Looking at the real Ran Yan’er’s eyes of unwillingness, I guessed a bit. She had told me more than once that giving up her body was not voluntary. She had mentioned a man who told her that if she surrendered her body, she would live better than herself. Perhaps the original Ran Yan’er agreed due to a moment of weakness, but now she clearly regrets it. However, she can no longer return to this body and can only appear in my consciousness when I’m weak. But what good are her regrets and resentment? She can only pin all her hopes on me.
“Do you think you can return to your original body by leaving mine? How ridiculous! You’ll end up like me, becoming a wandering ghost, worse than even a homeless spirit.”
Seeing her distorted face, my disgust continued to overflow. At this moment, I only wanted to be far away from her, not wanting to see her eerie face.
I desperately walked towards that faint light, searching for an exit. But all around was darkness, as if the entire space was sealed.
When I was in despair, a familiar call gave me hope.
The voice came faintly from the end of that light. What actually gave me hope wasn’t the call itself, but the familiar voice. It was the voice that guided and chose me during my crossing, with the same deep tone as Shui Zixi, though Shui Zixi’s voice had an additional gentleness and care. This voice carried an indescribable vicissitude.
I ran desperately along that voice, not wanting to pay attention to the real Ran Yan’er’s following laughter.
After running for an unknown time, I finally saw the end of the darkness.
The dream scene appeared, like a television playing unfamiliar images. The familiar faces: the man still wearing a silver mask, and the woman having the same appearance as me. In fact, I could no longer distinguish whether it was the same as my appearance or the real Ran Yan’er’s.
I stared blankly at them. The invisible barrier seemed like a screen, completely separating me from the characters inside, making me acutely aware that I was just an outsider.
I watched dazedly. Still the two figures, but this time with more decisiveness.
