The mist rolled over the rooftops of Shaxi, a quiet mountain town in Yunnan where time seemed to have stopped a century ago. Leo, an expat who had been living in the humid chaos of Shenzhen for two years, had come here seeking silence. But the silence of the mountains was different—it was heavy, thick with the scent of pine and old wood. He sat on the balcony of his guesthouse, a restored 18th-century courtyard house, watching the lanterns flicker in the wind. Just as he was about to close his eyes, a sound cut through the stillness. It wasn't the wind. It wasn't the creek. It was a rhythmic, metallic 'ting... ting... ting...' coming from the dark corner of the attic. Leo felt a chill run down his spine. He turned to Mei, the owner’s daughter who was clearing away his tea tray. “Mei, 你听到那个奇怪的声音了吗？(Nǐ tīng dào nà ge qí guài de shēng yīn le ma?) [Did you hear that strange sound?]” Mei froze, her hands hovering over the porcelain cups. She didn't answer immediately. The sound came again, sharper this time.
Key Phrase Introduction
Before we delve deeper into the mystery of the Shaxi guesthouse, let’s look at our key phrase for today. This is a perfect sentence for any situation where things feel a little... off.
Phrase: 你听到那个奇怪的声音了吗？(Nǐ tīng dào nà ge qí guài de shēng yīn le ma?)