The next day, dawn had barely broken.
Qiao Ziruo leaned against the bus window, watching the familiar scenery around her.
She was back.
Back in her hometown.
She took out her phone and checked the time-
Six o'clock.
It was only six o'clock. On a bus this early, she was the only passenger.
Qiao Ziruo rubbed her eyes, sat up straight, and looked toward the driver's seat.
She vaguely remembered rushing back to attend someone's funeral... someone very important.
But whose?
She found that her mind was hazy. She simply could not work out who that person was.
Her head... hurt so much.
Never mind. She would stop thinking about it.
Once she reached Qiao Family Village, she would find out.
She looked out the window. In the dim light on either side of the road, the tree branches took on all manner of strange shapes. Not a single vehicle approached from the opposite direction along the narrow country road. The surroundings were exceptionally quiet, with only the sound of the bus rolling onward.
Qiao Ziruo tucked in her neck. She suddenly felt a little cold.
The indistinct shapes outside the window felt familiar yet somewhat strange, just like the man driving the country bus.
Although she could vaguely see his profile, she could never make it out clearly.
Never mind. She would rest for a while...
She was a little tired, so she rested her head against the window and closed her eyes.
But the bus had not traveled far before it suddenly jolted violently! The jolt slammed her head hard against the windowpane.
The pain cleared her mind a little.
Opening her eyes and rubbing her head, Qiao Ziruo looked to see what had happened, only to discover that the sky had grown considerably brighter.
An orange-red slit