The mating event ended with Wei Hu forcibly taking the girl away.
When Chu Huai and Jin Tianyi returned to their dormitory later, they overheard a conversation.
Wei Hu’s voice was somewhat hysterical: “You really are my daughter, you have the heavenly mark on you!”
The girl was obviously quite frightened, her voice trembling: “That’s impossible! You must have mistaken me for someone else! I don’t know you at all!”
Wei Hu: “I won’t make a mistake. Little Yun, don’t be nervous. You must have come to the City of Memories before me and had to sell your memories, so you forgot about me…”
The girl was silent for a while before speaking, her tone hesitant: “I… I don’t know how long I’ve been here, I’ve really forgotten a lot. Maybe I really knew you before.”
Wei Hu seemed to be crying: “I will make you remember!”
Chu Huai paused for a moment and casually said: “This seems too coincidental. Wei Hu doesn’t seem like he’s making a mistake.”
Jin Tianyi replied: “Maybe it’s fate that has brought them together after being separated?”
Chu Huai asked: “Do you think it’s okay?”
Jin Tianyi nodded.
Because Wei Hu refused to let the girl leave, Chu Huai decided to move to Jin Tianyi’s place, giving them the opportunity to be alone together.
Jin Tianyi was waiting outside when Xiao Yun left. After Chu Huai finished packing, she was about to leave but was stopped by Wei Hu.
Chu Huai raised her eyebrows slightly, looking puzzled.
Wei Hu lowered his head and rubbed his hands constantly. Finally, he closed the door carefully and said after some hesitation: “What if I don’t want to leave…?”
“No need to explain, I understand,” Chu Huai closed her eyes.
“Xiao Yun lost more than 50% of her memories and can only stay here forever. You want to accompany her, so…”
Wei Hu nodded, staring blankly out the window for a long time before saying: “Xiao Yun’s mother passed away early, and she has been rebellious since childhood. She was not close to me and even refused my company on her 18th birthday when she went out with a group of classmates and got drunk…”
Wei Hu’s expression became sad.
“Something unexpected happened, and she was… gang-raped.”
Wei Hu couldn’t continue speaking for a while as his words choked in his throat.
Chu Huai could guess what happened later based on Wei Hu’s actions at the mating party.
“Xiao Yun couldn’t accept the reality when she woke up and, because of her fiery personality, she actually… committed suicide.”
“I also thought Xiao Yun had died, and I began to hate myself. If I had stopped her from going that day, maybe that wouldn’t have happened… it was my negligence.”
Wei Hu paused, and his eyes turned slightly red. “I never thought she would come here too.”
Chu Huai had doubts in her heart.
Xiao Yun died?
Although Chu Huai felt he was being too much, he still asked: “When you did the autopsy, are you sure you saw the tattoo…?”
Wei Hu was bewildered for a moment, then nodded firmly, recalling: “I even blamed myself more because of the tattoo on Xiao Yun’s shoulder. I didn’t even know when she got it.”
Chu Huai felt that something was off but couldn’t articulate it for a moment. After a moment of silence, he asked: “How many memories have you sold so far?”
Wei Hu’s face turned pale. “You are a friend worth confiding in, so I won’t hide it from you. Currently, including the tax part, it is…34%.”
Chu Huai’s face darkened slightly.
Wei Hu: “I was destined to never leave here. Now Xiao Yun is by my side, I don’t need to buy anything. Even so, in at most… forty days, I will be declared to fail.”
Chu Huai didn’t say anything. Wei Hu walked to the window, lifted the pillowcase, and quickly stuffed a black object into his sleeve.
Before Chu Huai could see clearly, Wei Hu grabbed his hand and pushed the black object into it.
Feeling the cold touch, Chu Huai was surprised but didn’t show it on his face. “Where did you get this?”
Wei Hu finally smiled with the style of someone who had gone through five instances and spoke with a strong bitterness.
“To those bastards, being sentenced for a few years, and then starting again is nothing. After all, Xiao Yun committed suicide. But what about me? I only have one daughter, and I have lost her forever. This is how I will spend the rest of my life, in regret and remorse. Can money make up for the harm? Is it possible? I would like to ask on what grounds.”
Chu Huai looked at him and asked: “So you killed them?”
Wei Hu laughed: “Yes, I waited for a long time, endured it until they happily walked out of prison to embrace their new lives, and then I took out a gun and killed them.”
“When Xiao Yun was 18, she was full of hope. She didn’t like studying and wanted to be an actress. She wanted to wear gorgeous clothes and be loved by many people, but her dreams and future were strangled in the cradle.”
Wei Hu laughed again, a bit viciously. “So I want to strangle their hopes, dreams, and future too.”
“Am I terrifying?”
Chu Huai shook his head honestly.
“Most people, if they have the ability and the opportunity, and if they have nothing to lose, will take revenge themselves. That’s why there was collective punishment in ancient times, because many people, even if they don’t care about themselves, have to care about their loved ones.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Chu Huai smiled very honestly: “I used to think, if that goal was achieved, how would I live and why would I live.”
Wei Hu also looked confused: “After Xiao Yun died, my only belief in living was to kill that group of bastards, so when the goal was achieved, I was ready to commit suicide, but I didn’t expect to enter the world of terror.”
Chu Huai smiled and said: “I’ve found the answer. It may sound cliché, but in life, you can really encounter hope, even encounter…”
Chu Huai turned his head and glanced at Jin Tianyi, who had been watching him outside.
Encounter love.
Before leaving, Wei Hu gave Chu Huai his gun and said: “You may need this. I’ve made up my mind, I’m not leaving.”
Chu Huai didn’t pretend and accepted it, saying: “You have to be careful.”
Wei Hu was taken aback.
Chu Huai dipped his finger in the glass of water and drew the outline of a cloud on the table.
Wei Hu looked at the cloud and his pupils shrank.
Did Chu Huai ask him to be wary of Xiao Yun? No, that’s impossible.
Chu Huai didn’t say anything else.
Wei Hu watched him leave with a dignified and handsome figure, and Chu Huai’s last words echoed in his mind: “I’m no longer satisfied with just searching for hope.”
Wei Hu wanted to ask what he wanted to do now, but he felt that the answer would make him feel even more small and powerless, so he kept quiet.
Day 21.
Chu Huai woke up very early today because he had to pay taxes. As he drank water, he began to recall his memories and noticed that there were some sticky and blurry parts, which made him feel uneasy.
He had only paid 10% of his taxes so far, so why were his other memories starting to fade away?
Since the first day he entered the Memory City, Chu Huai would check his memory situation whenever he had time. Recently, he had noticed that he needed to spend a long time to recall many details.
Was his memory getting worse?
Chu Huai frowned.
The knocking on the door sounded, and Chu Huai opened it to see a group of residents looking panicked. He had a feeling that something was not right. He asked: “What’s going on?”
It was the calm and beautiful woman who spoke first: “We pay taxes first on our side. Today after paying the taxes, a person was directly sentenced…”
The tall man interrupted impatiently: “The person was sentenced to failure and taken away by someone. You said your 50% was incorrect? Maybe the real value is 30% or 40%?”
“Yeah, yeah,” echoed the voices.
Chu Huai’s expression remained unchanged: “Why do you say that? Do you have any evidence?”
A short man was pushed forward: “I’m the roommate of the person who was taken away for failing. We had a good relationship. I asked him before how much memory he had sold. After this tax payment, it was only 32%. You instructed us not to buy anything after that, and he wouldn’t have sold 50% knowingly that it would lead to death. So…”
Chu Huai nodded: “I understand. Did he say anything before he was taken away?”
Everyone looked at the short man.
“No,” the man said with a bitter face: “I asked, but he only said he couldn’t remember what happened. I just can’t believe he would sell even the Memory City memories. He must be crazy.”
It was too crazy. Anyone who wanted to leave the Memory City would never sell memories related to the Memory City. He also couldn’t understand why his roommate, who was originally doing well, was clear-headed and had clear goals, suddenly became so stupid.
“What’s going on?” someone asked anxiously: “If what you say is true, then I’m only at 30%, does that mean I’m not far from failing the instance?”
After these words were spoken, many people’s faces turned pale, and murmurs could be heard.
The beautiful woman coughed lightly and said: “There’s something strange about that woman over there.”
She pointed to a silent-looking woman next to her.
The embarrassed woman smiled awkwardly: “With this tax payment, I’ve already sold…37%, more than that person, but I’m still safe.”
Chu Huai’s eyes tightened, and he suddenly asked the short man: “Has the person who announced the failure shown any unusual behavior lately?”
“Which aspect do you mean?”
Chu Huai thought of Wei Hu and had a sudden inspiration. He probed: “Has he been dating anyone recently? Besides you, I mean.”
The man tried to remember: “He’s quite a shut-in and doesn’t go out much. But it seems that he has arranged to meet a pretty woman a few nights to satisfy his desires.”
“But that’s nothing. It’s consensual, and it doesn’t involve selling memories… after all, Memory City is so boring,” the man said dismissively.
Chu Huai’s eyes darkened slightly. After a while, he raised his eyes and said calmly: “What if it’s necessary?”
“What do you mean?” The crowd was taken aback.
Chu Huai replied: “What if that man sold his memories to that woman he’s dating?”
Someone laughed: “Are you kidding? He’s not that stupid. Would he really give up hope of leaving here for such a trivial matter that can be solved in other ways?”
Everyone nodded in agreement, looking at Chu Huai with a hint of doubt and dissatisfaction.
They had come to him with the mentality of finding a savior and didn’t expect him to say something so unprofessional.
Jin Tianyi checked his watch and said: “You need to go back and pay your taxes now. It’s getting late.”
Chu Huai nodded, put on his coat, and hastily said to everyone: “But what if he doesn’t know?”
Someone didn’t understand: “Doesn’t know what?”
But a few understood and turned pale.
What if the man who was sentenced to failure didn’t know that dating that beautiful woman would cost him his memories?
Arriving at door 428, the noise inside the room was unbearable.
Chu Huai had a bad feeling and rushed in, but stopped in his tracks when he saw bloody words appear “Player Wei Hu failed.”
How could this be…?
Clearly…
When the tax collectors saw Chu Huai, whom they recognized, one of them coldly snorted: “Hmph, I thought you wouldn’t come back again, and we were about to call you on the loudspeaker!”
The woman spoke warmly: “Your roommate was sentenced to failure after paying his taxes this time. We’re about to take him away. Do you have anything to say? Hurry up.”
Chu Huai said thanks and went straight to Wei Hu’s bedside, gently patting his shoulder. Wei Hu looked up at him, with deep confusion in his eyes.
“Do we know each other?”
He had forgotten himself again.
Without a word, Chu Huai turned to the woman and asked: “May I know what memory he sold this time?”
The woman was extremely indifferent to this and answered readily: “His childhood.”
In silence, Chu Huai’s pupils dilated.
“Since he doesn’t recognize you anymore, let’s not waste time. We’ll take him away quickly,” one of the others said impatiently.
Chu Huai nodded obediently, being extremely cooperative.
Wei Hu was taken away just like that.
The group returned once again, and Chu Huai knew he had to pay his taxes.
The woman said: “What are you planning to pay this time? Actually, let me give you some advice. If you still want to leave, don’t pay with memories related to the present. Memories of the present are more useful…”
“Zhou Lan!” her companion stopped her: “You’ve said too much! We can’t control that, nor do we have an obligation! Just focus on collecting taxes! “
“Okay,” the woman muttered, looking at Chu Huai, who seemed a bit lonely after Wei Hu left, feeling a bit sorry for him. She spoke softly: “I really suggest that you hand over those painful memories.”
Chu Huai nodded in agreement, which surprised everyone.
A man sneered: “I was impressed with you last time when you were the only one who dared to be late for paying taxes and stubbornly refused to hand over painful memories. Why have you changed your stance now?”
“As I said, it’s never too late to listen to good advice. You realize it now…”
Chu Huai was annoyed and interrupted him, frowning: “Who said I’m going to hand over my painful memories?”
Everyone was stunned, even the man who was pushed back forgot his anger.
The woman cautiously asked: “Then what do you mean by this…?”
Chu Huai stood up, his back straight, still looking thin despite his heavy coat. He stood alone in the monotonous space, with a handsome and casual demeanor, his slightly turned face showing a faint hint of sharpness, making it hard for people to look away.
“I will also hand over my childhood memories,” his voice sounded a bit ethereal, adding: “my happy childhood before the age of seven.”
The woman’s face changed, and before her companion could react, she spoke up: “Don’t be foolish! Handing over happy memories will make you…”
“Zhou Lan! That’s enough!” she was interrupted: “If you keep talking, don’t blame me for reporting you to the higher-ups and getting you removed! Don’t let your useless sympathy overflow! And look, does this person look like he needs your sympathy?”
The woman heard the threat, feeling resentful, but she still shrunk her neck and stood there silently, apologizing to Chu Huai with her eyes and hinting that he shouldn’t do it.
Chu Huai smiled: “Thanks, I already know.”
This sounded a bit willful to Zhou Lan’s ears.
“What do you know!” she was a little anxious.
“I really do know,” Chu Huai’s tone was as light as a cloud, but his eyes were warm and calm as water: “People who are in a low point in life usually rely on their hatred and resentment towards their enemies, their sense of responsibility towards their families, and their beautiful memories to endure. With brilliant memories, there is hope for the future, and people believe that everything will not continue to get worse.”
“So I guess,” Chu Huai paused: “losing happy memories leaves a hollow space in my mind, and I’ll unconsciously connect it with the pain of the past decade. Then I’ll instinctively fill the first seven years with dark and damp memories.
“The addition and deletion of previous memories will also cause changes in later memories, just like what I’m saying now, I might not remember it later.”
“I will slowly become gloomy and world-weary, lose hope in life, and worst-case scenario… commit suicide or intentionally harm others because of the assumption of never having warmth.”
A group of people stared at Chu Huai in horror. Hearing him articulate it so clearly, everyone couldn’t help but feel a chill down their spine.
After a while, someone swallowed and asked: “Don’t you already know that? Then why…”
Chu Huai smiled again: “Sorry, let me start over. I was just assuming.”
Everyone: ?
“Anyway, I will definitely leave, so I’ll just chat with you guys.” Chu Huai sat down again, very excited.
When he said he would definitely leave, no one showed any mockery. He seemed to have the power to make people believe he would leave.
Everyone listened dumbfoundedly to him.
“To be honest, I used to live by hating ghosts and relying on my few happy childhood memories. I won’t tell you why I hate ghosts, but if there were no ghosts, I think they’re actually quite cute.”
A memory-sucking little ghost slipped out of the man’s coat at the front and lay on the pocket outside the coat, seemingly listening.
“Cute little thing.” Chu Huai stopped and lazily waved at it.
Everyone: …
Chu Huai continued: “And now, I don’t hate these ghosts anymore. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t have a happy childhood because I have a new purpose in life.”
“What…?” Everyone unconsciously asked along with his words.
Chu Huai smiled half-heartedly and said: “To save the world.”
Everyone: … they shouldn’t have listened to him.
“Believe it or not,” Chu Huai laughed: “And I have a boyfriend. Do you guys? Aren’t there always some news stories about xx’s depression, and her boyfriend never leaves her side, helping her out of the darkness…”
Everyone: …
Jin Tianyi, who had just arrived, laughed at his words.
“Only when he’s not around, will Chu Huai admit with a tone that’s almost boastful,” said Zhou Lan.
“Well, it’s up to you. Whatever makes you happy. Let’s just hand it over quickly,” Chu Huai replied, very cooperative.
After they handed over the taxes and the group of people left, Chu Huai’s false smile disappeared instantly.
Luckily, he remembered what he had said earlier. He only mentioned the downside of losing happy memories, but the underlying implication was… the downside of losing painful memories is even greater.
Pain makes people sober. Losing pain means losing reflection, experience, growth, and belief.
The top priority now is Wei Hu’s strange condition. He had only left for less than ten days, and according to Wei Hu’s previous statement, he had sold over thirty percent of his memories. With taxes due every ten days, he could still hold on for at least forty more days.
Chu Huai left because he was sure Wei Hu wouldn’t get into trouble for a while, especially since Wei Hu had found Xiao Yun. He wouldn’t sell memories to buy false dreams in order to numb himself.
But in just a few days, Wei Hu had lost fifty percent of his memories and was declared as failed.
Chu Huai didn’t believe that the old man he talked to before entering the copy would deceive him.
First of all, the old man had no stake in it. They had no conflicting interests, and their conversation was more like an elder’s advice and care for a younger person.
Of course, it cannot be ruled out that the old man’s memory was modified by ghosts, so he unknowingly provided him with incorrect information.
Apart from this possibility, the probability of the old man making a calculation mistake is extremely low, after all, he has been in the Memory City for more than thirty years.
What’s unusual about Wei Hu is that he clearly sold his childhood memories, but once again lost his memories of Chu Huai. If he sell anymore, then why would this memory disappear?
This morning, other residents came to him, and 34% of them were sentenced to failure, while 37% were unharmed. Chu Huai vaguely realized the problem and now with Wei Hu…
Wei Hu’s daughter.
And the girlfriend of the other man who failed.
Chu Huai smiled.
In Memory City, there are thieves who steal memories.
That’s the answer.
So who would steal his memories?
Chu Huai raised his eyes slightly, with a shimmering light in his eyes.
He gazed quietly at Jin Tianyi, who was lazily leaning against the wall waiting for him outside the dormitory. The smile on his lips gradually faded, and his expression became plain and indifferent, with a hint of insight and alertness.
He quietly touched a certain position of his coat.
There lay the gun that he got from Wei Hu.
Jin Tianyi saw the tax collector had left, he turned around and came in.
The corners of Chu Huai’s mouth lifted again, his eyes shining with unprecedented tenderness, affection, and kindness.
Wow, it’s so unexpected!!!
Thank you for your translation 💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝
Omg, really?? Σ(°△°|||)︴
Thank you~❤️
//chokes
I would NEVER realize that the thief was impersonating our darling!!!