None Shall Escape (恶念)

Anyone home?

Who are you looking for?

Hello.

I'm looking for Su Qinghe.

The resemblance...

You must be Qinghe's twin sister.

Yes.

My name is Su Yingxue.

I haven't heard from her in a long time.

I went to the school where she taught.

And they said...

She was renting a place here.

So I came to ask.

Indeed.

Your sister...

She lived here for a while.

Poor girl.

She had a lot on her mind.

She mentioned having some business elsewhere.

And just moved out.

Didn't she tell you?

I noticed your luggage outside.

Haven't found a place to stay yet, I assume?

These are...

troubled times.

It's getting late.

I have a spare room for rent.

Why don't you come in and take a look?

Short or long term, either is fine.

Miss Su, please come in.

Madam...

Your house is in good condition.

Why would you rent out rooms?

It's embarrassing, really.

Truth be told,

this house is but a hollow facade.

First, my two daughters...

Caught a strange illness.

Passed away, one after another.

My husband was then gravely wounded in the war.

He never truly recovered.

Lest I forget...

He served as a commissioned officer.

Everything of value...

in this house,

has been either pawned,

or liquidated.

Witness for yourself...

That used to be the parlor.

It used to be full of things.

Now, they're all gone.

In this life, what I dread most...

is the descent.

For once you begin to sink...

there is no path back to the shores of yesterday.

It hasn't been easy for you.

Is it easy for anyone these days?

The living cannot afford their dignity.

While the spirits...

possess the only decency that remains.

To survive in such a world...

one must learn to feast upon the spirits.

An imported drying oven from the West.

Put the laundered clothes...

inside...

and they come out dry.

Quite useful on rainy days.

Though it is a bit noisy.

Also,

that is the guest bathroom.

Bathing is not quite convenient.

You'll have to go up and down.

It's fine for me.

Let me lead the way upstairs.

What is it, Yingxue?

Nothing...

That child...

she never learns to keep things tidy.

Come.

My husband is gravely ill...

confined to his bed.

The attendant in his service...

is a deaf-mute.

Should you knock on the door...

he may not be able to answer.

I shall present you to him first.

Master...

Goodness, why another episode now?

This is Qinghe's younger sister.

Ms. Su Yingxue.

My apologies, Yingxue.

Let me show you elsewhere.

I am so sorry, Ms. Su.

My husband...

has lost his vitality on the battlefield.

His body and his mind are not...

what they were.

I hope he didn't startle you.

Not at all.

I was trained in Western medicine.

I've seen all manner of patients.

Only, I am not certain of his condition...

What is your area of specialty?

I specialize in gynecology.

He will get better.

It's just...

He's been constipated for a fortnight.

The bloating is unpleasant.

It's a chronic ailment.

Coincidentally,

I have my own digestive issues.

This is Phenolphthalein.

It's a laxative.

A small dose before bed will suffice.

But take care not to stain the clothes.

Once washed with soap,

the stained spot will turn red.

Thanks.

I shall tell A-Jiang, his attendant...

to be mindful when administering the dose.

This is the room of my third daughter.

Wanqiu?

Wanqiu?

Wanqiu?

This child...

No telling where she's run off to.

Qinghe...

It is your turn.

Wanqiu.

Where have you been hiding?

This is Miss Su Yingxue.

She is Qinghe's younger sister.

Hello there, Wanqiu.

Come now, say hello.

Yingxue,

I am truly sorry.

She's too young...

to tell people apart.

She must have mistaken you for Qinghe.

Let me show you to your room.

This guest room...

is tucked away from the others.

Quiet.

No one will disturb you here.

Was this where my sister lived?

She did.

It's said...

that twins share a tethered heart.

It appears so.

This room...

once belonged to my daughters.

All their belongings...

I simply couldn't part with them.

I wanted their things...

to remain here in this room.

To keep a sense of life in this house.

Yingxue...

You don't mind, do you?

Not at all.

I actually like these dolls.

No...

What I mean is...

they used to live...

right here.

As I said...

I was trained in Western medicine.

I don't put much stock in such superstitions.

Leave...

Leave!

What is it?

Yingxue...

Are you alright?

This pen...

This pen was a birthday gift I gave to my sister.

Perhaps she forgot to take it...

when she left.

When you find her,

give it back.

Are you satisfied...

with the room?

I find it quite nice.

It's just that...

I'm not sure of the rent.

No worries.

On account of my daughter,

tenants can be a bit sensitive.

So, regarding the rent...

it will naturally be quite affordable.

Staying long, or just a while?

I'm not sure yet.

How about this...

Fifty coppers a day.

Just settle in.

Alright?

That's generous

Looking at you...

is like seeing your sister,

when she first arrived.

The same innocence...

and just as endearing.