The Lost Corpse

Chapter 10: Materializing Body and Best Friend

Chapter 10: Materializing Body and Best Friend

Lu Nan found a new job, and fearlessly spent all his savings to buy me a computer for entertainment. However, it's not connected to the internet yet, so these days, I've been playing pre-installed games out of boredom. Better than nothing.

Perhaps Lu Nan hasn't noticed yet, but the color of my body is deepening day by day. While feeling a pleasant surprise, I can't help but be a little disappointed. It's like a married couple who have been married for many years, living the same routine every day. Suddenly, one day, the wife goes to the beauty salon, puts on makeup, and wears a new outfit that perfectly hides her flaws. Yet, when the husband comes home, he remains oblivious because he no longer pays attention.

Wait, am I having a resentful wife complex? Two grown men should just talk things out, right? Do we really need all those romantic gestures in the misty rain... The clock on the wall points to ten, still early. I turn off the computer, emerging from the skeleton. The morning sun illuminates the bedroom; I stand by the windowsill. I've always felt that the warmth from the sunlight is different from that of the blankets, like now. The current feeling is... I extend my hand outside the window, touching the leaves of the plants. The sunlight warmly traces the lines on my palm. My mood is like winning a lottery of five million without ever using laundry detergent in my entire life! I clench my fist, and withdraw as if holding a five-million check, accidentally knocking over a flower pot. Luckily, it was plastic and didn't shatter into pieces.

Have you ever thought about how you'd spend five million?

Absolutely, I touched every surface, from tables, benches and chairs to walls. Finally, I threw myself onto the bed, wrapped in a blanket, rolling around excitedly. I urgently wanted to share this news with Lu Nan, but there was still half a day until he finished work. I looked outside, a bright sight, spreading arms, as if inviting me to return to the normal world.

I walked to the living room, turned the doorknob, held onto the handle, and walked downstairs. The heaviness of my body provided me an inexplicable sense of security. Each step urged me to continue forward, ignoring whether leaving the door slightly ajar would invite thieves into the home. There were eople occasionally passing by in the neighborhood; a few kids were playing in the sandbox. I walked cautiously every step, fearing I might forget the way home. Luckily, no one paid attention to me.

Outside the neighborhood gate was a large main road. Turning left led to the outskirts where the cemetery was, and turning right seemed to lead to many buildings. At every intersection, I always followed the pedestrian path on the right. The farther I walked, the more people there were, coming and going, each immersed in their own world. But I was very excited; even the sensation of brushing past others made my heart race. I'm no different from everyone here. I lowered my head with a smile, and saw that I had no shadow on the pavement.

Now, I'm breaking into a cold sweat, feeling somewhat lost. I decide to turn back, and the more uneasy I feel, the more it seems like others are watching me. So, I keep my head down while walking. I accidentally bump into someone with a shadow, and quickly apologized. I noticed a dark little alley up ahead. I hasten my steps, even breaking into a small run to get there. Finally, darkness envelops me, revealing that sunlight doesn't necessarily mean brightness to me.

I was taking a brief rest when suddenly, another person rushes into the alley. He was panting, and pointed at me, saying, "So it really is you! Why did you run after bumping into me, Wu Mo?"

"Do you know me?" I felt I was exposed, and my body felt a bit weak.

He approaches, giving my shoulder a hearty pat. "Come on, kid, it's only been a few years since we met. Can you forget a best friend, who wore the same underwear as you?" I looked at him with some confusion, hesitant to respond.

Seeing my bewildered expression, he gets a bit anxious, pointing at himself. "I'm Lin Cheng. We've been neighbors since we were kids. You used to be rebellious, loved running away from home, and two out of three times, you hid at my place." He pauses for a moment. "You loved my mom's sticky rice chicken, but you always had indigestion after eating it."