In the dead of night, dark clouds drifted past the bright moon, casting an eerie glow over the vast, sinister ghost school.
In a simple tin house built in the small bamboo grove behind the school, a boy and a girl were exploring unknown secrets.
Inside the cramped room, Qin Nuo felt his legs going numb from standing too long. He pulled over a bamboo stool with a broken corner and sat down to ease his tingling feet, looking up at the elusive Mo Ting.
"What happened afterward?"
Mo Ting blinked and continued, "When Yanan came back, my first impression was that he had changed completely. His temper improved a lot, and he accepted everyone's opinions, rewriting the script for the guild. But precisely because of this, I felt something was off."
"He used to have a poker face, and I never saw him smile. After he returned, smiling seemed to become his trademark, and he got along much better with the guild members."
"But every time I saw his smile, I felt a sense of horror. Sometimes during rehearsals, he would inexplicably stare at me..."
Qin Nuo casually remarked, "Maybe he just has a crush on you?"
Mo Ting replied very seriously, "It's definitely not that kind of look. That look... it's hard to describe, like a lion stalking its prey in the animal world."
Qin Nuo squinted slightly, not interrupting Mo Ting."At that time, I was a bit scared because I noticed that those who got close to Yanan also started acting strangely."
"During those days, I stayed in the guild, constantly shrouded in fear. I received my script and role, but I didn't know the entire skit's plot. On stage, I sat on a chair, waiting for my part."
"Watching Dafu and the others' parts felt strange. Their scenes were filled with darkness and despair, with heart-wrenching screams and twisted faces. I couldn't tell if they were acting or not."
"Even though it was a rehearsal, I wanted to run away. When my part was about to start, I held back and decided to finish my role. But suddenly, Dafu came over, grabbed my shoulders, and shouted at me."
"I knew it was Dafu's part, but when I saw his bloodshot eyes and ferocious face, I was terrified. I struggled to escape, but Dafu suddenly clamped his hands around my throat, laughing excitedly. I was sure he really wanted to strangle me!"
"I screamed, saying I didn't want to act anymore, but no one paid attention. They thought it was part of my lines. It wasn't until my face turned red and I was about to pass out from suffocation that Dafu let go."
"Tang Rou called 'cut,' and she came over, not out of concern, but to check the script and ask why I messed up my lines. I was on the verge of a breakdown, angrily pushing Dafu and asking if he really wanted to strangle me. Dafu looked innocent, saying he was just following the script."
"Many members looked at me with suspicion, ignoring the bruises on my neck and my bloodshot face. At that moment, I felt like the only odd one out in the guild."
"But I was sure it was them who were abnormal. After Yanan returned, the guild members all changed. I didn't know what was going on, but I knew if I stayed in the guild, I would end up like them."
"I found Tang Rou and told her I wanted to leave the guild. Tang Rou was reluctant and asked why. My mental state was terrible at the time, and regardless of her response, I left, just wanting to escape this nightmare."
"After leaving the guild, my mental state improved a lot. When I saw Tang Rou and the others in class, I felt awkward, but they acted indifferent."
"In the few nights leading up to the Children's Day gala, I was both scared and curious to see what the guild would bring to the stage. Unexpectedly, many parents suddenly complained to the school, forcing the school to disband the Performing Arts Department."
"With the Performing Arts Department gone, I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was all over."
"However, none of us, including myself, expected that on the day of the gala, Tang Rou and the others still managed to bring their performance to the stage."
"What happened that night? I've forgotten, but I know something terrifying happened afterward..."
"And my memory ends there."
"When I came to, I was like this, a little bird trapped in a cage."
Mo Ting held her forehead with one hand, her face looking pale.
And it wasn't just her face; Qin Nuo noticed her body was gradually becoming ethereal, slowly disappearing around the edges.
Qin Nuo's expression changed slightly, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he focused on some key points and asked, "During the time Yanan was missing, did anything happen?"
"After Yanan disappeared, the guild was in chaos. Tang Rou tried to find someone else for the script, but no one was satisfactory."
At this point, Mo Ting's expression changed as she remembered something, "During that time, Tang Rou had a huge argument with someone, but I can't remember who it was..."
That seemed like an important clue. Mo Ting tried hard to recall, but the more she tried, the more painful it became, accelerating her body's ethereal transformation.
Qin Nuo spoke up, "Mo Ting, you don't need to think about it anymore. It's enough."
"Your memories have been very helpful to me. Thank you."
Mo Ting lowered her hands, noticing the changes in her body, her face showing a hint of confusion.
Qin Nuo stood up and said, "Let's go back. Tonight's operation met my expectations."
Mo Ting shook her head, "Brother, even though I didn't remember much, even now, I can't recall what my mother looks like or her name."
"But I'm not stupid. By saying these things, I feel like I've broken some taboo and might return to that cage."
"Yanan's house might have the clues you're looking for. No. 36, Beiping Alley, that's his home."
Mo Ting looked at her hands, now completely transparent, dissolving into scattered light and disappearing into the air.
"I'm not saying this to help you, but to help myself."
"I hope you can break the shackles that imprison us. I really want to go home. I don't know who my mother is, but I know she's waiting for me to come home every day..."
After saying this last part, Mo Ting completely turned into scattered light, like a firefly, disappearing into the air, swallowed clean by the darkness.
Ding.
The wind chime at his waist rang twice, and the halo on it gradually faded.
After a long silence, Qin Nuo picked up Tang Rou's doll from the ground, patted it, and placed it on the cabinet, sighing helplessly.
"What a troublesome instance."
"Although I got a lot of useful clues tonight, I suddenly realized that the situation here is deeper than I thought..."