Star Eyes Beyond the Shores of Time - Chapter 13

Beihai Aquarium.

 

The place was packed — shoulders brushing, waves of people shuffling forward. It was opening day, and the organizers had rolled out every gimmick imaginable: events, giveaways, and sweets being passed around, drawing couples and kids alike. The place buzzed with excited chatter.

 

Cutting through the crowd, Tong Yuxun scanned each mascot that waddled by, trying to guess the faces hidden beneath.
Yellow suit? Red? Pink? Blue…?

 

Her brain scrambled for clarity about yesterday —

 

She remembered a little boy squealing, “SpongeBob is over there!”
Another protested, “I like Squidward!”

 

“No one likes Squidward!” the first boy argued. “He’s always grumpy, doesn’t talk, not fun at all!”

 

“SpongeBob is noisy! Always flipping Krabby Patties and raising that dumb snail!”

 

Suddenly a milky-sweet voice cut into their quarrel —
“Patrick can drive cars! He’s proud and silly — so cute! Like a pink little rat! Look — he’s holding my hand.”

 

Pink? Rat?
What a strangely adorable description.

 

And that was it — Guan Nuoyin had been dressed as Patrick yesterday!

 

Tong Yuxun rushed forward in a panic — completely overlooking the tiny girl clutching Patrick’s hand. She was five or six at most, with sparkling eyes, a little pointed nose, rosy lips, and two chubby pigtails whipping behind her like twin centipedes — every “mom-fan’s” dream daughter.

 

Kids surged forward in a riot of excitement, and Tong Yuxun found herself sprinting right alongside them — ridiculous, shameless — but she didn’t care.

 

“Why is that big sister fighting us for candy?”
“I’m telling my mom! A grown-up is stealing our candy!”
“Big sister, are you sure you’re even grown up?”

 

Accusations rained upon her inside the aquarium.

 

Tong Yuxun reached for Patrick’s oversized headpiece—

 

A sharp sting shot up her thigh — the pigtail-girl had bitten her!

 

Tong Yuxun glared down, ready to scold — but the girl suddenly collapsed dramatically to the ground, clutching Patrick’s pant leg, wailing:

 

“Daddy, she hit me! Waaaa!”

 

Patrick — whoever was inside — stared at the girl, then at Tong Yuxun, eyes dripping disdain even from behind the costume.

 

“I didn’t— She bit me first!” Tong Yuxun protested.

 

Patrick crouched to lift the girl, his tone dripping pompous righteousness:

 

“No matter how naughty children are, we adults shouldn’t hold grudges.”

 

The voice… gentle, crisp… oddly familiar.
But the height? Slightly off. Not very noticeable…

 

“You’re not Daddy. Your voice is wrong,” the girl frowned suspiciously.

 

“Wrong? How so?” he replied lazily.

 

“You sound like an uncle! You’re not my dad — you’re…?”
Without hesitation — she ripped the head off the suit.

 

Exactly the moment Tong Yuxun had been praying for.

 

Traffic stalled. Time froze. Her gaze locked —
and hope collapsed.

 

A pair of gold-rimmed glasses slid into place, hiding deep eyes. That gentle academic air —

 

Simultaneously, Tong Yuxun and the little girl spoke:

 

“Gu Xihen?”
“Uncle Gu Xihen!”

 

The girl — Guan Qianling — stomped her foot, furious:

 

“Daddy is evil! He tricked me with a diversion! And you helped him!”

 

Standing up, Gu Xihen looked utterly absurd, fuzzy Patrick head under his arm, trapped in a pink mascot suit.

 

“He’s terrified of you, little demon. Once you latch on, no escape…”

 

“Then where is he?” she demanded.
“Tell me or I’ll tell Auntie that I’m Daddy’s secret child!”

 

Even a lawyer paled at that threat. He knew this tiny gremlin too well — viciously clingy.

 

Worst of all? She could foresee misfortune — perfectly. Never anything good. Always trouble. Enough to make Gu Xihen flee in terror.

 

There was no mercy left in him for Guan Nuoyin.
He gave up the goods.

 

“He just switched costumes with me. He’s dressed as Sandy now — someone’s looking for him near the south gate.”

 

Before he finished, Tong Yuxun bolted.

 

Qianling remained, hands behind her back, watching like a tiny tyrant.

 

Tong Yuxun hesitated —
The girl’s voice drifted after her:

 

“Storm incoming. And bad luck… If you’re scared, go home.”

 

Was that meant for her?
No time to think — she ran.

 

—

 

Sure enough — Achen was there, desperately pleading with Guan Nuoyin.

 

Nuoyin lounged on a swingset, half-asleep, swinging lazily.

 

“No.”

 

Achen went on and on.

 

“No.”

 

Desperation broke him. His knees slammed to the ground.

 

“In twenty-eight years, I have only knelt to heaven, earth, and my parents. Today I kneel to you. Please… go see Qi Yuwei. She’ll kill herself if she can’t see you.”

 

“No.”

 

“I used to hate you. Why did Yuwei love you so madly? Later… I realized it was all one-sided. You worked yourself like a dog, she could barely catch a glimpse of you… I don’t blame you.”

 

“No is no.”

 

“She’s being destroyed in her livestream chat — cold-blooded, scumbag, heartless monster—”

 

“Let them talk.”

 

“She won’t listen to me anymore — she truly wants to die!”

 

“I’m not the King of Hell. Who lives or dies — not my concern.”

 

“How can you be this cold? Will a few extra words kill you?!”

 

Guan Nuoyin finally exhaled — long, slow.

 

“Do you believe there’s anyone who never loses someone? Go. Find me one person untouched by death. Then I’ll go.”

 

Achen staggered up, shaking with fury.

 

“Bastard! If you won’t go, just say it! Why torture others with excuses?!”

 

“I spoke extra words. Didn’t die,” Nuoyin muttered dryly.

 

Achen trembled with rage — swung his fist—

 

“Ah!” Tong Yuxun gasped, rushing forward—

 

A sudden whiff of something sweet —

 

Her mind blanked.

 

She collapsed.

 

Thunder split the sky — rain hammered down.

 

Qianling bent over her unconscious body, whispering:

 

“No big deal… She’s nothing special.”

 

Raindrops slid down the child’s cheeks — rain or tears? Hard to tell.

 

The storm’s weight suddenly vanished above her — a man held out an umbrella.

 

“Uncle… move the umbrella,” she murmured, voice chilling.

 

“W-why?” Gu Xihen trembled, knowing he’d stepped into a nightmare.

 

“Tell me, Uncle — how long till she dies lying in the rain like this… after inhaling rosemary?”

 

“Humans… aren’t that fragile? She’ll wake up sick — fever, cough — hospital, an IV…”

 

“Oh…”
Qianling toyed with her dripping hair.
“Then… how long till she comes to the star-world with me?”

 

Gu Xihen paled. Completely.

 

A tall figure appeared behind the girl —
Instant authority.
The terrifying little Qianling looked suddenly like a trembling chick.

 

“Go back.”
Guan Nuoyin’s voice was ice, emotionless.

 

The tyrant turned into a child again, clutching his leg:

 

“Daddy, no — I’ll behave…”

 

A flick of his hand — Gu Xihen hurried to drag her away.

 

“Don’t argue. We’re leaving—”

 

“Daddy… if I behave, will you see me again?”
Her tears blended with the rain.

 

Nuoyin didn’t answer.
He simply nodded —
then lifted Tong Yuxun, drenched and limp, into his arms.

 

“I—I’m sorry! I just wanted to try! I shouldn’t have touched your taboo! I won’t do it again! Daddy, come see me soon—!”

 

Her cries drowned beneath the storm.

 

When they were far enough away, Nuoyin glanced back —
and disappeared into the downpour.

 

—

 

Who knew how long she slept—?

 

Agony slammed her skull.
Was she dying?

 

A brilliant light ahead — pulling her forward…

 

A scream tore out of her throat.

 

The pigtail-girl —
The aquarium devil—

 

Sky turned black — thick, suffocating.

 

“You do not belong here,” the girl said, back turned.

 

“Why?”

 

A twisted smile. Endless.

 

“Why?” Tong Yuxun repeated, heart pounding.

 

“You and I…”
The girl turned —
no innocence left.

 

“We both come from the lonely star above — scattered souls… not meant for this world.”

 

“But I live here. I’m not leaving!”

 

A lance of agony crushed her chest.

 

The girl pointed west.
“Stop lying. Look.”

 

“What…?” Tong Yuxun turned — and froze.

 

“Mama… Xingzhou… I… I finally found you…!”

 

She ran —
But her legs turned to lead.
A barrier — invisible, impossible — kept her apart.
Her mother and little brother faded into distance…

 

She collapsed in the sands, choking on despair.

 

“Helpless?”
The girl’s voice slithered back.
“I can help.”

 

“How do I see them? I’ll pay anything—”

 

“Do you want to fly? Be free? Drift between moon and stars—?”

 

“No! I just want my family!”

 

“They’re up there. Fly to them.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Come.”
She extended a hand.

 

Tong Yuxun took it.

 

The world blinked — they stood at a cliff’s edge. Wind howled like blades. The abyss yawned beneath them.

 

“Like a hawk,” the girl murmured…
“Leap.”

 

Tong Yuxun bent her knees — ready to jump—

 

A sudden stab ripped through her — from lip to spine.

 

She screamed.

 

Pigtail-girl panicked — then exploded in fury:

 

“What are you waiting for?! Jump!”

 

“You’re controlling the dream, aren’t you?”

 

Tong Yuxun suddenly smiled — radiant.
And the darkness shattered.

 

Green fields. Blue sky. Light returned.

 

“Goodbye forever!”

 

She bolted — 800 mph — opposite direction.

 

—

 

Her eyes flew open.

 

What…?

 

She remembered the aquarium — the storm — passing out…

 

Was she asleep…
or embarrassing herself continuously?

 

A step forward — empty air.
Step back — empty.

 

Sky blazing blue above —
and below—

 

“Holy crap—!”

 

She was standing outside the rooftop railing of an old apartment.
One slip — instant death.

 

Her knees buckled.

 

The giant billboard across the street —
a grinning model flashing bright white teeth —
mocked her stupidity.

 

Below — chaos.
Crowds.
Firefighters yelling.
A safety cushion already laid out.

 

Eighth floor. No elevator.
Even reaching her must’ve exhausted them—

 

A breeze brushed her—

 

To her, it felt like a hurricane.

 

“Help—!! Someone help me!!!”