Chapter 1 Lin Xian Figured It Out

At this moment, Lin Xian understood.

The core focus of reverse forced evasion wasn't on the forced evasion itself, but on the "reverse"!

Reverse was the crux of everything.

The year 1952 had neither historical lockdown nor spatial-temporal rejection, so according to Huang Que, this era was definitely not supposed to have forced evasion.

Lin Xian understood this point as well.

The laws of space-time were very rigorous; if it existed, it existed; if it didn’t, it didn’t, and everything was interconnected. However… reverse forced evasion was different, this phenomenon involved many more considerations.

Previously, Lin Xian had been cautious, not easily experimenting or thinking deeply.

But now, thinking about it.

The root of reverse forced evasion lay in the entangled space-time particles and the need to return to the original era. In other words… reverse forced evasion was itself an independent space-time law, unrelated to whether the current era had historical lockdown or spatial-temporal rejection, because—

His entangled state existed in the future space-time of 2234, and that was the key to reverse forced evasion taking effect.

Therefore, when that hook-nosed man in black pointed a gun at him, it triggered forced evasion, causing his whole body to lose strength and collapse to the ground.

Lin Xian was all too familiar with this feeling of losing control of his body.

He was definitely the person in the world who had experienced reverse forced evasion the most… after all, every space-time assassin who used entangled space-time particles to travel through time had targeted him.

After being thwarted for so long,
Feeling helpless for so long,
Embarrassed for so long,
This unreasonable, illogical, and almost invincible cheat… it was finally his turn to be the "aggressor"!

"Lin Xian, stop spacing out. Look… that person is getting up."

CC was flustered, but her small frame couldn't move Lin Xian; she could only stand there anxiously.

Lin Xian turned his head.

He looked at the gangster who had collapsed on the ground.

It took about a minute for him to shakily support himself and stand up, but from his unsteady posture, it was clear that he was still weak and could be knocked over with a single push.

The man reached out to wipe the blood from his nose and smeared his face with his sleeve.

Then he felt for his sunglasses…

Confirming that his sunglasses were still there meant he hadn't lost everything, at least not his face.

He hurriedly bent down to pick up the revolver and fled in a hurry.

……

And so.

The farce ended.

A long and lively queue formed again in front of Nathan's Famous hot dog stand. The tourists who had been scared away by the gun earlier were now chatting and laughing, buying hot dogs as if nothing had happened.

Lin Xian admired this mindset.

If something like this had happened in Dragon Country… no one would have dared to continue playing in this amusement park. At the very least, it would have been closed for ten and a half months for investigation.

It could only be said that.

In free America, everyone was used to this kind of thing.

Next to him, CC, a Brooklyn native, as expected, breathed a sigh of relief and pulled Lin Xian to continue queuing:

"Great… he's gone. Let's go, let's hurry up and queue. We were pretty far ahead just now, and now people have cut in front of us!"

Seeing this dramatic change, Lin Xian really didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

How much did CC love eating hot dogs…

It was like she valued hot dogs more than her life.

He had to quickly buy the child one.

After queuing for a full half hour, it was finally Lin Xian and CC's turn. During this time, CC stood on tiptoe, looking around countless times, as restless as a rabbit.

"Two hot dogs."

Lin Xian said in English, then looked at the price list next to him.

Shift.

He cursed inwardly.

The hot dog stalls he saw in downtown Brooklyn were selling them for 3 cents each, so why were they 5 cents each here?

Sure enough, prices in tourist attractions and amusement parks were higher than normal.

According to his original plan, which he had calculated on the bus.

He only had $1.10 left.

Amusement park tickets were 50 cents each.

So, each hot dog should be 3 cents, costing 6 cents in total, leaving him with 4 cents for bus tickets back to Brooklyn.

But now, he wouldn't have enough money for the bus back.

However…

CC's eyes sparkled with a brilliant galaxy, and even if it was 50 cents each, he had to buy her one.

Oh well.

He would figure out how to get back later.

He hoped there would be some booths in the amusement park where he could win prizes by popping balloons, so he could use his old trick to earn some money from the kids.

Even if there weren't, it didn't matter.

Since he had spent all his savings, he couldn't take CC back to a hotel anyway; since they were going to sleep in a park or under a bridge… what was the difference between sleeping under a bridge in Brooklyn and sleeping under a bridge in Coney Island?

In short, he would live for the moment.

Since he had brought CC to Coney Island, he would let her have a happy day, and then consider the future; the biggest gain from coming here today was confirming that reverse forced evasion was still in effect, which made many things much simpler.

And so.

Lin Xian pinched out his last 10-cent coin and placed it on the cashier's counter.

The freckled cashier girl looked up at Lin Xian:

"Sir, would you like a combo with a Coke? It's only 6 cents more for a Coke."

"No, thanks."

Lin Xian shook his head and licked his dry, salty lips:

"Not thirsty."

……

"Delicious!"

CC sat on a long bench, took a bite of her hot dog, and opened her eyes wide:

"Lin Xian, this is the most delicious food I've ever eaten!"

"It's really good."

Lin Xian also took a bite and praised sincerely.

This wasn't flattery.

It was really delicious.

It seemed that Coney Island hot dogs were famous for a reason; they really had a unique craftsmanship.

Hot dogs, to put it bluntly, were just long bread with grilled sausage.

Lin Xian hadn't expected much.

But this Nathan's Famous hot dog still surprised him; it was indeed a taste he had never experienced before:

"This grilled sausage is really authentic."

Lin Xian began to comment:

"It's much better than pure starch sausages."

CC's open mouth froze in mid-air. She closed it, turned her head, and looked at Lin Xian in confusion:

"Pure vegetarian sausage? Does that kind of thing even exist in this world? Is it meat or vegetarian?"

Lin Xian smiled slightly:

"The power of technology is omnipotent."

He hadn't had any meat since he traveled through time. He took a few big bites and quickly finished the hot dog.

Looking back at CC.

She was eating very slowly, her cherry-like mouth nibbling on the hot dog with a meticulous feeling, savoring it bit by bit, very carefully and with great appreciation.

Pfft—

Seeing this scene, Lin Xian couldn't help but laugh.

He remembered Gao Yang.

That was when they were in kindergarten. Lin Xian had used his pocket money to buy two grilled sausages, one for him and one for Gao Yang.

Gao Yang was also eating it for the first time, unwilling to finish it in one bite, so he nibbled it with his front teeth, calling it a slow enjoyment.

As a result, he accidentally tripped, and the sausage, with its outer skin already sucked off, rolled into the sewer.

If it had fallen somewhere he could pick it up, Gao Yang would definitely have picked it up, washed it clean, and continued eating it.

But it fell into the sewer… so Gao Yang immediately burst into tears. In the end, Lin Xian pinched half of his sausage and gave it to him to appease him.

"What?"

CC noticed Lin Xian's gaze and felt a little embarrassed. Her cheeks were slightly red:

"Why are you staring at me… I'm just… I'm just a little reluctant to eat it, I want to savor it slowly, don't laugh at me."

"No, no."

Lin Xian hurriedly waved his hand:

"I was like that when I was a kid too."

"Tch, 'when you were a kid.'"

CC chuckled:

"I don't think you're that old now, how old are you this year?"

"I…"

Lin Xian did some mental calculations.

How old should he be?

This question really stumped him.

He was born in 1999.

Now it was 1952.

From a physical point of view, he should be -48 years old, still owing this space-time 48 years. He should call CC grandma;

But from a space-time perspective, he came from 2234, so he should be 235 years old, and CC should call him the Supreme Elder.

However, the Hibernation Act emphasized that age was calculated based on actual activity time, that is, physiological age; therefore, Lin Xian should be 26 years old.

"I'm 26 years old," Lin Xian said.

"Oh, oh…"

CC inexplicably oh-ed twice, then lowered her head to continue eating her hot dog:

"That's okay, you're not that much older than me, we're all the same age."

"The same age with a 7-year difference?" Lin Xian laughed.

"6 years! Not 7 years!"

CC emphasized:

"Look, although I don't know the exact date of my birthday, it's definitely within the next month, so… I'll be 20 soon, and you're only 6 years older than me!"

With that, CC continued to savor the hot dog bit by bit, like a little hamster.

She even turned her back, not letting Lin Xian watch.

Looking at Lin Xian, hearing what CC had just said, a mix of emotions welled up in his heart.

The fate of the Millennium Pile was to stably turn into blue stardust and dissipate on the first second of their 20th birthday.

In other words…

The life of the initial pile, CC, only had a few days or ten days left. She didn't know this cruel fate.

This little girl who carefully ate her hot dog also didn't know that even if she could eat a hot dog every day, the total number of hot dogs she could eat in her lifetime… wouldn't exceed 30.

"Here."

Lin Xian snapped back to reality.

He found that half a hot dog was being offered to him. He turned his head and saw that it was CC, who had twisted the hot dog she was reluctant to eat into two halves, offering the better half to Lin Xian.

"Eat it."

CC smiled slightly, just like yesterday when she tore the church's thick bread into two halves:

"You're such a big guy, one hot dog probably isn't enough, right? Here, I'll share half with you, half is enough for me."

Lin Xian blinked his eyes.

He really felt incredible:

"You're eating it so carefully… and you're still willing to share half with me?"

"Well, you're the one who's treating me."

CC urged:

"I really don't want to eat it… because I've never eaten anything so delicious. You must think I'm very poor, right? But it doesn't matter, I'm poor anyway."

"But even though I'm poor, you're so nice to me, I have to repay your kindness."

Lin Xian looked at the half hot dog in front of him.

His lips were pursed.

He really couldn't imagine.

In CC's eyes, this hot dog was the most precious treasure in the world. She was afraid of biting it too hard and only hoped to savor it a little longer.

But even though it was so precious… she was still willing to share half with him.

Lin Xian pushed the half hot dog back:

"You're right, repaying kindness, this is me repaying you for that half a piece of bread."

"Okay, it's just a hot dog, don't push it back and forth, the church breakfast this morning plus this hot dog, I'm already very full, you just savor it slowly."

He stood up.

He pointed to the amusement park ticket office to the west:

"I'll go buy amusement park tickets, and after you finish eating, we'll go play in the amusement park."

CC was just about to say something.

Lin Xian directly stopped her:

"Since we've come to Coney Island, we can't just eat a hot dog and go back, let's experience your first time at an amusement park."

He smiled slightly:

"Have a nice day."

……

Arriving at the ticket office.

Lin Xian looked up at the ticket notice.

Sure enough, it was 50 cents for an adult ticket, the same as what the passenger on the bus said.

Although it was a bit expensive.

But at least it was a full ticket, a pass, and all the rides in the amusement park could be played for free without paying a second time. This price was considered reasonable.

Lin Xian placed his last $1 coin on the ticket window:

"Two adult tickets, please."

Thus.

The time traveler from hundreds of years in the future was once again empty-handed, penniless, and broke.

Just like when he first came to this era.

The difference was.

Now he at least had shoes, a cotton coat from the church, met CC, and realized that reverse forced evasion was still in effect.

Mm.

The future was promising.

Returning to the long bench, CC had already finished her hot dog and was wiping her hands with the outer wrapper.

"Why did you eat so fast?"

Lin Xian laughed:

"Not grinding your teeth like a hamster?"

"See! I knew you were going to laugh at me!"

CC snorted, very unconvinced:

"You were wandering the streets in a mink coat at first, and I didn't laugh at you. You're too immoral."

"But… I still have to thank you."

CC giggled, two small dimples faintly visible at the corners of her mouth:

"This way, if I dream of eating hot dogs again in the future… at least I'll know what they taste like. Dreaming about it once is like earning it once."

Lin Xian sighed softly:

"You…"

He ruffled CC's slightly curly brown hair, not continuing.

This CC always unintentionally spoke such heartbreaking words with a smiling face.

Lin Xian only blamed himself for not having enough money.

Otherwise, he would definitely take over Nathan's Famous hot dog shop for CC and let her eat her fill.

"Let's go."

Lin Xian shook the amusement park tickets in his hand:

"There are many rides inside. If we don't hurry… I'm afraid we won't be able to finish them all before it closes at night."

……

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

On the roller coaster.

The two bear children in front were crying loudly.

Lin Xian and CC were sitting in the seats behind the bear children, one expressionless, the other happily smiling and feeling the acceleration.

The vehicle stopped.

The two bear children in front fell directly to the ground.

A wealthy lady behind also vomited instantly.

Lin Xian and CC tiptoed over the vomit, as if nothing had happened.

"Don't you feel anything?"

Lin Xian looked at CC:

"Logically speaking, it shouldn't be this calm the first time you ride a roller coaster."

"It's very exciting~"

CC replied with a smile:

"It's very fun! But I'm really not that scared, and I don't feel dizzy either, hehe… could it be that I have the talent to be a pilot?"

"Pilot? You're underestimating yourself."

Lin Xian laughed:

"Astronaut is no problem."

"Astronaut?"

CC blinked in confusion:

"What does astronaut mean?"

"Astronaut is…"

Lin Xian thought for a moment.

Indeed, in 1952, astronauts hadn't appeared yet.

The first human in history to go into space, Gagarin, didn't take off until 1961.

And when Lieutenant Armstrong took the first step on the moon, saying the famous line, "That's one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind," it was already 1969.

"Astronauts are people who fly higher than pilots."

Lin Xian explained:

"In about 9 years, the first human astronaut will fly into space aboard a spaceship."

CC couldn't help but laugh when she heard Lin Xian making something up again:

"You're too good at making things up. Why don't you just say astronauts landed on the moon?"

Lin Xian smiled slightly:

"See, you even learned to answer first. After the first astronaut travels in space, 8 years later, three American astronauts will land on the moon."

"Okay, stop bragging."

CC scoffed:

"If that's the case, with technology developing so fast, will someone like me one day be able to go on a space tour?"

……

……

Huh?

Lin Xian was expected to keep bragging.

But no sound was heard.

CC turned her head and saw Lin Xian standing there, silent.

"What's wrong?"

She blinked her eyes:

"Is the answer this time so hard to make up? Just make up a date, it's just a joke anyway."

"So tell me, in 1961, humans went to space for the first time, in 1969, humans landed on the moon for the first time, so what about me? Which year, which day, can I go on a tour in space?"

Lin Xian looked up.

Looking at CC:

"2024."

He said softly:

"2024… March 28th."

"Ah?"

CC opened her eyes wide in disbelief.

She counted on her fingers:

"2024, the 21st century… I'm already 92 years old! What am I going to do in space at 92, you really are… you don't even know to make up an earlier time."

"Hey, you."

Lin Xian spread his hands:

"Can you have a little more trust in your friends? Everything has a chance, you didn't even think you could come to Coney Island to eat hot dogs and go to the amusement park today, right?"

"Um…"

CC thought for a moment, pointing her index finger at her chin:

"Okay, then I'll believe you."

She gave up thinking:

"March 28, 2024… that's really a distant day. But you're right, you still have to have dreams, what if they come true?"

She smiled, looking at Lin Xian:

"Lin Xian, if I ever have the chance to go to space, I will never forget you."

"[To thank you for today's hot dog… I will definitely bring back a gift from space and give it to you!]"