Everything is changing. Most things can only be guessed at, not predicted, just like my encounter with Lanting. I always thought we would just be ordinary collaborators, but I never expected such a surprising situation to arise.

I began to not understand what she meant. We met by chance because of a project; although it wasn’t our first meeting, it should be considered our first formal encounter. After some conversation and the meeting adjourned, she suddenly approached me and told me that she had also been to the desert I had visited and encountered some strange things.

This sounded a bit like the beginning of a mystery novel. Was she testing whether her novel’s opening was captivating? With a hint of good-natured humor?

But when I looked into her eyes, I realized she was very serious.

As photographers, we have a special intuition about people’s gazes, because at a certain level of photography, what the lens captures goes deep within, creating timeless works of art that often reflect the soul of a person. So I could sense that there was no hint of mockery in her eyes.

“What happened?” I asked. “I’m a photographer, not a desert expert. I don’t know if I can help you.”

She continued walking forward. “That’s exactly why I came to find you.”

“Oh?” I paused for a moment. “Is it a photography-related issue?”

She smiled a bit awkwardly. “I wish it were just a photography issue. Do you have time to help me look at it now? Let’s find a place where we can talk.”

I glanced at my watch. Although I was very tired and wanted to go back to bed to watch some American dramas before sleeping, it felt cruel to refuse her at that moment. Moreover, having been in the industry for 15 years, I was quite confident in my photography skills, and when someone asked me about them, I had a bit of vanity and wanted to show off.

So I smiled and nodded.

She immediately smiled back. “Great! Let’s go. I remember there’s a tea house up ahead. I’ll tell you what happened.”

It felt natural; it was clear she was used to this kind of friendly interruption.

I had met many celebrities, and while I understood that once a person becomes famous, they would experience various unbearable forms of harassment, leading them to wear a formulaic smile in response to any disturbance, Lanting’s smile still left me momentarily stunned because it was so gentle, without a hint of edge.

This added another layer to my fondness for her. People involved in artistic creation tend to like everything wholeheartedly for even a small reason; this is called discovering the beauty in details. However, I was still very tired, and since this was a no-smoking area, I could only rely on snacks to wake myself up.

Then I watched as she took an envelope out of her bag and poured the photos onto the table.

There were a lot of photos. I picked one up and noticed it was taken with an entry-level DSLR; clearly, the photographer was a beginner, but the scenery was not bad. Most of the photos had desert backgrounds.

As I flipped through the photos, she briefly told me about her experience in the desert. Novelists speak differently from us; even when casually chatting, it’s quite interesting. As she spoke, I felt as if the photos in my hands came to life.

Unlike us, Lanting’s journey into the desert was simply a backpacking adventure.

This activity lies between normal hiking and pure adventure, which we refer to as Route B. The attractions they visit are pre-designed, and although the route seems to lead into desolate wilderness, it remains within a range that is manageable by human effort, ensuring that rescue by a Land Rover can arrive within four hours. The likelihood of accidents during such activities is very low; most incidents occur due to the physical condition of the participants. Some girls may be too physically weak, and during long treks, dehydration can lead to organ failure before they reach a hospital. However, nowadays, team leaders are becoming increasingly professional, and medical personnel are typically included in the group, making such situations quite rare.

Another scenario involves the team leader deviating from the planned route and proposing to visit uncharted areas for profit, which is the issue that Lan Ting encountered during one trip. Her hiking group was of high caliber; I noticed in their group photos that one member was a host from Shandong TV, and another was an illustrator. It was evident that Lan Ting had a good relationship with the illustrator, as many photos featured the two of them posing together.

This is Dao Dao, my best friend. She explained while I was looking at the photos. During their trip, they had a group meal in a desolate village about 20 kilometers west of Badanjilin, called “Donkey Fragrance Paradise,” meaning “Shangri-La for hikers.” It is a place that almost every traveler passes through for a break. Although it is far from being as mysterious and beautiful as Shangri-La, it is certainly livelier than the lifeless desert.

There, they encountered another group that appeared disheartened. Upon inquiry, they learned that this group had just returned from Gulongjing. After discussing this, their guide suggested they visit Gulongjing. This group of young, bold travelers, still energized from their journey, unanimously agreed to go. Gulongjing was only seven kilometers away, and they reached it the next day in just two hours, but they left after only fifteen minutes because the place felt very unsettling.

In Lan Ting’s recollection, as they approached Gulongjing, she felt an involuntary sense of palpitations and anxiety. The sun was blazing, but this feeling was uncontrollable; she couldn’t explain it, as if some instinct within her was afraid. Once they reached the depths of Gulongjing, her discomfort intensified, akin to heatstroke, leaving her in a daze. In the end, they only took a few photos before leaving.

The photos were unremarkable, featuring a few low-lying rock formations shaped by the desert winds into spiral patterns, surrounded by rolling sand dunes, the lines as graceful as the spine of Venus. I had seen photos of Gulongjing and knew this must be within its area, but I hadn’t expected the rock formations to be so sparsely distributed. I also couldn’t fathom what was particularly special about this place.

That night, she had a series of chaotic nightmares. Later, she speculated whether the scenery had given them some bad omen or if local legends had influenced them, but nothing seemed to make sense. However, it was certain that the place felt truly eerie. She believed she was not the only one who felt this way, as she clearly noticed that everyone’s expressions were unusual.

After that, they returned home, gradually not taking this experience to heart. However, when Lan Ting got home and developed all the photos, he discovered a problem.

When Lan Ting mentioned this, he handed me a stack of photos: “These are the photos I took after returning from Gulongjing. Compare them and see if you notice any changes compared to the previous ones.”

The lighting in the tea bar was somewhat dim, and I looked at the photos against the light.

To be honest, I initially couldn’t see any issues with the photos. From a photographic perspective, there was nothing wrong with them; perhaps the shooting technique and expression were a bit naive, but that was not a problem, just a flaw.

I compared the two sets of photos again and again, and finally, I realized that the issue was not with the photos themselves, but with the content depicted in them.

In the photos they took after returning from Gulongjing, one person was missing.