Extra 3

Oruofei discovered that he seemed to be suffering from a kind of night fear.
The story began with a sudden power outage that day. She had just returned to her dorm room late that day, and she only remembered that when she opened the door, the power seemed to have returned. The sudden light made her dizzy and she fell to the ground.
When she got up again, holding her aching head, and saw her roommate with a confused look on his face in the room and the dark night outside the window, a complex emotion of sadness and joy suddenly and inexplicably rushed into her mind and lingered for a long time.
And since then, she began to fear the dark and closed environments. Before going to bed, she would repeatedly confirm with her roommates that they were nearby before she could fall asleep peacefully.
Ou Ruofei suspected that his brain was damaged after the fall.
She decided to go to the hospital for a check-up.
The process went smoothly. The only thing that puzzled her was whether there were so many college students in the previous hospital who looked very healthy but still wanted to have a full-body check-up?
The examination results came back quickly, revealing no signs of head injury and a normal body. The doctor could only explain this as a possible stress reaction to the power outage.
After thinking about it carefully, Ou Ruofei felt that it made sense. After all, she was so timid, but she had to walk through the campus and corridors alone during the one-hour power outage. Even if she couldn't remember the process, it was scary to think about it!
She initially thought it was a fear of darkness, but after a while, she realized it wasn't the same as a typical fear of darkness. More accurately, she had nyctophobia—a condition where she only felt aggression in the dark at night. Even with the lights on, she would unconsciously feel lonely and afraid.
However, this disease is not all bad. It at least brings several new friends.
After searching for a solution for several times, Ou Ruofei met many patients with the same situation in a communication group discussing "night terror".
Among them was a girl named Li Qi, who was even a senior from the next-door college. Although she looked a bit intimidating, she was actually very considerate and helped her a lot.
Through Li Qi, she also met a girl named Jiang Lan and her roommate. Through this dormitory, she got to know another dormitory of four people where the members had a good relationship with each other.
But for some reason, this dormitory codenamed 606 seemed very busy and rarely talked in the group. There was only one girl named Guo Guo who was quite talkative and often recommended novels she had found to her.
[Master Guo with voluminous hair: How about this novel I recommended to you? Is it good? Isn’t it super good?]
[Master Guo, the man with abundant hair: Since you like it, I'll reluctantly give it to you. Since we're close, I'll give you this special price, 50% off! It also comes with the author's autograph!]
[Xiao Ou: Thank you. But for giving me such a big discount, will you compensate me?]
[Master Guo, with his voluminous hair: "No problem, no need for payment, we can just barter." Hehe.jpg]
[Xiao Ou: Huh? What do you want to change?]
[Master Guo with abundant hair: [Picture] [Picture] These lucky charms, when the time comes, please sign them and mail them to me. I'll resell them and split the profits 50-50...]
Ou Ruofei: "..."
Guo Guo is good in every way, except that he can be a little weird sometimes.
One day, Zhou Ao suddenly chatted with her privately and said anxiously that he felt that some students in this group seemed to know more and had some very important information, but they didn’t tell them.
[Xiao Ou: Really? I didn’t feel anything.]
[Zhou Ao: …]
[Zhou Ao: One more thing I want to ask, have you had nightmares recently? ...Not really, it wasn't a nightmare. I just dreamed I was working in a very dark place, and when I woke up I felt very tired. I vaguely remembered something, but when I thought about it more carefully, I couldn't remember anything.]
[Xiao Ou: How terrifying! I've never had a dream like this before. Let me help you look up information. Do you need to register? The hospital near our campus has very accurate physical examinations.]
Ou Ruofei was very worried. She only knew that Zhou Ao had some problems with his eyes, but she didn't expect that he now had mental problems.
[Zhou Ao: ...No need to bother, thank you. I'll take a look myself.]
Not long after that conversation, Zhou Ao disappeared from the group. A month later, when he returned, Ou Ruofei worriedly asked about his situation, but his attitude was completely different:
[What dream? What important message? Oh, that was just my nervous breakdown, don't take it to heart. Are you not affected by my nonsense?]
I'm glad you're alright. Ou Ruofei breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest to assure himself that he was eating well and that he wasn't affected at all.
Time flies, and a semester has passed since the power outage on first night of school. Life went on as normal, but one morning, Ou Ruofei suddenly discovered that the group discussing nyctophobia had been disbanded. The group members who used to chat so happily with her had disappeared into the vast internet, leaving no chance for them to continue chatting.
Only Tang Xinjue, who usually doesn't talk much, left her a string of phone numbers, saying that if absolutely necessary, she could contact her through this method.
Although she didn't know what was happening, Ou Ruofei could vaguely realize that this was all for their own good.
She obediently saved the number, then deleted most of the contacts as instructed. She carefully kept the lucky charm that hadn't been sent out, and continued to work hard in her life.
Besides, although the world is big, their lives are also long. They will meet again one day, right?
At the beginning of the next semester, Ou Ruofei decided to look for an internship.
As time goes by, her night terrors are gradually improving, and she should be able to challenge the overtime work life.
Because her school and grades were good, she received many offers from companies. When she was hesitant, a senior student she met by chance while looking for an internship gave her some advice:
"I think this gaming company is a good fit for you, especially for you to showcase your talents."
"Really?" Ou Ruofei was very excited: "Can you tell me what talents of mine can be utilized, Senior Sister Xiaoyu?"
"Your athletic... and smart brain." The senior student seemed to smile on the other end of the phone, but there was no laughter.
"I wish you good luck in your work."
Ou Ruofei successfully joined the company.
During her first overtime job, she bought a lot of coffee to share with her colleagues, but when she handed it to one of them, he refused.
The woman took off her work badge and put the name "Wen Suxing" on it into her pocket.
"No thanks. I'm going to turn in a document and then go home."
Ou Ruofei knew the other person quite well. Wen Suxing happened to be in the same major as her, two years her senior. She usually worked very hard, but lately she had occasionally seemed less energetic, often scribbling something on her desk.
When someone asked curiously, Wen Suxing answered without hesitation: "A letter of resignation."
Ou Ruofei was shocked: "Are you going to resign, Sister Su Xing?"
Wen Suxing shook his head: "I'm not quitting this job, I'm quitting my part-time job. I work part-time as an administrator in a library, and the working hours are too long, which will affect my normal work status."
Ou Rufei was surprised again: a part-time librarian?
Under the high-intensity work of 996, how can one still find time to work part-time? Her admiration for her senior sister has increased to a new level.
Thinking of this, Ou Ruofei nodded seriously: "Aren't you working overtime today, Sister Su Xing?"
"I have some personal matters to attend to today, so I need to take a leave." Wen Suxing nodded and passed by her.
Watching Wen Suxing's figure disappear at the door of the supervisor's office, Ou Ruofei shrank his neck and turned around holding the hot coffee.
For some reason, she felt that the company seemed particularly cold today, just like...
Before she reached her workstation, an extremely familiar feeling of coldness and falling suddenly gripped her heart, and she subconsciously looked out the window!
In the bustling night, the flowing light and shadows disappeared quickly, until finally, the whole world returned to darkness.
Just like everything that had suddenly happened one night deep in her memory.
Orophie opened his eyes wide.
Before her frantic brain could stop, the sudden ringing of her cell phone pulled her out of her chaotic thoughts.
It was a dialog box that I hadn't seen in a long time, but still looked familiar:
[Right now, no matter what happens, no matter what comes to mind, don't be afraid, stay calm.]
[We are still here.]
Yes, don't be afraid...
Unexpectedly, in the chaotic darkness, Orophie calmed down.
Perhaps she hadn't reacted yet, and hadn't figured out what the power outage and the news meant. But she thought, she could still be strong and brave enough to get through it.
Until the light comes on again.
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