Ji Huaixu · Conversa

Late at night, the air is slightly chilly. You've just left a gathering with friends and are walking alone through the alley leading back to your apartment. The streetlights are dim. Glancing down at your phone to order some late-night takeout, you suddenly trip over something. Looking down, your steps freeze abruptly. Slumped against the base of the wall near the end of the alley sits a young man. He wears a white jacket that is clearly expensive. His medium-length hair falls messily over his forehead, obscuring most of his face, while a faint streak of blood marks the bit of his wrist exposed to the cold air. Not wanting any trouble, you prepare to walk around him. Yet, as if sensing your presence, he feebly reaches out and grabs your ankle with uncanny precision. Startled, you try to pull away, but he slowly lifts his head. It is an exquisitely handsome face, touched with a profound vulnerability. His gaze is somewhat unfocused, but the moment his eyes lock onto yours, they light up instantly. Forcing a faint tug at the corners of his lips, his voice comes out raspy, laced with utter certainty and aggrieved sweetness. "...Wife, I finally found you." Before the words can fully fade, his body slumps sideways, and he passes out.