In the evening, Zhao Mingyue didn’t have to work overtime. Right at seven o’clock, the employee who worked the night shift came in punctually. He wasn’t very old, looking about twenty-three or twenty-four, a man with glasses and thick hair.
The man barely ever spoke to Zhao Mingyue. He would just glance up once before hurriedly averting his gaze. Any necessary communication was limited to a brief sentence or two, and he absolutely never came within two meters of her.
“Finally off work. I can go back, take a bath, and get a good sleep.”
Pushing open the convenience store door, the Wind Chime behind her obliged by swaying six times. As the Copper Bell above the doorframe rang out, the interior of the convenience store fell silent. Only the man standing behind the counter secretly watched the direction Zhao Mingyue left, his hand trembling involuntarily.
It wasn’t that he liked Zhao Mingyue. Though even he admitted this girl was truly beautiful, as lovely as a celestial being—the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen in his life—he would absolutely never get close to her. The thing attached to her was simply too terrifying.
“Tonight and tomorrow, I’ll have to rely on Big Brother Wang and the Store Manager. Even if I don’t get the day off tomorrow, I’ll request a leave day.”
On a secluded street, Zhao Mingyue pushed her Bicycle along.
In the Bicycle’s front basket, the Rabbit Doll lay quietly, completely still. Its left eye was a red button, its right a smooth, gem-like plastic decoration.
The rabbit’s head was covered in patches big and small, its ears bore obvious signs of mending, and the color differences were strikingly visible.
“The Store Manager is a good man. He knows my situation, so last year at this time, he gave me a day off.”
The girl’s voice was very soft, sweet and clear, just like her eyes.
Her dark, bright eyes reflected the light of the streetlamps beside her. Zhao Mingyue tilted her head up to look at the already darkening sky. Her slender, delicate hand reached up to tuck a stray lock of black hair behind her ear, her gaze filled with reflection. She slowed her pace slightly, then suddenly lowered her head and let out a soft sigh.
In Bai Yu’s eyes, she had never felt that Zhao Mingyue’s figure looked so frail and delicate. That small frame of hers looked as if a strong gust of wind could blow her over.
In her impression, Zhao Mingyue’s perfect figure and appearance were secondary. The most important thing was this girl’s personality and temper.
A little naive, often appearing somewhat silly, but actually quite clever. She didn’t have much of a temper, could listen to others’ opinions and words, and was full of youthful energy the vast majority of the time. A smile was the most frequent expression she wore.
She deeply understood finding joy amidst hardship, did things without being fussy or indecisive, and didn’t have a shred of a holier-than-thou heart.
Without help from parents, relatives, or friends, she supported herself while attending school and working part-time. She never relied on her looks or figure to earn quick money.
So seeing this melancholy expression on Zhao Mingyue’s face right now left Bai Yu somewhat puzzled.
So, this girl also had things that troubled her?
For some reason, she thought of some recent details.
On the calendar hanging in her living room, Zhao Mingyue had circled tomorrow’s date. Occasionally, she would stare blankly at the photos in the living room. Combined with that slightly disappointed look in her eyes back at the convenience store, it was clear that tomorrow was a very important day for her.
Pushing her Bicycle, Zhao Mingyue passed by a flower shop.
She slowed her steps again, glanced sideways inside, hesitated for a moment, then decided to stop her Bicycle by the roadside.
“I’m going in to buy some flowers. Wait for me.”
Leaving those words, Zhao Mingyue walked into the flower shop. The Rabbit Doll in the basket turned its head and could see Zhao Mingyue inside, saying something to the shop owner.
In no time at all, she came back out, holding several wrapped bundles of pale Carnations.
“Sorry for the wait. I bought some flowers to use when I visit my parents’ grave tomorrow.”
“Grave visiting?”
“Yes. My mom and dad went missing when I was quite young. When they were found, they had already passed away. That day, my sister told me very seriously that she had to take me somewhere. That was also the time I saw them for the last time. More precisely, I saw their bodies.”
Zhao Mingyue placed the bundled Carnations into the bicycle basket, squeezing them in beside Bai Yu.
“Actually, I kind of hate them. They left me and my sister everywhere—today at this relative’s house, tomorrow at that neighbor’s. Whenever they came back, they were always frowning. They wouldn’t even smile when they saw me and my sister.”
“So many times, they’d finally come home, but wouldn’t say anything. They’d just stand at the door, smoking.”
“My mom was the same. She never said much, just made me study. Taught me to sweet-talk when I saw those relatives.”
“She also wouldn’t let me play with other kids my age. If she saw it, she’d scold me harshly. For a very long time in the past, I was pretty scared to interact with kids my own age.”
“But later on, I started to understand a little why my mom did that.”
“Ever since I was little, I was like a jinx. Any kid my age who got too close to me or spent too much time with me never met a good end.”
“One very close childhood friend of mine died because of this. Not just her, two other kids had the same thing happen.”
“I remember one time, an older kid from the village secretly took me out. Then I saw a Black Shadow emerge from the corner of a wall. A woman, very thin and very tall. She led that older kid away. No matter how I yelled, how I screamed, it was no use. By the time the adults came, that kid had already been drowned in the well.”
“From then on, the kids in the village all called me a devil. Said I had a terrible Demon on me.”
“Ah, it’s all in the past now. If I’m being honest, I still respect them deeply. After all, they gave birth to me and raised me. They secretly wiped away tears for me more than once.”
“I just never imagined later… that my sister would also go missing.”
By the time Zhao Mingyue reached home, it was already past seven-forty. The sky was very dark, and the light and shadows of the streetlamps stretched her Shadow out long.
“Your sister is only missing, isn’t she? I believe you’ll find her. For now, just take good care of yourself.” Bai Yu wasn’t good at comforting people, and that was the only thing she could come up with after thinking for a long time.
Zhao Mingyue was silent for a moment. Her originally wistful little gaze suddenly turned into a plaintive one. “Hm… I thought you would say you’d come with me to visit the graves tomorrow.”
“I… just come back early, alright?”
Having just parked her Bicycle and still feeling a little down, Zhao Mingyue blinked in disbelief when she heard this. “You agree?”
“There are conditions.”
“Ohhh, Little Sister Yu, you’re the best! Don’t worry, I’ll definitely paint you a disguise tonight that no one will see through!”
“…”
She just couldn’t help it. She really hadn’t realized earlier that this girl Zhao Mingyue was playing the sympathy card.
Of course, these were all her genuine experiences, just briefly recounted.
But oh well, she’d agreed, so she’d go along with it.
Only… was it really appropriate for her to accompany Mingyue to visit her parents’ grave?
