LIGHTNOVELONLINE
Chapter 37
Xu Wanwan went to freshen up, while Ye Jinmeng sat on the chair, exhaling deeply for a while and taking a few sips of water, finally stopping hiccupping.
Seeing that it was getting late, Shi Shuning ended the video call with Ye Jinmeng.
As soon as the call ended, Shi Shuning's roommate Wang Yunfei came back from outside and, seeing Shi Shuning there, eagerly asked for updates.
Naturally, Shi Shuning wouldn't reveal these embarrassing incidents, so he vaguely mentioned that he would slowly pursue it. Wang Yunfei didn't inquire further, only telling Shi Shuning that he could ask him anytime if there were any problems, as he would always be there to help.
...
At night, the female dormitory was extremely quiet, with Ye Jinmeng and Xu Wanwan already fast asleep. The whole room was filled with only the faint and steady sound of breathing.
With the curtains not tightly drawn, the bright moonlight seeped through the cracks and fell on Xu Wanwan's sleeping face, causing her to stir as if disturbed.
Opening her eyes, Xu Wanwan found herself enveloped in darkness, surrounded by pitch-blackness.
Feeling a bit panicked, Xu Wanwan turned around to look around, only to see a faint light ahead. Instinctively, she hurried towards that light.
Gradually, the light grew bigger and Xu Wanwan realized it was an opening. She quickened her pace, eager to leave this terrifying place.
Finally, Xu Wanwan emerged from the opening, the bright sunlight making her squint. Instinctively, she shielded her eyes with her hand, adjusting to the brightness before taking in the scene before her.
Gentle breeze, vast green grassland stretched out in front of her, with a blue sky dotted with white clouds, and many birds flying around.
Turning around, Xu Wanwan couldn't believe her eyes. There was no dark opening behind her, only the endless grassland.
Excitedly, Xu Wanwan looked around and spotted a large locust tree not far away, looking quite old and sturdy, with what seemed like a figure under it.
Delighted, even though she didn't know how she ended up here, she thought meeting someone would provide a way back. With that in mind, she walked towards the old locust tree.
As she approached, Xu Wanwan realized the figure under the tree seemed somewhat familiar. Squinting her eyes, she tried to confirm the person's identity.
He was somewhat lean, wearing a white shirt with a blooming rose painted on the back.
Xu Wanwan remembered, in her previous life, she accidentally smeared red ink on He Junting's shirt, and in the end, she painted a blooming rose with that red ink.
In an instant, Xu Wanwan's heart skipped a beat. She dared not move forward, just staring blankly at the person under the tree, her eyes gradually reddening.
It was He Junting! He was He Junting from her previous life!
He Junting stood under the tree, staring into the distance, his gaze seeming somewhat vacant. His once handsome and tough face was now filled with exhaustion and fatigue.
He seemed to sense someone watching him, turned around, and saw someone just a few steps away, his once vacant eyes widening instantly.
He Junting seemed as if he couldn't believe it, his lips trembling slightly as he slowly uttered a name, "Wan... Wanwan!"
Upon hearing this voice, Xu Wanwan couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She hurriedly ran over and threw herself into the man's arms.
He Junting also regained his senses, feeling the warmth of the person in his arms, he tightly embraced her.
"Wanwan, I thought... I would never see you again." He Junting kissed Xu Wanwan's forehead, his voice trembling.
Listening to the strong heartbeat of the man, smelling the familiar scent at the tip of her nose, Xu Wanwan suddenly remembered the wish she made to the moon, and involuntarily tightened her arms around the man's slender waist.
"Ting, I must be dreaming, I actually dreamed of you." Xu Wanwan hoped that this dream would never end.
Xu Wanwan raised her head, reached out to touch the man's face, and tenderly said, "Ting, you've lost weight."
He Junting looked at Xu Wanwan affectionately, feeling guilty. "Wanwan, I'm sorry, I failed to protect you."
With red eyes, Xu Wanwan shook her head, "It's not your fault, Ting."
Then she smiled faintly, "Ting, I'm doing well in another dimension now, it's exactly the same as our world over there."
"Another dimension exactly like ours?" He Junting was puzzled.
"The same, yet different." Xu Wanwan held He Junting's hand and sat under the old locust tree, quietly telling him about what had happened to her these days.
"So, now I'm good friends with Ye Jinmeng."
He Junting seemed to be digesting everything Xu Wanwan had recounted, and she didn't disturb him. After a moment, she heard He Junting's hoarse voice.
"I envy the other me in that world, being able to see you at all times. If only I could go there like you."
Xu Wanwan tenderly covered his mouth with her fingers and comforted him, "You have to take care of yourself. I just hope you can be happy."
"But I'm not happy," He Junting grabbed Xu Wanwan's hand, "I rushed back from overseas upon hearing the news, Ye Jinmeng was shot and killed by the police during the arrest, I couldn't even avenge you personally."
"I hate myself so much. Cough... Cough... Cough!" He Junting suddenly covered his mouth and started coughing.
Xu Wanwan was startled, nervously patting He Junting's back.
"Ting, Ting, what's wrong with you? Oh! You're coughing up blood!" Xu Wanwan saw the bloodstains on He Junting's palm and exclaimed in shock.
"I'm fine, Wanwan."
"How can you be fine? You're coughing up blood!" Tears streamed down Xu Wanwan's face.
"After what happened to you, I've been hating myself all the time, why wasn't I in the country at that time, why didn't I have people protecting you, if I had been there, would all this have happened? I can't even seek revenge, I really hate myself!"
Xu Wanwan hugged He Junting tenderly, "Ting, Ting, please don't say anymore. Let go of the resentment, I just want you to be okay."
But He Junting shook his head, reaching out to pat Xu Wanwan's back weakly.
"I don't have much time left, Wanwan. My body is failing me. Maybe I'll be able to join you in your world and reunite with you."
Xu Wanwan looked up to see a hopeful smile on He Junting's face.
"Wanwan, it's time for me to go."
She felt He Junting's body gradually becoming transparent, as if he were drifting away from her. She widened her eyes, trying to reach out and grab his hand, but she couldn't manage to hold onto it.
"Ting! Ting!" He Junting's figure disappeared, leaving Xu Wanwan crying out, "Ting, you must take care of yourself, Ting!"
"Wanwan! Wanwan!"
Xu Wanwan felt someone calling her name, as if it were Ye Jinmeng's voice. She looked around, but there was only the endless grassland.
As she tried to run toward the distant voice, a huge black hole suddenly appeared before her, pulling her in with great force.
"Wanwan! Wake up!" Ye Jinmeng shook Xu Wanwan's body, watching as Xu Wanwan's eyes suddenly opened.
"Wanwan, you're finally awake! You scared me!"
Ye Jinmeng was awakened by Xu Wanwan's cries, seeing Xu Wanwan seemingly trapped in a nightmare, crying out for "Ting". It startled her awake immediately, and she hurried to wake Xu Wanwan.
"Wanwan, did you have a nightmare? It's okay, dreams aren't real. Here, pat your head, it'll help."
Ye Jinmeng comforted Xu Wanwan, stroking her hair as she spoke.
Xu Wanwan gasped for air, sitting up with a cold sweat covering her body.
Feeling Ye Jinmeng's reassurance, she calmed down, forcing a smile.
"I'm okay, Mengmeng. Just had a bad dream, it's fine now."
Xu Wanwan knew it wasn't a dream, it was all real, but she couldn't tell Ye Jinmeng.
Seeing Xu Wanwan was indeed fine, Ye Jinmeng relaxed. Looking at the clock, it was only four thirty, so she lay back down, still thinking about how Xu Wanwan kept calling out "Ting".
Is Ting the same Ting from Junting's room? Could it be... Wanwan has feelings for Ting?!
Ye Jinmeng felt she had unraveled a truth and began thinking about how to support the two of them, but as she thought, she drifted back to sleep.
Xu Wanwan lay back down, but couldn't sleep, her mind filled with He Junting.
Meanwhile, in the 12th floor boys' dormitory building, He Junting suddenly woke up, looking around his room, relieved that it was his dormitory, indeed.
He Junting let out a sigh of relief. That dream felt too real, so real he almost couldn't distinguish if he was awake or not.
But why did he dream about himself and Xu Wanwan...? And what about the conversation in the dream, about parallel timelines, about revenge, what did it all mean?
He Junting couldn't understand why he felt such a sense of oppression and sadness. What was this dream trying to imply?
Ah, it seems I need to pay more attention to Xu Wanwan. I must figure out what secrets she's hiding.