Chapter 1: Life is Strange

After the rain stopped, the layer of dark clouds in the sky seemed almost wrung dry, no longer dripping water down damply.

It was dusk.

Brilliant orange sunset clouds and dark cloud cover churned together, like a stained oil painting.

A black sedan drove along the road between two rows of trees, its tires slowly rolling over the dim puddles on the street and crushing several yellow-green mottled fallen leaves, before coming to a stop in front of an unremarkable psychological counseling clinic.

The young nurse at the front desk, dressed in uniform, heard the noise through the door, took off her headphones, and stopped slacking off.

She looked up and greeted the customer with a gentle smile.

“Hello—”

Then, she couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.

The person before her looked very young, yet carried an indescribable elegance and ease.

Those clear ultramarine eyes, when lifted, seemed to hold a power capable of overturning hearts.

“Y-hello… excuse me, do you have an appointment?”

The nurse felt her face warm, not daring to look directly at him, and lowered her head to speak.

“Hello, I’m looking for Lin Chu,” the other person replied.

Even his voice was pleasant to hear.

For some reason, the nurse’s mood brightened.

She quickly checked the appointment records and said, “Ah, I’m very sorry. Dr. Lin shouldn’t be seeing patients this afternoon. Are you sure you scheduled an appointment with him at this time?”

“I’ll just give him a call directly,” he said.

As he spoke, the landline phone beside the nurse rang.

Dr. Lin told her to let him in.

The nurse was slightly stunned.

In the moment she spaced out, the black-haired young man was already familiar with the place, stepping lightly up the stairs toward the second floor.

He pushed the door open.

The first thing he saw was an examination bed lying horizontally, with a window beside it, the curtains pulled tightly shut.

The consultation room was dark, nothing like daytime, with only dim candlelight burning.

On the desk sat a jar of brown ointment candles.

Once lit, smoke curled through the air, releasing a scent so rich it was almost choking.

“……”

“You’re here? How have you been feeling lately?

The Gypsy aromatherapy candles I brought back for you from Turkey—how’s their calming effect?”

A young doctor in a white lab coat walked over.

Beneath his long brows were clear, peach-blossom eyes that immediately caught the eye.

He stepped forward, intending to give the young man a hug, but was stopped when the latter pressed a black long-handled umbrella against his chest.

Fortunately, it hadn’t rained on the way, and the umbrella was dry.

“Don’t come closer.”

The black-haired young man frowned and tilted his head slightly.

The black satin-like hair over his shoulders swayed faintly.

“You smell awful.”

Lin Chu froze, then suddenly realized that in order to test the sleep-aiding effects of the aromatherapy, he had been lighting it for days on end.

He was practically soaked in the scent, yet had grown completely accustomed to it.

After smelling it for so long, his nose had nearly “failed.”

A wave of sorrow immediately washed over Lin Chu.

“Who do you think I did all this for?

Wasn’t it because I was afraid this stuff wouldn’t work?

I tested it for a whole week before sending it to you—wait, did you never even try the things I gave you?”

“……”

The black-haired young man guiltily shifted his gaze away.

“Si Qingxuan, don’t you think you’ve gone too far?

Do you even have a conscience?

I did all this to cure your insomnia!

Look at how much I’ve sacrificed for you!

And now you’re嫌弃ing me?

…What are you dodging for?

Get back here!”

After that, the two of them broke into a chase around the consultation room.

Lin Chu tried every trick he could, yet couldn’t even brush the hem of Si Qingxuan’s clothes.

They stood off across the examination bed for several minutes, until Lin Chu finally conceded first.

He snorted softly and walked to the wall, pulling open the curtains.

The entire room instantly brightened.

Si Qingxuan raised an eyebrow, casually hung the umbrella by the door, and used the scissors on the desk to snuff out the candle, finally letting out a quiet sigh of relief.

“Finally, I can breathe normally,” Si Qingxuan said.

Lin Chu snorted in response.

“Looks like aromatherapy isn’t suitable for you either.”

Si Qingxuan’s insomnia was extremely severe.

How severe?

On some days, he slept only one hour.

At best, he slept no more than five hours.

By all logic, he should have died suddenly long ago.

That he was still alive—Lin Chu truly regarded him as a miracle.

Even so, Lin Chu still wanted to cure him.

For that, Lin Chu had poured his heart and soul into it.

He studied both Chinese and Western medicine.

He even went abroad to study hypnosis for two months with masters who performed hypnotic magic.

Even those masters praised his extraordinary talent.

Unfortunately, none of it worked on Si Qingxuan.

Left with no choice, Lin Chu turned his attention to folk remedies he had never tried before.

Things like dreamcatchers and herbal incense, bordering on the mystical.

Because some of these methods were simply too outrageous, Si Qingxuan refused to cooperate.

Whenever that happened, the two would bicker like they did today.

Lin Chu accused him of avoiding treatment.

Si Qingxuan complained that he wasn’t scientific enough.

“If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.”

Lin Chu sat back in his office chair and let out a breath.

“Actually, I recently heard about an electrotherapy method.

Using microcurrents to stimulate nerves, relieve psychological stress, and improve insomnia.

I heard many patients cried from the pain, but their conditions improved significantly.

Maybe I could buy a device and put it in the clinic—want to try it?”

Si Qingxuan said, “Save it.

I don’t want any electrotherapy.

But if you’re willing to demonstrate being electrocuted once, I can buy a machine and give it to you.”

Lin Chu coughed lightly.

“Let’s forget it.”

Si Qingxuan’s background was extremely peculiar.

He was born without parents and was raised alone by his grandfather.

When he was fourteen, the old man also passed away, leaving him an inheritance he could never spend in a lifetime.

Before his death, his grandfather arranged everything concerning Si Qingxuan meticulously.

He even prepared birthday gifts for many years to come.

Every birthday, Si Qingxuan would receive a “surprise.”

The old man gave proper birthday gifts.

He also gave improper ones.

Proper gifts included company shares, properties around the world, and priceless art collections.

There were also several less proper ones.

For example, on his eighteenth birthday, he received a coffin mailed back from South America.

When opened, there lay a dried human arm inside.

Along with the coffin came a heavy weapons case, containing a Western longsword with a gold-cast hilt.

At the base of the blade were hollowed engravings resembling bird feathers, intricate and dazzling.

The gleam nearly blinded Si Qingxuan.

Si Qingxuan: “……”

It was absurd.

So even controlled weapons could be shipped openly like this?

Still, Si Qingxuan carefully sealed the coffin in the basement.

The weapons case was placed by the entryway as decoration, and he even hung a portrait of Zhong Kui beside it to ward off evil.

Another time was when Si Qingxuan was nineteen.

His grandfather’s assistant had someone deliver a telescope to him.

Back then, Si Qingxuan was still a teenager and was genuinely happy.

He stroked the telescope for a while.

But the person delivering the gift didn’t leave.

Instead, he lingered awkwardly, rubbing his hands as if he had something to say.

Si Qingxuan said, “The gift’s delivered. You can go now.”

“No, I think you may have misunderstood.”

It was a man wearing a mountaineering cap, his beard not fully shaved.

For some reason, Si Qingxuan felt his eyes were brighter than an ordinary person’s.

“This telescope is mine.

I paid a huge sum for it.”

Si Qingxuan: “.”

“Your birthday gift isn’t here.”

The man pointed up at the sky with a sigh.

“It’s up there.”

He stepped forward to help Si Qingxuan adjust the telescope, found the right angle, and gestured for him to look again.

Si Qingxuan glanced over in confusion.

It was still a dark starry sky, nothing special.

“Sigh, look carefully.

Upper right corner.

There’s a star glowing.”

The man said proudly.

“This is a planet I discovered.

It was named ‘Qingxuan Star’ by the International Astronomical Union.”

“In other words, this star actually belongs to you.”

Si Qingxuan: “……”

“Ahem.

I’m an astronomer, and also a planet hunter passionate about finding new stars.

I observed this planet ten years ago.

After your grandfather heard about it, he came to me and hoped to name the planet after you.”

The man’s expression suddenly turned subtle.

“I originally didn’t want to agree, but he offered too much money!

And I was too young back then.

If it were me now… I would absolutely never be corrupted by evil money!”

“Honestly speaking, naming a planet isn’t something money alone can buy.

Back then, I even suspected your grandfather was talking nonsense.

But in the end, he actually managed to do it.”

The man shook his head with deep emotion.

He then accompanied Si Qingxuan in gazing at the stars for a while, took the telescope back, and left.

Only Si Qingxuan remained, standing there in silent speechlessness.

……

Lin Chu had grown up together with Si Qingxuan.

He had heard all these stories before.

And today was once again Si Qingxuan’s birthday.

Since his grandfather’s death, Lin Chu had never missed a single one of Si Qingxuan’s birthdays.

This year was no exception.

Lin Chu asked curiously, “Did you receive this year’s gift?

What kind of surprise did the old man prepare for you?”

“……”

Si Qingxuan was silent for a moment.

He lowered his head, opened his phone, and slid his fair fingers across the screen, pulling up several photos.

Lin Chu leaned over curiously and saw that the photos all depicted gloomy, desolate houses.

Withered, shriveled leaves piled everywhere.

Dust-covered windows were set into blackened brick walls.

Outside the windows was a black forest, skeletal as if burned by fire, yet dense with branches.

From afar, it looked like a mass of clawing ghosts.

Deep in the forest lay a man-made lake, neither large nor small.

A small boat was tied at the dock, swaying silently with the dark water.

“What’s this? A newly opened haunted house?” Lin Chu asked.

To him, the European-style villa in the photos—or rather, the castle—looked perfect for shooting horror films or serving as a haunted attraction.

Si Qingxuan shook his head.

“This is the gift I received this year,” he said.

“An ancient castle that’s fallen into disrepair.”

Lin Chu said, “The old man really wasn’t reliable.

How did the place end up so ruined?”

“Being ruined isn’t the main issue.”

Si Qingxuan raised an eyebrow.

“I just received the evaluation report from over there.

The castle’s main beams need reinforcement.

Some aged stone structures need rebuilding.

The roof tiles, flooring, and door and window timber all need replacement.

And that’s only to keep the external structure stable.

The inside is still too broken to live in.

Just these repairs alone would cost as much as buying the castle in the first place.”

Si Qingxuan estimated that restoring the castle to a polished state would cost at least twice its original market value in renovation fees.

“That’s insane,” Lin Chu said.

“Then why not just not repair it?

Or resell it?”

Si Qingxuan said, “That castle hasn’t been maintained at all since my grandfather bought it.

It’s too dilapidated.

It probably wouldn’t sell easily.”

Meaning, Si Qingxuan had no choice but to repair it.

If he didn’t, the castle would just become a burden in his hands.

“Actually, after renovation, the castle could be put to commercial use.

Like running it as a hotel or charging admission as a tourist attraction.”

Si Qingxuan thought for a moment.

“You’ve given me a new idea.”

It could be turned into a haunted house.

Haunted houses were supposed to be rundown anyway.

That way, he could save a huge amount on renovation costs.

Why not?

“By the way, that haunted house—ugh, that castle—where is it?”

“In Spain, in a village called Samerman.”

Si Qingxuan sighed.

“I’m just thinking aloud.

The castle definitely has to be repaired.

It’s not something that can be handled quickly.

We’ll take it slow.”

“Looks like your grandfather really handed you a hot potato,” Lin Chu said with a light, cheerful expression.

“Compared to him, my gift for you is much simpler.

My mom told me to invite you over for dinner tonight.

She’s making a feast to celebrate, including your favorite crispy roast duck.”

Roast duck was complicated to prepare.

In the Lin household, it was a true ‘special-occasion dish,’ not something Lin Chu’s mother would make unless it was a holiday.

“Help me thank Auntie,” Si Qingxuan said.

“What’s there to thank?

You can say it to her in person.

Alright, let’s go.

It’s time to get off work.”

Lin Chu glanced at the wall clock and was about to take off his white coat when the sound of hurried high heels echoed down the hallway.

It was strange.

Even with some distance between them, and despite there being more than just the two of them in the clinic, the sound of the heels rang clearly in their ears.

“Dr. Lin, are you there?”

It was a strange woman’s voice.

Careful and restrained, yet carrying a hoarse, sobbing tone.

“Dr. Lin, please help me.

Other than you, no one can help me anymore—”

Lin Chu hesitated and was about to go to the door to check, when the woman suddenly began pounding on it violently.

The silent setting sun dyed their vision a blood-red hue.

Through the door, Lin Chu vaguely saw a long-haired woman wearing a mask.

She was dressed in black, her wrists slender, yet the force of her pounding was unnaturally strong.

“Open the door…

Open the door!”

Her voice suddenly turned cold and sharp.

“Dr. Lin, it’s me.

Why won’t you see me?

Aren’t I your patient?”

“Hah, I get it now.

You never believed what I told you, did you?”

“Why, why…

You’re a doctor.

You have to help me…”

There was a brief moment of silence outside the door.

Her voice dropped again, carrying pitiful pleading and coaxing.

“Doctor, can you let me in?”

Lin Chu hesitated, moving closer to the dim crack in the door to glance through—

Only to see the woman in black pressing her face tightly against the door.

Her eyes were wide open, the whites tinged with a strange bluish pallor, while the corners were unnaturally lifted, revealing a smile that looked deranged.

And behind her, something was faintly hidden.

A brown handle.

Above it, a vivid red—

It looked like the fire axe that had once hung in the neighboring storage room.