[October 30th, 04:34, Changlong Garden, Nanyi City]
Lin Zhizhi carefully placed Gardenia on the bed and covered her with the blanket. She watched as an adult turned into a child right before her eyes—something more fantastical than magic. Though she was utterly shocked, she wasn’t scared.
Perhaps it was because the person lying there was her childhood self, a face she had known all her life. There was an instinctive sense of familiarity. As the person shrank, their clothes became oversized and comical. Lin Zhizhi picked up the woolen skirt, remembering that she had bought it while shopping with Xiao Shitou back then. She wore this skirt to the hospital on the day Xiao Shitou got burned. After that, afraid of the painful memories, she only wore it twice before storing it away.
She found a set of Sheng Yu’an’s childhood clothes from the wardrobe and helped Gardenia put them on. An’an had loved wearing bright colors as a child, which sharply contrasted with Xiao Shitou. His clothes didn’t look out of place on a girl.
The photo album, which had been flipped through countless times, lay spread on the floor. Lin Zhizhi picked it up, and the open page was of Xiao Shitou’s photo. Just moments ago, when they shared memories, she recalled all her experiences as Gardenia. It turned out that she had no blood relation to Lin Heyu; Xiao Shitou was also her brother. The intertwined timelines tightly wound the fates of the three of them together like an unbreakable rope.
Lin Heyu had been with her through her youth, while Yi Shi was her constant companion in everyday life. She now realized how lucky she was. They had always been by her side, never missing any significant moment of her life.
Lin Zhizhi’s gaze fell on the paper. Reflecting on everything that had happened tonight, she now knew why her brother had disappeared and why Xiao Shitou had been burned. The explosion at Nanyi Machinery Factory twenty years ago had never occurred—the real incident was happening today.
“…Brother…”
Gardenia’s delicate brows furrowed as she muttered in her sleep. Lin Zhizhi gently shook her shoulders: “Zhizhi, Zhizhi, Gardenia, wake up.”
But it seemed like she was trapped in a nightmare and couldn’t wake up. Even after pinching her philtrum several times, her eyes didn’t open. After a while, her breathing gradually steadied, and she fell into a deep sleep.
Lin Zhizhi picked up the piece of paper and carefully read it in front of the mirror. This paper detailed the entire case, and the cold words made the explosion even more shocking. She was certain now that the “big event” Lin Heyu and Yi Shi were going to handle was related to the case. Lin Heyu completely disappeared after the explosion.
Did Yi Shi also encounter another version of himself, which is why Xiao Shitou appeared? Perhaps he disappeared with her brother, leaving the burned Xiao Shitou behind, only to grow up and meet Lin Heyu again.
That explained why Yi Shi’s outfit had changed between the time he was seen hanging an IV earlier and when they met just now. With his level of urgency, he wouldn’t waste time changing clothes unless they were from two different time periods.
These deductions were highly reasonable. The more Lin Zhizhi thought about it, the more terrified she became. No, this couldn’t happen—neither of them could be harmed. She had been completely unaware before, just letting things develop on their own. But now that she could foresee the future, how could she let tragedy repeat itself?
Lin Zhizhi quickly took out her phone, intending to call Sheng Guoning, but her finger hovered over the number without pressing it.
“What I did to you and Yi Shi wasn’t intentional. I just wanted Zhizhi to live safely.”
This phrase, which she had accidentally overheard and ignored, suddenly resurfaced in her mind. What did Sheng Guoning mean by that? He harmed Yi Shi and Lin Heyu, but just wanted her to live safely?
Lin Zhizhi lowered her head, staring at the paper in her hand. Her two brothers had locked her in the rented house, and Sheng Guoning had brought her to Changlong Garden, locking the door as well. They didn’t want her to approach this case—was it because it was related to her survival?
But why would it be related to her? It made no sense at all. Her memory of the kidnapping stopped at when Zhao Chenghu took her to the riverside. When she woke up, she was in Linjia Village, taken in by Lin Heyu and his mother, who gave her the name “Lin Zhizhi.” This new identity severed all ties with her past.
It didn’t seem like they were just worried about her encountering danger. If they were only protecting her, why would Sheng Guoning say he “harmed” them? They were all police officers; they should have the same purpose when dealing with the case. The only point of conflict would be related to her.
What was she missing? Lin Zhizhi furrowed her brows, tapping her forehead, frustrated that she didn’t have the investigative skills to figure out the connections.
But knowing that Sheng Guoning intended to harm Lin Heyu and Yi Shi was enough to make her restless. On top of that, the future direction of things was something she couldn’t bear to face. She folded the paper and put it in her pocket, then picked up Gardenia and walked to the entrance.
The car keys at home weren’t properly hung up but rather casually thrown on the shoe cabinet, indicating how rushed Sheng Guoning was when he left. Lin Zhizhi picked up the keys, turned off the living room light, and the only source of light in the dark room was the thin sliver coming through the door crack.
That light was cut off entirely when the security door closed, leaving only the sound of the ticking clock echoing through the silent night.
Tick-tock.
Tick-tock.
Tick-tock.
…
The lock turned quickly, and the security door was forcefully pulled open. “Bang!” The living room suddenly lit up.
The house was empty. Yi Shi stood in the living room, his face dark. He had been uneasy about Zhizhi earlier, so he and Lin Heyu split up—one went to the factory, the other back to the rented house. But the house was empty. He saw the note Lin Zhizhi left and his face changed dramatically.
“Brother, I found the spare key! I’m going out for a walk, I’ll be back soon.”
She had even drawn a smiley face at the end. Yi Shi gripped the note tightly, pulled open the desk drawer, and saw that the photo album had been moved. When he opened the bookcase, the letters were arranged differently, placed with the text facing out—those letters that had been sent to Changlong Garden and then brought to him by Lin Zhizhi. This was where she had gone for her walk.
Thinking of how Sheng Guoning still hadn’t arrived, he immediately rushed to Changlong Garden. It was late at night, and there were no taxis available. The buses had stopped running, so he hurried on foot while thinking. If the two versions of Zhizhi met, what would happen? Based on his and Lin Heyu’s experience, the same person couldn’t come into direct contact—there would be a spatial separation. As long as Zhizhi was safe, he would be relieved.
But unexpectedly, the house was empty. Neither of them was there. Yi Shi rubbed his temples, forcing himself to calm down. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes again, and the irritation in his black eyes had vanished. He carefully searched for any trace the two Lin Zhizhis had left behind.
There were boot prints on the floor; the angle of the drawer on the coffee table was off; there were signs someone had slept in the bed; the photo album was on the nightstand; two wardrobe doors were open—one was the dressing mirror, the other was a wooden door…
Yi Shi grew increasingly astonished by his deductions. He turned to look at the open wooden door and walked over to examine it. Inside the closet were all the clothes Sheng Yu’an had worn as a child. It was as if he had been hit with a heavy blow—his mind went blank.
A child—they had come into contact with Gardenia.
———
[October 30th, 05:03, Nanyi City]
Lin Zhizhi came out of the gas station and started driving towards Nanyi Machinery Factory. Even at night, the GPS estimated it would take 1 hour and 10 minutes to get there. Her phone rang again—it was the third call, still from that unknown number. She thought for a moment and turned off the phone.
It was probably Yi Shi or Lin Heyu calling. They had realized she wasn’t at the rented house or Changlong Garden and were anxious to find her. But no, since this was related to her, she had to uncover the truth herself. She couldn’t be kept in the dark any longer.
Gardenia was fast asleep in the back seat, covered by a small blanket. Lin Zhizhi kept glancing at her through the rearview mirror. Suddenly, a stray cat darted out in the middle of the road. Instinctively, Lin slammed on the brakes. The cat ran off, but Gardenia tumbled down from the back seat.
Lin Zhizhi pulled over to the side of the road and went to the back seat to pick her up and check on her. Thankfully, the car was equipped with soft leather seats, and the floor mats were plush. Not even a bruise appeared. Luckily, the jolt seemed to have roused Gardenia from her sleep. Her eyes opened slightly, and she murmured, “…Who are you?”
“I’m Lin Zhizhi. Don’t you remember? We met at home.”
Gardenia nodded weakly and lifted her hand, noticing it had become shorter and thinner. “Huh? What… what happened to me?”
“You’re in my childhood now, Gardenia.” Lin Zhizhi stroked her black hair. “I don’t know why this happened. A lot of things are still unclear.”
“I remember a lot. My head is dizzy. My brother and I were accidentally kidnapped. I thought I was going to die… being thrown into the river. But then… my brother found me, and I grew up in Linjia Village…”
Lin Zhizhi held her hand and nodded continuously. “Yes, we share the same memories. I remember everything from when we were young. Xiao Shitou is our brother, and Lin Heyu too.” She felt Gardenia’s forehead. “How are you feeling now? Do you feel better? If you’re uncomfortable, we can go to the hospital.”
Gardenia shook her head repeatedly. “No, no need. That paper… there’s something important on that paper, related to both of them…”
“Yes, I’m also heading to the factory. They won’t let us near, so there must be a reason.” Lin Zhizhi bit her lip. “Guoning said it’s to keep me alive. It’s strange; I don’t understand.”
“Then go… hurry…” Gardenia struggled to sit up. “I’ll be fine soon.”
The car started again, and Gardenia gradually recovered in the back seat. Although her head was still a little fuzzy, she felt much better than before. It was indeed hard to bear, having decades of memories flood back into her mind all at once. But when she thought carefully about it, her heart was filled with satisfaction and happiness.
She was grateful for these experiences. The ordinary dreams she had built with her small self had actually come true.
———
[10/30, 05:42, Qinghu Township, Nanyi City]
Just as dawn broke, a van drove along a winding country road and stopped in front of a house. A man in work clothes from a mechanical factory greeted them with a smile, hitching a ride to work.
“Lao Jiang, you’re a bit late today!”
“I had to pick up someone else on the way, took some time.”
“Oh, is he from our factory too?” The middle-aged man who had just gotten in noticed a young man sitting properly by the window, wearing a mask. His upright demeanor hardly matched someone who screwed bolts in a factory.
Lin Heyu sat quietly in the van. He was well aware of Lao Jiang’s driving route. He found an excuse to intercept the van, asking the driver to take him to the mechanical factory. There was a reason he chose to ride this van, and as they neared Turtle Back Mountain, that reason became clear.
Four masked thugs with fierce expressions stopped the van, roughly pulling open the door and boarding. The moment they got in, they pulled out guns. “Hand over all your phones! Hurry up!”
Zhao Chenghu was one of them. The one behind him was Pang Nengshui, and the last two were their lackeys. One searched everyone, while the other carried a bag. When they reached Lin Heyu, he cooperatively raised his hands. The lackey searched his pockets but found nothing, hesitating for a moment. Who in this day and age goes out without a phone?
In less than a minute, all the phones were confiscated and thrown away. Pang Nengshui raised his chin, and the lackey confidently opened the bag, revealing bundles of detonators. The passengers were terrified, but Lin Heyu stayed calm, staring at the bag.
There were currently four sets of explosives visible. When they cleared the site before, five sets were used to blow up the dormitory building. The explosives had been placed around the back pipes, storage boxes, the western window, and under the eastern pool, completely surrounding the building. The explosion in Plant No. 2 was caused by just one set—the one he had disarmed from Xiao Shitou and thrown into Plant No. 2.
So there should be two more sets of explosives. If he could destroy this bag of explosives or neutralize the thugs, could he stop this incident from happening?
There were six factory workers in the van, including Lin Heyu. The other five were trembling in fear, too scared to move. The middle-aged man who had just boarded would be the first to die if things went wrong. This was the first time Lin Heyu had faced such a dire situation. Based on Yi Shi’s experience, acting rashly now would only make the situation unfold as expected. The first hostage’s death might even be linked to him.
The best time to act would be when they entered the factory—when they were placing the explosives. Lin Heyu sat quietly, watching the rising sun outside the window, silently calculating the time. The two lackeys in front were doing final checks, when one of them suddenly said, “Huh? This isn’t right.”
“What? Didn’t we bring everything?”
“No, one of them…”
He whispered quietly, but Lin Heyu’s sharp ears picked up fragments like “wrong” and “connected backward.” Zhao Chenghu waved dismissively. “We don’t need to disarm it, so who cares how it’s connected!”
Connected backward?
Lin Heyu froze, finally understanding why he had cut the wrong wire while defusing the bomb. The one-in-six chance that just happened to fall on Xiao Shitou was too much of a coincidence—there had to be some human factor involved.
The factory gate was manned by only one elderly guard with gray hair. When he saw the van approaching, he waved and raised the barrier, oblivious to Lao Jiang’s terrified expression. It was still early, and the factory grounds were quiet. As they approached the dormitory, some workers were already washing up and chatting by the communal pool, just like any other peaceful morning.
Lin Heyu peeked through the gap in the curtain at the factory. By his calculations, Yi Shi should have arrived by now. Had he found Xiao Shitou?
The two of them had planned everything. Yi Shi would save Xiao Shitou from inside, and even if they encountered the other Lin Heyu, there wouldn’t be any spatial barrier. All the explosives were here. As long as Xiao Shitou wasn’t in the factory, they could intercept the explosives and maybe stop the incident.
The van stopped between the factory and the dormitory. The two factory workers were forced to take off their jackets, which the lackeys put on after removing their masks. They were preparing to leave the van to plant the bombs. Lin Heyu suddenly stood up. Zhao Chenghu immediately raised his gun. “What do you think you’re doing? Sit down!”
“Zhao Chenghu, if you ever want to see your son again, you’d better stop right now.”
Zhao Chenghu froze, and Lin Heyu pointed at Pang Nengshui. “He’s different from you. He’s a lone wolf with nothing to lose. His mother is on her deathbed. Even if you get caught, he won’t come to save you.”
These two sentences were enough to set off the two violent criminals. This man not only knew their identities, but he was also sowing discord right in front of them. Zhao Chenghu, true to his loyal nature, immediately retorted, “Who are you? We’ve been through life and death with Pang! And how could we get caught? Once we finish this job, we’re off to live the good life abroad!”
“Heh, that’s if you can get away.”
Zhao Chenghu and Pang glanced at each other, suddenly alert. They sent one of their lackeys down to scout the area. Inside the van, tension mounted. Lin Heyu remained calm, while Zhao Chenghu grew increasingly nervous, demanding, “Tell me the truth! Who are you? How do you know about us?!”
Lin Heyu took a coin from his pocket and tossed it over. Zhao Chenghu caught it. “I thought you were throwing a weapon… what’s with this coin?!”
The coin in his hand had reversed patterns and text, which struck him as strange, but he didn’t think much of it until he saw Lin Heyu raise his hand and wipe across the curtain. The advertisement text on the curtain instantly became reversed. His eyes widened, and he stepped back, saying to Pang Nengshui, “This kid is strange!”
“I know. Let’s just tie him up with the explosives and blow them all up together!”
Perfect. That was the exact reaction he wanted. His goal was to get close to the explosives, which would make it easier to take action. One of the lackeys returned after making a round outside and reported that everything was calm. Zhao Chenghu became more confident and, with a cold sneer, commanded, “Go! Tie him up and take him along!”
Lin Heyu put up a token resistance before his hands were bound, and he was pushed out of the vehicle. Two lackeys flanked him as they walked around the factory to a shaded area. His hands were already free, and in one swift motion, he used the rope to choke one of the lackeys. The other one, panicking, didn’t even have time to cry out before Lin Heyu kicked him in the groin, sending him rolling to the ground.
Neither of them could understand how he had freed himself from the ropes, but now they were the ones tied up and thrown into a dark corner of the factory. Lin Heyu grabbed the bag and hurriedly moved away. Every second counted. He needed to get the explosives far away from the factory, even if it meant setting them off on the deserted mountain nearby. Oddly, there was no sign of Yi Shi yet. Was he delayed on his way to the factory, or had he run into trouble?
Avoiding the van, Lin Heyu carried the bag around to Factory Building No. 4, hoping to check if Xiao Shitou was inside. As soon as he opened the door, he sensed movement behind him but couldn’t react in time. A blow from a club hit the back of his head.
“Brother-in-law, did you really think you could stop us so easily?” Sheng Guoning sighed. “Pang Daozi already planted explosives near the dorm earlier. What’s in the bag is just a supplementary batch he added because he felt the initial amount wasn’t enough. These are the final instructions Zhao Chenghu left, information none of you knew.”
“You…!” Lin Heyu clutched his wound, feeling the world spinning as dizziness set in. Sheng Guoning crouched down, pulled out a pair of scissors, and started cutting the wires of the explosives in the bag, one by one. “Do you think I don’t want to save people? I do! That’s why last time, I only left one set of explosives with Xiao Shitou so you could rescue him. I thought that taking away this batch of explosives would save the factory, but it still exploded. That’s when I realized—what’s meant to happen will happen, and there’s no escaping it.”
After cutting all five sets of explosives, Sheng Guoning pulled out the last, separately wrapped one. “Stop resisting. Just let everything follow its natural course. For you, for Yi Shi, for Zhizhi and me, it’s the best choice.”
———
[01/19, 17:18, Changlong Garden, Nanyi City]
The dining room light came on, and Sheng Guoning stood by the bedroom door. “Zhizhi… it’s time to eat.”
Lin Zhizhi nodded and followed him to the living room. On the table were the dishes from lunch, with two new ones added—both of her favorite vegetables: pea shoots and celery.
She took a bite, her brow furrowing slightly. It was a bit salty. Looking at Sheng Guoning’s distracted expression, she realized it wasn’t easy for him to prepare two dishes in his current state, so he hadn’t paid much attention to seasoning.
You care so much, but why won’t you say anything?
Lin Zhizhi felt a pang of sorrow and put down her chopsticks, having lost her appetite. Sheng Guoning gently asked, “Zhizhi, what’s wrong? Do you feel unwell?”
“Sheng Guoning, you always think you’re hiding things out of kindness, that everything you do is for me.”
Sheng Guoning lowered his head in silence, giving a bitter smile. It wasn’t for Lin Zhizhi; it was for himself.
He just wanted to be with Lin Zhizhi forever.
“Zhizhi, I know Lin Heyu means a lot to you, but you mean just as much to me.” Sheng Guoning closed his eyes for a moment. Lin Zhizhi stood up. “You keep saying it’s for my own good, but you never think that maybe I don’t want that.”
“If possible, I wish I could be the one making the choice. Only then would I know which outcome I truly desire.”
———
[10/30, 06:17, Nanyi Mechanical Factory]
Sheng Guoning’s car was parked near a small bridge. In the previous loop, at this point, he was already at home taking care of Zhizhi when he received the call about the factory explosion and was urgently summoned back to the provincial office.
Tonight, too many unexpected changes had thrown off the original plan, leaving him with a growing sense of unease. He wouldn’t feel settled until he heard the explosion himself.
This time of day marked the shift change at the factory’s gate, when management was most lax. He exited through the unmonitored east gate, circled around the small bridge, and took a longer route. As he approached the road leading to Qinghu Township, he saw a tall figure scaling the factory wall. Sheng Guoning was startled. Was Lin Heyu already awake? Then he realized—the real Lin Heyu had arrived.
Once he rescues Xiao Shitou and the No. 2 factory building explodes, followed by the dormitory, everything will proceed according to the original case’s trajectory…
Sheng Guoning massaged his temples and silently repeated to himself: Everyone has their own fate. He couldn’t save them all; he could only save the one person most important to him.
As he neared the small bridge and took out his car keys to unlock the car, someone grabbed his arm. “Did you come from the mechanical factory? Did you see Zhizhi?!”
Sheng Guoning froze. Yi Shi?! He was breathing heavily, his face dark with an expression so grim it was almost dripping, yet his skin looked even paler, drained of all color. Sheng Guoning gave a small smile. “You’re looking for Zhizhi? Shouldn’t you be looking for Lin Heyu?”
“I know you’ve seen Lin Heyu,” Yi Shi glanced at the two tall chimneys of the factory. “You came out so easily; you must have everything arranged. Just tell me, have you made arrangements for Zhizhi?”
“I didn’t expect you would bring her here. Don’t worry, she’s at Changlong Garden…”
“She’s not!” Yi Shi practically growled through clenched teeth. “We sent the Zhizhi from the hospital back to Changlong Garden. The two of them met, and one of them may have turned into Gardenia. Now, neither of them is at Changlong Garden!”
The mention of “Gardenia” stunned Sheng Guoning for a full three seconds. His expression shifted to genuine terror. “What?! Gardenia—how could there be Gardenia?! How did they both disappear?!”
He grabbed Yi Shi by the collar. “You all knew my dilemma, knew she couldn’t appear here. She will die!!!”
“I know!” Yi Shi shoved his hand away, a flash of pain crossing his eyes. How could he not know? Ever since discovering that photo, he had regretted dragging Lin Zhizhi into this. Every coincidence and unexpected event since then was driven by the butterfly effect, pushing fate closer to the truth. Now, the choice wasn’t in their hands but in Lin Zhizhi’s.
“From the moment I realized she was an extra hostage, an extra victim, I’ve been doing everything I can to keep her alive. Call me selfish, call me ruthless, but doing this has wronged both you and Lin Heyu, separating you two into different worlds where even meeting is a luxury. But I had no choice! I couldn’t think of a better way!”
“Xiao Shitou can survive, but Gardenia can’t! That photo—it’s the truth I’ve feared my entire life. If it really happens, can you and Lin Heyu accept it?!”
All his fear and despair poured out in that roar. Sheng Guoning took a deep breath. “We need to get back to the factory immediately. I didn’t see Zhizhi earlier; she hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Quick, go! As long as she’s not there before the explosion happens, everything is still possible.”
Just as the two turned to leave, a voice called out, “Yi Shi, Sheng Guoning!”
They both turned around to see Lin Zhizhi walking slowly from behind the car, her face already covered in tears.
———
[10/30, 06:27, Nanyi Machinery Factory]
Gardenia had separated from Lin Zhizhi 10 minutes ago. Lin Zhizhi had seen Sheng Guoning’s car parked by the bridge, so she also parked her car. Gardenia suggested that one of them go into the factory to find Little Xiao Shitou and Lin Heyu, while the other would stay here to ask Sheng Guoning everything clearly.
“You’re so small, obviously I should go,” Lin Zhizhi said.
“You just said I’m small, so should I go ask Sheng Guoning? Will he even talk to me?” Gardenia tilted her head. “Besides, I’m small enough to sneak in easily—climbing through windows and squeezing through doors is no problem.”
Just as she said, her small figure slipped right past the gatekeeper without being noticed. The machinery factory wasn’t small, and she wandered around looking for the buildings. If Building 2 was the one that exploded and injured Little Xiao Shitou, then he’d definitely be in there.
“9, 11, 13… why are these all odd numbers, and I’m getting further away?” Gardenia muttered as she wandered past a row of factories, then spotted a building with the number “8” painted in red. She excitedly ran over, not planning to go in, but the door was slightly ajar. She quietly pulled it open—and saw two people tied up inside!
“Ah!”
Startled, Gardenia gasped and quickly shut the door, hurrying away.
Lin Heyu’s brow twitched. He had just heard something—like a little girl’s scream… He opened his eyes, his head still throbbing in pain, and even sitting up made him feel nauseous.
This was the factory. Sheng Guoning had left him here, likely thinking that by the time the explosion happened, he wouldn’t have woken up. Inside the building, “6” was painted in red. This was Building 6. Ahead was Building 4, and further ahead was Building 2.
Shaking his head, he walked out just in time to see a small figure opening the door to Building 2.
“Brother!”
Gardenia stepped inside, not daring to shout too loudly. “Brother, Little Xiao Shitou! Are you here?”
“Brother, Lin Heyu! Are you here?”
Something flew in through the shared window above, landing behind Gardenia. Just as she turned to look, the door to Building 2 opened, and Lin Heyu stood in the doorway!
“Zhizhi!”
“Zhizhi!” Yi Shi and Sheng Guoning shouted at the same time. Lin Zhizhi’s body was trembling; she hadn’t expected this to be the truth they were hiding. An extra hostage, an extra victim—someone who didn’t belong in either world, yet had managed to survive for years. All those years of family happiness, stolen moments of joy.
Her existence had been bought at the cost of her two brothers’ difficult fates. How could she ever enjoy this in peace?
As Sheng Guoning reached out to touch Lin Zhizhi’s arm, she yelled, “Don’t touch me!”
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? That I’m this kind of existence? They’re both innocent. It’s me—I’m the extra one!”
She turned to Yi Shi. “I’m sorry, I just remembered you, brother.”
Yi Shi felt a lump in his throat and embraced her. “Zhizhi, it’s okay. Don’t overthink it. We’re not trying to lose you—we’re just trying to find you. Where is Gardenia?”
Lin Zhizhi stayed silent for a moment, then softly said, “You’ve protected me all these years. This time, can I protect you?”
Sheng Guoning glanced back at the machinery factory, his face turning pale.
Inside Building 2, Gardenia saw Lin Heyu and smiled, her eyes crinkling with joy. “Brother! You’re here!”
Lin Heyu roared, “Come here quickly!”
Gardenia’s small body ran toward him, her pale, delicate hands reaching out—only to be swallowed by a bright white light from behind.
“Boom!” A deafening explosion erupted, and a mushroom cloud rose over the distant machinery factory.
Sheng Guoning nearly lost his footing, and Lin Zhizhi, with tears streaming down her face, still smiled through it all. “Sheng Guoning, like I said before, marrying you was the best decision I’ve ever made. Thank you for everything.”
Back at Changlong Garden, Sheng Guoning sat silently holding a family photo. Suddenly, the photo started to change—Lin Zhizhi and Sheng Yu’an’s images began to fade. Panicked, he rushed to the bedroom, only to find it empty.
Where was Zhizhi?!
He frantically searched the entire house and dialed Sheng Yu’an’s number, but it was disconnected. On the verge of collapse, his trembling fingers opened the photo album. In the bottom right corner of the electronic image of the 10/30 explosion victims, a small hand had appeared.
Sheng Guoning clutched the family photo to his chest, slowly kneeling as hot tears streamed down his face.
What had begun as the opening was now the final ending. Everything he had fought so hard to protect had still slipped through his fingers.
—–
Author’s note:
This really is fate.
Sigh
Don’t worry, the couple’s side story will end well.
