Su Ya ran into Zhang Ming when she got off the bus at the medical school gate.
She knew Zhang Ming. Zhang Ming had approached her several times, posing as a literature enthusiast, seeking to discuss literary creation and strongly inviting her to join the literature department. But she had no interest in such matters, much less the desire to discuss literary creation with this short, frail boy. She never gave him a friendly look. She wrote simply because she loved it; it was her private matter, none of anyone else's business.
The rain was still falling.
Su Ya, without an umbrella, walked quickly, hoping to get back to her dorm quickly.
The distance from the medical school gate to the girls' dormitory was four or five hundred meters. No matter how fast she walked, she couldn't avoid being drenched by the icy rain.
Just then, an umbrella appeared over her head.
Su Ya didn't even have to think, knowing the person holding the umbrella was the ungrateful Zhang Ming.
She turned around, and sure enough, there was Zhang Ming standing behind her, standing on tiptoe to hold the umbrella for her. The umbrella wasn't big, and Zhang Ming was so preoccupied with shielding Su Ya from the rain that his own body was completely exposed, soaking wet like a poor drowned rat.
He smiled at Su Ya and stammered, "Don't be angry. I didn't mean any harm. I just saw you didn't have an umbrella, and I was worried you'd get sick from the rain."
Su Ya, however, didn't appreciate it. She looked at him coldly, snorted, and continued walking quickly.
Zhang Ming hopped after her, trying his best to keep his umbrella over her. He looked like a skinny monkey jumping in the rain, a comical sight on campus, drawing sidelong glances from both boys and girls, some of whom couldn't help but laugh.
Su Ya stopped again, glaring at Zhang Ming. "I say, you're so boring! How can you stop?"
Zhang Ming's face flushed red. Like a wronged child, he stared at her silently, his eyes wandering, as if he wanted to say something but didn't know how.
Su Ya, fearing he'd keep pestering her, said, "Forget it. Just lend me your umbrella, okay?"
"Okay, okay..." Zhang Ming hurriedly handed Su Ya the umbrella. His hands were still trembling slightly with excitement.
Su Ya took the umbrella, ignored him, and headed straight for the dormitory.
Zhang Ming didn't dare get too close to her, fearing she'd get angry, so he could only follow her from a distance.
Soon, Su Ya returned to the girls' dormitory.
It was already dark by then, and as per custom, boys were not allowed to enter the girls' dormitory. The girls' dormitory manager, Sister Zhang, was standing guard at the entrance.
Su Ya paused at the entrance to the girls' dormitory, turned around, and waved to Zhang Ming behind her.
Zhang Ming, overjoyed, ran over at the speed of a 100-meter sprint.
"Back to your umbrella!" Su Ya tossed it, not caring if he caught it, and walked in without a backward glance.
Zhang Ming stared at Su Ya's back in the rain, transfixed. Only after she vanished into the night did he remember to pick up his umbrella. He licked the rain from his lips, seemingly unsatisfied.
Su Ya returned to girls' dormitory 441, closed the doors and windows, and drew the curtains. She was soaked, her clothes clinging to her, heavy, and even climbing the stairs felt exhausting.
After changing and eating instant noodles, Su Ya slid into bed early. Although Zhang Ming looked unpleasant, he was right. If she got caught in the rain, she'd easily catch a cold. It would be best to get some rest. Besides, she was truly tired. Climbing mountains, riding buses, and getting wet in the rain—how could she not be tired?
Soon, she fell asleep.
In truth, Su Ya had never been one to fall asleep easily. She had always suffered from mild neurasthenia. Not only was it difficult for her to fall asleep, but even when she managed to do so, the slightest movement around her would wake her.
But tonight, perhaps because she was so tired, or perhaps because the bed was so warm, she slept exceptionally soundly.
In her sleep, she suddenly heard strange sounds.
It was as if someone was whispering softly in her ear, like the whispers of a spring breeze, or the chirping of a bird in an empty mountain valley—very pleasant.
She loved hearing that sound, and deep down, she seemed to echo it.
The sound continued, like a tranquil pastoral landscape painting, green and blue, fresh and natural, and exuding the fragrance of earth.
What was this sound, so beautiful?
Su Ya felt as if immersed in a gurgling spring, washing away all her worries and unhappiness. She had never felt so comfortable, her skin relaxed and breathable.
Su Ya pulled herself together and opened her eyes.
She saw Guo Qinglong—her childhood sweetheart, the man she had longed for so long.
"Is that you, Xiaolong?"
"It's me."
"Why are you here?"
"Silly boy, I'm here to pick you up."
"Pick me up?"
"Yes, come here. Once we cross this line, we can live happily together."
Guo Qinglong stood as tall and straight as ever, his smile as captivating as ever.
Su Ya looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes, and suddenly she laughed again, a laugh of unbridled joy.
"It's really you! You really came back to pick me up!"
She lunged for him, but found nothing.
Guo Qinglong's body seemed insubstantial, like air. Although he was before her, she could not feel him at all.
"Don't go. Wait for me—"
"I'm waiting for you, silly."
Guo Qinglong was still in front of her, just a little further away.
Su Ya hurried over and took Guo Qinglong's hand.
His hand was so warm and strong.
"Let's go."
Guo Qinglong took her hand and slowly walked forward.
There was a wall ahead.
"Let's go. Once we get over this wall, we can be together forever."
"Really?"
"Really."
Guo Qinglong added, "When have I ever lied to you?"
Yes, he had never lied to himself.
How could Su Ya not believe him?
The wall was short and gray; climbing it wasn't difficult.
Guo Qinglong climbed over it and urged her from the other side, "Come on."
Su Ya slowly walked to the wall, put her hand on it, and gently stepped over.
She sat on the wall, gazing over the other side.
Beyond the wall lay a paradise on earth: a palace loomed faintly amidst the curling mist, jade-like flowers and trees, divine birds and beasts, a riot of color and splendor, and pairs of celestial lovers lingered there.
Su Ya didn't know that she wasn't actually sitting on the wall, but on the balcony railing of girls' dormitory 441. If she rolled over, she would plummet from the fourth floor, shattered to pieces.
Guo Qinglong's voice continued to urge her on.
"Come on, Su Ya, there's no time. Turn over."
Su Ya slowly raised her leg, as if to cross over, but stopped mid-air.
She remembered something.
Su Ya's face was filled with bewilderment as she stared blankly at the fairyland beyond the low wall.
"What's wrong? Why haven't you come over yet?"
Guo Qinglong seemed angry.
Su Ya lowered her suspended leg and shook her head.
"No, I'm not going."
Su Ya seemed to have figured something out, sneering at Guo Qinglong's figure. "You're not Xiaolong."
"I'm not Xiaolong?"
Guo Qinglong looked heartbroken. "You've forgotten me, haven't you?"
"No, I've never forgotten Xiaolong. And precisely because I haven't forgotten him, I must keep my promise to him."
"What did you promise him?"
"I promised Xiaolong that I would live well."
Su Ya carefully slid down from the balcony railing, staring at the phantom before her. She smiled. "I don't know if I'm dreaming. But whether it's a dream or reality, I won't commit suicide. Just give up on it."
This time, Su Ya's smile was artificial, unnatural. She vaguely suspected that someone was controlling her mind.
It was definitely not a dream.
Dreams don't feel like this.
Precisely because it wasn't a dream, she felt the increasing danger of her situation.
Could it be that all those girls who committed suicide in the past had experienced something similar to her?
Is this the real reason they committed suicide?
Exploring the hidden worlds of others, exploiting their psychological weaknesses, and instigating them to commit suicide—what exactly did this person behind this plot want?
Guo Qinglong sighed, his figure gradually blurring and fading as he sighed, as if diluted by the air, until it finally vanished.
Su Ya rubbed her eyes, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing, yet she had to.
The wind started to pick up.
Su Ya felt a chill running through her bones. She shivered, her body limp, as if she had suddenly lost her strength.
The ground was hard and cold. This was just as well; at least it would help her wake up a little.
The world before her suddenly darkened.
What she had just seen seemed like a slide show.
Now, she was back in this world.
She was lying in the hall of girls' dormitory 441.
Then, she saw a figure approaching. Su Ya was startled. The figure approaching was undoubtedly a man. How could there be a man in the girls' dormitory 441?
Looking more closely, the figure appeared thin and short, and even vaguely familiar. Su Ya knew very few men in the medical school. She quickly searched her mind and finally locked onto a name: Zhang Ming.