"Everyone has a desire for beauty, especially girls. They would never wish to age gracefully like Bai Yansong. They invest a lot of money and time on their appearance, focusing on their skin and other parts of their body. It's quite a common trait among women," my friend commented, chuckling. I wasn't sure of his experiences with women, but he seemed to make a reasonable point.
"I used to know a girl, incredibly beautiful, with perfectly proportioned features. She was petite and delicate with a figure that was just right—slender yet voluptuously balanced. It was as if reducing any bit would make her too thin, and adding any would make her too heavy. However, as the saying goes, when God opens a window, He shuts a door. She had one significant flaw: her skin was dark. Though a sign of health, it appeared to be hereditary. We often accuse other countries of racial discrimination, yet ironically, we are the most exclusionary towards those who differ from us. She often faced ridicule from her peers, including men. Even if men were interested in her, they would retreat under the pressure of societal judgment. Adding to the irony, her job was mere steps away from a counter selling skin-whitening products, which only deepened her distress. Nevertheless, life had to go on. This girl, named Mei Zi, just lived through her days until that pivotal day.
When Mei Zi spoke to me, she trembled so much it was hard for her to complete her sentences. I had to frequently pause and hug her to offer comfort (I smiled, and he did too, "Don't misunderstand, I was just trying to comfort her; a hug is the most soothing form of touch").
It was a typical weekend. Mei Zi, alone with her bag and under an umbrella, walked down the pedestrian street. She unexpectedly bumped into another girl who, after a glance at Mei Zi, scoffed with undisguised sarcasm, "Why bother with an umbrella when you're so dark? It's pointless." After speaking, the girl walked away, leaving Mei Zi almost in tears. While you can diet to lose weight or have surgery to alter your features, your skin color is set from birth. Mei Zi had no faith in whitening cosmetics; she knew they were merely a financial drain. This realization left her deeply disheartened as she aimlessly wandered.
Suddenly, a luxurious car sped by and abruptly stopped next to Mei Zi, startling her. Just as she was about to express her annoyance, a stylishly dressed young man exited the vehicle.
He seemed a few years older than Mei Zi, tall and attractive, his gaze fixed intently on Mei Zi's face, making her quite uncomfortable. She instinctively turned away, yet she could still feel his piercing stare.
"Sorry, did I scare you?" the young man apologized.
"No, it's fine. What do you need?" Mei Zi responded, trying to be as cordial as possible, although this was not in her usual nature.
"Would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner?" he proposed.
Sometimes, life's events unfold smoothly. Mei Zi and this young man, named Zhan Yue, quickly became intimate friends. Mei Zi marveled at life's unpredictability, considering that a loss somewhere might be compensated elsewhere. Her colleagues envied her for finding such a charming and affluent boyfriend to the extent that they too started strolling under umbrellas on the streets, hoping to attract the attention of some rich suitor, which only led to minor traffic disturbances.
On another affectionate date, Zhan Yue gently told Mei Zi, "Do you know why I was drawn to you from the first moment?"
"I'm not sure, perhaps it was fate?" Mei Zi suggested with a smile.
"No, it's because you remind me so much of a girl I grew up with. You have the same big eyes, the same straight nose, and that mischievous smile."
A shadow passed over Mei Zi as she realized she was merely a stand-in. She asked quietly, "Then why are you with me? What happened to her?"
"She passed away," Zhan Yue responded gloomily. Seeing his distress, Mei Zi felt a twinge of sorrow; his ability to cherish memories indicated his deep capacity for love, which somewhat pleased her.
"In fact, I've nearly forgotten about her since meeting you," Zhan Yue suddenly added.
"Mei Zi, haven't you always been self-conscious about your skin? My family has an ancient formula, a whitening oil, that's highly effective. Why not give it a try?"
"Is it really effective? I've tried many things to no avail," Mei Zi hesitated, reluctant to dismiss Zhan Yue's generosity but skeptical about the remedy.
"Trust me, it works. I brought some today; try it. If it improves your complexion, you'll be the most beautiful girl in the world," he insisted.
Mei Zi accepted a small black bottle from Zhan Yue, intrigued by the mystique surrounding traditional remedies, reminiscent of enchanted potions from fairy tales, laden with allure and the unknown.
After returning home, Mei Zi tested the oil on her hand. It was indeed oily and had an unusual, sharp scent, but the effect was undeniable. The next day, the treated area on her hand showed a noticeable improvement. Reassured, she began applying it to her face.
In the days that followed, Mei Zi's transformation stunned her family and colleagues; they barely recognized her. As the adage goes, "Fairness conceals many flaws." Being naturally beautiful, Mei Zi now dazzled like a pageant queen. Those who had once mocked her now covertly compared their own skin to hers, like ink against snow, and attempted to cover up as much as possible. They all praised her, inquiring about the secret behind her newfound fairness. Mei Zi merely smiled in response, grateful to Zhan Yue.
"Come over tonight. Let's have a candlelight dinner," Zhan Yue suggested, his gaze wandering as he admired Mei Zi's increasingly fair complexion.
"Sure, it's actually my first time visiting your place," Mei Zi agreed. Despite their long acquaintance, she had never been to Zhan Yue's home.
The evening landscape was always enchanting, yet it carried a slight undertone of unease. Inside the car, Mei Zi struggled to keep her eyes open against the whipping wind. The drive was so long that Mei Zi lost track of their location, finding the scenery utterly unfamiliar.
"We're here," Zhan Yue announced as he pulled up beside a villa and led Mei Zi inside by hand. Mei Zi felt a chill, odd for August. She glanced around; there were no other homes nearby, just Zhan Yue's stark, rectangular house, standing like a tombstone in the desolation.
Zhan Yue's hand was damp, perhaps from nerves. The anticipation of spending an evening alone with a young woman could naturally lead to intimacy. Mei Zi wasn't conservative, but she was certainly not unrestrained. Though she had mentally prepared since meeting Zhan Yue, she was still nervous; after all, he was her first serious boyfriend.
Upon entering, Mei Zi discovered the villa's interior was exquisitely decorated with countless antiques and famous paintings whose names she couldn't recall. A long dining table was set in the living room, adorned with steak, lobster, roast goose, and red wine, situated next to a glowing fireplace.
"Come, Mei Zi," Zhan Yue gestured, and they sat at the table.
The food was delicious, and Zhan Yue seemed very pleased, eating enthusiastically, but Mei Zi ate distractedly, occasionally stealing glances at Zhan Yue. She noticed the large house appeared to lack any servants.
"Do you live here alone in this big house? Aren't you scared?"
"No, I wouldn't say I'm alone," Zhan Yue glanced at Mei Zi, "At least from today, I won't be alone anymore, not with you here."
Mei Zi blushed, her face as red as the wine in her glass. Wine can intoxicate, and so can a blushing face. Zhan Yue, nearly spellbound, stood and embraced her.
"I think I'll take a bath first," Mei Zi gasped, overwhelmed by his tight hold. Zhan Yue hesitated, then pointed upstairs, "The bathroom is on the left, the third door. There's a bathrobe inside."
Mei Zi quickly ascended the stairs, making a face at Zhan Yue, "I'll be right back!"
Zhan Yue watched her depart, his expression unreadable as he finished his drink.
Mei Zi counted the doors on the second floor, suddenly catching a pungent, familiar scent from a nearby room—the distinctive odor of the whitening oil Zhan Yue had given her.
Compelled by an inexplicable force, Mei Zi didn't proceed to the bathroom but instead walked towards that room. The closer she got, the stronger the smell became. By the time she reached the door, she nearly had to pinch her nose because the smell was not only unpleasant but also stinging to the eyes.
Mei Zi turned the handle, relieved to find it unlocked. She looked around, assuming Zhan Yue thought she was bathing. Just a quick look to satisfy her curiosity, she reasoned. Curiosity affects everyone, especially women.
Mei Zi paused again, taking a deep breath. I knew I was eager to discover the secret behind this miraculous whitening oil.
The room wasn't large, yet it reeked with that odor. It was so foul it nearly brought tears to her eyes. Mei Zi thought, as with perfume, too intense a concentration could become unpleasant. Yet this smell resembled that of rotting meat.
She scanned the room. The entire floor was covered in dark green. There was only one black bottle in the room, apparently connected to a substance leaking from a large box—likely the oil. Mei Zi approached the box, about a meter and a half long and placed horizontally in the corner of the room. She pushed on the lid, which wasn't locked but was very heavy. With considerable effort, she managed to pry open a slight gap and used her phone's light to peer inside, curious about the contents.
What Mei Zi saw would remain etched in her memory forever. The dim blue light of her phone illuminated an eye—yes, an eye. A woman's eye, wide open, filled with resentment and reluctance. Mei Zi recoiled, her legs giving way as she collapsed to the floor. In movies, the heroine often screams in horror. Mei Zi had thought the same, but now she understood that true terror leaves you speechless, unable to make a sound. She stood up, turned to leave, but abruptly stopped. Zhan Yue stood at the door, holding a rope.
His face had lost its usual warmth and kindness, replaced by cold indifference.
"Why did you open this room? If it hadn't been for Xiao Xue, if I hadn't met Xiao Xue, I might have truly fallen for you. I had intended to let you die without pain, but your curiosity has angered me. Since you want to know, I will tell you everything," Zhan Yue said, advancing and tying Mei Zi with the rope before kneeling before the box, muttering to himself as though speaking to Mei Zi.
"I've known Xiao Xue since we were children; she was genuinely kind and without guile. I come from a prominent family, and so did she. But as I grew up, her family's business failed. In our circles, money comes quickly and goes just as fast. Soon, Xiao Xue's family lost everything and was heavily in debt. Her father couldn't handle the stress and committed suicide. Her mother went insane. She had to quit her prestigious university to care for her mother. I wanted to help her, but she never accepted my assistance. She was very independent. We had planned to marry after graduating from college. But my father refused. He wanted me to marry a daughter of a business partner. Helplessly, I wanted to elope with Xiao Xue, but she couldn't leave her insane mother. Maybe if we had left then, the later tragedy wouldn't have occurred," Zhan Yue's voice was tinged with sorrow. Mei Zi was terrified, not understanding what this man planned to do, but she suspected the person in the box was probably Xiao Xue.
"I ended up marrying a woman I did not love. After Xiao Xue's mother died, we reunited. Xiao Xue asked for nothing more than my time. But soon, my wife and family learned of it. They confronted her, humiliated her, and beat her. The next day, Xiao Xue took her own life. I lost her forever. But then I saw you, and you looked so much like Xiao Xue," Zhan Yue stood up abruptly, pushing the lid open. Mei Zi finally saw the person inside in full view. It was a highly decomposed corpse. No matter how beautiful and slim she had been, now she was just a pile of rotting flesh. The corpse was bloated, and corpse oil oozed everywhere, although the eyes remained open, staring fixedly.
"See, don't you look alike? But you are much darker than Xiao Xue," Zhan Yue caressed the maggot-infested, putrid face, asking.
Mei Zi could only stare at him, realizing he must be insane.
"I've been watching you for a long time. Fortunately, I discovered through various sources about a witchcraft in Thailand that involves a transformation spell. Mixing the corpse oil with a very secretive witch oil and applying it to another person's face gradually transforms them to resemble the deceased. Eventually, the deceased can fully revive in that body, exactly as they were in life. So..."
"So you found me? You applied that witchcraft to me? Don't you think that's cruel? I haven't harmed you. Why not use it on your wife? She's the one who caused Xiao Xue's death," Mei Zi argued loudly.
"This spell works faster and more safely between similar individuals. Don't blame me; blame it on your resemblance to Xiao Xue," Zhan Yue approached.
"Today is the last day. If you drink the oil here, you'll completely become Xiao Xue," Zhan Yue brought the black bottle over.
Mei Zi was terrified; the bottle contained corpse oil. She struggled, but the ropes were tight. Zhan Yue brought the bottle to her lips. Mei Zi faintly saw maggots floating in the black bottle and that extremely nauseating smell of decay.
At that moment, Mei Zi saw the body of Xiao Xue in the box stand up. Mei Zi thought she was hallucinating, but indeed, she saw it. Zhan Yue saw Mei Zi staring intently behind him and turned to look. Xiao Xue had indeed stood up, though moving slowly, more like crawling, leaving a trail of corpse oil like a snail.
"Don't come over, don't!" To Mei Zi's surprise, Zhan Yue seemed terrified, backing away as he shouted, dropping the bottle.
Zhan Yue, continuing to shout, tried to open the door. But as soon as the door opened, Xiao Xue leapt like a frog and pounced on him, sticking to him. Zhan Yue cried out in agony as they rolled on the floor, his screams growing fainter until they stopped altogether.
Mei Zi crawled over to look. Xiao Xue's corpse, like a strong acid, had completely fused with him. Zhan Yue's face was now unrecognizable, a mass of tattered flesh.
Mei Zi sat in shock for several minutes before she regained her composure. She then untied herself and called the police.
Thus, the matter ended. Mei Zi later learned that Xiao Xue had hoped Zhan Yue would divorce, but during an argument, Zhan Yue strangled her. The witchcraft he hoped for was to bind Xiao Xue's spirit within Mei Zi, preventing her from seeking revenge.
Though Mei Zi nearly lost her life, her skin had indeed become whiter. After sharing her story, she laughed it off, saying she would gradually forget the events as she moved on.
I took a while to absorb the story, puzzled. "How is Mei Zi now?"
My friend smiled at me, "The world's stories are mostly told by others. When Mei Zi and I said goodbye, I caught a glimpse of red spots on her hands, small but unmistakable. They were livor mortis."
"Livor mortis?" I exclaimed.
"Don't shout; it's indeed livor mortis, but I didn't mention it then. Who could know the real situation? I checked the news from that time; there was no record. Only through a local police friend did I learn the case was too bizarre and was classified as suspicious. Indeed, two bodies were removed: a man's and a highly decomposed woman's. But whether Mei Zi is really still Mei Zi, who can know? As long as she continues to live well as an ordinary person, that's enough. My job is just to record the events."
I nodded thoughtfully. It was nearly morning again, and it seemed tonight's story had also come to an end. Just as I was about to lie down to sleep, my friend's cat ran in from outside, all dirty.
"Your cat is quite the character; I might get one too, they're like toys," I said, pointing at the cat, which glared at me and growled.
My friend spoke seriously, "Cats are very spiritual animals. If you knew the story of the Eight-Tailed Cat, you probably wouldn't say that."
"The Eight-Tailed Cat?" I said excitedly, though I knew my friend was about to head off to sleep.
"Yes, we'll talk about it tonight," he said, then quickly left.