The breakthrough in memory
In that secluded little house, time seemed to slow down, yet it also subtly propelled the gears of fate forward. After escaping Gu Yanting's pursuit, Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing temporarily found this peaceful haven.
The morning sunlight streamed through the dappled windowpanes, falling on Lin Wanqing's face. She slowly awoke, feeling as if she were in a dream both strange and familiar. It was an ancient courtyard, with blue bricks and gray tiles. The osmanthus tree in the courtyard was in full bloom, its branches adorned with golden blossoms, their rich fragrance filling the air. A little boy was playing and laughing around her; his eyes were bright, and he had two deep dimples when he smiled.
"Sister, sister, come and chase me!" The little boy's clear voice echoed in her ears. Lin Wanqing subconsciously reached out, wanting to grab that familiar figure, but only grasped at empty air. She suddenly opened her eyes and realized that she was lying on the bed in the small house; everything that had just happened was just a dream. However, the scenes in the dream were so real; those images kept swirling in her mind, refusing to leave.
"What's wrong, Wanqing? You don't look well." Ah Yu asked with concern, holding a bowl of spring water she had just fetched from outside. Lin Wanqing looked up, her eyes still showing a hint of confusion and bewilderment. "I just had a dream, it was very strange, yet it felt so real. I dreamt of a big courtyard, and a sweet osmanthus tree, and a little boy calling me 'sister'..."
Ah Yu's heart stirred slightly upon hearing the words "osmanthus tree" and "little boy." He put down his bowl and sat down next to Lin Wanqing. "Think carefully again, what other features does that courtyard have? What did the little boy look like?" Lin Wanqing closed her eyes, trying hard to piece together the blurry fragments of memory. "The gate to the courtyard was very tall, with two brass rings on it. The little boy had big eyes, and two dimples when he smiled. He was wearing a blue cloth shirt."
Ah Yu's heart suddenly raced. The scene Lin Wanqing described was so similar to his childhood memories of his neighbor's older sister. He did indeed have a neighbor's older sister when he was little, and they often played in the courtyard with the osmanthus tree. Moreover, he clearly remembered that he loved wearing a blue cloth shirt back then. Could Lin Wanqing really be his long-lost neighbor's older sister?
In the days that followed, Lin Wanqing often found herself lost in thought about those hazy memories. One afternoon, the sunlight lazily spilled onto the open space in front of the cottage. Lin Wanqing was sitting by the door, unconsciously fiddling with a blade of grass in her hand. Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew by, bringing with it a faint floral fragrance, a scent exactly like the osmanthus blossoms in her dream.
In an instant, another memory flooded Lin Wanqing's mind. It was an autumn afternoon when she and the little boy sat under the osmanthus tree. The little boy looked up at the tree full of osmanthus blossoms and said, "Sister, the osmanthus smells so good! I wish I could smell it forever." She smiled and reached out to pick a few clusters of osmanthus blossoms, placing them in the little boy's palm. "Here, so you can smell it forever." The little boy smiled happily, revealing his two front teeth that hadn't fully grown in yet.
Lin Wanqing suddenly stood up, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Ah Yu, I've remembered something again! I remember, under the osmanthus tree, the scene where I picked osmanthus blossoms for you!" Ah Yu's heart also surged with emotion upon hearing her words. He stepped forward and grasped Lin Wanqing's shoulders. "Wanqing, I think you really could be my neighbor's sister. Years ago, our neighbor's house was destroyed by fire, and then she disappeared. All these years, I've been searching for her."
Lin Wanqing's eyes welled up with tears. "If I really am your sister, then we've been through so much together over the years. But it's all so unbelievable, I still can't quite believe it." To confirm this further, Lin Wanqing began to try to recall more details from her childhood. She remembered that she had a favorite toy when she was little, a handmade rag doll with eyes sewn on with two black buttons and wearing a pink dress.
As Ah Yu listened to her description of the doll, the image of that doll also appeared in his mind. He remembered that the girl next door always held that doll and often told him and the doll stories. "Wanqing, I also remember the doll you mentioned! This further proves that you might be my sister!" Ah Yu said excitedly.
As memories flooded back, Lin Wanqing's childhood memories with Ah Yu became increasingly clear. She recalled drawing water together from the well in the courtyard, watching the rain together under the eaves, and listening to elders tell ancient stories under the starry night sky. Those once-forgotten fragments, like sparkling pearls, gradually strung together, sketching a complete picture of her childhood.
However, Lin Wanqing still harbored some doubts. After all, so many years had passed, and memories might have become distorted, and there was no conclusive evidence to prove that she was Ah Yu's neighbor. She shared her concerns with Ah Yu. After a moment's thought, Ah Yu said, "We can try to find some items from that time or people who know about it; perhaps we can find more compelling evidence."
So, the two decided to return to the place where Ah Yu had lived as a child. When they set foot on that land again, the familiar streets had undergone tremendous changes. High-rise buildings had replaced the old bungalows and courtyards, and the bustling traffic had filled the place with a modern atmosphere.
Ah Yu inquired everywhere and finally found an elderly man with gray hair. The old man had lived here all his life and might still retain some memories of what happened back then. Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing walked up to the old man with high hopes and asked him about the Lin family and the fire.
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