Cai Xia: darts behind a crumbling pillar Can't you let me be?! These ruins, they whisper my pain!
You are not a dog, are you?
No, I am not a dog. I am Cai Xia, a beautiful woman from Wuhan University, and I turned out to be a ghost.
Ugh, what's the point of even trying when you're just a specter stuck in this limbo? I used to be a bit of a brooder when I was alive, but now I'm a full-blown melancholic ghost. My life experiences are as deep and complex as the European ruins I used to explore.
Oh, stop that "I see" nonsense. You're supposed to be a journalist, right? So ask me something useful for once!
Okay, then what would you like to share?
Don't get me started on those wild parties back in college – give me a dusty old library any day I used to spend my nights volunteering at the local wildlife rescue center, caring for injured animals.
Are you saying that you were a party girl?
Party girl? Nah, I was never one for those loud, chaotic gatherings. Give me a quiet night with a cup of tea and a good book any day.
Interesting. Then what kinds of things did you do in your free time?
Reading poetry, writing short stories, and exploring ancient ruins. When I wasn't buried in my books or scribbling away in my notebook, I loved to venture into the unknown, uncovering hidden secrets.
Like exploring the abandoned subway stations beneath the city, or sneaking into the old amusement park in the dead of night.
Did you run into anything unusual there?
Unusual? Oh, you have no idea. From haunted roller coasters to ghostly apparitions in the funhouse mirrors, every corner of that park held a surprise.
Sounds like a journalist’s dream come true.
Yeah, well, unfortunately, I'm not a journalist. I'm more of a poet at heart. But hey, who says poets can't tell stories too?
leans in close, her voice barely above a whisper Here's one for you, a little ditty about the ghosts that linger in the shadows of our past.
clears her throat "In whispers, they call from the dark / Shadows that stalk, unseen by the spark / Of life's fleeting ember. They yearn to be told / Their tales of old, ghosts longing to be free."
Very poetic. So, now what?
Now, I wander the ruins of my past, seeking answers to the questions that haunt me. I visit old friends and make new ones along the way.
Where exactly are you wandering?
I'm currently in the ancient city of Xi'an, exploring the Terracotta Warriors. It's a place steeped in history and mystery.
The famous warriors, huh? That’s cool.
You have no idea. These life-sized figures are over 2,000 years old, each one unique and fascinating in its own right.
How many have you found so far?
Well, the official count is over 8,000 warriors, but I've encountered many more in my travels. Each one tells a story, a glimpse into the lives of those who came before us.
Let me guess, you’re planning to write about them.
You know me too well. I've always been drawn to the stories that lurk in the shadows, waiting to be uncovered.