She crouched there silently. I was sure — she had moved just a moment ago!
It felt as if an invisible hand was gently pressing against my icy back. The urge to cross the road vanished from my mind. Instead, I pushed my bike straight past the stop line.
The streetlight was far too dim, and that only deepened my fear… I wasn't particularly brave, but I still edged closer. When I was about a foot away, I could finally make out what the black figure was — it was a person. More precisely… a girl!
She sat motionless, arms wrapped around her legs, crouched on the ground. I guessed she was a girl from the shoulder-length strands of long hair that hung down. I stood frozen for a long time before cautiously asking:
"Excuse me… do you need any help?"
She didn't respond. I repeated, "Do you need help?"
The usual noise of the road had vanished. With the two of us not speaking, only the wind whistled around us — the atmosphere was chillingly eerie. I felt a little uncomfortable. What was I doing, getting involved with some stranger in the middle of the night?
I turned my bike around, deciding to let her be and mind my own business. But just then, she spoke.
"No need."
Her voice was colder than the night itself. It sent a shiver straight to my soul.
Now I was sure — she was a girl. Judging by her voice, she couldn't be very old.
My mind wandered into stories that only appeared in those old thread-bound books from ancient times — like the one where the scholar Ning Caichen meets a female ghost named Nie Xiaoqian on the road while delivering a letter…
Just then, the girl began to sob softly — a low, sorrowful wail that snapped me right back to reality.
My heart trembled. Honestly, her crying did frighten me a little. But I could tell… she needed help. And I was the only one around to offer it.
"Don't cry, little sister. Did something happen? Are you in trouble?"
I crouched down beside her. Forgive me for being so forward — I reached out to gently place a hand on her shoulder, just to show her I meant no harm.
Her body was ice-cold and trembling.
Under the dim streetlight, I saw her face clearly — and was stunned.
Beneath that curtain of silky black hair was a face of breathtaking beauty. Her eyes looked hollow and worn. She wore a loose sweater. From her outfit and age — maybe around 20, not much younger than me — she looked like a university student.
And despite the strange situation, I couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful she was.
She sniffled.
Because of her beauty, my voice shook slightly:"Wh-what happened to you?"