Chapter 3

Seven or eight more people boarded the bus, making the entire vehicle feel like an overripe can about to burst. The doors slowly closed, and the bus started to leave.

You stepped on my foot! What are you doing!

This dream draws closer with each passing time. The footsteps that were previously just outside the door have now entered the room, and they can even lift my blanket! Lin Sheng feels that this is some kind of omen

The walls of the corridor are plastered with all sorts of small advertisements, including locksmith services, plumbing repairs, moving companies, and a hodgepodge of others

From a very young age, he understood a principle: the more frantic one is, the more likely one is to make mistakes, and the more time and energy one is likely to waste

There is no one at home, and not a single sound can be heard

Click

Suddenly, a faint sound of crying beside his ear startled him awake from his slumber

I ... ... I ... ... '' He wanted to say something, but could not say anything.

In the afternoon, the sweltering temperature has dropped to around twenty degrees, unlike the heat of the daytime

The car door opened automatically, Lin Sheng jumped down, took a deep breath, and glanced back at the interior of the car

Something unimaginable may happen afterwards

He lay on the bed again, unable to move.

Ah ! ! !

In the corner of my eye, a figure in a white dress still sits at the desk

The bedroom is empty, and the silver crescent moon outside casts a delicate, gauzy halo of light.

Lin Sheng stood up, feeling somewhat hesitant to lie down on the table to sleep, as the nightmare from last night was still vividly etched in his memory

Puff

After a busy day of classes, Lin Sheng declined Shen Yan's suggestion to go out for snacks together in the afternoon

Lin Sheng slowly opened his eyes

Take the free bus back

Click

A few meters to the right from the bus stop is his residential community—Huilian Community

The people crowded around emitted a cacophony of sounds, akin to children's toys that squeak at the slightest touch

With such thoughts

Click

Wū ... ...

In a state of confusion, Lin Sheng's consciousness gradually became blurred

The vague sound of footsteps grew increasingly clear and louder

Lin Sheng sat by the window, gazing at the old streets that swiftly passed by outside on the right.

Unlike last time, this time the girl in the white dress was anxiously loosening her shoulders, continuously emitting faint sounds of terrified convulsions. She resembled a panicked individual who had been overly frightened

Lin Sheng took deep breaths repeatedly, leaning against the headboard, calming his heartbeat time and again

Everything fell silent for a moment

Lin Sheng remained unmoved. He stood at a height of 1.75 meters, with a build that was neither too thin nor too fat, and the muscles hidden beneath his school uniform were healthy and strong. Aside from his skin being somewhat pale, resembling that of a Caucasian, he had no notable flaws.

Upon reaching the third floor, I took out the key and skillfully opened the security door of the first apartment on the left, then walked inside

"Father," Lin Sheng called out while standing at the door

Lin Sheng could sense that someone was approaching step by step from the corridor, crossing the living room, and moving towards the bedroom

Lin Sheng suddenly raised his head, sitting up straight from the bed. His mind was in a state of confusion

After a whole day of classes, as soon as I sat down, a wave of intense drowsiness surged over me

Lin Sheng felt a tightness in his scalp, and an intense fear surged within him for reasons unknown

Only by remaining calm can one quickly find a solution to difficulties

It is not because he does not want to go; he likes many snacks at the school snack street. Unfortunately, he can only spend an average of 3 yuan each day, so he must save.

What are you pushing for! Are you trying to get yourself killed!

In a state of confusion, I have lost track of how long I have been asleep

He picked up a gray and white backpack, stood up from his seat, and made way for an elderly lady who had just boarded the bus. Then, holding onto the overhead handrail, he slowly squeezed through the crowd, moving towards the door

The sound of footsteps has returned

Walk down the corridor, through the living room, and enter the bedroom

Solemn, despairing, and sharp. Accompanied by the occasional sound of hurried breathing

It took him about five minutes to completely empty his mind and allow his emotions to return to normal

The door slowly opened

He fell silent for a moment, walked over, gently pulled out the chair, and sat down. He allowed the soft cushion and the firm backrest to envelop him

He calmed his breathing as much as possible until his heartbeat completely slowed down, no longer thumping like a drum, and only then did he look around.

"Let me take another look. If I have this dream again next time, I will have to come up with a solution..." Lin Sheng resolved in his heart. If even memories from a past life can awaken, what else is impossible to happen

It was still that same dream... this time, it was closer... A deep sense of panic surged within him

Every afternoon after returning home, he has a habit of taking a half-hour nap. Although last night's nightmare startled him, it was merely a dream

Fear does not solve any problems, I must remain calm

He hesitated for a moment, then walked to the bedside, took off his outer school uniform, turned over, and pulled the blanket over his stomach

The sound is like a woman weeping softly, yet it also resembles someone singing something.

The woman in front of the desk cried more urgently, her shoulders trembling faster. It seemed as if she would rise and flee in a panic at any moment

Suddenly, the blanket was lifted up

That person unexpectedly did not know when they had already reached the foot of the bed, suddenly lifting the thin blanket and pouncing towards him

"Damn it, I even dreamt about that during a short nap..." He slowly leaned back against the headboard and took a deep breath

Lin Sheng involuntarily glanced at his desk, as if the figure from his dream last night was still seated in the chair before it

Lin Sheng reached out to wipe his forehead, his hands covered in sweat

He furrowed his brow and scraped at the corners of the stairs repeatedly, managing to clean them up a bit before continuing to ascend the stairs

The folk floral and bird patterns that appear winding and twisting are carved along the edges of shop signs and in the corners of walls, unconsciously reminding him of the nightmare from last night

Puff ! !

He has such a premonition, an ominous premonition

Doo ... ... Next stop, Old Town Textile Factory. The standard female voice of Celine brought Lin Sheng back from his contemplation

The sound of footsteps is getting closer

Lin Sheng felt a tingling sensation throughout his body, his eyes suddenly widened, and his pupils were locked in place

The sound of a drop

He was breathing rapidly, his body drenched in sweat, and his fitted T-shirt was completely soaked

The sunset outside the window spills into the bedroom like blood, falling on the desk and the floor tiles

Walk to Building 5, then turn right. Enter the stairwell of Unit 11.

Lin Sheng walked through the somewhat rusty red-painted iron gate, proceeding straight along the slope into the depths of the community

He has a feeling that if he allows the owner of that footsteps to uncover his blanket first, he will be caught.

Sitting half-heartedly on the bed, motionless for a full ten minutes or more

He was walking on the stairs when he suddenly felt something sticky under his feet. He lifted his foot to look and saw that someone had spilled ice cream on the ground, which he had already stepped on. The inner side of the sole of his white sneakers was already smeared with quite a bit of milky white ice cream

The mind is a blank slate

He silently changed into his slippers and closed the door behind him

The entrance of the community is a round arch iron frame, with the words 'Huili'an Community' hanging somewhat askew in block letters above it

Young people, please pay attention! Do not affect everyone else

On both sides of the main gate, there are elderly men and women carrying baskets to sell vegetables. Some residents stop in front of the vegetable stalls to haggle over prices

Hoo ... ... hoo. ... ... ... hoo ...

However, his habitual calmness continually suppressed his beating heart