Chapter 13 Changes

Da Lianmao waved his hand, telling everyone to put on their masks and get into the van.

Lin Xian was still wearing the Rhine Cat mask.

CC was still wearing the Ultraman mask.

This scene reminded Lin Xian of the time in the first dreamscape when the three of them were sitting in the same van…

It was quite comical.

However, today’s van had a few more people: A Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, San Pang, and Li Ningning.

Li Ningning was also wearing an Ultraman mask, but it wasn’t the same model as CC’s.

The two of them sat on either side of Lin Xian.

The bumpy van drove along the dirt road, swaying back and forth. The scent of white camellias mixed with the fragrance of roses made Lin Xian feel a little dizzy.

He remembered the second time he entered the second dreamscape, at 00:42, a hand had rested on his shoulder, and with the night breeze came the scent of white camellias.

It was safe to say that it was most likely CC.

Logically speaking, at that time, CC should have been waiting for the safe unloading at the 221 garbage plant.

So, by deduction, there was only one possibility…

Perhaps if he hadn't joined the Lian Bang (Face Gang), Li Ningning and Da Lianmao wouldn't have fallen behind, and CC wouldn't have found an opportunity to strike, so the plan failed and she stayed in Old Donghai.

Of course, it was also possible that other situations led to the failure or cancellation of Da Lianmao's operation, so CC didn't make it to the waste disposal plant either. Then, seeing him, who looked familiar, she followed him.

"We’re here, let’s get out!"

Da Lianmao still parked the van on the dirt slope, and everyone got out.

The group of seven, each wearing a mask, stood in a line on the high ground, looking at the distant, brightly lit New Donghai City…

This inexplicably gave Lin Xian the feeling of the Akatsuki organization attacking Konoha, or Zhang Mazi suppressing bandits.

Sometimes he was quite grateful.

He felt like he had an extra world out of nowhere, an imaginary world where he could freely adventure.

This was a life that he could never experience in reality, but now, he had to repeat it every day on the outskirts of New Donghai City.

He had often been thinking about this recently…

What was the meaning of him possessing this unique dream?

He remembered what Zhao Yingjun had said to him under the moonlight on the overpass that day:

"You must do what you like, do what you are willing to persist in, do something that is not to prove anything to others, but something you are willing to bet your life on."

If there really was such a thing, what would it be?

During this time, Lin Xian's mentality had indeed changed a lot.

He originally thought that many things had nothing to do with him, including this constantly repeating dream, the constantly collapsing world, the tomorrow that never came…

These things were too far away from him.

A full 600 years later.

What did it have to do with him?

Whether it was destruction, deformity, happiness, or pain, what did it have to do with him?

He could just be carefree and happy.

He could just vent and roam freely.

But now…

His thoughts really had changed a little.

He, the person in the midst of it, suddenly realized this—

In the past, he had only regarded Da Lianmao and CC as emotionless NPCs, but now… he inexplicably regarded them as his friends, friends with flesh and blood, with feelings and lives.

It wasn’t just them two.

Many people were the same.

Before, at the 314 waste disposal plant, even though Lin Xian knew that everyone would die after 00:42…

He still braved the drone's fire to throw Li Ningning out of the wall, saving the stubborn girl who didn't believe in fate.

Lin Xian didn't understand why he did this.

He couldn't figure it out.

Since they would all die, would always die, would die sooner or later… why did he still risk having his brains blown out to save a girl who could only live a few more minutes?

He had thought about it.

If that scene were to happen again, would he still do it?

The answer was yes.

Even if it happened ten thousand times, even if he restarted ten thousand times, he would still throw Li Ningning out safely at that moment…

Even if they would all eventually die.

Even if she could only live a few more minutes.

But Li Ningning…

She was a living person.

She was at the age of blossoming flowers, soaking in the stinky juice and rotten liquid of the garbage heap every day, just to throw a few books over the high wall.

People's hearts were made of flesh.

Thinking about the lives of those girls of the same age in reality, how could it not break your heart?

Li Ningning could have been a princess like Chu Anqing.

But she didn't believe in fate.

She was going to change everything in front of her.

That piece of bark that fell to the ground and gradually unfolded really made Lin Xian see the disobedience of life.

And CC.

And Da Lianmao.

They were all working hard, they were all拼命 (pinyin: pīn mìng - risking their lives), they were all disobedient, they all didn't believe in fate.

The current Lin Xian.

He could no longer regard this dreamscape as an illusory venting ground.

During the day, he would miss these friends.

After falling asleep, he couldn't wait to meet them.

He really liked Da Lianmao’s simple and honest foolishness.

He really liked A Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang, these hidden dragons and crouching phoenixes.

He really liked eating Auntie Lian's dumplings.

He worried about Da Lianmao's parents, who were of uncertain fate, but he didn't dare to mention it to Da Lianmao.

He really liked Li Ningning’s stubborn personality.

He admired Li Cheng’s broad-mindedness, willing to let his daughter do such a dangerous thing.

And CC, this mysterious, magical, and bickering girl.

Lin Xian gradually fell in love with all of this.

He had even thought many times…

How great it would be if the dreamscape could be extended by one more day, so that he wouldn't have to get to know these friends again, so that he could swaggeringly put his arms around their shoulders and say with a smile:

"Hey, I'm back!"

Lin Xian closed his eyes…

The bright lights of New Donghai City in the distance seemed to be branded on his retina, lingering for a long time.

If someone had told him a few months ago:

"Lin Xian, there is a way to save the world 600 years from now, to stop everyone from dying, to make time flow again, do you want to give it a try?"

Then he would have answered without hesitation:

"What's it to me? 600 years from now?

Go find someone from 600 years from now."

But now.

If the same question were asked to him.

Lin Xian thought he would probably answer…

"I want to try."

"What?"

Li Ningning raised her head, looking at the tall man who was muttering to himself.

"It's nothing."

Lin Xian smiled and touched Li Ningning's head:

"It's just that there are some things… I suddenly want to try them."

"Hey—!"

Da Lianmao turned his head in shock, looking at Lin Xian:

"You kid, you're already touching her! I'm gonna call the po—" "Get lost!"

……

20:42

The group of seven squatted outside the high wall of the 221 waste disposal plant, silently waiting for the blind spot of the drone surveillance to appear.

"This is for you."

Li Ningning took out a small sachet from her pocket and placed it in Lin Xian's hand.

He picked it up and looked at it.

This was a small, hand-sewn sachet that was square and upright.

It was only half the size of a bank card, really small. He didn't know what was inside. He couldn't smell any fragrance, and it felt a little hard when he squeezed it, like a lot of particles.

On both sides of the sachet, the characters for 平安 (pinyin: píng ān - peace/safe) were stitched tightly, line by line.

It was obvious that the person who embroidered this sachet was very good at needlework.

"I really like brave people like you." Li Ningning said softly:

"Over the years, I've heard countless people bragging about how they're going to enter New Donghai City and do this and that… but you're the first person I've seen who actually dares to try it."

"Actually, I really want to advise you not to go, it's really too dangerous. But Dad has also been advising you for a long time, and you still insist on going… This shows that entering New Donghai City must be a very important thing for you, right? Even… more important than life itself."

Lin Xian nodded.

Li Ningning smiled, looking at the sachet in Lin Xian's palm:

"This 平安 (pinyin: píng ān - peace/safe) sachet was sewn by my mom. I've had it for many years, and I've never had an accident. It's very effective."

"That's too precious, you should keep it yourself."

Lin Xian wanted to put the 平安 (pinyin: píng ān - peace/safe) sachet back into Li Ningning's hand.

However…

Li Ningning shook her head.

Her slightly calloused hands grasped Lin Xian's large hand, holding it tightly, tightly holding the sachet with the characters 平安 (pinyin: píng ān - peace/safe) written on it.

"Lin Xian."

Li Ningning raised her head, looking at Lin Xian:

"I wish you peace."