Chapter Fifteen: The Cure

Xiao Jin hurried forward to help Chen Jin, who had been dragged across the ground, anxiously asking, "Brother Chen, what are you saying? Did you see a wild boar?"

Xiao Jin recalled Old Xu's boasting from before—"You'll know once you've worked here long enough, you can even spot wild boars out on the wasteland." Yet, thinking further, Chen Jin had probably seen the wild boars Old Xu talked about before, so how could he be scared like this by one?

Puzzled, Xiao Jin glanced at Shengyao.

Shengyao let out a breath, looked in the direction Bai Xiao had run, then turned to help Xiao Jin lift Chen Jin from the ground.

"No, that was Shengsheng," Shengyao chose this name to avoid Chen Jin and Xiao Jin discovering Bai Xiao's real surname, "She's ill, that's why she looks a bit frightening."

Chen Jin suddenly looked up, meeting Shengyao’s young face.

Shengyao forced a slight smile; the moonlight made his face look pale, but his gaze remained steady.

Chen Jin thought of that cold joke about the mad sister. He swallowed hard, "Young man, I'm telling you, that's definitely not… I’ve worked here long enough, I’ve seen things."

He unconsciously slipped into Old Xu’s catchphrase.

"I've seen plenty… The wasteland here, and Longevity Park, the Longevity Cemetery used to be farmland, with wasteland too. Locals used to bury people here in earthen graves. When the graves were relocated, they dug up… I've seen it." Chen Jin rambled, gripping Shengyao’s hand tightly, his wide eyes bloodshot and eerily similar to Xiao Wu’s, "That’s not illness! That’s absolutely, absolutely… like the ones lying in those dug-up coffins… like those… those…"

He started to stammer.

He’d been hired as a guard after the Longevity Cemetery was expanded, spending years guarding the west gate, facing this very wasteland. Back then, the wasteland wasn’t like it is now. There were still many rural burial mounds, which looked similar to those in the cemetery but were actually quite different in style. At night, though, the atmosphere was the same.

Later there was talk of municipal reform, or the land being sold—anyway, all those mounds were dug up, the decayed and intact coffins hauled out, and the remains inside each cremated and buried anew.

Chen Jin had seen some corpses from those coffins. The better ones were skeletons or dried corpses, still vaguely human, nothing too revolting; the worst, the coffins and bodies rotted, and when the earth was turned, a stench could be smelled from afar. Just a glance at the bloated, maggot-infested corpses beneath could make one retch.

These were nothing like those he'd seen in Longevity Park. Those highly decayed bodies bore no resemblance to the living.

"That's not illness!" Chen Jin insisted, but did not dare to utter "corpse" or "death."

The night wind stirred the grass, making a rustling sound, and Chen Jin looked around in fear.

Xiao Wu had been wrong. That wasn't a ghost—it was a zombie! Chen Jin screamed inside.

Shengyao patiently replied, "She really is ill. It's a rare disease, which is why she looks so strange. Didn't you see her during the day? Wasn't she fine then?"

Chen Jin shivered.

He recalled the strange sounds in the bathroom and how, after the girl emerged, her sleeve clung to her bone-thin arm.

He wanted to say more.

But Shengyao spoke first, "She's just sick. I'll take her to a doctor and she'll get better. She's a bit scared, and looks a little frightening, but that's all perfectly normal."

Xiao Jin scratched his head, "That's too bad. She's so young, and she’s really pretty too."

Shengyao smiled, "She'll recover."

"Mm." Xiao Jin nodded, then said to Chen Jin, "Come on, let's keep looking. I already called Xu over. She must have been hiding here this whole time. Honestly..." he muttered, "Hiding illness and refusing treatment is no good. If you need a doctor, you need a doctor, no matter how afraid you are of needles or medicine."

Shengyao agreed, "Exactly."

Chen Jin felt absurd, as if he’d become like Xiao Wu earlier—no one believed a word he said. The others just talked among themselves, ignoring him completely.

Xiao Jin's attention had shifted; he waved his flashlight at a distant light, calling out, "Xu! Over here! She must be hiding right here!"

Old Xu shouted back from afar, "We just came all the way from the office—didn't see anyone!"

"She's still here!" Xiao Jin called, striding toward Old Xu and letting go of Chen Jin.

Chen Jin tugged at Shengyao, "Listen to me, young man! The way she looks…"

"I know she seems scary now, but it's just because she's ill," Shengyao replied with a smile.

Chen Jin thought Shengyao was the one who was sick.

He tried a different approach, "If she has this kind of illness, where's her family? Did they abandon her? You're willing to be with her and take her to see a doctor, but what about your family? Would your family agree?"

Shengyao's smile slowly faded.

Images of his cold home and the black name engraved on a black tombstone flashed through his mind. His expression grew dazed.

Seeing that his words had an effect, Chen Jin pressed on, "There's no way your parents would agree, right? You're still young, with a bright future ahead. Don't assume this is just between the two of you and it's all that simple. Besides, how long have you even known her? Are you really so dead set on her? You're full of feelings now, but what about a year from now? Or two?"

Chen Jin meant well, earnestly trying to persuade Shengyao.

Shengyao glanced toward Longevity Park.

"I don’t think it’s simple," he suddenly laughed, "I just confessed, and I was rejected. How could it be so easy to fall in love? There will always be hard times, difficulties, and troubles. But… as long as two people are together, that’s enough."

He looked at Chen Jin, "As long as we’re together, that’s enough."

Chen Jin was stunned.

Shengyao brushed off the hand gripping him, "I’m going to find her."

With that, Shengyao ran in the direction of Longevity Park.

In the wilds, Old Xu, Xiao Jin, and the others were still noisily searching for Bai Xiao, unaware Shengyao had slipped away.

Chen Jin stood motionless for a long time, unable to recover.

...

Tap, tap…

In the dark TV room, the doctor frowned, his fingernails tapping the armrest of the sofa—a picture of inner conflict.

He wasn't watching the screen, but now and then those eerie blue eyes flickered toward it, like a child sneaking peeks at TV while pretending to do homework.

"Sigh…" A long sigh, almost a chorus, as the faces on his fingernails sighed along—with smiles, with sorrow, with anger.

The tapping ceased.

At last, the doctor looked squarely at the screen.

On the screen was a distant shot. After entering the traditional cemetery, Shengyao slowed his steps, his gaze always fixed "straight ahead," as if looking at the doctor before the TV. The doctor stared back, as though trying to read his thoughts.

The camera pulled back further.

Under the moonlight, rows of tombstones stood silently, the portraits on them blurred and lifeless.

The camera followed Shengyao’s footsteps, resting at last on the only lifelike portrait—a young woman’s.

Beside her photo, a hideously damaged head leaned against the stone, its clouded eyes shifting slightly to look at Shengyao.

Shengyao’s shadow fell over the decayed corpse, like a gentle embrace.

Clap!

The doctor clasped his hands, fingers interlaced, leaning forward with head supported on his hands.

He resumed his fascinated pose, eyes wide, glued to the screen.

...

Shengyao crouched down and reached out to Bai Xiao, who was slumped against the tombstone, "Shengsheng, let’s go. I’ll take you to see a doctor."

Bai Xiao could no longer move, her clouded eyes filled with anger, helplessness, and emotion.

Shengyao gently picked her up and gazed for a long moment at the young woman’s portrait on the tombstone.

Holding Bai Xiao, he left the traditional cemetery for the guardroom.

The door opened with a push. The room was dark, save for a strip of light sneaking through the window, and the moonlight at the doorway. In that moonlight, Shengyao’s shadow was visible, cradling Bai Xiao.

With her head on his shoulder, her legs dangled in his arms. In the shadow, her legs looked thin as sticks, her pants hanging loosely.

Shengyao carefully placed Bai Xiao on a chair and began searching the guardroom.

Having been there twice before, he’d already taken stock of the odds and ends. Now, searching with purpose, he quickly found what he needed.

With tools in hand, he knelt before Bai Xiao, speaking gently, "Wait here for me. I’ll be back soon."

With only her neck vertebrae remaining, Bai Xiao could not speak; her lips moved, but only the sound of teeth clicking together could be heard.

Shengyao got up and hurried back to Bai Xiao’s grave.

He meant to take her for treatment. That monster clinic would surely have a way. But to treat a patient, there must first be a patient. Bai Xiao certainly looked the part, but still…

Shengyao looked at her portrait, his gaze drifting down to the tomb.

Muscles tensed beneath his clothes, and without him noticing, faint blue veins emerged like tattoos, spreading down to his palms.

He had never done anything like this, yet easily inserted the blade into the tomb’s seam, slicing through the cement seal as if cutting tofu, and pried open the tomb.

Inside was a simple urn.

He carefully lifted it—it was light as a feather. He set it aside and restored the tomb.

When all was done, he took the urn back to the guardroom.

"We’re leaving now. Just a moment longer," he soothed Bai Xiao as if coaxing a child, putting the tools back and placing the urn in a bag.

He then slipped into the adjacent guardroom.

The door was wide open, the surveillance system still running.

On the west gate monitor, he saw lights flickering across the wasteland—Chen Jin and the others still searching for Bai Xiao.

A brief check at the console was all it took for him to master the system, erase all footage of himself in the cemetery, and pause the surveillance at the north gate.

His task complete, he returned to the guardroom, secured Bai Xiao on his back with soft cloth strips, picked up the urn, and let his cheek brush against Bai Xiao’s hard forehead. "Let’s go. I’ll take you to the doctor. You’ll be all right."

He spoke with solemn assurance.

...

The TV camera changed angle. Shengyao’s figure shrank into the distance, the dormitory building visible behind the guardroom.

Xiao Wu, biting his nails, hid behind the curtains.

Creak, creak… creak…

"Go… hurry up and go… hurry up and go…"

The sound of biting nails and anxious muttering drifted through the dark TV room, becoming the background music as Shengyao left the cemetery.

The doctor released his hands, leaned on his knees, and slowly stood.

His silhouette now blocked the TV.

A door appeared in the darkness.

...

Shengyao climbed over the wall of Longevity Park with Bai Xiao and the urn.

At the gate he hesitated for a moment.

He remembered the monster clinic was near the residential complex, wedged between two clothing stores. He remembered the names of both stores, yet what came to mind was a sign for a "Good Dog Pet Shop."

"…Just down this way, less than ten minutes—beside the real estate agency, called ‘Monster Clinic.’"

A young, energetic voice echoed in memory.

This way… the west gate… Yes, the west gate.

For a moment, his mind clouded.

He turned and walked along the asphalt road, under the dim streetlights, heading for the west gate.

As he walked, he kept hearing strange sounds—sometimes like Bai Xiao whining, sometimes like a car passing close by.

He passed out of the light and onto the path built by Longevity Park itself.

Ahead was darkness, but further still, faint beams of light and snatches of voices drifted over. Xiao Jin’s voice was clear, but soon all the voices blurred, replaced by shouts of alarm. Someone called for the police, someone for an ambulance, and others offered sympathetic sighs.

Bzzt, bzzt…

In the darkness, the sound of electricity crackled.

Bzzt, bzzt.

The sound stabilized, and suddenly a red light flashed.

Above, the neon sign reading "Monster Clinic" lit up in the gloom.

Below the sign, the lights gradually brightened, as if the old fluorescent tubes needed time to warm up.

Shengyao’s eyes, though, shone instantly.

"Shengsheng, we’re here. The hospital. You will get better, you will be saved!"

He quickened his pace, running toward that lone light in the dark.

You will be saved!

The doctor is here!

The ambulance is here!

The fire brigade is here!

"Just a little longer, very soon, very soon they’ll save you! Wake up, my love—Shengsheng… Shengsheng, hold on… Shengsheng…"

Bang!

Shengyao shoved open the glass door.

Inside the shabby, filthy clinic stood a doctor in a similarly dirty white coat.

"Save her! Doctor, please save her!" Shengyao shouted, tears streaming down his face.

He felt as though the weight on his back had vanished; all he held was the heavy urn in his hands.

Tears splashed onto the urn.

With blurred vision, he thrust the urn at the doctor, "Please… please… Shengsheng… save Shengsheng… She’s still alive… she must be alive… Please save her… Don’t cover her up. She’s still breathing, her heart’s still beating. I heard it! Please check again! She’s definitely alive… please… please…"

He knelt on the floor, speaking words he barely knew he was saying, repeating them over and over…

The doctor stood above, hands in pockets, looking down at Shengyao. The nails on his fingers gave muffled cries.

After a long time, the doctor stooped, reached out, and took the urn from Shengyao.

Shengyao looked up in a daze.

Cradling the urn, the doctor’s fingernails fell silent. He turned and disappeared down the corridor.

Delayed joy overtook Shengyao; he staggered to his feet, leaned against the wall, and watched as the doctor took the urn into the operating room.

The wooden door closed automatically.

Shengyao slid slowly to the floor, covering his face with his hands.

Low sobs, full of sorrow and joy, seeped from between his fingers, just like the noisy fingernails of the doctor.

Time slipped by unnoticed.

Shengyao eventually wept himself dry, sitting dazed on the floor, staring up at the operating room door.

Behind him, the consulting room door stood open, and the computer on the desk suddenly lit up.

This time, the boot screen was not DOS but Windows 98. The familiar start-up music played, but the last note stuttered, repeating as the classic Windows logo appeared. The "98" flickered in time with the note, changing to "2000," then "ME," "XP," "2003," "Vista," "7," "8," "10"… The flashing sped up until the screen itself glitched, then went black for an instant before the desktop returned.

The desktop showed the latest UI, the wallpaper a photo of Shengyao and Bai Xiao at twenty-five, heads together, smiling faces pressed close, both holding a card. On it, in script: "Third Wedding Anniversary," "Year 7 Together~," "Onward!"

Click.

A sound at the door.

The monitor shut off.

Shengyao jolted as the wooden door opened.

The doctor emerged, his white coat spattered with fresh blood.

Shengyao scrambled upright, swaying with anxiety, forgetting even to breathe.

The doctor walked past without a word, glancing at him just once, then entered the consulting room opposite the operating room.

The bulky monitor still sat in the corner, this time not switched on. There was still only one file folder, but now a label had been added—marked "Shengyao."

The doctor sat at the desk, pulled out the folder, opened it, and began writing rapidly.

But Shengyao’s gaze stayed fixed on the operating room door.

Tap, tap…

Hesitant footsteps approached from within.

Shengyao’s eyes widened as he leaned forward, almost stepping ahead, but as if afraid to startle whoever was inside, he suppressed his longing and did not rush in.

Tap, tap…

A figure appeared before him.

Tears welled once more in Shengyao’s long-dry eyes.

The figure who emerged also had tears in her eyes, but a smile on her lips.

Their eyes met, and together they wept with joy.

Nothing separated them anymore.

With a leap, Shengyao threw his arms around Bai Xiao’s warm, soft body.

Tears burst from his eyes, and his chest was soon soaked with Bai Xiao’s tears.