Deserted Village Apartments

Chapter 28 No.20 Five Days

In the morning, I woke up very late, and found that Xiaoqian had left the deserted village apartment, and must have gone to work at the ice cream shop.

After breakfast, I sat alone for a while. What did Xiaoqian mean to me last night?She said she knew Xiaozhi, maybe they knew each other before Xiaozhi died.Or, Xiaoqian has a special ability to see things in the past time and space?No, isn't that the same as this jade ring?I remember that when I first met Xiaoqian, she always appeared in the subway, so I described her feelings in the subway in such detail.

I imagined countless possibilities, but I overturned them one by one.Finally, I decided to track down what happened to the twigs.

When I just returned to Shanghai from the barren village a few months ago, I went to the university where Xiaozhi was studying to find her.But it turned out that Xiaozhi died in a subway accident more than a year ago.It is said that when the subway train entered the station, she fell off the platform and unfortunately died on the spot.But that time, due to the lack of time, I only asked the school's Academic Affairs Office, but now I'm going to find Xiaozhi's classmates.

In the afternoon, I rushed to the university where Xiaozhi had studied.After several inquiries, I found the girls' dormitory where Xiaozhi lived before his death.But the old lady who was watching the door downstairs wouldn't let me in. Fortunately, I knew a teacher from that university. With his help and intercession, I found Xiaozhi's former dormitory.

There are three girls in the dormitory, one with long hair, one with short hair, and one with dyed blonde hair.I introduced myself to them first, and they immediately yelled. It turned out that they had also read "Desolate Village" in the fourth issue of "Sprouting".The long-haired girl called out first: "Have you really seen Xiaozhi's ghost?"

I shook my head helplessly and said, "It's just a novel, don't take it seriously."

Next, they asked many questions about the novel "Desolate Village", which I can only explain as fiction.Finally, I couldn't wait any longer, so I interrupted their questions: "Okay, I'm here today to inquire about Xiaozhi."

The short-haired girl asked, "You really don't know Xiaozhi?"

"I've already said, I only know Xiaozhi's name, I don't even know what she looks like."

"Well, Xiaozhi is our classmate and our roommate. We are all very sad about her death." The girl who dyed her hair blond was talking, she lowered her head and recalled, "Remember three years ago, we When I first came to the school to register, I found a very beautiful girl among us. Although she came from a remote country, she was not rustic at all. She said her name was Ouyang Xiaozhi. What an enviable name."

"Can you tell me more about what kind of person she is?"

The long-haired girl took up the topic: "Maybe, it's because Xiaozhi's natural temperament is different, she gives people a feeling of being unattainable. Many boys secretly like her, and to be honest, it makes us all jealous , but it seems that no boy can be seen by her. When facing boys, she is always cold and cold, and she also gives us good opportunities, which is not something ordinary girls can do. "

"So, how does she usually get along with you?"

"Xiaozhi is a very good girl. Her understanding often makes me feel very ashamed. It's just that she is always thinking about something, so she looks very introverted. In fact, she also tries to talk like us in the dormitory. , Sometimes I don't think there is anything strange about her, but her eyes do have a taste of otherworldly things."

"Doesn't eat fireworks? Isn't this Liaozhai?" I suddenly thought of Xiaoqian.

The short-haired girl said: "Yes, her eyes are always different from others. No matter how close she is to us, she can't get rid of her temperament. And she likes to read ancient books, such as "Liao Zhai", " Reading Wei Caotang Notes", "Yuefu Poetry Collection", "Sou Shen Ji", "Dream of Red Mansions", a few lines from "Dream of Red Mansions" pop out of her mouth from time to time, we all say that she is a natural student of the Chinese department .”

The girl who dyed her hair rushed to say: "But what's even more strange is that Xiaozhi often said that she could dream about some strange things. Once, when we were building a house behind our dormitory building, she said that she made a Dream, in the dream, a man and a woman committed suicide. Sure enough, a few days later, the bones of a man and a woman were dug out from the ground. It is said that they have been buried for more than 70 years. Also, she often said that she dreamed of a girl hiding in the girls' toilet Crying in the bathroom made us afraid to go to the toilet in the middle of the night. We only found out later that a girl committed suicide in the toilet a few years ago."

"That means she can see ghosts in her dreams? Are you afraid?"

"Of course I'm scared. Think about a witch who can see ghosts lying next to you. Can you not be afraid? So, we all avoided her in the end, and she was the only one every time I went to the bathroom, because no one else Dare to follow her. Sometimes we dare not even go back to the dormitory to sleep, and even the things she used are taboo. Once she flipped through a book of mine, and then I didn’t dare to read that book again, so I Burn it quietly. Xiaozhi was very sad when she found out about this, and she cried secretly several times. Oh, now that I think about it, I really feel sorry for her, but it’s useless to feel guilty.”

I also sighed, feeling sad for Xiaozhi: "Yes, you reject her so much and treat her like a witch, it will definitely make her very sad."

The long-haired girl interjected: "Just a few days before her accident, she said that she would dream of the subway every night, dreaming that she was shuttling in the subway car and speeding down with the subway. Unexpectedly, a few days later, she It actually happened in the subway—"

Having said that, she suddenly choked up.The short-haired girl put her arms around her shoulders and said: "Yes, we never thought that she would die. Thinking about the anger she suffered when she was alive, we were all shocked and deeply regretful. When she died For the first few months after that, we slept with the light on every night, afraid that her ghost would come to us for revenge. Of course, there would be no ghosts, and Twig couldn't be that kind of person. She was so kind and kind. Gentle and never hurt anyone - except herself."

Seeing their sad appearance, I can only comfort them and say: "Don't blame yourself anymore, and Xiaozhi doesn't want to see her roommates sad. Maybe, all this is doomed, Xiaozhi and this world are different. Misfits, the seed of tragedy has long been planted. By the way, do you have a picture of the twig?"

"I have a few more."

The girl with the dyed hair turned around and took out a stack of photos from her bag, and managed to find a few.When I took a look at Xiaozhi's photo, it felt like someone had punched me hard.

——She is clearly Xiaoqian.

I immediately rubbed my eyes.No, I am absolutely not mistaken, the photo is very clear, Xiaozhi (Xiaoqian) is wearing a long white dress, with a slender figure and long black hair.Her charming face, the line of her chin, the outline of her face, and those faint eyes, shining with a touch of sadness, are no different from Xiaoqian, they are the same person at all!
What is going on?Does Xiaozhi have twin sisters?No, twin sisters are not so alike.I gently stroked the twig (Xiaoqian) in the photo, my hands were trembling, and even the jade ring was faintly tightened.All three girls saw something was wrong, and they asked me: "What's wrong?"

All I could do was smile awkwardly and say, "Nothing. Can I take this photo back with me?"

The girl with dyed hair shrugged: "Okay, no problem."

"Thank you."

I immediately stuffed the photos into my bag, and after thanking them, I hurried out and left the university.

When I hurried back to the deserted village apartment, the sky was already full of stars.I trotted all the way up to the second floor, and pushed open the door heavily, only to find that Xiaoqian was already waiting for me.

There was still dim candlelight in the room, she looked back at me coldly, but didn't say a word.

I confronted her like this for a moment, then pulled out the picture of the twig from my bag.I handed the photo to her and said, "Who is this person?"

She looked down at the photo, and replied blankly: "This person is me."

"Let me tell you—her name is Xiaozhi, and she died in a subway accident more than a year ago." Then, I took a step forward and met her eyes and asked, "Then you who?"

Her eyes finally softened, and she said softly, "My name is Ouyang Xiaozhi."

Ouyang Xiaozhi?Although I had already made some psychological preparations, I was still stunned. I couldn't believe that this possibility would really become a reality, and I couldn't believe that the girl in front of me had already passed away.

"No, don't say that. This is just your imagination. Your name is Nie Xiaoqian. You came out of Mr. Pu Songling's "Liao Zhai"."

However, she shook her head in pain, showing a guilty expression: "Sorry, I lied to you from the beginning, or I lied to myself. My name is Ouyang Xiaozhi, but I have been trying to forget my Name, forget my past, forget my hometown deserted village. I want to have a brand new life, so I want a brand new name, this name is Nie Xiaoqian. I hope I become Nie Xiaoqian, because she used to be the most miserable person in the world Girl, but after she met Ning Caichen, she became the happiest woman, and you are my Ning Caichen."

"Become Nie Xiaoqian. If I remember correctly, Nie Xiaoqian was originally a dead woman, but she was given a chance to be reborn because of love."

She finally smiled and nodded: "Yes, this is my dream."

"No, that's just a fiction, it's impossible to become a reality."

"Yes, I didn't realize until last night that Xiaozhi is Xiaozhi, and Xiaozhi can never become Xiaoqian." At this point, she choked up again.

Suddenly, my lips trembled and I asked, "You—are you really Xiaozhi?"

"Yes, I am Ouyang Xiaozhi. My father's name is Ouyang Jiaming. I was born in a place called a deserted village. Our family has an old mansion with many strange traditions and rules. When I was very young, I My mother passed away. My father raised me alone. I know he loves me very much and has always regarded me as his pride. However, I don’t like my hometown in the bottom of my heart. The deserted village is so isolated and the customs are so different. So conservative, living in that kind of place will have no future. The reason why I studied hard since I was a child is to leave the barren village one day. Finally, I was admitted to a university in Shanghai. Back to the barren village, I want to get rid of the shadow of the barren village forever, fly freely in the city, and find my own world."

"Yeah, you can do it."

She took a deep breath: "I once thought that my future would be bright, that I could become good friends with my classmates and fully integrate into this society. But I soon found out that I was wrong. They are different, I am so different, no matter how hard I try to change myself, but I am always out of tune with the outside world. So, I am getting more and more sad, often dreaming about some strange things, and these things often appear again It became a fact. My classmates said that I can see ghosts and that I am a seductive witch. They dare not talk to me. They avoid me all the time and often leave me alone in the dormitory overnight. .No matter how friendly I am, no matter how good my academic performance is, it can't change their impression of me."

"I can understand that you must be in great pain."

"Of course it is painful, but what can I do? I don't hate my classmates. I never hate anyone. I only hate myself. Why was I born in a deserted village? Why was I born in Ouyang's family? Put it on my father, my father often wrote me letters, but I never replied. No matter how much my father begged, I never went back to the deserted village every winter and summer vacation. He mentioned the secrets of the deserted village several times, and he asked me to go home once during the vacation so that he could tell me all the secrets of the deserted village.”

I immediately asked anxiously, "Didn't he tell you in the letter?"

"No, my father must tell me himself, but I have made up my mind not to go back to the deserted village, so I never know what the family secret is." She shook her head in pain and closed her eyes, "Later, I gradually I found that only in the subway car can I feel free. When the subway is running wildly in the dark tunnel, I feel my heart fly together. Only then I am free, without those pointing eyes , without the shadow of my desolate hometown, I am the only one left dancing in the world.”

"And then something happened in the subway?"

"I don't know what that is, I just feel that I don't hurt at all, but I floated high, and then I came to a completely dark world." Between the flickering of candlelight, she narrated so calmly, as if in Talking about something in daily life, "It was just a momentary feeling. I don't know how long later, I suddenly woke up and found myself lying under the dark platform. I stood up slowly, feeling myself It was still the same as in the past, I was wandering on the platform, but no one could see me. The train was speeding into the station, and I walked in with the flow of people, standing in the crowded carriage, still no one saw me. Since then, I have been shuttling between the subways, and the speeding subway trains take me straight through the underground world of this city every day."

"You traveled back and forth underground for over a year?"

"Yes, I got to know you later and fell in love with your novels. I was about to forget who I am, but after reading your novel "Desolate Village", I gradually remembered something. So , I found you in various ways, and I want you to see me."

"But how did you do it, why didn't I see you in the past?"

"Because, as long as you think of me in your heart, then you will see me."

"I understand, that's why you first sent me EMAIL, and then called me to harass me." I also understood why I felt being followed in the subway at that time, and why I thought of "" Liaozhai", because she has made me think of "Nie Xiaoqian" in my heart, "Yes, you did it, when you were still called Nie Xiaoqian."

"Now, all I can say is thank you. Thank you for being with me these days and thank you for making me feel something special."

I suddenly asked stupidly: "What is that?"

"Don't you understand yet?"

In fact, I have already understood, that is - love.

"Twigs—"

I finally called out the name, these two words have been brewing in my throat for a long time.

"Thank you, thank you." Xiaozhi also nodded, tears had blurred her eyes, "I'm sorry, now that I have recalled everything, I am no longer your Nie Xiaoqian, but the last of the ancient Ouyang family. The heir is Ouyang Xiaozhi."

"No, whether you are Nie Xiaoqian or Ouyang Xiaozhi, I still love you. Didn't I promise you? I will never leave you and never make you feel lonely."

Tears slowly overflowed Xiaozhi's eyes: "That was your promise to Nie Xiaoqian, but Nie Xiaoqian no longer exists. Xiaozhi doesn't need your promise, Xiaozhi now understands that you and I are two people from different worlds, you There is your living space and future, and I also have my living space and future, we are like two parallel straight lines, and there will never be a day when they meet."

"Xiaozhi, aren't you talking to me now?" I grabbed her trembling hand, "Look, aren't you real? You are not from another world, we can be together."

"That's just your feeling. All this is not real. It's all a dream to you. Nie Xiaoqian is a dream, Ouyang Xiaozhi is also a dream, and the whole deserted village is a dream."

For a moment I was dumbfounded: "Dream?"

"Yes, let's think of it as a dream about fear and love." She approached me slowly, and said with her lips close to my ear, "I'm sorry, I'm very sorry. I understand now that Ouyang Xiaozhi has She doesn't belong to this world anymore, she only belongs to the world of the barren village, and her father, who loves Xiaozhi deeply, is waiting for her in the old mansion of Jinshidi."

"Don't, don't go—"

Before I knew it, my eye sockets were also moist.

But her tone was so decisive: "Xiaozhi is going back to her hometown, Xiaozhi is going to reunite with her parents, Xiaozhi will always remember you."

I just felt dizzy for a while, and then she hugged me tightly and said——

"farewell."

A few seconds later, she suddenly let go of me, turned quickly and walked out the door.

No - I quickly followed her, but I couldn't see anything in the dark corridor, so I could only call her loudly.

But my twig has disappeared.

I hurried back to the room, took out the flashlight and looked for the twigs.I first rushed to the ground floor to look, and then rushed out the back door of the deserted village apartment.On the ruins of the empty construction site outside, there was no one to be seen, only the crescent moon in the sky like a hook.

On the ruins I shouted until my voice was hoarse.I turned around again, and finally ran to the Anxi Road, but I still didn't see anyone.After tossing and tossing for more than ten minutes, I finally sat on the side of the road stupidly, and raised my head in despair.

For some reason, I suddenly thought of Li Shangyin's "Jin Se" - "This feeling can be regarded as a memory, but it was already at a loss."

Twig, will I see you again?

(End of this chapter)