5. Can't bear it anymore, no need to bear it again

  "Summer Bamboo?"

  I opened my eyes, and in the desolate darkness, a tall figure loomed over me, covering the sky and enveloping me, almost making me scream, but my voice was stuck in my throat because I had already recognized it as Gao Cheng.

  On the balcony, the falling figure and the girl's terrified eyes all disappeared. There was no sound of the girl's mournful crying in my ears either. And I, somehow found myself at the edge of the balcony, half my body leaning out, with my hands tightly grasped by the high wall.

  Lowering one's head to look down, from top to bottom, dense and inky black, empty and desolate, nothing can be seen.

  "What's wrong?" Kao asked from behind.

  "...I..." When I opened my mouth again, I found myself panting and vaguely asked: "What's wrong with me?"

  Gao Cheng stared at me for a good half moment before slowly saying: "Just now, you closed your eyes and suddenly took rapid breaths, with a painful expression on your face. Your hands moved about in the air, and you walked to the balcony edge, leaning outwards. If I hadn't grabbed hold of you, I'm afraid you would have followed in the footsteps of Wu family's father and daughter."

  My eyes widened in shock. Was that me? How could it be? But what about the fleeting images, the emotions I felt, and the sound of the girl's sobbing?

  The expression on my face didn't escape Gao Cheng's eyes, and he rarely asked without sarcasm: "What did you feel just now?" Upon hearing this, I was shocked and blurted out: "How do you know I can feel those scenes?"

  He replied expressionlessly: "I can read minds."

  As he saw my eyes widening, he said: "Can't you tell I'm joking? There's no such illogical skill in this world. So-called mind-reading is just reading people's underlying body language."

  Suddenly a black line appeared on his forehead. Why did he feel that he was not on the same frequency as this person? His thinking jumped too much.

  This isn't it, he had a listening expression again, and spoke to me in a tone that seemed to be coaxing: "Which scenes? Tell me about them." Knowing that speaking out the images I felt after closing my eyes earlier might get him to mock me again, but the feeling was too strong and too eerie, I wanted to hear his opinion.

  After I spoke frankly, Gao Cheng unusually didn't say a word, but instead... stared at me with eyes that looked like he was looking at a monster.

  As time passed minute by minute, the fire that had been accumulating in my heart grew bigger and bigger, just as it was about to erupt, Gao Cheng suddenly laughed, his eyes shining brightly in the dim light, as if he had discovered a new continent, and said with joy: "After all, God created humans fairly, and fools also have their own advantages."

  "Can't you say something nice for once?"

  He, however, seemed to have a purpose: "I'm complimenting you, can't you tell? Really, if you keep up this talent, you'll definitely become a great painter in the future." Seeing me speechless and staring at him fiercely, he seemed completely unaware and continued: "Really, isn't a painter just someone with rich imagination? You have that potential. Being a small illustrator is wasting your talent, oh, right, aren't you working on a stage play project? I suggest you try acting in the stage play, you must have talent for that too. Don't ask me how I know, there's something stuck between the pages of your sketchbook...... Ah!"

  Can't bear it anymore, no need to bear it again!

  I've lost my patience with this guy, I kicked him hard in the shin and turned to run. Luckily, I made it from the balcony into the house without any obstacles, but at the same time, footsteps were closing in on me at a steady pace, several times they seemed to be right behind me, only to pull back again.

  Until I saw the doorframe clearly in the dark cave, my shoulder suddenly tightened. As soon as I thought about it, my body suddenly sank down, like a slippery fish escaping from the other's control, and a light hum came from behind. With a cold smile in my heart, I successfully rushed out of the house door.

  But in an instant, it suddenly stopped! A hand from behind was about to grab my neck, I didn't struggle, and he also withdrew his hand.

  In the silent and stillness, the gazes of the two people were fixed on the continuously flashing numbers in front of the elevator, which had already soared to 7 and was still rising. When did the elevator go down? Neither of them heard it, the most likely possibility is that we are on the balcony or just exchanged blows a moment ago. Who will be the newcomer? Is he coming up to our floor? What if it's the police?

  "Can't help but ask in a low voice: 'What should we do?' Is it still possible to take the safe passage at this time?"

  Turning back, I saw a tall city leaning against the door frame, looking at me with great interest.