“I’m glad to have met a companion at the end of my journey. Although our time together was brief, it shone brighter than any other moment in this dim world. I’m not good at expressing myself—only in front of a camera can I mutter out these words as if talking to myself. I’m not good at apologizing either, so I can’t say sorry for hurting you. I just hope, by the time you receive this disc, your anger toward me has faded.”
Shen Yao curled his lips slightly. Even now, she couldn’t say a single ‘sorry’? Was she really planning to take that prideful heart of hers to the grave?
“Cheng Orange.”
On the screen, Qiao Yunxue called out this name.
Sitting beside Shen Yao, Cheng Orange paused, thinking Qiao Yunxue was speaking to her in real time: “Are you calling me?”
Shen Yao quietly reminded her, “This is a recording.”
Qiao Yunxue continued, “That girl’s name is Cheng Orange. She’s nothing like me—she’s bursting with boundless energy, always optimistic and upbeat. I regret offending her, and I hope you can complete the rest of your journey with her at your side.”
Cheng Orange’s cheeks turned red. “What is she talking about?”
Qiao Yunxue went on, “Back to the point. I didn’t deceive you to trigger a burst of inspiration, and making your disorder flare up wasn’t meant to hurt you. In truth… I only wanted to use your Urban Legend Disorder to spark my own inspiration. I’ve already determined my mother is in the Zero Dimension. I just need to find a way to get there, and my task—our agreement—will be fulfilled.”
Cheng Orange’s face was full of confusion: “???”
Shen Yao whispered, “I’ll explain later.”
“Thanks to your help, I realized that dying at the hands of Strangeness lets one reach the Zero Dimension. No—‘reach’ isn’t quite right. Maybe it’s more like ‘ascend’? The body dies, and the spirit, emotions, and memories ascend to another dimension, where they take on a new form. Of course, this is just my speculation. Even if it’s only speculation, I’m willing to bet my life on it. I know what you’ll say: taking spirit, emotion, and memory into another dimension is basically becoming a Strangeness, right? Maybe so. I’ve already prepared myself for that.”
“There’s nothing left in this vast world to hold me back—why stay bound by my own cocoon, never seeing the sun or the moon? As thanks, I’ll leave you a quarter of the Campbell Family Fortune. Within a month, someone will come to make the arrangements with you. This is what I promised you from the start. I said I’d give you money—a lot of money, more than you could ever spend. Now I’ve fulfilled my promise.”
Shen Yao frowned. Money, money, money—was that all this woman had? Yes, in social circles, she was hopeless; in her family, she was alienated and alone. All she had left was money.
“And those Milk Tablets I gave you are my favorite brand. Medicine is always bitter—I hate taking it. That’s why I’d eat a few Milk Tablets after my medicine. Sweet things made me feel there was still goodness in the world, that life wasn’t so bad after all. So I swapped out the contents of the Medicine Box for Milk Tablets, hoping you’ll keep your spirits up in the future.”
“If you keep a good attitude, your symptoms will naturally improve. I believe that, with time, and with people who love you by your side, your Urban Legend Disorder will eventually disappear. Don’t take medicine—medicine only gives a false sense of relief. Once you stop, the crushing weight of despair will break even those who think they’re strong. That’s just… a tiny bit of my experience.”
“And finally, Shen Yao, let me be blunt—you have terrible taste in women. If possible, I hope you’ll be a bit more careful and not fall for someone like me again.” She gave a mournful smile. “I wish you health and happiness. Never become someone like Qiao Yunxue.”
The screen went black, and the recording ended. Shen Yao sat there in a daze, unable to recover for a long time.
Cheng Orange scooted closer to him. She didn’t want to ask what had happened between Qiao Yunxue and Shen Yao. All she cared about was one thing: “Shen Yao, are you sick?”
Being sick—it’s painful. The body feels weak, dizzy, and you’re forced to take medicine and injections.
Shen Yao snapped back to himself. “Sick… I am sick. Not physically, but in my heart.”
Cheng Orange said softly, “Don’t be like Qiao Yunxue, okay?”
“Cheng Orange…”
“Suddenly sending someone a Testament is really scary,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m so afraid you’ll do that one day, too. Shen Yao, let the past be the past. From now on, you’ll have your aunt, and me, and my mom and dad to support you, okay?”
“You promised you’d take me to the Milk Ice Cream Shop every day this summer. You can’t break that promise.” She went on, “And… you said you’d beat me in Street Fighter. Until you do, don’t be like Qiao Yunxue, alright?”
Shen Yao’s heart trembled. The deep yet steadfast feelings of his childhood friend flowed into him like a tear. Did Cheng Orange sense the ‘Disease’ in his heart? Was that why she suddenly showed up with her game console that day… trying to give him a reason to live… with her simple, honest way?
Shen Yao wanted to hug her, but didn’t dare reach out. “Alright… I promise you.”
Cheng Orange looked toward the DVD player. “And what about her?”
“Her?”
“Qiao Yunxue.”
Shen Yao took a deep breath. “She… is even sicker than I am. She’s beyond saving.”
“Is she still alive?”
“I don’t know.”
Cheng Orange was silent for a long time, looking at Shen Yao’s profile. “Shen Yao, what will you do?”
What will I do?
Should I do as I planned—toss the disc into the trash? Sneer at Qiao Yunxue? Wish I could swallow a pill of forgetfulness and erase the image of that red-haired girl from my mind?
But after hearing Qiao Yunxue’s laughable, shameful words, could he really make such a decision?
Laughable. Shameful. Laughable, for thinking she’d cracked the secret of the Strangeness; shameful, for choosing suicide to escape. In the end, Qiao Yunxue hadn’t changed at all. Since she’d made all these preparations, why go to the trouble of sending him the disc?
People are complicated beings. Just as Shen Yao yearned for death yet clung to life, wasn’t Qiao Yunxue the same? If she weren’t pitiful, hateful, and sad, how would she find inspiration? If she were truly bent on death, why would she care about feelings?
He was sick to the bone; Qiao Yunxue was beyond cure. She was right—they were comrades in illness, people dragging each other down as they drowned.
She was missing him, in her own unique way. She didn’t know how to express herself. She was mentally ill. She was a pitiable nobody. Because of her longing, she did all these unnecessary things.
Shen Yao stood up straight. “I’m going to find her.”
“Shen Yao…”
“People who threaten suicide at the first sign of trouble are just foolish.” Shen Yao said, “Even though I can’t stand her right now, I can’t just watch a living person disappear like this. So I’m going to find her—if she’s still alive.”
He muttered, “And once I find her, I’m going to give her a huge slap, vent my anger at her lies, and teach her what it really means to live.”
Cheng Orange stood up too, eyes shining with resolve. “Shen Yao, I’ll go with you.”
“Cheng Orange… you…”
“I am curious about what she meant by Strangeness and Zero Dimension, but I know you’ll tell me someday.” She nodded firmly. “The priority now is to save someone who might take their own life. She may have offended me, but that’s not a reason to die. Let’s save her first.”
As expected of his childhood friend—their views were almost perfectly aligned.
Shen Yao was deeply moved. “Thank you, Cheng Orange. Once we find her, alive or dead, I’ll tell you everything, every single detail—nothing left out!”
Cheng Orange grinned, showing her neat, white teeth. “Why thank me? Don’t forget, the Tyrannosaurus Team will always stand together!” She made a phone-call gesture as she spoke.
The so-called Tyrannosaurus Team had always been the two of them, an unbreakable team.
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