Past Illusions, 'Clone' Versus 'He Ao'?

Whoosh—

To the gentle melody of a hulusi.

The girl in the floral dress crouched in a corner of the passageway, carefully unfolded the Five Yuan Note in her hand, and placed it in a somewhat battered iron bowl.

"Grandpa, you play so beautifully."

She raised her hand and gave the old man in front of her a thumbs-up.

"Chichi, what are you doing?"

A clear female call came from behind her.

"Coming."

The girl turned around, stood up, looked at the two young women behind her who were arm in arm, and quickly ran over to them.

"Chichi, did you just give that old man money?"

The young woman on the girl's right leaned her head out slightly and glanced at the old man playing the hulusi in the corner. "Let me tell you, there are lots of scammers around here. Be careful not to get swindled."

"It was only a few yuan. It's not like I could give much anyway."

The girl grinned and looked at the young woman's exquisite makeup. "I know you mean well."

"You little fool, you're so easy to trick. Who knows what bad man might lure you away someday."

The young woman reached out and tapped the girl between the brows.

Then the three of them laughed and chatted as they walked down the corridor, climbed the stairs, and emerged onto the ground above.

Lin Chichi glanced at the two young women beside her, still arm in arm. She clasped her hands behind her back, lagged half a step behind, and carefully followed her companions along the sidewalk dappled with uneven shade.

Whoosh—

A harsh whistling sound seemed to come from the sky.

She instinctively looked up and vaguely caught sight of a streak of Black Radiance cutting through the white clouds and