Back to the Future 1999: Raining at the Same Time

Chapter 149 Lantern Operator

Through Youmeng Chenxi, we saw part of Dengguan's memories. As a mystic, before the concept of "coexistence" became popular, the criticism and exclusion she suffered were even worse than the current paper letter circle.

He did not choose to tear up those illusions directly, although it could be done easily with Youmeng's ability.

However, the lantern attendant who was picked up by Princess Chenxi had her eyes blank in his arms. As she sank deeper and deeper into the past, her body began to tremble uncontrollably. She reached out to grab the corner of Chenxi's clothes and curled up tighter and tighter.

In this state, forcibly waking her up would only hurt her.

After walking for a distance, even though they were far away from the noisy neighborhood, the quiet tree-lined path and the gentle wind seemed to have no power to wake the lamplighter.

"Chenxi, what happened to Sister Lantern?"

She looked at the paper letter ring, whose hand she was holding, tilting her head and looking between her and the lantern bearer. There was not much worry on her face, because Chen Xi was here. She knew that as long as Chen Xi was there, everything would be fine.

Following that gaze, and seeing the innocence hidden within, Chen Xi suddenly had an idea:

"Zhi Xin Quan'er, Sister Lantern is in trouble now. Are you willing to help her?"

"Yeah, I'll try my best!"

Without asking if there was any danger, Zhixinquaner nodded firmly.

Lamenting the beautiful relationship between the girls, Chen Xi released the hand holding the paper letter ring and stroked her head:

"Remember to find the lantern girl after you go in. You will definitely be able to bring her out."

Then, he gently stroked the string, drawing out a wisp of breeze that drifted into the lamplighter's dream.

"Okay, let me take a look at the feelings between girls~"

He opened the door to the wasteland, found a room, put the two of them on the bed, and read their dreams:

"Hey~ Isn't this a witch? Still pretending to be a witch and mixing with humans!"

Even on his way to school, he would often be challenged by classmates like this. Day after day, year after year, the lantern attendant had become accustomed to it. As long as...

"Hey! I'm talking to you, can't you hear me?!"

The tall boy suddenly stood in front of the lamplighter and put his hands on her shoulders, as if he would push her down in anger in the next second.

But... the lamplighter just lowered his head even deeper and said sorry weakly.

"Huh? What are you pretending for?"

As expected, no matter what you say, the result will be like this.

He closed his eyes skillfully, but his hands gripping the backpack straps only tightened, not protecting any part of his body.

The lantern attendant didn't dare to move, because any movement would be a reason for them to beat him up.

He closed his eyes, trying not to watch the world spinning, but as the back of his head hit the ground, the sudden tinnitus in his ears made the lantern watchman's world spin even faster.

Blood gradually spread on the ground beside her head. Seeing that things were getting out of hand, the male classmate chose to escape. After saying "I'll let you go this time", he fled in panic.

However, the lamplighter was lying on the ground, feeling colder and colder, but no one was willing to help him up.

He walked past her silently, leaving behind looks of curiosity, disgust and aversion. The soles of his shoes slapped the dust on the ground and hit her face, clearly reflecting the traces of tears.

It was not until everyone on the street had left and only deathly silence remained that the lantern bearer realized that he was still alive.

Just as she was about to pretend nothing had happened and get up as usual, another pair of very light footsteps approached.

Thinking it was just another passerby, the lantern attendant didn't plan to get up and lie down again. Unexpectedly, the person stopped beside her and said in a tone of deep concern:

"Sister Lantern Operator..."

There was no sound for a long time, and the lamplighter knew that if he didn't respond, the person would not leave.

She sighed and opened her eyes, but she was stunned first - because she saw a face soaked with tears.

Seeing that the lantern attendant finally responded, Zhixinquaner could no longer hold back and knelt down to hug the lantern attendant, crying out her name.

The bewildered lantern attendant had never seen such a situation before, but she instinctively reached out her hand, also hugged the paper letter ring, and gently patted her back.

"It's okay, it's okay, don't cry, don't cry."

"Sister Lantern Operator, Sister Lantern Operator..."

After a long while, the letter circle finally calmed down, sniffing and looking at the lantern bearer. He grabbed her hand and held it in front of him:

"Sister Lantern, let's go back. Let's go find Chen Xi. He will definitely heal you."

As she thought about it, the lantern attendant felt a throbbing pain in the back of her head, but she still listed her problems:

"First: go back, go back to where? I don't think my home is the one you're talking about going back to;"

“Second: Who is the lamplighter?”

"Third: Who is Chen Xi?"

After asking three questions, the lantern attendant could no longer hold back and wanted to twist her facial features into a ball. It seemed that this was the first time she had encountered this situation.

However, looking at the little pigeon in front of her, the lantern keeper still tried hard to swallow the pain, as if she had a feeling that she didn't want to make the person in front of her worry.

He touched the back of his head, and blood flowed through his fingers into his palm, but the lantern operator just shook his hand. But the stinging pain in the back of his head became more obvious because of the previous action.

It seems that I can’t go to school today.

Thinking of this, the lantern keeper turned his head to look at the paper letter circle and said:

"I can sense that the lantern bearer you're talking about is probably me, but that's not my name. My name is Betty."

"Then can I call you Sister Betty?"

"It's all...it's all fine, ahem. Anyway, I'm going home now. Little one, you should go home soon too."

Betty had never been called "sister" so affectionately by name before, so she blushed slightly but quickly returned to normal.

"I can also go to your house with Sister Betty."

"no!"

"why?"

The stern refusal was met with a rather cute rhetorical question. Betty, who didn't even feel the pain in the back of her head, once again rejected the paper letter.

"No reason!"

As a new friend...should we be considered friends?

Betty also has some self-esteem, but now she doesn't have the courage to show her home to others.

"Okay, I have to go home now. You should go home soon, kid."

After digesting the last bit of emotion, Betty left without looking back, leaving only Paper Letter Circle looking at her eagerly.

It’s not that she didn’t want to bring her friend home. After all, this was the first friend she made after becoming a mystic.

But… the doorway, covered in all sorts of household garbage, not only stank but also made it impossible to even step foot. On the yellowed, peeling wall, written in large black letters: "Freak, bastard!"

Taking a deep breath, Betty put on a smile and opened the door with a forced air of cheerfulness.

"Dad, Mom, I'm back!"

In the living room and kitchen, visible from the front door, my mother was cooking today's meal. My father tugged at the rope in his hand, put it in the cupboard, and turned back, expressionless, and said:

"He's back."

"Ah."

The luster in her father's eyes disappeared, but the young Betty was not able to notice this small change keenly. She still stayed close to her mother as usual and chatted with her casually.

夜深… …

Betty was already fast asleep in bed. Her parents got up and took one last look at their child, then turned around and took the rope out of the cupboard.

Throw it to the rafters and catch it.

When they caught the last ring, the couple was already in tears, repeating "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" over and over again...

"Your parents are useless and left you alone. But, Mom and Dad really can't stand it anymore. You have to walk the path you've made on your own, Betty, our daughter."

Clang... clang... two sounds.

In the bedroom where Betty was sleeping, two warm bodies were gone, and two sunny dolls with purple faces appeared...

At this point, Chen Xi waved his hand to shatter the entire dream, erasing all memories of the dream, and took them directly to the entrance of the amusement park.

Having witnessed the whole process of how the couple struggled and then lost their breath, Chen Xi couldn't imagine what would happen if Betty or the lamplighter woke up and saw such a scene!

Just delete the memory of this dream. Some shadows are enough to be experienced once in a person's life.

Looking at the two little ones around him who were gradually starting up, Chen Xi's determination to protect them became stronger.