Chapter 1, Encounter on a Winter Day
Xu Xiangyang closed the door, locked it with a key, and walked down the steps with his backpack, shivering from the cold.
The girl smiled again and returned the book to him
Xu Xiangyang answered very honestly
I also have this book at home! It also discusses matters related to the end of the world! Is that right?
She took the lollipop out of her mouth, extended her soft pink tongue to lick it once, and then put it back in.
By tilting one's head up, one can see the interwoven black pipes, at the end of which are the utility poles by the roadside. Below are rows of clothes hanging out to dry, swaying in the wind
Moreover, even setting aside those naive and ambiguous feelings of adolescence, Xu Xiangyang, as a transfer student who moved from another place and joined the class after it had been divided, naturally considered making new friends early on in an unfamiliar environment
Just as Xu Xiangyang was feeling a bit anxious, the girl suddenly took the book from his hands, her fingers gently exploring the cover, yet she never opened it.
Sister Lian is a member of the public security department, having undergone specialized training, and is an elite in the criminal police team. Not to mention minors like him, even three or two adult men may not necessarily be her match
The long eyelashes hung low, trembling slightly, obscuring the girl's gaze. After a while, she spoke softly
Do you believe it? The prophecy mentioned above. In just over half a year, this world will face its end. The legendary 'King of Terror' will descend from the heavens, and everyone will die; all of humanity will be extinguished
At that time, due to the transfer of Li Qinglian's work, he followed this guardian to a new city. Naturally, he could no longer attend his original school, thus Xu Xiangyang welcomed his first transfer in life
Yes
Most of the households on both sides of the alley have awakened, and occasionally one can see people dressed in sweaters and pants, sleepily yawning as they come out to fetch water and take out the trash. The sounds of children running, the shouts of adults, and the clattering of pots and pans fill the air with the essence of life, as this alleyway represents a corner of the city slowly awakening from its slumber
The alley is very narrow, and the eaves are not high. If one is not careful, it is easy to bump into the clothes hanging out. During the season of continuous rain, the clothes on the drying lines always appear damp. Xu Xiangyang walks forward with his head down, occasionally making a deliberate detour around the areas where women's underwear is hung, as it is said to bring bad luck
What do you mean by saying 'I'm sorry'? Who are you apologizing to!
In retrospect, this brief initial encounter left a profound impression on Xu Xiangyang at that time
Xu Xiangyang could recognize them; they were a mother and daughter living in this alley. The daughter was of the same age as him. He knew this because he had seen her at school before the new semester began.
... ...
It is precisely for this reason that he discovered he was not the only one who was keenly attentive to her. In the alley, there were several unmarried men in their twenties to thirties, and even middle-aged men in white tank tops sporting beer bellies, who often cast furtive and somewhat inappropriate glances at her.
In fact, he considered this question a long time ago—after finishing this book in his childhood—and even fantasized about it until recently. However, he felt it was too embarrassing, so he never brought up similar topics with anyone.
It is somewhat embarrassing to say that during elementary school, he had very little affinity with girls. Whenever it came time to group for spring outings, he would always end up alone, unable to find even a partner to hold hands with. Therefore, at the moment he saw the other person, he vaguely felt that this might be an opportunity to change himself
If that day does not come, no one will know the answer
I am Lin Xingjie
Xu Xiangyang
It's nothing, I don't plan to go out, I just wanted to come and see you all
May I ask ... ...
I do not like to be polite, so it does not matter. By the way, I was just thinking... what is that book you are holding under your arm
He gritted his teeth, straining his aching arms as he pulled two heavy bags, panting as he jogged along to keep up
The girl does not seem to find this book childish. She gazes nostalgically at the alien on the cover, which has a large head and a dwarf body, and in a very serious tone, she asks him
That afternoon, he and his sister had just returned from school after completing the transfer procedures, carrying large and small bags bought from the market. With both hands holding plastic bags and something tucked under his arm, the walk from the bus stop was indeed not easy; however, the young woman in a full suit walking ahead of him moved swiftly, showing no signs of effort.
The girl clapped her hands
Xu Xiangyang, after calming his breath slightly, sat up and turned around, intending to lift the bag. At that moment, he noticed a pair of old-fashioned yet very clean white sneakers on the steps in front of him, above which were light-colored short socks and smooth, fair-skinned calves
She let out a "pfft" of laughter
Xu Xiangyang couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed. It is truly not commendable for a boy of this age to still be fond of such messy books, treating them as treasures and holding them close.
Xu Xiangyang scratched the back of his head, feeling somewhat embarrassed
He has translated this book over a hundred times since childhood, and even now he eagerly takes it out to read. The title is "The Great Record of UFO Events in the World!" and it contains various strange and unusual illustrations
Do not add trouble to Sister Lian, as she is already very hard-pressed every day due to work and taking care of her own matters Xu Xiangyang silently told himself in his heart
Do you believe what is stated above
He mumbled to himself while rubbing his hands, as the bustling sounds of people filled his ears
In the future, do not meddle in others' affairs
Xu Xiangyang was momentarily taken aback and did not comprehend what the other party was saying until she repeated it once more
I want to have a day like that, also learning from you
The sun has not yet risen to a visible height, and the sky is hazy.
The girl's features appear somewhat youthful, and her physique is rather slender, yet she can be regarded as a pure beauty in every aspect. Just by standing there in the dim and hazy world, she seems to brighten the surroundings of the alley, making her stand out in stark contrast to this dirty place.
The sister did not intend to leave him behind; after spending a considerable amount of time together, he naturally understood this well. His guardian has a habit of being overly immersed in self-reflection, often neglecting external matters.
If he were to call her a couple of times now and take a break for a while, it would not be necessary to continue exerting himself so much. However, Xu Xiangyang ultimately did not do this
It is clearly already spring...
The girl who hurriedly rushed out the door almost bumped into Xu Xiangyang, stopping in surprise. This girl, who was of the same age as Xu Xiangyang, had a delicate and well-proportioned face, her skin as fair as a female star in a television commercial. The simple school uniform she wore, however, exuded a youthful and vibrant beauty.
As Xu Xiangyang had just set the book down, the other party immediately let out a sound of "Ah".
... ... Uh ? ''
Although Xu Xiangyang was walking with great difficulty, he had not gone far before he was left behind by Sister Lian. The rental apartment that Sister Lian had leased was at the end of this alley. Just as Xu Xiangyang walked from the road to the entrance of the alley, her figure was already on the verge of disappearing at the destination
Moreover, what if I am seen by a girl I have just met...? Would she think of me as a childish person?
The girl gracefully extended her hand towards him
What you said is also true... I apologize for asking strange questions
The day Xu Xiangyang met Lin Xingjie was on a winter afternoon just before the second semester of their sophomore year in high school was about to begin
Get lost! At such a young age, you've already learned to seek out men; do you still have any shame? Are you going to become a prostitute in the future?
Is the person who just walked by your mother? She doesn't look like it, she seems too young. Is she your sister?
A girl holding a backpack with one hand walked out the door and, upon hearing these words, turned her head and retorted without any hesitation
Therefore, when Xu Xiangyang attended class for the first time and saw Lin Xingjie, who was in the same class as him, he indeed felt a sense of surprise and joy in his heart
Your sister is truly beautiful and possesses a remarkable presence. How should I put it? She feels like a formidable woman of strength, with a very commanding expression. When I tried to engage her in conversation, I was completely ignored.
At this moment, it was afternoon, and there were not many passersby in the alley, only a few elderly men and women dozing off in bamboo chairs. He decided to rest here for a while
I just said
The star of stars, the purity of purity. You and your sister will be moving in the next few days, right? If you encounter any difficulties or have any questions, feel free to ask me for help
He was taken aback for a moment and raised his head
Every day, the same scene greets my eyes during school commutes. If I must say, returning home after school is somewhat better; at that time, the ground often retains a residual warmth, as if it had been covered by a quilt all day long
However, Xu Xiangyang ultimately could not muster the courage to knock on his neighbor's door, even though he instinctively believed that the girl he had only met once would not mind whether he truly had something to trouble her with
However, Xu Xiangyang and Lin Xingjie were unable to become friends; not only that, but within just two months, they went from being ordinary classmates who could chat a few sentences to parting ways, and eventually to becoming strangers who did not even want to see each other, with a sense of indifference and hostility between them.
He does not want to go to school with her, nor does he want anyone at school to know that they are neighbors, simply because he is afraid of being misunderstood as having some sort of relationship with her
Lin Xingjie, while moving, intentionally or unintentionally lets her hair fall down to cover her face, as if she does not want to be noticed by others
... ...
A girl of similar age to Xu Xiangyang is standing behind him, holding a lollipop in her mouth, tilting her head as she gazes down at herself
See us
The girl is wearing a baseball cap on her head, with bright and smooth long black hair cascading down on both sides of her shoulders. She is dressed in a casual jacket and a T-shirt on the upper body, while her jeans only reach her knees, accentuating the slender curves of her calves, exuding a captivating youthful vitality
Although he was somewhat concerned, he did not speak up, for he knew that the other party would not respond and would only treat him as if he were air. He watched the other person walk away until they disappeared into the alley, and only then did he feel willing to continue moving forward
It is no wonder, after all, that Lin Xingjie stands out with her striking appearance and figure, making her a standout among the neighbors in the alley. However, Xu Xiangyang's focus differs somewhat from that of others: for instance, today, he noticed the girl's face, where there was a band-aid, likely covering a recently treated wound—and it should have been applied not long ago.
As he watched his sister's figure grow increasingly distant ahead, Xu Xiangyang opened his mouth to speak but then closed it again.
May I take a look at it?
Xu Xiangyang walked to a trash can with a lid lying on its side, just in time to hear a woman nearby cursing.
What is your name
It seems that it rained last night, as the damp ground and walls are tinged with a dull green hue. Occasionally, one might step on an unstable flagstone, and if one is not careful, it is easy to get one's shoes and socks splashed with dirty water
This is my home
Ah ... ... I apologize
However, the girl always had little expression on her face. She glanced at him and quickly walked away, lost in her own thoughts. Her smooth, long black hair swayed behind her, and her steps carried a proud vitality
The girl's name is Lin Xingjie. Xu Xiangyang took notice of her on the first day she moved in here.
Xu Xiangyang shook his head
At that time, the girl's cold voice still echoed in his ears. Such a humiliating experience in front of others was more than enough for a boy of his age, who was sensitive and had a strong sense of pride.
Uh... I apologize, my sister tends to act this way when she is thinking about work; it is not intentional. She is actually a very kind person
Xu Xiangyang nodded slightly, hesitantly extending his hand. The hands of the young boy and girl clasped together in the warm, gentle light that streamed in from outside the door
Indeed. I heard that new residents are moving in
Xu Xiangyang lowered his head and realized that the thick hardcover book had not yet been put down. This was the book he had brought from his earliest "home," a gift from his parents when he was a child for his birthday.
Xu Xiangyang initially thought that the other party was about to leave and that he was blocking the way, so he immediately planned to stand up and make way. However, the other party shook their head.
In the late 1990s, in a narrow alley of the old town of Jinjiang City, the faint morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, making the sunlight filtering down from above appear rather cool.
I do not know
Xu Xiangyang, disregarding the dirt, placed the bag on the nearby steps and sat down with a thud.