The Nightmare Experience of a Useless Person

The surging crowd blurred into an empty bubble, and the noise in my ears dissipated like a thin mist. Only one sound remained between heaven and earth: the thumping of a heart pounding violently against the chest.

"The second quarter of the hour of Xu, the second quarter of the hour of Xu..." Jiang Zhiyang kept muttering to himself without stopping, and his calves were shaking uncontrollably.

"What did you say?" Jiang Shuo turned to the side, asking with a serious expression.

"Huh?" Jiang Zhiyang seemed to have a fever. He could only see Jiang Shuo's lips opening and closing, but he couldn't hear his voice. Or rather, he could hear it, but he wasn't in the mood to respond.

"I'll go check over there. You take good care of the child." Jiang Zhiyang was burning with anger, but he didn't want Jiang Shuo to know what was going on. He casually pointed to the riverbank and ran off.

"You've always been afraid of water, and there are so many people today, so please be careful!" Jiang Shuo shouted, his voice drowned out by the sea of ​​people. Looking down, he saw a crumpled piece of paper lying on the ground.

Jiang Shuo carefully unfolded it. "At the second quarter of the hour of Xu, near the pavilion by the water," the characters were graceful and elegant, the calligraphy of Qingjun.

He recognized it and knew it didn't belong to him, yet he still clutched it tightly in his hand, unable to let go.

"The second quarter of the hour of Xu, the second quarter, the second quarter..." Jiang Zhiyang ran straight to the pavilion by the water, but did not see the owner of the note. That makes sense, after all, he had been standing there for quite a while when the hour-hour drum had just sounded.

On the other side, Xiulian was already captivated by the handsome young man on the stage. His rendition of "The Fairy Couple" was deeply moving, and his glances were so captivating that they seemed to see right into her heart.

"Wait, don't run!" Xiao Tao and A Li were still young and didn't understand the sweet nothings they heard. They just ran happily toward the wall full of lanterns.

Qingjun chased after her, panting, but was always three or four steps behind. In a daze, he saw Ali fall to the ground again.

"Ah Li, are you alright?" Qingjun helped Ah Li up, but the girl in his arms didn't cry or make a fuss; she just shook her head.

"I'm sorry, sister, I was running too fast. I'm sorry I bumped into you." Ali raised her head and apologized obediently.

The woman turned around, her skirt fluttering, and a faint smell of alcohol wafted out. It turned out to be a fox, clutching three or four lanterns in her hands, their shimmering light reflecting off her youthful face.

"It's alright." The girl laughed heartily, then nodded and bowed to Qingjun. "My name is Bai Chan. I've been staying in Rongcheng for two days. Today is Laba Festival, a joyous occasion. A word of good fortune can be exchanged for a lantern!"

Ali's eyes sparkled, and she instantly beamed with joy. "Sister Bai Chan, may everything go smoothly for you, and may good fortune follow you everywhere!"

"Thank you so much, little one, may you also be safe and happy!"

Ali got her wish and received a little tiger lantern. Xiao Tao was envious but impatient, and was about to run out of breath. Luckily, Ali was quick-witted and gently stroked her back with her small hand, guiding her to speak slowly, word by word.

"Sister Bai Chan, may your family be reunited and happy year after year."

"You're a good girl too. I wish you good health. Do you like this peach blossom lantern?"

"Thank you, sister!"

"This is the only rabbit design left. Do you like it, young lady?" Bai Chan left one fox lantern and handed over the other white rabbit lantern.

"Thank you. May Miss Bai overcome all obstacles and have all her wishes fulfilled!"

"That's a wonderful blessing, I love it! In return, I wish you, my wife, to live life to the fullest, free and unrestrained!"

As expected of a fox, it is full of intelligence and has sharp eyes, and it has hit the nail on the head about what Qingjun values ​​most.

Do whatever you want, be free and unrestrained...

The white rabbit lantern in her hand swayed with her steps, and the candlelight flickered, illuminating the dim steps below the pavilion.

Brushing past the bustling crowd, Qingjun climbed the steps alone. It was just to meet someone she knew all too well, yet a sudden panic gripped her heart. Little did she know, the person on the other end of the note felt the same way.

As the time drew closer, Jiang Zhiyang became increasingly flustered. He sat down, then stood up again, crossed his legs, then crossed his arms. No, that was too unnatural. Leaning against a pillar made him look more dashing.

But just as he was about to lean down, he caught a glimpse of a familiar butterfly hairpin out of the corner of his eye. She's here! It's Qingjun!

His heart raced, choking him. Jiang Zhiyang staggered, but managed to stand still, staring at the shimmering lights on the river, pretending not to see anything.

How could he pretend he hadn't seen her? His peripheral vision probed again and again, finally unable to resist falling on her side.

Not far away, a loud gong sounded on the stage, drawing everyone's attention, and the man's singing became clearer and clearer with each word.

"The moon in the sky cannot reflect a shadow."

Your eyesight is as good as a diamond mirror.

Your face is like the moon on that day.

Her eyes were like stars on the moon.

Take a step and fly towards the clouds.

She speaks like Qiao Yinling.

Although I've seen you a thousand times in the past

I seem to love people more today.

After he finishes singing, will his lover respond?

The fluttering butterfly, swaying gently with each step, accompanied by the carefree spirit of the wind and the tenderness of the flowers, finally landed beside Jiang Zhiyang. He had expected his heart to race until his whole body went numb, but the opposite was true.

As if soothed, the chaotic heartbeat gradually calmed down, the dry throat relaxed, and moist air entered the body, bringing a rare moment of peace.

It's comfortable to be with people you like.

"Why did you only invite me?" Jiang Zhiyang asked, his eyes darting around uncontrollably again.

"Today is your birthday, isn't it?"

Birthday? This unfamiliar term almost instantly extinguished the spark of hope in Jiang Zhiyang's heart. She had indeed read the letter. She knew everything: his beastly father, his mother who died in despair, the blood of a rapist flowing in his veins, and the madness inherited from a sinner…

She not only found out, but she also wanted to speak out, to put her on trial, and to convict her.

Jiang Zhiyang remained silent, letting the night wind cool his neck and penetrate his entire chest.

"To the east lies the Yuan River, swift and powerful; to the west, the Loutang River, calm and turbid. The confluence of these two rivers creates the Rongcheng Kangjiang River beneath our feet, a place teeming with fish, tranquil, and prosperous for commerce."

Qingjun's meaning was obvious, but Jiang Zhiyang refused to accept it. His suffering was boiled down by time into a thick, foul-smelling pot of water, making it impossible for anyone to get close.

"But I'm afraid of water." His voice was cold.

"Then hold my hand tightly."

A soft touch came from my cold, numb fingertips, and a warm current flowed from our joined palms into my empty body, followed by a blankness.

"In this world, almost all life is like this: when men and women unite, yin and yang complement each other, new life is born, and they will usher in a new beginning. You are the same. You are different from your father and different from your mother. You are simply yourself."

Jiang Zhiyang was stunned. He seemed to become extremely insignificant, merely a particle among the masses, no different from any other life form. And then, his origins were so easily forgiven.

Beside the Kangjiang River, a large crowd gathered. Among them, a handsome young man stood out. It was Jiang Shuo. He was pushing his way through the crowd, seemingly moving closer.

Why? Why plunge himself into this abyss? Perhaps it's because of him. Just looking at him keeps Jiang Zhiyang constantly on guard; they are different…