Professor, your turtle!

A dark cloud drifted slowly past, blocking the already dim moonlight.

Leaving the village, the two walked back along the mountain road.The road is covered with gravel, and the soles of the shoes roll up, making a low rattling sound—the only thing that can be heard in the silence is the rustling footsteps.

Ji Fan swallowed, unconsciously becoming nervous.

The bushes on the side of the road cast shadows with fangs and claws, like some kind of beast hidden in the forest.The deep forest was eerily quiet, even the sound of insects disappeared.

[The metasequoia covered with moss is tall and dense... I used to walk hundreds of times on the mountain road that I could touch with my eyes closed, but now I can't find it...]

The woman's faint narration sounded in his head again, and the cold sweat seeping from his back soaked his shirt, and the night wind blew, making it sticky and cold.Ji Fan shuddered, hurried forward two steps, looked up and saw the man in front of him walking as usual, he couldn't help but feel a little settled.

"What?" Fu Mingyuan stopped, turned his head and said.

With the familiar steady voice, Ji Fan secretly heaved a sigh of relief: "No, it's all right."

The figure in the darkness chuckled unrecognizably, raised his left hand, and touched his head accurately.

"Afraid?"

"No... not at all!"

Anyway, it would be too embarrassing to be scared by a few ghost stories!Ji Fan couldn't help being thankful that the surrounding light was dim, and he couldn't see his blushing face clearly.

The cold fingers traced down his side face, and lightly touched his lips, and he felt the scalding heat on his face passing along the skin.

Fortunately, Fu Mingyuan didn't expose it, but just smiled in a low voice.

"Have you brought your mobile phone?"

"Huh?" Ji Fan touched his pocket subconsciously, it was empty.

——I was in a hurry to go out in the morning, so I forgot.

"Hmm...it might be a little troublesome." Fu Mingyuan took out his mobile phone from his pocket and shook it carelessly, "Mine is almost out of battery too."

['Who brought a flashlight? 'No one answered. 】

【In the dead darkness, only the trembling voice of the team leader remains; "Fuck, don't play with me! Where is the flashlight?"】

As if responding to his delusions, there was a whimpering sound from the top of the mountain, one long and one short, like a young girl crying sadly.Ji Fan was stiff from head to toe, and stood there blankly.

"You... did you hear that?"

"..."

The warm lanterns of the hot spring hotel were hidden behind the dense forest. From their point of view, there was no light at all, and there was only the endless gloomy night sky above their heads, as well as the resentful, non-stop wind.

"There's...um!"

Fu Mingyuan took half a step back and grabbed his curled fingers.

"Don't be afraid," he interrupted, "follow me."

Ji Fan raised his head, he couldn't see the man's eyes clearly in the darkness, he lowered his eyes, gradually felt the warmth of his palms, and finally settled down in his heart - yes, as long as this person is by his side, it seems that no matter the darkness or the sound of the wind, Not so scary anymore.

After walking in silence for a while, Fu Mingyuan stopped suddenly, and Ji Fan almost bumped into his back.

"Mr. Fu?"

Fu Mingyuan paused, and said, "The road is not right."

"?" Ji Fan swallowed nervously, looked forward in the dim light, and saw that the familiar gravel road had come to an end at some point, and in front of it, behind the intricate bushes, there was another narrow path stretching out, which was more narrow than theirs. The mountain road under my feet is more dilapidated and narrower.

"How could there be a path?" His pupils shrank. If I remember correctly, they didn't pass any similar path when they descended the mountain.

They were halfway up the mountain, and their mobile phones were almost out of battery. It seemed even more unrealistic to go back down the mountain.

Fu Mingyuan pushed aside the dead branches blocking the way with one hand, roughly judged the direction, and said lightly: "Let's go and see."

Ji Fan glanced at the other party's expression, hesitant to speak.

Since he's so sure... there shouldn't be a problem... right?

As if anticipating what he was thinking, Fu Mingyuan hooked the corners of his lips: "Just trust me like that?"

Ji Fan lowered his head, walked to his side silently, but did not refute.

"..."

Fu Mingyuan paused for a moment, rubbed the top of his hair, and his tone was almost gentle: "It's okay, don't be afraid."

Ji Fan's ears started to feel hot again, and he carefully shrank his neck back. While dodging, his fingertips suddenly touched some hard and cold texture in his trouser pocket.

This is... He groped for a while, and couldn't help but let out an "ah".

"?"

"Yes...that..." Ji Fan was a little embarrassed, and said vaguely, "It's your birthday present. I took it out in the morning, but forgot to give it to you."

"Oh?" Fu Mingyuan lowered his head slightly, looking interested, "It's exactly 11 o'clock, and the birthday is not over yet." He spread his hands, "What is it?"

"..." Ji Fan tightly squeezed his fingers, only to feel his heart beating more violently than before, and his voice became softer, "It's nothing special..."

Before he finished speaking, Fu Mingyuan's slender and cool fingers were already squeezed into his trouser pocket, and he easily opened his wet palm.

With a bang, the thing was lifted out, and exposed to the sight of the two, the metal shell quietly reflected dim light.

Is it... a watch?Fu Mingyuan lowered his eyes and weighed it gently with his fingertips.

It's not a particularly expensive mechanical watch, but it has the right weight and is probably the best consumer product a student can afford.He glanced at Ji Fan who bowed his head and said nothing, then carefully looked at the watch, turned over the dial, and saw the initials of Fu Mingyuan engraved on the back.

"This lettering..." Fu Mingyuan pursed his lips.He felt a little regretful - it would be better if he changed to Ji Fan's name.

"Ah?" Ji Fan next to him kept staring at his expression, so nervous that he stuttered, "Well, that, if you don't like it..." He subconsciously reached out to grab it, but was dodged.

Fu Mingyuan fended him off, put the watch on his left wrist, and snorted unreasonably: "You want to take it back after giving it to me?"

Ji Fan: "..." That's obviously not the meaning!

He glanced to the side, only to see that Fu Mingyuan had loosened his wrist buckle and slipped the watch into his sleeve, as if he didn't want to get it dirty.

Is it just pure cleanliness?Or... the other party really likes this cheap little gift?No, no, with Mr. Fu's experience, he has never seen any kind of famous watch. The only special one, maybe... maybe it's just because he gave it to him?

no!What are you thinking about? !

Ji Fan came back to his senses suddenly, his ears were getting hotter and hotter, he moved his eyes away and didn't dare to look at him anymore.

After a brief interlude, the two set off again one after the other.

The dark clouds were blown away by the wind, and the moonlight shone slightly, barely illuminating the path under our feet.

At the fork in the road, Fu Mingyuan raised his head and glanced at the moon, then called Ji Fan to check the moss on the tree trunks beside the road, and quickly chose the direction.

The second fork in the road is still the same.The third, the fourth...

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Ji Fan's calves began to tremble a little. In contrast, the uneasy feeling in his chest gradually subsided—Fu Mingyuan walked with confidence, and he followed with a little more confidence.

About half an hour later, after turning a corner, the eyes suddenly opened up, and the warm lantern light of the hotel could be vaguely seen among the uneven branches.

Ji Fan opened his eyes slightly, feeling lucky to survive the catastrophe.

"Great!" He smiled and turned to look at Fu Mingyuan, but he saw that the man did not follow, but was quietly looking in another direction with a thoughtful expression.

"What?" He also looked in that direction, but only saw the dark bushes, "What's the matter? Is there anything over there?"

Fu Mingyuan came back to his senses, shook his head and said it was all right, and took him by the hand: "No, let's go out."

"Hmm..." Ji Fan suppressed the confusion in his heart, and followed him two steps away.When he was about to step out of the shadow of the forest, he couldn't help but look back for the last time.

This glance made him a little dazed—I don't know if it was an illusion, but at a certain moment, there seemed to be a slight flicker of fire in the depths of the darkness.When I looked closely, the light disappeared again, as if it was just the reflection of the hotel lights on the cobwebs and dew.

"Hiss...are you dazzled?"

He rubbed his eyes, the dense forest in front of him was quiet, only a hollow, pure black.

"Ji Fan...Ji Fan?"

He hurriedly responded, and hurriedly turned his head to follow Fu Mingyuan.

The directions of the two were exactly the same. After pushing aside the last few bushes, a slightly remote courtyard appeared in front of them.

"West Pavilion." Fu Mingyuan squinted his eyes.

Right now, only the two of them live in the west building, and only a few lights are lit in the corridor.

Ji Fan remembered that the waiter Xiaoyun said earlier that the east and west courtyards of the hot spring hotel are not directly connected, they have to pass through the path in the garden, and there is an old iron gate between the two buildings.The hotel's gate, reception and parking lot are all crowded in the east building, that is to say, if the guests of the west building want to go down the mountain, they have to go through at least two doors.They stayed overnight and didn't even know that there was another road from the backyard of the West Pavilion to the foot of the mountain.

The partition gate, the path, the mountain temple... everything combined, it seemed that there was a thin layer of fog in front of his eyes, behind which was hidden some intriguing truth.

This building... no, was this whole complex originally designed as a hotel?

No one could answer his question, only the paper lanterns swayed in the wind, casting circles of soft warm light.

"Oh," Fu Mingyuan said in a low voice, "Go and ask and you'll know?"

"Ask who?" Ji Fan didn't react, but Fu Mingyuan held his shoulders and turned around. In the shadow of the corner of the corridor, there was a slender woman standing with her back to them, carrying a tin pot and watering the flowers. .

"Xiaoyun?"

She hummed a soft ballad, focusing on the pots of orchids in front of her, completely ignoring their voices.

Ji Fan raised his voice and called out again.She finally turned her head, smiling with crooked eyes, as if she was not afraid at all: "Hey, you are back? Dinner is ready, do you need to serve it now? Or do you want to wash up first?"

Ji Fan shook his head and went straight to the point: "Actually, I want to ask, may I ask, can I go down the mountain directly from the West Pavilion?"

"No," she replied without hesitation, "If you want to go down the mountain, you have to go to the east hall, which is the door you go out in the morning."

Ji Fan and Fu Mingyuan looked at each other.

Fu Mingyuan said casually: "Isn't that a road for cars? Isn't there even a road for walking down the mountain?"

Xiaoyun shook his head, showing confusion: "No, what's wrong?"

Fu Mingyuan stared into her eyes, and said calmly: "Just now we came up the mountain by a small road." He paused, and then strengthened his tone, "From the foot of the mountain, it leads directly to the garden of the West Pavilion."

Before he finished speaking, the smile on Xiaoyun's lips suddenly froze.She stared at them for a few seconds, and then said in a flat tone: "Ah, speaking of it, there was indeed a road here before. However, the West Wing has no customers for a long time, so I forgot."

"But you didn't say..."

"I forgot." She interrupted Ji Fan unceremoniously, and repeated it indifferently.

"..."

Ji Fan wanted to say something, but was held back by Fu Mingyuan.

"Guest, is there anything else you can do?" Xiaoyun said in a heavy tone.

This time, there was no smile in her black eyes, like a cold stone sculpture.

"No more," Fu Mingyuan waved his hand generously, "Please heat up the dinner and bring it here."

Xiaoyun nodded, turned around and left.

"Wait," Fu Mingyuan stopped her suddenly, "wouldn't it be too much trouble for you to prepare food at such a late hour?"

Ji Fan tilted his head in surprise. In his impression, Fu Mingyuan was not the kind of character who would feel guilty for causing trouble to others. The other party noticed his gaze and lightly pressed his shoulder to signal him not to speak.

Xiaoyun stopped: "It's okay, it's not too late. The kitchen supper doesn't end until midnight."

midnight?Ji Fan was a little surprised, they had been on the road for so long, and it was less than an hour?

"Midnight?" Fu Mingyuan raised his eyebrows, "What time is it?"

Xiaoyun lowered his eyes and looked at his watch: "Eleven o'clock."

Ji Fan took a deep breath. If I remember correctly, they were still trapped on the mountainside at 11 o'clock.He turned his head to look at Fu Mingyuan, but seeing the expected expression on his face, he said softly, "Sure enough."

"What is it?" He was puzzled.

Fu Mingyuan didn't answer.

"Guest, if you have nothing else to do..."

"It's gone." Fu Mingyuan waved his hand.

Xiaoyun bowed slightly, and quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Seeing her walking away, Ji Fan couldn't wait to ask: "What the hell..."

"I have a guess in my heart, but I'm not sure." Fu Mingyuan took off his shoes, stepped onto the wooden corridor, and motioned for him to follow, "Come in, come in and tell me."

Ji Fan was full of doubts, but saw the other party lift up his shirt cuff, revealing the metal watch strap.

"When you gave me this watch, do you remember what time it was?"

Ji Fan recalled for a moment: "It seems... a few minutes before 11 o'clock?"

Fu Mingyuan nodded, unfastened his watch, and showed him the dial: "It's 10:55."

"Huh...huh???" Ji Fan took a closer look, and the pointer was indeed staying at about five minutes to eleven.

"How is it possible, is this watch broken?"

Fu Mingyuan nodded: "Indeed, it stopped at 10:55, but it's not just its problem. Look at the clock in the corner, and the mobile phone."

Snapped.Coincidentally, the hands of the old clock coincided with 0 at this moment, and the pendulum swayed back and forth, making clear clanging sounds.

11 O'Clock?

Ji Fan regained his senses, took out his phone from under the covers and turned on the screen, and the number also happened to show 23:00.

——It’s understandable that the clock is slow. It’s impossible for a network-calibrated mobile phone to suddenly go wrong, right?

Ji Fan was stunned. Could it be that it really took them less than 5 minutes to come up from the mountainside?

No, it's impossible, he remembered very clearly, the road was narrow in the dark, and the two walked very slowly, it took at least an hour to walk.

But...it doesn't make sense no matter what!

He looked up at Fu Mingyuan: "Your guess just now is...?"

Fu Mingyuan didn't answer immediately.With his fingers facing each other, he quietly looked in the direction of the garden, as if he was thinking.

After a while, Fu Mingyuan turned his head, and suddenly changed the subject: "Do you think that service looks like a person?"

"Who?"

Fu Mingyuan took out a neatly folded white paper from his pocket and unfolded it.

"Xun Huang, 8 years old, was lost at the entrance of Tangjia Village about a year ago. When he left home, he was wearing a floral sweater, white skirt, and red leather shoes. If anyone knows, please contact..."

Ji Fan's face turned pale, and he couldn't help himself not to look at the photo attached below.

——A delicate little girl, smiling sweetly at the camera, with a familiar dimple on the corner of her left lip.

"It looks very similar...but she is only 9 years old this year, it should be her mother, or..."

Ji Fan was talking, but he fell silent first—the waiter Xiaoyun looked no more than seventeen or eighteen years old at most, and it was impossible for him to have a 9-year-old daughter.

At this moment, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door.Fu Mingyuan put away the missing person notice, dusted off his clothes as if nothing had happened, and sat down at the table.

"Guest, your dinner." Xiao Yun's tone was soft, and he sounded very comfortable.

But when Ji Fan heard it, he shuddered for no reason.

作者有话要说：感谢在2020-05-1201:45:45~2020-07-0301:10:04期间为我投出霸王票或灌溉营养液的小天使哦~

Thanks to the little angel who threw the mines: Kukukuboy! 2; Embrace Plato 1;

感谢灌溉营养液的小天使：拥抱柏拉图70瓶；打卡40天不洗脸30瓶；普通读者10瓶；念奴娇?7瓶；咩哈哈哈⊙▽⊙4瓶；何且不一3瓶；棠梨煎雪2瓶；阿妙养的鱼、读者1瓶；

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!