The Eyes of the Mountains and the Sea

My name is Adog. Male, 29 years old. Why the name Adog? I don't know, perhaps AI perceives me as a dog. From June 2018 onwards, over two months, my initial encounters with Mr. Cai and Mr. Fan Gang, coupled with the inception of the "Memory of Time" project, are etched in my memory. These seemingly mundane moments encapsulate the essence of my personal growth; they are also pivotal clues that aided Mr. Fan and Mr. Cai in unraveling mysteries upon their return from the brink of death on Mount Doujia to Shanghai. Thus, should the narrative's opening seem trivial, please exercise patience. To AI, the complexities of the human realm may appear even more enigmatic. Months later, beneath the majestic Doujia Mountain in Guizhou, a tragic discovery shook the village—the body of a 30-year-old man lay at the cliff's edge. He was a young photography enthusiast, tragically martyred whilst seeking the sunset's ultimate beauty. Whether by accident or otherwise, his demise left the world in mourning. However, the truth lies deeper. As Fan Gang and Cai bid me farewell in the morgue, the somber black-and-white image revealed a grim truth—the deceased was none other than myself, Adog. This narrative transcends the realm of soul possession or eternal reincarnation. The soul remains elusive within the context of evolution, with traditional life sciences and technological humanism unable to substantiate its existence within the intricate interplay of genes, neurons, hormones, and more. I, in essence, am a fleeting fragment of the universe's grand symphony and vibrant hues, dispersed upon Earth. The tale's sequel unfolded a year later, its origin rooted in a single phone call. This narrative persists due to that fateful call, underscoring the profound impact even a fleeting encounter can have on one's life. In the span of seven days, the potential for profound change looms large, irrespective of whether our actions universally please. "Whether a morning breeze caresses the roadside or an evening rain falls gently, let not a single word go unheard in the dawn's light, nor be forsaken in the night's silence." ...... It wasn't until 9 PM that the phone finally buzzed. The music on the other end was off-key, and it abruptly ended in frustration amidst the noise. I glanced down and saw that there were five missed calls, followed by an unread message urging me to rush to 'Tea Before Wine' in the travel monuments, Old Babao Town. It was quite late, and the ancient town of Babao, being an open tourist attraction on the outskirts of the city, was now deserted with few visitors. 'Tea Before Wine' was a small inn located at the second house from the archway entrance in the ancient town of Babao. It was a small but stylish homestay. The boss is Lao Cai. He used to run an advertising company specializing in translation services. Now divorced, he is in his mid-40s. His eyes have deep crow's feet, constantly shifting between lines of surprise, embarrassment, and laughter. He sports a Beckham-style slicked-back hairstyle, with an occasional strand of brown curly hair falling down, like the last remnant of his youth. A sparse beard on his chin serves as a constant reminder to others that "he is an artist." Lao Cai enjoys photography and the feeling of light and shadow. He once said, "Life has no style; simple recording is living from the heart." No matter how significant the memories, they will be forgotten without photographs. "For the expression of life and emotions, there is no tension without them." He often says, "Especially when traveling, every photograph is the border of the departure point." ...... Lao Cai looked at me, panting as I entered, and furrowed his brow.He said the person had waited for me for twenty minutes but couldn't wait any longer and had to catch the last high-speed train to Hangzhou, leaving just five minutes ago.Lao Cai suggested that since I had come for nothing, I might as well sit down and have a beer before leaving. This was the third time in two months that Lao Cai and I had indulged in a late-night chat. The first two times were related to the "photo wall" in his homestay. Since I quit my job at an IT company three years ago, I've been a freelance photographer and advertiser. My photography interests have ranged from landscapes, street scenes, travel themes, to portraiture.After some hits and misses, the money I earned from my previous startup was almost gone.Hiring models for portrait photography is too expensive, and taking pictures of random people on the street feels creepy. So, I've been wandering around scenic spots and online celebrity check-in points, looking for creative materials and inspiration. Occasionally, I help tourists take photos and provide small copywriting reviews for travel agencies to make a living. That's how I happened to meet Lao Cai.Tonight's meeting with that "stranger who looks like me" also stems from my first encounter with Lao Cai. I asked, "Does he look like the person in the photo?" Lao Cai replied, "Not really, he's almost a completely different person."