After that day, I returned to school, attending classes with a distracted mind. Chu Qingci, on the other hand, seemed utterly unaffected—just as he always was. Life carried on uneventfully, devoid of any significant turbulence. Between us, the relationship remained in that ambiguous space between friendship and romance.
I thought we could sail through this period peacefully, but that was when the first upheaval came. It was during the summer break before we advanced to our final year of high school.
That day, the weather was beautiful. I decided to go out for a stroll and remembered Yunhai Road. I'd been wanting to visit the alley near Chu Qingci's house alone for quite some time, but I never had the opportunity. After that day, he hadn't taken me back there, and though I intended to go with him this time, my messages went unanswered. So, I set out on my own.
As I walked, unease crept in. It was a strange kind of fear, stronger than anything I had ever felt before. The road wasn't far, so I took my time. When I reached Yunhai Road, the surroundings looked somewhat familiar. Following the directions in my memory, I soon found the alley.
There it was—dark and foreboding, standing starkly before me. An inexplicable sense of dread welled up, mingling with my apprehension. Morning sunlight barely penetrated the alley, leaving it dim, yet in my mind, it seemed shrouded in an impenetrable darkness that devoured all light.
The last time I ventured in, I had been driven by the urgency of protecting Chu Qingci. I hadn't considered what the alley might hold. But now, hesitation gripped me, and my body recoiled from the overwhelming discomfort. For a long time, I deliberated whether to take a step forward. Eventually, I did.
The moment I entered, waves of unease and panic crashed over me, growing more intense with every step. I forced myself onward, yet I could feel my body growing colder, as if my warmth were seeping away. When I reached the middle of the alley, my chest tightened, my throat constricted, and I struggled to breathe. My legs felt weak, and a voice in my mind screamed at me to escape.
Clinging to the wall for support, I used all my strength to retreat. That short distance felt like an eternity, but finally, I emerged. My face was pallid, and my lips were drained of color. My heart whispered, What kind of purgatory is this alley?
After resting for a while, I prepared to leave. Just then, I noticed a familiar figure approaching the alley, accompanied by a tall man. I froze, my eyes fixed on the scene. It was Chu Qingci. He paled when he saw me, but quickly came forward, shielding the man behind him.
He grabbed my hand, attempting to lead me away. "Chu Qingci, is this your classmate? Where are you taking her?" the man behind him asked, his deep voice tinged with suspicion.
I recognized the man immediately. Though Chu Qingci kept moving, his grip on my hand unwavering, I stopped and turned to face him. Seeing his face froze me in place—my body stiffened, my expression dulled, and my palms grew cold.
Sensing my reaction, Chu Qingci turned my head back toward him and spoke softly. "Shen Jia, it's fine." Without waiting for a reply, he hurriedly led me away, while the man continued to speak. I didn't catch his words; the world around me blurred. At that moment, the only thing anchoring me was Chu Qingci by my side.
The fear that had gripped me in the alley resurfaced with even greater intensity when I saw that man's face—a fear so profound it felt carved into my very bones.
When we reached an open space, he finally stopped. Sensing my lingering unease, he stayed silent, watching me closely. Time seemed to stretch endlessly before I managed to speak. "Chu Qingci, was that man your so-called foster father?" My voice sounded faint, almost otherworldly, laced with exhaustion.
His grip on my hand tightened slightly. "Yes."
"Why did you drag me away just now? Did you already know?" I asked after a pause, voicing the question that had troubled me for so long.
He looked at me, his lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out. I realized then that in this world, I wasn't the only one bound by unseen chains.
His gaze carried a complex emotion, his brows furrowed slightly as he lowered his head. Still holding my hand, he led me forward in silence. The bustle of cars and people around us faded into a hollow backdrop. Fallen leaves swirled desolately in the low wind, a tableau of quiet sorrow.
On the way, I broke the silence. "Where are you taking me?" I asked.
"To Yanhuai Pavilion," he replied gently.