Chapter 102: The Last Sweet Dream
Chapter 102: The Last Sweet Dream
In the Weird World.
Inside the void.
Gu Yi felt icy cold, and the mask on his face was about to fall off.
His younger sister had hollow eyes, with pitch-black tears streaming down her face. "It's the clown... It's the clown..."
She repeated the same sentence, walking towards Gu Yi.
Gu Yi straightened up and suddenly felt a warm beam of sunlight from behind. He turned his head and ran towards the light using his hands and feet.
"Don't run!"
Bone-like branches pierced Gu Yi's thigh.
Gu Yi cried out in pain, touching the edge of the sunlight with his fingertips.
The tides of the void receded in an instant, and Gu Yi once again entered his sister's memories.
...
"You little bitch, you should just go out and sell yourself when you grow up. That way, at least you could earn some money for your damned parents. Feeding you is just a waste of money!"
Gu Yi opened his eyes to find himself viewing his sister's memories from a third-person perspective.
At this moment, his sister was being scolded and beaten by their mother.
Gu Yi rushed forward, pushing away their mother.
His sister looked at Gu Yi with a bewildered expression, seemingly unable to see her elder brother.
"Don't be afraid; I'm here with you."
...
"Why won't you eat the lamb meat?"
"You're still playing tricks!"
"Why do you refuse to eat and even spit the meat into your sleeve?"
"Liar!"
Their father picked up a rattan whip and began to lash at the younger sister.
Gu Yi put down his chopsticks, pushed away the pot of lamb meat, and smashed it on the floor.
"If she doesn't want to eat, she doesn't have to! Why do you torment a child like this? If she doesn't eat, you scold and hit her. Of course, she would hide it in her sleeve to avoid both. If one day she really becomes a liar, it's because of you!"
Their father was furious. "You are my child, I'll discipline you the way I see fit!"
"Children are independent individuals, not your slaves!"
Gu Yi snatched the rattan whip from his father and snapped it forcefully.
...
The sister moved out to live with her grandmother, away from their parents.
Today, Gu Yi took his grandmother and sister on a trip to the circus in the city. The circus master was named Dark Moon. He presented a lottery box in front of the sister.
"Child, you've earned a chance to draw a prize."
"Wow, I hope I win!"
The sister drew a Dark Moon prize ticket from the box.
Dark Moon took the ticket and said with a grin, "Congratulations on winning. I can grant you one wish."
"What kind of wish?"
"Any wish you desire."
"Hehe, I don't really have a wish." The sister said, holding her brother and grandmother's hands, "I'm already very happy and content."
Dark Moon laughed heartily. He took out a brooch shaped like a crescent moon and pinned it to the sister's chest.
"The Dark Moon Circus values integrity. How could we possibly let you go without a reward?"
...
The town of Huang Dao faced judgment. Over twenty residents were arrested, including their parents. Even the mayor was sent to jail for embezzlement.
The grandmother was granted custody of the sister. After caring for her for a while, she was admitted to the hospital due to illness.
The grandmother caressed the sister's head, "Little one, go out for a moment. I want to have a word with your brother."
The sister nodded and left the ward.
"My dear, your grandmother might not make it."
"Grandma, what are you talking about? You'll surely live a long life."
"I've never been able to see or hear you, but I know you're there. If you can hear me, promise me, take good care of your sister."
The grandmother handed Gu Yi her lucky pouch.
Gu Yi reached out to take it, but the lucky pouch passed through his hand and fell to the ground. Only then did he remember that he was just a character conjured up by his sister's imagination.
This place was just her dream.
Without her, he couldn't manifest as a physical being.
...
The sister was diagnosed with cancer and admitted to the hospital.
Gu Yi stood by her bedside, holding her hand.
A ray of sunlight fell on her face, illuminating her somewhat pale complexion.
"Brother, can you... play the clown for me? I really want to... see a clown."
"Of course."
Gu Yi nodded, taking out a tattered mask from his pocket and placing it on his face.
"Brother, a clown shouldn't cry."
Gu Yi grinned, pulling a balloon from his pocket. He skillfully blew it into the shape of a puppy and placed it beside her pillow.
She glanced at the puppy balloon and chuckled weakly.
"Brother, I feel like I'm really about to fall asleep."
Gu Yi removed the mask, gently patting her head, "You're exhausted, aren't you?"
"Not tired, I'm so happy," she squinted at Gu Yi, "This might be the most wonderful dream I've ever had, but sadly... it's also my last. Thank you for always being with me."
Gu Yi remained silent.
"Brother... do you think... life is always this painful?"
"Yes."
"Then why do we keep living? Why strive so hard to live?"
"Because..."
Before Gu Yi could respond, she closed her eyes, drifting into a deep slumber.
Creak, crack—
The sound of shattering glass echoed in Gu Yi's ears as the final dream of his sister began to fragment.
...
The real world.
Qu Kangping instinctively reached for a cigarette, but quickly remembered that he was in a hospital ward and hastily put it back in his pocket.
Beep—
The heart monitor beside the bed emitted a sharp alarm.
Seeing this, Ah Jian rushed out to find a doctor.
Medical staff rushed to the girl's room and made a symbolic attempt to save her, only to regretfully announce that Xiao Ling had lost her young life.
"Sorry, are you the relatives of the patient?"
"We are from the 'Strategy Team'. I am the leader, Qu Kangping," he said. "This child may possess Weird powers... We need to take her away."
"I see... No wonder she was so resilient. Most people would only live for three months, yet she lived for nearly a year. What's sad is that her parents kept paying for her treatment but never visited her in the hospital. I can't understand why there are such cruel parents in this world."
Qu Kangping turned away helplessly.
At the head of Xiao Ling's bed was a cute puppy balloon, and on her pale face, there was a hint of a happy smile.
...
Gu Yi finally left the dungeon. He opened his eyes and found himself back in that blood-scented room.
"Congratulations, adventurer, for successfully achieving a perfect level clearance."
"Your plot exploration rate is 100%."
"From now on, all Weird events related to the 'The Family of Three' will no longer appear in your real world."
"Your mental strength limit has increased to 100/100."
"You have been granted a seven-day rest period."
"Your talent has been strengthened. You can choose a new active skill. Please choose your active skill carefully, as it may affect your growth path in the future."