The nightmare

No matter how hard she tried, Ying Yue couldn't fall asleep again.

The nightmare had completely driven away her drowsiness.

With a tired sigh, she sat up and got out of bed. The room was silent except for the ticking of the clock on the wall.

She rubbed her temples and glanced at the time.

3:17 AM.

Another sleepless night.

For the past month, she had been seeing the same dream over and over again.

The blood-red moon.

The mountain.

The woman named Lu Xia Xia.

And the mysterious man called Junjie.

Every time she woke up, her heart ached as if she had personally experienced their tragedy.

Ying Yue pushed the blanket aside and walked into the bathroom.

She splashed cold water onto her face several times.

Droplets slid down her cheeks as she slowly raised her head and looked at herself in the mirror.

Dark circles had started forming beneath her eyes.

Her usually bright eyes now looked tired and lifeless.

"What is wrong with me?" she muttered.

Maybe I should see a doctor.

After drying her face, she left the bathroom and headed toward the kitchen.

She opened the refrigerator, took out a bottle of water, and drank a few large gulps.

The cold water eased her dry throat, but it couldn't calm the uneasiness in her heart.

Just then, the kitchen light suddenly turned on.

Ying Yue nearly jumped in surprise.

"Grandma?"

Her grandmother stood near the doorway, looking at her with concern.

"Yue? You're still awake?"

Ying Yue let out a relieved sigh.

"Yes, Grandma."

Her grandmother slowly walked closer.

"The same dream again?"

Ying Yue nodded.

"The same dream."

Her grandmother sighed.

"I told you before, you should visit a doctor. You haven't been sleeping properly for weeks."

Ying Yue forced a smile.

"Okay, okay. I'll go tomorrow."

She glanced toward the window.

A faint glow was already appearing in the distance.

"The sun will be up soon. You should go back to sleep, Grandma."

Her grandmother hesitated before nodding.

"Don't push yourself too hard."

"I won't."

After her grandmother returned to her room, Ying Yue went back to her own bedroom.

She lay on her bed and stared at the ceiling.

No matter how hard she tried, sleep never came.

A few hours later, the first rays of sunlight entered her room.

As usual, Ying Yue changed into her workout clothes and went out for her morning run.

The cool morning air brushed against her face as she jogged through the park.

Normally, running helped clear her mind.

Today, however, Junjie's face kept appearing in her thoughts.

Who was he?

Why did he feel so familiar?

And why did seeing him suffer make her heart hurt?

Lost in thought, Ying Yue barely noticed someone approaching her.

"What's with that face?"

A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

Ying Yue turned around.

Her best friend, Yan Xing, was jogging toward her.

"You look exhausted," Yan Xing said.

Ying Yue laughed bitterly.

"What can I say? The same dream again."

Yan Xing groaned dramatically.

"Seriously? Why does that dream keep coming back?"

"I wish I knew."

The two friends continued jogging side by side.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Then Yan Xing suddenly looked at her.

"Wait..."

"What?"

"Hasn't this been happening ever since you read that book?"

Ying Yue slowed her pace.

The smile on her face disappeared.

That book.

She remembered it clearly.

An old book she had purchased after visiting an art exhibition.

At first, it had seemed completely ordinary.

Yet somehow, ever since she brought it home, strange things had started happening.

The nightmares.

The mysterious faces.

The overwhelming feeling of sadness she couldn't explain.

"Yeah..." Ying Yue finally admitted.

Yan Xing frowned.

"That's too much of a coincidence."

Ying Yue didn't answer.

Deep down, she had begun wondering the same thing.

For some reason, ever since that day, everything had started to change.

And she had a feeling that this was only the beginning.

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