Chapter 4, A Strange World

He suddenly felt a bit afraid; what if yesterday's memories were also false

The sun is warm, and everything is peaceful

Since she has agreed to continue helping me explain afterwards, that is sufficient

She was still wearing the uniform of a sales assistant from a large supermarket, seemingly just returned home and had not yet had the chance to change her clothes. However, upon seeing Xiao Xiao, she could not hide her dissatisfaction: "Not eating dinner, not going home."

His heart felt much lighter, yet he still did not dare to relax. With his hands in his pockets, he walked through the alleys and arrived at the main street

Go find your father, you are cut from the same cloth, go have him take care of you, after all, he has plenty of money

There are no ferocious dogs that would eat people; these three dogs are so simple-minded that they wag their tails vigorously even when they see a cat

However, it was evident that nothing happened that night, to the extent that the normalcy felt abnormal

You little rascal, not even a word to say to me

However, is the person who left dumplings for themselves really the same person who yesterday almost wished to chop themselves into dumpling filling

Swish ... ...

Reflecting on the past four years, the countless whispers that seemed both real and illusory, the torment that penetrated to the very marrow, and the mutual invasion of dreams and reality

If this world has truly become one filled entirely with monsters, then what use is it for me to keep clinging to her?

He merely gazes at this vast and profound world, unable to question its reality

This statement is truly reasonable

Busy or leisurely white-collar elites walk down the street with coffee in hand, a young girl with a ponytail dashes towards the subway, and on the tall billboards, a hot and refreshing girl blows a kiss to the city

Xiao Xiao looked up and saw her mother standing in the yard with a cold expression, forcefully dumping the untouched plate of dumplings into the trash can

... ...

Xiao Xiao recalled Yang Jia's words, thinking about the twisted monster that Jiang Cheng had become. After a long time, after much contemplation, he finally steeled himself and opened the door.

Finally, as I was about to push open the door, the torment in my heart reached its peak, and I felt a sense of fear about seeing my mother's appearance

Although there were countless questions in his mind, Xiao Xiao slowly relinquished the impulse to continue asking.

Not long ago, when she was about to go out, she had the appearance of wanting to chop herself with a kitchen knife. Xiao Xiao felt a lingering fear and merely responded ambiguously before preparing to return to her bedroom

That night, Xiao Xiao did not dare to take off his clothes, lying on the bed fully dressed, waiting until dawn.

Unlike the anxiety experienced under the hazy night sky yesterday, this time, Xiao Xiao truly saw this world that had been absent for four years, clearer yet somewhat bewildering

Is it the sense of unfamiliarity formed by not stepping outside for four years, or is it because this world has been replaced, resulting in so many things that feel strange to oneself

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, and suddenly he quickened his pace towards home

He deliberately avoided the butcher shop that always emitted the sound of a chainsaw cutting meat, quickly passed by the house where a hoarse old phonograph was always playing, and tightened his nerves as he walked past the yard of the neighbor who kept three fierce dogs. Along the way, it was so quiet that he could only hear the sound of his own heartbeat, and in the corners submerged in darkness, there always seemed to be some furtive eyes quietly watching him, emitting low laughter

At this moment, Xiao Xiao suddenly felt a chill all over his body and staggered back a step

Since my parents divorced four years ago, I have been living with my mother. Later, I was tormented by a sudden panic disorder, which prevented me from even participating in the college entrance examination

However, if it is said that mother has also become a monster, then are these memories also false

For almost four whole years, I have just been staying in my room, without even having applied for a job.

If one finds oneself in a world filled with monsters, with no place to escape and no strength to resist, what else can one do besides finding peace of mind

She did not have a midnight snack last night, she must be feeling quite distressed, but she is also afraid that she will be too lazy to heat it up if she gets up, so she simply cooked it for herself and left it, and then went to work

Xiao Xiao looked at the chatting elderly people in this old alley, as well as the bouncing little girl, and felt as if he had entered another world, completely different from the gloomy and cold atmosphere of yesterday

Yet, for some reason, an unexpected sense of relaxation emerged within me, and the confusion in my mind gradually dissipated

Just like a mother, is her care for herself also a disguise of a monster

He saw the second-floor neighbor's house, where the strange sound of an old record player drifted down yesterday. The white curtains fluttered in the wind, and he could vaguely see a tall figure dancing to the soothing music behind the window.

After sitting on the bed for a while, he finally got up. After experiencing such a tense situation yesterday, he had fallen asleep on the bed without even taking off his shoes, always on guard for something.

Placed at the alley's entrance by Yang Jia, Xiao Xiao gazed at the deserted street and surprisingly felt a slight sense of reassurance akin to that of a picture book. It was only after he watched the taillights disappear that he slowly turned and walked home

Where did you go crazy for a day again

That is a plate of pan-fried dumplings and a box of milk

He saw his mother anxiously pacing back and forth in the yard, constantly slamming the things in her hands, and when her frustration reached its peak, she suddenly turned her head and glared at Xiao Xiao with resentment

When he stealthily arrived in the living room, he found the house empty. It seemed that "Mom" had already left, and on the dining table in the living room, which appeared to be old and worn from renovations, there was breakfast that should have been left for him.

You are already of such an age, what exactly do you want to do

Are you back

How could all these people, living people, possibly be monsters

At the moment the bedroom door was closed, Xiao Xiao's body could not help but tremble, and he raised his hands vigorously, rubbing his face.

Before me are people of various shapes and colors, and a life filled with diverse shapes and colors

... ...

Xiao Xiao hurriedly lowered his head, glanced at the adhesive bandage on his hand, and suddenly pulled it off with force, revealing a deep wound underneath

Mother is getting older, yet she continues to take care of herself. Although there are occasional moments of disdain, what prevails is more concern and companionship.

What should I do?

However

He looked at his mother, whose expression was becoming increasingly fierce, as if her skin were about to be torn apart by some writhing monster, and suddenly felt a hint of hesitation

Xiao Xiao couldn't help but recall that her mother was a very frugal person. In her eyes, the only unique and irreplaceable delicacy in this world was dumplings

Passing through a small courtyard filled with greenery, I arrived in the alley. This is a very dilapidated neighborhood, but compared to the towering high-rises surrounding it, the space here appears more spacious. The area is surrounded by several two- or three-story small buildings, or single-story houses with yards. Clearly located in the heart of a bustling city, yet in contrast to the densely packed tall structures nearby, this place feels like a forgotten corner of the city.

Everything seems to be functioning normally, differing from my own memories, yet it feels entirely natural

Just ... ...

She is indeed a monster, a monster just like Jiang Cheng

In the butcher shop on the street, the owner, wearing a leather apron and smoking a cigarette, greets everyone with a smile and exceptional politeness

Xiao Xiao paused his hand at the door as he entered the bedroom and replied dully, "Understood"

What if one did not actually "kill" any monster, but merely punched a mirror, resulting in an injury to one's hand

However, she has been very tired from work recently and has not made dumplings for a long time

... ...

Beneath the skin, there is the sound of an eyeball rolling by.

The commercial buildings that have risen from the ground at an unknown time, the light rail lines that traverse the city horizontally and vertically, the enormous factories that crowd the edges of the city, and the pale, dim sun

Xiao Xiao stopped at the entrance of the courtyard, gazing intently at his mother

Upon entering, it seemed as if he could still feel the concerned gazes, reminiscent of the chilling moments not long ago, leaving him momentarily with a sense of indistinguishable reality.

But just as he pushed open the courtyard gate, he suddenly heard a cold voice

The mother on the sofa rubbed her waist and grumbled, "I can't be bothered with you anymore. I made dumplings and put them in the refrigerator. If you're hungry, just take them out and microwave them."

You no longer need to be confused or evade; this world is indeed as Yang Jia described, filled with monsters everywhere

Xiao Xiao looked at the plate of dumplings, but ultimately did not attempt to try them. He washed his face with cold water and stepped out the door with an empty stomach

Looking up at this world, he felt somewhat unfamiliar

What comes into view is unexpectedly warm lighting

However, what came into view was merely a vast, boundless city, rather than the eerie ghostly realm that I had seen yesterday

Asking again may become bothersome

... ...

Xiao Xiao was momentarily unable to discern clearly.

The wound, torn open once again, reminded him that this was not a fabrication; thus, yesterday's experience was also real. He had "killed" Jiang Cheng, and Yang Jia had applied a band-aid for him

This place is filled with evil spirits

He saw three large dogs from the neighbor's house, one happily chasing butterflies in the yard, another desperately digging a hole in the ground, and the last one lazily lying on the ground, allowing the dirt to cover its head

"Playing games until so late, yet not taking care of your health, who can I rely on when I grow old?"

There is a shadow from my own memory, yet it seems somewhat different

Perhaps everything is truly just an illusion of one's own making, and all that was experienced yesterday is merely one's own illusion and imagination

Is all of this just an act

Mother was sitting on the sofa watching television. Upon seeing him enter, she lowered the volume slightly and said, "I have told you long ago that you should go out more often."

You are going to get married in the future, you are going to have children and take a wife, all of which depend on me. Do you expect me to serve you for the rest of my life?