheng Miao had lost all her interpersonal skills and could only endure the landlord's anger without being able to say anything nice.
In the end, the landlord had no choice but to agree to let Zheng Miao continue renting the room—someone had died in the house, and it wouldn't be easy to sublet it in the short term. Besides, You Huan's lease hadn't expired yet.
In fact, You Huan thought that it would be better if Zheng Miao left Beijing, at least she wouldn't have to feel guilty.
They've known each other since childhood, going to and from school together, studying together, taking college entrance exams together, doing internships together, and working together. Most of their lives have been intertwined with each other. Whether it's You Huan or Zheng Miao, they've both left a significant mark on each other's lives.
You Huan was incredibly grateful for Zheng Miao's appearance.
But I never expected that I would still end up hurting her.
Changshi is a small city. Except for taking a taxi from the high-speed rail station, they could walk to all other places, including Zheng Miao's house.
Zheng Miao's house was on the next street from Luohua Street; walking there would be a good way to digest her food. Si Mucheng leisurely looked around as he asked You Huan, "Is your obsession just seeing your friend?"
You Huan floated along with them, and upon hearing Si Mucheng's question, replied, "...more or less."
"Then you two must be very close," Si Mucheng said confidently. Although he had asked Wen Ya, she hadn't told him in detail about You Huan's obsession. What he was more curious about was that someone's unforgettable memory before death was of a friend; their relationship must have been very strong.
You Huan said softly, "Yes...we're good friends."
To be precise, Zheng Miao cannot be simply described as a "friend" to You Huan.
When she reached the entrance of a residential complex, You Huan stopped. She looked up at a window of the building at the entrance without saying a word.
Si Mucheng also looked around and asked, "Have we arrived?"
Wen Ya's gaze, however, fell on a figure walking towards her on the road.
She was a young woman with long, flowing hair, wearing a pure white dress. Even from a distance, Wen Ya could sense that she wasn't in good spirits.
Seeing that Wen Ya's attention was elsewhere, Si Mucheng followed her gaze and saw the girl getting closer. He then quietly asked Wen Ya, "What's wrong? Is something the problem?"
Wen Ya shook her head, only to find You Huan also staring blankly at the girl.
Now Si Mucheng knew that the girl in the white dress was Zheng Miao.
As dusk fell, Zheng Miao looked extremely tired. Her steps were unsteady, as if dragged down by something, making them appear heavy, and her eyes were vacant. She paid little attention to the things or people around her, so even when Wen Ya and Si Mucheng stood at the entrance of the residential area, she didn't spare them a single glance.
Before meeting Zheng Miao, Wen Ya hadn't even figured out what excuse to use to approach her. You Huan's obsession wasn't just about seeing her friend; what she couldn't let go of was her friend's unresolved issues.
Zheng Miao's unresolved issue is You Huan; she is deeply troubled by You Huan's death.
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