In the scorching August heat,
Drip, drip, drip—
The shrill chirping of cicadas intermingles with the intermittent honking, echoing through the swift-flowing streets crowded with people. The blistering sunlight bakes the ashen asphalt, and heatwaves undulating, distorting the entire street.
Under the sparse clusters of trees along the roadside, a few young individuals gather, holding cigarettes, waiting for the traffic lights.
Suddenly, one of the youths, engulfed in a cloud of smoke, seems to have noticed something. He utters a soft exclamation, his gaze fixated on a street corner.
"Arnold, what are you looking at?" his companion beside him inquires.
Arnold, the young man, stares blankly at the street corner for a moment before speaking, "You know... How would a blind person cross the road?"
His companion is puzzled, hesitates for a moment, then responds slowly, "Generally, blind individuals either have someone accompanying them, or they use guide dogs. In more modern cities, there are even auditory signals at pedestrian crossings. If all else fails, they might rely on sound and a white cane to navigate."
Arnold shakes his head, "But what if there's no one to accompany them, no guide dog, no auditory signals, and even the white cane is being used to carry groceries like cooking oil?"
"Do you think you're funny?" his companion retorts, rolling his eyes. Following Arnold's gaze, he freezes on the spot.
Across the street diagonally, a teenager in a black short-sleeved shirt stands, thick layers of black silk blindfolding his eyes completely, blocking out all light.
In his left hand, he holds a cheap shopping bag filled with vegetables, and on his right shoulder rests a white cane, as if it were a flat pole. At the end of the white cane, a large bucket of golden peanut oil sparkles in the sunlight!
Blindfolded in black, a white cane on his shoulder, left hand carrying vegetables, right hand bearing oil...
This surreal scene immediately captures the attention of a crowd around.
"Hey, look, that person looks strange."
"Covering the eyes with so much fabric, can he see the road?"
"Didn't you see the white cane in his hand? Maybe he's actually blind?"
"It's this era, most blind people wear sunglasses. Who uses fabric to cover their eyes, especially in this scorching weather?"
"Yeah, and have you seen any blind person not using their white cane to walk, let alone using it to carry things?"
"Youth these days, always playing around."
...
The summer cicadas can't drown out the hushed whispers of onlookers. They observe the teenager curiously, discussing whether he is truly blind or just pretending, all while eagerly anticipating the flashing traffic lights.
At that moment, a crisp voice rings out from beside the teenager.
"Big brother, shall I help you cross the road?"
It's a school-uniformed girl, around twelve or thirteen, with a few glistening sweat droplets on her cheeks. Her dark, large eyes are focused on the teenager, pure and sincere.
The teenager pauses for a moment, turning his head toward the direction of the girl. A faint smile appears on his lips.
"Yes."
He hangs the bag of vegetables on his right hand, frees his left hand to wipe off the sweat on his clothes, and gently holds the girl's hand.
Snap!
The green light comes on.
The teenager takes a step forward, walking with the girl towards the opposite side of the road.
The girl is nervous, glancing left and right at the passing vehicles, walking cautiously yet hesitantly.
As for the teenager... he walks steadily.
In the eyes of the onlookers, this scene doesn't seem like a good-hearted girl helping a blind person cross the road; rather, it looks like an older brother guiding a little child across the road.
The road isn't wide, and in just a dozen seconds, the two reach the other side. The teenager thanks the girl and walks away toward a secluded alley without looking back.
"He's not blind." Arnold, witnessing the scene, confidently declares. "He must be able to see."
A young man behind Arnold, chin resting on his hand, ponders for a moment. Suddenly, as if having an epiphany, he exclaims, "I got it! He's cosplaying as a blind monk!"
Smack!
A resounding slap lands on the back of his head, and Arnold scolds, "Idiot! Always playing games every day. Who has the time to cosplay as a blind monk on a busy street? Are you asking for trouble?"
After a brief pause, Arnold mutters to himself, "Besides... a blind monk's eye-covering cloth is red. This cosplay doesn't match at all."
"Arnold, you're saying I..."
"Shut up."
"Okay."
While the two bicker, a young man who had been silently observing the teenager's departure fixes his gaze on the receding figure. His brow furrows slightly.
"What's wrong?" Arnold notices his gaze.
"I know him."
"Know him?"
"Yes." The young man nods. "My younger cousin was still in elementary school when he heard about a student at their school having an accident. Problems with the eyes and some mental issues surfaced. Apparently, it was a big deal at the time, and the student withdrew from school shortly afterward, transferring to a special school for the blind."
At this point, another person enthusiastically chimes in, "By the way, what kind of accident could cause someone to go blind and have mental problems? Could it be some encounter with evil spirits?"
"I don't know," the young man responds. "But... it was something more bizarre than that."
"A person with a difficult fate," Arnold sighs. "What's his name?"
"I think his name is... Lin... Lin... Lin Qiyue?"
...
In the evening glow, Lin Qiyue pushes open the door.
Almost instantly, the fragrance from inside the house wafts into his nostrils. He sniffs, swallows his saliva, and walks in with bags in hand.
Creak!
The old door emits a grating squeak, drowning out the sounds of cooking coming from the kitchen. A middle-aged woman opens the kitchen door, noticing Lin Qiyue carrying multiple bags. She exclaims, hastily rushing over.
"Little Seven, why did you bring back so many things again?" The woman, wiping her hands on her apron, quickly takes the bags from Lin Qiyue, chattering away.
"This big bucket of peanut oil? Child, are you misusing the government subsidies again?"
"Auntie, the subsidies for disabled people are meant for living expenses. I use them to buy oil for cooking, making the most of it," Lin Qiyue chuckles.
"Nonsense! This money is saved for your college education. How can you use it recklessly? Let me tell you, Auntie's earnings from work are enough to support the three of us. Don't dip into your own money."
Auntie gently wipes the oil bucket, her expression showing a hint of distress. She mutters to herself, "Such a large bucket of oil, and it's even a branded one... Must have cost quite a bit."
Before Lin Qiyue can respond, Auntie suddenly realizes something.
"Wait... How did you manage to bring back so much?!"
"Oh, I met some kind-hearted people on the way who helped me carry them," Lin Qiyue calmly remarks.
"Good, good! It seems there are still good people in society... Did you thank them properly?"
"I did." Lin Qiyue changes the subject. "Auntie, where's Ah Jin?"
"He's on the balcony doing homework... Oh, by the way, the routine check-up doctor from the psychiatric hospital came. He's resting in the room. Can you go see him? Auntie will go prepare dinner, and you can call Ah Jin when you're done."
Lin Qiyue's steps slightly pause, and he nods before heading towards the bedroom.
...
"Hello, I'm a doctor from Sunshine Mental Hospital. My name is Dr. Li."
Seeing Lin Qiyue enter, the young man sitting on a small stool in the bedroom stands up and greets warmly. He wears a pair of large black-framed glasses, giving off an intellectual and gentle aura. Lin Qiyue raises an eyebrow, "Wasn't it Dr. Han who usually came?"
"Dr. Han was promoted to deputy director last year." Dr. Li smiles, with a hint of envy in his eyes.
Lin Qiyue nods in acknowledgment.
After a brief exchange, Dr. Li takes out a stack of medical records from his bag.
"Sorry, because I just arrived, I don't know much about your situation. Let me briefly understand it first, okay?" Dr. Li apologizes.
Lin Qiyue nods.
"Your name is... Lin Qiyue?"
"Yes."
"Seventeen years old."
"Yes."
"Well... the medical records state that ten years ago, you lost your sight, and at the same time, you were sent to our hospital due to some issues?"
"Yes."
Dr. Li ponders for a moment, "Did you change your name?"
"... No, why do you ask?" Lin Qiyue is puzzled.
Dr. Li scratches his head with embarrassment, "Cough... It seems like I assumed too much."
He extends his hand, pointing to Lin Qiyue's age on the medical records and then to the phrase "ten years ago."
"You see, you went blind ten years ago when you were seven. At that time, your name happened to be Lin Qiyue. So, I thought maybe you changed your name after going blind..."
Lin Qiyue remains silent for a while before shaking his head, "No... I have never changed my name. My parents gave me the name Lin Qiyue before I was born."
"Well... that's quite... cough." Dr. Li realizes his impoliteness and promptly shuts his mouth.
"Coincidental," Lin Qiyue calmly adds.
Dr. Li shifts the topic, "Hmm... the medical records don't seem to detail the accident that caused your blindness and mental issues. If it's convenient, could you tell me about it?"
Lin Qiyue, still sitting quietly under the black silk, seems to be staring at Dr. Li with his covered eyes.
After a while, he slowly speaks, "There's nothing unspeakable... It's just that you might not believe it, and you might even think I'm insane, possibly sending me back to the psychiatric hospital."
"No, no, no! Don't consider our relationship as that of a doctor and patient. This is just a normal chat between friends. It won't go that far," Dr. Li half-jokingly reassures. "Even if you tell me you were pulled into an alchemist's furnace by Laozi, I would believe it."
Lin Qiyue is silent for a moment before nodding slightly.
"Back when I was a child, I loved astronomy."
"Alright, and then?"
"That night, I lay on the roof of our old house, looking at the moon."
"Did you see something? The Jade Rabbit, perhaps?" Dr. Li jokes.
Lin Qiyue shakes his head. His next words, however, freeze Dr. Li's smile.
"No, I saw an angel."
"An angel?" Dr. Li responds, with curiosity replacing his amusement. "A seraphim enveloped in a golden glow, with six white wings."