In a hazy dream, Huai Shi seemed to return to New Sea once again.
Yet everything seemed different.
As though he had returned to many years ago in an instant, becoming young again.
On the silent street, the streetlamps cast lonely light.
A faintly chilly night breeze blew in from afar, lifting the girl's skirt.
Under the dim yellow light, she turned back to look at Huai Shi, took a step backward, and bit her lip. "Well, I'll be going, then."
Huai Shi stared blankly at that shy face.
Stunned.
For some reason, an unexpected reluctance welled up within him.
With a gentle whistle, a white dove descended from the sky and landed on her shoulder. The girl gave him one last smile and waved as though she were being carefree.
"If... if there's a chance in the future... remember to come to Jinling and visit me."
In the dream, the boy carrying a guitar case instinctively wanted to say something, wanted to reach out and stop her. Yet as he looked at her, he ultimately said nothing more.
He merely nodded hard.
He said, "All right, definitely!"
And so, the girl silently departed.
He alone remained standing on the quiet street, gazing for a long time at the place where she had left. Then he smiled mockingly, ridiculing his own fantasies and sweet dreams...
And turned to walk in another direction.
The shattered fragments came to an abrupt end. Meaningless scenes appeared one after another—unseen events, and battles and choices that had never happened.
The images leapt about without any pattern.
Yet suddenly, he saw her face again. It was no longer as childish as before, touched instead with a trace of maturity. But this time, when she looked at him, she could no longer hold back her tears.