night.

After having dinner at the commercial plaza in the city center, Hongye went home. Lu Ban and Amber did not stay outside either, but went straight back to the community near Jiangcheng University.

While Amber was changing clothes and taking a shower, Lu Ban turned on the computer.

He remembered that he had found a real estate agent because he wanted to experience the villa. After seeing the strange things, he discovered that a murder case had occurred there. Later, the murderer came to his door, and with the help of his family's friends, he brought him to justice.

Even so, the murderer seemed to be in an abnormal mental state. Considering the strange death of his companion, Lu Ban felt that something was amiss.

After checking some of the limited information available online, Lu Ban suddenly let out a long sigh.

The reason why he was obsessed with this case was not because of a sense of justice, but because this case was the most "unusual" event he had ever encountered.

My daily life in the past was filled with exotic dangers, strange things, and indescribable great existences.

It’s a bit hard to get used to returning to normal life.

If the truth of this case cannot touch the extraordinary that Lu Ban knows, then how can he wake up from this illusion?

Or maybe, I have to spend an ordinary yet beautiful life here, and only after I die can I return to the real world?

Lu Ban even imagined that he would really grow old and die here, and wake up to find himself in a mental hospital again.

"This world is created based on my cognition. There are people I know, but situations that I don't know should not occur..."

Lu Ban was thinking.

Generally speaking, when one is trapped in an illusion created based on one's past, the way to find the flaw is to see if there is anything that appears in the illusion that one is not aware of.

But that is the normal situation. If this illusion was constructed by the [Man of Darkness], then as the incarnation of an outer god, he can be almost omniscient. The [Man of Darkness] should know everything that Lu Ban knows and doesn't know.

Therefore, Lu Ban could not have anticipated what would happen in this world.

When he saw Trist, Lu Ban felt a little emotional.

Those who have died are now living in this fantasy world.

They have their own lives, memories, and future.

As long as they continue to immerse themselves here, at least they can have an ordinary and normal life.

No one dies without regrets, but when the moment of destiny comes, no one can refuse it.

If we give them another chance now, will it be different?

"What's the matter?"

A gentle voice came from behind him. Lu Ban turned around and saw Amber wearing that pink and blue cat pajamas, standing at the door of the room and peeking out.

“Is there anything you’d like to do?”

Lu Ban asked.

"Um?"

Amber tilted her head, confused.

"For example, where you want to go, what you want to eat, or who you want to meet."

Lu Ban continued.

"Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

Amber felt strange. She walked into Lu Ban's room, sat on the bed, put her hands on her sides, and gently scratched Lu Ban's quilt with her fingers. She bit her lower lip and thought for a moment.

"I'm fine the way I am. I wish time could stay at this moment forever."

Then he said this.

"Even if it's false?"

Lu Ban was silent for a moment and asked.

When Amber heard Lu Ban's words, she didn't say anything, but looked at him with eyes that seemed to be thinking.

"You still think this is all an illusion."

She said somewhat uncomfortably.

"You think we are all fake, and only that threatening other world, the world of the evil god, is real."

Without waiting for Lu Ban to answer, Amber swallowed and continued speaking as if she had thought of something.

"……you are right."

After a long while, Amber said this.

"This is indeed an illusion. Everything here is fictitious. I have died a long time ago. Now I am just a ghost, clinging to the beauty of life. Because once you find a way to leave here, I will never wake up again."

When Lu Ban heard Amber's words, his heart skipped a beat.

It wasn't that he really found any flaws in this illusion, but that Amber said it according to her own wishes.

She was like a patient who had given up treatment and chose to accept death, even if it would bring endless pain.

Amber stood up, hugged Lu Ban gently, and sniffed.

"It's okay, I'll accompany you to find a way to leave here, but you must not hurt yourself, okay?"

The girl whispered softly.

Lu Ban knew very well that to Amber, this world was the real one, and for him, she chose to admit that her life had been fake.

This situation often arises during the treatment of mental illness.

Mental illness not only torments the patients themselves, but also their families.

When faced with patients with cognitive disorders, family members often have to give up many things and even have to live according to the other person's delusions.

Lu Ban did not respond, but he could feel that the girl in his arms was indeed trembling.

The moonlight is cold and dim, just like memories.

…

…

When he woke up, Lu Ban saw the increasingly familiar ceiling.

He stretched and stood up from the bed. Of course, there was no sign of Amber around.

Hearing the sounds of the gas stove and range hood coming from the kitchen, Lu tripped out of bed and saw Amber wearing an apron, busy in front of the stove.

"You're awake, go wash up, you can have breakfast soon."

Amber said happily when she saw Lu Ban.

"good."

Lu Ban went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. He looked quite energetic. He reached out, picked up one of the two toothbrushes, and quickly finished washing up.

Breakfast was tomato and egg noodles. The taste was still hard to describe, but over the past week at least, Amber's cooking skills had improved from completely inedible to at least not fatal.

"Let's order takeout next time."

Lu Ban said.

"No, takeout is too greasy and will make you fat."

Amber flatly refused. She looked at Lu Ban and smiled unconsciously.

"By the way, what happened to the story about Kazushima that you told me last time?"

"Um, the poetry festival?"

Lu Ban recalled the story he told Amber last night about his adventures in foreign lands, but it ended right at the beginning of the poetry festival.

During this period, Amber really did as she said, as if she was really a character in the fantasy world. She patiently followed Lu Ban's thoughts and asked Lu Ban to tell her about his adventures in foreign lands.

Seeing her listening to his story with great interest, Lu Ban felt mixed emotions.

However, he knew very well that no matter what the cost, he must return to the real world.

If you indulge in this dream, you will only stop moving forward.

Just as he was about to continue telling the story of Hongye's passing and the burning pure fire, Lu Ban's WeChat vibrated. He glanced at the message alert and found that it was from Trist.

[Lao Cui]: We have caught the serial killer.

[Lao Cui]: He said he wants to see you, Lu Ban.