Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The three of them entered the house, a spacious three-hundred-square-meter residence. As soon as they stepped inside, they seemed to be enveloped in a rich atmosphere reminiscent of ancient books. On the walls hung Xu Beihong's Eight Steeds Painting, along with some unknown calligraphy and scrolls. The living room was tidy and well-organized, with simple yet elegant furnishings that reflected a taste for luxury without ostentation.
"Please, have a seat. What would you like to drink?" The old man's warm and friendly tone made it impossible for anyone to feel any sense of restraint. The three of them politely smiled and waved their hands to decline. However, the old man still brought them a plate of candies and snacks, placing them on the Tea Table before sitting down on the sofa, his meaningful gaze sweeping over them.
"Are you Ziya?" His scholarly gaze finally settled on Ziya, who felt a wave of unease wash over her. Just moments ago, she had felt at ease, but under his intense scrutiny, her cheeks began to flush slightly.
"Yes, that's me." Her delicate voice came out somewhat dry. Seeing Sun Meng and Liang Chao sitting together in perfect harmony made her feel a pang of sourness in her heart.
"Wait a moment; I have something for you." The old man said as he stood up and walked into the bedroom. Liang Chao and Sun Meng exchanged glances, both curious about the large LCD television hanging on the wall. Yet, they hesitated to reach for the remote control and felt too shy to grab any snacks from the fruit platter. Liang Chao's stomach was already grumbling since he had woken up early without having time for breakfast, having been hurried out by someone.
The old man returned from the bedroom and sat down again, pulling out a brocade glasses case from beneath the Tea Table. With a click, he opened the case and put on his glasses, then looked at his phone beneath his eyes for several seconds before saying to Ziya, "Ziya, take a look at this message."
"A message?" Ziya was startled but did not reach out to take it. Instead, she cast her gaze towards Liang Chao, who was whispering with Sun Meng. She thought to herself: This phone belongs to him; what right do I have to look at it?
"Why aren't you eating? Go ahead! These are some snacks I bought earlier; Nannan used to love these treats—she would munch on them while playing on the computer. Ah! Since you're here today, help yourselves!" The old man's words caught Liang Chao off guard; he had been eager to reach for something to eat but suddenly felt uncomfortable, realizing that Zhou Chen's grandfather was getting confused about his grandson...
"Look! These are his belongings... his belongings... his belongings..." Ziya exclaimed in disbelief as she pointed at Liang Chao.
"Nannan is here; Grandpa is confused—he is Zhou Chen..." Ziya's words left the other three astonished. Seeing her clearly losing control of her emotions, Sun Meng quickly called for Zhou Chen's grandfather to bring a towel, ready to apply it coldly to Ziya's forehead in case she lost control completely.
"Child, I know you are a good kid. When I heard about my grandson's death, I was devastated. Afterward, with your parents' concern and knowing how heartbroken you were—your mental state crumbled several times—I decided today was the day to tell you the truth with your parents' agreement. But then they had something come up and sent your friends instead..." The old man maintained his kind demeanor as he patiently explained to Ziya, whose expression had drastically changed.
"No! You're all lying to me! You... and you... are treating me like a three-year-old child!" Ziya cried out with tears streaming down her face, pointing angrily at Liang Chao and Sun Meng.
"I didn't lie to you, he is Liang Chao, Liang Chao... Just look closely. Your senior has died..." Sun Meng forcefully wiped a wet towel across Ziya's face, but Ziya kept pushing her away. The two girls were entangled in the living room. Liang Chao and the old man stood by, unable to intervene, watching their actions in shock.
"Why... why did you deceive me... I am your friend, I..." Ziya looked at Sun Meng and Liang Chao with tear-filled eyes, suddenly pulling the wet towel away and waving her hands, rejecting Sun Meng's comfort.
At that moment, the old man, who had been watching coldly, stepped forward and slapped the emotionally unstable Ziya hard. He then shouted loudly, "What are you suffering for? I should be the one in pain! My grandson died right in front of you! You are stubborn and obstinate, causing your parents and friends to worry about you. Whether you feel guilty or pretend to be crazy, the bottom line is that you must live well. This was my precious grandson's request of you before he passed. Qin Nannan is gone, Zhou Chen is gone; what you see and hear are just your own inner demons at work." The old man's thunderous words stunned Ziya, who was grappling with Sun Meng.
"Drink some water," said the round-faced Doll Face sincerely as she offered a cup filled with deep concern. The old man returned to the sofa, adjusted his glasses, and sighed heavily.
"Child, your grandfather is buried up to his neck in the earth. I was once young too and had passionate romances. But I never experienced the kind of suffering you all are going through. My late wife died of illness; if only she hadn't suffered from such a terrible disease!"
The old man's response left the three young people feeling a wave of oppression. They had come to help Ziya today but ended up bringing out the old man's hidden pain. At a loss for words to comfort him, they decided to change the subject.
Liang Chao pulled Sun Meng closer to Ziya and pushed Zhou Chen's phone in front of her, saying, "Ziya, when we met at the News Agency, I thought you were looking at me because my face wasn't clean. If I had known you mistook me for Zhou Chen, I would have explained it to you on the way; it's all my fault."
"No, I was wrong; thank you," Ziya murmured softly as she wiped away her tears. She reached for the phone on the Tea Table and examined it closely; the date matched closely with when the incident occurred. On the phone was an unfamiliar number that had sent a message: "I don't know what happened." Looking at this message made her spine tingle with anxiety as a chill crept up from her heels.
Comment 0 Comment Count