Chapter 24 - 2#
Perhaps, this is what is known as “every force has its master.”
Old He, that monk Tang Sanzang, could never do anything about the demon Bai Junrui without Sun Wukong there to take the heat.
What followed was a long silence.
Not until we turned a corner, surrounded by hills and woods, did the car come to a stop.
Bai Junrui said in an emotionless tone, “We’re here.”
I subconsciously looked ahead. A pure white building stood there; it felt as if I could smell faint traces of flowers just by rolling down the window.
“Qingxin Sanatorium… this is the place.” Seeing me nod, Bai Junrui added, “Let’s get out.”
I hadn’t brought my wheelchair on this trip, only my cane. Somehow, I felt that sitting in a chair with wheels made me feel instantly aged, a sense of vicissitudes that made me prone to melancholy.
Better to move around more; even falling occasionally was better than sitting still and letting my imagination run wild.
I showed my identification to the security guard. He hadn’t seen me much before and gave me a few suspicious looks.
Bai Junrui helped me walk a few steps, but I struggled against his hand and said, “I… I can walk myself.” He gave me a pensive look, but ultimately let out a sigh.
“Lin Zixin… Miss Lin Zixin…” The nurse flipped through the files, then looked up at us with a strange expression. I handed her my credentials. She took them, looked them over, and said softly, “Please, follow me.”
Bai Junrui and I followed her to another building. The nurse’s attitude was quite relaxed, and she only said a few things along the way: “Miss Lin is doing very well, especially these past two years.”
“Sometimes she’s no different from anyone else. I believe before long, Miss Lin will certainly recover.”
The nurse suddenly turned back. “Mr. Ren also visits Miss Lin very often. Actually, the hospital encourages family members to spend plenty of time with the patients. Besides, given Miss Lin’s condition, she doesn’t really need to be in maximum isolation, but it’s just that…”
When we reached the fourth floor, the nurse smiled and said, “We’re here. Just go to the end of the hall and turn left, room 749.” As if afraid of being misunderstood, she quickly explained, “I apologize, Mr. Ren did give instructions that he didn’t want to be disturbed when he was visiting, but since it’s young Master Ren, I think it should be fine.”
I nodded.
Bai Junrui suddenly grabbed my hand, his eyes filled with worry, as if he had something to say but couldn’t bring himself to.
The nurse said, “Mr. Bai, please come back with me to the reception room in the front.”
Bai Junrui had no choice but to look at me and say, “Then… I’ll wait for you over there. Come find me once you’re finished.”
I replied with an “Mm.”
Actually, my injury was healing well, but I didn’t realize that using a cane was genuinely strenuous; I was already panting after just a few steps.
The surroundings were extremely quiet, making every step sound clear and loud.
The door to room 749 was slightly ajar.
Faint music drifted from within, somewhat indistinct amidst the wind.
I couldn’t tell what the music was, a bit fragmented, yet soft as water.
I took a deep breath, my hands trembling, and pushed the door open with extreme caution.
I remember my mother saying that when she was a student, she loved to dance.
However, she wasn’t actually very good at it—later I thought, perhaps my clumsy dancing skills were simply inherited from her.
My mother also told me that her most beautiful romance began with a dance.
It sounded very romantic.
However, I could not deny what a stunningly beautiful scene was unfolding before my eyes.
I just stood in the distance, watching.
My mother’s long hair was neatly pinned up, adorned with shimmering rhinestone ornaments. The breeze from the floor-to-ceiling windows brushed against her hair. Her eyes were focused intently ahead as she rested her hand on the hand of the person before her, clutching it tightly.
As the waltz drew to a close, she gently leaned her head against his chest, moving slowly to the final notes.
Quietly, serenely.
Her eyes seemed to be telling a story—
This was the most beautiful love of her entire life.
In this world, only the two of them remained.
I stood there woodenly, as if everything was gradually connecting in my mind.
Yet, behind this beauty, I seemed to hear the sound of something shattering.
It felt as though my long-held beliefs were suddenly disintegrating in this moment, turning into ashes and slowly drifting away.
Until this very moment, I had still been unwilling to believe it.
I had firmly believed that the information was wrong; after all, there was no definitive proof…
My mother had always loved my father. From my past life until now, I had always believed this.
No matter how she treated me, no matter whether she considered me her son, I ultimately believed that my original family was happy.
I don’t know what I was feeling at that moment, but when those eyes, deep as a dark pool, turned toward me, I instinctively looked back at him.
I think this must have been the first time I stared directly into his eyes without fear.
And then, watching him look at me, speechless, as he let go of the woman in his arms in a near-panic.
He called out, “Qiri…?”
I…
I slowly stroked my forehead. My body, as if on autopilot, grabbed my cane and, almost pathetically, turned my back on them.
Impossible.
Impossible.
Impossible, impossible…
Impossible, this can’t be…
“Qiri! Qiri—!”
No. None of this is real.
It’s not real—
“Ah—!” My pace was too hurried, and I lunged forward, collapsing to the ground.
My hand was tugged, and subconsciously, I jerked it away.
“Qiri…!”
I struggled with all my might to break free from his grip, just like that dusty memory.
“Let go! Let go of me!” I screamed suddenly, “Ren Xiaoyun, let me go!!”
I tilted my head back, gasping for air, looking straight at him.
He froze, reaching out with a trembling hand; just as he was about to touch my face, I dodged in a panic.
I heard a voice from behind.
“Who’s here? Who’s here—”
My mother came over at a trot, looking at the Third Master Ren with a flushed face, then turned to look at me, her brow furrowed.
“Who are you?”
“Why are you speaking so loudly? So ill-mannered. I don’t like you.” She held Third Master Ren’s hand without a care, shaking it and saying, “Let’s go fold paper cranes. You promised you’d spend time with me today—”
Mom…
Mother…
I looked at the two of them, my stomach churning as if I were about to vomit.
Third Master Ren grabbed my hand forcefully. “Qiri, Third Uncle… you’ve misunderstood, it’s not like that—”
But I seemed not to hear him.
I pressed my abdomen with one hand, covering my mouth with the other.
“Qiri, Qiri, listen to your Third Uncle, Qiri—”
What is this—what is this—
He suddenly scooped me up, not caring how much I struggled or that I couldn’t break free.
Just like in my past life.
A memory of humiliation I could never forget.
A nightmare I could never move past.
I pushed against him with all my strength, even beating him, but it was futile, just as it had been back then.
I bit down hard on his shoulder.
Until I tasted the saltiness of blood.
A hand stroked my hair, fingers running through my locks.
I loosened my bite and tilted my head back, staring at him in a daze.
Suddenly, I shoved him away with all my might, stumbling a few paces back before finally collapsing onto the grass, dry heaving.
Then, as if I had exhausted all my strength, I roared at him: “Don’t do this to me—!!”
He looked at me, stunned.
Finally, as if witnessing something incredibly bizarre, his eyes widened.
I paused, and with a tremor in my voice, said, “You know full well that I… that you and I are—are—”
Are—
The words about to spill out died in my throat.
I followed his gaze, looking upward.
To the very top.
The fourth-floor window.
That is…
I saw my mother sitting on the windowsill, dangling her legs, looking down.
She was folding a paper crane, then letting it go, one by one, to the wind.
Then, she suddenly smiled faintly.
Leaning against the window, she slowly stood up.
I remember, in my past life, my mother passed away in an accident.
Back then, I was still in middle school. My mother left so suddenly that before I could even feel the sorrow, her face had already blurred in my memory.
I watched her, my whole body trembling.
“Mom…”
I called out to her.
“Mom—don’t—don’t move around—”
Mom…
Mother…
“Xiaoyang————”
I saw her slowly spread her arms.
And gently leap.
Like a bird spreading its wings to fly high.