Chapter 169: Dreamscape, Don't Go
Liang Xiaoluo jolted awake, her dark eyes scanning her surroundings with clarity. She sat up abruptly, every detail in the room sharp and unambiguous.
Her breath quickened as she took in the environment. "How... how am I here?" she whispered, staring around the familiar room in disbelief.
This was the Ye family estate—Ye Tianlin's bedroom.
Xiaoluo pressed her palms against her temples, trying to recall the events that had led her here. Images flickered through her mind like a fragmented film reel: her visit to the hospital, her discovery by Ye Tianlin, the humiliation, the torment in the darkened room... and then... nothing.
Her fingers trembled as she examined her hands, expecting to see the scars of her ordeal. But they were unmarked, her skin smooth and unblemished. She rubbed her arms and shoulders. No pain, no bruises. Even the exhaustion that had weighed her down seemed to have vanished.
"This... this isn't real," she murmured. Throwing back the covers, she swung her legs off the bed, only to freeze as her bare feet touched the cold floor. The familiar sensation sent a shiver up her spine.
She padded out of the room, her footsteps echoing eerily in the quiet halls. The stillness was oppressive, the empty house casting long shadows under the fading light of dusk.
"Where is everyone?" she whispered, her voice trembling. Her fingers brushed against the banister as she descended the stairs, her heart pounding with each step.
The silence was deafening. Not even the hum of appliances or the faint murmur of distant voices broke the stillness. The grand estate, usually bustling with life, was utterly devoid of it.
"Am I dreaming?" Xiaoluo muttered, pressing her palm against her chest to feel the steady rhythm of her heartbeat. "No... this feels too real."
Returning to the bedroom, she began searching for her belongings, only to find them gone. Her clothes, her personal items—everything had disappeared. She turned to the nightstand, spotting her phone lying there. Relief washed over her as she grabbed it, clutching it like a lifeline.
Her fingers fumbled as she unlocked the screen. But before she could dial a number, a voice—soft, melodic, yet chilling—broke the silence.
"Are you afraid, Xiaoluo?"
The phone slipped from her grasp, clattering onto the floor as she spun around. Standing in the doorway was a girl, her beauty ethereal, her presence almost otherworldly. She wore a simple white T-shirt and shorts, her smile radiant and serene.
"Who... who are you?" Xiaoluo stammered, backing away instinctively.
The girl tilted her head, her smile unwavering. "Don't you remember me, Xiaoluo? After all this time... you still don't know who I am?"
Xiaoluo's breath caught in her throat. There was something hauntingly familiar about the girl, yet she couldn't place her. "Why do I feel like I know you? Have we met before?"
Tears welled in Xiaoluo's eyes, unbidden and uncontrollable. Her voice broke as she whispered, "Why am I crying? Why does it hurt so much to look at you?"
The girl stepped closer, her gaze softening. "Don't cry, Xiaoluo," she said gently. "You know I never liked seeing you sad. I always loved your smile—it's so beautiful."
The tenderness in her voice pierced Xiaoluo's heart. She stared at the girl, her body trembling. "Who... who are you?" she choked out.
The girl knelt before her, enveloping Xiaoluo in a warm embrace. Her touch was comforting, familiar, and yet... unreal. "I'm your sister, Xiaomu," she said softly. "Your big sister."
Xiaoluo's breath hitched. Memories she had buried deep within her heart surged to the surface. "Sister..." she whispered, her voice breaking. "Xiaomu... I—"
"You don't have to say anything," Xiaomu interrupted, stroking her hair. "I've always loved you, Xiaoluo. No matter what you've done, no matter what happened... I never blamed you."
"But I..." Xiaoluo sobbed, clutching her sister tightly. "It's my fault you're gone! If it weren't for me, you'd still be alive!"
Xiaomu shook her head, her smile unwavering. "It was never your fault. I made my choice, Xiaoluo, and I would make it again. You're my sister, and I would do anything for you."
Tears streamed down Xiaoluo's face as she buried her head in Xiaomu's shoulder. "I miss you so much," she whispered. "I'd do anything to bring you back..."
Xiaomu pulled away slightly, her expression turning wistful. "I can't stay, Xiaoluo. I came to tell you to let go of the guilt. Live your life for me. Be happy—for both of us."
"No!" Xiaoluo cried, reaching out as Xiaomu began to fade. "Don't go! Please don't leave me again!"
But Xiaomu only smiled, her figure dissolving into a soft, white mist. "Tell him I loved him," her voice echoed faintly. "And that I hope he finds happiness."
Xiaoluo collapsed to the floor, her sobs wracking her body. "Sister... please... don't go..."
When she finally opened her eyes, the room was quiet again. She was back in the same bedroom, the sunlight filtering softly through the curtains. It had been a dream—or had it?
She pressed her hand against her chest, feeling the lingering ache of her sister's words. A faint, familiar scent hung in the air, one that belonged only to Xiaomu.
"Sister..." Xiaoluo whispered, her tears falling anew. "I'll live for you. I promise."
In that moment, a new resolve took root in her heart.
But as she stood, a cold voice sliced through the air.
"Remember her, do you?"
Xiaoluo froze, turning to see Ye Tianlin leaning against the doorway, his expression unreadable.
"And now," he added, stepping into the room, "you'll face what you've buried for so long."