"I've told you so much about the serial killer—don't you think I resemble him?" Mingtao's voice was low and cold as he spoke, his eyes peering through his bangs with an eerie glint.
The car fell into complete silence.
After a moment, Gu Tiancheng was the first to laugh, the mirth spilling out uncontrollably as he turned back to focus on driving. You Mingxu also chuckled, sharing a knowing smile with him, and casually crossed her legs. Gu Tiancheng said softly, "Give me five." You Mingxu hesitated; for some reason, she didn't want to get any closer to him and didn't extend her hand, merely murmuring with a hint of laughter, "Stop fooling around."
Gu Tiancheng glanced at her, a hidden smile still in his eyes, and said nothing.
As for Mingtao, realizing he'd been teased by the two of them, the exaggerated smile on his face slowly faded, unappreciated. But after sitting quietly for a while, he grew restless again and directed You Mingxu, "Change the channel, let's listen to the news. Maybe there's actually a report about the serial killer."
You Mingxu complied and switched stations, but the local news was broadcasting about the heavy rain that day, with reports of road collapses and mudslides in some areas. A large number of police had been dispatched for flood relief and disaster response. Mingtao clicked his tongue, "With that, it'll be even harder to catch the killer. But in this kind of weather, he won't find it easy to kill either, sigh..."
You Mingxu let out a soft "heh," and Gu Tiancheng ignored him.
"There are houses over there!" Mingtao suddenly exclaimed with excitement.
You Mingxu looked up and indeed saw a few faintly visible buildings with orange lights at the foot of the distant mountain. They were a bit far from the highway, but that didn't matter now.
You Mingxu asked, "Shall we go check it out?"
Gu Tiancheng replied, "Okay."
As they drove closer, the car headlights illuminated the structures clearly: they were low, yellow-earth mud houses, incredibly old, with one of them missing half its roof. Two people peered out from the windows of two separate rooms—both girls.
Gu Tiancheng and the other two got out of the car. The two girls didn't come out; they were wearing windbreakers and appeared to be backpackers. Seeing the appearance and attire of the trio, the girls seemed to relax a bit.
You Mingxu glanced around and noticed two bicycles parked near the houses—these two had also arrived by bike. Suddenly, someone touched her arm; it was Gu Tiancheng, who said quietly beside her, "Go say hello." Probably thinking it would be easier for a girl to initiate conversation.
"I know," You Mingxu whispered, with a slightly chiding tone.
Gu Tiancheng smiled, shoved his hands into his pockets, and stood waiting behind her. Mingtao, meanwhile, swayed left and right, putting on a carefree act as if he had everything under control. After a while, with nothing left to control, he ended up standing shoulder to shoulder with Gu Tiancheng.
Together, they watched You Mingxu stand outside the small house, smiling and talking to the two girls. Even in her loose windbreaker and athletic pants, her slender waist and long legs were evident.
Gu Tiancheng watched for a while, then leaned against the car and lit a cigarette. Mingtao sighed, "Three young girls—if the serial killer were here, it'd be a feast, wouldn't it?"
Gu Tiancheng said coldly, "If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll throw you out."
Mingtao snorted softly but said nothing more.Both girls were around You Mingxu's age and worked as urban professionals. They had been into outdoor activities for several years and had traveled the Tibet route twice, so they weren't intimidated by traveling as a pair of women. One was named Song Lan, the other Zou Furong. Song Lan was tall and slender with a stubborn edge to her delicate features, single eyelids, and a refined prettiness. She gave off an efficient, capable vibe. Zou Furong, true to her name, had an oval face and a sweet demeanor. Even on a night like this, in such a dilapidated house, she wore a red dress under her windbreaker and light makeup. Leaning against a windowsill, she chatted with You Mingxu while sizing up the two men behind her, radiating an air of "I'll be beautiful regardless of whether anyone appreciates it."
After introductions, the two girls soon stepped out of the room, and the two men approached to exchange greetings.
Song Lan said, "Not many people come this way. We're planning to watch the sunrise at a lake behind the mountain tomorrow morning, so we stopped here. What brings you here?"
Mingtao raised his hand first. "I got lost, couldn't ride anymore, so I hitched a ride with them."
You Mingxu said, "I wanted to see the scenery around here too."
Gu Tiancheng said, "I just drove here randomly, no particular destination." He was tall and handsome, his voice deep and gentle. Song Lan responded with an "Oh" and smiled.
Zou Furong asked softly, "So the three of you just met too?"
Gu Tiancheng replied, "Yes."
Song Lan explained, "This place probably used to be a small campsite, now abandoned. We stumbled upon it by chance. The rooms are tiny and have no bedding—we set up tents inside to sleep. Take a look."
The three followed Song Lan to peek into both rooms. The space was indeed cramped; Song Lan's tent, once pitched, nearly filled the area. Zou Furong's room was the same.
Song Lan looked at You Mingxu. "Want to share with me? It'll be a bit crowded though."
You Mingxu declined, "No need. We all brought tents. We'll sleep outside and keep each other company tonight."
Mingtao finally revealed a redeeming quality: he set up tents quickly and skillfully, while You Mingxu and Gu Tiancheng appeared clumsier, mostly assisting him.
Soon, three single-person tents stood erected. Mingtao clapped his hands and remarked with sharp sarcasm, "Are you two even outdoor enthusiasts? You're painfully slow at setting up the simplest tents."
You Mingxu fell silent for a moment, then said to Gu Tiancheng, "I've never been good at these things—no knack for handy work. How about you?"
Gu Tiancheng replied, "I only carry a tent as backup, usually stay in hotels or guesthouses. I'll make an effort to learn properly later."
They both laughed after speaking.
Having delivered his taunt, Mingtao turned around and saw, in the dim light, a handsome man and a beautiful woman standing between the tents, sharing a smile. For some reason, Mingtao suddenly felt dull and lonely. After a quiet moment, he muttered to himself, "Fake affection, so meaningless. No wonder he enjoys killing."
This dark world stretched vast and boundless. The sky was black, the mountains were black, the earth was black. A relentless wind swept through, howling hollowly, reminding you how far you were from modern society—in an unknown, forgotten corner.However, with the gathering of five strangers, this small abandoned campsite instantly became lively and warm.
Mingtao crawled into his sleeping bag and sat inside the tent, boasting enthusiastically while keeping a two-meter distance from the two girls in the tent. Song Lan listened with a smile but remained silent, while Zou Furong wore a faint, ambiguous smile.
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