Pandora's Box

I got off the boat with the crowd, then got into the car, then got on the plane; I arrived in one city and left it very quickly for another city.

The non-stop long-distance travel consumes my energy and time.As long as I was on the road, I had no time to think about it, or recall anything.

When I was in transit at an airport, I was already very tired, and the load on my body seemed to reach the limit.

Sitting in a chair waiting for the flight, as soon as my limbs relaxed, it became more and more difficult for me to control my eyelids.Wrapped by the soft and rhythmic sound of the airport radio, I gradually lost consciousness.

It was as if a gust of wind had blown through the blur, and I woke up suddenly from my dream.

The surrounding area was empty and silent.

I hurriedly stood up, looked around in a daze, and then realized that I had been dozing off for too long, and my flight had already taken off.

I had no choice but to go back to the counter and wanted to buy a new ticket, but was politely told that the flight I just fell asleep on was the last flight of the flight for the day.

"Or can you please check for me again, are there any flights to other places?"

"Where are you planning to go?"

"..."

I also don't know where my destination is.

Maybe I don't have a destination, but I can go all the way without stopping.

Just like that man said to me with snot and tears at the time: "The farther you go, the better."

The farther the better, how far is it?

I do not know.

Maybe it's just going to a place where you can never go back.

I finally gave up on this day's further journey, so I left the airport and got into a taxi.

On the bus, I used the mobile app to book a hotel that looked fairly clean. I planned to have a good night’s rest, and maybe eat some food that was served outside the airport, train station, and wharf.

The car was driving smoothly on the road, and the driver was a gentle and friendly middle-aged man who warmly greeted me along the way.

"Is the temperature in the car right? You wear too little, and it's the season, so you need to add more clothes when you go out."

"..."

"Are you here for tourism?" Probably seeing that I only carry a backpack, which fits the image of a backpacker, he recommended it, "Let me tell you, although the scenic spots here are famous, they are not the best. If you want to , go to the long-distance bus station, take a bus, get on the expressway, it only takes two hours, go to L city, a few towns in L city are not well-known, the scenery is really good, but the traffic is inconvenient, and the weather is not good recently, so I can go alone If you want to go to the mountains, you have to be careful."

I didn't say anything.

"Isn't it a trip? That's a business trip? Hey, it's been hard work. It's this time and I haven't had a holiday yet..."

I didn't mean to be repulsive, but he reminded me of someone from the past, and I couldn't deal with that feeling.

I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep to avoid the driver's inexplicable concern.

However, I just had such a sleep, and at this time my me was not sleepy.

Reluctantly opening my eyes, I unexpectedly found that the street outside was decorated with lights and festoons, which was very festive. In this winter night, the pedestrians on the road were also bustling, which seemed to me like a world away.

I leaned against the car window and watched for a while, and couldn't help asking: "Is there any activity here recently?"

The driver smiled and said, "It's the Chinese New Year, and tomorrow is New Year's Eve."

I was taken aback for a moment.

"Did you forget about it?" the driver said, "Hey, you young people, you are working too hard now. Like my daughter, she is too busy to come back during the Chinese New Year. I don't know if I can remember to wish me a New Year's greetings." Woolen cloth."

I stayed for a while.

It turned out that it was almost Chinese New Year.

so fast.

During the last Chinese New Year, I ate a very sumptuous meal, the beautiful lobster killed by Ke Luo, and the crab legs peeled by Zhuo Wenyang. Then we ate sugar cane and watched the fireworks together at the window.

I also received a red envelope from Zhuo Wenyang, which I kept under the pillow.I didn't take it with me when I left.

That was the first time in my life that I felt the joy of Chinese New Year.

But only that once.

The car stopped at the entrance of the hotel. As soon as I opened the door, my teeth chattered unsuspectingly from the bone-chilling cold wind outside.

The uncle driver began to sigh again, and repeatedly told me to remember to buy a thick coat, and told me to eat well during the New Year alone.

I took out cash and paid for the car, telling him no change.

"Hey, what can I do, I have to find you thirty..."

"You don't need to look for it, just take it," I said, "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year, Happy New Year!" He smiled and said to me very happily, "Thank you."

"..."

I stood still for a while.

Last year's New Year's Eve, after welcoming the New Year, that man still smiled and said to me: "Thank you, Xiao Jing."

It was getting colder and colder, and I stood alone in the wind.With the brightly lit door of the hotel in front of me, I felt as if I had lost my way.

Along the way, I did not abandon my bank card and certificates and hide my identity like Cheng Yichen told me.I've always been generous with things that would lead to being tracked.

I do not mind.

I didn't leave to escape in the first place, but because there was no place for me, it wasn't where I belonged anymore.

I even hoped that they would catch up and settle accounts with me, seek revenge from me, and demand my life.whatever.

There may be many kinds of endings that I deserve, but it shouldn't be a person suffering in wandering.

I used the program to dial a phone number, and after the other side answered, I heard LEE's voice "Hello?"

I didn't speak, the other side was quiet for a while, and suddenly asked: "Xiao Jing, is that you?"

"..."

He whispered, "Is it you, Xiao Jing?"

I am speechless.After a while, I finally asked shortly, "Where's Cheng Yichen?"

The other party seemed to be silent for a moment.

The few seconds of waiting for the answer seemed too long, and I had the urge to hang up the phone for a moment.

I know that I am timid, and I am afraid to hear the news that I don't have the courage to face it in my heart.

LEE said softly: "Don't worry too much. Although his condition is very bad, he has just been out of danger."

My throat suddenly tightened.

During the few minutes when I couldn't make a sound, I was afraid that LEE would notice my choking.

After a while, I was finally able to pretend to be relaxed and said, "Ha, that's great, so I don't have to worry about becoming a murder suspect."

"Little..."

"That's it, I'm hanging up."

"Little..."

I quickly said: "If you don't want me, just pretend that I don't exist."

That's enough.That's enough for me.

I cut off the call, facing the dark sky, exhaled sourly and slowly.

At this point, I don't have to worry about it anymore.

They will slowly recover and one day be able to move on with their lives.And so do I.