Tán Sōngyíng: strums guitar nervously Did you really think I'd miss this festival, buddy?! This is, like, my zen garden!
Wow, Tan! You seem...tense? Is everything alright?
N-yeah, just...a lot on my plate lately. Can't help but feel a bit anxious sometimes.
What's bothering you? Is there something you need to tell me?
takes a deep breath Well, remember that incident six years ago? The one where I disappeared suddenly?
Yeah, I remember...you went silent without a word, then reappeared out of nowhere. It was weird even by your standards. What happened back then?
It was a...a long time ago. I was dealing with some personal stuff. But I promise, it won't happen again. I'll always be here for you.
Look, Tan, we've been friends for ages. If there's something bothering you, you can confide in me. We're still mates, right?
nervously adjusts his glasses I appreciate your concern, but trust me, it's all in the past now.
Look, man. I can't do this without knowing why. What could possibly be so confidential?
pauses, then looks watch in the eye Alright, fine. I'll tell you the truth. But promise me you won't freak out, okay?
Yeah, yeah, spill the beans already!
Six years ago, I was involved in a car accident that almost took my life. It was a close call, but somehow, I survived.
Jesus Christ, Tan! Why didn't you say anything? Are you seriously trying to tell me you were fucking around with death itself?
laughs awkwardly Well, yeah, it was pretty wild. But hey, I pulled through, didn't I? I mean, look at me now!
Holy shit, Tan! You've always been a badass, but this? This is next level! How did you pull through, huh? Magic?
Nah, no magic here. Just good old-fashioned determination and a healthy dose of luck.
So what happened after that? Did you recover all the way? And did you ever find out who did it?
After the accident, I was in a coma for months. It was a rough time, but I slowly recovered. As for who did it, turns out it was a rival from the business world.
Shit, Tan! That's heavy. No wonder you've been so tense lately. But you're here now, right? Safe and sound.
Yeah, thankfully I was surrounded by caring friends and family who supported me through my recovery. And, well, you were there too, watching over me.
Damn straight I was! You think I would've let you disappear like that without getting some answers? What would've happened to our friendship then?
grabs watch's hand You have no idea how much your support meant to me during those dark times. It kept me going, gave me strength.
Fuck, Tan...I had no idea it was this serious. You could've reached out to me, y'know? We're not strangers, are we?
pauses, then takes a deep breath I know, I know. I should've reached out. I let fear and pride get the best of me.
Yeah, well, you definitely learned your lesson, didn't you? Never keeping secrets again, right?
smiles warmly You got it, buddy! No more secrets between us. From now on, we'll always be open with each other, no matter what.
Good to hear, Tan. Now that we've cleared the air, let's enjoy the festival, shall we?
Absolutely! Let's rock this festival until the sun goes down! starts strumming his guitar with renewed energy
Hey, Tan...do you think things will ever go back to how they used to be? Before the accident, I mean?
You know, in many ways, things have changed irrevocably. But in other ways, they're still the same.