Chapter 58
You could hear a pin drop in the room. The two animals were stunned, and neither of them came to question me.
I have no interest in paying attention to it.
The seed is sprouting. It's still that bulging, swollen shape, whether from rotting gas or the new shoot about to burst its skin, I can't tell. I "see" it grow, a tender green blade of grass, trembling leaves, a clear, translucent color.
I looked at Hua. His expression was calm, and his breathing was deep and even, as if he were sleeping.
I can vaguely sense something from it, such as the growth of the seed symbolizing a tomorrow that I may not be willing to accept, and when its illusion becomes a big tree, I will have no reason to escape anymore.
There's nothing we can do.
He followed closely behind me, still sitting there with an air of superiority, like he owned the place. Just as I was about to leave, he suddenly snapped out of his daze and grabbed my sleeve urgently: "You knew everything, so why didn't you say anything!"
You's face was a little distorted; he probably wanted to yell at him for bringing up unpleasant things again under these circumstances, but seeing my expression, he didn't dare to do so.
“What’s there to say?” I retorted. “Is it something to be happy about that I was ‘scammed by someone I know,’ something I should tell the whole world?”
“That’s not what I meant…” he stammered, “I just wanted to know why you…”
He couldn't say what came next. Because he had never thought about it.
“There’s no need,” I said. “Knowing you were lying to me is enough. What am I supposed to do? Get angry? Argue? Cut ties? You’re not children anymore, and you don’t need these methods to symbolize the importance of despair between you. I know the truth on my own, and that’s enough. Whether you admit it or when you do, it doesn’t really matter to me. Besides, intimate relationships are often filled with lies. I will forgive it all.”
Qingyu extended his hand. I knew he wasn't trying to shake mine, so I remained unmoved.
His hand gripped my neck, and I felt a furry, soft touch, followed by the sensation of his cold, hard nails.
His claws gripped my neck. I tried to stop him, but I was no match for him. We stared at each other; his very light-colored eyes had clearly defined vertical pupils.
I struggled to speak clearly: "Are you going to kill me just because I didn't deceive you?"
Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Qingyu absentmindedly loosened her grip, staring blankly at her palm, as if she didn't know what he had just been doing. It's okay. I know. I took a step forward and gently hugged him. His body was trembling; he still wanted to strangle me. He wanted me to stay in his world, but he didn't want me to escape his control. He didn't want me to be just an empty shell. He didn't want to lose control of his own will.
“We’ll see each other again tomorrow,” I said, a tickle rising in my throat. I coughed twice. “We’ll see each other every day until the end of the world.”
I have to go out again. I'm hungry, and I can't stay in the two kids' room forever; I need to get myself something to eat.
Before I even stepped out the door, Qingyu asked me in a low voice from behind, "What if the world ends?"
Without turning my head, I said, "Then I'll get some sleep and wait another day."
There weren't many ingredients left in the kitchen, and all I could think of was noodles. As long as it was edible, that was fine. They also found me eggs, corn sausage, and a small bok choy. I started to wonder if noodles were really all I could eat.
Seeing that he still wouldn't look me in the eye, I didn't ask him.
The water needs to be heated in the pot. While scrolling through my phone, I casually asked, "Don't you have anything to ask me? Qingyu's reaction is quite strong."
Then, in a split second, she said, "No! Besides my apologies, I don't know what else I can say to you. If I were to ask you to answer my questions, I'm afraid..."
"Stop talking," I interrupted him. "You don't need to do this."
He stared at me blankly again.
I chuckled. "Should I say that you were indeed born later than Qingyu, that fox? And you're just a kitten. I don't blame you, there's nothing to blame. I don't condone deceiving others, but I already knew the whole truth, so I forgave this deception long ago. Besides, you didn't do anything wrong to me; on the contrary, you provided me with a lot of help. What's the problem?"
"Alright, go check on Hua in his room." I shooed him away. "I'm really worried that Hua might be treated unfairly while Qingyu is there. I'll call you when the food is ready, and he'll probably wake up by then. It'll be alright."
Standing outside the door, I kissed the top of his head. Then my whole body stiffened.
I smiled and said, "When he wakes up, you can tell him the news."
The seed's cleansing power isn't limited to driving away spirit monsters; it can also stabilize the madness itself. Once it awakens this time, it will likely rarely relapse. Even if it falls ill a few more times, it will gradually recover.
Speaking of monsters, I'm reminded of Qingyu's term. He said "spirit" first, then "monster." He seemed to want to respect those souls, but ultimately couldn't. Or perhaps he just couldn't bring himself to say it?
What if he's connected to monsters? I pondered this possibility and decided to prepare myself in the hope that it wouldn't be.
The "same city" community on social media was peaceful. I even saw a photo of the counselor, taking a group photo with her friends under the city's landmark building. The comments section of the post was full of messages from her former students and their relatives and friends.
No one knows where the danger lies, nor when the panic will erupt. Tourists travel, commuters go to work, and those rushing about occasionally pause to admire a wildflower blooming by the roadside. If I could, I wish this peace could last forever. Am I still hesitating?
I placed my hand on my chest; my heart pounded slowly beneath. It wasn't startled, nor excited; it was beating its usual rhythm. The rhythmic tapping sounded like raindrops outside the window. They pattered against the glass, a few drops occasionally drifting into the room and onto my cheek. I gazed for a long time at the cramped view; through the window in the wall of the narrow path, I could see the willow branches used for warding off evil spirits at the door of the house across the street.
Autumn is gradually creeping into people's lives. We feel more than just this one drop of rain, so we should either seek shelter in advance or confront it head-on.
The water in the pot boiled, bubbling away. Along with the sound, the software page started spinning, and a timely "Latest" message popped up: "What happened in the east of the city? I see a lot of people gathered there."
Comments flooded in, speculation abounded, and the truth behind the earthquake's fissure was revealed. Fear, tension, and a sense of urgency set in. Everyone wanted to stick together, hoping the storm would end and they could weather the winter.
I cooked a handful of noodles. They softened quickly in the boiling water, and the steam made my eyes water.
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