Chapter 4

On the third day, the nightmare returned

The footsteps outside the door approached more quickly this time

This young man..." Lin Zhounian looked at his wife, who had come out upon hearing the sound, with surprise. Both of them displayed a hint of concern on their faces

"Do you often have nightmares... If so, you might want to look it up online. It is said that some people can freely control their dreams, turning nightmares into pleasant ones. It seems quite magical," Shen Yan suggested after a moment of thought.

I just want to have a good sleep right now. Lin Sheng said helplessly

He had just finished a late-night snack with his father, returned to his room to sleep, and had barely been asleep for ten minutes when that dream came again

Why does your complexion look so poor lately? Are you feeling unwell? You should not try to tough it out; some illnesses cannot be overcome simply by enduring them.

... ...

According to my previous calculations, the overall duration from my third dream is approximately thirty-five minutes

Fortunately, there were no significant issues this time. Although the nightmares still occurred, the seven alarms throughout the night helped him to barely make it until dawn

Indeed, I have also experienced nightmares before. However, when it comes to dreams, you must not read horror stories before going to sleep. You absolutely cannot harbor any worries or fears in your mind. Otherwise, you are sure to have nightmares!" Shen Yan said with great seriousness.

However, it seems that due to the heightened vigilance, Lin Sheng was almost jolted awake as if by an electric shock this time. He forced himself to wake up before the owner of the footsteps opened the door.

The so-called noise around him felt like it was covered by a thick soundproof cloth, completely unoffensive to his ears

This once calm and healthy friend now has a pale complexion, dark circles under the eyes, and appears to be severely lacking in rest

Mother Gu Wanqiu is cooking in the kitchen. Father Lin Zhou Nian is sitting in the living room reading the newspaper

Fortunately, Lin Sheng set an alarm in advance to prevent any mishaps from occurring.

Forget it ... ...

As soon as I fall asleep, I have nightmares, and it is the same nightmare.

"Is it spring at night?" Shen Yan leaned in with a lewd expression.

He fell silent for a moment and then stood up again

That nightmare must conceal something unknown to him

Therefore, what I need to do next is to achieve free control over my body before the sound of footsteps enters the door

"Can nightmares turn out like this?" Shen Yan was also at a loss for words

After school in the afternoon, he unexpectedly discovered that his parents had returned home early

Each time, he is surrounded by the same feeling of fear. In his dreams, the girl in a white dress sitting at his bedroom desk maintains the same posture, the same silence. The same strange, twitching cries.

But it is precisely because of this occasion that he has finally confirmed that this is not a random phenomenon

Lin Sheng also makes every effort to try to control his body in his dreams, but to no avail

Lin Sheng let out a helpless yawn

You don't seem to have any energy at all. How about I take you to the gymnastics club for a visit later?" Shen Yan had just been serious for a few seconds before immediately reverting to his lewd demeanor

What appears to be a warm and comfortable bed in the eyes of an ordinary person, in his heart, is akin to a bed of needles.

Each time, it coincidentally happens just as the sound of footsteps enters the door

Lin Sheng raised his pencil and swiftly recorded several pieces of data in his notebook. Then he snapped it shut

Yet the body's instinct continually warned him that he must not be caught by the owner of that footsteps.

At night, sitting in front of the desk lamp, Lin Sheng carefully reviewed the dream data he had recorded earlier

"Why does your complexion look so poor? Young people should know how to exercise moderation." Shen Yan's unreserved consolation.

Sister Lin Xiao is not here; she has already returned to university to continue her classes

Upon seeing Lin Sheng return home, his father, Lin Zhou Nian, put down the newspaper and gazed at his face with some concern

What have you been up to these past few days?" Shen Yan looked at Lin Sheng with a hint of shock

"I just haven't been sleeping well these past few days," Lin Sheng replied listlessly

Lin Sheng has a deep understanding of himself

Even while sitting in a bustling and noisy classroom, he had an overwhelming desire to lie down and fall into a deep sleep

In a moment, with a loud bang, the bedroom door was slammed shut. Everything returned to silence

It is sufficient to take an average, as the duration of the dream has been calculated. Next is the time from entering the dream to the sound of footsteps at the door; this phase's duration has also been established in the previous two dreams according to earlier summaries.

Absolutely

He had also come across this statement before. However, it has not been verified

"Do not doubt it; I used to have particularly vivid nightmares, but after discovering this method, I have not had a nightmare since. The saying 'what one thinks about during the day, one dreams about at night' reflects this principle," Shen Yan said earnestly

Lin Sheng remained silent for a moment, and ultimately picked up the wind-up alarm clock, carefully set the time, and then lay down on the bed fully clothed

Father's side is still not settled, I hope the two children here won't have any issues as well

Although he does not know what victory is good for

Is that so? Lin Sheng nodded

"It's nothing, Dad," Lin Sheng replied while changing his slippers, "I just haven't been resting well these days"

Yet, hesitation aside, it is imperative to sleep regardless. The body simply cannot endure without it

"Tsk tsk tsk, is it that even a gymnastics outfit paired with white stockings and beautiful legs can no longer pique your interest?" Shen Yan immediately expressed her feelings with a look of lament.

Turning around, Lin Sheng was about to lie down for a short nap, but just as he sat on the bed, he hesitated and paused

The sound of footsteps similarly repeated the previous process, drawing closer from the corridor

"I will keep an eye on it, you don't need to worry, just hurry up and cook!" Lin Zhounian waved his hand.

... ...

Therefore, only by seizing this advantage can he possibly achieve victory in this nightmarish tug-of-war

From the fourth to the seventh time, the average fluctuation range is within five minutes, indicating that the time span of this dream is not significant

Forget it... I won't sleep after all

This occurred on the night of the third day

It is just repeating a nightmare. Lin Sheng said softly, there is nothing to hide about this, many people have had such experiences, it is just that the situation is not as severe as his.

The jarring alarm clock just managed to wake him up

He is neither an academic overachiever nor a genius with a high IQ. His only advantage is that he remains sufficiently calm

In the coming days, the nightmare will continue to arrive as scheduled; as long as I fall asleep, it is certain to appear

"Get lost." Lin Sheng was speechless. "It was just a bad dream."

Rising from the desk, he gazed out through the glass window into the distance

Is that so? Lin Sheng has also looked into it and searched for information on this matter online. However, he was unable to determine its authenticity

And such a life continued for two weeks

This is a precautionary measure that he calculated in advance

Just like the inexplicable awakening of his past life memories

"It's fine, you rascal..." Before the old man could finish his words, he saw Lin Sheng drop his backpack and quickly turn to walk towards the bedroom

As Lin Sheng speculated

The moonlight at midnight is gentle and serene, yet he feels a slight chill in his body

Is that so? Lin Sheng's eyes flickered, and he fell silent.

He was twirling a pencil in his hand, his expression calm; if it weren't for the beads of sweat still lingering on his forehead, it would be hard to believe that he had just gone through a long-repeated nightmare

Such an experience instilled in him a faint sense of trepidation towards the bed