In the live broadcast room.
[So, the one wearing the mask is Xiaohua?]
[Being asked to become an ideal person, gradually wearing a false mask, and finally losing oneself?]
[What happened when she was fourteen? I didn’t quite understand that.]
[Fourteen is the period of sexual awakening. The next scene is the period of romance. The third scene is the wedding scene. The fourth scene is married life. The fifth scene is the family incident . The sixth scene is the life after the incident. That’s all I can see.]
[Did you notice that in every scene, the characters seem to resemble someone familiar to some extent?]
[In the first scene of sexual awakening, she was restrained by her parents and metaphorically became the girl filmed by her uncle.]
[In the second scene of romance, this girl encountered a scumbag, who seems to be Cao Ji’an in this world.]
[Her husband split into two people, right? One is the university professor Shen Shukuang, and the other is the voyeuristic landlord Li Chongming.]
[As for the police officer Wang Tou and her good friend Ran Jingjing, they are reflections of the two people she saw in court, the life she envies.]
[What about the head in the iron box? How should that be explained?]
[That head may be Xiaohua’s real head. Xiaohua gradually abandoned her original self under the constraints of her parents and the scrutiny of those around her. Sje put on various masks, and played roles that satisfied her parents, husband, and family, while her own face was left in this little box.]
[The task of finding Su Xiaohua is only 20% complete, and there’s still 80% left. So the deeper task of this copy is to help Su Xiaohua regain her true self?]
[Are you sure, brother? When did this game become so sunny and positive?]
[Um…]
[Quick, look, look at that woman’s face.]
The barrage in the live broadcast room gradually quieted down. As the scrolling text decreased, some restless players regained their composure.
In the scene, the woman who had been knocked down by her husband lay in a sorry state.
In a hard-to-spot angle, the mask that almost covered the woman’s entire head was undergoing changes.
Under the pure white mask, something seemed to be struggling and wriggling, causing the smooth surface of the mask to continuously bulge with fine ridges.
Those insect-like things were squirming around, as if trying to crawl out from under the mask.
The players in the live broadcast room held their breath, completely focused on the woman’s mask.
Just as the bulges became more restless, and when something was about to break through the mask, a “knock knock knock” of knocking on the door suddenly rang out.
The restless mask froze instantly, then quickly recoiled.
The woman got up from the ground, still wearing that perfect mask with no flaws at all.
Outside the door, there was a little girl whose face was obscured by fog.
The girl was about eight or nine years old. She said in a milky voice, “Mom, I don’t understand this math problem.”
The woman tidied her messy hair, her emotions stable and her voice gentle, as if the domestic violence just now had never happened, “Come, let Mom take a look.”
Everyone’s hearts that were in their throats suddenly stopped, followed by a sudden disappointment and astonishment.
[Is that it?]
[I thought Xiaohua was going to awaken and resist. I almost saw cracks appearing in her mask, and I was starting to cheer her on, but then she backed down on her own?]
[I feel like I was halfway through taking a shit. Damn, it’s not satisfying.]
[… Brother, your metaphor is a bit hardcore.]
[You tell me if my metaphor is fitting or not!]
[…It is.]
[I’m sad about her misfortune and angry at her lack of resistance. Yes, she was domesticated by her parents and assimilated by society, but no one tied a chain around her neck. Her life is under her own control. She couldn’t decide her birth, but she can decide her path. She could completely be herself. What she’s experiencing now is a tragedy, half of which comes from external factors, but the other half comes from herself. If she were brave enough, it wouldn’t have come to this. Anyway, I don’t sympathize with her.]
[Indeed. When she was a child, she could be said to be too young to think for herself, but she would grow up. Even her husband committed a crime, why not divorce such a husband and keep him? Keep him for the New Year? To move herself or to move the world?]
[Watching this makes me feel so suffocated. She is too cowardly and accepts things as they come.]
[Whether it’s the masked Xiaohua in reality or the girl Xiaohua missing for ten years in the copy, they both have the same character. So one can only endure such a life day by day, and the other disappeared for ten years and the case remains unsolved. Is this copy trying to tell us that weak people won’t have a good ending?]
————————–
Scenes flashed before his eyes. Bai Lixin stood quietly, his beautiful eyes following the figure of the masked woman, lost in thought.
The scene disappeared again as the woman closed the door. He stood in place for another fifteen minutes, until no new scenes appeared, and then he continued walking forward in this pitch-black fog.
While walking, Bai Lixin stopped suddenly, his gaze falling on the face of the girl in the box.
S419M: [Lord Host, what’s wrong?]
Bai Lixin was silent for two seconds, then he closed the open lid and continued walking forward, [Nothing.]
Just now, for a moment, he seemed to see Xiaohua’s eyelashes tremble.
But he wouldn’t tell S419M and Sister System, so as not to scare them.
He’s really nice.
After walking in this fog for about half an hour, a low sobbing sound came from ahead.
The young man paused, followed the sound and got closer. As the sobbing grew louder, he gradually saw a blurry red figure.
It was a tiny figure, curled up on the ground and facing away from him, alone and looking very pitiful.
Bai Lixin approached cautiously, and finally saw the figure clearly.
It was a little girl with two low braids tied with red ribbons on top. The vivid butterflies on them trembled as she cried, as if about to flutter away.
Seemingly hearing Bai Lixin’s footsteps, the girl stopped crying and turned her head to look over.
At this moment, Bai Lixin finally recognized who the little girl was.
“Xiao Xin?” Bai Lixin bent down and looked at the little girl with red eyes in front of him, “What are you doing here? Where’s your mom?”
When the little girl saw Bai Lixin, it seemed like she saw a lifesaver. She rushed over, hugged Bai Lixin’s legs and cried loudly, “Beautiful Brother, wuuuu, I don’t know.”
She cried and choked, “I was at home with my mom. I was playing with toys while she was cooking.”
“Suddenly everything in front of me turned white, and then I couldn’t find my mom.”
“Wuwuwu, Beautiful Brother, Xiao Xin got lost, can you help Xiao Xin find her mom?”
The little girl in front of him was none other than Shen Shukuang and Mrs. Shen’s daughter, Xiao Xin.
Bai Lixin took Xiao Xin’s hand and could feel her warmth and pulse. She didn’t seem to be an illusion.
He didn’t know why Xiao Xin was involved, but such a young child, he couldn’t leave her alone.
The road ahead naturally changed from a one person journey to a two person journey.
He didn’t know how big this foggy area was.
Bai Lixin walked with Xiao Xin for a long time, but never walked out.
Although Xiao Xin was young, she was very sensible. She didn’t cry or make a fuss along the way, silently holding Bai Lixin’s hand and never complaining of tiredness.
After walking for about two hours, Bai Lixin heard a sound again.
The rustling sound of conversation.
On hearing this sound, the always obedient Xiao Xin’s eyes suddenly lit up. After shouting “Mom” and breaking free from Bai Lixin’s hand, she ran straight towards where the sound came from, plunging into the fog.
Bai Lixin followed closely and passed through the white fog. Despite some mental preparation, he still paused when he suddenly saw a small wooden house.
A quaint wooden house stood eerily in the thick fog.
There were two people standing in front of the wooden house. One bent down to pick up Xiao Xin who was rushing over. The other person saw Bai Lixin and exclaimed in surprise, “Bai Lixin!”
Under the cover of the thick fog, the wooden house also became indistinct. Bai Lixin swept his gaze around the blurry wooden house, then shifted his gaze to the person who called out earlier, “Lawyer Ran.”
One of them was Lawyer Ran, and the other naturally was Mrs. Shen.
Mrs. Shen hugged Xiao Xin in her arms vigilantly. She glanced at Bai Lixin warily, then turned and walked into the small wooden house.
Bai Lixin walked over, and before he could speak, Ran Jingjing reached out first, “Thank you for keeping the box for me.”
In other words, she wanted Bai Lixin to give her the box containing Xiaohua’s head.
Bai Lixin didn’t say much. He handed her the box, and asked, “How did Mrs. Shen end up here?”
“It’s not just Mrs. Shen.” Ran Jingjing carefully cradled the box in her arms, “The landlord Li Chongming, Wang Tou, and Su Hong’s wife Zhang Li are all here.”
“They were here when I arrived. They all appeared inexplicably and are unable to explain why.”
Ran Jingjing glanced at the closed wooden door nearby, leaned closer, and lowered her voice, “According to your theory, it seems they are all Xiaohua’s personalities. But I haven’t told them about being Xiaohua’s personalities yet, and they are still wondering why they suddenly appeared here.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
“Let me go! I said I didn’t escape from prison, I don’t know why I’m here!” A hysterical scream caught the attention of the two, then the wooden door opened suddenly and a hazy figure rushed out.
The man obviously didn’t expect there was someone at the door. In his momentary shock, he didn’t notice Bai Lixin lifting a leg and tripping him, causing him to fall headfirst to the ground.
Another figure followed closely behind. Wang Tou, who was still wearing a hospital gown, subdued the fallen Li Chongming with his bare hands. He looked up at Bai Lixin and said, “Thank you, young man. It’s foggy outside, let’s go inside.”
Bai Lixin and Ran Jingjing exchanged glances, then followed Wang Tou into the wooden house.
The decor in the small wooden house was very simple.
There was a long wooden table, two rattan chairs, and a long rattan sofa.
Mrs. Shen, who had just entered the room with Xiao Xin, occupied one of the rattan chairs. When she saw Bai Lixin enter, she frowned, her eyes showing the same vigilance and wariness as before.
S419M: [It seems Mrs. Shen knows you disguised yourself as Shen Shukuang’s student, Lord Host.]
Bai Lixin: [Not only that, I suspect she also discovered that the film rolls in the hidden compartment are missing.]
Escape System: [It’s truly an awkward meeting.]
Su Hong’s wife Zhang Li still looked tired, with dark circles under her eyes as if she hadn’t slept enough.
At this moment, Zhang Li was curled up against the armrest of the long sofa, leaning her entire weight against it, yawning tiredly.
With one hand, Wang Tou locked Li Chongming’s hands behind him and threw him onto the sofa.
The sudden noise startled Zhang Li from her doze. She woke up abruptly, scrutinized the two additional people beside her, then glanced at the empty rattan chair nearby. Eventually, she didn’t move her body but curled up deeper, trying to distance herself from Wang Tou and Li Chongming.
Li Chongming glared with wide eyes and muttered under his breath, “Let go of me, are you crazy? I already said I didn’t escape from prison. I really don’t know why I’m here.”
Wang Tou was wearing a hospital gown and obviously had no equipment on him. He could only restrain the struggling Li Chongming with his bare hands. “You didn’t escape, then why did you run when you saw me?”
Li Chongming: “Because I was afraid of this exact situation I am facing now!”
Wang Tou: “Hmm.”
Li Chongming: “I’m telling the truth. Let go of me, I swear, I won’t run anymore. The fog outside is heavy, where could I possibly run? Don’t you find it strange? How did we suddenly end up here? And how did you end up here?”
Wang Tou pursed his lips, his gaze quickly scanning the room.
Just as disappointment flashed in his eyes, a rope as thick as a finger was handed to him.
The hand holding the rope was distinct and fair as jade, starkly contrasting with the rough rope. They were quite beautiful.
Wang Tou looked up along the rope and saw that the person handing him the rope was the young man who had helped him trip Li Chongming earlier.
He quickly took the rope and skillfully tied Li Chongming’s hands to the armrest of the sofa before letting go. “Li Chongming, just stay put like this. I’ve been in the police force for so many years, and I’ve never wronged a good person. If you’ve been innocently caught up in this, I’ll explain the situation when we get back.”
Li Chongming cursed under his breath but ultimately swallowed his words.
With his muted voice, the room’s turmoil settled down and the wooden house quickly became quiet.
After a brief silence, Wang Tou, who was still engaged in police work, collected his thoughts and spoke first, “This place is quite strange. If not for the pain from pinching my thigh, I’d have suspected I’m dreaming. I was just receiving treatment at the hospital, when suddenly everything went white and I found myself in a white fog. What about the rest of you? Let’s hear how you got here.”
After saying that, Wang Tou’s gaze fell on Li Chongming, who was closest to him.
Though reluctant, Li Chongming still spoke irritably, “Where else could I be? I was in the detention center. It was at that moment when I was just about to go to bed. Before I could close my eyes, I was brought to this damn place.”
Ran Jingjing pointed to Bai Lixin beside her, “I was in a taxi with Bai Lixin just now. At the intersection, everything suddenly went black, and when I opened my eyes again, I was here.”
Bai Lixin nodded, “She’s right.”
Mrs. Shen held Xiao Xin tightly in her arms, “I was at home taking care of the child. I had just finished cooking when I heard Xiao Xin shout from the guest room. I was startled and quickly came out to look, but when I opened the kitchen door, the original hall was covered in white fog.”
Zhang Li rubbed her eyes, “I was sleeping at home. I suffer from insomnia all year round, and I had just taken two sleeping pills so I was very drowsy. I vaguely heard someone talking, got startled, and when I opened my eyes, I saw him standing in front of me. I was almost scared to death you, bastard!”
As she spoke, she pointed to Li Chongming who was tied up at the other end.
Li Chongming’s face turned red, “I walked in this damn fog for a long time before I finally found this little wooden house. I opened the door and walked in, only to see her lying on the sofa sleeping. I wanted to know where this place was, so I had no choice but to wake her up. What else could I do?”
Wang Tou rubbed his chin, scanned the people around, then his gaze fell on Bai Lixin, “It seems that besides this young man, everyone else who got involved is more or less related to Su Xiaohua’s disappearance.”
He remembered something, then glanced at Xiao Xin in Mrs. Shen’s arms, “Oh, and this little girl too.”
Ran Jingjing thought of something, smiled, and continued along with Wang Tou’s words, “It seems so. Maybe it really is Xiaohua’s ghost gathering us here to punish the one who hurt her.”
After saying that, she quickly scanned the living room and finally settled her gaze on Zhang Li.
Zhang Li paused, “Why are you looking at me? What do you mean by that? Are you suspecting me as the culprit?! Are you crazy?!”
Ran Jingjing sneered, “Even if you’re not the culprit, you’re an accomplice. Su Hong’s death was so suspicious, didn’t you ever suspect it was Xiaohua seeking revenge? What did you do to Xiaohua back then? Don’t think I don’t know. I just lament that karma came too late, letting you enjoy ten years of peace for nothing.”
“Now you can’t sleep because of your guilty conscience, right? You need to take sleeping pills to fall asleep at night, right?”
Zhang Li’s eyes widened, the sleepiness instantly fading away. She pointed a trembling finger at Ran Jingjing, “Listen to what you’re saying! You’re a lawyer! What kind of lawyer talks like this?”
Ran Jingjing raised her chin defiantly, “Yes, I’m a lawyer, but I’m also Xiaohua’s best friend. I have both rationality and emotion, and most importantly, I have humanity.”
Just as the two were arguing, the wooden door, which everyone thought no one else would come through, suddenly banged.
The noise in the room abruptly stopped, and everyone’s eyes turned towards the door.
Following this, the wooden door creaked open.
