Upside Down Grocery Shop - Chapter 24

Li Xiaotong stared in astonishment as everything around her began to blur, the scenery dissolving into mist before her very eyes. When the fog finally lifted, it felt as if she had stepped into an entirely different world. All around her, there was nothing but a thick haze. Thankfully, Su Ran’s presence by her side gave her some semblance of comfort.

“What’s going on here?” Li Xiaotong asked in a panic, her gaze darting nervously at the unfamiliar surroundings. Now, she was truly frightened.

Su Ran held her hand firmly, holding a candle in his other hand. “Don’t look down. Just keep walking forward.”

But as soon as he told her not to look, Li Xiaotong couldn’t resist the urge. It wasn’t out of defiance, but sheer human instinct—curiosity takes hold the moment someone tells you not to do something. It’s like when you tell yourself not to think about elephants, and suddenly all you can picture are elephants.

The moment she glanced down, she saw ghostly flames flickering at her feet. The air was thick with eerie, oppressive energy, and white-clad vengeful spirits were aimlessly wandering about. 

Li Xiaotong’s face turned deathly pale. Her heart raced as fear took hold. What on earth was this?

Su Ran chuckled, seemingly amused by her reaction. It was almost as if he had wanted her to see this, deliberately giving her a scare.

Having caught a glimpse of such terror, Li Xiaotong no longer dared to look around. She clung tightly to Su Ran’s hand and obediently pressed forward. Yet, as they walked, she couldn’t help but notice something odd. “Su Ran, why is your hand so cold?”

“It’s not my hand that’s cold—it’s yours,” Su Ran replied.

Li Xiaotong looked down at her hand in horror. Frost was forming on her fingers, a faint chill wafting into the air. Even her arm was slowly being covered in ice.

“It’s fine,” Su Ran reassured her casually. “Just hold onto my hand. It’s just a little cold, that’s all.”

“But what if I let go of your hand?” she asked, more out of curiosity than intention. In reality, she was gripping him tighter than ever.

Su Ran gestured toward something nearby. A life-sized ice sculpture stood there—a person of Li Xiaotong’s build and height, frozen in an eternal expression of fear and agony. It was far more terrifying than the wandering ghosts.

Li Xiaotong tightened her grip immediately. This was no joke—her life was quite literally at stake here.

After walking for a while, Su Ran stopped and looked around the foggy surroundings. “It’s here.”

What was here? Who was here?

The mist parted, and Qianqian appeared before them, looking panicked. The moment she spotted Li Xiaotong, she cried out, “Xiaotong!”

“Qianqian!” Li Xiaotong’s face lit up with joy. Su Ran had been telling the truth—she could actually see Qianqian again.

However, someone seemed to be chasing Qianqian from behind. She stopped a safe distance away when she spotted Su Ran but didn’t retreat entirely.

“Su Ran, you’re breaking the rules again,” came a voice from the mist.

Su Ran chuckled mischievously. “Come on, brothers. We’re all acquaintances here. I’m just bringing this little girl to see an old friend. Besides, we used the proper channels—it’s not like we’re really breaking any rules.”

He waved the candle lightly in his hand.

“Fine. For your sake, we’ll let it slide,” came the reply, accompanied by two faint silhouettes retreating into the distance.

“Thanks! I’ll treat you guys to drinks another day.”

Qianqian grasped Li Xiaotong’s hand tightly. “Xiaotong, what is this place? I’m scared.”

Li Xiaotong noticed that Qianqian’s hand was even colder than her own frostbitten fingers.

“Qianqian, um… do you really not remember anything?”

Li Xiaotong wanted to tell her that she had already passed away. But how could she bring herself to say such cruel words to her dearest friend?

“Stop dithering,” Su Ran interrupted impatiently. “We don’t have much time, and this isn’t exactly a place for idle chit-chat. If you have something to say, spit it out.” He turned to Qianqian. “You’re dead.”

Li Xiaotong was mortified. Su Ran, could you be any more blunt?

Qianqian froze in shock. “What did you say? I… I’m dead?”

“Well, how else do you think you ended up here?” Su Ran said with exasperation. “Seriously, how can someone not realize they’ve died?”

Still doubtful, Qianqian turned to Li Xiaotong. “Xiaotong, is it true? Am I… dead?”

Li Xiaotong hesitated but knew this wasn’t something that could be hidden. “Qianqian, I’m so sorry… but it’s true. You’re already gone.”

“I’m dead? I’m really dead?” Qianqian’s voice trembled, her emotions spiraling out of control.

The two shadowy figures in the distance moved closer, but Su Ran waved them off. “Hold on.”

“Qianqian, calm down. Right now, the most important thing is for you to tell us what happened. I’ll get revenge for you,” Su Ran said firmly.

Li Xiaotong started crying. How had it come to this? Her best friend, her closest confidante, had ended up like this.

Su Ran glanced at her. Revenge? Really? With her frame barely a hundred pounds soaking wet, who exactly was she planning to take revenge on?

Qianqian gradually calmed down under Li Xiaotong’s soothing words. She seemed to be straining to remember something. “I don’t remember much… I was on a bus, heading home, and I must have fallen asleep. After that, everything is a blur.”

Her face contorted with pain as she struggled to recall her memories. It seemed impossible to piece them back together.

“But there’s one thing I remember clearly: the last thing I saw was a flying sword.”

This revelation stunned both Su Ran and Li Xiaotong.

“A flying sword?” Li Xiaotong echoed in disbelief. “Did a flying sword kill you?”

“I don’t know. I can’t remember.”

“And that’s all?” Su Ran asked.

Qianqian nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. “That’s all I can recall.”

The conversation yielded no other useful clues. The two girls clung to each other, crying their hearts out, saying their tearful goodbyes. Even Su Ran, who usually remained aloof, felt a pang of sadness. If it were possible, he would have taken Qianqian back to the living world.

“Alright, time’s up. We need to leave,” Su Ran said, tugging Li Xiaotong’s hand.

“Xiaotong, will you come see me again? I’m scared…” Qianqian asked, her voice trembling with despair.

Li Xiaotong didn’t know what to say. She was powerless and ignorant about the supernatural. If not for Su Ran, this meeting wouldn’t have been possible at all. She looked at him helplessly.

Su Ran sighed softly. “Since ancient times, the divide between the living and the dead has never been just a saying. No matter what injustice caused your death, there’s no more crossing this boundary. This was your last meeting. Treasure the memories and move on.”

As he spoke, the fog surged forward, enveloping Qianqian completely. She disappeared without another word.

The cold, unfeeling truth was undeniable. Once it was time to go, not even a single syllable could be held back.

“Qianqian!” Li Xiaotong cried out, but there was no response.

In the end, Su Ran couldn’t help but speak up. “Brothers, I’m counting on you to look after her.”

A voice from the mist replied, “Su Ran, you meddle in the affairs of the living and now the dead as well. If you keep this up, you’ll end up like us one day.”

“If that day comes, I’ll be sure to treat you to a proper feast.”

“All this effort for a stranger’s injustice—was it really worth it?”

“She died unjustly. That’s reason enough,” Su Ran replied simply.

“Ah, Su Ran…” the voice sighed, fading away.

“Let’s go,” Su Ran said, gripping Li Xiaotong’s hand tightly.

The fog dissipated, revealing the familiar interior of the little odds-and-ends shop. They hadn’t taken a single step beyond its walls.

It felt like waking up from a dream. What had started as a casual question from Su Ran had turned into an unbelievable encounter. Li Xiaotong couldn’t help but feel that this wasn’t just strange—it was downright supernatural.