"How are you doing?"
Lin Ran asked anxiously, trying to spot Little Black's figure in the hazy glow.
[Little Black: "Lucky we got in early, or I’d be dead. But here, I can heal quickly. I’m almost fully recovered now."]
Little Black replied, its voice gradually regaining some strength.
Lin Ran suddenly frowned, a flicker of suspicion flashing in his eyes.
"Then why did you go off to recover last time?"
He recalled how Little Black had left to heal after being injured before—something about it felt off.
[Little Black: "Last time, it was mental damage—couldn’t heal fast. This time, it’s physical. Different story."]
Little Black explained, a hint of resignation in its tone.
"Where is this place?" Lin Ran gazed at the strange surroundings, curiosity and confusion swirling in his mind.[Little Black: "Think of it as a four-dimensional space within a time tunnel. Seriously, Luo Yao is ruthless—meow meow meow—."]
Little Black answered, its voice still tinged with fear of Luo Yao.
Lin Ran: "How long until you’re better?"
His thoughts were with Luo Yao; he wanted to return quickly and give her the note.
[Little Black: "Soon, just a few more minutes. Lin Ran, since we’re here, take a look around. It’s all fragments of time. Luo Yao is ruthless—meow meow meow."]
Little Black said, seemingly recovered from its pain.
Lin Ran’s interest in the space grew.
"Can we go back later?" he asked, eyes filled with anticipation.
[Little Black: "You can’t revisit the same moment twice in one time reversal—meow meow meow—but I can buy you a minute or two—meow meow meow. Luo Yao is ruthless—meow meow meow."]
Little Black replied, hesitance lacing its words.
"Then once you’re healed, we have to go back—at least to give her the note."
That’s right. Amid the sudden chaos, Lin Ran still clutched the note with his promise written on it.
He couldn’t let Luo Yao down again. That note was their only connection, his vow to her.
Even if they could only return for a minute, he had to hand it to her.
[Little Black: "Huh? Meow meow meow, wu wu wu!"]
Little Black whined reluctantly, clearly still wary of Luo Yao.
In this space, Lin Ran felt as though the entire world had frozen. The surrounding glow seemed solidified, unchanging.
Then, something astonishing caught his eye.
He stood in a vast, white void. Below, above, and all around him, twisted shapes swirled like liquid or ethereal smoke, constantly shifting.
Looking closer, he realized they were scenes—his past and… his future?
The images flashed before him like a film, each one strikingly real. He saw his childhood laughter, moments shared with Luo Yao, and unfamiliar glimpses—was that the future?
Lin Ran was stunned. His eyes widened, heart pounding with awe.
[Little Black: "Seen enough? Ready to go?"]
Little Black’s voice echoed in his mind, now impatient, as if fully recovered.
Lin Ran’s tone was calm. "You’ve done this before, haven’t you?"
He fixed his gaze on Little Black, eyes sharp with suspicion.
Little Black’s blue eyes widened: ["What?"]
Its mental voice held surprise, as if caught off guard by the question.
"You’ve reversed time before, right? Have you revived me multiple times? Only this time, you let me keep my memories? What’s your real goal?"
Lin Ran pressed forward, each step intensifying the interrogation. He felt on the verge of uncovering a massive secret—one that could unravel everything.
Little Black retreated, trembling slightly, its expression uneasy.
["Lin Ran… don’t push me."]
Its voice carried a plea, dodging the questions.
Suddenly, Lin Ran smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Just messing with you. Anyway, what’s that over there? Under the bridge—is that someone?"
His attention snapped back to the surreal visions, curiosity reignited.
In one scene, beneath a bridge, a pair of eyes gleamed—familiar yet venomous, like a hidden serpent poised to strike.
On the bridge, his past self drove a car, speeding forward like an arrow. Lin Ran squinted and recognized the owner of those eyes: Luo Wuyou.
The malice in that gaze sent a chill down his spine, as if it concealed countless schemes.
[Little Black: "There’s a woman there. What are you planning?"]
Little Black’s voice was wary, laced with suspicion.
Lin Ran: "I suddenly wonder… can I influence my past self from here?"
Excitement lit up his eyes, the idea taking root like a sprouting seed.
This time tunnel fascinated him, and he burned to test its limits.
Little Black fell silent for a moment, its small form quivering in the glow.
It didn’t answer, as if weighing the risks or hesitating to enable such a dangerous experiment.
But Lin Ran, driven by curiosity like a child, ignored the hesitation.
He pulled out his phone, switched on the flashlight, and aimed its blinding beam at the vision of his past self.
The action was swift, as if afraid the opportunity would slip away.
Sure enough, the Lin Ran on the bridge flinched, startled by an unseen force, and slammed the brakes.
The car screeched to a halt, tires leaving black streaks on the pavement.
Lin Ran froze, staring at the scene. A strange realization hit him—this had actually happened to him.
He racked his brain, recalling that inexplicable moment when something had interfered… and now he knew—it was himself.
His mind reeled, tangled in a web of questions.