A scorching sense of oppression permeated the air. Yu Nian couldn't control her thoughts or actions. A strange emotion welled up in her heart.
The crisp sound of footsteps echoed. With each approaching step, the heart in Yu Nian's body beat a little faster.
A hoarse and strange voice reverberated throughout the room. Yu Nian keenly discerned the restraint and killing intent in the visitor's words.
"Luo Ning, where are you?"
"Why are you hiding from me? Why don't you come out and play with me?"
"I know. You're playing hide - and - seek with me, right? Then you'd better hide well. Don't let me catch you!"
In the darkness, Yu Nian felt cold all over. It seemed as if countless dim eyes were staring at her in the surroundings.
The person outside the door kept making strange giggling sounds. They paced around the room and finally stopped in front of the cabinet.
Yu Nian immediately covered her mouth tightly, not allowing herself to make a single sound. At this moment, many thoughts that didn't belong to her flooded her mind.
It's so dark, so cold. She's so scared... Who can come and save her?!
Through the crack of the door, Yu Nian saw a pair of blood - red canvas shoes. The fair ankles under the empty school uniform pants were swaying leisurely. It was a young girl whose face couldn't be seen clearly.
The girl said faintly, "It seems Luo Ning isn't here. What a pity."
After saying that, the girl slowly turned around and left the room. The room fell silent again.
Yu Nian clearly felt the owner of the body heave a sigh of relief. She carefully pushed open the cabinet door. When she looked up, she saw the girl who should have left was now standing very close to her, tilting her head and smiling at her.
"So you're here."
The girl's neck and school uniform were stained red with spattered blood. She looked like a ghost climbing out of the depths of the Abyss.
"Luo Ning, are you scared?"
Blood was splattered in every corner of the room. It was a blinding red everywhere. A strong sense of suffocation surrounded Yu Nian. The girl's hand affectionately stroked Yu Nian's hair and then forcefully dragged her out.
Fear, pain, despair...
The sweet voice softly approached her ear, "Our Luo Ning is a great artist. So I wish, Luo Ning, you'll be treasured here as a work of art forever."
Tears instantly blurred Yu Nian's vision. She felt her body gradually disappearing. Before her vision completely darkened, Yu Nian saw a pair of extremely ferocious and familiar eyes.
Then the whole world fell into chaos. Yu Nian felt the temperature of her body quickly fading away. Many fragmented images flooded into Yu Nian's mind in an instant. Complex emotions intertwined, making Yu Nian feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave. She even had trouble breathing.
Just then, a powerful spiritual energy was poured into Yu Nian's body without reservation. It seemed someone was constantly calling her name, the tone firm and steady, like a warm ray of light breaking through the long night.
"Nian Nian, Nian Nian!"
Yu Nian took a deep breath and finally woke up from the chaos.
She was still in the room with the portraits. Feng Chengyuan was holding her tightly in an embracing posture. His big hands were gently patting Yu Nian's head in a soothing way. There was undeniable worry and heartache in his eyes.
"Nian Nian, what's wrong with you?"
Yu Nian was slightly stunned for a moment and then slowly shook her head. "I'm fine. How long was I unconscious?"
Xue Yier replied, "It's been ten minutes. Even scarier is that you've been crying and constantly saying things we don't understand."
Yu Nian expressionlessly wiped her face. "I just saw Luo Ning. I know how she died."
Xue Yier's eyes widened in shock. "Luo Ning?? Are you sure?"
The judges outside the venue were also a bit surprised. Xue Jinyan stared at Yu Nian in disbelief. "So, Contestant Yu Nian just empathized with the person in the illusion? This has never happened before. What a powerful perception!"
Yu Nian looked up at the photo frame hanging on the wall. The photo in the frame had returned to its original state. Three girls were smiling at the camera, making the peace sign.
Everyone still couldn't see their faces clearly, but Yu Nian looked at one of the girls. Her eyes were exactly the same as the ones Yu Nian saw through the crack of the cabinet.
Supported by Feng Chengyuan, Yu Nian slowly stood up and walked straight towards a certain room.
Seeing Yu Nian slowly walking into the sketching room, everyone was a bit confused. A contestant couldn't help complaining, "Didn't we just come here? A bunch of portraits. What's so interesting?"
"Exactly. It's so creepy. It gives me the creeps."
...
Based on the fragmented memories she just saw, Yu Nian slowly walked to the end of the room and groped out a dusty diary from the crack of the cabinet.
The cover of the diary was gray - green and a bit shabby. There were three little figures drawn on the title page, and three names were signed.
"Luo Ning, Ji Jia... Qiu Xuan? Were they three good friends before?"
Yu Nian thought for a while. Since they entered the painting room, all the paintings and photos they saw seemed to feature three people.
Xue Yier couldn't help sighing, "It seems there's a reason for Qiu Xuan's big change in personality. Who could bear losing two best friends at once?"
Yu Nian slowly opened the diary and finally found the fleeting scene in her memory. However, the words in the diary were very messy, as if they were written when the owner was extremely emotional.
March 30th, Rain
The college entrance examination is getting closer and closer, and my mood is becoming more and more anxious. After all, my family is poor, and the college entrance examination is my only way out. Also, I'm getting more and more tired of Luo Ning! She always acts like a false good - hearted person and always pesters me to play with her. But the condescending attitude she inadvertently shows really embarrasses me! Luo Ning always introduces me to her friends, and the looks they give me are clearly full of ridicule! I know Luo Ning has never regarded me as a friend. I'm just her bag - carrier and follower. But why on earth can't I get what comes so easily to Luo Ning even after trying so hard?
April 3rd, Cloudy
The boy I've liked for a long time actually came to talk to me. I thought it was God's compensation and favor for me, but I didn't expect it to be an even more humiliating addition to my miserable life! The girl he likes is actually Luo Ning! I've completely become a tool between Luo Ning and the boy. They can call me and dismiss me at will. They're laughing so recklessly in front of me. It's so noisy, so disgusting. I really want Luo Ning to shut up forever!