MP Ch160: Meeting you at the best age (Extra)

“South side of the Pingju Square, we have arrived. Please take your personal belongings when getting on or off the bus. Please pay attention to safety…”

The No. 47 bus slowly approached the station and came to a stop. The back door opened, and Lin Zhizhi followed the crowd off the bus. She took out her phone and sent a location to her best friend, who replied with a location as well—one was at the south side of Pingju Square, and the other was near the fountain’s big diamond, over a hundred meters apart.

Lin Zhizhi walked quickly, her floral skirt swaying, drawing out an elegant waltz. Just as she stepped into the square, she heard her friend calling: “Zhizhi! I’m over here!”

“Coming!”

Lin Zhizhi jogged over, and the two friends embraced, excitedly squealing and jumping. She had been living in Haijing before, and after graduating from her master’s program, she came to Nanyi for an internship. She hadn’t seen her best friend in three months, and no amount of online contact could compare to face-to-face heart-to-heart conversations.

“How have you been lately? Did that team leader we talked about last time get transferred?”

“Not only did he not get transferred, but he also got promoted! I’m going crazy; my computer screen is full of his marks from pointing and criticizing!”

“Who isn’t? My client understands everything and has many demands. Didn’t the contract only allow three revisions? But he keeps saying, ‘Add money, add money, keep revising until I’m satisfied!’”

“Really, I’ve become disillusioned with the world. Besides drawing, I have no worldly desires.”

The two sisters walked along, complaining and chirping like two happy larks. When they reached the pedestrian street, her friend pulled Lin Zhizhi across the street: “I was searching for food recommendations in Nanyi yesterday, and someone just recommended this café. Have you ever been there?”

“Which one?”

“That one across the street, Time Flies.”

Lin Zhizhi looked up; the noonday sun shone on the reddish-brown wooden sign, and the store name filled with red paint had a retro feel. A fragment flashed through her mind: she and someone sat in a café, warm afternoon sunlight pouring over them, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee.

“I feel like I’ve been there, but also… I’m not sure.”

“What a strange answer!” Her friend hooked her arm. “I’ll take it as you’ve never been there. Let’s go try their desserts and coffee.”

As they pushed open the shop door, a pleasant sound of wind chimes rang out. Brightly colored sunflower paintings hung on the walls, and the enormous glass windows opposite, along with the dreamy stained glass above, made her friend scream with excitement over the novel decor. Lin Zhizhi looked around; that familiar feeling hit her, as if she had really been there before.

It could also be a false signal from her brain, producing a déjà vu. Lin Zhizhi shrugged and found a window-side seat with her friend. After ordering light meals, she rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the brown glass in the center. It clearly reflected her figure and the scene of the shop; the second hand of the wall clock seemed to be moving backward. Ignoring the numbers, the hour and minute hands pointed to one o’clock in the afternoon.

She froze for a moment, staring blankly at the clock. Her friend curiously asked, “Zhizhi, what are you looking at?”

“That… the time is reversed.” Lin Zhizhi turned around; the wall clock behind her showed the time as eleven o’clock.

Her friend blinked and then laughed, pinching her cheek: “Zhizhi, you’re really out of it from drawing. What’s so strange about this? It’s just a flat mirror image; of course, the glass reflection is reversed!”

“Ah, right, that’s true.” Lin Zhizhi shook her head helplessly. “I’m just too stressed. If I keep getting tormented by clients, I’ll go crazy.”

“Then hurry up and find someone to marry! Look at Xiao Tang; although she married far away, her husband is super good to her. She doesn’t have to work and has plenty of time to shop and travel. Her life is so carefree!”

“That’s not what I’m looking for!” Lin Zhizhi sighed. “What can I do if I don’t meet the right person? Fate can’t be forced.”

Her friend complained, saying that it’s not about fate but that Lin Zhizhi’s standards were too high! From high school to university, how many people chased after her, yet she hadn’t found anyone she liked. Now at twenty-six, she hadn’t even had a single relationship.

“Have your parents urged you?” her friend asked.

“They haven’t. They think I’m still young, and my brother isn’t married yet, so I’m not in a hurry.”

“You didn’t mention it at all! I saw your brother in the news last month.” Her friend opened her browser and found that news article. “’Soaring Eagles in the Sky—The Youngest Elite Bomb Disposal Expert.’ Your brother looks so handsome in this picture!”

“Don’t crush on my brother; he already has a girlfriend.”

“Ah? Really?!” Her friend pouted. “Another handsome guy in the world is off the market~”

After a day of fun, Lin Zhizhi reluctantly said goodbye to her friend. When she returned to her youth cube apartment, she flopped onto her bed, closed her eyes, and all she could think of was that café called “Time Flies.”

…Had she been there before?

Her phone rang; it was her brother calling. “Brother~”

“Did you have fun today?”

“Of course, I’ve. I don’t have any friends around Nanyi, and usually on weekends, I just watch anime and exercise, plus I still have to work overtime.”

“Back then, when I wanted you to stay at Haijing for an internship, you insisted on going to Nanyi. Are you regretting it now?” Jiang Dongliang’s tone was full of helplessness. “Mom misses you very much. When I come home from work and hear your voice, it feels much quieter here.”

Lin Zhizhi hugged her knees and said, “I thought you all cared for me a lot. I just feel that I have grown up and it’s a bit too much to rely on you all like this…”

She wasn’t Jiang’s biological daughter, and she had no blood relation to Jiang Dongliang. Her being adopted was purely coincidental. She was originally an orphan who had experienced a kidnapping case at a very young age. The hostages included a child from an aristocratic kindergarten, one of whom was Jiang Dongliang. During the kidnapping, the two children helped each other through the terrifying experience. After they were rescued, Jiang Dongliang’s parents simply adopted her, allowing her to enjoy the warmth of a family, kind and gentle parents, and a righteous and kind brother, compensating for the familial love she had been missing for many years.

Lin Zhizhi never avoided discussing her identity as an adopted child. She was also afraid of others mentioning it. She just felt that, as a girl, she was very delicate. After growing up, it was impossible for her to be carefree and rely on her parents. She always felt she should be independent and do something to repay her parents’ nurturing.

“You’ve started thinking nonsense again, haven’t you? What’s wrong with relying on us? Even if you spent the whole year working at home, Mom and Dad wouldn’t mind. As long as you’re happy, it’s fine. You are their daughter, my sister; that won’t change no matter what.”

Jiang Dongliang felt a headache coming on. Having such a sensible sister was also a trouble. Clearly, they were all one family. What was there to depend on? It was so annoying!

Lin Zhizhi felt lighter in her heart and stuck out her tongue: “I know, I know! Who’s thinking nonsense? This is just a late-onset rebellious phase! By the way, brother, have we ever been to Nanyi before?”

“No. Why?”

“I went to a café today called ‘Time Flies,’ and it felt very familiar, as if I had been there before. Did I mention this place when I was a child?”

“No, you didn’t even know Haijing when you were young, only your own name.”

“Then it seems I really haven’t been there.” Lin Zhizhi’s eyes twinkled, “Do you think it’s possible that another version of me from another world has been here, creating this illusion for me?”

Jiang Dongliang was speechless: “What other world? What’s in your little head? No wonder you’re into design; your imagination is really rich.”

There was also that possibility. She really believed in the theory of parallel worlds. Lin Zhizhi shrugged; yes, these were just random thoughts. She should go to bed early and continue being a corporate slave tomorrow.

———

“Mom, I’m still busy. I don’t know when I’ll finish work. How about you tell her to change the time to meet?”

“I didn’t mean not to go! Oh, I really am working late, right at the office!”

“Those words won’t work. If it falls through again, can you blame me? It’s not like I’m deliberately avoiding finding a partner. I’m just trying to get off work early!”

Sheng Guoning hung up the phone, took a long breath, and raised his head to find his colleagues looking at him with great interest. Yu Xue took the lead to ask, “Captain Sheng, may I ask, how many blind dates do you have?”

“Um… 34 or 35?” Sheng Guoning flipped through his calendar. “Five, six, six for sure, plus four strokes; today’s is the 35th.”

Yu Xue turned around: “Did you hear? Each of you owes me a breakfast; don’t forget.”

His colleagues groaned. How come Captain Yu always won? He had never lost once!

Sheng Guoning was taken aback and slammed the table: “Are you itching for trouble?! Using my blind dates as a bet again?!”

“Captain Sheng, don’t be angry; it’s just some fun within the team.” Yu Xue quickly reached out his hand. “I’ll share half my breakfast with you.”

“Deal! Let’s gamble more in the future!” Sheng Guoning immediately reached an agreement with him, showing no moral scruples at all.

Around eight o’clock, Sheng Guoning finally left the office, still missing the scheduled meal. This was bad. After seeing so many girls, he had developed aesthetic fatigue. He wished he could work overtime every day to avoid being pestered by his mom for no reason.

Spring was a high season for crimes. Coincidentally, as Sheng Guoning passed by an alley, he heard the sound of fighting. Looking closely, he saw a group of thugs fighting. He immediately took out his badge and shouted, “What are you doing?! It’s late at night; shouldn’t you all be sleeping? Gathering here to fight? Everyone squat down with your heads down! Drop your sticks and bricks! You over there on the wall, come down! I’ve caught your boss before!”

The little thugs squatted down against the wall with their heads down. Sheng Guoning contacted the district police, turning on the flashlight on his phone to shine on their faces. Some were familiar, and some were unfamiliar. The one squatting at the back was a child who seemed to be underage.

“How old are you?”

“15.”

“Only 15, and you dare to get involved in this? Don’t you learn?! Where are your parents? Why aren’t they taking care of you?”

The one climbing over the wall raised his head, looking strange: “Officer Sheng, it’s not his fault. His dad is our boss. After you caught him, the family fell apart.”

Sheng Guoning was stunned. A dangerous premonition shot up his spine. He suddenly turned around, and a gust of wind came. A knife had already stabbed him in the chest.

The boy stood quietly there, his eyes filled with deep-seated hatred.

Sheng Guoning took two steps back and slowly fell down. The police from the district station rushed to the scene, hurriedly calling for an ambulance. The thugs scattered in all directions, except for that boy who did not move. He was pressed against the wall and handcuffed but did not struggle. His eyes remained fixed on Sheng Guoning, and as they locked gazes, his eyes revealed a satisfaction for revenge.

Sheng Guoning closed his eyes, opened them again, coughed, and spat out blood. The surroundings spun violently. He was carried into the ambulance and taken to the hospital, with colors of black, white, deep, and light swirling chaotically in his vision. The noisy voices came close and distant. In his mind, many bizarre images flashed, like a film playing randomly.

Am I going to die? Isn’t it a bit regrettable to die at such an age? And I still haven’t gotten married, haven’t waited for my destined partner, haven’t waited for…

Zhizhi.

When this name suddenly popped into his mind, Sheng Guoning’s eyes instantly became moist. He recalled that time on the street when he briefly saw the bright girl, and the faint fragrance of gardenias from the corner of the wall lingered in his heart, unforgettable.

It felt like he knew her, yet he also didn’t know her.

Although he couldn’t pinpoint where this familiar feeling came from, it seemed that there was a sense of fate involved. Perhaps they had been a couple in a past life, but in this life, for various reasons, they couldn’t find each other. If they were indeed lovers who couldn’t meet, how painful would that be?

The red light in the hospital’s emergency room was on. Yu Xue rushed in, breathless, grabbing Shao Shiqing’s arm: “How is Captain Sheng?!”

“The knife pierced the pericardium, hitting the vital point. By the time Captain Sheng was sent here, he was already in shock. The doctors… the situation isn’t optimistic,” Shao Shiqing wiped his eyes. “Captain Sheng really is unlucky; he had to encounter such a thing after work. That kid is just relying on the fact that he hasn’t reached the age of criminal responsibility to be so arrogant.”

“Hmph, he’s old enough; the person he hangs out with definitely has the suspicion of instigation,” Yu Xue’s face darkened. “Have the wolves and dogs bring him back, and if Captain Sheng is in trouble, they all should be dealt with thoroughly.”

—

“I’m on the bus, and there are three stops left. Do you need to buy groceries?”

“I’m really fed up with my mom. I’m already this old, and I still have to report back by 8 o’clock.”

“Manager Wang, there’s a bit of traffic today; I’ll be about five minutes late. Hey, thank you for your understanding.”

…

Sheng Guoning looked around. This was a bus filled with students, office workers, and the elderly, surrounded by chatter, noisy like a duck pond.

What was going on? Shouldn’t he be in the hospital? How did he end up on a bus?

He touched his chest; there was no blood, no wound, and no suffocating feeling of breathlessness. Sheng Guoning pinched his arm hard, feeling the real pain, proving that he wasn’t dreaming.

This was really strange. Was the stab wound the illusory dream?

“Next stop, Fuqiao. Please prepare to disembark if you need to get off, and take your belongings with you…”

The bus’s voice announcement rang out. Sheng Guoning looked up to observe the bus route map on the ceiling. That’s right, this was Route 47, and the destination matched his memory. Looking out the window, the sky was clear, and the vigorous sun was rising, heralding the beginning of a beautiful day.

When the vehicle arrived at the stop, many people got off, and the passengers exited in an orderly fashion. At that moment, a girl in the front of the bus suddenly turned around, her willow-like brows raised, and her bright, beautiful eyes angrily stared at the short, chubby man behind her.

Sheng Guoning stood up abruptly. It was her!

That girl he had briefly seen on the street finally appeared before his eyes. She was so radiant and youthful; even her angry expression was heart-fluttering.

“What were you just doing?!” Lin Zhizhi angrily questioned.

The chubby man showed a lewd expression: “What’s wrong? The bus is crowded; my hand didn’t intentionally touch you.”

Hmph, it was clearly intentional. Who would have thought she would encounter a pervert while riding the bus? She proactively changed her seat, and a minute later, a scream came from behind her. She immediately turned around to see the lewd man being grabbed by another man by his right hand, and from the painful expression on his face, it seemed his right hand was about to be broken.

“I saw you trying to touch this lady’s leg with my own eyes. You can’t deny it now, can you?” Sheng Guoning habitually reached into his pocket for his ID, but realizing there was none in either pocket, he sternly said, “Get off the bus! We need to report this to the police!”

Just as the bus arrived at the stop, the lewd man, in a moment of desperation, pushed Lin Zhizhi hard. Sheng Guoning quickly reached out to support her, then turned around to see the lewd man seizing the chance to jump off the bus and disappear.

“Are you okay?” Sheng Guoning helped Lin Zhizhi stand. “Sorry, I wasn’t careful and let him get away.”

Lin Zhizhi shook her head, her face blushing as she thanked him. Sheng Guoning naturally stood beside her, using his height advantage to quietly observe his destined girl.

This was no mistake; she was his ideal girl. The feeling of love at first sight was unprecedentedly thrilling.

After two more stops, Lin Zhizhi got off the bus. Sheng Guoning immediately followed, maintaining a distance of about one meter behind her. He could see the sign for Magic Cube Youth Apartments ahead; did she live there? Last time, it really had been Sheng Guoning’s illusion.

Lin Zhizhi suddenly stopped, turning to look at Sheng Guoning: “Excuse me… is there something else?”

Gathering his courage, Sheng Guoning stepped forward and softly asked, “Can you tell me your name?”

“Lin Zhizhi.”

Zhizhi.

Sheng Guoning nervously swallowed:  “Is it ‘zhi’ with the character for knowledge, and ‘zhi’ with the grass radical?”

“Eh? How do you know?” Lin Zhizhi’s brows curved. “So many people hear my name and think the two characters ‘Zhizhi’ are as in ‘knowledge.’”

“It sounds nice, really nice.” Sheng Guoning felt a bit of moisture in his eyes, as if warm liquid was about to overflow. He quickly lowered his head to wipe them. Lin Zhizhi tilted her head and blinked: “What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

“It’s nothing, just—it’s nice to meet you.”

“I’m glad too. Thank you for your help; what’s your name?”

“Sheng Guoning.”

“What a righteous name, just like the person suits the name.”

The two stood on the sidewalk, exchanging names and encountering a brief moment of awkward silence. Lin Zhizhi bit her lip and said, “How about this? I’ll treat you to a meal as a thank you for your help, okay?”

Before she finished speaking, Sheng Guoning had already nodded.

“What do you want to eat? Do you want hot pot? I know a hot pot restaurant in Nanyi…”

“Mm, okay.” Sheng Guoning stared intently at Lin Zhizhi, his eyes not leaving her face.

“Then come with me. It’s very close; just cross this street and take a left.”

Sheng Guoning followed behind her, his steps quietly quickening, walking alongside her.

He liked walking with Lin Zhizhi; he could go to the ends of the earth with her.

———

The news of Sheng Guoning’s death soon reached Haijing. Yi Shi and Lin Heyu took leave together to attend his memorial service in Nanyi.

Former colleagues were immersed in a sorrowful atmosphere. Yi Shi looked at the enlarged black-and-white photograph, feeling mixed emotions. Why did Sheng Guoning have to die so young? Was it because he hadn’t placed that piece of the puzzle into this world that caused his early demise?

Lin Heyu put his arm around his shoulder, whispering, “Don’t overthink it; he had his own fate, which we can’t control.”

“But… I was still hoping for a miracle.”

Lin Heyu touched his hair, hoping to dispel the guilt in his heart.

Yu Xue came out from behind, his face pale and his eyes bloodshot. He took off his glasses and rubbed his sore, swollen eyes: “I didn’t expect you to come all this way. Captain Sheng must be aware of it in spirit and would definitely feel comforted.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“The damned thugs, why are you apologizing?” Yu Xue put his glasses back on and said coldly, “I was too busy before to deal with these small fry. This time, we’ll settle old and new scores together. That one who went to juvenile detention shouldn’t expect to have an easy time.”

Yi Shi and Lin Heyu both fell silent. Yu Xue turned to look at the memorial photo: “Captain Sheng didn’t leave in pain; he still had a smile on his face. I think he must have had a very beautiful dream when he left.”

“Did he leave any last words?” Lin Heyu asked.

“When he was taken into the operating room, he was already in shock; how could he leave last words?” Yu Xue paused, suddenly realizing something. “The doctor who was resuscitating him mentioned that they heard him mumbling a name…”

“‘Zhizhi’? Was it these two characters?”

Yi Shi’s shoulder trembled violently, revealing an incredulous expression, and Lin Heyu was similarly shocked. To suppress the turmoil of emotions surging within him, he pressed down his feelings: “Oh, I see.”

“I asked Captain Sheng’s parents; they didn’t know who it was. The doctor said it could be the ramblings of someone in shock.” Yu Xue’s gaze swept over the two. “Seeing your reaction, it seems you know this person? Who is she?”

“She is Sheng Guoning’s most important person.”

Yu Xue looked puzzled. Captain Sheng had been all alone, with no girlfriend, and aside from his parents, there was still someone so important?

Having lived through others’ lives, he hadn’t personally experienced it. Perhaps during the time he was unaware, there had been a deeply poignant story.

After the memorial service ended, before leaving, Yi Shi took a photo from Sheng Guoning’s belongings. Returning to the Southern Cheng’an cemetery, he buried it in Lin Zhizhi’s grave.

“Zhizhi, has Sheng Guoning gone to you?” Yi Shi gently caressed the vermilion words. “If his death was to meet you, I hope you both can be happy together forever.”

“Probably,” Lin Heyu squatted down, embracing Yi Shi. “They loved each other so much; the heavens wouldn’t be so cruel.”

Sheng Guoning’s situation temporarily disrupted the peaceful lives of the two. Seizing this opportunity, they used up their accumulated annual leave to go out and unwind. After leaving Haijing, their first stop was Shengzhou, where they planned to meet Lian Jingyuan.

In the revised world, it was Yi Shi and Lian Jingyuan’s first meeting, but neither felt the awkwardness of a first encounter. Sitting together to eat and chat felt more like old friends catching up.

“You have no memories of me?” Yi Shi asked.

“I don’t have any either. In parallel worlds, the subjects I study allow everyone around me to meet, but I haven’t had that luck.” Lian Jingyuan spread his hands helplessly. “One day, let me experience it. It doesn’t have to be much; enough to publish an SCI paper will do.”

Yi Shi pondered for a moment and spoke up: “If a person is in the state of Schrödinger’s cat, does that mean they could exist in both worlds?”

“That’s valid in quantum mechanics. The dead cat and the living cat exist in two different worlds. I believe I’ve explained this theory to you before, right?”

Yi Shi nodded. It was precisely because he listened to his scientific theories that, at the last moment in the revised world, he hadn’t included Sheng Guoning’s name. There was no corresponding duplicate name in both worlds, but Sheng Guoning was the only exception. This made him think: could there possibly be parallel individuals of him in both worlds?

“Would borrowing a corpse and returning to life happen?” Lin Heyu asked. “That is, dying in one world but possibly coming back to life in another?”

Lian Jingyuan frowned, feeling helpless: “You should ask a professional about these kinds of questions, like a medium or a spirit woman.” Huh? Why do I feel like I’ve answered this question before?

Yi Shi and Lin Heyu exchanged glances, gently shaking their heads. Lian Jingyuan had already explained it; they were even more convinced of their conclusion. They could only hope in their hearts that the reality was as they feared: Sheng Guoning was a special case, and the miracle they had been wishing for had already happened.

Yi Shi paid for the meal. Lian Jingyuan took out his phone to transfer money to him. “What does this mean? You all came to Shengzhou for fun; it should be me treating you.”

“No, this is something I owe you.” Yi Shi replied lightly. “We agreed that after the transition, if I was still in this world, I’d have to make up for this meal.”

Hearing this, Lian Jingyuan sighed lightly, revealing a smile: “Well then, you’re welcome to come to Shengzhou anytime you’re free.”

__

In the Time Flies Cafe, Lin Zhizhi sat at a window seat, holding a fragrant mocha in her hand. She had made plans with Sheng Guoning to watch a movie in the afternoon, and since there was still time, she decided to enjoy a lovely afternoon tea.

Fate is a wondrous thing, coming unexpectedly. Just the other day, her friend was still worrying about when she would have a partner, and before she knew it, a chance encounter on the bus, a dramatic first meeting, had turned into a beautiful romance.

Sometimes she wondered if she had been single for 26 years just to wait for this man who gazed at her with such adoration.

“Come, come, come! Quickly lend a hand; this box is too heavy!”

A short-haired staff member dragged a large cardboard box down from upstairs, and a counter staff member rushed over to help: “Wow, did you clean out the entire storage room?”

“Of course! There were so many random things, and they were just taking up space.” She wiped the sweat from her forehead. “I asked the manager, and he told me to take charge. Anything useless can be thrown away.”

“I want to take a look!”

“Me too, me too!”

Three staff members gathered together, and Lin Zhizhi curiously walked over, tilting her head to watch from the side. The box contained many items: books, small ornaments, decorations, toys, and so on—a dazzling array of old and new. A small Christmas doll was thrown on the floor, and Lin Zhizhi picked it up and asked, “Can I have this?”

The short-haired staff member nodded: “Of course, what else do you want? Feel free to pick.”

Lin Zhizhi smiled, “You keep sorting; if I want anything else, I’ll take a look later.”

She watched the staff members pick through the items, and before long, they had piled up a bunch of odds and ends, including a folded brown paper bag that looked like a file folder. It felt thin and seemed empty.

“Can I open this?” Lin Zhizhi asked.

“Yeah, go ahead. This thing is so old and has been in the shop for years; feel free to open it.”

Lin Zhizhi undid the wire at the back, flipped the file folder over, and a 5-inch photo fell out.

In the photo, the man had striking features, and his side profile was flawless. The sunlight from the window kissed his shoulder, casting a soft glow on his straight shoulder line, and his blurred silhouette seemed to enhance the gentle warmth of the man in the mirror.

“Wow! What a handsome guy!”

“Really! Wow, he looks amazing, like a star.”

“This must be some star who left this behind; I didn’t expect there to be such treasures in the shop!”

Lin Zhizhi stared at the man in the picture, and the more she looked, the more familiar he felt. Who was he? This surge of emotions wasn’t love, but a connection that felt even closer.

Who on earth was he? Did I know him?

Lin Zhizhi was distressed, having no memory of this person at all. She even doubted herself, wondering if she was just infatuated with someone who looked so good.

Forget it; I shouldn’t tell Guoning. He would definitely get jealous.

__

Lin Heyu and Yi Shi returned to Nanyi, walking from Pingju Square to the pedestrian street, only to find that the place that used to be a cafe had turned into a bookstore.

As the glass door opened, a familiar sound of wind chimes greeted them. The decor hadn’t changed much; the ceiling still marked the transition between day and night, but the shop was now filled with bookshelves for people to browse. The brown glass section by the window, which had once been an important tool for them to communicate with the mirror world, was now just a piece of ordinary glass, reflecting their tall figures and the scent of books from the store.

The once easily triggered connection point had turned into nothingness, and the mirror world had completely disappeared from their lives.

Yi Shi rested his hand on a bookshelf, his keen hearing catching a faint wind chime sound. He turned to look but found that the shop door had not opened.

Suddenly feeling a sharp pain on his shoulder, Yi Shi realized Lin Heyu had gripped it. He felt relieved to find that Lin Heyu was staring at the brown glass, his expression unusually serious and tense.

Yi Shi looked up, his pupils dilating—at that moment, in the brown glass, the store door opened, and Sheng Guoning stood at the entrance, smiling and waving. Lin Zhizhi ran over, linking arms with him in an incredibly intimate gesture, her expression brighter than the warm sun outside the window.

“Zhizhi, it’s Zhizhi!” Yi Shi rushed over, gently touching the figure in the glass. Lin Zhizhi and Sheng Guoning didn’t acknowledge his presence; the two of them were together, their hands tightly clasped.

Countless nights of prayer were finally answered; a miracle was unfolding right before their eyes.

It seemed Sheng Guoning and Lin Zhizhi were discussing their plans, and just as they were about to leave the Time Flies Cafe, the moment the door closed, the brown glass returned to normal, reflecting Yi Shi’s reddened eyes.

Lin Heyu came over and gently pulled him into an embrace. Yi Shi turned around and hugged him back, tears silently dampening his collar.

A warm hand wiped away the tear stains on his cheek, and Lin Heyu whispered tenderly, “Don’t cry; this is our opportunity for confirmation. They are together now, and we should be happy for them.”

Yi Shi nodded vigorously, tightening his embrace around Lin Heyu as they held each other closely.

Regardless of which world they were in, they finally met the most important person at the right time.

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