Yin Chao saw Moon Shadow and Bai Tan standing at the amusement park entrance.
The two stood very close together, a hint of intimacy spreading through the cheerful atmosphere.
He suddenly shouted, "Moon Shadow!"
His voice was barely noticeable amid the noise, but the instant he called her name, the entire world abruptly fell silent.
His shout seemed like a summons, amplified countless times.
The people moving around them froze completely, like a videotape that had been paused.
Yin Chao blinked and called again, "Moon Shadow, I know you can hear me."
He approached the two, step by step, until he was close enough.
"You should know that all of this is an illusion."
Yin Chao continued, "Stop lying to yourself."
At that, Moon Shadow's back trembled slightly, and she turned around with reddened eyes.
Having seen a rose in all its flamboyant splendor, no one could help but sigh at the sight of it battered by wind and rain, on the verge of withering.
"I'll leave with you."
Moon Shadow spoke calmly.
She seemed to have known this moment would come and had prepared herself for it many times.
Entering a dream was easy, and so was waking up.
But entering a dream while fully aware was a bloodless torment for those with an obsession.
A black hole with a radius of about a meter began to appear behind them in this fabricated world. It was presumably the exit.
It would only open once the person within the illusion let go of their obsession.
Moon Shadow headed toward the exit, walking ahead of the other two.
But despite the resolute set of her back, the small movements she made to wipe away her tears were easy to spot.
Just before she stepped through the black hole, Yin Chao suddenly