Chapter One: The Ghost of Chongqing Wears Shoes

In the mountain city of Chongqing, a place brimming with the scents of everyday life and shrouded in mysterious legends, the summer of 1990 was scorching. The blazing sun baked the earth, yet it could not dispel the inexplicable chill that hung over the Eighth People’s Health Clinic in the Yuzhong District.

Within the hospital’s inpatient ward, the aged walls exuded a faint mustiness, and the dim corridor lights flickered intermittently, as if whispering tales of time’s wear and untold stories. On the third floor, in one of the rooms, lay a young woman named Lin Xiao. Once lively and cheerful, she had been struck down by a sudden grave illness. Persistent high fevers and agonizing pain left her increasingly frail. The hospital had issued multiple critical condition warnings, her life’s flame flickering precariously.

One stifling night, the ward was thick with the scent of disinfectant mingled with Lin Xiao’s weak breath. Moonlight filtered through mottled leaves outside the window, casting eerie shadows. Tormented by pain, Lin Xiao slipped into a semi-conscious state between sleep and wakefulness. In a hazy moment, she felt a pair of icy hands gently clasp her foot—a touch as if from the abyss itself, sending a piercing cold through her entire body. Struggling to open her heavy eyelids, the scene before her froze her blood.

At the foot of her bed stood a tall, slender shadow over two meters high, enveloped in a misty aura that seemed not of this world, its form indistinct. In its hand was a pair of vividly blood-red cloth shoes, the color glaringly bright in the dimness, radiating an indescribable strangeness. The shadow appeared oblivious to Lin Xiao’s terrified heartbeat, calmly lifting her foot and attempting to slip the red shoes onto it, uttering a low, hoarse voice that seemed to come from the depths of hell: “Don’t resist. Put on the shoes quickly; we must be on our way.”

Lin Xiao’s body trembled violently. She wanted to scream, to break free, but her throat felt blocked by some unseen force, allowing only faint, muffled sounds. Summoning every ounce of strength, she kicked desperately, cold sweat pouring from her brow, soaking her pillow.

Just as despair overwhelmed her, a figure appeared at the ward’s entrance. It was Grandpa Li, a solitary old man in his seventies from the neighboring room. Though frail, he straightened his spine and fixed a resolute gaze on the shadow. Slowly, he spoke: “Don’t torment her anymore. Wear them on me instead.”

Startled by the sudden voice, the shadow ceased its actions and slowly turned toward Grandpa Li. Lin Xiao thought she saw a pair of faintly glowing eyes in its vague head, sending a chill deep into her heart.

Grandpa Li stepped firmly into the room and approached the shadow, which stood motionless. Upon reaching it, he softly said, “Come on, I’ll go with you.” The shadow then followed Grandpa Li out of the ward. Before leaving, Grandpa Li glanced back at Lin Xiao, a gentle smile gracing his face as he said, “Young lady, you’re still young. Take good care of yourself. I’m an old man with no ties in this world—let me go first.”

Lin Xiao collapsed back onto her bed, gasping for breath, her heart racing wildly. Her eyes brimmed with fear and confusion, uncertain whether the night’s events were real or a terrifying dream.

At dawn, sunlight barely pierced the window as Lin Xiao awoke from a deep sleep. The haunting memories of last night still gripped her. Her family came to visit, noticing her pale face and frightened eyes. Concerned, they asked what had happened. Trembling, Lin Xiao recounted the ordeal. Initially, her family dismissed it as fever-induced hallucinations. But soon, they received shocking news: Grandpa Li had suddenly passed away that very night.

The news exploded like a bomb in the quiet corners of the hospital. Nurses whispered behind closed doors; some said it was mere coincidence, others exchanged uneasy glances, hiding fears unknown. Miraculously, Lin Xiao’s condition improved. Her fever subsided, and her pain lessened considerably. Doctors were astonished, calling it a medical miracle.

As time passed, Lin Xiao recovered and was discharged, but the experience etched itself deeply into her soul, becoming an unforgettable horror. In the stillness of night, she often recalled the red cloth shoes, the mysterious shadow, and Grandpa Li’s kind yet resolute silhouette.

Years later, Lin Xiao overheard elderly patrons in an old Chongqing teahouse discussing the past. Before the clinic was built, the area was an old residential neighborhood. A young woman, betrayed by her beloved, had donned red cloth shoes and ended her life by jumping into a well one night. Since then, locals claimed to have seen a shadow wearing red shoes wandering nearby after dark—a restless spirit searching for a substitute to escape endless pain and resentment.

Grandpa Li, perhaps in his final moments, driven by kindness and courage, had sacrificed his life to save Lin Xiao. As time wore on, witnesses passed away, and the truth faded into history, leaving only this chilling yet poignant tale whispered through Chongqing’s alleys—a fragment of the city’s many mysterious legends.

Emerging from the teahouse, Lin Xiao gazed at the city’s orderly buildings and bustling crowds, taking a deep breath. She knew life went on. Though those fears and mysteries might forever remain her secret, they had also taught her to cherish the present, to treasure every ordinary, precious day.

Days flowed by like water, and Lin Xiao worked hard to return to a normal life. She found a new job, made new friends, and tried to bury the terrifying memories deep within. Yet fate seemed unwilling to let her escape the past so easily.

One day, while sorting through old belongings, Lin Xiao discovered a yellowed diary. The fragile pages carried an aged scent. Curiously, she opened it to find it was Grandpa Li’s. After his death, the hospital had mistakenly placed the diary among her things while clearing his room.

With a complex heart, Lin Xiao began to read. The diary chronicled Grandpa Li’s ordinary yet lonely life. He once had a happy family, but during wartime, his loved ones perished, leaving him alone. Toward the diary’s end, Lin Xiao found strange entries.

Grandpa Li wrote about hearing odd sounds at night during his hospital stay—crying, whispering. One night, when he rose to use the restroom, he saw a blurry red figure drifting out of Lin Xiao’s room. In that moment, he felt overwhelming sorrow and resentment. From then on, he sensed Lin Xiao might be in danger.

Reading this, warmth flooded Lin Xiao’s heart. Grandpa Li had not appeared by chance; he had silently watched over her, even sacrificing his life at a critical moment to protect her.

Determined to honor his memory, Lin Xiao bought flowers and visited his grave. The weeds had been cleared, showing someone often came to pay respects. Placing the flowers, she stood quietly, sharing her recent life and thoughts with him.

As she prepared to leave, she noticed a modestly dressed middle-aged man standing nearby, watching her quietly. His eyes held a mixture of sorrow and comfort. Approaching him, Lin Xiao asked if he knew Grandpa Li. He nodded, revealing himself as Grandpa Li’s distant nephew.

He spoke of Grandpa Li’s kindness and warmth, despite a life full of hardship and no complaints about fate’s unfairness. He also mentioned that days before his death, Grandpa Li spoke strangely of a significant task involving life and death, which he didn’t then understand—only later, upon hearing the hospital’s events, did he begin to grasp the meaning.

Lin Xiao and the man talked at length, sharing memories and feelings about Grandpa Li. When parting, he assured her that Grandpa Li would bless her with happiness and peace from heaven.

Back home, Lin Xiao carefully stored the diary in the deepest drawer. She realized it was more than a diary—it was a precious memory and a testament to a bond transcending life and death.

Life continued quietly. Occasionally, Lin Xiao recalled that terrifying night and Grandpa Li’s figure. But now, those memories no longer brought only fear—they brought warmth and strength. She understood that while life holds many mysteries and unknowns, love and kindness remain the most powerful weapons against fear.

On a bright weekend, Lin Xiao decided to visit the old hospital site. Much had changed: the clinic was demolished, replaced by a modern commercial building. The streets buzzed with activity, crowds flowing like rivers, cars weaving through.

Standing before the building, Lin Xiao was filled with emotion. The past fears and pain had gradually faded with time, leaving only reverence for life and love for living. She inhaled deeply, then turned to blend into the crowd, stepping boldly into the future—carrying Grandpa Li’s blessing and a steadfast devotion to kindness and love, ready to meet each new day with courage.