Chapter 28
I couldn't help but think back to what happened with the new owner, and I was worried that it might be the new owner himself, or that someone was trying to imitate the new owner's methods, even though I didn't know what those methods were.
I'm really exhausted today. I don't want to add to my troubles on a night like this.
If possible, spending the night outside wouldn't be bad; I could come back to check during the day. Having made up my mind, I immediately decided to set off. It didn't matter where I slept—hotel, motel, park, roadside, under a bridge. I hesitated for a moment, then locked the door and left a piece of toilet paper outside. Underneath the paper was three hundred yuan; if the two children returned, I hoped they would wait until after midnight before coming back home.
The outside world was quiet; there were no human voices, no chirping insects. No machines could be heard operating, let alone any office worker opening their door after a late shift. There was some wind, but it rustled through everything that could make a sound.
The leaves didn't move, and the plastic greenhouse didn't lift. A gentle breeze brushed past me, and the exceptionally fresh air made me feel dizzy for a moment.
My footsteps made no attempt to scrape the ground. They gripped the rough but relatively smooth cement floor firmly, like a cat's paw pads, silently burying the sound in its fluffy fur.
...My shoes don't have similar fur, and the soles don't have the elasticity of cat paw pads.
The moonlight reflected off the dark building windows, some leaving only faint, indistinct shadows. The deep gray windows locked away their secrets. Bored, I pulled out my phone; the screen remained motionless. Had it locked something inside too?
Should I be glad I brought cash? It just means I'll have to stay in the cheapest hotel I can find; I remember one place is 70 per night, hopefully it won't be fully booked.
Before leaving my neighborhood, I suddenly felt I should explore the interior of the place where I live. The idea was as inexplicable as a phone screen going black, but I did it anyway. I don't know much about this place, so naturally, I can't rule out my interest in it. Perhaps I can learn a little more about the world from it.
My curiosity was ignited. I've always been curious about this place, but to maintain my peaceful life, I don't want to delve too deeply into its humanities and social sciences, which inevitably include people, scenery, and various cultures. Therefore, I'm often grateful that I'm studying a subject where I can't find any knowledge in my own past, no matter how hard I try. If it made me feel frequently dazed and confused in life, I probably wouldn't be able to maintain my rationality.
I've always been acutely aware that I'm in another world. I've been here for two weeks now, but I accepted this situation a while ago. Anyway, I'm not going back, and there's no need to. I don't want to face anyone's coldness. The reason I left those two children behind that day was simply because they were looking at me pitifully in the rain, as if they needed me.
My only concern is that my memory is deteriorating rapidly. I won't remember a single thing I did yesterday. Luckily, I have various reminders on my phone, otherwise I'd definitely be bombarded with all sorts of people trying to contact me.
Actually, it's not that I can't remember at all. My memory is blurry, but if I try hard enough, I can still find some anchor points, such as when I woke up from the "fog," my first day of school, and those nights.
I always wake up at night. Without warning, when I wake up, the whole world is silent. So I'm used to the scene; I've long since become friends with the little creatures floating around me. They affectionately rub against my fingertips, their sharp teeth all tucked into their cute mouths.
I smiled and ruffled their heads, then looked up at the starry sky.
The stars are always twinkling; in the blink of an eye, they are suddenly very close to me, and then suddenly very far away. The sky is elastic. The bright, clear moonlight makes them appear dim, yet they still try their best to shine.
I think I've looked at the night sky like this before.
That must be the happiest time of my day, otherwise I wouldn't feel so excited at this moment.
I walked briskly through the winding alleys, each door familiar yet unfamiliar. I saw some doors still adorned with mugwort, others with last year's couplets pasted on them, and still others with willow catkins drifting out, yet the willow branches remained firmly planted.
Nothing particularly interesting was found. The shopkeeper hadn't pulled down the shutter, and through the glass, one could see a dazzling array of goods inside. If I remembered when I woke up, I would definitely buy an orange-flavored candy. I think I would like it, without a doubt.
I hummed a song as I walked out of the residential compound, the music not breaking the silence of the night. The security guard was asleep, though in reality he was practically useless anyway. As I walked down the main road, I caught a glimpse of a few people gathered there drinking.
I don't have grand ambitions for building a safe and secure city, but I hope everyone can feel happy. I want to know why they stay here, what difficulties they've encountered, and if those difficulties could be resolved, could they find happiness? If they only need a small amount of money, I would certainly give it to them generously.
I moved closer to them and greeted them, "Why are you drinking here?"
The tallest and strongest man glanced at me; he had a tattoo on his face, but it was a flower: "If you want to drink, then drink."
His voice was as stiff as his appearance. The tall, thin guy next to him spoke up: "A few of us couldn't sleep at night and were thinking of getting together for drinks, but we didn't expect this place to be closed."
He gestured with his lip, indicating the shop in front of him. I looked up at the sign, and sure enough, it was a place that served snacks to accompany drinks.
I felt saddened by their experience, but there was nothing I could do because my phone was off and I couldn't go home to cook them a couple of dishes. I said, "Would you mind having one more person drinking? In exchange, I can share some stories with you."
"You're so young, what kind of story could you possibly have?" Although the tall man said that, he quickly added, "But if you want to drink, go ahead. You can drink any kind of alcohol here, as long as you don't cause trouble or endanger society after you've had your fill."
The other two nodded.
I laughed, genuinely happy and pleased by their concern for public safety. Their eyes were glued to my face; I knew my skin was fair, and it probably looked a little intimidating in the moonlight. I quickly suppressed my smile, afraid they'd think I was a bad guy or a ghost: "Then I won't be polite!"
I sat on the bench, looking at the slightly wobbly folding table in front of me, and poured myself a glass of wine. The pungent aroma hit my nostrils. I don't need any snacks with my drinks, so after downing the glass, I felt my cheeks burning and spoke to them: "I'm going to start telling a story now."
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