Editor: Atlas Studios
"Beichuan?!" Qian Xia Chiyuki exclaid.
She had never expected that the person in front of her would be Beichuan Si.
"Guest, please keep quiet and do not disturb the other diners." The shop owner’s gentle reminder ca over.
"...Ah, sorry." Qian Xia Chiyuki apologized honestly, and when she turned to look at Beichuan Si again, her face still carried an expression of disbelief.
However, her acute mind quickly reacted. She suppressed her inner surprise and lowered her voice,
"Beichuan, are you the blogger for the Urban Mysterious Tales Office hopage?"
"As you can see." Beichuan Si sat across from Qian Xia Chiyuki, paused for a mont, and then added, "I noticed sothing was off about you the first ti I saw you. I originally planned to find a ti to talk to you, but what you said during lunch break today made realize that Miss ’sen’ is you."
The ’Qian’ in Qian Xia Chiyuki’s na, according to the Romanization rules of Japanese surnas, is often used for the ’chi’ sound. Naturally, Qian Xia Chiyuki had not reached the level of using her real na to create an online nickna, so she chose the Romanized pronunciation ’sen’ from the Japanese word for ’thousand.’
Generally speaking, it’s not easy for people to associate this back to her. However, Beichuan Si, combining her real na with what she said today, "I have an appointnt with a friend this afternoon," naturally had an inkling.
The ’sen’ online was Qian Xia Chiyuki.
"So Beichuan was testing when he proactively suggested a eting ti?" Qian Xia Chiyuki touched her forehead.
Only now did she understand why Beichuan Si had suggested talking privately at that ti.
Qian Xia Chiyuki hadn’t expected that the cold-faced Beichuan Si would be unexpectedly shrewd.
"Enough small talk. Let’s discuss your friend and your situation in detail."
Beichuan Si ordered a cup of mixed coffee, saying matter-of-factly, "You pay."
"Huh? Oh, okay." Since Beichuan Si’s words ca off as too matter-of-course, Qian Xia Chiyuki instinctively nodded in agreent.
But when she snapped back to reality, she couldn’t help but glance at Beichuan Si again.
It wasn’t that she minded paying for a cup of coffee, but Beichuan Si’s attitude was so matter-of-fact that she wanted to quip about it yet had no words.
With her face red with embarrassnt, Qian Xia Chiyuki finally managed to say, "Beichuan, do you think there’s sothing wrong with ?"
Beichuan Si took a sip of his coffee, raised his gaze, and studied Qian Xia Chiyuki for a long ti before saying,
"Aside from your flushed face and rapid breathing, looking like you really want to complain, everything else doesn’t seem to particularly affect you."
Uh—
Qian Xia Chiyuki froze.
Beichuan Si gently rubbed the warm coffee cup and finally delved into the main topic,
"Has President Qian Xia been having frequent nightmares lately or seeing things that ordinary people can’t?"
"That’s right." Qian Xia Chiyuki suppressed the surprise in her heart and continued, "Beichuan, you should have seen the specific circumstances in my email. I often have nightmares about dolls, and the scenarios in the dreams are mostly the sa."
"Nightmares about dolls?" Beichuan Si was intrigued. He asked,
"What kind of dreams specifically?"
"I dream of fleeing in an abandoned doll-making factory."
"Fleeing?" Beichuan Si’s fingers paused on the cup.
"That’s correct." Qian Xia Chiyuki recalled the dream, her petite body seemingly trembling slightly due to fear.
Beichuan Si ordered another cup of coffee and handed the warm cup to her.
Qian Xia Chiyuki shot him a grateful glance.
But Beichuan Si thought nothing of it since, ultimately, Qian Xia Chiyuki would pay.
Qian Xia Chiyuki took a small sip of coffee. Her throat felt like it was clogged with ice, dragging her words slowly,
"I dream of running, fleeing in the abandoned doll factory, chased by countless dolls behind ..."
"Dolls? Dolls that can chase you like living beings?"
"That’s right." Qian Xia Chiyuki nodded, holding the coffee cup with both hands, as if trying to draw warmth from the cup’s small surface.
"I don’t know why I’m having such dreams. At first, in the nightmares, I could easily find an exit. The factory’s paths were smooth, with few obstacles."
"But recently—"
Qian Xia Chiyuki’s voice turned pained.
"I’ve been increasingly sensing the reality of the dream, with my stamina, breath, and psychological changes. The air is filled with the burnt, scorched sll of dolls... Everything has beco extraordinarily real."
"But I dare not stop my fleeing; it feels like as soon as I stop, the dolls will devour ."
Qian Xia Chiyuki’s body trembled.
"What frightens the most is the change in the dream... From initially clear paths and smooth roads, now they’re covered with various machine wrecks and doll remnants... The dream seems to be evolving...as if it’s alive."
"In such a dream, my strength is gradually sapped, but the dolls’ speed is increasing... They’re gradually catching up with , and lately, I can even see the expressions on the dolls’ faces at the exit."
"Those are clearly fake faces, yet they send chills down my spine. Even with no expression, you can fully sense their greed, cruelty, coldness, and evil..."
Qian Xia Chiyuki released the coffee cup, exhaling deeply.
Despite being in the warmth of the café, she felt as though she had fallen into an ice cellar.
This was undoubtedly a despairing situation, a fear as profound as watching a butcher approach step by step with a knife.
It’s fortunate that Qian Xia Chiyuki has held on until now. A girl of her age would likely have broken down long ago.
"And now, I seem to gradually hear their hoarse voices clearly."
"Voices?" Beichuan Si asked in confusion, "What are they saying?"
"...They seem to be calling out a word...a very simple word." Qian Xia Chiyuki clutched her hair.
This action might be unladylike, but it’s the only way she could relieve her inner fear.
"Peel..."
"Peel?" Beichuan Si raised an eyebrow.
This nonsensical word puzzled him sowhat.
But seeing Qian Xia Chiyuki unable to recall any further, he didn’t press her, just placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Don’t worry. I think I have a lead. The thing affecting you isn’t hard to remove, as you’re only dragged into this by your friend. The key issue lies with her."
Qian Xia Chiyuki’s current state was similar to that of Shen Gu Mirai, although the ’thought’ on Shen Gu Mirai was much milder than on Qian Xia Chiyuki.
If Beichuan Si hadn’t stepped in, it wouldn’t take more than a week or two for this student council president to be on the verge of collapse.
It’s just that...
A thought flashed through Beichuan Si’s mind.
"Peel"?
What does that an?
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