Prologue

*Take note: This is not a fanfiction and this is not about an idol and a fan.*

21st century

A girl was driving, her eyes flicking occasionally to a picture of her most beloved man, glued to her car dashboard. She was utterly enamored with Xiao Zhan, the man who dominated her thoughts and dreams.

As she drove, she couldn't resist bopping her head to the rhythm of his songs playing on the radio. The inside of her car was practically a shrine to him.

From the framed picture on the front mirror to the printed face cushions and seat covers, everything screamed devotion. She was a die-hard fangirl, and anyone who saw her car could see it immediately.

The concert she had just attended only deepened her obsession. She couldn't wait to relive the memories of seeing her idol perform live.

But the road back to her house was a bit secluded. It wasn't in the forest, but it was the kind of road people rarely used.

The silence was almost deafening, broken only by the soft hum of the car engine as she pressed the gas pedal. A strange unease filled the air.

"What is this eerie feeling?" she muttered to herself. She had never stayed out this late at night before. Making a mental note, she decided that next time, she'd ask someone to accompany her.

Despite her unease, she forced herself to focus on driving. But as she approached a small bridge over a babbling creek, a wild deer suddenly darted across the road.

It happened too quickly. She barely had time to think before instinctively yanking the steering wheel to the left to avoid hitting the animal.

The car slammed into the side of the bridge with a deafening crash. The impact was so intense that part of the bridge gave way, leaving the car teetering on the edge.

Her head slammed against the steering wheel, and a sharp pain shot through her skull. Blood trickled down her forehead, but that wasn't what terrified her.

As she blinked through her blurred vision, she realized her car was hanging precariously. One wrong move and both she and the car would plunge into the river below. Her hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

The river beneath her seemed to taunt her, and the road behind felt impossibly far away. Terror gripped her heart.

"If only someone were strong enough to pull the car back," she thought desperately.

She stayed frozen, her foot glued to the brake pedal. Even breathing felt dangerous. She wanted to call for help, but her lips quivered too much to form words. Glancing at the rearview mirror, she saw nothing but darkness.

"Dad..." It was the only word she could manage as tears welled up in her eyes.

She wasn't the type to cry easily, but this wasn't about her fear of death. It was about her father.

He was everything to her—father, mother, and friend. He had raised her alone after her mother's passing.

The thought of leaving him alone crushed her more than the fear of dying.

"Ahhh!" she screamed, her voice cracking. The car creaked ominously as it inched forward, the rocks beneath it giving way.

Suddenly, her phone on the dashboard rang. The screen lit up with the words "My Great Master." It was her dad calling.

Gathering the last bit of courage she had, she snatched the phone and answered it with trembling hands.

"D-dad... Please forgive me for being the most unfilial daughter. And... thank you for raising me into such a pretty girl." She tried to laugh through her tears.

"Young lady! Stop talking nonsense and get home right now!" her dad scolded, his voice full of concern.

"Dad... Please, find a better woman and remarry. Don't be alone anymore." Her hands shook as she held the phone, trying to focus on his voice.

"What are you talking about? I'll tear down all your Xiao Zhan posters if you don't get home now!" he snapped.

Her dad always tried to stay positive, but he could hear the tremor in her voice. Something was very wrong.

"Dad... I love you so much. Even in the next life, I'll still be your daughter." She clenched her teeth, trying to hold back sobs.

"Where are you? I'm coming to get you!" her dad shouted, panicking. Before she could say more, the call was cut off. The screen showed No Signal.

"God, why are you doing this to me? Why?!" she shouted, slamming her head against the steering wheel in frustration.

Her eyes drifted to the picture of Xiao Zhan on the dashboard.

"I'm sorry I couldn't meet you again, Xiao Zhan. Even in the afterlife, I'll always support you." She clutched the picture tightly with her bloody hand.

"I still haven't gone to Lee Min Ho's fan meeting! I wanted to fall in love! I STILL HAVE MY LONG FREAKING BUCKET LIST!" she screamed at the heavens.

Thunder cracked in the sky, startling her. For a moment, her fear gave way to anger. She wasn't weak. She wasn't going to die here.

"My friends didn't call me 'The Craziest' for nothing. Just watch me!" she shouted, determination blazing in her eyes. She lifted her foot off the brake. The car tilted and plunged into the river below.

Water flooded into the car as it sank rapidly. She struggled to unbuckle her seatbelt, gasping for air as the icy water engulfed her. She smashed the window with a piece of metal, and water rushed in faster.

Fighting against the current, she tried to swim out of the car, but her injuries made it nearly impossible. Her lungs burned as water filled them, and her vision blurred with black spots.

"This can't be how it ends..." she thought, her body succumbing to the cold and exhaustion.

Just as she felt herself slipping away, a deep, soothing voice echoed in her ears:

"Kill me if you have never loved me, even once."

Startled, she wondered if she was hallucinating.

"Who's there?!" she thought angrily, her mind spinning.

But before she could figure it out, everything went black as her body sank deeper into the abyss.

P.S.

Are any of Xiao Zhan's fans here?

VOTE and COMMENT if you like this chapter!

Thanks! 💖 - Renes