“What does ‘big family’ mean…?”
“Although it’s a small family now…” Uncle Wan gave a bitter smile, “I will definitely find a way to rally more people. No matter how evil the other side is, as long as we ‘fragrant’ ones stick together, they won’t dare harm us.”
Brother Gu Yu thought for a moment after hearing this, then pointed at me: “As long as I can be with this little brother, I’m willing to join.”
“Of course! Of course!” Uncle Wan looked delighted.
And so, on the shattered eighth day, Brother Gu Yu joined us.
Following Uncle Wan’s plan, he intended to continue searching for people who carried the scent of purity.
But even the best-laid plans of adults often go awry. Over the next two days, despite their efforts, Uncle Wan, Sister Siwei, and Brother Gu Yu failed to find anyone else with that fragrance.
According to them, most people here were already dead—there was simply no way to locate the remaining “fragrant ones.”
In utter chaos, we reached the tenth day.
This was what the adults called the “Day of the End.”
Sister Siwei and I stood outside, hand in hand. I watched helplessly as she turned to dust before my eyes. My heart ached unbearably, and I wailed in anguish.
I never imagined anything in this world could hurt me so deeply. Even being separated from my parents for ten days hadn’t brought me this much sorrow.
Then it was my turn. My body began dissolving, starting with my legs—strangely, there was no pain—followed by my stomach and hands.
Finally, I felt myself lifting into the air, floating mid-sky, before everything faded as if I had fallen asleep. I knew nothing of what came after.
When I opened my eyes again, I was sitting in a classroom, with Xu Jiahua standing beside me as punishment.
I stared around frantically, desperate to understand what had happened.
Why was I back? Had I escaped?
“Xu… Xu Jiahua?” I called out, turning to him.
“What?” he whispered from his spot. “You got a death wish? Talking during the homeroom teacher’s class?”
Seeing him alive and well before me, tears welled up uncontrollably.
I could suddenly smell Xu Jiahua’s scent—though his clothes were dirty, his aura was pure.
In contrast, the homeroom teacher, neatly dressed, reeked of something foul.
After listening to him speak, I realized: this was the day before the earthquake.
Not only had I returned, but I’d gone back a day earlier. Now, I could smell everyone’s true nature—even the impending disaster. Everything would repeat itself tomorrow afternoon.
But what could I do?
After school, I wandered home in a daze. Nothing had changed. The floor was littered with broken dishes, Dad snored on the sofa, and my desk lamp was still shattered.
I set my bag down and quietly cleaned up the shards before sitting beside Dad, leaning my head gently against his shoulder.
“Dad… I’m so scared.”
“I had a terrible nightmare. I missed you so much.”
“Dad,” I whispered, “I want to talk to you. Can you hear me?”
But Dad kept snoring, lost in his drunken dreams, oblivious to my presence. He smelled of alcohol, yet oddly… content, as if dreaming of something wonderful.
Tomorrow morning, I’d have to go to school again. Would I die there like before? All I wanted was to talk to Mom and Dad one last time. If I ended up back in that crimson city, I wouldn’t see them for another ten days.
No matter how much I called him, he slept soundly. Eventually, I stood up and left.
Tonight, I wouldn’t do homework. I needed to see Mom.
After walking for ten minutes, I found her in a brightly lit, smoke-filled mahjong parlor deep in the alley.
The place was loud, voices clashing like arguments.
When I pushed the door open, a few people glanced at me before ignoring me and returning to their tiles.
I spotted Mom instantly in the crowd. How I’d missed her.
Her eyes were bruised, but she was animated, slamming down a tile with a curse: “Dang it! No one loves me!”
I approached quietly. By my count, it had been ten days since I’d last seen her.
“Mom…” I called softly.
“Ah-Xiong?” She barely looked up, focused on her tiles. “What’re you doing here? Shouldn’t you be doing homework? Pong!”
“I don’t want to. I wanted to see you.” I pulled a stool beside her and sat down. “Mom, I want to talk…”
“Talk? Your damn father never talks to me—Six of Bamboo! Why’s everyone bothering me during a game? What did I do to deserve this?”
“Then I won’t talk.” I smiled. “I’ll just watch you play.”
“You’ve lost your mind.” She kept her eyes on the tiles, not sparing me a glance. “Eight years old and already picking up mahjong? Nine of Circles! You’ll end up a loser like your dad.”
I swallowed my tears, watching her back.
Mom, do you know?
I’m about to go on a long journey.
To a terrifying place. I might not see you for ten days—or ever again.
You always say you’d be better off if I’d never been born. If I really died… would you be happier?
“Mom,” I tried again.
“What now?” she snapped.
“Tomorrow afternoon… can you not stay at home?”
“Oh, now you’re kicking me out?” She flipped a tile, cursed, and threw it down. “What a thoughtful son.”
“Promise me, Mom.” I stood up, forcing a smile. “I’m leaving now. I love you so much.”
Thank you for bringing me into this world.
But I’ve done something bad, and now I’m being taken to prison.
Mom, if I come back, will you listen to me then?
I met a really kind sister. I love her like I love you.
The next afternoon, in the stifling yet icy classroom, the earthquake arrived as promised.
As the teacher stumbled out, I grabbed Xu Jiahua’s hand.
“Xu Jiahua! Run!”
Before he could react, I was dragging him out of the room.
I couldn’t let him die.
The building shook violently, glass shattering, walls cracking.
“Xu Jiahua! I’m sorry!”
I shouted over the chaos.
“What?”
“Sorry!” I laughed as I ran, yelling through my grin. “I said, ‘I’m sorry!’”
I didn’t know why I felt so happy—I was about to die, yet my heart was light.
Even if I died, I had to tell Xu Jiahua I was sorry.
“You’ve gone nuts!” he yelled. “Since when does a little brother apologize to his big bro?”
The wind roared past us as we sprinted down the hallway.
I’d never run in the corridors before—teachers forbade it. Every day, I tiptoed through life, obeying every rule.
But now, I ran freely. I screamed my apology.
Before the ceiling collapsed, Xu Jiahua and I—battered by wind and trembling ground—tasted a freedom we’d never known.
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