[ENG] Tokyo Love Accident 《东京爱情事故》

Chapter 11 : Hokkaido Wonders

News of Wei Xiao still being in Tokyo quickly reached Han Yihuan. Insisting that Wei Xiao should return to stay, when Wei Xiao saw the acquiescence in Shi Yuquan's eyes, she reluctantly agreed to Han Yihuan. Although Xu Tianci was unwilling, he had no choice but to go along with the two of them.

On the day Wei Xiao was discharged and returned home, Gu Shenshen came to visit. Wei Xiao asked her about Hisagi Tetsuya.

Gu Shenshen said, "He announced his retirement last month and has settled in his hometown in Hokkaido. Why do you want to know?"

"Do you have a way to contact him? I want him to encourage Shi Yuquan to continue creating." Wei Xiao explained to Gu Shenshen the reason Shi Yuquan gave up manga.

"I'll see what I can do."

After a few days, Gu Shenshen gave Wei Xiao the address of Hisagi Tetsuya in Hokkaido. Once Wei Xiao's foot was almost healed, she booked a flight to Hokkaido. Fortunately, domestic flights in Japan do not require ID, so she smoothly boarded the plane, arrived in Sapporo, and then took a JR train to Furano.

In December, Hokkaido is covered in pure white snow, and the cold is so intense that even the breath can freeze. Wei Xiao emerges from the JR station, and it's still snowing outside. The owner of the guesthouse, who is supposed to pick her up, calls, saying their car broke down halfway, waiting for roadside assistance. It's approximately one kilometer from the station, asking her to wait inside. To save time, Wei Xiao decides to walk and meet the owner herself.

After about five minutes, the lights on the road become scarce, and the cars become fewer. Having heard that Hokkaido has a sparse population, she thinks it's normal. After a few more minutes, there are no streetlights, only surrounded by mountains and forests, creating an eerie atmosphere under the falling snow.

Feeling something is wrong, she calls the owner, who informs her that she took the wrong path and should quickly return to the station. Wei Xiao turns back, but after a few minutes, she realizes the surroundings become even more desolate. She is completely lost, wanting to call the owner for help, but her phone has no signal.

In the snowy mountains, everything is super quiet. She feels totally cut off from the world, like she's stuck on some lonely planet.

Holding her phone, Wei Xiao tries hard to stay calm. People say it's easy to get lost in the snow because of the bright reflection, and that's her mistake. It's 8:50 at night, getting colder, and she has two options: trust herself to find the way back or quickly find a warm place for the night. Since her phone is useless, risking going further away, she gives up on the first choice and decides to find a nearby shelter.

After deciding, she heads towards the mountains. But even though the mountain seems close, she can't get there. Looking back, her footprints in the snow are quickly covered, and looking forward, it's like a weird illusion.

Deep despair engulfs her as hunger and cold sap her strength. Eventually, she decides to dig a snow pit on the spot and takes out all her clothes to wrap around herself. Unfortunately, she had only planned to stay in Hokkaido for two or three days, so she didn't bring many clothes. Huddled in the snow pit, shivering from the cold, she comforts herself, remembering all the storms she has weathered before, thinking she can get through this too.

The vast, icy surroundings bring back memories of the past. She finally recalls the only time she and Shi Yuquan had a big fight that almost led to a breakup. Back then, he was called to Japan by his publishing house to discuss the contract for the upcoming year. Since she had some vacation time, she secretly arranged for a visa, booked the same flight, wanting to surprise him. However, when they unexpectedly met at the airport, Shi Yuquan's reaction was oddly strange.