Xiao Die got into Lu Yu's car, and she fell into a long, long dream.
"Jiejie, save me… Jiejie, please don't leave me behind!"
"Xiao Zhen, jiejie is right here with you. Don't be afraid."
"Jiejie, you have to get out of here. It's all Xiao Zhen's fault."
"Xiao Zhen, it's not your fault. It's that demon's fault. Jiejie will never leave you."
Xiao Die woke with a start.
"Actually, you also have a twin sister. Her name is Su Zhen. Two years ago, Qin Zu pushed her from the top of a building. You witnessed the scene of your sister's death and lost the memory of that period."
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing. I'm just weaving a dream for you. We've arrived at the apartment building."
Xiao Die's head throbbed with pain. In her mind, there was a photograph—a photo of two girls together.
Two identical faces. The beginning of a tragedy.
"Su Zhen, you're disgusting! How dare you seduce our father!"
A group of delinquent girls were beating Su Zhen. As her older sister, Su Die hurried to shield her younger sister.
"What are you all talking about? Don't you dare insult my sister!"
"Miss Su, in your sister's heart, you're just a tool she uses to win someone's favor."
"What do you mean?"
The delinquent girls quickly left. Su Die held her sister tight.
"Xiao Zhen, tell me right now—tell me this isn't true!"
"Jiejie, I really do like Qin Zu."
"Is he that pervert who picks you up from school in a Bentley?"
"Yes, jiejie. Just pretend I'm already dead."
"Xiao Zhen…"
This was the darkest day of Su Die's life, because that day, she lost her dearest sister.
Su Die looked up and saw Qin Zu's lofty, arrogant gaze.
"So you're Qin Zu?"
"Yes."
"You're shameless. My sister is still a minor, just a child. What you're doing is against the law."
"I've done plenty of illegal things. I'm not sure which one you mean. But now that I've seen you, I'd like to add one more crime to my list."
Su Die smelled something like disinfectant. When she woke, she was tied up in an abandoned floor of a building, in a cement room. Her sister Su Zhen was tied up there too.
"Jiejie, today I'm going to kill Qin Zu, and kill myself too. Only then can I save you."
"Jiejie, I really do love you. You have to live on for me."
The feeling of free fall. Her sister's white dress. Her sister's body.
The city outside the glass window looked like a fake toy…
Is this a lyric from some song? Or is this my reality?
Xiao Die went to the sink and rinsed her hair. The icy water helped her return to reality.
On the floor, there was a letter. It was from Lu Yu:
To Xiao Zhen,
About what you told me last time—I believe I'll definitely find a way to help you. Our date that day was really lovely, but I don't like seeing you so weighed down with worry. You said you have an older sister, and she's even prettier than you, like a princess, while you're just a lowly Cinderella. But I think there's no girl in this world more beautiful than you. The reason you don't want to become a princess isn't because you can't—it's because you're kinder than your sister.
Xiao Zhen, if you need help, you must tell me. I don't want you to bear everything alone, because in my heart, we've already become the best of friends. One-of-a-kind friends.
To Su Die,
You've already received your punishment, so I won't blame you. Not just for Xiao Zhen, but for myself as well. Because even if we could go back to the past, none of us could make a better choice. Just like your sister died in your place—because that was a decision only she could make. Forcing you to unlock those memories again is truly cruel to you. But that was the only way I could seek revenge on Qin Zu. Please forgive me, both you and Xiao Zhen.
Remember, tomorrow will be better. But we have already lost our tomorrow.