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In a black void, a nightmare brings an end to a play. A long haired beautiful man is being seized by the shadows. Deep inks wrapped around his arms and legs upward. He look ethereal but there's something sinister in him. Before him, a handsome youth is seen kneeling. A stream of river keeps flowing in the youth's cold face but no sadness is shown. Only anger. As if that's the only emotion he can express in this scenario.
The melancholic beauty tried to lighten the mood, his face is full of fondness for the other.
"Xiao Yunqi, the gear of time just started moving again. Technically, I should already cease to exist. This is a punishment of my own doing. You have nothing to do with this."
He continue stabbing the youth's heart with far cruel words, "Before you're even born, I already died. Grieving for my death is a little too late, don't you think?"
The youth didn't listen to any of his words, his eyes didn't look neither at the past nor future. He only see the present in front of him. "What are you talking about, Lou Zhu? I thought we promised to play your favorite card game everyday..."
His defiance slightly wavered, "Okay, Fine! I'm not going to forbid you from drinking liquor anymore. Just... Just don't say you'll leave. If you're not here, what's even the point?"
"Oh Yunqi, I'm very fond of you. Sadly, I can't grant any of your wish right now even though I would love to. I..." He paused as if there's more words stuck in his throat.
The man close his eyes and curved his lips until the darkness embraced his frail cold body, "If... If I have a wish though, my wish simply is for you to be happy."
The youth's anger is at his limit, he grasped his right chest. He shouted hoarsely with conviction, his tears twinkled in his eyes. "In that case, I shall grant your wish! So please, promise me to grant my wish too! You said back then that wishing strongly will grant people's wish, I wish to see you again! That's my wish! If I see you again, I'll be happy!"
A strong gust of wind climbs up to his face. Rotting white petals from nowhere to be seen plum trees scattered in the breeze. The two figures disappeared together in the abyss.
In a modern city like any other, a mysterious old tower that stands tall is surely out of place. The tower is a 7 storey Chinese Pagoda and has intricate designs. It resemble a forgotten abandoned building devoured by green foliage from a distance but the entrance is actually very welcoming. There is a sign in the entrance that says "A Tower That's Tall". The owner obviously didn't put any effort into thinking of a better name for the place. The writing is not consider beautiful but still readable. Definitely something can't be displayed for calligraphy.
Inside the tower, the walls and furnitures looked old but surprisingly luxurious. Stepping inside is like opening a door into another world. The time that has stopped in this place gives uncomfortable feeling. Different types of paintings are hunged in the hallway. There's no certain pattern in them, some have detailed brushsrokes while other's minimalistic approach don't make any sense at all. The floor is covered by red carpet that you see in Europe's castle. A mismatch to the Chinese palace-like interior designs. Its like a box full of objects that contradicts each other but somehow find a place for themselves in a corner of the world.
A clear voice suddenly echoed in the hall coming from a room overflowing with fog. A handsome youth was laying lazily in the sofa as he gaze at the worn out fan that he continue to grasp in his hand. He pay no attention to the man who's standing before him.
"No. No matter what you say. I can't leave. I will take care of this tower until his return." He calmly protests.
The other man sighed deeply. His appearance is rather plain but his old age is already showing in his face and posture. The man furrowed his brows but his words is still calm. An elderly showcasing his unending patience for this stubborn youth.
"Young master Zuo, its been years. Its time to let go. Staying here means your time will stop and you will not age. To put it bluntly, you will cease to exist outside of this place if you continue doing this. You don't have to burdened yourself with punishment you don't deserve. As Lou Zhu's friend, I hope you understand my concerns."
The truth is the tower is only visible to selected people. Antique appraisers and history geeks will probably talk about its existence but ordinary people barely know its relevance. That is if they can see it. Those who laid a glance to its beauty are usually pulled by strings of fate and strong wishes hidden in their hearts. Despite how glamorous the inside of the tower is, the purpose of it is actually caging fate's criminals and giving them work that transcends a normal person's lifespan depends of how serious their atrocities are. The previous tower master who was named Lou Zhu, unfortunately one of the offender.
Lou Zhu is quite a mysterious owner. He's frivolous and carefree. He love to speak in riddles here and there but only he can understand it. Due to that confusing behaviour of his, even the present owner Zuo Yunqi hasn't uncovered Lou Zhu's past nor the secrets of the tower. In other words, Zuo Yunqi don't know anything about him aside from the fact that he did something and the tower has its rules they should obey but it don't stop him from visiting the tower. In his heart, the tower somehow became a magical garden to escape his harsh reality.
"I guess, I'll try again tomorrow to persuade you." The old man took his leave from the room dejected.
In his way outside, two girls who resembled each other run toward the room happily. They are the only servants girls of the enormous tower. They usually don't have tasks assigned to them unless the owner calls them. They serve as the tower master's little assistants without any background to where they came from, akin to dolls that will only move if their owner made them move. Their personality changes depend on the tower master's temperament. Unlike Lou Zhu, Zuo Yunqi literally neglected their presence. He's never a people's person and truly enjoy his alone time. With nothing to do, the two girls start dragging Zuo Yunqi away from the sofa.
"Xiao Yunqi, let's play! Let's play! The old man is gone! You promise!"
Zuo Yunqi finds them annoying at first when he first arrived in this place but he got used to it now. After all, its been years. He never had a chance to experience how to be a child so he don't know how to react around them. He coldly says, "Okay, let's play hide and seek."
Zuo Yunqi locked himself in the tower's basement. The two maids can't ever find him in this place. It seems Lou Zhu is not lying to him when he said that only him and Zuo Yunqi know how to enter the secret basement. The basement is contained of beautiful antiques who don't interest him. Its always look organize without needing any cleaning. Its like the tower has a mind of its own to clean itself whenever its necessary but at the same time it feels lifeless. Just like how beautiful flowers in the field but it don't know where they can convey their beauty at so their existence remained useless for now.
Zuo Yunqi sits in the corner and stare at the unending darkness. He's never scared of the dark. On the contrary, darkness is supposed to be comfortable to him. Ever since that nightmare, the pitch darkness made him sad and angry simultaneously. This same darkness that took away the person important to him.
A dream is just a dream for him. Until now Zuo Yunqi can't believe that his nightmare became his reality that keep questioning his sanity. Sometimes he thinks if a person like Lou Zhu truly existed in this place or it just formed from his twisted heart. Thankfully, Lou Zhu has friends that confirmed his existence but if one day they shall pass... Zuo Yunqi will truly become a mad man waiting for the person who no longer exist.
He opened the worn out fan in his hand and the memories he treasure in his heart start overflowing in his mind.
"There is no such thing as coincidence in this world. Only fate."
A beautiful man in his memory curved a smile as he opens his fan. The very smile bewitched his eyes instantly.
Back then, the younger Zuo Yunqi is looking for a house to steal from. The tall tower caught his attention easily. Stealing became his source of income. Without money or diploma, he stand no chance against competitors who only specifcally search for noble high paying job. Zuo Yunqi understood that perfectly and choose this path for himself. He entered the tower very silently like what he always does. He's an experienced thief and know a little acting so if anyone ever caught him he's confident he can get away from his pursuers. He's a young strong willed man so of course, he's still fearless. He see the obstacles of his life as challenge and not something to dwell too deeply. A loud sound of a fan closing suddenly destroyed his focus. He looked around to find a decent place to hide but he only find a beautiful man who's smiling toward him from behind.
"I- I'm lost, mister. Can I ask for directions?" Zuo Yunqi lied.
"There is no such thing as coincidence in this world. Only fate. This one is called Lou Zhu." The friendly man bowed.
Lou Zhu smiled, "If you have free time to spare, you can visit anytime. This humble tower will always welcome you."
Ever since that day, Zuo Yunqi visits the tower frequently. It offers him free food and free place to stay. Strangely, he don't feel hunger and thirst in the tower but it don't bother him as long as it don't affect how his body functions. At first, he's still skeptical but seeing how friendly the owner is he can't help but decided to drop by whenever he can to the point he slowly forgot the world outside of this place. Lou Zhu's friendliness is not uncomfortable kind. The tower master is not really that talkative in the first place and will leave Zuo Yunqi alone if he feels the young man refused to speak with him. Lou Zhu will only talk more if Zuo Yunqi ask him questions. Sometimes his answers is directly cruel, and sometimes its riddles that open for interepretation. The best way to describe him is eloquent enough to capture your attention.
Zuo Yunqi gained the treasured guest treatment where he can freely enter and roam around the tower. The interior designs sure is weird to him but sadly, he don't have education to appreciate any form of art. All he know is each item can worth money. If there's something he's sure of in this strange place, there's nothing that he find alarming. Lou Zhu is usually seen asking others to play his favorite card games with him and drink his liquors alone in the courtyard while the two maids treat Zuo Yunqi like a playmate. Lou Zhu never force others and know to keep his distance if needed. Despite his cautious actions toward guest, his gentle expression whenever other talks with him clearly show he enjoy talking with others about various things. They give off a friendly neighborhood vibe.
From time to time, visitors dropped by in the tower. Some are strangers who find themselves in the tower like him and few are customers turned to friends. Lou Zhu usually gave away one of his item from his tower but Lou Zhu never leave the tower. Zuo Yunqi never ask questions about Lou Zhu's life or the tower even if he's curious. He's afraid of destroying their friendly relationship with him so he refuse to ask the sensitive topics he know can touch Lou Zhu's heart. He ocassionally assist Lou Zhu's errands though.
One day, Lou Zhu asked him a weird question.
"Xiao Yunqi, do you have any wish?" Lou Zhu furrowed his eyebrows as if he's seeking an answer to Zuo Yunqi's frequent visit. His eyes was sad but his heart is prepared for any cruel answers.
Zuo Yunqi think deeply about it but can't find anything he want to wish for. Yes, there are things he want for himself but those wishes are just trivial things he prefer to obtain with his own hands. For him, having a wish is to have a wish that's almost impossible to come true. Maybe one day he can think of one but for now, there's really nothing to wish for. Especially, he start to enjoy his days in the tower. He will never say it but it does feel like home the more he stay.
Suddenly, Zuo Yunqi heard a loud shout from the courtyard outside. The voice ruined his reminiscing and dragged him back to present. He perks up instantly when he recognize the voice. The same eloquent voice he love hearing from years ago. His heart start beating with excitement.
"What the hell am I doing? How on earth I end up here?!" The confused man looked at his surrounding but didn't show any fascination in the tower in front of him nor the courtyard he's standing at. Its obvious this man is professional at being blind to the beautiful scenery around him.
He continues, "What is this place anyway? An antique shop...?" He felt a sudden goosebump thinking the place is starting to creep him out. He unfortunately associate antique with ghosts, cult and superstition so his automatic reaction is be terrified by the fact he got near in this kind of place. He don't believe in any of it but the existence of supernatural things still scared him to death. He turned around away from the entrance and instantly decided to leave without any question ask. Sometimes feigning ignorance will save one from danger, he convinced himself.
"I need to go or I'll be late in my entrepreneurship seminar! I fought hard to get a slot in that! I can't believe I even ate my pride to talk with that greasy old Wang for this opportunity! " He spouts concerns directed to only himself, not paying attention to his sweats in his forehead. He quicken his pace to go outside but felt like the entrance is getting far away from what he remember. The more he walks, the more the entrance disappear from his sight. He closed his eyes to calm himself but when he opened his eyes, he realised he's already inside the tower.
To make his fear worse than it already is, he heard a voice behind him. He looked where the voice came from and saw two smiling doll-like girls.
"Our master wants to meet you. Please come inside, mister." The girls greeted him happily. He want to scream yet he found his voice is not coming out. Words in his hearts start to sprout, recalling memories from long ago that he forgotten.
"I wish to see you again! That's my wish! If I see you again, I'll be happy!"
His fearless legs start moving with anticipation, toward inside the heart of the tower, succumbing to his inner wishes.