"I'm going to Paris tomorrow."

  "That's not such an extraordinary pce. Was it really necessary to tell me?"

  "You might not see me for a long time..."

  "I've never even seen you!"

  "...You're really straightforward."

  "Even though my teahouse is just a small business, I'm still an honest businessman."

  "......"

  This summer is unbearably hot. The cicadas drone on without pause even until dusk, making everyone restless.

  It’s summer vacation now, and business at the shop has slowed down considerably. With nothing much to do, I'm embracing a low-carbon lifestyle, sitting on a rattan chair in the yard, zily fanning myself and gazing at the stars.

  On the small table beside me are two cups of tea—one is mine, and the other belonged to the person who just left. Her cup is already empty. She's the only person I've ever met who could down a cup of bitter tea in one go without even flinching.

  Pàng Zǐ waddles out from behind me, holding a tub of vanil ice cream, and asks through a mouthful, “Boss, who were you just talking to?”

  I calmly picked up my teacup and replied, "I've been here alone the whole time."

  "Impossible..." Pàng Zǐ blinked his small eyes, pulling Shòu Zi, who'd been sneaking snacks out of the kitchen, to confirm. "You saw it too, right? The person sitting across from the boss?"

  Shòu Zi wiped his greasy mouth and shot a look at Pàng Zǐ. "What's up?"

  "That person was all wrapped up in thick, gray cloth, like a mummy, right?" Pàng Zǐ gestured.

  "Yeah, so what?" Shòu Zi impatiently shoved his hand away. "There are plenty of weirdos coming and going in 'Endless.' What's so strange about a creep dressed like a mummy in the middle of summer?"

  "The thing is..." Pàng Zǐ leaned close to Shòu Zi's ear and whispered, "The boss said she was alone just now. Do you think she has heatstroke, is possessed, or maybe her menopause came early?" Before he could finish, he let out an "Ouch!" as my slipper nded squarely on his head.

  "Before I get possessed, I'll make sure you, you deadweight, have a stroke first!" I yawned, turned to the side, leaned back against the chair, and closed my eyes for a little nap. Pang Zi and Shou Zi quickly took off.

  Neither of them was seeing things—the person sitting across from me was real, without a doubt. And I wasn't lying, either. She was there in front of me, but she was also nothing at all. If you were to peel away the yers of cloth around her, you'd find only air.

  My feelings toward her are conflicted. I know her history; over the years, I′ve both looked down on and admired her. That year, she asked me, "What would you like for your birthday?"

  I ughed. "Anything at all?" I knew she saw me as a confidant; if I asked for the stars, she would try to fetch them for me. Sure enough, she nodded firmly.

  "Then give me the real Lu A′cang." She froze for a moment, then smiled bitterly and walked away, looking desote.

  Yes, her name was Lu A′cang. "藏; Cáng," as in hidden…