Chapter Fifteen: Night

I had originally intended to tell Han Xue about that girl to divert her attention, but unexpectedly, it brought about a pleasant surprise. Upon hearing the story, Han Xue stood up, clenched her fists, and declared, "I truly admire your online friend! To risk venturing alone into a lion’s den for someone she’s never even met—that takes real courage! With the reputation of Chen Stone and the Chen brothers, I’d never dare do the same. Most impressive of all, she managed to find this place just from your post, and then preserved herself in the midst of danger. Unimaginable! I certainly don’t have that kind of guts. Compared to her bravery, I, Han Xue, can’t afford to be so dispirited. So what if a ghost comes knocking? Is she going to eat this genius beauty?"

"Exactly, there’s nothing to be afraid of!" I cheered her on—not just for Han Xue, but also because I sincerely admired that online friend. In my heart, the girl had already surpassed my elder brother as a hero. My brother was formidable, yes, but sometimes too calculating and reserved, whereas that girl was the sort of righteous soul you only read about in books—ready to draw her sword at injustice.

Just then, a sharp pain suddenly shot through my arm. I turned to see Han Xue’s small hand pinching me again. "Han Xue, what are you doing?" I cried.

"You really have just an online friendship with that girl?" Han Xue looked at me with a cold smile.

"Of course!" I protested. Her pinches were always real—my arms were covered in bruises from her.

"Is she pretty?" Han Xue continued, her smile still cold.

"She is," I answered honestly.

Han Xue’s grip tightened. She snorted, "How pretty?"

Only then did I realize she was jealous. My heart soared with joy, though my arm throbbed with pain. I quickly replied, "Not as pretty as you—she’s nowhere near your level!"

Han Xue finally let go, muttering, "At least you know your place."

For some reason, her jealousy—even at the cost of a few days of bruises—banished the gloom in my heart. Rubbing my arm, I sighed, "A jealous woman really is a tiger!"

Han Xue feigned another attack, her face fierce. "Who are you calling a tiger?"

I dodged, pointed at her, and laughed, "So you admit you’re jealous?"

Her face flushed scarlet—delightfully so. She grabbed a book and hurled it at me, shouting, "Nonsense! Who’s jealous? Over a little nobody like you?"

I coughed and, seeing Han Xue so embarrassed, didn’t tease her further. Instead, I broached the matter we had to face. "Heroine, what are we doing tonight?"

"You’ll stay here," Han Xue said, steadying herself. "But I won’t be as frightened as before."

—That evening, I packed my things and headed to the school again. My mother asked where I was going; I simply told her I’d be staying at the village committee overnight. When I arrived at the school, I was going to make up a bed in the room next to Han Xue’s dormitory. Unexpectedly, Han Xue said, "Come to my room and sleep on the floor."

"What?" I was stunned.

"Don’t act surprised—you’re delighted, aren’t you?" Han Xue said, picking up my bedding and walking off. I hurried after her. Of course, my heart was full of joy, but I also felt a pang of concern. No matter what she said, Han Xue was still a girl, and facing such things at night, she was bound to be scared. I resolved that, if the fool came again tonight, I would be brave for Han Xue’s sake—to give her a sense of security.

Han Xue laid my bedding by the door, lit a mosquito coil nearby, and hid herself snugly inside her mosquito net. Naturally, I did nothing inappropriate, though it was rather awkward for me. To cover my embarrassment, I kept chatting with Han Xue, racking my brain for jokes.

Time passed swiftly, and before we knew it, midnight arrived.

Han Xue gradually shrank into the corner by the wall, while I smoked one cigarette after another. By then, neither of us felt like talking. Though silent, we both knew we were waiting for midnight.

What was destined to come would surely arrive.

When I was halfway through my last cigarette, the wind chime at Han Xue’s bedside began to clang loudly again. Han Xue buried her head in her knees, trembling all over.

I tightened my grip on the stick in my hand, sweat pouring from my brow, and glanced toward the window.

Outside, a shadow with long hair stood there. I could feel her eyes fixed on Han Xue and me inside the room.

I looked back at trembling Han Xue, crushed the cigarette out in my palm—the searing pain brought clarity—and, gripping the stick, stood up, facing the window. "Fool, if you have a problem, come at me! We have no grievances—why frighten a young girl?"

The fool stood outside the door, motionless.

I took a deep breath and walked toward the door. As my hand touched the handle, Han Xue called out behind me, voice trembling with tears, "Yezi, don’t go out!"

I turned to look at Han Xue—her big, watery eyes stared at me. At that moment, I felt as if I were marching to my death. The words I’d always kept inside, afraid to speak, I feared I’d never have another chance, so I let go of all hesitation. I nodded to her and said, "If I can’t protect the woman I love, what kind of man am I?"

With that, I opened the door and stepped outside.

The moonlight shone brightly.

Under the moon, the fool stood opposite me, dressed in a white burial shroud, her whole body drenched. Her long, jet-black hair hung to her waist; her face was deathly pale, her eyes showing only the whites.

She stood there, the chill and suffocating presence washing over me.

On her face, she wore that unforgettable smile.

I faced her, my legs trembling uncontrollably. I wanted to flee, but couldn’t. In the end, I raised my stick.

I opened my mouth, voice shaking, and said to the fool, "When I was little, I couldn’t pull you out—now I can."

The fool twisted her head as she heard me, her pupil-less eyes staring at me, and gradually, two lines of tears streamed down her cheeks.

Those tears were blood—bloody tears.

I took another deep breath. The stick in my hand wasn’t for self-defense—I was gambling. When I was a child, the fool remembered my attempt to help her in her dying moments; I was betting she still remembered now.

And her bloody tears said it all.

"If you still remember how I tried to save you as a child, then don’t come again," I said, looking at the fool.

She stared at me, the blood tears making her face even more terrifying. Slowly, she unwrapped her clothes, revealing the gaping wound in her belly.

That bloody hole was shocking.

I was instantly transported back to that night twenty years ago. That night, Chen Stone was right in front of me, and before my eyes, he cut open the fool’s belly and took away her child.

Now, the fool was showing me this, telling me that the debt of gratitude had already been repaid when she was cut open twenty years ago—this was my instinctive understanding.

Yet, no matter what, I would not allow her to harm Han Xue. I dropped the stick, knelt before the fool, and pleaded, "None of this has anything to do with her! Fool, you’re a woman too, and I pity you, but you shouldn’t hurt her!"

The fool made no move, but when I looked up, she had vanished, leaving only a puddle of water on the ground as proof she’d been there.

Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief; as the tension ebbed, I collapsed onto the ground like a heap of mud. With my last ounce of strength, I said to Han Xue, "It’s all right—she’s gone."

Han Xue rushed out, knelt beside me, and helped me up. Then, to my utter astonishment, she pressed her pale lips against mine.

A jolt of electricity coursed through my body.

I held her tightly, both of us still trembling.

This moment—I had dreamed of it for so long.

But unlike the passionate kisses on TV, this perfect moment was ruined by our awkwardness—our teeth collided again and again.

Han Xue’s face was still streaked with tears, but blushing crimson.

I was so excited I didn’t know what to do with my hands and feet.

"Is that a yes?" I asked hopefully.

"Idiot! It’s just your reward!" Han Xue shot me a look.

—We returned to the room and took half an hour to calm ourselves. Just as I thought the night was over, Han Xue picked up a flashlight. "Come with me."

"What for?" I was surprised.

"You’ll see soon enough. I told you—I’ll be an invincible beauty!" Han Xue said.

Once outside, Han Xue climbed onto the roof of her dormitory and retrieved a mobile phone, which was still recording.

I instantly understood—she had filmed the fool coming to her window! I exclaimed, "If this gets out, it’ll shock the world! Han Xue, you’re brilliant!"

Han Xue replied smugly, "Did you think I was just talking during the day?"

Then, she led me to the school gate, where she had placed a small camera on top. It was recording as well.

I recognized that camera—Han Xue usually used it to record students’ extracurricular activities. When she first brought it here, the students were fascinated, and even the villagers were curious, thinking it would put them on TV. Whenever Han Xue aimed it at them, their faces turned bright red.