Chapter 56: Intersecting Death Anniversaries and Birthdays (1)
Restless…
This is a fitting description for the current situation.
Although I haven’t truly died yet, I’ve brushed past death several times.
Since we started fleeing, we’ve encountered countless dangers, and it’s only been three days.
But to call it fleeing is an exaggeration; we’re merely using our abilities to forcibly evade danger.
For instance, when an advertisement board suddenly fell, Juncheng quickly pushed us down. If he hadn’t reacted in time, Zi’ai would have had to use Time backtrack to avoid the danger.
However, the incident of an advertisement board falling has already happened twenty-three times, an average of once every three hours, with other disasters occurring in between.
We’re like mobile disasters, causing heavy losses wherever we go. Yet, we don’t have Abrams’ super luck.
And throughout this ordeal, I haven’t been able to help with anything, contributed nothing—I’m just a burden…
Juncheng and Zi’ai keep encouraging me, but the more they encourage me, the more I feel my own incompetence…
In the end, there was really no need to bring me along.
Zi’ai could have just brought Juncheng back to the past. This would not only save some Destiny Power but also align more with Zi’ai’s intentions, wouldn’t it?
Why bring a burden like me here?
It’s more uncomfortable than being a third wheel; I feel like an unnecessary existence.
I can’t offer any good suggestions, I’m at a loss regarding the current events, but I can’t complain, as it would only worsen the mood of those around me. At least I shouldn’t cause more trouble for others. With this thought, I forcibly suppress various negative thoughts, causing my mind to become sluggish, unable to react to immediate dangers. It’s a vicious cycle.
My body is straining, fatigue is overflowing, and my spirit is on the verge of collapse.
This is the limit.
Juncheng struggled to push open the rooftop door. A cool breeze blew in, rustling the bedsheets spread across the roof.
“…There’s nowhere to hide here… Let’s crouch on top of the exit and observe secretly. We can rest a bit too.”
“Juncheng, I’m out of strength… Carry me~”
“Alright, stop being so clingy. I’m exhausted too. Right now, all I want is to collapse on a bed and sleep for days. I haven’t slept in three days… Here, step on me to climb up.”
Juncheng squatted by the wall of the exit, lowering his head. Zi’ai, however, didn’t hesitate. She took off her shoes, tossed them onto the roof, and then climbed onto Juncheng’s back. As she climbed, she deliberately showed off a glimpse of her underwear.
“Hey, hey, hurry up and climb.”
“Alright, alright, I’m going up now.”
Zi’ai didn’t seem to be deliberately stalling. She was also very tired. Anyone would reach their limit after three days without sleep.
As she grabbed the edge of the rooftop to climb up, her hand slipped, and she was about to fall.
This time, I reacted. I stepped forward and used both hands to support Zi’ai’s back, preventing her from falling to the ground.
“Ah, thank you, Zi’ai~ I almost hit the back of my head.”
“It’s nothing…”
Compared to what you two have done, what is this little thing I did?
After Zi’ai climbed up, Juncheng said to me.
“Come on, Zi’ai, you climb up too.” “Okay.”
I also took off my shoes and climbed up, imitating Zi’ai’s actions. Then, Zi’ai and I pulled Juncheng up together.
Once all three of us reached the top of the exit, Juncheng lay down directly. I leaned against a satellite antenna, on the verge of sleep from exhaustion.
Only Zi’ai stood with her hands on her hips, looking energetic.
“You two are too useless! This is just a minor challenge! We still have a long way to go!”
“Stop being so tough, Zi’ai. You’ve got dark circles under your eyes.”
“How could that be! Dark circles? Before, I could stay up for a week straight watching ‘Juncheng’s Daily Life Part 128~136’ without getting them!”
“How long did you even record? Stop violating my personal privacy. Ah, whatever, you won’t listen even if I tell you.”
Juncheng seemed to have lost the energy to even retort.
Zi’ai’s eyes darted around, then she leaned against Juncheng with a giggle and lay down, hugging his body.
“But I am a little tired. Hehehe. Let me feel Juncheng’s body heat for a while~”
“Wait, if another unexpected incident happens soon, won’t it interfere with what’s about to happen?”
“No, no unexpected incidents will happen for now.”
“Because what happens here will affect the course of the world, meaning it’s an important historical event. Fate naturally won’t attack us at this time and place. Otherwise, if something that was supposed to happen never happened, it would be putting the cart before the horse.”
“Ah… So, fate won’t interfere with unexpected events through unexpected means… Then why didn’t we just come here earlier? We wouldn’t have had to suffer those terrible things…”
“Conversely, if we forcefully interfere with or change an important historical event at this time, we’ll probably be struck down by a lightning bolt, with no chance to dodge.” “So, without knowing what will happen in the future, we can’t just come here. If we accidentally get caught up in something important and get struck by lightning, it would be hilarious.”
“So, later, we absolutely must not be discovered. We can only watch and listen, but do nothing… Remember, Juncheng, it’s not time yet. Don’t act rashly.”
“I got it, why are you emphasizing me? I understand the consequences, so I won’t do anything foolish again. I’m not…”
“Really? But you’re the type to act before thinking.”
“No, no, no. I’m the type to think carefully before acting.”
“That’s right. After all, you can speed up your thinking process… Which means there’s something fundamentally wrong with your thinking.”
“You’re directly criticizing my personality…”
“After all, you’ve now given up on your emotions, so you won’t ‘prioritize yourself’.”
“Is that wrong, too?”
“No, it’s not wrong. In fact, that personality of yours will make any woman who falls in love with you even more devoted.”
“A man who thinks only of you and never lies to you is every woman’s dream lover. He could outshine any prince charming by miles, hehehe~”
“I feel like there’s a hidden meaning in your words… Ai? Are you alright?”
Fatigue wrapped around me like a wet snake, making me drowsy. Just burying my head in my arms almost made me lose consciousness.
“…Sorry.”
“I wish I’d brought a bedsheet. Then I could cover you with it. It’s getting late, and the weather will turn cold.”
“No need. I don’t like it.”
As my tense nerves relaxed, I instinctively spoke my true feelings. “…It probably won’t… I’m sorry. I’m too sensitive. I’m not afraid of dead people, no matter how gruesome their deaths… But being covered with a white sheet… I find it scary. Especially a face outlined under a sheet. Because I can’t see it, it feels terrifying…”
“Zi’ai, are you afraid of fate?” Zi’ai directly stated my true feelings, and I no longer wanted to hide it, so I admitted it. “Don’t think of fate as a person. Fate doesn’t have subjective consciousness; it’s just a ‘system’. And systems only work according to their programmed procedures.”
“It’s just mechanical programming. And we’re now in a BUG debugging.”
“I know that, but I can’t help but feel scared. What is it… Exhaustion surged up. None of us had the strength to speak anymore. The night sky was darkening from afar, drawing closer to the time the Head Maid mentioned. There were many stars tonight, like twinkling, shining stars in the night sky. Then, I heard the sound of a door opening. My spirits instantly lifted. I wiped my eyes, crouched down, and crawled to the edge. Juncheng and Zi’ai had also woken up and were observing below with the same intensity. Then I saw him. I couldn’t help but exclaim. Fortunately, my hands rushed to my mouth and covered it, preventing any sound. One person, that man, that back… It was Dad! How could it be Dad? But Dad works at this hospital, so it’s natural for him to be here. But why at this time? Then I saw Dad light a cigarette. I remember he didn’t smoke… Was he just coming to the rooftop to smoke? Coincidence? Dad coughed a few times from the smoke, probably because he wasn’t used to smoking. It was just for show. Then I heard another door open. We all lowered our heads together to avoid being discovered by Dad. Only when the footsteps faded did we raise our heads again. He was a man in a suit, standing straight. Dad looked at the man and said, “Did you bring that thing?” The man remained silent. Then Dad asked again, “Did you bring that thing?” The man said, in a firm tone, “At this point, you still want to…” “Your wife is sleeping in the morgue downstairs. Don’t you want to revive her?” His tone was devoid of emotion, incredibly cold. This wasn’t the usual Dad… The usual Dad just didn’t know how to express his emotions. Although his facial expressions rarely changed, you could still feel his emotions. But the current Dad was like a cold-blooded killer! Hearing Dad’s words, the man in the suit shouted loudly! “You don’t need to lie to me anymore, An Yongkang! I know! That’s not a revival serum at all, it’s just a virus that plays with corpses!” What did I hear? A virus that plays with corpses? Does the corpse virus have anything to do with Dad? “Stop it, An Yongkang! This plan is wrong!” “I know.” “You’re crazy! An Yongkang! Do you really know what you’re doing?” “Of course. You just need to help me sell the ‘medicine’ to those fools who don’t value human life.” “I always thought you were a good doctor who only wanted to save others! You want to spread that devilish virus? It will cause… to be unable to rest even after death…” “Death is inevitable!” “But this is the only way…” “As a man who has also lost his wife, I understand your feelings. The most important thing in our hearts is our family. I’m doing this for my family, just like you.” “You have another daughter, right? I know you’re making these unsavory deals just to pay off your debts as soon as possible so you and your daughter can live a stable life… Although I can’t truly revive your wife, as long as you complete this transaction, I guarantee you and your daughter will be able to live a normal life.” “Save yourself or save others, choose one.” The man was silent for a moment, then shouted fiercely, “Damn it!” “But if the virus spreads, all of humanity will be in danger, won’t it?” “Don’t worry about that. It won’t spread.” “Why would they build the new development zone so far from the existing urban area? Haven’t you ever thought about it? ‘That place’ is meant to be abandoned. I heard your daughter also lives in that district. Hurry and get her out.” “One last question. What are you doing all this for? You don’t need to use the excuse of family anymore. I know you’re that kind of man.” “Do you believe in fate?” He crushed the cigarette butt with his hand, looked up, and said calmly, “Save people or save… I just chose the latter.”
