Chapter 74 My eyelids twitched involuntarily twice…
The thick wooden pillars blocked the light from the courtyard streetlights, casting heavy shadows that slanted down.
Song Wuqi lowered her head slightly, and the light and shadow drew a clear line across her face, making only the lower half of her face visible.
Such scenes appear somewhat eerie and terrifying in the video.
She was standing some distance away from Song Zhixu, making the image in the video even more blurry.
Tang Ran couldn't see Song Wuqi's expression, but the moment she saw her, she felt a chill run down her spine.
Song Zhixu's gaze was fixed on Tang Ran, and he didn't notice that Song Wuqi's figure had been captured on the small screen in the upper right corner when they passed the main hall earlier.
"Ranran, cough cough cough."
As the dragon dance troupe marched, firecrackers were set off along the way, and the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder, which was pungent even through a mask.
Tang Ran looked away and told her, "Don't say anything for now, go back and drink some water."
"good."
The residence in the backyard was also a wooden, antique-style building, with Song Zhixu's room in the east wing.
There is an old tree in the courtyard, which is said to be over three hundred years old.
The houses in the Song family courtyard have been demolished and rebuilt, but this tree has always remained.
The tree branches were lush and abundant, extending from the middle of the courtyard to the roof of the east wing, with some of the canopy even reaching outside the Song family's courtyard.
Song Zhixu's room was on the second floor of the east wing. As soon as they returned to the room, Tang Ran urged Song Zhixu to take his medicine, wash up, and go to bed early to rest.
In the middle of the process, Song Zhixu dealt with a work email and was criticized by Tang Ran.
Perhaps it was the effects of the cold medicine kicking in, because Song Zhixu started feeling sleepy around nine o'clock.
After hanging up the video call, Tang Ran scrolled through her phone for a while.
Around 10 o'clock, Xia Xin'er posted a news item in the group chat and specifically tagged Tang Ran.
The western mountainous area they were planning to visit was hit by a mudslide yesterday due to continuous rainfall.
【Ranran, oh my god, thank goodness we listened to your advice and changed our plans, otherwise we'd definitely be stuck here now.】
Sister Ranran, you are my savior, 55555
Looking at the broken walls and rubble in the news, Xia Xin'er felt lingering fear.
If they had gone there to hold their event as planned today, they would definitely be stuck there by now.
If she were to catch a cold during such a torrential downpour, it would be no laughing matter.
Miao Tiantian was the first to chime in, asking Xia Xiner what was going on.
I don't know if Xia Xin'er was lucky to escape a disaster, or if she was just "born with the ability to spread rumors and mislead the public".
Originally, Tang Ran only suggested that mudslides were likely to occur there in September. However, after being embellished and retelled by Tang Ran, it became that Tang Ran accurately predicted that there would be mudslides during the days they were there.
After hearing this, Miao Tiantian immediately tagged Tang Xiaoran and joked with her.
[Baby, when did you learn this skill? Come show me, I've been feeling a bit unlucky lately.]
She's been attracting too many bad romantic prospects lately. Not only is Murong Yi a persistent pest, but even her ex-boyfriend, who disappeared years ago, has suddenly resurfaced.
Tang Ran remained silent.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck me. @SweetSweetNotSweet, [I've done some calculations, and staying away from people with the surname Y will bring me good fortune and a peaceful life.]
Miao Tiantian was shocked. She didn't think she had told Tang Ran that Yu Qing was back yet!
Tang Ran didn't actually know that Miao Tiantian's first love had returned. She just thought that it was around this time in her previous life, so she wanted to give Miao Tiantian a heads-up.
It was purely by accident.
Qiu Yuan also popped up to join in the fun at this time.
[Haha, Sister Tiantian, did Sister Ranran guess right?]
Sister Ranran, please help me find my soulmate!
If Qiu Yuan asked about other things, Tang Ran really wouldn't know, but she did know a little about this marriage, after all, her relationship with a certain A-list actress had been trending on social media for a month.
Tang Ran thought for a moment and remembered the timeline of their relationship that the entertainment reporter had dug up. They should have met by now, around the time Qiu Yuan went abroad last time.
Tang Xiaoran: [The person has already been met; the rest cannot be said.]
A master should have the demeanor of a master. By revealing only half of what is said and deliberately making things mysterious, one can appear profound and unfathomable.
Miao Tiantian ran over and exposed her, saying, "[You can't say it? I see you can't keep up the story.]"
Qiu Yuan sent a shocked emoji.
She recently met someone she really likes, and she only just realized her feelings for him in the last couple of days, but she has never mentioned it to anyone else.
Xia Xin'er @ Qiu Yuan, [Are you up to something?]
Miao Tiantian @ Qiu Yuan, [Are you up to something?]
Tang Ran also tagged Qiu Yuan, 【Are you up to something?】
Gossip is human nature, and the topic in the group immediately shifted to Qiu Yuan's new situation.
After chatting and joking around in the group for a while, Tang Ran finally put down her phone and prepared to go to sleep when the clock struck 11 PM.
She turned off the light, and in the instant she closed her eyes, she inexplicably thought of Song Wuqi, whom she had just seen in the video.
My eyelids twitched involuntarily twice, and a vague sense of unease settled in my heart.
Tang Ran opened her eyes and looked out the glass window.
The sky was pitch black; not a single star could be seen, nor any trace of the moon.
The night was like a thick, black cloth, heavy and oppressive.
Tang Ran turned over, facing away from the window, and cursed Song Wuqi in her mind again.
What bad luck! Just looking at it ruins my mood for the whole evening.
As night fell, Tang Ran slowly drifted off to sleep.
*
Snap!
It was a very soft pop, like the sound of a firecracker that children play with.
A faint smell of gunpowder could still be detected in the air.
The city prohibits the setting off of large fireworks and firecrackers, but in the atmosphere of the Spring Festival, no one can stop children from carrying around small firecrackers of various shapes and unique ways of burning.
Tang Ran glanced out the window; the sky was dark and gloomy, as if it had been splashed with a thick layer of ink.
A sense of restlessness flashed through my mind.
She turned her gaze back to the film on the screen, which was now entering its most exciting part.
But Tang Ran didn't want to watch it at all.
Suddenly, she stood up.
During the Chinese New Year, in the home theater, the sound of firecrackers, the smell of gunpowder, and the pitch-black sky.
Isn't this the day Song Zhixu's room accidentally caught fire?
Has she been reborn again?
Reborn on this day of the Lunar New Year?
As Tang Ran was thinking, a strong smell of burning came in from outside.
not good!
Tang Ran was startled.
She ran towards the door, opened it, and ran across to the other side.
Black smoke billowed out from the crack in the door across the street, gushing outwards.
Tang Ran didn't have time to think, and rushed into the room without a second thought.
A layer of gray mist filled the living room of the suite, and outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the massive tree canopy was already ablaze, like a giant torch.
The red flames reflected on the glass, making it seem as if they were about to engulf the entire room.
Tang Ran's body stiffened instinctively.
Deep within the body, the sensation of being consumed by flames spreads across the skin, the burning pain like ants gnawing at every nerve in the body.
Thump!
The photos displayed on the large sideboard fell down.
It's the photo of Song Zhixu holding her.
Tang Ran suddenly came to her senses.
No, she cannot be afraid.
Song Zhixu is still inside.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Tang Ran quickly ran into the inner room.
They had only run halfway when a loud 'boom' erupted in the room.
The red flames, like a giant beast breaking free of its restraints, roared out of the house and pounced on Tang Ran.
In a similar situation, Tang Ran disregarded her fear and looked into the room in terror.
Song Zhixu is still in the room!
"Song Zhixu!"
My heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by a hand, and a suffocating sadness welled up from the depths of my heart.
*
"Song Zhixu!"
Tang Ran shouted.
She suddenly opened her eyes, sat up in bed, her pupils not yet adjusted to the darkness, and everything in front of her was pitch black.
His rapid, forceful breaths swirled with air, filling his violently heaving chest.
As her consciousness left the dream, Tang Ran realized that everything that had just happened was a nightmare.
Her fingers gripped the corner of the blanket tightly until her fingertips turned white, but she couldn't stop her trembling hands.
My mind gradually cleared, but the panic in my heart still hadn't subsided.
Tang Ran looked up, picked up her phone, and, completely ignoring the 00:25 displayed on the screen, called Song Zhixu.
At this moment, all she wanted, and all she needed, was to hear Song Zhixu's voice.
Beep...beep...beep...
The phone rang three times, but was not answered.
A thick sense of unease filled Tang Ran's heart. She hurriedly threw off the covers and got out of bed, not even bothering to put on slippers. She quickly changed her clothes and rushed downstairs.
The night was deep, and pale moonlight shone through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, casting a cold, stark white glow.
The air seemed to freeze, exceptionally quiet, with only the ringing of the phone in Tang Ran's ear, waiting to be connected.
Beep...beep...
One sound after another, each one like a small hammer striking Tang Ran's taut nerves.
"Ranran?"
Tang Ran rushed out the door and opened the car door when the phone was finally answered. Song Zhixu's sleepy voice came from the other end of the line.
Tang Ran suddenly stopped moving, her heart easing with relief.
But less than a second after I felt relieved, I heard Song Zhixu coughing violently again through the receiver.
"Cough cough cough, cough cough cough, cough cough cough."
The cough sounded particularly hoarse and didn't stop for a long time, as if the person was choking on something.
That feeling of unease surged up again, and Tang Ran asked urgently, "Why are you coughing so badly?"
So flustered she couldn't control herself, even the words she spoke trembled.
The coughing on the other end of the phone became muffled, and after another two seconds, Tang Ran heard Song Zhixu's voice, "Ranran, cough cough, I'll be back a little later, cough cough cough..."
Her voice was muffled and rapid, a sound Tang Ran was all too familiar with.
She was 100% certain that Song Zhixu was speaking while covering his mouth and nose.
Every time Tang Ran dreams of the fire that burned her to death, she makes a similar sound.
Her breath hitched, and a sudden, inexplicable premonition arose within her.
"No, no, Song Zhixu, don't hang up the phone, and don't speak. Hold your breath!" Tang Ran gripped the phone tighter, her voice rising involuntarily.
She bit her lip hard to calm her chaotic and panicked mind as quickly as possible, and instructed in a rapid but clear voice, "Mask, put on the mask first. Water, more water, immediately use the water in the cup to wet the pajama jacket and put it over the mask."
She had brought the pajamas for Song Zhixu; the temperature was low in the countryside, so in addition to the sundress, she had also brought a matching jacket.
Before the video ended, Tang Ran saw Song Zhixu's cartoon cup on her bedside table. The cup was full of water, enough to wet her thin nightgown.
As she spoke, Tang Ran kept pressing the volume up button with her thumb, her knuckles turning white from the force.
She pressed her ear tightly against the microphone, not daring to miss the slightest sound from the other end.
Song Zhixu obediently remained silent, only making rustling sounds.
one two three……
Tang Ran silently counted the time in her mind; every second that passed seemed to be stretched out, feeling exceptionally long.
When Tang Ran counted to five, feeling as if her breath was about to stop, she finally heard Song Zhixu's low, hoarse voice and the sound of light footsteps.
"Dye".
What's the situation where you are?
Not knowing what was going on with her, Tang Ran's heart was still hanging in suspense.
The Song family residence.
After taking the medicine, Song Zhixu slept very soundly. When she was woken up by Tang Ran's phone call, her mind was still foggy, and she didn't notice anything wrong at all.
It wasn't until she called Tang Ran's name that the pungent smell of smoke filled her nostrils, causing her to cough uncontrollably, and she noticed the fiery red glow outside the window.
The big tree in the yard caught fire.
The tree canopy connected to the roof of the second-floor living room, and the fire had already spread from the roof to the exterior walls of the living room. Thick smoke seeped in through the gaps in the tiles and doors.
Song Zhixu's body stiffened for a moment, and a sense of panic instinctively arose in his heart.
She didn't have time to think much; her first reaction was that she didn't want Tang Ran to worry. She wanted to hang up, but Tang Ran seemed to have a telepathic connection and guessed her situation.
Tang Ran's voice was tense, and Song Zhixu even heard a hint of a sob in it.
The little guy has always loved to cry. He would cry when he fell down, or when he felt wronged. Even now that he's grown up, he's still the same. He cries when he's sad or upset, and he also sheds tears when he's extremely happy.
She wanted to comfort Tang Ran, but before she could even speak, a trembling voice on the phone immediately offered the most practical advice.
In that instant, the instinctive fear receded like the tide, and Song Zhixu suddenly felt at ease.
She covered her mouth and nose as Tang Ran suggested.
When Tang Ran asked her about the situation again, Song Zhixu no longer hid anything, "The trees in the yard caught fire, and the fire spread to the exterior walls and roof of the living room."
The log house caught fire very quickly, and the fire spread extremely fast. In less than ten seconds of the call, flames were already leaping into the wall connecting to the living room.
With the bedroom door closed, Song Zhixu couldn't see how big the fire was in the living room, but the increasingly thick black smoke was enough to show that it was unlikely to escape through the door, across the living room, and down the stairs.
Song Zhixu immediately looked at the balcony of the room. The first floor of the house had a high ceiling, and the second floor was more than four meters above the ground. Jumping down would not be life-threatening, but it was not absolutely safe either.
"Tear down the curtains and tie them to the outside railing, then climb out the window."
Tang Ran seemed to have guessed her thoughts again, and her solution was even better than hers.
The curtains in the room were more than three meters long, and when tied to the railing, they were long enough for her to land safely.
"Tie your coat to your face to avoid choking, keep your body low as you walk, be careful of the temperature of your hands when opening the window, and use the curtains as a cushion when opening the window."
Tang Ran recounted everything she could think of.
"Um."
Song Zhixu responded, tied her pajama coat over her face, and quickly walked to the window while crouching down.
On the other end of the phone, Tang Ran's heart was in her throat.
She remained in the position of opening the car door, her right arm muscles taut and straight.
Only by gripping the car door handle tightly could I barely suppress my trembling body.
She held her breath, carefully discerning every sound coming from the receiver.
The friction caused when tearing fabric.
The clips snapped open with a crisp crack, and the sound of pieces shattering on the ground filled the air.
hurried footsteps.
Then came a slight thud.
The sound was very close; Tang Ran guessed that Song Zhixu had put the phone on the ground.
She relaxed her breath slightly, then immediately shouted, "Make sure the buttons are fastened tightly, and pull them a few times before going down."
"good."
Song Zhixu responded with a word of agreement, and without stopping, he tied the curtains to the fence.
The fire spread completely across the living room into the bedroom, and the wall near the balcony was also on fire, soon reaching the railing.
The scorching heat churned and baked the surrounding air, making every inch of skin on the body feel tight from the heat.
Fearing that Tang Ran would worry, Song Zhixu did not mention the scene before her.
After making sure the curtains were secure, she picked up her phone and calmly reassured Tang Ran, "I'm going downstairs now, don't worry."
"Okay, okay, go down quickly, and be careful."
Tang Ran spoke very quickly, not daring to waste a single second.
"Fire! Fire! Help!"
A loud male voice could be heard shouting in the background of the phone call, indicating that someone else had also discovered the fire.
Tang Ranxin lowered her head slightly, but still dared not completely relax.
The curtains were thrown downstairs, accompanied by a short 'whoosh' sound.
After the rustling sound, a squeaking sound came from the receiver.
It's a dull thud caused by the squeezing and friction at the joints of the wooden railings when they are under stress.
Tang Ran's nerves tightened once again, and her breathing stopped.
Song Zhixu should have already climbed out the window.
"Someone has climbed out!"
"Quick, save them first!"
The background noise grew louder and louder, drowning out the sounds of Song Zhixu's movements.
Tang Ran slowed her breathing, tightly grasping the faint rustling sound drowned out by the noise.
The next second.
Tang Ran heard a scream that made her heart stop.
"Oh no! The railing is about to burn down!"
Tang Ran's pupils contracted sharply, her vision blurred, she felt dizzy and almost lost her balance.
Crack!
The sound of burning wood filled my ears!
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