At last, Ning Huanxin settled on a book titled "Foundational Skills of a Performer" before she lay down on her bed. This nonfiction book, filled with technical subjects, was truly hypnotizing, and it was not long before Ning Huaxin's eyelids were heavy.
Not long after, Ning Huanxin fell asleep.
"It's very cold!"
"This is so uncomfortable."
In Ning Huanxin's dream, a female voice rang in her ears relentlessly.
The surroundings were dark and humid, there was the stinking smell of decomposition in the air.
This place…
The basement?
"Why didn't you come and save me? Did you know that my child and I have been waiting for you? We have always been waiting for you."
"Where are you? Where have you been?"
The woman's voice grew increasingly grievous and lonely, to the point of craziness at the end.
The light was already switched off in the room.
The curtains were not drawn, and the moonlight streamed in through the windows, reflecting on Ning Huanxin's face. Ning Huaxin was sleeping rather uncomfortably as her brows were furrowed, and her beautiful face had a painful expression.
In that instant, a blast of cold air blew in, suddenly drawing the curtains close. They covered the entire mirror situated in the corner of the room.
A faint fragrance floated in the room, and Ning Huanxin finally settled peacefully in her bed. Her furrowed brows also began to ease slowly.
How familiar…
The voice from her dreams finally disappeared. Ning Huanxin smelled a familiar scent, making her feel comfortable instantly. Her facial expression also turned peaceful.
Ning Huanxin woke up early the next morning.
After a good night's sleep, she woke up groggy. The heavy curtains were drawn, but some beams of light managed to find their way into the room, casting a dim glow. Ning Huanxin could not help but rub her eyes.
Did she close the curtains last night?
She frowned, but as she turned her head, the book that she had read last night was placed nicely at the bedside.
After she placed the book back, Ning Huanxin dressed up and silently walked out of the room. In this small town, the air during the early morning hours was very refreshing.
Ning Huanxin started running, following the only spacious path in the town, and she eventually ran out of it.
Not far away from the town was a barren grave.
The place was quite near to the town, but why was it casually neglected by the residents in town?
Ning Huanxin continued running forward. She recalled that Wang Nianping once told her about the town's history. As Wang Nianping had told her, decades ago, there were only two villages and no town. Somehow, all the people of one village died mysteriously, leaving the solitary existence of the other village. The surviving village eventually grew to become the town later.
That was Zhang Clan Town, but its original name was Zhang Clan Village.
On an autumn morning, the dew was heavy, and there was a chill in the air.
Without realizing, Ning Huanxin had already run near to the grave. From far, she spotted some smoke and a blurry figure.
How could someone be burning joss paper at such an early hour of the day?
Ning Huanxin's expression shifted, then she hurried her pace.
But when she reached the area, the blurry figure was long gone, leaving behind only the burnt-out joss papers and a box of rouge.
The rouge box was made of metal, with an old and sentimental brand. This emitted a feeling of nostalgia. Although it was charred due to burning, the brand and exterior design were still noticeable on the cover.
Who was this burnt for?
Ning Huanxin looked up at the grave in front of her, that…
Wasn't this the same grave where Gu Yu and Luo Yingxin encountered an accident ten years later at the filming site?
"What're you doing here?"
Suddenly a cold and alert female voice rang out behind Ning Huanxin.
Ning Huanxin turned her head and saw Auntie Zhang carrying a small basket standing behind her, her face was filled with suspicion.
Her basket was covered with blue cloth. As the wind blew and the edge of cloth was lifted, one could see the yellow paper money inside.