The scorching heat of August.
**Beep—beep, beep!**
The piercing chorus of cicadas tangled with blaring horns, echoing through the crowded streets. The blazing sun roasted the asphalt until the air itself seemed to ripple and twist.
Beneath a patch of meager shade, a few young men smoked idly, waiting for the light to change.
Suddenly, Arno narrowed his eyes at the far corner, letting out a strange sound under his breath.
"What are you looking at?" his friend asked.
Arno muttered after a long pause, "Tell me… how does a blind man cross the street?"
The friend blinked, then replied slowly, "Usually someone helps them. Or they have a guide dog. In modern cities, there's even voice signals at crossings. Worst case, they can listen for cars and feel their way with the cane…"
Arno shook his head, a crooked smile on his lips. "But what if he had no one, no dog, no signal—and even used his cane to carry a jug of peanut oil instead?"
"…Are you trying to be funny?"
Before his friend could roll his eyes, he followed Arno's gaze—and froze.
At the corner stood a boy in a black T-shirt. Thick black bandages swathed his eyes, shutting out every trace of light. In one hand, he clutched a bag of cheap vegetables; over his shoulder, he carried a white cane as if it were a pole. At the end of it dangled a great golden jug of peanut oil, gleaming under the merciless sun.
—Eyes bound in black, cane as burden, groceries in one hand, oil on the other.
The scene was grotesque, uncanny.
Whispers rose around them: Was he really blind? Was it a stunt? Some laughed, claiming he was cosplaying a blind monk from a video game. The buzzing of cicadas was drowned out by murmurs and speculation, all eyes drawn to the boy who stood unnervingly still.
Then, a clear young voice rang out beside him:
"Brother, let me help you cross the road."
A schoolgirl, no older than twelve, sweat glistening on her cheeks, gazed up at him with wide, worried eyes.
The boy tilted his head slightly, the shadow of a smile tugging at his lips.
"…Alright."
He shifted his groceries to free one hand and gently took hers.
**Click—**
The light turned green.
Together they walked. The girl was tense, eyes darting nervously at cars. But the boy—his steps were firm, steady, almost guiding. To the crowd, it looked less like a child leading a blind man than an older brother leading his sister across.
Moments later, they reached the far side. The boy thanked her softly, then disappeared into a narrow alley without a backward glance.
Arno's voice was low, certain: "He's not blind. He can see."
…
Dusk fell.
Lin Qiye pushed open the creaking wooden door. Instantly, the smell of home-cooked food drifted out. A woman in an apron emerged from the kitchen, startled at the sight of the heavy bags in his hands.
"Qi, again with so much at once? And a whole jug of oil? Did you waste the subsidy money again?"
Lin Qiye smiled faintly. "The subsidy is meant for living, isn't it?"
The woman sighed, gently stroking the label of the oil jug as though it were something precious. Her voice lowered: "Such a big brand… must've cost a fortune." Then suddenly she frowned. "Wait. How did you carry all this back?"
Lin Qiye's tone was calm, almost rehearsed. "I ran into some kind people on the way."
She hesitated, but said nothing more. Instead, she told him, "Your cousin's on the balcony doing homework. And the doctor's here—he's resting in the room. Go see him."
For just a heartbeat, Lin Qiye paused before answering, "…Alright."
…
In the small bedroom sat a young man in thick black-rimmed glasses. He stood up with a polite smile as Lin Qiye entered.
"Hello. I'm Dr. Li from Sunshine Psychiatric Hospital. I'll be handling your checkups from now on."
Lin Qiye raised an eyebrow. "What about Dr. Han?"
"Promoted to vice director last year," Dr. Li explained, an odd flicker in his eyes.
He opened a folder of case notes. "Ten years ago you lost your sight… and were admitted to the hospital, correct?"
"Yes."
"You were seven then. Your name—Lin Qiye. To be honest, I thought it was changed after the accident."
Lin Qiye shook his head slowly. "No. My parents named me that before I was born."
The air seemed to thicken.
Dr. Li cleared his throat. "The file doesn't explain the incident in detail. If you're willing, could you tell me? It would help with your treatment."
Lin Qiye sat silently, black cloth casting his face into shadow. His stillness was unnerving. Finally, he spoke:
"There's nothing I can't say. Only… I doubt you'd believe it."
Dr. Li chuckled, trying to ease the weight. "Don't worry. Even if you told me you'd seen a god, I'd believe you."
The boy's voice deepened, quiet but resolute.
"That night, I lay on the roof, watching the moon."
He lifted his hands, tracing a strange shape in the air.
"And then… I saw an angel."
Dr. Li's smile froze.
Lin Qiye's next words dropped like stones into the silence