Chapter 133 (1/2)

Chapter 133: Autistic

While Chang was about to say goodbye to his memory, he took out a pack of cigarettes from a drawer in the bar counter. Qing Shui gifted the pack to him, but he'd never learned how to smoke, even after four years. The act of lifting the cigarette was more of a habit than smoking itself.

Chang only did it when he felt unhappy. The smoke swirled up in the air, twisting, hovering. It was nostalgia that he was smoking, not nicotine.

The smoke reminded him of a slang that people used online back in the day - ”floating clouds.”

He wished everything that happened and would happen were just floating clouds that eventually went away; he wished that all of this was just a dream that he could wake up from so he could have his carefree life back; he wished the only thing that he needed to worry about was the reading that he never finished and the pretty girl beside some louts.

He was always reminded of the good days when he had time to sit down by himself. Though his stiff facial muscles inhibited his facial expressions, his lightheartedness s.h.i.+ned through his eyes instead.

The five minutes of memories fade out in black as the smoke dispersed. His family and friends were history now. The clamor resumed and pulled him back into reality.

”Hah—” Chang forced out the air in his lungs, lifting the weight placed on his heart. He stomped on the cigarette, shouting, ”Let's go, folks. The birds have pa.s.sed our area.”

”Yes, it's about time,” Zhizhi agreed, sniffing the air. ”Let's come together, guys.”

As they expected, the buzzing noise decreased significantly when they walked out of the bar. The sky was brighter once the flocks were spa.r.s.er and more scattered. The remaining fliers were either clumsy or slow insects.

The sunlight brightened up the red fog, returning an acceptable vision to humans.

”It's a good day, isn't it?” Chang didn't turn back when he said so.

The streets weren't crowded at all, and this was not only because of the ma.s.sive migration but also because of a natural human fear of the darkness.

Though of course there were some brave ones who peaked out from their homes, seeking an opportunity to retreat with the birds.

Just right after Chang left his home, they encountered another group of backpackers who initiated a conversation with them.

The one who spoke was a young woman. She had with her a teenage boy and a conjoined twin.

”h.e.l.lo!” They met at the junction. The woman approached Chang after seeing three young kids walking after him. She was confused initially, but then she quickly approached him and said, ”Hey, do you want to travel together? We can look after each other.”

”I don't think we need any more companions on this journey.” Chang shot a glance at the woman; she was way too weak and apparently she was alone. He wouldn't gain any benefits but just burden.

”I see, but why the indifferent att.i.tude? We have something in common - We both have kids.” The woman didn't give up even though Chang ignored her.