The Rope on the Gallows

After that greeting, as expected, there was no further reply. Chen Sheng said, “I’ll head out first. See you tomorrow.”

But there was no response from behind.

Chen Sheng felt a bit strange, but didn’t think much of it. All he wanted now was to finish work and go home, so he walked toward the elevator.

Just then, a voice sounded from behind him.

“Doctor Chen, you won’t see me tomorrow,” the voice echoed softly, accompanied by a sudden chill that sent a shiver down his spine.

Yet Chen Sheng remained unperturbed, asking reflexively, “Are you resigning? Did something happen?”

The psychiatric hospital where Chen Sheng worked was a public institution. Typically, staff at public hospitals didn’t resign easily, even if private ones offered better benefits.

Resignations usually meant something had happened.

“Yes, Doctor Chen. There’s something I’ve always wanted to say to you, but I never had the chance. Could you wait for me tonight behind Moon River Street?”

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng jolted.

His spirits soared—could it be those long-fabled three words: “I love you”?

His heart raced. In his school days, he’d focused solely on studying. When he finally wanted to date, he discovered he was penniless, and girls his age no longer cared just about looks. With only his appearance to offer, he had no choice but to keep studying.

So, after a lifetime of singlehood, Chen Sheng felt a little excited—could he finally be leaving bachelorhood behind?

“Alright!”

He agreed instantly, then tried to turn and see which nurse had spoken. At that moment, a beautiful woman’s face appeared before him.

“I’ll come soon,” she said.

“I’ll head over first,” Chen Sheng nodded. Too excited, he seemed almost to float as he walked, and only when he left the hospital and the noisy streets surrounded him did he regain his composure.

Gazing at the bustling traffic, Chen Sheng shook his head, surprise in his eyes. “It’s Xiao Liu?”

He finally remembered which nurse it was.

Liu Susu.

The renowned beauty of their hospital, gentle in temperament, always kind to everyone.

Chen Sheng’s surprise stemmed from the fact that Liu Susu hadn’t been to the hospital for a week. Apparently, there had been an accident in her hometown, and she’d rushed back.

Chen Sheng pondered, then hurried to pick up his car. He put on his jacket, checked his appearance in the mirror, and, satisfied, drove to their appointed place.

Behind Moon River Street.

This was a snack street, filled with every imaginable delicacy. Despite the high prices, many self-proclaimed foodies—really just people with cravings—came to indulge.

The street was lively, but one block away, it was eerily quiet.

There were still shops, mostly food-related, but for some reason, though doors were open and staff waited expectantly, shadows flitted inside and no customers entered.

Outside, it was even emptier.

As Chen Sheng walked, a sense of desolation crept over him.

“Why is this place so deserted?” Chen Sheng looked around and noticed the streetlights were dim, their halos barely visible.

He walked a bit further, hesitating whether to cross over to Moon River Street for a bite, when a fragrant breeze swept by. He saw a woman in white with long hair walking toward him.

It was Liu Susu.

She wore little makeup but was still stunning—so much so that Chen Sheng felt she was the ideal wife men dream of.

After the initial amazement, Chen Sheng quickly calmed himself.

Not because he was cured, but because after years of watching colleagues remain single, he’d mentally prepared himself for a fate like his balding supervisor’s.

Due to family issues, he harbored a mild phobia of marriage and underlying social anxiety.

Unless he met someone truly compatible, Chen Sheng would rather grow old alone than settle for a life of compromise. After all, having someone to care for you in old age doesn’t grant you a second life.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Doctor Chen,” Liu Susu began.

“Not at all, I just arrived,” Chen Sheng replied, though he was surprised at how quickly she’d come.

“Doctor Chen, I shouldn’t have approached you. But someone gave me a benefit and asked me to deliver something to you,” Liu Susu continued.

Her words struck Chen Sheng as odd.

Then Liu Susu took an old-fashioned hemp rope from her bag, one end looped into a circle.

Chen Sheng found it strangely familiar, then suddenly felt his hand turn cold.

Liu Susu had placed the rope directly in his hand.

“Now that I’ve delivered it, I should leave,” Liu Susu smiled, then turned and walked away.

Chen Sheng stared in astonishment as she disappeared into the distance—she’d gone to the trouble of summoning him here, so mysteriously, just to give him a rope?

No, she was delivering it for someone else.

So, who was so bored as to pull such a prank?

Chen Sheng racked his memory for someone who’d do this, then shook his head. Anyone capable had disappeared from his life after school years ago.

They’d kept in touch in the early years, but now, even that connection was gone.

He examined the hemp rope in his hand, feeling increasingly familiar with it.

“Isn’t this just like the noose from that game gallows?” Chen Sheng muttered, furrowing his brow. He seemed to know who had sent it.

“That girl really is bored,” Chen Sheng chuckled, then rolled up the rope and tucked it into his pocket.

After all, it was a gift.

He couldn’t just throw it away—that would be rude.

Shaking his head, even though he hadn’t heard those legendary three words, Chen Sheng’s mood was good. Humming an ancient tune, he slowly made his way toward Moon River Street.

At that moment, someone in a shop wanted to call out to Chen Sheng, but was quickly stopped by another person inside.

The would-be caller was a woman whose face was unnaturally pale.

The one who stopped her was a little girl, equally pale, without a trace of color in her cheeks.

“Not this one?” The woman’s voice was heavy. She looked at the girl, and even though she was her own daughter, her gaze was unfriendly.

“The rope,” the girl pointed at Chen Sheng’s pocket.

Though he’d tucked it away, the rope was too long for his pocket to hold completely, so a piece was visible.

Upon seeing it, the pale-faced woman took several steps back.

Her eyes were filled with fear.