Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Banquet Lost

In a blink of an eye, six years have passed.The investigation of the homicide case still made no progress, and the police had no choice but to disband the special search headquarters established at that time. For six years, the murder of Ganli has often troubled Beicun.But in any case, it is impossible for people to be immersed in painful memories of a certain past forever.Day after day, new experiences continue one after another, so the memories of the past gradually become blurred. The grief and anger have not completely faded away, just as the scabs have sealed the wound, the deep wound under its cover is still aching.Although six full years have passed since the incident, Beicun's mental blow was extremely painful and irreparable.

Recently, Kitamura's dazedness seems to be getting worse.Moreover, it is no longer a simple daze, and many times there will be amnesia.This is like a person who is so drunk that he can't remember anything that happened while he was drunk after he sobered up. Thankfully, though, this period of self-lostness was relatively short-lived.If this symptom worsens further and becomes long-term memory loss, it will be a big trouble.After seeing the doctor, the doctor diagnosed that there was no need to worry about it, because it was just a manifestation of intermittent momentary amnesia. It is said that there are about 14 billion nerve cells in the human brain, and thousands of brain cells die every day after a person reaches the age of 30.As the number of cell death continues to increase, there may be reactions such as emotional imbalance, poor memory, or transient amnesia.

If 5,000 brain cells die in one day, 1.825 million brain cells will be consumed in a year, and as many as 18.25 million brain cells will die in ten years. indivual.According to this calculation, compared to the total number of 14 billion, the death of 18.25 million brain cells in ten years is not a big deal.Thinking about it this way, Kitamura felt indifferent.However, if the dead brain cells contain very important cellular components, wouldn't it be impossible to measure it with a simple numerical ratio?Thinking of this, Kitamura couldn't help feeling uneasy again. One evening in late May, Beicun walked out of the house, preparing to rush to the city center to attend a publishing house banquet hosted by a certain hotel.Originally, it would be the easiest to take a taxi directly from home to the hotel, but Beicun usually doesn't like to take a taxi.Because he felt that the space in the taxi was too narrow, it was always boring and suffocating to face the driver alone.Besides, he thought dealing with drivers was more of a distraction.

If you change the bus or tram, firstly, there is no need to worry about it, and secondly, you can observe the people around you carefully, so you won’t feel lonely and bored.In addition, you can also read a book leisurely in the spacious compartment. In view of the above reasons, Beicun took the tram to the city center that day. "Mr. Kitamura, is it okay to go by train?" His wife asked worriedly as she sent Kitamura out.For a long time, my wife has always been worried about Beicun's old problems. "Oh, don't worry about me. I'm sure I won't be old and confused, right?" Kitamura puffed up her chest and replied confidently.For Kitamura, who is only in his fifties, his novel creation has been quite good recently, so he sincerely feels that the life of a writer is busy and fulfilling.

"In short, as long as you feel a little uncomfortable, you should call me in time, and I will go out to pick you up immediately. In addition, I have clearly written my home phone number on both sides of your handbook." The wife continued Repeatedly exhorted. "Hey, don't be silly. How could I forget my home phone number?" "Hasn't this happened several times before?" "Don't worry, it's okay." Beicun comforted himself and walked out of the house. Having been bored in the study room by himself for a long time, Beicun found it particularly interesting when he walked into this bustling station.In the days of employees, it was a very painful job to commute to get off work at the station.However, looking back at this moment, I found that the place where I used to commute to get off work has become like an ancient battlefield, and I feel nostalgic.Perhaps, this is also a time factor.

There is a small two-story building in the center of the West Exit station, and a public telephone booth stands next to it.As soon as he arrived at the phone booth, Beicun suddenly remembered that there was still one thing to do, so he made a phone call. The matter was quickly settled, and he immediately walked towards the subway.After buying a direct ticket to a hotel in Tokyo, Kitamura began to wait for the ticket check.After a while, with the rumbling sound of the rails, the tram drove into the platform.Although the rush hour at dusk is coming soon, there are not many passengers rushing to the city center by car.

A large group of tired-looking salarymen came out of the tram.As they passed by, Beicun once again strongly felt that he had long been far away from the wage earners.Although it has been nearly ten years since he resigned, every time he faced this scene, the emotion in Bei Cun's heart remained undiminished. Trams on the way to the city center are empty, in stark contrast to the almost empty space on the return route from get off work.The tram drove all the way to Akasaka Urn Castle Gate (a place name in Tokyo), and only a few passengers got on and off the train. On the way, Kitamura changed to a yellow tram bound for Ginza.The interior of the train on the Ginza Line is a little bit crowded.As soon as he was seated, Beicun felt helpless, as if he had lost himself all of a sudden.

"Damn it, it's coming again." Bei Cun muttered, knowing that his old problem was repeated.It felt as if I was wrapped in a transparent suit and completely isolated from my surroundings.The tram was swaying and speeding forward, and Beicun in the carriage felt as if he was a foreigner with nothing to rely on, wandering alone in the unfamiliar streets. who am I?Where the hell am I from?Where the hell am I going now?What are you going to do? Although Kitamura also understands that this is a phenomenon of "transient amnesia", the feeling of being completely isolated suddenly will inevitably make people feel uneasy, as if lost in an unknown space.

The passenger next to him glanced at him.Perhaps, Kitamura's restless performance has aroused his suspicion.When the car arrived at Toranomon, a few passengers got on. In any case, I must remember where to get off.Kitamura thought to himself. Inadvertently, Kitamura reached into his pocket.He instinctively thought that the handbook in his pocket recorded his life experience and living conditions. At this moment, Beicun faintly felt a little unwell, and his consciousness became blurred.In fact, this is exactly what happens when you are at a loss. After the tram door closed, it continued on its way, and Kitamura became more and more restless.If you don't think of the platform you got off quickly, you may oversit, or you may have already passed the station.If it is absolutely forbidden to be late for the things to be done, if you don't restore your memory as soon as possible, then it will be irreparable.

Kitamura flipped through the manuals one by one.In the notebook, the daily note column is marked with plans and appointments.By the way, check today's memo column, maybe you can figure out where to go and what to do later. Bei Cun impatiently turned to the column of "Today's Notes", but it only read: Room 1010 of P Hotel, the party will be held at 7 pm. Beicun has no impression of this plan.However, since it is clearly recorded in the book, maybe I am going there by car now!Besides, it's 6:40 p.m., which is probably just in time for the party. Beicun finally decided to do what was written in the notebook and rushed to the P Hotel for the banquet.Of course, Bei Cun still had no idea what kind of party that would be.Even though he no longer remembers his own identity, the writer's innate curiosity remains unabated.

Perhaps it was driven by this curiosity that Beicun wanted to go to the banquet to find out. Hotel P is located in Ginza 8-chome and has just opened. Room 1010 is on the 10th floor of the hotel, and most of the spacious suites in the hotel are concentrated on this floor.However, the host decided to hold the party here, which seemed novel and unique. Beicun walked to the door of Room 1010 and rang the doorbell.The door opened a small crack, and immediately, a young man of twenty-five or sixteen years old poked his head out.The young man was wearing a silver-gray suit and a silk tie with green diagonal stripes.The suit is neither fat nor thin, but fits just right. It looks fashionable and gorgeous, which is obviously different from ordinary salaried employees.Compared with the day, the young man's attire seems more suitable for the night.That fashionable and gorgeous dress made one feel that there might be a strong and alternative side behind him. The reason why the above-mentioned feelings can be produced by instantaneous observation may be that the writer's professional awareness has played a role inadvertently.However, until this time, Beicun still couldn't remember his identity. "Please show your membership card." The young man said coldly, and looked at Beicun expressionlessly. "Membership card?" "It's the membership handbook." "Oh, so what you want is the handbook." Kitamura said while taking out the handbook that recorded the arrangements for the party.The young man glanced at it and quickly opened the door, "Please come in." After entering, there is a small room inside.In front of the desk, sat a slightly fat middle-aged woman, it seemed that there was the reception. "Welcome. Please pay the membership fee of 50,000 yen." The woman welcomed with a smile. Although the membership fee of 50,000 yen was a bit expensive, Kitamura opened the wallet and found that there was a full 200,000 yen in it!The money was put in by Beicun's wife before he went out, but Beicun couldn't remember it at all. Now that it has come, it is impossible to turn back.It doesn't matter if it's fifty thousand or one hundred thousand, no matter how much it is, in short, I came here for the banquet. "Thank you. Please put this on now." The female receptionist took out a mask similar to that used at masquerade balls as soon as she received the dues. "Huh? Do you still want to wear this thing?" "Members can decide whether to wear it or not. However, if you are the only one not wearing a mask when everyone is wearing a mask, wouldn't it be too abrupt and out of place?" The female receptionist smiled triumphantly.What does that smile really mean?Beicun didn't know.He didn't care about that much anymore, and finally put on the mask readily.Anyway, at this time, I can't even figure out who I am. At this time when I'm lost, it's not a bad thing to hide my true colors. In this way, when I came here to attend a banquet, I became an unidentified X after wearing a mask.In fact, Kitamura himself doesn't know about the origin of X's identity. "Sir, please follow me." After putting on the mask, the young man who had just opened the door to welcome the guests came over to guide Beicun.After the aisle door opened, there was an extremely spacious room inside.Some strange men and women were sitting on the sofas and chairs in the room, and some people were squatting on the floor, all wearing the same masks.As soon as I stepped into the room, a pungent odor hit my face, which was really uncomfortable. In order to eliminate the peculiar smell, the house seems to have specially lit incense. In an instant, Beicun suddenly realized vaguely: Could this be the "drug carnival party" that is very popular secretly nowadays?But after a closer look, Beicun didn't think it looked the same. The curtains were drawn tightly, and the light in the room was extremely dim.In addition, everyone was wearing masks, so they couldn't see their faces clearly, but everyone's clothes looked very classy.The elegant and comfortable background music reverberated in the room for a long time. Orange juice, cola and other soft drinks are neatly arranged on a variety of exquisite small dining tables in the room.However, there were not many people toasting and having fun, and there was no lively scene of chatting and laughing among members.The members sat quietly, in a strange and mysterious atmosphere.In short, the whole room is filled with a decadent and lazy atmosphere. It can be said that Beicun knew nothing about why this party was held.Where is the value of the expensive membership fee of 50,000 yen? A man sitting next to Beicun lighted a cigarette leisurely.The smell of smoke seemed to be particularly strong, the pungent smell was strong and choking, and it rushed towards Beicun mercilessly.In the house, most people were smoking, so Beicun had to endure it silently, besides, he usually smoked a few. It seems that the choking smell that I smelled when I first entered the room came from the tobacco. "Excuse me, but did you bring a lighter?" Suddenly, the man sitting next to him greeted Beicun.It turned out that the man's cigarette went out.Kitamura took out a lighter from his pocket and handed it over, and the man leisurely lit the cigarette again.He took a deep breath, held his breath, and savored it carefully.Looking around, Beicun realized that everyone seemed to be smoking like this, and this way of smoking seemed particularly peculiar. The man sitting next to him drooped his eyelids, looking drowsy.His squinted eyes were bloodshot, as if his whole body was already in an extremely relaxed and comfortable state.The man's youthful cheeks were enveloped by a feeling of emptiness. It seems that this person's cheeks have been seen somewhere, but the key eyes are completely covered by the mask, so Beicun can't remember it for a while.In short, this cheek is indeed a bit familiar.The man sitting next to him didn't react in any particular way, maybe Beicun knew him unilaterally. "Come, take a puff." Inadvertently, the man sitting next to him handed over the cigarette he had smoked.Beicun was really taken aback by the sudden incident.As for cigarettes, he himself carried them with him.Passing the cigarette he had smoked to himself, Kitamura felt that the man sitting next to him was uneducated and rude.However, after looking around, he found that everyone was taking turns smoking the same cigarette.At this moment, if I categorically refuse, I will definitely disappoint my neighbors.Thinking of this, Kitamura took it slowly, and reluctantly sucked on the smelly cigarette butt. The moment he inhaled, Beicun suddenly felt dizzy, and a strong sense of numbness and intoxication went straight to the depths of his brain.Immediately afterwards, the whole person gradually lost consciousness, as if he was suddenly dragged into the bottom of the valley. If you get stuck here, you can't go back.I don't know if it was an instinctive reaction, or the effect of the puff of the cigarette, Beicun suddenly regained his sanity. I was going out today to attend the party of the publishing house, how did I end up in this place?Obviously, this is by no means a publishing house party.Everyone was wearing masks to cover their faces, and judging from the exposed parts, there were no familiar friends of Kitamura. In addition, it can be seen from the overall atmosphere of the venue that the party was not organized by the publishing house, and even the people present had nothing to do with the publishing house.If there were any relevant personnel from the publishing house among them, someone would have taken the initiative to say hello to Beicun. Gradually, the atmosphere of the party became more and more weird and mysterious.On the floor, men and women embraced each other, lying on their backs wantonly.Among them, some people were laughing wildly.The peculiar smell in the room is getting stronger and stronger. At this moment, even if you don't take a few breaths, it is already unbearable.It seems that relying on some incense to remove the smell has no effect at all. The men and women at the party were in a trance and their spirits were lax. They seemed to be all thirsty and they were scrambling for drinks.Empty Coke cans and juice bottles were strewn about the floor. Suddenly, Beicun came to his senses: this must be the rumored drug carnival!Even the ins and outs of how he happened to sneak in, Beicun suddenly remembered everything. I remember making a phone call at Shinjuku Station after I went out, and then I committed an old problem.It was after reading the "Today's Notes Column" in the handbook that I came here in a daze. However, it is impossible to record such a plan in my notebook.By the way, public phone booths!When I was at the public phone booth at Shinjuku Station, another man happened to be on the phone next to him.But what kind of man is he?Beicun had no memory of it, only remembering that the man was also flipping through his notebook and talking on the phone at the same time.Coincidentally, the manuals of the two are very similar, both are small black books.It is estimated that at that moment, the two took each other wrong. No wonder I was able to sneak into the venue so easily. It turned out that the man was a member of the drug carnival, and the notebook he brought happened to be his membership card. After regaining consciousness, Bei Cun's face suddenly turned pale when he thought of the dangerous environment he was in. In the past, entertainers and others who were involved in drug orgies would immediately become the subject of news reports once they were exposed.For such incidents, Beicun can be said to be fresh in his memory.Although the writer is not that famous, once the writer's name is involved in the drug carnival and exposed by the media, it is very likely to become explosive news. At that time, no matter whether you use your own dazedness as an excuse, or justify that you took the wrong manual and entered by mistake, it will be useless. Thinking of this, Beicun immediately returned the cigarette butt to the member sitting next to him.Afterwards, he stood up as nonchalantly as possible.At this moment, everyone was already in a state of ecstasy, and no one noticed him at all.Back in the lounge outside, Kitamura found that only the female receptionist was left in the room. "Ah, are you leaving now?" the female receptionist asked suspiciously. Perhaps so far, no one has left in such a hurry after paying 50,000 yen in dues. "I feel a little uncomfortable, go outside to get some fresh air, and I'll be right back." Kitamura explained. Fortunately, the female receptionist did not continue to ask.