Yin Chao had heard this song before.
It was the tune Xin Ya had hummed as she headed toward the stage named on her invitation, full of hope.
The Ghost Baby's voice was no longer as shrill as it had been at first. It sounded as though it had only just learned to speak, its words and pronunciation a little indistinct.
Yin Chao slowly approached it, as though reaching out to pet a stray animal.
He gently stroked the Ghost Baby's uneven spine.
"Want to come with me?" he asked.
The Ghost Baby did not answer, keeping its back to him.
Yin Chao considered for a moment. "I... can sing?"
Even he doubted it as he said it.
The Ghost Baby remained unmoved, so Yin Chao had no choice but to demonstrate his actual abilities.
He cleared his throat and began singing off-key under Bai Xu's stare, which seemed to say, Are you still the Yin Chao I know?
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star..."
Sure enough, the Ghost Baby's huge eyes, like black grapes, stole a glance at him.
"Little stars fill the sky."
The Ghost Baby leaned a little toward him.
"Hanging in the sky, shining bright, like little eyes up high."
The Ghost Baby turned fully toward Yin Chao and transformed into a little black cat, meowing as it rubbed against his trouser leg.
When he was little, Yin Rui had told him that babies who died in the womb usually harbored immense resentment.
Only after they had avenged themselves would they turn into black cats and head for the Other Shore.
[Beep beep. Instance complete. You will return to the real world together.]
Yin Chao watched Bai Xu disappear before his eyes.
The world faded away bit by bit, as though it had begun to collapse.