Chapter 002: Phantom

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There is nothing to worry about, just relax, everything is fine

Do you think something will happen to me

I do not know why, both Zhang Qiao and I were feeling very low. Walking down the street, we felt listless. Finally, he suggested going to a bar, which I usually do not enjoy, and then he proposed singing. We ordered a large package, drank two dozen beers, and by the time we were slightly tipsy, it was already night. As Zhang Qiao continued to drink, he began to feel melancholic. He feared the night because it meant going to sleep, and once asleep, he would have to face the same recurring dream that had haunted him for several days.

Character determines destiny; therefore, when faced with these uncomfortable realities, individuals will exhibit a variety of attitudes. However, without exception, they will feel troubled, and at times, so troubled that it becomes unbearable

Under the bed in Dad's bedroom, there is a box, and the password to the box is your birthday. Inside the box, there are some items. Dad may be leaving for a long time, and he hopes you can live well with these items.

Who delivered this letter

In fact, I am a person with strong intuition. From this moment on, I sense that there may be something unpredictable flowing in the background, yet I cannot figure out what exactly is in motion.

I called several times in a row, and then the phone was hung up

Looking at the letter, my intuition suddenly intensified countless times; indeed, some things are changing imperceptibly

This is all that the letter contains, and my emotions fluctuate constantly with this letter. What kind of letter is this? Where has father gone? What is he doing?

"Alright, alright, don't rush." I reached out and vigorously wiped my face, then said to Zhang Qiao: "Tell me, what exactly happened?"

Moreover, this painting seems to possess a special power. Zhang Qiao feels as if he is experiencing some kind of illusion, as if he is truly standing before an unfathomable black hole, and that with just one more step forward, he would be swallowed into the abyss.

In this lifetime, everyone has their own way of living, and each parent has different expectations for their child. I do not wish for you to become an extraordinary person; your father only hopes that you will become the best version of yourself, and that is enough.

In Zhang Qiao's dreams, there has always been a shadow resembling the ghostly figure in his eyes, crouching silently with its back turned to him. Although there is nothing else in the dream, this shadow, along with the monotonous repetition of the dream each day, has become increasingly unbearable for Zhang Qiao

As I casually turned on the light, I saw an envelope lying on the floor. The envelope bore only the words 'To Zheng Tong,' with no sender's address or postage. The envelope was sealed.

I made an appointment for Zhang Qiao, and then he went for an examination while I waited outside. My phone in my pocket buzzed, and I casually took it out; the bright screen displayed the words "unknown number." I found it strange, as the caller ID function of the phone can clearly show the location of the caller's number. After I answered the call, there was no one speaking on the other end, only a rustling sound like the wind.

Reflecting on what just happened, I suddenly have greater confidence in my judgment regarding that ancient tomb and the small notebook found on the corpse

You must remember that you have grown up, and you need to do what you are supposed to do

It was a very strange painting, extremely abstract, covering the entire wall. The image lacked any specific forms, but after standing there for a while, Zhang Qiao felt that the painting resembled a large black hole

Who sent the letter? Zhang Qiao rubbed his eyes again. In this era, paper letters have become very unfamiliar to many people.

First check it, and we will discuss the rest later

What on earth is going on today? I muttered to myself while fiddling with my phone

If this were an ordinary day, I would not bother to pay attention to such a situation. However, today is different; I have been feeling a bit uneasy, sensing that something might happen. I immediately called back, but the prompt I received indicated that the number was not in service.

Father was not a competent parent; during your childhood, he did not provide you with much care, and as you grew up, he did not grant you much freedom. Here, Father solemnly apologizes to you, hoping that you can forgive him

I sat down on the sofa and opened the letter. The first thing I saw was a dense array of very familiar handwriting—my father's. He is a rigid person, never accustomed to using computers or similar devices, and has always insisted on handwriting. When I was young, he would even teach me to practice calligraphy with a fountain pen. I am very familiar with his handwriting and cannot mistake it.

The matter is directly related to my father, although I do not understand what kind of relationship it is. At this moment, I finally know what is truly changing in my life

I believe it is essential to ask clearly

Do not become complacent due to your father's departure, nor should you feel regret because of it

Son

Zhang Qiao was drawn to this wall; as he gazed at it, he discovered that there seemed to be a painting on the smooth surface of the wall

This indicates that the person who built this wall did not want anyone to walk into the depths of the void. However, while listening to Zhang Qiao's account, I thought, can a stone wall, no matter how solid, truly stop a person? This seems unlikely.

I brought Zhang Qiao home. The motion-sensor light in the hallway was broken. After I opened the door and took my first step into the room, I felt as if I had stepped on something under my feet

Father only hopes that one day you can believe, when you face these challenges, to trust that it is fate that has chosen you to experience these inevitable setbacks and hardships in life. Therefore, when that day truly arrives, what you must do is not to complain, not to evade, and not to show reckless bravery. You must have thoughts and be a person who thinks critically.

This is a wall built of stones, its surface polished and very smooth. The purpose of this wall is likely to block the path ahead; if someone reaches this point, they will be obstructed by the wall

In his heart, Father has always had some words he wishes to convey to you. When you were young, Father thought that you would not understand if he spoke them. As you grew older, he felt that you would dismiss these words as mere background noise, believing that as his son, you would already know. Therefore, only at this moment, in this manner, can he express what he wants to say to you, perhaps you will remember it in your heart.

When I left, I called my father again, and what I heard was still the sound of the line being turned off.

I do not know

Perhaps you still do not understand these words now. However, your father believes that you will understand them sooner or later

As I picked up my clothes, I silently went over the sequence of events in my mind, but the more I thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. To be honest, I usually wish my father would be away on business for a longer time, but now, I find myself hoping he returns soon, at least to leave the area with no signal so that I can get in touch with him

I do not know who sent it. I have been getting goosebumps because I feel very uneasy, especially since Zhang Qiao asked me this question, which made me feel even more unsettled: "However, the person who delivered the message made a mistake."

To know what it is, do I still need to be so anxious! Zhang Qiao might have been affected by my emotions, and he also became agitated, his voice carrying a hint of tears as he spoke.

Have your eyes been affected in any way? Or do you feel any discomfort?

The incident occurred when Zhang Qiao fell into the void. He rummaged through the belongings of the corpse. Although the environment at that time did not frighten him to the point of losing control, he felt somewhat uneasy. Zhang Qiao decided to retreat, planning to ascend first. However, just as he was about to leave, an imbalance appeared somewhere in the void. The sand in front of him cascaded down, as if a standing sand dune had suddenly collapsed. Following the falling sand, a wall was revealed behind it. However, just as he was about to leave, an imbalance appeared somewhere in the void. The sand in front of him cascaded down, as if a standing sand dune had suddenly collapsed. Following the falling sand, a wall was revealed behind it.

"Zheng Tong, since that time, I have been dreaming every day." Zhang Qiao covered his head and said, "The same dream."

The shadow of a gaunt figure, as thin as a ghost, with only a few sparse strands of hair on its head, was crouching there. This shadow immediately reminded me of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings

That kind of fear comes from deep within, and although he did not see anything frightening, Zhang Qiao began to tremble all over. He felt that the painting on the wall had transformed into a gigantic eye, watching him.

What is this! What is it! I do feel a bit scared, because it seems like a friend I am most familiar with has changed.

Each person's life is akin to a novel, within which lies everything they have experienced, and within which are the things they are reluctant to confront

Zhang Qiao also encountered some trouble; his condition is extremely rare, so rare that the senior doctor who examined him had never seen anything like it in his entire life. The senior doctor looked at Zhang Qiao as if he had discovered a precious dinosaur fossil, and immediately requested that Zhang Qiao be hospitalized for treatment, stating that the costs could be waived. Zhang Qiao was terrified and rushed out, dragging me along as he ran

There is nothing for the time being. Zhang Qiao rubbed his eyes. In fact, his issues mainly stem from psychological factors; he constantly feels that there might be something wrong with his eyes. Additionally, that strange dream has been tormenting him, causing him significant mental stress. Since his eyes are not yet uncomfortable, Zhang Qiao did not go to the hospital for relevant examinations and came to see me as soon as he returned.

There are some things silently changing within me. While accompanying Zhang Qiao on the way to the hospital, my father's figure often appears. This serious, rigid man, who is unwilling to say even a word more, what connection does he have with that distant ancient tomb

During the return journey, Zhang Qiao inadvertently noticed the changes in his own eyes, which startled him quite a bit

The course of events unfolded as follows: Zhang Qiao became frightened and, disregarding everything else, quickly climbed back and found his friends. Due to the notebook with my photo attached, Zhang Qiao deliberated extensively and chose not to disclose all the circumstances to his friends. Instead, he fabricated a reason to persuade everyone to embark on the return journey ahead of schedule

Regarding human eyes, I do not know much, but I understand the most basic principles. In my impression, the eyes may be like a mirror; whatever is seen in front will be reflected in the pupils. Logically speaking, I should be reflected in Zhang Qiao's pupils as I stand before him. However, in Zhang Qiao's eyes, there is a shadow of a person squatting with their back to me.

When you read this letter, Father will have already departed to a distant place, and he may be gone for a long time. You must take good care of yourself

At this moment, the air in the room seemed to have solidified, the atmosphere tense and eerie. I faced Zhang Qiao, who wore an innocent yet anxious expression, unsure of what the most appropriate action would be. However, I thought that this was not the time to panic; it was essential to maintain a proper level of clarity, or things would only worsen.

Let's go, brother will take care of you