False evidence

Chapter 44 The Time Has Arrived

Meng Chao is big and burly, like a butcher, but deep down he has the heart of a child and loves to joke.

I remember once, while we were walking, he suddenly had a cramp and collapsed in the green belt, foaming at the mouth.

I was so scared that I immediately called Liping, but before I could even dial the number, he suddenly sat up like a zombie, wiping his drool and mocking me:

"You're supposed to be a medical student, can't you at least try to save her first?"

Later, they told me that this is called performance art abroad, and it's a way to test human nature. They even joked that I have no artistic talent.

Because of that incident, when I saw him fall down for no apparent reason and hit his head, I wasn't worried at all; in fact, I felt a little schadenfreude.

"Hey, that's enough, stop pretending. Doesn't your head hurt?" I laughed and went over to push him.

He didn't react.

Seeing his face turn bright red and him snoring, I was so angry I almost twisted my nose.

"Look at your screwdriver!"

I slapped him hard across the butt, my hand was sore from the impact, but he still didn't react.

"Alright, go to sleep." I shook my head with a smile. Actually, the alcohol I just drank had quite a strong aftereffect.

Meng Chao is the kind of person who drinks heavily and eats big chunks of meat. If he drinks too much, it's not uncommon for him to get knocked out.

I had drunk just the right amount, so I ignored him and went out alone.

I don't know where Gu Haitao went. I didn't want to do anything else by myself, so I just came to the mountain stream outside.

I glanced back at the "Bamboo Forest Villa" sign above the resort's gate, then looked at the swaying bamboo grove on the opposite bank, and thought to myself that the name was a bit cliché, but it was really fitting for the scene.

I happened to run into Uncle Fu before I came out, and I specifically asked him if I could play in the stream.

Uncle Fu laughed and said: Of course you can, as long as you're not completely naked.

Seeing the mountain stream rushing by, its water crystal clear, I couldn't resist any longer. Seeing no one around, I quickly stripped off my clothes and waded into the water.

The weather was already hot and humid, and I had also been drinking, which made my heart fire flare up.

Stepping into the icy stream, I immediately felt an indescribable sense of comfort.

The mountain stream wasn't deep, so I simply lay myself flat, closed my eyes, and let the water wash over me.

Perhaps it was too comfortable, because before long I became drowsy.

But at that moment, I suddenly had a strange feeling, as if a pair of eyes were watching me.

I thought it was a mountain dweller passing by, and feeling that lying sprawled out like that was unseemly, I quickly opened my eyes and sat up.

Looking around, there was no one there.

I suddenly felt that the sky was getting dark. When I looked up, the sky was as black as the bottom of a pot.

I was a little dazed. We arrived early, and it was only a little past noon after we finished lunch.

How come it got dark so quickly?
Did I just fall asleep without realizing it?
A mountain breeze blew by, and I felt the coolness. I quickly realized what was happening.

It wasn't dark at all; it was just cloudy.

What I found hardest to accept about studying in the south was the climate.

When we arrived, the sun was shining brightly, but suddenly it turned cloudy.

It looks like it's going to rain heavily again.

I've sobered up quite a bit now, but being alone is no fun, so I just want to go ashore and go back.

Just as I was about to stand up, I glanced down and saw a figure reflected on the water!
I quickly looked up, but there was no one on the shore.

Looking down again, the reflection in the water was crystal clear!
The water wasn't calm, but I could still tell it was a woman.

White T-shirt, blue jeans, she looks like the beautiful woman I saw in the dining room before!

After repeated verification, there was indeed no one around, but the reflection in the water remained, and with each ripple, it seemed to be staring straight at me!
Thinking back to when I saw the 'beautiful woman turn her head' in the dining room, I felt a little uneasy. After all, I grew up in the countryside, and while I can't say I completely believe everything, it's impossible to say I don't believe it at all after hearing so many stories.

Looking at my reflection in the water again, the woman's face was blurry, but I was certain that she had been watching me the whole time.

Moreover, his eyes seemed to have a very malicious look.

This reminds me of a legend I heard from someone—the one about water ghosts seeking substitutes.

Even if the mountain stream swells after a heavy rain, its depth will not exceed one meter, so it shouldn't be able to drown an adult.

But... but it's hard to say...

The more I thought about it, the more creeped out I became; goosebumps appeared on my arms and legs.

Finally, I gritted my teeth, glanced sideways at the reflection, and whispered, "Don't mess with me, or you'll regret it!"

After saying that, I quickly got ashore.

Just as I put on my underwear and shoe covers, I suddenly heard a piercing "woo-li-wa~ woo-li-wa~" sound.

This time I was really startled. I covered my ears, looked in the direction of the sound, and froze.

I saw a boat floating upstream!

This mountain stream is supposed to be no more than three meters wide, and its depth is not suitable for boating.

But the boat is only one meter long, so it looks perfectly natural when it's sailing on the water.

This is by no means a model, much less a child's toy. Although small, it is made entirely of solid wood, with carved beams and painted rafters, exuding a luxurious yet rustic charm.

What's most eerie and unsettling is that there are two people standing on the deck of this miniature ship!
These two people were wearing the same yellow trousers and jackets, and were no more than 20 centimeters tall. They had noses and eyes, and looked just like real people.

One person is holding a suona (a traditional Chinese wind instrument), and the other is carrying a gong. The key point is that the little figure holding the suona is actually puffing out his cheeks and blowing it!
I was stunned for a moment, frozen in place, forgetting to react.

"Woo-li-wa~ woo-li-wa~"

Accompanied by the sound of suona horns, the boat quickly arrived in front of them, and surprisingly, it spun around in the slightly turbulent stream before coming to a stop.

Then I could see it more clearly; the two people on the deck looked exactly like real people. They not only had the movements, but also the expressions!
Moreover, upon closer inspection, the ship's cabins were brightly lit, and there were even figures moving around inside.

The suona music suddenly stopped, and the two little yellow figures on the deck turned to look at me at the same time.

I took a deep breath and instinctively straightened my back.

I wanted to slip away as fast as I could, but my calves were shaking so badly I couldn't run at all.

Since we can't run away, let's just fight them head-on. No matter what they are, I firmly believe in what my grandfather said: "If you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear!"

I thought to myself, this standoff isn't going to work, so we should just talk things out.

Just as he was about to speak, the two little figures in yellow exchanged a glance, shook their heads simultaneously, and then turned their gazes toward the opposite bank.

I can see clearly that there is absolutely no one on the other side.

However, the reflection of the beautiful woman in the water is still there, and it is reflected right below the bow of the boat!

The little men in yellow looked at each other again and nodded simultaneously.

Immediately afterwards, the one carrying the gong raised his mallet and struck it once.

They were small, and their gongs were even smaller.

That gong was about the size of a smashed beer bottle cap, but the sound it made was no different from that of a real gong.

"Boom..."

Before the gong had even finished ringing, the little figure suddenly raised his hand, pointed the gong mallet into the water, and shouted in a shrill voice:

"It's time~ Come with me!"

(End of this chapter)