(2) Who am I?

  Liu Li of the Foreign Affairs Department was very annoyed today. Originally, the Foreign Affairs Department was the most leisurely place, after all, there were few foreigners in China, and crimes or accidents were even fewer. But today was an exception. From morning to noon, she had already handled four cases, two economic disputes, one prostitution case, and one case where two old foreigners fought over a chair. They were all bloody, otherwise they wouldn't have been sent here.

  Liu Li's English passed the sixth level, but in fact it was bought over, and her oral ability is very poor. Coincidentally, Zhao Liming, who works in the science and technology department today, has been transferred to the criminal department to assist in handling cases. Another colleague, Shi Li, who speaks four languages, has gone missing. The entire foreign affairs department only has Liu Li left who understands foreign languages. Director Li closed the door tightly, and others also hid far away, leaving Liu Li with no place to vent her anger.

  Two foreign women, a Japanese and a Korean, both in their fifties, were fighting over seats. They looked like they had no shame or scruples, with an added air of superiority due to their nationality. Even at the police station, they didn't show any restraint, tearing into each other with a ferocity that was not inferior to that of young women. This made Liu Lian very uncomfortable. As an unmarried girl with thin skin, she couldn't bring herself to scold older women. The door to Director Li's office opened a crack, and several pairs of sneaky eyes were flashing about. Liu Lian even heard Director Li stifling a laugh, which made her so angry that her face turned red and puffy as she bit her teeth and slammed her hand on the table, finally silencing the two old women with the loud noise.

  A bespectacled man with a clear face finally came forward, saying he was the translator for this tour group. The two old ladies had been at odds all along and no one could persuade them otherwise, so their family members didn't care and just brought them along.

  Liu Li was so angry that she almost left a mark on the translator's face with her teacup, but Director Li intervened just in time and pulled Liu Li away. The translator still looked bewildered, not understanding what he had done wrong. Of course, Director Li would not give him a chance to understand. Liu Li had been in the Foreign Affairs Department for almost half a year and still hadn't integrated into the team, being too proud and aloof, so Director Li had been waiting for an opportunity to train this young person.

  Liu Li arrived at the back, and all the clerks floated up to the surface. These several disputes were quickly settled.

  "Do you know what your problem is?"

  Li Ke's piercing gaze stared at Liu Li, making her feel somewhat unnatural, but she still refused to give in.

  "What is it?"

  "You're too full of yourself, just like today's matter, how did you handle it? A complete mess! Take a look at what we've done. Don't say you lack experience, that's no excuse. Since you're in the foreign affairs department, you're a member of the team, we're an entity, lone heroes are myths, you can only perfect yourself by relying on the organization, do you understand?"

  Li Kezhang said with a serious tone, Liu Li lowered her head and thought quietly. Li Kezhang smiled, thinking that Liu Li understood, stood up and walked out, lighting a cigarette.

  "What about history?"

  Li Kezhong was slowly exhaling smoke with a satisfied expression, but Liu Li's words made him inhale sharply, and the old smoker of decades was choked by the smoke, coughing non-stop.

  "Whatever, if you have what it takes, I don't care."

  Li Kezhang said that and hastily left the office. A triumphant smile appeared on Liu Li's face, but was soon crushed by a worried expression.

  "Shi Li, you rascal, where are you?"

  Liu Li's gaze passed through the window, over the city's jungle, over the floating clouds in the sky, and directly into the starlight. Her thoughts were like the flames of hell, scorching her heart and lungs, making her feel uneasy inside.

  Zhao Liming, who went out to handle the case, was a woman. To be honest, although Zhao Liming was five years older than Liu Li, she took good care of herself and was still much more beautiful than Liu Li. However, Shi Li only occasionally showed a smile in front of Liu Li. Liu Li had always thought that such a brilliant smile belonged to her alone, but Zhao Liming didn't think so. The two women competed with each other openly and secretly, all for Shi Li's one smile.

  But one week ago, Shi Li mysteriously disappeared.

  Liu Li still remembered the situation that day, when Shi Li was translating a foreign book. He seemed to be short of money and was always doing part-time jobs, sometimes even translating three books at the same time. It was in the afternoon, Zhao Liming had made him a cup of tea, while Liu Li had brewed a cup of coffee, both women put their cups in front of him at the same time. Shi Li lifted his head with a warm smile, then continued to stare at the screen and work. Just then, the phone rang, Shi Li grabbed the receiver before they could reach for it, after a while his face turned solemn, he put down the phone, picked up the coffee and drank it all in one gulp, hesitated for a moment, then picked up the tea and took a sip, closed his eyes as if savoring the tea fragrance, a moment later put down the cup and left in a hurry.

  Not a single word was spoken, as if they hadn't even seen the two women standing in front of them.

  That was Shi Lei's last moment before he went missing in the Foreign Affairs Department, and it was also his last moment as Shi Lei in the Foreign Affairs Department.

  Liu Li was lost in thought, and tears fell again without her realizing it. Her heart ached with pain, but she still comforted herself that Shi Li had drunk all the coffee, but only took a small sip of tea, which meant that she was still more important to him than Zhao Liming. But where was Shi Li at this moment?

  The midday sun is increasingly fierce, without any signs of autumn. Yesterday's strong winds blew away all the clouds in the sky, leaving it a brilliant blue like a canvas.

  In this quiet afternoon, Liu Li was awakened by her mobile phone ringing while sitting in the rest room.

  "Liu Li, Xiao Shi has been found, at the Fourth People's Hospital, Zhao Liming is there."

  Li Kezhang's voice had never sounded so pleasant before. Liu Li jumped up and rushed out the door without even changing out of her police uniform.

  Li Kezhang stood in front of the window, gazing at Liu Li's distant figure, melancholy and speechless. After a long while, he let out a soft sigh.

  "Moths always fly into flames."

  A voice rose behind Li Ke, no need to turn around, Li Ke knew who the person was, but didn't want to pay attention to her, and lit another cigarette. The sound of closing the door and a sigh came from behind.

  "Are you going to put out the fire or are you a moth?"

  Li Kezhang muttered to himself in a low voice.

  Liu Li drove her motorcycle swiftly on the road, she had intended to call Zhao Liming to ask about the situation, but thinking that this old wily person would take advantage of her first, she felt annoyed in her heart, so she didn't make the call and directly went to the Fourth People's Hospital to inquire.

  At the Fourth People's Hospital, Liu Li met her police school classmate Wu Xiuhui, who had secretly been in love with her. After a brief exchange, she learned that the survivor of the case handled by Zhao Liming was actually Shi Li. It was a strange maritime accident with no fatalities, which made even experienced old sailors unwilling to think about it, but privately, rumors still spread about the "ghost ship" and its sole survivor, a man who had returned from hell.

  Liu Li ignored the rumors and rushed to the ward, but was stopped outside. She was furious that everything went wrong today, even this was occupied by Zhao Liming, and what's more hateful is that this old demon actually saw Shi Li without giving her a call, and it was Director Li who passed on the message.

  Zhao Liming is taking notes for Shi Li, who has woken up again inside.

  "What's your name?"

  "Zhang Haiyang... or Shi Li."

  Shi Li's tone was somewhat uncertain, he raised his head, and his eyes emitted a dazzling light that captivated people's hearts. Zhao Liming felt his breath catch, and his heart rate accelerated immediately. This wasn't an ambiguous gaze, but rather an unsettling aura, a chill from the inside out. Zhao Liming steadied himself and continued to ask Shi Li questions in English.

  After waking up on the rescue ship, Shi Li fell into a coma again soon after and didn't wake up until he was at the Fourth People's Hospital. However, he had some symptoms of amnesia and could only speak English. Since this was a case involving foreigners, the Foreign Affairs Department was notified. Zhao Liming rushed over and was shocked to see that it was Shi Li, who had been missing for seven days. Overcome with emotion, tears streaming down his face, he didn't forget to call Director Li, but at that moment, Shi Li fell into a coma again.

  According to the rescue hospital on board, Shi Li's current drowsy symptoms may be caused by excessive sedatives injected on the ship. However, regarding his sudden inability to speak Chinese, a neurologist believes that his head was severely hit, possibly due to falling from a high place on the ship.

  However, all those in the know intentionally or unintentionally avoided mentioning what Shili said when he woke up.

  This is the mortal world!

  "Tea, I like the tea you brewed."

  Suddenly, Shi Li said to Zhao Liming during a simple break in writing.

  Zhao Liming's pen slipped, and her strokes became twisted and crooked. She tried to steady her mind, but couldn't help the tears welling up in her eyes from overflowing, falling onto her notebook and wetting a circle of words.

  Shi Li's eyes softened for a moment, which made Liu Li outside the ward feel anxious and uneasy. She didn't want to lose to what she thought was an old witch in this place.

  "All these years, you've been suffering. I know your heart, I know everything. You had so many chances to marry a good man and leave this city that has brought you sorrow, but you stayed because of me. In this lifetime, it's probably impossible for me to make up for what I owe you."

  Shi Li still spoke in English, but gently grasped Zhao Liming's hand.

  Zhao Liming listened silently, tears streaming down her face. She bit her lip to death but couldn't stop it.

  "I want to say I love you, but you know I couldn't let go of her as long as she's still alive, still breathing. But I also couldn't let go of you, although I rarely smiled at you, it's because every time I face you, I feel guilty. It's been four years now, and you've been by my side all this time, but I haven't given you anything. My time is running out now, there are some things I wanted to tell you, actually, there's nothing much to say, I just want to tell you: sorry, I love you."

  Zhao Liming could no longer hold back her emotions, she burst out of the hospital room with tears streaming down her face, her sobbing voice fading away into the distance, disappearing at the end of the hospital corridor.

  Liu Li's eyes widened in shock, and she quietly poked her head in, only to meet Shi Li's indifferent gaze and enigmatic smile.

  "Come on in!"

  History remains unchanged in English.

  Liu Li swallowed her saliva and slowly pushed open the door of the ward, as if she was facing an English professor for the first time.

  "Can you tell me who I am?"

  "Huh?"

  Liu Li looked at the man she had secretly loved for a long time with a bewildered expression. His appearance was still handsome, exuding an air of maturity. But in just one glance, he inexplicably made people feel afraid. In Liu Li's blank mind, a word suddenly popped out: murderous aura.

  Shi Li's eyes were fixed on the girl in front of him, trying to see some clue from her eyes, but she was obviously frightened. Shi Li felt a little anxious, he knew that this girl named Liu Li was his colleague, and there were fragments of memories of smiling at her, which were very warm and had a homey flavor.

  "Is it love?"

  His past is uncertain, just like he can't determine who he is now.

  "Who am I?"

  The girl in front of him fell into a terrified and uneasy silence, and Shili also fell silent, continuing to ponder the question until darkness descended.

  In the ward, Shilishi's body slumped over onto the pillow once again, falling into a coma.