Through the Rose Garden

After dinner, Qiao Wei slipped into the bathroom and sank herself into the bathtub. The entire room was filled with misty steam. She gently touched the silver necklace around her neck, tracing the intricate patterns engraved upon it. At the center of the chain hung a purple crystal pendant. Qiao Wei remembered it clearly—she had received this necklace when she was six years old during a family trip to a temple. The abbot had presented it to her, his words heavy with meaning as he urged her never to remove it, saying the necklace held a special spirit that would keep her safe all her life. Back then, her family was happy and whole. As she thought of those times, her eyes grew moist. She wiped them quickly, suddenly recalling the punishment of copying words, and had no choice but to change into her nightdress and sit at her desk to begin her work.

Qiao Wei copied her vocabulary words neatly, and when she reached the word “Vampire,” the purple crystal pendant emitted a faint, mysterious glow that flickered and vanished. She spent two full hours writing before she finally finished. Stretching her tired limbs, she closed the window and went to bed.

The next day arrived swiftly. As sunlight filtered through the curtains, a couple of beams slipped in between the gaps. The small alarm clock rang abruptly, pulling Qiao Wei from her dreams. After a hurried wash, she dashed to the flower shop her mother owned.

It was the weekend and also Valentine’s Day. Qiao’s mother, with Qiao You by her side, was in a flurry, wrapping roses as quickly as she could. Qiao Wei rushed in, barely pausing before joining in to help. She didn’t like Valentine’s Day, for her mother was always too busy and too tired on this day. Qiao Wei always urged her not to work so hard—they didn’t need the extra money—but her mother enjoyed seeing young people exchange flowers and love.

Qiao Wei wrote countless blessing cards to tuck among the blooms, even hand-painted beautiful wrapping paper, making each bouquet unique. As a result, customers flocked to the shop. Seeing her mother’s smiling face, Qiao Wei felt her own spirits lift.

The day passed quickly. When Qiao Wei returned home, she collapsed on her bed, exhausted, and soon drifted into sleep. In her dreams, a fog loomed that could not be dispelled, the air thick with the scent of blood, and the crystal pendant on her neck shone with an unearthly light...

“Mom, today is the school art festival. I won’t be coming home for lunch,” Qiao Wei called out from the doorway as she changed her shoes, addressing her mother who was sweeping the floor inside.

“Oh, I know. Qiao Wei, do you have enough money with you?” her mother asked, glancing up with concern.

“I have enough. I’m leaving now, bye…” Qiao Wei replied.

“Alright…bye.” Her mother watched her go, smiling, then returned to her cleaning.

Qiao Wei had just reached her family’s garden when a chubby little hand seized her. Sighing, she crouched down, tapped Qiao You’s tiny nose, and said resignedly, “What’s wrong, little one?”

With reddened eyes, Qiao You looked at his sister and said pitifully, “My little ball fell into the rosebed. I can’t get it out…”

Qiao Wei patted his head and led him toward the rosebed, speaking in her big-sister tone, “If you’re naughty again, I won’t help you next time.”

The white roses in the bed were all in bloom, their fragrance intoxicating. Qiao Wei set Qiao You at the edge, warning him not to climb down, then carefully made her way in. She managed to retrieve the ball, but a thorn scratched her, and a drop of bright red blood oozed from her skin, slowly dripping into the flowerbed. Ignoring the pain, Qiao Wei tossed the ball to Qiao You. Pretending to be angry, she scolded her brother, who was now gleefully waving his ball, “See, I’m bleeding because of you. Next time you—ah…”

Before she could finish, a powerful force surged from the rosebed, pulling her in and making her disappear without a trace.

Qiao You’s face turned deathly pale with fright. He rushed inside, stammering to their mother, “Mom! The flowerbed swallowed my sister—she’s gone! Mom!”

Without looking up, their mother said, “Don’t talk nonsense, child. Your sister went to school this morning. You must be mistaken. Let me finish cleaning.”

Scratching his head, Qiao You muttered to himself, “Was I mistaken? I don’t think so…”

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Updating the story is a daunting task; please forgive Yu Ning’s slow pace. To make the story better, Yu Ning will update once every two days from now on. Drifting away quietly…