My girlfriend is a Miao demon.

"Lin Shu, Brother Shu! This is Xiang Nanfeng. Is this a convenient time for you to talk?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"Hey, do you remember Zuo Sigong, the professor in the East Asian Studies Department at Youdu University?"

"Of course! We got into a car accident while trying to interview him, how could we forget?"

"Yes, that's right. Do you remember what we interviewed him about? What I asked him, and what he said?"

"This, Teacher Xiang... Look at my brain! It hasn't been that long, and I've completely forgotten! What's wrong? What happened? Why did you suddenly think of asking about this person? Wasn't this interview already rejected?"

"Killed? Why?"

"You didn't know? Oh, right, you were still unconscious back then. I remember I hadn't even been discharged from the hospital yet when that story was rejected. As for why it was rejected... I don't know, I didn't ask. I was just a cameraman, the story selection was the boss's business, I... I just filmed whoever they told me to film."

"Brother Shu, do you still have the footage you filmed back then? You didn't delete the video of my interview with Zuo Sigong, did you?"

"Of course it wasn't deleted! That machine was only for my personal use. After our accident that day, our channel's deputy director, Tang Xiaohe, went to the scene to take over, and all the equipment was brought back to the station. Right, if you've forgotten, or if you want to know, you can just copy it out when you get back. I had a fracture and the hospital gave me three months of sick leave, so I haven't gone to the station. Don't worry, no one touched the videos while I was away!"

"But are you sure the machine wasn't damaged?"

"Confirmed! We ordered a new batch of aviation-grade aluminum equipment cases last year, which are shockproof and drop-proof."

"Oh! Right, I remember now, it's shockproof and drop-proof. That box is indeed of very high quality, great! Great! Brother Shu, shall I go to your center to borrow it? I'll copy the video here, I won't touch the machine, and you definitely won't mess with the other videos either. I just want to copy the interview with Zuo Sigong from November 8th!"

"No problem, just let me know when you arrive, and I'll call the office."

"Alright! I'm in the suburbs right now, I guess I won't get back to the station until... or seven o'clock in the evening."

"Huh? You're going now? Aren't you resting at home?"

"Hey, what illness are you talking about? I'm not sick! Okay, I'll call you from my office. Thanks, Brother Shu!"

The city of Wangshan was shrouded in a thick twilight during rush hour. A southerly wind huddled in the back corner of the bus, the jolts of the vehicle rolling over the asphalt making my toes numb. Outside the window, traffic thronged, neon lights casting dappled patterns on the wet pavement, and the glass facades of skyscrapers reflected the shifting headlights of the buses, like countless pairs of peering eyes darting about. The bus was as noisy as a marketplace, a place where all the sounds of humanity converged, yet not a single person spoke.

With his eyes tightly closed, Xiang Nanfeng recalled the image in his bathroom mirror when he removed the elastic bandage and stood facing the incision on his head after his first post-operative hair wash. He was once certain that the beginning of all the mysteries was the accidental car accident on Tianlou Road on November 8th. He clutched the ancient jade ring he was born with, the one that concealed clues to his origins, through his hoodie. He also recalled the inexplicable vow that Luyao made him swear on the Ferris wheel at Wangshan Amusement Park. He was once certain that the beginning of all the mysteries was already destined in Wangshan City, in the old eastern part of the city, at the non-existent Nanfeng Alley.

But at this moment, as the bus crawled along the congested intersection, those chilling thoughts were gnawing at his injured and trapped brain cells bit by bit.

向南风盯着手机中那个从11月8日晚20时23分后就再也没人发言的「望山记忆工作群」，一遍遍回看当天中午12点32分以后至19时03分的聊天记录：

Nian Daqi (Associate Producer of "Memories of Wangshan") 2011.11.8 12:32

"Dear colleagues who have been working hard, I just received a call from Associate Professor Shen Feng of the History Department of Wangshan University: His doctoral supervisor, Zuo Sigong, an internationally renowned scholar and professor of the East Asian Studies Department of Youdu University, is currently in the city. Professor Zuo claims that he has discovered Buddhist architectural remains dating back about 400 years in Shounan Mountain. This discovery will push the history of Wangshan City back by at least 300 years."

Teacher Xiaofeng (Editor, Science and Education Center) 2011.11.8 12:33

"What does the leader mean? External sourcing? Our center's teacher, Zhang Linli, graduated from the University of Tokyo, but it seems she's on annual leave for the next two weeks? If it's urgent, could we borrow someone temporarily from the Japanese language channel?"

Nian Daqi (Associate Producer of "Memories of Wangshan") 2011.11.8 12:34

"I consulted with President Tang: We should hire internationally renowned experts if possible, and utilize their expertise. There's no need for Japanese; Professor Zuo's Chinese is fluent. I'll ask Professor Shen from Wangda University to schedule a time."

Teacher Xiaofeng (Editor, Science and Education Center) 2011.11.8 12:33

"OK!"

Nian Daqi (Associate Producer) 2011.11.8 12:36

"Only from 5 PM to 7 PM today, the professor is returning to Youdu tomorrow morning. @SongMeiqi @LinShu"

Lin Shu (Photographer at the Science and Education Center) 2011.11.8 12:37

"I'm fine, I can leave anytime."

Nian Daqi (Associate Producer) 2011.11.8 12:39

@SongMeiqi

Li Bing (Editor, Science and Education Center) 2011.11.8 12:40

"Teacher Nian, Meiqi went to the dinosaur fossil excavation site in Binluocai yesterday and developed a fever when she came back. She took sick leave and didn't come today."

Nian Daqi (Associate Producer of "Memories of Wangshan") 2011.11.8 12:40

@Meiping

Teacher Xiaofeng (Editor, Science and Education Center) 2011.11.8 12:40

"Xiaomei just had IVF last week and is resting at home. @NianDaqi"

Nian Daqi (Associate Producer) 2011.11.8 12:41

"Hey guys in the news center, is anyone free of interviews this afternoon and can make a trip to Circle Art City? @OldZhang"

South Wind, November 8, 2011, 12:43

"If no one else is around, I can manage."

Nian Daqi (Associate Producer) 2011.11.8 12:43

"Great, Xiao Xiang, thank you for your hard work! I'll send you Professor Zuo's phone number."

Teacher Xiaofeng (Editor, Science and Education Center) 2011.11.8 12:43

"Thank you so much, Teacher Xiang!"

Li Bing (Editor, Science and Education Center) 2011.11.8 12:44

"Thank you so much, Teacher Nanfeng!"

Mei Ping (Host of the Science and Education Center) 2011.11.8 12:44

"Thank you for your hard work, little brother!"

South Wind, November 8, 2011, 12:44

"OK!"

Lao Zhang (News Channel Producer) 2011.11.8 12:53

"Hey, I just got a call. I was just saying I'd have Xiao Xiang run over there!"

Lao Zhang, November 8, 2011, 12:54 PM

"Come back early after the interview! Teacher Wang has a lot of articles to write. If you're not too busy, could you help him write a couple more? @XiangNanfeng"

South Wind, November 8, 2011, 12:55

"it is good."

Lin Shu (Photographer at the Science and Education Center) 2011.11.8 15:03

"Teacher Xiang, I'm at the North Gate parking lot, in a silver SUV, model AJ0397. Get ready, we're ready to go anytime. @XiangNanfeng"

South Wind, November 8, 2011, 15:04

"I'm off the elevator, Tree Bro! @LinShu"

Teacher Xiaofeng (Editor, Science and Education Center) 2011.11.8 20:13

"I just received a call from the traffic police. Our center's car overturned into a ditch on Tianlou Road. Lin Shu and Xiang Nanfeng have both been taken to the Third Municipal Hospital. I heard that Teacher Xiang is seriously injured and has already fallen unconscious. Zhang Tai is on his way to the hospital."

Mei Ping (Host of the Science and Education Center) 2011.11.8 20:23

"What happened? When did this happen?!"

The chat history in the work group ended abruptly there. It was obvious that the documentary project, which had already been approved, couldn't be abandoned, and the unfinished work would continue. However, because of the car accident, Xiang Nanfeng and Lin Shu could no longer participate in the unfortunate project "Memories of Wangshan." As outsiders to the project, it would be inappropriate to kick them out of the work group directly. But keeping two "outsiders" would go against the station's office culture of "one thing - nine people - ten large groups - eight small groups - eight hundred ulterior motives - superficial unity." So, it was easy to guess that they would create a new group and move the work there.

There's just one thing: their contributions can be erased, but how could the interview video they risked their lives to obtain be simply rejected?

Zuo Sigong is a leading figure in the industry and an internationally renowned scholar. Moreover, he is the kind of scholar who doesn't like to be in contact with the mass media. Where can Wangshantai invite such an influential and "mysterious" expert? Besides, before the trip, didn't the director of the Science and Education Channel, Mr. Tang, personally make the decision and tell the entire project team, "Collect what you can, use what you can, and do everything you can to secure it"?

The sampling is already complete, so could there be a problem with the caliber or guide? That shouldn't be the case, it can still be used after some trimming!

It was indeed unusable, but the reason it couldn't be used wasn't because the viewpoints were out of the loop or the tone was inappropriate. It wasn't until Xiang Nanfeng rushed back to the station, finally got Lin Shu's camera, took out the memory card, inserted the card, and opened the folder that he realized the real reason it was rejected was that such an interview simply didn't exist.

林树相机中的最后一个视频是2011年11月8日下午17时32分拍摄的一段2分32秒的试机视频。视频中，一个年近七旬、鬓角堆着霜白、戴着金丝花边眼镜的男人坐在一把高脚椅上，镜片后的目光掠过镜头时，忽然弯出了几分温和的笑意。

"Professor Zuo, please move slightly to the right."

"Okay...that's it, that's it, a little more to the left. Okay. Tilt your head a little to the right...okay, okay!"

"no."

That was the sound of the trees.

"What's wrong?"

That's what I was saying.

"My glasses are still reflecting light. Professor, could you please take them off?"

Lin Shu asked.

"Take off my glasses? I'm afraid that's not a good idea. My eyes are small, and I don't like it if I take them off."

The man in the center of the screen spoke, still maintaining a proper sitting posture.

"Can you remove the lenses from your glasses? We can put them back on after the shoot."

It's still Lin Shu's voice-over.

I'll give it a try.

The man in the video takes off his glasses, places a tissue under them, and after about ten seconds, removes one lens. Ten seconds later, he removes another. He then puts the gold-rimmed glasses back on.

"Okay, Professor, no problem this time. Lean to the right a little, good."

"Turn your head a little to the left. Okay."

"Neck, neck a little to the right, don't turn your head, okay. No problem."

"Professor, shall we do a sound check? Please say whatever you wish."

It's still all Lin Shu's voice-over.

"Hello everyone, I am Zuo Sigong."

"Professor Zuo, please speak a little longer, about anything you like. Just make it a bit longer."

This is me speaking.

Then, the man in the center of the screen coughed twice, cleared his throat, and began to recite a poem:

"The pipa's rapid melody is reminiscent of Qin music, its grand and stirring tunes reaching the mountains are truly divine. At the same time, Meibei was also the best, but both men were demoted and exiled. Wang Kang's masterpieces are renowned, even surpassing Wang Wei of Kunlun. For over a hundred years, the southern wind has been blowing, and the bamboo branch and water tunes are sung in the Wu dialect."

"Alright, the sound is fine, Professor Zuo, let's begin the recording!"

"it is good."

The video ended abruptly there. This test video became the last file on the entire memory card.

"Li Bing, who has tampered with Brother Shu's camera?"

"No one's touched it. That's why it's so strange. Could it be that Brother Shu didn't record it?"

"Absolutely impossible! How could that be! Besides, judging by the filming time, we interviewed people for at least two hours that day. Two hours isn't enough time to film one take after another, or to miss a single take. How could we possibly miss filming Lin Shu?"

"It's strange, Professor Nanfeng. When you came back, the leaders saw that it wasn't there. They figured that the famous professor had said he would return to Youdu the day after the interview, so they didn't ask anyone to fill in the gaps. Besides, it wasn't convenient to bring it up. So that part was cut."

"Li Bing, are you sure no one touched the camera after you got it back?"

"That's a question you're asking. Do you mean you filmed it, and we deliberately deleted it?"

「这倒也是，咱们的人不可能去删视频……照你说的，当天翻车发生在晚上7点半到7点46分之间，树哥自己醒过来在7点46分报的120急救……然后急救车11分钟到场把我们拉走，也就是7点57分……台里后勤部8点05分接到的现场交警电话？」

"Yes, Teacher Nanfeng, what are you investigating?"

"Wait for Li Bing. The station received a call at 8:05, and Director Zhang and your center's Director Tang rushed over there afterward. When did Director Tang arrive at the accident site? Did she bring the equipment back?"

"Yes, Director Tang went to the scene to hand over the equipment to the traffic police. She was the one who brought it back. Zhang Tai and the others went directly to the Third Hospital."

"I understand. So, Brother Shu didn't call the police; in his panic, he only called 120 (emergency services). It was the 120 command center that called the traffic police, which is why the traffic police arrived late. We had already been taken away by the ambulance before they arrived. After the traffic police arrived, they notified the unit, conducted an on-site investigation, and Director Tang handed over the equipment to the traffic police before taking it directly back to the station?"

"Hmm, that's roughly it. What's wrong? It's been so long since it happened, why did you suddenly think of this?"

"In other words, from the time the ambulance took us away until the traffic police arrived at the scene, there were at least a few minutes when the accident scene was unguarded? That means if we did record Zuo Sigong's interview that day, and the video was deleted, then the person who deleted the video was very likely a witness to the accident, a passerby. And this passerby certainly had no reason to go with the ambulance to take me and Lin Shu to the hospital, so naturally they stayed at the scene. Only this person had the time to delete the video."

"Could this person be... Gui Luyao?!"