[10/30, 02:40, Nanyi City]
All the lights in the rental house were turned on, drawers and cabinets were opened, and even small movable furniture had been moved to different positions. The whole place was a mess, as if it had been through a robbery.
Lin Zhizhi squatted on the floor, using a flashlight to shine under the bed. These were her handiwork; although she felt a bit sorry for Yi Shi, she promised that once she found the spare key, she would definitely restore the rental house to its original state.
She had carefully inspected the security door, which was equipped with an ultra C-level lock. If the key was lost, it would take at least two hours for professionals to open it, so there had to be a spare key. However, she had already searched the place for more than an hour, not only checking all the corners of the walls but also rummaging through the pockets of her clothes, yet she still found nothing, which was quite frustrating.
No way, did they take the spare key just to trap her here?
This was indeed unfair to Yi Shi; when renting the house, the landlord had told him there was a spare key, placed in a box on the bedside table. However, Yi Shi had never seen it since moving in; luckily, he didn’t have the bad habit of being forgetful, and had managed to keep a single key for years without losing it.
The bed was only 10 centimeters off the ground, and even though it was close to the floor, Lin Zhizhi could only observe the situation under the bed with one eye. Unfortunately, she was just a weak girl; otherwise, she wouldn’t have to go through so much trouble to drag the entire bed out.
Hey?!
Lin Zhizhi quickly got up and looked for the broom she had just put down. Holding the flashlight in one hand, she extended the thin handle into the bed and squinted her left eye while focusing her vision in her right eye, trying to hook out a small object trapped beneath the headboard.
No, it was pressed too tightly. If only the bed could be moved a little!
Lin Zhizhi set down what she was holding, rolled her sleeves up to her elbows, and gripped the headboard with both hands, using all her strength to push. Luckily, it was a 1.5-meter bed, and the frame was made of lightweight material. Just before she felt like she was going to suffocate, it finally shifted half a centimeter to the right.
“… Damn! I’m exhausted!” Lin Zhizhi slumped down on the floor, took a moment to catch her breath, and picked up the flashlight again. A beam of light illuminated the object, revealing that it was indeed a key.
She went to the bathroom to grab a metal hanger, used her crafting skills to dismantle it, and turned it into a wire. Finally, she managed to fish out the key.
The key was covered in dust, and the plastic handle had slightly deformed from being pressed against the bed board for a long time. Fortunately, the metal part hadn’t rusted and was still usable. Lin Zhizhi wiped it clean, eagerly inserted it into the lock, twisted it around, and heard the two deadbolts retract. After another twist, the door opened!
Yes! All that effort wasn’t in vain. She quickly restored the rental house to its original state, sitting on the edge of the bed, picking up a stack of letters she had found in the bookcase. There were two addresses on the letters: one was for this rental house, and the other was for Changlong Garden.
Changlong Garden… that sounded a bit familiar.
Soon Lin Zhizhi remembered that when she was having dinner with Sheng Guoning, he eagerly wanted to show off his sense of security, mentioning how much savings he had, where their marital home was located, how many square meters it was, etc., and that marital home’s address was indeed Changlong Garden!
It seemed that was where they would be living together. Lin Zhizhi memorized the address, wrote a note and placed it on the desk, then stood up and unhesitatingly opened the security door.
I’m sorry, brother, sister-in-law, although you kept this from me and didn’t want me to take risks, I’m really curious about this matter and this world, wanting to see what I have turned into now.
Changlong Garden wasn’t far from the Nanyi City Bureau; when Sheng’s parents bought the house, they had planned it for their son. Yi Shi had also rented a place nearby for work convenience, which made things easier for Lin Zhizhi. After all, she had been staying in Nanyi for a while and had recently been frequently visiting the city bureau, so she was familiar with the roads. A little research on the map showed her the way to go.
It was now just past 3 a.m., and she had never strolled out in the deep of the night, especially in a city she was unfamiliar with. Fortunately, the road construction in this area was good, with street lights and surveillance everywhere. She wrapped her coat tighter around herself, trying to stay in well-lit areas, silently recalling the self-defense tips her brother had taught her in case of emergencies.
A car was coming from a distance, approaching her side. Lin Zhizhi glanced at it and quickened her pace; the car was slowly following her. After crossing a street, she could no longer hold back and turned to glare, her arched brows raised.
Through the glass, Sheng Guoning seemed to return to the day they first met; the moment she turned around, a proud rose suddenly bloomed before her.
The car window slowly lowered, and Sheng Guoning leaned out: “… Zhizhi, it really is you.”
Lin Zhizhi froze for a few seconds, then ran a few steps closer: “Sheng Guoning?!”
What a coincidence! She just happened to want to go to Changlong Garden and ran into Sheng Guoning on the way. Although she had already seen his photo and prepared herself mentally, seeing the real person suddenly, there was a considerable difference from her impression, which still evoked an instinctive sense of unfamiliarity.
“Get in. It’s unsafe for a girl to walk alone at night.”
A hint of wariness flashed in Lin Zhizhi’s eyes, but Sheng Guoning smiled warmly: “Oh, you probably don’t know, we’ve been married for a long time and our child is already in college.”
Lin Zhizhi observed him again; although there were differences in age and appearance, the familiar warmth and sincerity in his eyes made her hesitate no longer. She opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat. Upon seeing the time displayed on the dashboard, she was suddenly astonished: “Today is October 30th? How is that possible?!”
“What should it be?”
“March 1st.”
Based solely on the date, Sheng Guoning was already able to deduce which day Lin Zhizhi had traveled to this place. But why had she come here? That day after dinner, he had clearly returned her home safely, and according to the normal timeline, she should have been home drawing.
Since this evening, starting with seeing Yi Shi at the hospital, everything had quietly begun to change. Now, Xiao Shitou was in the company car, and he had initially planned to take Zhizhi home before handling matters, but unexpectedly ran into the time-traveling Zhizhi, completely disrupting the plan.
Sheng Guoning lightly tapped the steering wheel: “You… how did you end up here?”
Lin Zhizhi shrugged; if she knew, she wouldn’t be confused. Everything here was baffling, and the two who knew what was going on didn’t tell her, which was why she tried every way possible to “escape.” She tucked her long hair behind her ear and shared what had happened tonight, omitting the part about ransacking the place that would affect her image. In short, her brother and his boyfriend had business to attend to and left her behind.
Upon learning that Lin Huoyu was with Yi Shi, Sheng Guoning’s expression changed drastically: No, they weren’t the ones he had just seen; they were another parallel version from a different time! Why had they brought Zhizhi here? Had they already seen that photo? Did they want to put everything back on track?
Sweat started to bead on his palms as he gripped the steering wheel, and his expression became serious. Lin Zhizhi tilted her head: “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing, nothing at all.” Sheng Guoning forced a smile, “So, you came out so late to find them?”
Lin Zhizhi shook her head, biting her lip, feeling a bit embarrassed: “Actually, I… wanted to go to Changlong Garden. You said we were married and had children… I just wanted to see what my life is like now.”
“Well, I’ll take you there. Let’s go home and take a look.” Sheng Guoning thought it over; Yi Shi and the others must be looking for Xiao Shitou. If they wanted to restore the timeline, they had to swap Xiao Shitou with Zhizhi. Since they hadn’t told Zhizhi about the situation here, they probably wouldn’t have anticipated her going to Changlong Garden, making the most dangerous home actually the safest place.
As for the Zhizhi at the hospital, he didn’t need to rush to bring her back; he could just arrange for a hospital stay for a thorough check-up, allowing him to identify any problems, achieving two goals in one.
During the drive, Lin Zhizhi curiously observed the streets outside the window, noting the differences between the two worlds. Sheng Guoning explained while driving, “Here’s the hotpot restaurant you love, just across the street; that’s the vegetable market where you often buy groceries, and you know many vendors; up ahead is the elementary school your sons attend, and a few streets down is their middle school…”
“I, wait, what’s our son’s name?”
“Sheng Yu’an. Yu is for Li Yu’s Yu, and An is for peace. You hope he grows up positively, living a sunny and bright life, not seeking great wealth, but simply wishing for peace throughout his life.”
Lin Zhizhi clapped her hands and laughed: “What a great name! I really like that meaning; it’s exactly what I wanted.” She tilted her head and blinked, “Have I been very happy these years?”
“Mm, very happy.”
[01/19, 08:21, Changlong Garden]
Today, Sheng Guoning was resting at home. When he woke up, Lin Zhizhi was still asleep. Last night, she tossed and turned for half the night, only falling asleep close to dawn. Sheng Guoning quietly got up and tucked her blankets in.
He didn’t know how to resolve the unclear conflicts between him and Zhizhi. On one hand, he was suffocated by the heavy truth, and on the other, he was worried about their marriage and relationship. The overwhelming pressure made him exhausted; it seemed the only thing he could do was to try to ease the situation and let time heal everything.
Sheng Yu’an had just gotten out of bed. After washing up, he found his dad coming back from outside, carrying a bunch of vegetables.
“Dad, why did you go buy groceries? Where’s Mom?”
“She’s still sleeping; she stayed up late last night.” Sheng Guoning brought the vegetables to the kitchen. Sheng Yu’an jogged over, the tall young man looking worried: “Dad, how are you and Mom doing? When I asked Mom, she said it had nothing to do with me and told me not to meddle. How can I not care? You two are in this situation, and it’s making me anxious!”
“Don’t worry; it will pass.”
Sheng Yu’an cautiously asked, “Dad, can you tell me what it’s about? I’m also part of this family, I can’t just not know anything, right?”
Sheng Guoning sighed, patting his shoulder. If he couldn’t even tell Zhizhi, he certainly couldn’t disclose it to Sheng Yu’an.
Ever since he started college, Sheng Yu’an felt overwhelmed by troubles piling up one after another—personal, familial, and school-related issues. The worries of a young man had exploded in the past six months. He really missed the high school days when he was an athlete, without significant academic pressure, enjoying a carefree school life, making genuine friends, and having a harmonious family relationship. Life was so much better than it was now.
With his parents avoiding the topic, he had no way to inquire. He thought to himself that if only his older brother were here; Yi Shi was much sharper than him. As a criminal investigator, he was best at unraveling things, and he would definitely figure out the reasons quickly. With that thought, he couldn’t help but want to ask about Yi Shi’s situation but didn’t dare to be too obvious. Now, “brother” had become a sensitive topic for him; saying even one wrong word could lead to misunderstandings.
“He’s fine. Once everything is over, he’ll come back.”
“When will it end? The New Year is almost here…” Sheng Yu’an mumbled, “Even when he was busy, he never missed a New Year’s Eve dinner. But now there’s not a word from him. Can he really come back in time?”
It wasn’t until around 10 a.m. that Lin Zhizhi finally woke up. Seeing the alarm clock on the bedside, she was shocked; she hadn’t slept in so late for many years. When she walked into the living room, she saw her son scrubbing the balcony tiles and her husband cleaning the screens. There was also chicken soup simmering on the stove, filling the house with a rich aroma, suddenly adding a lively atmosphere.
“Mom! You’re up! Dad and I are almost done with the chores.” Sheng Yu’an showed his two tiger teeth, “You don’t need to do anything today; just sit and rest. Leave it to us!”
“…Mm.” Lin Zhizhi nodded gently.
She walked into the kitchen, where lunch was almost ready, consisting of several of her favorite dishes. Sheng Guoning hadn’t cooked in many years, and he had put in quite a bit of effort to please her. However, she couldn’t feel touched by this kindness, as it only deepened Sheng Guoning’s guilt. Those unsaid words were even colder.
After turning off the heat for the chicken soup, Sheng Guoning scooped out the first bowl, skimming off the yellow oil. He brought it to Lin Zhizhi for her to taste. Lin Zhizhi thanked him first, being excessively polite. After taking a sip, she nodded lightly: “Mm, it tastes good.”
“I bought it from the shop you often go to. The owner wiped off a bit of the price after hearing your name.”
Lin Zhizhi didn’t respond, and Sheng Guoning felt a bit awkward. Luckily, Sheng Yu’an came out, asking for chicken soup, which spared Sheng Guoning from being in an uncomfortable position.
In the afternoon, Sheng Guoning took down the range hood, intending to tackle this big project. Sheng Yu’an received a notification from his team that he needed to go to the gym and that there would be a dinner party in the evening. He changed into sportswear and slung a shoulder bag over himself, radiating such energy that it could outshine the sun. Lin Zhizhi reminded him: “It’s just a dinner; don’t drink alcohol. Come home early. If it’s too late, call, understood?”
“Mm-mm, I don’t want to be outside in this cold weather either. I’ll come home right after eating.” Sheng Yu’an glanced at the kitchen, worried that his absence might cause conflicts between his parents, and no one would be there to mediate. Fighting was impossible; his dad had never even spoken a harsh word in his life, so how could he bear to raise his hand?
“Mom, you guys—um, just, just don’t… tsk.” Sheng Yu’an scratched his head in frustration. Lin Zhizhi smiled: “What’s there between your dad and me? Just go, be good.”
Once the door closed, only the two of them were left at home. Lin Zhizhi truly didn’t go looking for Sheng Guoning to discuss anything. She busied herself in the room, spreading out the bedding and organizing the closet. Sheng Guoning opened the door, his hands still damp from washing: “What are you doing?”
“Sorting out clothes since spring is coming after the New Year.”
Sheng Guoning dried his hands and came in to help. They sat on the floor, folding and sorting clothes, occasionally chatting, with the winter sunlight streaming in, the warmth truly delightful.
“After the New Year, I plan to go back to Haijing.”
Sheng Guoning nodded: “Mm, it should be less busy after the New Year; I’ll go back with you.”
Lin Zhizhi slowly raised her head, looking at him: “I want to move back to Haijing.”
This statement stunned Sheng Guoning. Hearing her say calmly: “An’an comes home less often, your life is managed by an assistant most of the time, and my brother’s house is empty, which is a waste. I want to go back and live there for a while.”
Lin Zhizhi wanted to leave. Her decisive and resolute nature resembled Lin Heyu’s; once she had a certain thought, she would implement it as soon as possible. Procrastination could lead to confusion.
Sheng Guoning felt bitterness in his throat and softly asked, “…When will you come back?”
“Let’s see.”
Sheng Guoning nodded blankly, his mind in disarray, unsure how he even walked out of the room. Lin Zhizhi continued folding clothes, and as she did so, flowers of rain blossomed on the fabric. She looked up and wiped away her tears, as a slanting ray of the sunset crept through the window.
Before their wedding, at the Southern Cheng’an Cemetery, she had told her brother’s tombstone that she chose the right person to spend her life with and would always return with a smile. For twenty years, she had kept her promise, but this time she had finally broken it.
Author’s Note:
The little couple is really suffering, sob sob.
I explained the timeline before, but to reiterate:
Here, 10/30 is the day of the explosion, and then 01/19 is calculated based on Yi Shi’s separation. So from a timeline perspective, these two dates are the same day, while the times on both sides are still opposite. If the explosion occurred at 6 a.m., then it would be at 6 p.m.
