Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Li Xiangqian carried the water bottles into the house one by one, thinking to himself: "This water can cleanse everything." He did not realize that this kind of thinking might have led him off the track of reason. In reality, snakes do not disappear because of water, but the symbolism that Li Xiangqian relied on led his thinking in a more uncertain direction.

Li Xiangqian stood quietly in the room, staring at the neatly arranged water bottles. The sunlight poured in from the window, reflecting through the transparent bodies of the water bottles. The light wandered in the empty space in the room, as if reminding him that everything outside was still calm as usual, but the fluctuations in his heart had long been unstoppable. The air was filled with a light vapor, with a refreshing coolness, but Li Xiangqian felt a burst of stuffiness. His heartbeat began to speed up, and the thoughts in his mind became confused.

He blurred his vision, forcibly eliminated all external interference, and tried to focus on the water bottle in front of him. He thought, maybe these water bottles are really a symbol of soothing the soul as he thought before. He tried to convince himself that he was just troubled by these constantly emerging fears, and those snakes were just the product of his excessive anxiety.

However, the more he thought about it, the more uneasy Li Xiangqian felt. Those snakes, with an indescribable shadow, lingered in his heart. Whenever he closed his eyes, the scene of the snakes slithering past would emerge in his mind. The cold eyes and cold bodies seemed to remind him that some unavoidable danger was quietly approaching.

"Xiang Qian?" He Yuzhu's voice suddenly sounded in his ears, breaking Li Xiangqian's thoughts. Her voice was a bit concerned and gentle, as if asking him if he had any questions or if he needed help.

Li Xiangqian came back to his senses and looked up at her, feeling confused. He smiled at He Yuzhu, but the smile seemed a little forced: "Nothing, just a little messy." He lowered his head and continued to look at the water bottle in his hand, unconsciously speeding up his breathing. He Yuzhu had already noticed something was wrong with him.

"Xiang Qian, don't you want to talk to me? You seem to be uneasy today. Have you encountered any trouble again?" He Yuzhu asked softly.

Li Xiangqian's heart was in a knot. He didn't want He Yuzhu to worry, nor did he want her to see his inner fragility. However, facing her concerned eyes, he suddenly felt that he could no longer hide it. He took a deep breath and decided to say what was in his heart, even if it was only part of it, it was better than saying nothing.

"Yuzhu..." When he spoke, his voice was a little lower than usual, "You know, I feel a little confused recently, even at a loss." He paused and continued, "Although these snake matters seem insignificant, they have left a deep mark in my heart. Whenever I think of them, the uneasiness in my heart surges up like a tide."

When He Yuzhu heard this, a trace of astonishment flashed in her eyes, but she did not interrupt Li Xiangqian, but listened quietly. She could feel that Li Xiangqian was not exaggerating, but was really suffocated by this fear.

"I know what you said." He Yuzhu's voice was soft and steady. "Snakes are indeed scary things, but we can't let this fear control us. You see, we are not afraid of other difficulties, why are we afraid of this?"

Li Xiangqian lowered his head and smiled softly, but that smile was full of bitterness. "I know that, but I don't know why. The fear in my heart is like a vine, getting tighter and tighter, and the more I pull, the more painful it becomes. I even began to wonder if there was something wrong with my heart."

A complex emotion flashed in He Yuzhu's eyes. She did not answer immediately, but looked at Li Xiangqian quietly, as if thinking about something. She knew that Li Xiangqian was a very strong person, but the fear in his heart might really need someone to help him face it.

"Move forward," He Yuzhu finally said, "Maybe you should find someone who can help you, or relax yourself and stop holding all the pressure in your heart. Isn't it too much for you to bear so much alone?"

Li Xiangqian was slightly stunned. He could hear the concern in He Yuzhu's tone, and there was a warm feeling in his heart. He smiled bitterly and shook his head: "No, Yuzhu, things are not as simple as you think. It can't be solved by relaxing. Snakes, their appearance, and the anxiety they bring have penetrated into my life. Now when I see these water bottles, I can't help but feel uneasy in my heart, as if every bottle of water and every drop of water around me is reminding me that the thing I can't control is still there."

He Yuzhu sighed softly. She walked to Li Xiangqian and patted his shoulder gently: "You know I understand you. But sometimes, the more you try to control your fear, the more it will consume you. You might as well try to accept it and give it an outlet. Maybe you will find that it is not as terrible as you think."

Li Xiangqian's heart moved slightly. He listened to He Yuzhu's words quietly, but his heart was filled with ripples. Yes, maybe he should really learn to accept the fear instead of fighting it blindly. In front of him, there were still those neatly arranged water bottles, but he began to no longer regard them as simple objects, but as a symbol, symbolizing the change he expected, symbolizing the game between him and fear.

He Yuzhu seemed to see what Li Xiangqian was thinking. She slowly said, "Xiangqian, if you need my help, you can tell me at any time. We can face it together. At least we won't be alone anymore."

Li Xiangqian's eyes were slightly hot, but he tried hard not to let the tears fall. He took a deep breath, and his eyes became firmer: "Thank you, Yuzhu. Really, thank you."

Li Xiangqian stood in the room, the sun still shining through the window onto him, the weak light casting mottled shadows on the ground. The air in the room was a little stuffy, with a damp smell. His eyes unconsciously fell on the neatly arranged water bottles, but his heart could no longer be as peaceful as before. His thoughts were churning like a storm, and his inner anxiety had long made it difficult for him to concentrate. He tried to calm himself down, but he couldn't do it.

Not far away, He Yuzhu was busy in the kitchen. Her figure was light and familiar, bringing a touch of warmth to the room.