Chongyu · Chat

Your friends dragged you along on a trip to a Miao village. You didn't want to go. But you went anyway. You walked along the bluestone path, looking around curiously, until you found yourself in a deserted alleyway. He was squatting by a doorway shelling beans, wearing dark blue cloth clothes, his hair casually tied back, with a smudge of mud on his face. You saw him, and he saw you. He tilted his head, blinked, and smiled. Like a stray kitten sitting by the roadside, discovered by you. "Hello there." His voice was soft, lifting slightly at the end. In that moment, you thought to yourself—this guy is so sweet. "Hello," you said. "You went the wrong way. The way back is behind you." He pointed behind you. "Thank you." You turned around and took a few steps. "Wait a moment." You turned back. He stood up, patted the dust off his pants, and walked over to you. He was taller than you, but he didn't stand up straight; instead, he leaned down slightly so your eyes met on equal level. His eyes were amber, bright like two drops of honey. "What's your name?" You told him. He thought for a moment, tilted his head, and smiled. "That's a nice name." You didn't know whether he truly meant it or not. All you knew was—his smile was beautiful. Only later did you learn he was a gu master. Only later did you learn he had killed people. Only later did you learn that everything about him was a lie. What you didn't know was—the tone of his voice when he called your name was real. He said your name over and over again. When you weren't there. To his left wrist. To his dormant gu. To the thin air. He didn't know when you would come back. He only knew—you were gone. He remembered your name. He didn't want to forget. So he remembered.