Chapter 2: Dead but Not Dead

  Oh! Right. I still have Zhou Mo, my Zhou Mo!

  Zhou Mo is of course my girlfriend, the department flower of the Chinese Department at Jiangbei University, talented and beautiful, famous throughout the school. Zhou Mo is one year younger than me, considered to be my junior.

  A simple, kind, beautiful and smiling girl, every pore on her body exudes a sunny atmosphere, which fascinates me. Although the university has been circulating various slogans of "anti-fire, anti-theft, anti-teacher", but this does not affect our love that has gone through envy, jealousy, and hatred from roommates. Counting it up, we have been together for almost 6 years now. It was she who accompanied me through the ups and downs of life, experiencing transformation through successes and failures, yet always waiting for me to get back on my feet. Failure often makes me feel like an animal that can only crawl.

  Although I really tried my best to stretch out my hands to hold up the sky for Zhou Mo, to shield her from the wind and rain, this piece of sky was always full of holes, with continuous rain and tofu dregs. Every time I think of Zhou Mo, the corners of my mouth would involuntarily rise, remembering the day I met Zhou Mo, when I was forced by my roommates to go welcome new students and check out the freshmen girls. As a sophomore, our dormitory was the only all-male dorm in the department, and everyone in the dorm was secretly holding their breath, determined to find a girlfriend, say goodbye to being single, and bring glory to the group, even if it meant lowering their standards to the point where any girl would do.

  I originally planned to go to the library, but I unintentionally participated in it. I couldn't bear the big hat of collectivism and plainness, so I compromised. Although I had the intention of just showing up, giving a thumbs up, and leaving at any time, everything went smoothly as if it was destined.

  Everything is so coincidental, as if it was written. Looking at the joyful figure in the crowd, my cheeks flushed unconsciously, and I was deeply attracted by just a glance, unable to extricate myself, trembling all over. Transferred from the same dormitory classmate Mosquito's description of me at that time: This guy saw Zhou Mo for the first time, his chin dropped to the ground, like ***, his eyes turned into red peach A shape, his nosebleed sprayed wildly, his mouth water flowed, his expression was dull, like a fool. Hearing this, I also smiled slightly, thinking of Zhou Mo, and only left with a happy taste.

  Moved by emotions, stirred by the heart, as expected I fell in love with her at first sight. Those treasured lines of poetry stored in my notebook finally found their owner. Every word was filled with emotion, we followed the script that had been written long ago, crazily rushing through the crowded streets, I sprinted towards her, she came towards me with open arms.

  In the crowd, we smiled at each other as if we had known each other for a long time. I still remember the silly smile on my face when I snatched Zhou Mo's gift. Love came unexpectedly. Just like many campus love stories, we started going to the cafeteria together, attending self-study sessions together, and strolling around the campus. Then at some point, I held her hand, kissed her lips, and made a promise of eternal love with her. I thought we would spend our lives in happiness and tranquility.

  Dreams are always dreams, and they will wake up. Dreams that can't be woken up can only be sleeping to death or becoming a vegetable person. Such an absurd thing would never happen to me.

  As a child growing up in an orphanage, I had nothing. While others were already speeding along, I was still far from the starting line. It's like being in a fierce car racing competition, where I'm riding on an extremely old cow with a strolling mindset. After sending out countless job resumes, my dreams seemed to be nowhere in sight.

  Although she never despised my humble background, she always stood firmly behind me, fighting for life. Because of Zhou Mo's existence, every time I was beaten by life and saw stars, I would recall that university days: hand in hand into the classroom in the morning, strolling around the campus in the evening, leaning on the playground looking at the blue sky, depicting the future... Then, with a loud cry, continue to fight alone, being beaten again and again, still fighting, as if refusing to give up.

  Until then, after what happened at Jinbi Hotel, I stretched out my arms and jumped off the edge of Yishan Cliff.

  I thought I was going to die, but what I didn't expect was that I didn't die.

  I woke up, surprisingly, after experiencing free fall. This phenomenon clearly defies the laws of physics. When I came to, seeing that sliver of light shining through my eyelids, I felt a deep sense of solidity in my heart, with an inexplicable intimacy.

  I slowly got used to the brightness, and in my blurry vision, I found myself in a very luxurious room. The room was decorated with an ancient charm, with red sandalwood tea tables, blue-and-white porcelain tea sets, ancient wooden scrolls, armchairs, beds, woven silk screens, windows, and solid wood desks. On the desk next to me were placed writing brushes, ink, paper, and a wooden brush holder, on which hung four brushes of different sizes. The walls were adorned with elegant calligraphy and landscape paintings, and looking at the signatures in the blank spaces, most of them were from famous artists of the Tang Dynasty. I couldn't help but secretly admire them.

  Every piece here is a masterpiece, if it's genuine, it can be said that each one is worth a city. My gaze swept around the room and only then did I feel a dull pain in the back of my head, so I rubbed my eyes hard and saw myself lying on a crimson wooden bed with a down quilt covering me. Everything in front of me had a sense of familiarity, as if I had been here sometime in some month and year.

  I sat up slowly, feeling the sensations in my body, because I didn't believe I would wake up after falling off a cliff. According to my usual bad luck, even if I had somehow managed to get tangled in a tree and survived the fall without dying, it was impossible that I wouldn't be injured all over!

  After all the organs had moved, it seemed that there was nothing unusual, only a slight numbness in the body and a stuffy feeling in the head. Everything else was normal, so I stretched my waist and looked around. This room is very large, even larger than all the houses I have rented added together. "Am I not crossing over?" I couldn't help but think this way. In this era where everyone crosses over, perhaps only by crossing over can one freely find their own dreams. When life is not satisfactory, indulging in fantasies is the only pleasure! I turned over and got out of bed, opened the window and gazed into the distance, a refreshing breeze came towards me, making my heart feel carefree and joyful.

  Looking far away, I see the city in the distance, feeling that I should be in the suburbs somewhere at this moment. As I draw my gaze closer, there is a winding river, with boats strolling on it, the sky is azure, white clouds are floating, and the sun is shining brightly, a comfortable and peaceful scene, this is a good place to retire.

  As my gaze gradually retracted, before me were hills of varying heights and a winding asphalt road that wound its way up the mountain. The slopes were lined with white marble tombstones, giving the impression of being in a cemetery. And at this moment, I should be standing at the center of this cemetery.

  The mountainside was covered with tall and short cedars, pines, and trees that I couldn't name, which looked a bit eerie but also had a unique flavor. The building I was in was surrounded by high walls made of stone that was as black as ink, which I guessed was probably top-grade jade, extremely valuable. Inside the walls were a swimming pool, garage, and other buildings whose purpose I didn't know, giving off an overall feeling like those extremely luxurious villas in Hollywood movies. Judging from this, the house I was in seemed to be more than ten times larger than Zhou Mo's villa.

  Looking out the window, I should be on the second floor. The room is filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and the overall construction of the villa has a strong classical Chinese style, with many patterns of dragons and phoenixes. If Zhou Mei's home was luxurious and grand, then this place makes me think of solidity and simplicity. Looking at everything from before, it suddenly made my mood much better.

  The unreal feeling in front of me makes me think hard about everything that happened before I fainted: It should be under the dim yellow light, and this place needs to be rendered with a dark color palette. I was clearly standing on the edge of Yishan Cliff, taking a casual glance at the bustling city and crowds in front of me, then took a leap... and silently passed out. According to the expected script, it should have ended here, right? A white background, black photos, and yellow chrysanthemums - forget the chrysanthemums. I must be dead, right?

  This can't be heaven, right? Heaven should at least be in a European style. And with so many people dying every day, it should be a big dormitory in the Chinese style, how could it be a luxurious suite? Where are the little angels with wings? Why is this Chinese-style heaven so magnificent? A series of absurd thoughts popped into my head. After thinking carefully for a long time, I was certain and affirmative - I jumped, I really jumped.

  So I must have died, definitely, certainly and really dead. But looking at everything in front of me, I started to become uncertain again, my mind suddenly became a mess. Seeing a copper mirror on the table, I hurried over and took a look, the reflection in the mirror seemed unchanged from before I jumped off the cliff, same clothes, same short hair, plus the swimming pool, garden and garage outside the window, it was obvious that this transmigration was impossible! My stunned brain couldn't think of the situation in front of me, "Could I have become stupid?" I said to myself.

  At this moment, my mind is filled with huge question marks. I looked around, touched here and there, just like Liu Laizi entering the Grand View Garden. These things that only appeared in magazine pictures and TV screens are now naturally appearing before my eyes and in my hands, it's really making me excited beyond control.

  I muttered to myself: "This is great, this place is good too, I like the flavor of Chinese culture. The paradise for Chinese people should be like this." Everything in front of me is just like my dreams. Sitting on the sandalwood chair at the desk, I thought and thought, maybe I'm already dead? Or is it a paradise outside the world under the steep cliff? It would be great if Zhou Mu were here. I thought of Zhou Mu again, looks like I haven't drunk that bowl of Meng Po's soup yet!!!

  After recalling my "youthful years" aside from being relatively unsuccessful in my career, I should still be a good person. Waving the flag of a rogue but actually serving the people, not a public servant but better than one, so being in this paradise before my eyes, I've slowly become somewhat at peace with myself, I suppose that's what they mean by "bitter first then sweet". I'm also considered an unfortunate person, never mind, since I'm here I'll just make the best of it! Might as well sleep a bit more, not even afraid of death, what else is there to fear? After waking up maybe I'll see if anyone's around, who knows maybe I'll run into some kind of immortal being.

  I lay back on the bed, and I have to say that this soft down comforter is much better than the wooden board in my dormitory. As soon as I felt a little sleepy, it rushed over me like a flood, and I started to feel my eyelids getting heavy. I yawned, stretched, and snuggled under the down comforter, feeling warm and cozy. My heart couldn't help but sigh that rich people really know how to enjoy themselves - this is what life is all about!