Dream

Locke woke up in a daze and found himself lying in his rented apartment, surrounded by familiar furniture.

One Piece was playing on the computer beside him.

Everything around him was familiar, everything he had longed to return to in his dreams. He just hadn't expected that after fighting someone, he would return here.

Had he died in that other world and then transmigrated back?

As he pondered this, Locke slowly climbed out of bed and followed the familiar yet unfamiliar routine of brushing his teeth and washing his face.

After freshening up, he picked up the phone beside him and called Zhao Lei, his college buddy, intending to ask him out for drinks that evening.

The call connected quickly.

"Hello!"

"Hello, Brother Lei!"

"Yes, it's me. Brother Locke, what is it?"

"Nothing. It just feels like we haven't seen each other in a long time, so I wanted to ask you out."

"What do you mean, a long time? Didn't we meet just a week ago? Little Locke, did something happen? Tell your brother, and I'll help you deal with it."

"Get lost. You're the one with problems. I really just want to hang out with you!"

"Fine! From the sound of your voice, it really doesn't seem like anything happened. Sure, let's get together tonight. The usual place by the school gate?"

"Yeah, the same place. I'll wait for you there at six tonight."

"Then that's settled. See you tonight. I've got to get back to work!"

"Mm! See you tonight!"

After saying that, Locke hung up. He changed into casual clothes and headed out. Although he didn't know whether this was real or just a dream, now that he was back, he had to go out and take a look. Even if it was a dream, he didn't want to wake up just yet.

Leaving the apartment building, Locke stepped onto the street and watched luxurious and ordinary cars drive past him, while successful and unsuccessful people brushed by him.

At that moment, even the exhaust fumes from the cars felt familiar and comforting.

After wandering aimlessly through the streets for a while, Locke decided to visit his old school. Since graduating, although he had lived not far from it, he had never gone back because he hadn't found a decent job. Even though he met his friends right across from the school, he had never entered it.

Now that he had somehow returned, he had to go in and take a look at the school where he had spent four years, a place that carried too much of his laughter and tears.

With that thought, Locke began walking toward the school. There were plenty of buses along the way, but he didn't want to take one. He wanted to walk there and look at this world he had missed for so long.

After walking and stopping along the way, Locke arrived at the school around noon. Once he had taken care of lunch at a small shop near the gate, he headed inside.

As he entered, Locke watched younger students chatting and laughing as they passed by him, and he sighed. Youth really was wonderful.

Locke spent the entire afternoon on campus, strolling here and sitting there, reminiscing about youth and every little thing that had happened in this school.

When he saw the sun setting, Locke got up, left the school, and headed toward the place where he had arranged to meet Zhao Lei.

The place Locke and Zhao Lei had chosen was a dry pot restaurant. It wasn't expensive, and the portions were generous. Back when they were students, Locke, Zhao Lei, and the other two guys from their dorm had eaten there together. It had only cost around twenty yuan per person.

But after graduation, the other two had left the city and returned to their hometowns. Only Locke and Zhao Lei had remained.

If they had stayed here for their dreams back then, now they simply stayed because they couldn't leave.

Every city was a huge besieged fortress. Those inside wanted to get out, while those outside wanted to get in. What they didn't know was that once they entered, leaving was never so easy.

Locke didn't have to wait long before Zhao Lei arrived.

"Brother Lei, over here!" Locke hurriedly called when he saw Zhao Lei enter the restaurant.

"Hey, you brat!" Hearing Locke's voice, Zhao Lei walked over and gave him a punch in the chest.

"Boss! Bring out the food!" Seeing Zhao Lei sit down, Locke called to the owner some distance away.

"Tell me, kid, why did you suddenly call me and say we hadn't seen each other in a long time and needed to get together? What is it really?"

"It really is nothing. I just wanted to drink with you."

The dishes arrived quickly, and Locke had the owner bring over a case of beer.

Once the beer arrived, the two started drinking. They drank and chatted, talking about life after graduation and embarrassing things the other had done back in school.

But they hadn't talked for long before Zhao Lei was called away by a phone call. From what he said, it was a girlfriend he had recently started seeing. Locke could only sigh helplessly and drink alone.

After leaving the restaurant, Locke walked down the dark street, taking out his phone as he went.

The call connected quickly, and a gentle female voice came through.

"Hello! Is that Little Locke?"

"Mm! Mom!" Hearing her voice, Locke choked up.

"Little Locke, what's wrong? Did something happen? Don't cry!" Hearing the sob in his voice, his mother asked anxiously.

"It's nothing, Mom! I just miss you!"

"Ah, you child. If you miss Mom, then come home, or..."

Listening to his mother's nagging over the phone, tears streamed uncontrollably down Locke's face. Only he knew how much bitterness those tears contained.

After talking with his mother for more than an hour, Locke finally put down the phone reluctantly.

Standing at the street corner, Locke looked at the night sky, where the stars could no longer be seen because of pollution. He let out a long sigh and said to the person behind him, "Come out. I noticed you a long time ago."

"Why didn't you go back and see them?" A pleasant little girl's voice sounded behind Locke.

Locke turned around and looked behind him. He found a seven- or eight-year-old blonde little girl in a princess dress, her large adorable eyes filled with curiosity as she looked at him.

Looking at the adorable little girl, if Locke hadn't known that she was responsible for bringing him back here, he would definitely have been charmed by her appearance.

"Go back? What would going back change? None of this is real."

"If you know it's fake, then why won't you go back and see them?"

"Because even if it's fake, I don't know how to face them."

"I don't understand!" the little girl said cutely.

"Enough about me. Tell me about yourself. Who exactly are you?" Locke asked.

"My name is Annie!"