I slowly opened my eyes, and my vision gradually cleared. The first thing that came into view was Mimi’s petite and adorable figure, sitting quietly at the desk sketching.
I gently lifted the blanket, sat up, and slowly got out of bed.
Hearing the movement, Mimi quickly turned her head, her gaze meeting mine. Her eyes were filled with pleasant surprise and deep concern. “Sister, you’re awake!”
Looking at Mimi, I wore a soft smile and responded gently, “Good morning, Mimi.”
“Good morning, Sister.” Mimi stood up and walked over to me. Reaching my side, she extended a hand to pull me up and said, “Sister had a hard time last night.”
“Not at all. Seeing your design sketch made me very happy.” I stretched my body slightly and asked, “How is the drawing coming along?”
“Almost done, just a few details left to tweak.” Mimi pointed to the design sketch on the desk. “Sister, take another look, do you have any suggestions?”
I walked over to the desk and looked at the drawing. The Hanfu design looked even more exquisite now. “It’s gorgeous. Mimi is amazing.”
“Hehe, thank you, Sister.” Mimi smiled happily.
“It’s already noon. What does Sister want to eat?” Mimi looked at me.
“Anything is fine. Let’s go out and walk around. This is my first time in Yunnan, after all,” I remarked with a sigh, then chuckled helplessly and corrected myself, “Oh, I mean, the first time since losing my memory.”
“There’s a place Sister used to visit all the time; maybe it’ll help Sister recover some memories,” Mimi looked at me and said with a sudden flash of inspiration.
“Alright. Do you need to draw a bit more?” I pointed to the design sketch on the table.
“No more drawing, let’s go out and play first, I’ll finish it tonight!” Mimi shook her head.
“Then let’s head out now,” I said with a smile.
After a quick wash-up, Mimi took two outfits out of her suitcase and handed one of them to me. “Sister, this one is your size.”
I took the clothes it was a set of traditional Miao attire. After changing, Mimi looked at me in awe. “Sister, I just knew it this outfit suits you to perfection!”
I was wearing a white ankle-length long skirt, adorned with patterns characteristic of the Miao ethnic group along the shoulders and hemline. Mimi, meanwhile, wore a red knee-length dress, with silver ornaments decorating her head and attire.
Mimi took my hand and stepped out through the hotel doors. We strolled through the bustling streets and arrived at a specialty restaurant brimming with rich Yunnan charm.
Stepping inside, a unique, mouth-watering aroma wafted through the air, instantly whetting our appetites. Mimi skillfully ordered several local signature dishes. Before long, the table was covered with a colorful, fragrant feast.
Mimi introduced the origins and characteristics of each dish to me, giving me a deeper appreciation of Yunnan’s culinary culture.
After the meal, Mimi suddenly sat down beside me, holding my hand, looking at me with a touch of hesitation.
“What’s wrong?” I looked at her expression and asked, confused.
“Sister, are you ready to go look for your memories?” She gazed at me, speaking somewhat hesitantly.
“Mm, I want to go take a look.” I nodded.
“Alright, let’s go then.” Mimi grabbed my hand with unusual determination, as if she were shouldering some heavy mission.
Before we knew it, we arrived in front of an antique-looking temple. Mimi pointed to the temple and said, “Sister, this is the place you used to come to all the time.”
Upon arriving here, my legs seemed to lose all control, carrying me forward of their own accord. The mysterious temple grew clearer and more towering in my vision.
“Sister~” I heard Mimi calling from behind, but my thoughts seemed completely swept away by the temple, driving me to press onward. My mind held only a single thought to walk into that temple.
Stepping inside, a profound sense of familiarity welled up within me. Looking around, I saw a Buddha statue enshrined in the hall. The Buddha’s expression was serene, bringing a deep sense of peace.
Mimi followed me in, her eyes revealing a hint of worry as she looked at me.
“Sister, what’s wrong?” she asked softly.
I shook my head, trying to shake off that strange feeling.
“I’m not sure either, it just feels so familiar here,” I murmured, looking ahead in a daze.
“Yeah, there was a period of time before when we used to come here every single day,” Mimi nodded and said.
“What on earth happened back then?” I muttered to myself, stumbling forward until I sat down on the stone steps outside.
Mimi followed right behind, sitting down beside me. She slowly wrapped her arm around my shoulders, pulling me into a tight embrace so we could share each other’s warmth.
Mimi whispered softly, “Sister…” Her voice was barely a murmur, laced with a crying tone, as if recalling many sorrowful things.
“No matter what happened in the past, I will always stay by Sister’s side,” Mimi’s words drifted into my ears.
We sat there quietly, letting time slip away, until nightfall painted the sky and scattered tiny points of starlight across the dark expanse.
Mimi pointed up at the stars and asked softly, “Sister, do you believe that people turn into stars after they die?”
“Mm, they definitely do. Those twinkling stars must be the people we miss,” I nodded silently.
“Yeah. So even if some people aren’t by our side anymore, they still exist,” Mimi hugged me tighter and said firmly.
After a moment, Mimi took my hand, stood up, and said, “Sister, let’s head back.”
I nodded, stood up, and returned to the hotel with her.
Easter Egg
(Winter of 2023)
Yan Moyi walked forward with a vacant stare and unsteady steps, as if completely stripped of her soul. She seemed entirely detached from the world, mechanically putting one foot in front of the other without any clear direction or goal.
After who knows how long, Yan Moyi arrived in front of an ancient and mysterious temple. Neglected and in disrepair, the temple appeared dilapidated, yet the serene and solemn aura it radiated commanded deep awe.
Yan Moyi slowly stepped into the main hall, dropped to her knees, and gazed devoutly at the Buddha statue ahead. Her gaze was fixed and blank, as if searching for some sort of answer or solace upon the solemn face of the Buddha.
Just like that, she knelt unmoving for an entire day without getting up. Finally, her body gave out, and she collapsed softly, fainting right there inside the temple.