Mirrors, glass, ponds, pupils...
Her tall boots crushed the frozen puddles on the concrete pavement as Zhang Mingqi passed the corner of a high-rise. She hurried along, passing two or three intersections in the blink of an eye.
There was no fog here, but it was in the Northern Hemisphere, and snow fell from the sky in keeping with the usual climate.
There were people in the city. Everyone seemed accustomed to unusual things happening around them. Silent and bundled in thick clothes, they trudged through the wind and snow toward their destinations, their faces expressionless.
"Eldest Senior Sister, do you like snow?"
As she passed a commercial building, Wei Yanchi appeared in its reflective glass.
Zhang Mingqi slowed down and exhaled a cloud of white breath. Delicate snowflakes covered her hair and black coat. "No."
"I think it's beautiful."
"Beautiful, my ass. Come out of there and experience the beauty of this snowfall yourself."
Wei Yanchi rubbed his nose. "On second thought, never mind."
Zhang Mingqi glanced at him twice and picked up her pace again. Wei Yanchi walked along with her, his figure appearing in passing car windows, the icy pavement, reflective glass...
It was too cold outside for Zhang Mingqi to want to speak. She pulled the scarf around her neck up over her mouth and mumbled, "Aren't you going to keep your Mr. 39 company? What did you come here for?"
"...Shouldn't you first be worried about why I'm inside a mirror?"
"Can't muster the concern."
It was too cold.
Zhang Mingqi stopped and checked the traffic light. It was red, but after looking both ways and seeing no cars, she walked straight across.
Wei Yanchi appeared on the steel pole of a road sign and explained, "The two instances are connected. The mirror ghosts you