Chapter 72 072 Choice
I often wonder what is the meaning of this fantasy world?
Common sense would dictate that the vortex must have brought me here because of my remaining soul. However, it didn't offer the same direct clues as the two previous Yunshui villages. Everything around me now seemed shrouded in a warm, soft mist, yet disorienting. I knew clearly that all this was illusory, yet I couldn't help but indulge in it again and again.
Today is Friday, and it's Xiaolianhua and I's turn to clean the classroom. We usually clean the classroom once a week, on Fridays. So after the last class, Xiaolianhua and I didn't rush to leave, but rather slowly packed up our books and homework. We had quite a few exams this week.
Wu You didn't leave either, saying she'd wait for me to go home together. I guess she was worried about Xiao Lianhua. She didn't say it, but I could see the subtle sense of wariness in her.
Cleaning the classroom isn't a big deal. Just turn the stools upside down on the desks, sweep, and mop the floor—it doesn't take much time. The trash cans are right on the way out, so you just need to throw away the trash on your way home.
After everything was done, we carried the trash bags and left the building. As we passed the trash can, we tossed the bags in. Since we were facing different directions when we threw the trash, I naturally raised my eyes and looked at the darkening sky...
Um?
How long has it been since it got dark?
"What time is it now? It's getting dark so quickly?" I didn't notice it at all while cleaning.
Wu You looked at the watch on her wrist and said, "It's half past six. Eh? Isn't this the right time?" She shook the watch. "Is it broken?"
Little Lotus said, "It's not broken. Mine is also half past six."
I was a little surprised: "When did you buy the watch? I've never seen you wear it before."
"My mom won it in a raffle at last year's annual party," he handed it over, "but I don't really like the color."
The pure white case and simple dial are actually quite nice. I took it and said, "I think it's nice. I'll ask my mom to buy me one later."
Little Lotus's eyes curved: "If you like it, try it and I'll help you put it on." Without waiting for my response, he naturally lifted my wrist and buckled the watch on, "Why buy another one? This one is good enough for you."
"How can I feel embarrassed..." Before I could finish my words, I met Wu You's complicated gaze.
"When did you two become so close?" she asked in a sullen tone.
I:……
I was speechless for a moment. I turned around and saw Xiao Lianhua smiling as if she had succeeded. Suddenly, I felt like I was being tricked.
…
Wu You had dinner at my house as usual. Perhaps it was because Xiao Lianhua and I were here for dinner. Perhaps irritated by the sudden familiarity between Xiao Lianhua and me, she was sullen throughout the meal. Mom noticed and gave me a questioning look. I shook my head and didn't explain. I honestly didn't understand why Wu You was so concerned about my closeness to Xiao Lianhua—it wasn't like we were in a relationship that was affecting our studies.
I don't know how Wu You finally figured it out, but after dinner she suddenly said she wanted to treat me to a movie. Of course I wouldn't refuse an offer, so after checking with my mom, I grabbed my phone and headed out the door with her.
Along the way, I kept feeling like someone was following me, and I suspected it was Little Lotus, so I pretended to fix my shoelaces several times to glance back. I don't know if it was coincidence or intentional, but every time I looked back, I could really see him—sometimes leaning leisurely under a streetlight, sometimes perched high on the edge of a roof, but always perfectly within my field of vision.
I couldn't help laughing.
"What are you laughing at?" Wu You asked.
"Nothing," I said, "I just think this is... pretty good."
She seemed to understand, but didn't ask any further questions. She excitedly dragged me to choose a movie. I scanned the schedule and didn't see anything I particularly wanted to see, but I didn't want to spoil her fun, so I chose a comedy that I knew was a surefire hit.
But comedies sometimes go wrong.
For an entire hour, I didn't laugh once. Has my sense of humor gotten higher? Using the excuse of going to the restroom, I slipped out of the theater for some fresh air. As I reached the hallway, I saw Little Lotus waving at me from the shadows in the corner. I glanced back at the theater, then trotted over.
"How did you get in?" I lowered my voice. "Did no one stop you at the ticket gate?"
He shrugged and said, "I just walked in like that," as if it was a matter of course.
I:……
Well, the ticket gate actually let him in.
Me: “You want to wait for me here?”
Little Lotus: "Why not?"
"That's not necessary."
"You're not me, how do you know it's unnecessary?"
Looking at his serious and stubborn expression, I had no choice but to give up trying to persuade him.
After checking the time, I said to him, "Then just wait until I finish watching the second half and come out."
I waved goodbye and returned to the theater. Wu You whispered to me what took me so long, and I said I had a stomachache. She didn't ask any more questions, her attention quickly drawn back to the movie.
After the movie ended, I hurried out of the cinema with Wu You in tow. Little Lotus followed closely behind us, like a silent shadow, escorting us all the way to the downstairs of my house.
When we were going home, Wu You suddenly asked me:
"Ayu, will you leave us?"
I was still thinking about Wu You's strange question, but she quickly said, "It's nothing, don't think too much about it" and went into the house.
I returned to my room with a complicated expression. As soon as I entered, I heard a gentle tap on the window frame. I pushed the window open. He was squatting on a sycamore branch outside, reaching out his hand. I shook my head and lowered my voice, "Let's talk after my mother falls asleep."
I let him in first, then pulled out the sausage I bought yesterday from the drawer and tossed it to him. As he ate, I turned my desk chair, controlling the force so it wouldn't make any noise.
After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, "You like it here very much, don't you?"
I was stunned and didn't answer immediately.
"This world is indeed a beautiful place," he turned to look at me, his voice softer, "but we can't be trapped here forever."
"But we don't even know how we got in, so how are we supposed to leave?" I walked over to the bed and sat down. "We don't have any clues at all."
"Besides," I hesitated, then continued, "Didn't you say that too? This place is great. We can be like everyone else, take the college entrance exam, go to university, graduate and get a job, and then..."
What happened next? I can't go on. On reflection, this process isn't particularly impressive. Between the pressures of school and the anxiety of finding a job, this world isn't easy at all. I've long since grown tired of the constant competition and internal struggles.
But there is always a voice in my heart trying to keep me.
"But here... my mother is here." I raised my head and looked into his clear eyes, "and Wu You. They made me feel that staying here is not a bad thing."
Little Lotus stared at me in silence, forgetting to eat her sausage. The moonlight outside the window flowed silently into the room, illuminating half of his face. Suddenly, he sighed softly.
"But they're not real." His voice was like a feather, but it landed heavily on my heart. "If you stay in this illusion for too long, the real you will gradually dissipate. This warmth is like poison wrapped in sugar, you know it clearly, don't you?"
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. Yeah, of course I know. But sometimes, even knowing it's an illusion, I'm willing to drink poison to quench my thirst.
"Give me a little more time." My voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible.
He looked at me for a long time and finally nodded.
"I'll always be waiting for you."
…
Little Lotus really knows a lot of things I don't, but I don't understand why he's hiding it from me. Is he waiting for me to make my own choice?
choose……
But what choice should I make?
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