Longing and Distortion

Mu Xin smiled softly, “Mr. Yi, please go as much as the second flooring.”

Yi Zhize nodded and adopted behind him.

He walked by means of the black and white chess board marble paved corridor and up the darkish wood spiral staircase to the higher flooring.

Whereas the bottom flooring was adorned in a method so darkish that it resembled a gothic citadel, the second flooring was much more miserable.

Yi Zhize had a premonition, as if he was transferring step-by-step in direction of one thing…

An unseen abyss.

“Right here we’re,” Mu Xin’s mild and nice voice broke the useless silence between them as he opened the door to a room, “that is it.”

Yi Zhize got here to the door and noticed the furnishings of the room.

With only one look, he broke into a chilly sweat.

This was not a recital corridor in any respect, however a cluttered examine.

There was a sandalwood desk in the course of the room, and behind it was an enormous backdrop.

The backdrop was densely coated with images, handwritten or printed materials of varied colors. All of them, with out exception, associated to him.

The hospital the place he was born, the deal with the place he used to dwell in B Metropolis, the place the place he went to elementary faculty.

Father, Yi Mingda, mom, Xie Qingmeng, grandfather, Xie Decheng.

His transcripts from highschool, college, and postgraduate research at UCL Regulation Faculty in London.

His first case at Ruizheng Regulation Agency, his favorite music, and the cafes he frequents.

Mu Xin leaned on the doorway, nonetheless sporting a slight smile, “Mr. Yi, are available in and sit for some time. Shall we have now a chat?”

Yi Zhize stared into his eyes, “There’s nothing to speak about. What do you imply by this?”

“I heard that Mr. Yi will not be in a great psychological state and may’t bear in mind issues. Out of concern for you, I rigorously looked for these supplies.” Mu Xin sat down on the couch contained in the examine, “I will help you bear in mind if you’d like.”

“I needn’t.” Yi Zhize rotated indifferently and was about to go downstairs.

“Do not you need to know the way Xie Qingmeng died?”

Listening to this, Yi Zhize paused.

It was solely a second earlier than he mentioned, “This has nothing to do with you.”

“Why nott?” Mu Xin’s smile took on a extra discernible hue: “On the twenty ninth of September 2002, it was raining so exhausting on Lijing Highway.”

Yi Zhize’s eyes had been detached, “You had been the one who delivered these letters to me.” After a second, he added, “What are you making an attempt to do?”

“Do you assume that it was simply an unusual accident?”

“What are you making an attempt to say?”

“That it is not,” Mu Xin’s voice dropped abruptly, “you’ve got been residing a lie.”

“I am sorry, however I am not all for listening to this rhetoric from you.” Yi Zhize mentioned, “Open the door.”

“You will not be capable to get out.”

Yi Zhize took out his cellphone and despatched a quick message to Ou Tingyun.

Why he was the primary particular person he considered, Yi Zhize himself did not perceive.

“On this villa, there is no sign.” Mu Xin smiled at him, “I’ve blocked the skin world, utterly.”

Yi Zhize regarded on the display of his cell phone, the place the ship icon saved rotating.

He walked into the room and all of the sudden lashed out, clutching Mu Xin’s collar and urgent him towards the cabinet, “Give me the important thing.”

“That is fascinating.” Mu Xin’s eyes lit up with a touch of sparkle: “I did not anticipate Mr. Yi to have this aspect.”

Yi Zhize repeated, “Give me the important thing.”

“You do not look something like him,” Mu Xin mentioned as they bought nearer, “I imply, Yi Minda. However you do seem like your mom. It is a disgrace she’s useless.”

“Shut up.”

“As a lot as I detest Yi Minda, I pity your mom.” Mu Xin regarded into Yi Zhize’s eyes, “She was harmless.”

Yi Zhize’s hand clutching his collar tightened, “Who the hell are you?”

“Actually, we share the identical illness, we had been each cursed to return into the world.” Mu Xin put his arm round Yi Zhize’s shoulder and whispered in his ear, “You killed your mom, I killed mine.”

Yi Zhize’s respiratory ruffled somewhat: “Cease it.”

“What? Did I say one thing incorrect?” He was clearly so shut, however Mu Xin’s voice sounded as if it was coming from far-off: “That automotive accident, it wasn’t an accident in any respect, it was a catastrophe attributable to Yi Mingda. However a mom is all the time prepared to sacrifice for her kids, that is why she died for you, how touching.”

Yi Zhize lowered his eyelids and his eyelashes trembled barely.

“That automotive accident was not solely about you, it was additionally about me. You misplaced your mom, and I misplaced mine. In my reminiscence, I can not even, cannot even bear in mind what she regarded like.” Mu Xin’s feelings all of the sudden turned elevated: “I’ve been drowning in a curse of loneliness, self-blame, longing, ridicule and disappointment; I am certain you do not really feel effectively both, it’s essential to perceive me?”

Yi Zhize let go of him wearily.

Mu Xin gently put his arm round his shoulders: “Within the drawer in my examine, there are two pistols, certainly one of which is loaded with bullets. Let’s play a recreation, we could? We’ll every select one and shoot at one another.”

Yi Zhize mentioned, “I refuse.”

Mu Xin smiled, “You possibly can’t refuse. As you’ll be able to see, I am a madman. In the event you do not play this recreation with me, I will go to your grandfather. Xie Decheng, proper? You maintain him in excessive regard, do not you?”

Yi Zhize’s eyes turned colder and he pursed his lips, not uttering a phrase as he checked out him indifferently.

“I’ve longed for such a day for a protracted, very long time. By destiny, we have now come into the world with our authentic sins on our backs. Then,” Mu Xin’s smile was as holy as a church priest’s, “I can be your choose and take you with me, again into purgatory and up into heaven.”

———

It was simply after midday, and Ou Tingyun had simply completed a gathering and was attending a banquet organised by the organisers.

On the banquet, some individuals couldn’t drink alcohol, in order that they requested for a carton of milk, simply the sort that Yi Zhize appreciated.

Ou Tingyun mentioned, “I am not consuming both, I am having milk right this moment.”

A colleague teased, “Who would not know that you’re a large drinker? Are you retiring for right this moment? I will organize for Xiao Wang to drive for you later.”

Ou Tingyun smiled and refused, “No want, simply take pleasure in yourselves.” He took a carton of milk, took an image and despatched it to Yi Zhize: [I had some of this for lunch, it’s very sweet.]

Yi Zhize did not reply.

However that was the norm, Ou Tingyun thought, there was nothing to answer to.

At 2 PM, when the banquet was over, he messaged Yi Zhize once more, [Zhize, what are your plans for the night?

Yi Zhize did not reply.

Maybe he was busy, Ou Tingyun thought, let’s wait somewhat longer.

When he bought residence, he went to his examine, turned on his laptop and browse the newest analysis within the psychology subject.

After studying a few pages, he could not resist taking out his cell phone and calling Yi Zhize.

Surprisingly, a mechanical feminine voice got here by means of: “Sorry, the quantity you will have known as is quickly unavailable, please strive once more later.”

When he known as once more, the identical tone rang in his ears, “Sorry, the quantity you will have known as is quickly unavailable, please strive once more later.”

Ou Tingyun remembered Anhe Mountain.

However Yi Zhize wouldn’t be there.

He remembered Xie Decheng had informed him that yearly, Yi Zhize solely went there as soon as.

At that second, the cellphone beeped and it was a message from Yi Zhize.

There have been solely three characters: SOS.