The Soul Unraveled

Apartment 5

Li Xiuying looked at the dishes she had prepared. They were all artfully placed on their respective plates. The aromatic fragrance and beautiful appearance immediately caused one's appetite to be stimulated.

Li Xiuying nodded her head. She took off her apron folded it and put it away in a draw.

There was a ringing coming from the foyer.

She picked up the phone in the foyer. "Hello"

Wang Juan: "Hello Dr. Li this is Wang Juan calling from reception. I have a Miss Ren here. Were you expecting her?"

Li Xiuying: "Yes please allow her to come upstairs. Thank you."

She then put the phone down and waited by the front door.

Two minutes later there was a knock at the door. Li Xiuying unlocked it and pulled it open.

Li Xiuying: "Hello come in."

Ren Daiyu: "Hello Xiuying! Thank you for having me."

She had a massive smile on her face.

She came in and stretched out the hand carrying the bags towards Li Xiuying.

Ren Daiyu: "These are just a few snacks I bought. There's some ice-cream in there too, so you'll have to put it in the freezer."

Li Xiuying took the bags and briefly looked at the contents. She didn't recognize anything in the bag. Li Xiuying: "Thank you. There are some slippers at the side for you to wear. Let's head to the kitchen to eat."

Ren Daiyu took off her shoes and replaced them with a pair of fluffy pink slippers. She followed behind Li Xiuying towards the kitchen. Ren Daiyu was enveloped by a fragrant and appetizing aroma and it was getting stronger the closer they drew near to the kitchen. She swallowed a big mouth full of saliva.

Li Xiuying went to the freezer and put away the ice cream. She but the two bags on the side for later.

Li Xiuying sat down on a chair at the counter and Ren Daiyu sat next to her. There were already plates and chopsticks as well as serving utensils next to the dishes.

Ren Daiyu took in all the dishes on the counter: "Xiuying you didn't have to order in especially for today."

Li Xiuying: "I didn't."

They began eating in a comfortable silence. Each occasionally putting food items on the others plate. Li Xiuying initially thought there would be plenty of leftovers but only a singular spring roll remained on a plate.

Ren Daiyu sighed in contentment: "I've never eaten such a delicious meal before. That was the best meal I've ever had, which restaurant did you order from? I'm going to be there no.1 customer from now on."

Li Xiuying started clearing the dishes. She had a small smile on her face and was happy that her friend enjoyed her cooking so much: "I made it."

Ren Daiyu's eye widened in astonishment: "REALLY?! Did you go to a culinary school as well as medical school?"

Li Xiuying: "Online videos, recipes and practice."

Ren Daiyu picked up the remaining dishes from the counter and nudged Li Xiuying away from in front of the sink. She then started washing up.

When Ren Daiyu finished she looked at the clock and spoke:"Let's go to the living room and watch some TV, my favorite show is on in 5 minutes. It's called The Soul Unraveled!"

Ren Daiyu grabbed the snacks on the side and followed as Li Xiuying led the way to the living room.

Ren Daiyu looked at the sofa: "Do you have any thin blankets?"

Li Xiuying nodded then went to go fetch two blankets from the guest bedroom. Ren Daiyu turned on the TV, pulled the coffee table nearer to the sofa and positioned the cushions on the sofa. She tipped out the snacks on the coffee table.

Ren Daiyu on seeing Li Xiuying return: "Sit down." When Li Xiuying sat down, Ren Daiyu opened up a blanket covered and covered her with it. She then sat down and covered herself with the other blanket. She grabbed a bag of popcorn opened it and put it in Li Xiuying's hands. Ren Daiyu then grabbed a pack of QQ gummies and began eating.

...

Television Program

TV: "Hello everyone and welcome to today's episode of The Soul Unraveled! I'm your host Kuang Fai. Today is a very special day for us its the 100th episode of The Soul Unraveled! To celebrate the achievement and to thank our wonderful viewers for their support, today's show is not only LIVE but it has been extended by one whole hour!

The audience yelled and applauded in excitement.

Kuang Fai said eerily: "We have two guests on the show today. An Elementary school teacher Hu Jing who has been described by his peers and family to have a "split personality and become someone else."

Audience: "oooooooo."

Kuang Fai: "But our first guest is Deng Chuntao, a first year university student currently studying economics. She says that she often has the feeling that she is meant to be someone else and people who know her have said that she can predict the future or knows how to do things that she's never even learned before."

Kuang Fei walked down a set of step to the side, at the same time he had an arm pointing to the stage welcoming Deng Chuntao to the stage. She came and reclined on a classic black chaise, similar to what people would expect to see in psychologist office.

The audience applauded and then quietened at the lights were dimmed. A bright spot light was on Deng Chuntao.

Kuang Fai spoke softly: "Please welcome to the stage our resident star psychic and psychologist Dr Lin Shan."

Dr Lin walked on to the stage, a spot light followed him as he sat next to the black leather chair next to Deng Chuntao.

Dr Lin: "Let's delve into the depths of the soul and unravel its mysteries."

Ren Daiyu chanted along: "Let's delve into the depths of the soul and unravel its mysteries."

Li Xiuying had a small smile on her face as she heard Ren Daiyu.

On the TV, Deng Chuntao was being hypnotized to sleep by Dr. Lin.

Dr. Lin: "Hello Deng Chuntao, can you hear me?"

Deng Chuntao eyes remained closed as she responded with a sultry laugh: "I'm not Deng Chuntao"

Dr. Lin: "My apologies, then who are you?"

Deng Chuntao: "Kobayashi Himari of course. The Heir of Kobayashi-Kumi. The biggest Yazuka syndicate in Japan."

Dr. Lin: "Okay Miss Kobayashi Himari. Can you tell me what year it is?"

Deng Chuntao: "1645"

Ren Daiyu animatedly gasped: "She was a Yakuza!!!" She then stuffed some gummies into her mouth and continued avidly watching the TV.

...

The show finished 2 hours later; it was now 6 pm.

Ren Daiyu: "I don't think Hu Jing will be accepted back at the school considering he looked pretty happy about being told he was a serial killed in his past life. So creepy. But that Deng Chuntao, Can you believe that innocent little girl was a Yakuza, a baker, a brothel mistress, a male warrior, a 6 year old orphan and a successful business man. She was only 19!"

Li Xiuying: "Fake."

Ren Daiyu looked appalled: "NO! How can you say that?!"

Li Xiuying: "That girl is an extra in many films."

Li Xiuying had met Deng Chuntao in her past life; she came in for multiple fractures that occurred during a movie shoot. Deng Chuntao had talked non-stop about her roles including her act on The Soul Unraveled.

Ren Daiyu looked heartbroken.

Ren Daiyu dramatically put her arm over her face and fell back onto the couch: "How could Dr. Lin do this to me?"

Li Xiuying gently chuckled at Ren Daiyu's dramatics.

Ren Daiyu started laughing too.