Chapter Nine, Awu

We exchanged a glance, perhaps due to the face-saving issues from the Western Regions, the bottle was not auctioned at a higher price

I said: "Are you saying that those wealthy individuals failed at the hands of the Western Regions because of their lack of resolve?"

What does that mean

At that time, both Su Mei and I were quite frail, yet there were people who cared for us outside the orphanage, bringing us a few items each month. As a result, we became the primary targets for bullying

We fear that she will, as she herself has said, abandon this world. For her, it is quite easy; she so enjoys sitting on the rooftop of a skyscraper, looking down at the multitude of lives. As long as her eyes are dazzled by the myriad lights, if she merely wishes to close her eyes for a moment, her world will suddenly plunge into darkness

I was terrified, "Come down quickly, you have a nosebleed."

He told me that there is a bottle that can reverse the flow of time

The man from the Western Regions looked at his palm, as if studying the lines on it. After a while, he said: "I cannot discern any assurance in your actions, and worse still, I cannot ascertain the extent to which my involvement will impact the overall situation." He put his hand down and said to me: "However, I must obtain that bottle, for it seems to be the only way for me to see Awu again."

Suddenly, I thought of a question: "How did Daniel know that the bottle could be used this way? Did he tell you?"

That was when I first met Awu, the girl who is one year older than me, and she told me upon our first meeting that bleeding is much more straightforward than crying

Indeed, Awu, her profession does not permit her to fall in love with anyone, nor does it allow her to stay in any place. She is destined to wander from the moment she made her choice. As she wished, she became a unique figure who has vanished from the world.

In such occasions, Awu is always very silent, and Sumei often says she is as quiet as a fossil. As the days approached graduation from middle school, Awu truly seemed to be turning into a fossil

One night, as we waited for shooting stars, just before dawn, Awu was the most despondent. She said, "If I cannot be different, I would rather disappear from this world."

The Western Region suddenly smiled: "That is them giving me face." In that moment of laughter, a sense of pride emerged on his brow, and the legendary Western Region exuded an overwhelming aura.

On one hand, I feel a desire, while on the other, I am filled with a seething hatred. I believe that if this fellow were not intent on dragging us into his schemes, these rogues of the underworld would not have so easily allowed him to escape scrutiny.

The Western Regions have already stated their reasons for wanting to obtain the treasure vase, yet it is so difficult to accept. However, the Western Regions have no reason to deceive us. Could it be that those extraordinary individuals have all come here for the same reason? Do they also wish for time to flow backward?

She not only fulfilled a wish, but she also satisfied the only two wishes she had in her lifetime. How many people can achieve such a feat? Yet, for some reason, in my heart, I can only feel sadness

After leaving the orphanage, Su Mei and I took on odd jobs, waiting to grow up. Each day was long and difficult to endure, yet every tomorrow remained uncertain

She smiled at me and said, "Next time you feel like crying, try hanging upside down; I guarantee your tears will flow back in."

I found her clothes to be much tidier than mine, assessed that she posed no danger, and then felt a sense of curiosity. I temporarily stifled my cries and began to ask: "Why are you hanging upside down?"

Compaq said: "Perhaps it is inciting you and - the - book, urging you to obtain it at any cost."

That day, I cried so much that the sun and moon lost their light. The students passing by on the school path turned to look at me, yet suddenly someone beside me, seemingly unconcerned, asked knowingly: "Are you crying?"

I believe that was the deepest moment of heartfelt sharing during our friendship with Awu

It is only in the late hours after having consumed a considerable amount of alcohol that Awu will speak to us

***

He said that there is a mysterious lady in my heart, but she has already been lost. If I wish to see her again, I must believe in him

After a while, Xiyu slowly said: "Are you saying that she... but when I met her, she didn't seem to be working at all. She looked just like a young lady on vacation in a beautiful place. Are you mistaken? I didn't feel that she had any training, nor did I see her gun"

I do not know how much time has passed, when the Western Region suddenly said: "That Daniel, find me"

Speaking of which, I used to be quite the crybaby, with very sensitive eyes, crying at the slightest provocation, having shed all the tears of my lifetime since childhood

One deep night, we were waiting for shooting stars. As dawn approached, Awu was the most despondent. She said a sentence: "If I cannot be different, I would rather disappear from this world."

I went mad at that moment, saying that I believed everything he said, if it could really be done. The current appearance of the Western Regions also resembles that of a madman, with bloodshot eyes and a gaze fixed intently on the distance

Once, Su Mei suggested changing her name to better match her surname, calling her Su Wu. At first, A Wu liked it, but later she felt it sounded like the homophone for the shepherd Su Wu, and immediately turned against it, saying, "Su Mei, are you trying to condemn me to a life of hardship?" It was then that we realized that the somewhat introverted A Wu actually cared a lot about her future

We went to find her. A month later, someone told us that in the future, even if we see her again, we should not greet her. Due to her work, she has taken on another identity and has become a different person; she is no longer a friend to anyone.

We all stared at the Western Regions, his words were hard to believe

We have concluded our narration, and for a moment, everyone fell silent

Although everyone has received education from the church since childhood, emphasizing love for humanity and being loved in return, many of us are children living below the poverty line, possessing nothing ourselves. Often, we find ourselves competing for what others have that we do not.

He clearly appears to be very reluctant to accept reality

The girl remained silent, the blood vessels on her face began to engorge, and then she started to have a nosebleed

That day, my notebook was once again taken by a classmate from the advanced class, and I was chased around for half the campus, eventually hiding alone under a large tree on the playground and crying

Thus, we never encountered Awu again in the vast sea of people, and we lost our friend

In fact, both Su Mei and I grew up in an orphanage, and not just us, but also A Wu.

Su Mei and A Wu have very different personalities and interests, yet they managed to do one thing together. When they were in middle school, they both took up taekwondo. Su Mei was already quite talented, but A Wu, according to the teacher, was a once-in-a-century prodigy, willing to waive her tuition fees. It was only when discussing these matters that a spark would flicker in A Wu's dim eyes.

Western Regions, take a look at us: "You know, it is not easy to find me, but he found me. I was surprised to chat with him. He was like a witch holding a crystal ball, articulating the thoughts in my heart and in the picture book."

I hesitate, "But it will bleed."

The Western Regions do not care about our gaze, merely lowering their eyes to fixate on the nonexistent fragments on the ground, slowly saying: "Therefore, that bottle is a one-time use; I will spare no expense to obtain it first."

In those years, we entered a church-run orphanage, which had relatively good conditions. At the age of seven, we were sent to a church school to receive compulsory education

The rules in the orphanage are very strict; any violations will result in confinement. The only time one can be exempt from these rules is during school hours when leaving the orphanage. Therefore, during school, some older classmates, who are not inherently virtuous, begin to reveal their true nature

It was only after Su Mei won a lottery ticket that we decided to study in Europe, and when we wanted to look for A Wu, we realized we could no longer find her

I sighed: "Perhaps she is really on vacation there, because no one would recognize her. As for the gun, I don't think she would carry it with her; once a covert spy draws a gun, their value of existence disappears."

Awu is actually half Japanese, and her full name is Inoue Mai. She is very beautiful, but she does not like it. Because of this surname, she has been bullied more times than Su Mei and I combined

When we were learning Taekwondo, we were almost fifteen years old and were about to become self-reliant. Most of our discussions revolved around what we would do in the future

I am renting a rooftop room from someone with Su Mei, and every day I worry about today's meals, tomorrow's work, and the weather. Naturally, A Wu has not been in contact with us for over six months.

Isn't bleeding much more exhilarating than shedding tears

The Western Regions said: "I happened to have asked this question, and his response was that this is something passed down from his ancestors and from books, and the teachings that have been handed down are just like this. He has never doubted it. He also said that if the bottle is ineffective, it can be returned in its original silver."

The person from the Western Regions furrowed their brows, thought for a moment, and suddenly exclaimed, "There is another saying: 'Only those who truly believe in it can attain it.'"

The girl jumped down, nonchalantly wiping her nose with her sleeve, and a patch of red immediately soaked into the sleeve of her white shirt

He said, "Hold the bottle in your hands, raise both hands above your head, and loudly declare the days you wish to return to. Then, shatter the bottle. At the moment the bottle breaks, you will return to the past." The person from the Western Regions also made a similar gesture, as if holding something, lifting it to the top of their head, and then suddenly releasing it.

I was taken aback; a girl was hanging upside down on the horizontal bar, like some kind of sports equipment, silently suspended beside me, and I had no idea when she had arrived

I looked at the person from the Western Regions with suspicion. Isn't this person supposed to have many legendary experiences and often interact with such individuals? How could they lack such insight? Could it really be that love can blind one's eyes?

I couldn't help but roll my eyes; there are still goods to be shipped, and a three-year warranty. Daniel threw out such words, yet his own identity remains a mystery. No wonder he is willing to pay a high price to find a scapegoat, to have someone take the blame. This trick of escaping like a golden cicada shedding its shell is a common tactic in the underworld, but it is infuriating that it has fallen upon my detective agency, making me and Su Mei the unfortunate victims, the big fools.

I believe that was the deepest moment of heartfelt sharing during our friendship with Awu

I clearly saw that as soon as the words "spy" were uttered, the person from the Western Regions trembled.

We were all taken aback.

We stood there like fools, and Su Mei asked, "Is that all? What Daniel said."