There was still about half an hour before the next train to Jiang City.
With the rush to Jiang City interrupted, the two found a secluded place, avoiding those who would appear from time to time to stop them from proceeding with their plans.
The tightly closed heart had quietly opened a small gap, and the past which had gathered dust was revealed.
“April 6th, 1439 Star Era. It was a very ordinary morning. Spring had arrived and rain was plentiful. It had rained from early morning till dawn.” Ji Yushi slowly spoke up, “I didn’t get up too early because my father was always the one who got up the earliest. As he worked, he made breakfast for me as usual. It was a very crudely made egg sandwich paired with a glass of slightly sweet hot milk. The table was outrageously messy, filled with formulas I couldn’t understand at the time. Even after I pushed away those papers and finished my breakfast, he didn’t notice. It was only when I was about to leave that he caught up to me with a raincoat and apologised saying that he would have to work overtime again.”
Those fragmentary details may not be important to the case, but it was Ji Yushi’s final interaction with his father.
Song Qinglan listened quietly without interrupting him.
Ji Yushi continued, “He didn’t go to work after I left that day because he had died at home. He was stabbed in the chest with a knife.”
That simple line brought the scene from seventeen years ago before Song Qinglan’s eyes.
Ji Yushi said, “Based on his time of death, he had died shortly after I left. The police investigated the case and checked all the recordings in the community that day and found a suspect from that.”
Suspect?
Hearing this, Song Qinglan couldn’t help but ask, “The case wasn’t solved?”
Ji Yushi nodded lightly to confirm this. He was a little dazed, as if he was immersed in his memory.
He then turned his head and said to Song Qinglan, “That morning, the murderer and I passed by each other in the corridor.”
Song Qinglan’s breathing stopped. He suddenly felt his chest tighten, “………”
In 1439, how old was Ji Yushi?
Probably only eight years old.
Ji Yushi didn’t speak too excitedly or sadly. He just spoke as a matter of factly, “I was too young at the time and didn’t see the murderer’s face. Even after suffering from hyperthymesia and becoming able to recall many things, I could only remember the murderer’s clothes and walking posture that day, not his face. It was because I didn’t see it that day.”
Ji Yushi’s hyperthymesia.
Song Qinglan remembered that Ji Yushi had mentioned that his hyperthymesia wasn’t something he had from birth when they were in the rainforest. It was something he had acquired one day and he suddenly found that he could remember all his experiences and all the details.
Well then, was Ji Yushi’s hyperthymesia because of this?
A childhood trauma. Despite desperately recalling and being able to recall all the details, he was unable to change that fact.
How despairing must that have been?
Unable to imagine how a child could handle something like this, Song Qinglan finally understood why Ji Yushi grew up to become what he is today.
Not having the ability to forget.
It was a very cruel thing for people with great pain.
“Later, I was adopted by my father’s friend, who is my current teacher.” Ji Yushi said, “He is a very excellent psychologist. It could be said that without him, there wouldn’t be the me now.”
Song Qinglan, “That’s the person who called you just now?”
Ji Yushi nodded, “Yes. With the help of my teacher, I joined Tianqiong and became a Recorder.”
Song Qinglan understood.
Only after performing 100 Recorder missions, passing the test of time and becoming a Recorder who can be truly indifferent in the face of history, could Ji Yushi be allowed to return to that day to face his father’s death. The reward he wanted was to remember the murderer’s appearance. Even if it was more than ten years too late, he still wanted justice.
For all his life until now, this had been Ji Yushi’s goal. He was clearly suffering from hyperthymesia, but he would continue to go back to the past again and again, filling his mind with irrelevant scenes, only relying on that small source of hope to endure through the pain.
When a person’s life goal is too heavy, one would become very lonely, as if apart from this goal, there was nothing else in life that mattered.
In the terrible world filled with zombies and black walls, Ji Yushi didn’t give up.
In the crevice of time where everything didn’t make sense, Ji Yushi didn’t give up.
But this time, he almost gave up.
Song Qinglan understood how tempting that call just now must’ve been for Ji Yushi.
At the same time, he seemed to understand what he meant by ‘I don’t have that kind of reality’.
Although Ji Yushi had already returned to his senses, Song Qinglan was certain that he had seriously thought about giving up when he received that phone call, and he must have seriously considered the idea of staying in this reality.
It was because Ji Yushi knew. The reality here was only different starting from fifteen years ago. For Ji Yushi, as long as they could return to 1439 to complete his goal, it didn’t matter to him which reality he was in.
What was it that made Ji Yushi change his mind?
Song Qinglan couldn’t guess, but he was glad.
He tried to keep the atmosphere from becoming too heavy, “Advisor Ji, if I knew you earlier……”
Ji Yushi’s clear eyes looked over at him, “?”
Ji Yushi’s momentarily stunned look was actually a little cute. Song Qinglan for some reason felt his heart soften inside.
In fact, his next line was ‘I could accompany you sooner’, but just as it reached his lips, he felt that it wasn’t appropriate, so Song Qinglan cleared his throat, “If I knew you earlier, I would’ve asked them to transfer you over to the seventh squad earlier. That way, you would be able to complete your task earlier and go back to that day sooner, and not be stuck waiting around here with me. In summary, it was my fault.”
Ji Yushi: “………”
This form of consolation was too clumsy.
*
As they spoke, Song Qinglan’s phone rang. It was Duan Wen.
Ji Yushi had almost been abducted by this reality just now and they hadn’t had the chance to contact their teammates to tell them to be vigilant yet. This call came just in time.
On the way to the station earlier, Ju Yushi had used Song Qinglan’s phone to send information about Chief Wang to everyone. It was unknown whether everyone managed to recall their other memory just like them.
The two looked at each other. Song Qinglan picked it up, “Old Duan.”
Duan Wen spoke hurriedly, “Cap Song, I’m currently with Tang Qi and Tang Le. Where are you two?”
In the corner of his eyes, he saw Ji Yushi rub his earlobe. That small action made the corners of Song Qinglan’s lips curl up slightly. He didn’t mention the matter about Ji Yushi and just said, “We were delayed a little on our way back and are now waiting for the next train. We should soon arrive at Jiang City. Have you guys looked through that document?”
“Yes!” Duan Wen seemed to be smoking. He took a long drag, “One question. Is this damned world our original world or not?”
Song Qinglan answered, “I’m afraid not.”
Duan Wen, “…….Damn.”
Old Duan couldn’t be blamed for being unable to accept this. What should he do about his wife and daughter?
The phone was taken by Tang Le. Tang Le exclaimed through the phone, “Cap Song, we have a little sister now. Can you believe it?”
Song Qinglan narrowed his eyes, “The legendary Tang Rongrong?”
The twins were called Tang Qi and Tang Le.
The two boys often fought when they were young and every time they didn’t like each other, they would urge their parents to give birth to a younger sister and call her Rongrong. Together, it would become QiLeRongRong. (KKnotes: Something like joy and harmony)
When Tang Le was being scolded by Tang Qi, he would always make something out of nothing and say that his younger sister was better.
Unexpectedly, they really did have a younger sister in this reality.
Once their double memories overlapped, this younger sister also became real in Song Qinglan’s memory. She was a lively and lovely girl and very good at acting coquettish.
Tang Le exclaimed, “Yes! And she’s really called Tang Rongrong!”
The voice on the phone changed. This time it was Tang Qi, “Chun’er’s phone is off. Old Duan called him but no one answered so we don’t know what’s happening on his end. Cap Song, what should we do now?”
Please read this from kk translates
The team members had deep trust for each other. After learning about the truth, their first question wasn’t whether or not they should return or why this happened. Instead, they asked ‘what should we do now’.
Even Song Qinglan as the captain was a little touched.
But rough men like them don’t dwell on emotional matters for too long. He said, “We can only take one step at a time and act separately. Old Duan, go to the nursing home.”
This world interfered with ‘observing’ behaviours at an astonishing speed. Before they even arrived at Jiang City, a phone call had grasped Ji Yushi’s weakness and almost made him stay behind.
As such, one cannot rule out the possibility of Chief Wang’s end being interfered with. Duan Wen right now needed to hurry over to ensure that something like that did not happen.
Song Qinglan continued and said to Tang Qi, “You two go find Chun’er and Old Zhou. As soon as Advisor Ji and I arrive, we will meet at the nursing home.”
Everyone: “Roger.”
“Wait!!” Song Qinglan said, “Along the way, you may meet people you know or don’t know trying to make you do something. Take care of yourself and…..don’t follow them.”
The phone call ended.
An announcement sounded on the platform, reminding them that the suspended train bound for Jiang City East Station was about to arrive.
Song Qinglan, “We should go now.”
Ji Yushi nodded.
The two strode over to the platform.
As soon as they appeared, people sitting in the waiting room reading books, drinking water, chatting or just passing by started to look at them. These people placed down everything in their hands, stood up with blank expressions and hollow eyes, and proceeded to chase after them.
Ji Yushi walked very fast. He followed behind Song Qinglan and was more nervous than ever before.
His phone continued to ring but he subconsciously knew who the caller was.
Song Qinglan noticed this and turned around, “Give it to me.”
Ji Yushi took his phone out of his pocket somewhat hesitantly.
Song Qinglan grabbed it and saw the word ‘teacher’ displayed on the screen. Ji Yushi’s interference was here again. As he walked towards the train, he threw the phone into the bin without batting his eyes.
Ji Yushi looked back, “!”
He almost couldn’t stop himself from going to that bin.
But Song Qinglan grabbed his wrist to stop him and pulled him over to the platform.
When the suspended train arrived, the two randomly boarded a carriage.
Some got out of the carriage, some got on.
Some left their seats like zombies, following behind them or blocking them.
Song Qinglan ignored them all, bumping them into disarray and attracting complaints from the normal people in the process.
Please read this from kk translates
They walked to the carriage at the end of the train and the sound of the suspended train setting off sounded. Song Qinglan opened the door to the bathroom and pushed the other person in.
Those who interfered with them lost their targets and gradually dispersed.
The bathroom was clean and tidy, but the space was small. With two full-grown men with long legs inside, it made it even more cramped. This scene was quite familiar. Ji Yushi remembered that there was probably a time when the two of them from Team B separated from the rest of team at Runjin Building in the Ouroboros mission and hid in a small room. He had stepped on Song Qinglan’s foot at that time.
The difference this time was that as soon as the door was closed this time, a cold object clamped onto Ji Yushi’s wrist.
There was a ‘click’.
Ji Yushi looked down. There was an additional handcuff around his wrist. He went through his memories very quickly and the details of the carriages they had passed by came to his mind.
When they passed a certain carriage, they happened to encounter a police officer on duty.
Ji Yushi was shocked, “Cap Song?!”
Song Qinglan had no plan on negotiating with him. He then proceeded to handcuff himself with a ‘click’.
He raised his hand. The shiny handcuff completely bound the two together. His expression was even a little content, “Took it from the police officer just now.”
Ji Yushi was speechless, “I won’t be able to escape that easily anyway.”
Song Qinglan leaned against the washstand. He seemed to be able to finally breathe a sigh of relief now and said lazily, “Who knows? Don’t worry, Advisor Ji. Now you won’t be able to escape no matter what.”
Outside the small bathroom window, the scenery blurred into a haze. In a short time, the suspended train had reached maximum speed.
Suddenly, the carriage slammed to the right and a strong sense of weightlessness struck. The two subconsciously grabbed the objects beside them to stabilise themselves and heard the cries of the other passengers outside.
“What’s going on?!”
“I don’t know!!”
Before the two had the time to speak, they heard a loud noise accompanied by a sharp screech. The carriage flipped over and was thrown in a certain direction!
“Ahhh!!!!”
More screams filled their eardrums.
After the carriage overturned, it overhung from a height. The alarm sounded endlessly. The bullet-proof glass shattered and fell off.
Under the hole that had suddenly appeared was a lake 100 metres away from them. Passengers and objects fell from the carriage windows, falling into the water below.
Ji Yushi’s entire body hung from the window. The toilet rolls in the bathroom rolled about chaotically.
Even if it was water, falling from such a high point would undoubtedly result in death.
“Ji Yushi!!”
Song Qinglan grabbed his hand.
Thanks to the handcuffs, it gave Song Qinglan time to react.
The young and tall man had amazing arm strength. In this case, he had grabbed another adult male with one hand. Veins bulged out from his arm.
Ji Yushi grabbed Song Qinglan’s hand back. His body was like a roll of paper, as if he would fall with just a soft blow.
Song Qinglan used his other injured hand to grab onto the shelf in the bathroom. He could only rely on this alone as support. If the shelf broke off, they would die together on the spot.
“Ahhhhh!”
People fell out through the windows.
“Don’t look!” Song Qinglan’s face was turning red. He squeezed out a few more words through his teeth with much difficulty, “Grab onto me!”
Ji Yushi looked back with a pale face. He drove the scene just now out of his mind and used his other hand to grab onto Song Qinglan.
In a situation like this, the Ju-Jitsu Ji Yushi had learnt came into use. He curled up his body and reached towards the washstand with his long legs, managing to find another point of support for himself.
With his life hanging by a thin thread, Ji Yushi successfully opened the bathroom door.
The train had completely overturned and was hanging upside down on the tracks in the air.
The hot steam beside the tracks made Ji Yushi sweat endlessly. Song Qinglan raised his handcuffed hand to help facilitate his movements. He crawled out and managed to pull Song Qinglan out with difficulty.
There were many passengers already standing on the track.
Some were standing there dumbly. Some were crying.
The two who had managed to escape from such a dangerous situation didn’t even have the change to feel scared. The scene before them shocked them.
On the tracks in front of them, a phantom of a suspended train appeared.
The colour was exactly the same as the overturned one behind them, as if their train had been pushed aside because of its appearance.
The beginning and the end of this phantom train couldn’t be seen clearly. It was clearly running at high speed, but at this time it was as if the pause button had been selected. There were no sounds at all.
Song Qinglan randomly picked up an item scattered on the ground and threw it at the phantom,
The item bounced away.
The phantom actually had a physical body.
A large tear had formed on Ji Yushi’s clothes. Following that incident just now, he was in a rather sorry state, “It’s an overlap……”
His brain worked quickly, and his eyes suddenly brightened, “Cap Song, the two realities have overlapped — We must have encountered something crucial!”
Song Qinglan looked at his phone, “Old Duan found Chief Wang.”
As soon as he finished saying that, their surroundings suddenly turned quiet.
When they turned their heads and looked over, they saw all the surviving passengers on the tracks looking back at them.
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