The sound near his ear grew noisier as ti passed, seeming as if the number of people mumbling "nearby" was increasing. Among them, Tang Ye even heard so familiar voices, belonging to people he seed to know.
The pages of Tang Ye’s life journal swiftly turned backwards, revealing many faces, so of them colleagues, so so-called friends who weren’t really friends, and others re strangers he had encountered only once.
As the train of life wildly reversed, Tang Ye did indeed recapture that feeling, life was like that one-direction train, in this journey, every person you et, every event you encounter, represents the stations and signposts you see.
The mumbling around him increased, oppressing his mind, like seeing countless overlapping shadows in a dream. It all seed incredible, but only Tang Ye knew, these were all auditory hallucinations.
However, amongst these noisy murmurs, he seed to have made out the aning of a phrase.
"In this world, you can only see yourself."
...
"In this world, you can only see yourself? What does that an?" Tang Ye frowned, puzzled. This phrase had once again elicited that feeling, similar to when he returned from space to Earth and saw that black fog. It felt eerily familiar, yet he couldn’t recall where he had seen it before, though it was supposedly his first sighting.
Tang Ye didn’t dwell on it much. He rembered, before the Apocalypse, watching a funny skit video that explained why sotis people feel a sense of familiarity when seeing sothing for the first ti; it was all scientifically based. Although Tang Ye couldn’t rember the exact content of the video, it didn’t seem like a big deal.
At last, his life journal flipped to the final page. From the very first mory recorded, his own recollections began playing again, with the train of life revisiting all the spots it reached after starting back.
The first page of life turned, displaying the furthest and oldest mory Tang Ye rembered: an orphanage teacher holding his hand, teaching him how to walk.
"Co, let’s also take our first step, follow the teacher, first step out with our left foot, then our right foot, that’s right, you’re so smart. Co, the teacher will reward you."
"Thank you, teacher."
"Children, co over, we’re going out to enjoy the spring today."
"Why are you throwing things around? These shouldn’t be thrown..."
"Hey, what’s your na?"
"..."
"How old are you?"
"I’m seven years old already."
"Ha, I am younger than you."
"If you’re younger than , then you are my little sister, you have to call brother."
"Brother."
"That’s good, I will protect you from now on."
"Hmm, brother is nice."
"There’s a kite there, but... the string seems to be broken."
"Don’t bully my sister, I’ll beat you up."
"You can’t beat us; do you think you’re Superman or what?"
"Ha, ha."
"Brother, when I grow up, I’ll marry you."
"This..."
"Co here, fill out so of these things... You’re already eighteen this year, we don’t know how you ca up with it, why would you not accept anyone’s adoption"
"I don’t know, I don’t think they are suitable for "
"Don’t know? Well, now is not the ti to fuss about this issue. You’re eighteen now; it’s ti to enter society and start working. Write down these things, and you can go out."
"Can’t I continue to live here?"
"Yes, you’ve grown up, and we have watched you grow up. Honestly, it’s hard for us to let you go, but..."
"No need to say more, I understand."
"Good."
"If I leave, then what about my sister?"
"You an Chu Yunxuan?"
"Hmm."
"She will continue her schooling."
"Ah? Why, why won’t she leave with ?"
"Due to her excellent academic performance, many kind-hearted people in society are willing to sponsor her entire university education. After graduating, she will have many choices in life. I suppose you wouldn’t want her to just hastily embark into society with you, right?"
"Alright then."
"That’s settled then; the orphanage will arrange a job for you tomorrow."
"Thank you."
...
"Brother, the kind-hearted person sponsoring my education went bankrupt, I don’t know what to do..."
"No worries, I have money. I will cover your tuition fees from now on."
"Hmm... Brother, I’m sorry."
"Why say sorry? It’s only right."
...
"Brother, I’ve arrived at the station. Where are you?"
"I’m on Earth."
...
"Brother, I won’t be coming this year. I’ll be spending New Year’s at a classmate’s ho."
"Well, all right, just stay safe."
"Okay."
...
"Are you coming for New Year’s this year?"
"I’m already on my way to Lin City."
"Really? Then I’ll co to the station to pick you up right away."
"Tang Ye, no need."
"Why not?"
"Just co straight to the old place."
"Okay."
...
"Why?"
"We’ve all grown up."
"Yeah, grown up... What are you trying to say?"
"We’ve grown up. We should see things more... more comprehensively. People... people change. We aren’t living in a fairy tale world, you know?"
"Of course I do."
"Then why are you still so naive? Isn’t it better to be realistic?"
"I understand."
"Good, you understand. But sorry..."
"It’s okay."
"I won’t be coming anymore, just take good care of yourself. And you don’t need to send money every month."
"What will you do then?"
"I have hands and feet. Besides, I’ve t a boyfriend at school..."
"Hmm."
...
"Young man, what would you like?"
"Two beers, please. Oh, and boss, do you know where I can find a barbecue place nearby?"
"Go left at the road up front and keep walking. Turn left at the first intersection; there’s a night market there."
"Thank you."
"What’s up, young man, heartbreak?"
"Sort of."
...
"What crazy weather today."
"Damn, the sky’s all red."
"F*ck, soone over there has gone crazy, biting people."
"Biting? Damn, that has to be fake. Call the police!"
"What the f*ck is going on?"
"Help, please help !"
...
"Damn, it’s all over!"
The mories in Tang Ye’s mind flashed by rapidly, each experience deepening in his own way.
Although mories of Li Henian occasionally appeared and strangely interrupted his own, he quickly dismissed them.
Reflecting on these mories, he didn’t know how much ti had passed. When Tang Ye opened his eyes, brilliant sunlight was casting onto the floor inside the room.
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