After leaving the detention center, Yu Xue checked the time on his watch and grabbed Yi Shi’s arm, “Let’s grab something to eat. After that, I’ll head home and you can go to your date.”
“…?” Yi Shi looked confused, “What date?”
“With Lin Heyu, of course.”
Yi Shi hadn’t forgotten about this, but he hadn’t expected that meeting Lin Heyu would be considered a “date.”
“I’m just saying, meeting at midnight, you guys really know how to pick a time.” Yu Xue commented while sipping on some beef stew, “Good thing it’s not at a cemetery, or I’d really suspect you were having a ghost romance.”
“…He’s alive.” Yi Shi recalled feeling Lin Heyu’s warmth in the coffee shop with both hands, and his fingers unconsciously twitched, “Our timelines are different; the situation is rather unusual.”
Through the text messages, it was clear that the flow of time in Yi Shi and Lin Heyu’s worlds was opposite, with only midnight and noon completely overlapping. Midnight was the transition point, the end of one day and the start of another, where the time difference was smallest for them both.
Given this, meeting face-to-face as two “online friends” from different worlds was no easy feat.
Yu Xue picked up a piece of beef and ate it with a knowing smile, “What do you plan to talk about when you meet?”
Yi Shi, still looking confused, replied, “I’ll try to get useful information, figure out his purpose for appearing, and understand the connection between our two worlds.”
“And then?”
Yi Shi thought for a moment, “Discuss the case. I’m curious about his side of things, especially regarding Lin Erde.”
“Alright, alright,” Yu Xue interrupted him, “And then?”
Yi Shi frowned, struggling to think of what else he wanted to learn from Lin Heyu. Finally, he asked Yu Xue cautiously, “Do you have any good suggestions?”
“…,” Yu Xue sighed, lowering his head to drink his soup, “It’s actually a good thing you’ve been single for so long.”
Yi Shi paused, then lowered his head in silence. Yu Xue slowly said, “If I were Lin Heyu and after all the trouble of meeting, you ended up making it feel like an interrogation, I’d get up and walk out immediately.”
“…Really? Then what should I do?” Yi Shi looked at Yu Xue blankly, like a rabbit, naïve and unaware of his own innocence once his sharp, stern exterior was stripped away.
Alright, even in an online relationship, this kid needed guidance—what a handful.
Yu Xue sighed and tactfully offered some tips on social interactions that required emotional intelligence. Yi Shi frowned, his pretty face clearly showing how “troublesome” this all seemed. Yu Xue gently reminded him, “He’s not a suspect; don’t just focus on asking the questions you want answers to. Pay attention to his situation too. Normal social interactions are turn-based; it takes give-and-take to build a friendship.”
“Oh,” Yi Shi responded glumly, thinking that interrogating a criminal was also turn-based. The difference couldn’t be that big, right?
“If you really can’t manage it, just be yourself. Anyone willing to accept you has a lot of tolerance,” Yu Xue smiled, “Take our team, for example. Everyone’s used to your behavior by now. Do you know what Zhang Rui from Haijing said?”
“?”
“You’re the ‘team pet.'”
“…Huh?” Yi Shi couldn’t for the life of him understand how that term could possibly apply to someone like him.
Yu Xue shrugged, “Everyone goes along with you and looks out for you. If that’s not being ‘pampered,’ what is it? Even the police flower doesn’t get this treatment.” Yi Shi, embarrassed, scratched his cheek and muttered, “Captain Yu, it’s different. I’m not that close with Lin Heyu.”
“What do you think your relationship with him should be?”
“Hmm… just ordinary friends,” Yi Shi replied slowly. “He knows me. From what he says, we used to be close, but I can’t remember, and I don’t feel familiar when I see him.”
“Really? But I feel like your relationship is more than just ‘ordinary friends.’ Do you remember when I told you that Lin Heyu talked to me back in middle school?”
Yi Shi nodded. At the time, Yu Xue couldn’t recall what was said, and the topic had just been dropped.
Yu Xue pulled out a tissue to wipe the corner of his mouth and began speaking slowly: “Back in my school days, my dream wasn’t to become a police officer. Because I knew myself well, I understood that the strict rules and regulations of the police force wouldn’t suit me. Even though I had relatives working in the city bureau, and I was surrounded by it daily, it never made me want to step into this line of work.”
Yi Shi, on the other hand, had no recollection of his childhood and didn’t even know what his childhood was like. All of his memories began after being adopted by Sheng Guoning. Sheng Guoning was a police officer who often took him to the police station. At some point, his dream became to join the police force, as if he was born with a responsibility and sense of mission.
“However, fate is strange. I never thought that I would later enroll in the police academy and stay in this field for ten years, and that I would even plan to stay for the next ten years, and the ten years after that.” Yu Xue rested his chin on his hand, smiling. “I used to wonder when exactly my perspective started to change, and it wasn’t until recently that I realized it was due to a few hints.”
“What kind of hints?” Yi Shi asked.
“‘Without rules, there can be no order. In a large collective aiming for a common goal, strict regulations are the best way to maintain order. Maybe in the future, you’ll have a good partner who can compensate for the aspects where you don’t want to be constrained.’” Yu Xue pointed his long, pale finger at Yi Shi. “‘He will be an indispensable part of the team.’”
Yi Shi was stunned and suddenly realized why Yu Xue believed that his relationship with Lin Heyu was not so simple.
“When did you remember this?” Yi Shi paused, then rephrased the question, “Or rather, when did this memory resurface?”
“This morning.” Yu Xue rubbed his temples. Recently, after a brief separation, he and Qi Wenyu had been making up for lost time, and staying up too late. He was groggy when he woke up this morning, but after regaining full consciousness, he found that more fragments of memories related to Lin Heyu had surfaced in his mind.
“This feeling is quite strange… I even wonder if I’m dreaming. Have you seen ‘Inception’? How a small idea planted in a dream can have a profound impact in the real world, changing a person’s entire life.” Yu Xue shook his head with a smile. “I still can’t recall what happened afterward that solidified my decision to attend the police academy, but in terms of the timeline, there’s no doubt that what Lin Heyu said to me back then played a crucial role in influencing me.”
His hand rested on Yi Shi’s thin shoulder and gently squeezed. “Yi Shi, he knows we are the same kind of people, and he might understand you more than you realize.”
Yi Shi was lost in thought for a long time. If his guess was correct, at the point in time that morning, they were greeted by dawn, while Lin Heyu’s side was just beginning to darken. Perhaps, just like last time, he was working late at the bureau, which gave him the opportunity to see Yu Xue from his student days again.
Lin Heyu knew about their partnership, which is why he tried to influence Yu Xue. After Yu Xue joined the police force, he and Yi Shi formed a partnership. Yi Shi felt confused by the causal relationship between these events and had a vague feeling that two parallel worlds were influencing each other, complementing and reinforcing one another.
The winter night had dropped to below freezing, and most of the stores on this street had long since closed, leaving only a few food stalls catering to late-night diners. Grills were set up outside, and the mixed aroma of fried and grilled foods wafted through the cold air.
“You’re heading to Pingju Square, right? Come with me, I’ll give you a ride,” Yu Xue said.
Yi Shi looked around and saw that at the intersection ahead to the right, a black Audi was parked with its hazard lights on. The car window was rolled down, and an arm hung out, the sleeve of a black trench coat rolled up to reveal a hand holding a cigarette.
The forensic expert, Qi Wenyu, had come to pick up his wife. The watch on his wrist looked familiar; Yi Shi had seen it last time when he went to the autopsy room to retrieve something.
“I’ll call a taxi,” Yi Shi said awkwardly. The guy had come to pick up his wife, so tagging along would be too inconsiderate.
But Yu Xue didn’t care at all and pulled Yi Shi’s arm toward the car. “It’s late; where are you going to get a taxi? I checked earlier; there isn’t even a ride-hailing car around. We’re heading in the same direction, so we might as well give you a lift.”
“No need…”
“Not listening to your superior’s orders?”
“Uh…”
Before Yi Shi could refuse a third time, Yu Xue had already pulled him into the car. The dome light inside came on, and sure enough, Qi Wenyu was in the driver’s seat. He was dressed in a black long coat, his stubble was all cleaned up, his hair neatly trimmed, and he exuded the unique charm of a mature man.
Yi Shi was taken aback, almost not recognizing the usually disheveled man from the autopsy room. Yu Xue, however, wasn’t surprised: “Did you go out today?”
“Don’t even mention it. I went out with the old lady to shop, and she insisted I get some grooming done. It was exhausting.” Qi Wenyu turned to Yi Shi in the back seat and smiled. “Hey, kid, we meet again.”
“…Hello, Forensic Expert Qi.”
“You cleaned up nicely, looking sharp,” Yu Xue said as he took off his coat and tossed it into the back seat. He leaned back into the soft cushion of the passenger seat and said lazily, “First, let’s head to Pingju Square. By the way, did you know there’s a new coffee shop there?”
“What are you going to a coffee shop for at this hour? If you want coffee, I’ll make you some at home. I’ll even make latte art, how about a peacock display for you?” Qi Wenyu exaggerated.
“Give me a break,” Yu Xue said dismissively, his rejection clear in his eyes. “Your afternoon tea skills are passable at best, but you need more practice with latte art.”
“Tsk, give me a chance, A-Xue!”
“Call me ‘Sir,’” Yu Xue kicked him lightly. “Stop fooling around, hurry up and navigate. If Yi Shi is late for his date, it’s on you.”
Yi Shi: “…”
I already said it’s not a ‘date.’
Hearing that Yi Shi had an appointment with someone, Qi Wenyu became interested: “This cold, standoffish kid has a date with someone? Did the girl fall for an insurance pitch?”
“Does it have to be a girl?” Yu Xue glanced at him.
“Oh wow, you hid it well. I really didn’t see that coming.” Qi Wenyu’s smile was suggestive as he leaned in closer, almost resting his chin on Yu Xue’s shoulder, and asked in a low voice, “Did you teach him?”
“I’m not that capable.” Yu Xue pushed away the furry head. “Let’s go. You talk too much.”
“Alright, alright, we’ll gossip later when we get back. Let me finish this cigarette first.”
Yi Shi looked at the two in the front seat. He had always doubted that they could get along, but after witnessing it today, he had to admit that their dynamic was like an old married couple—something that could only be developed through years of being together.
He suddenly remembered that Qi Wenyu had transferred to Nanyi ten years ago. When he was in Haijing, could he have met Lin Heyu?
They were still bantering back and forth when a head suddenly popped in between them. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“…” Qi Wenyu gave him a sidelong glance. “What is it? Can’t wait for your date? I’m almost done with my cigarette, just two more puffs.”
Yi Shi’s dark eyes stared at him. “Forensic expert Qi, the person I’m going to meet—you might know him.”
“Who?”
“Lin Heyu.”
Qi Wenyu pondered for a few seconds before showing a confused expression. “I don’t know him. Who is he?”
Yi Shi and Yu Xue both stared at him. As seasoned detectives, they could tell from his eyes and subtle expressions whether he was lying. Yu Xue nudged Qi Wenyu’s arm. “Think harder. When you first started working, who was the captain of the criminal investigation department in Haijing?”
“That was so many years ago. Let me think…” Qi Wenyu rubbed his chin. “Yuan? I think it was him. Back then, he was pretty famous at the Haijing Municipal Bureau. His love life was, let’s just say, very colorful, but he was a coward. He didn’t even dare to look when he came to the autopsy room. The professor had to tell him to stand at the back and puke…”
“Yuan Kang?”
“Maybe? I really can’t remember. I have to admit, I’m getting old.”
Yu Xue gave Yi Shi a look, signaling that there was no need to ask further. Qi Wenyu indeed didn’t know about Lin Heyu. You couldn’t blame him; even Yu Xue hadn’t heard of this name until recently.
Perhaps some opportunity would be needed to create a connection between him and the mirror world, and then, like Yu Xue, he might gain some memories that didn’t originally exist.
———
Twenty minutes later, the Audi stopped at Pingju Square. It was already late at night, and across the street, only a 7-Eleven was still open. There were just a few people on the street, and Yi Shi stood under a streetlamp, alone and solitary.
“Remember to head home early,” Yu Xue reminded him before closing the car window, letting Qi Wenyu drive them home.
In the center of Pingju Square stood a large fountain, and behind it was a massive glass structure carved in the shape of a diamond. Above the glass diamond, a huge clock face made up of a circular plate and hands indicated the time, but without specific numbers, the time could only be judged by the angle of the hands.
The mall had long since closed, but the glass diamond and clock face were illuminated from within. Although there weren’t many lights, the numerous reflective surfaces of the glass multiplied the light, making the exquisite diamond appear to emit a dazzling white light, illuminating the vast square. Even the streetlamps were rendered unnecessary.
Seeing that it was still early, Yi Shi decided to walk over to the 7-Eleven to buy a bottle of water. The store’s entrance faced the large diamond in Pingju Square, and as Yi Shi took his drink to the counter, he found himself constantly drawn to the dazzling art piece.
“Six yuan total. How would you like to pay?”
Yi Shi opened his phone to make the payment and handed it over. The cashier, noticing his constant glances, smiled. “Bright, isn’t it? Like a big light bulb. But it’ll be off soon.”
“What time?”
The cashier pointed to the clock. “It turns off at midnight.”
Yi Shi left the store with his drink and received a message from Lin Heyu: [I’m at Pingju Square.]
What a coincidence. He was only a few steps away. But… Yi Shi looked around. Where was he?
As far as his eyes could see, there was no one else. The entire Pingju Square was empty except for him. After five minutes, Yi Shi walked around the square, stopped in front of the diamond, and sent a message to Lin Heyu, telling him he hadn’t found anyone.
Lin Heyu: [Do you see the diamond? I’m under the clock face.]
Yi Shi: [So am I.]
Lin Heyu: [I can’t see you.]
Yi Shi: [Me neither.]
Why couldn’t they see each other? Was it the wrong location? Their first meeting had been in the woods, the second at a cemetery, and the third at a café. There didn’t seem to be any pattern to these places. Why couldn’t they meet at Pingju Square?
His phone rang with a WeChat video call. Yi Shi answered, and a second later, Lin Heyu’s face appeared on the screen, with a background identical to his—a blinding white light.
“You really are here,” Lin Heyu said, looking around and then smiling helplessly. “But there’s no one around me.”
Under the cold white light, Yi Shi’s features appeared even more delicate. Perhaps it was from being in the cold wind for so long, but his nose was slightly red, adding a touch of color to his pale face.
“I don’t know why I can’t see you either.” Yi Shi turned to look at the clock behind him. “Could it have something to do with time?”
Lin Heyu wasn’t sure. He instinctively felt that he should understand the rules, but his fragmented memory didn’t include this part, so he could only shrug. “Maybe.”
Both of them fell silent.
Their planned in-person meeting had turned into a video call. Was there any point in this? They could have done this anywhere, as long as there was an internet connection.
Yi Shi sat on the tiled edge of the large fountain. It was winter, and the fountain wasn’t running, leaving only a shallow layer of water in the basin. He held the phone in one hand, resting his cheek on the other, and stared at Lin Heyu in the video. “Let’s just chat like this.”
Lin Heyu, being a practical person, nodded. In the end, he felt it was his fault for making Yi Shi come out here for nothing, so he apologized first. “Sorry, I don’t yet understand the exact method for us to meet.”
Yi Shi responded calmly, “We’ll try different times and places next time.”
The large clock behind them made a crisp “click” sound as the long and short hands overlapped. In an instant, the dazzling diamond light went out, plunging the square into darkness. The night grew deeper and thicker, and the entire square became pitch-black, where one couldn’t even see their hand in front of their face.
It really did save the cost of streetlights. Yi Shi blinked hard, his eyes still not adjusted to the sudden darkness, making it hard to find his bearings. His phone screen was also pitch black, as at the same time, the diamond on Lin Heyu’s end had also lost power, leaving them both in complete darkness.
“Yi Shi, are you still there?”
“Yeah,” Yi Shi replied, groping the tiles with his hand. “I’m by the fountain, haven’t moved.”
“The video call got cut off. Let’s talk once you’re back. Turn on your phone’s flashlight and watch your step.”
“Okay, I’ll do that…”
Before he could finish his sentence, a soft green light started to emerge in the darkness, gentle and enchanting. Yi Shi slowly raised his head, looking toward the large clock face.
It turned out that the inside of the clock had small night lights that lit up after the diamond’s lights went out. These soft green lights floated like fireflies in mid-air. At the same time, the bottom of the fountain also began to emit a warm, gentle light. The shallow water rippled slightly in the breeze, casting shimmering reflections.
For a moment, a profound, indescribable sense of wonder took over. It felt as though they were in the vast, boundless universe, with the river of time flowing slowly beside them, with no beginning and no end. In this vast galaxy, they were just two faint stars forming part of the river’s stream.
“Pretty,” Yi Shi said softly.
Lin Heyu was also looking up at the clock face. Though he couldn’t see Yi Shi, knowing they were in the same place, enjoying the same scenery, made him feel peaceful and content, even slightly happy.
Their video call was still ongoing, but neither spoke. They just stayed in place, silently admiring the beautiful scene. At that moment, no words were needed; there was a mutual understanding, and each could clearly grasp the other’s thoughts.
Lin Heyu’s phone buzzed with a message from Yuan Maoqiu, asking when he’d be back and if he needed to leave the door unlocked.
Lin Heyu was about to reply when he glanced at the fountain’s water and froze. Reflected in the rippling water was not his own image but the silhouette of someone slender yet resilient.
That person was sitting by the fountain, looking up intently at the clock face. His right hand rested on his knee, holding a phone displaying a video call.
Lin Heyu grew tense and called out softly, “Yi Shi.”
“Hm?” Yi Shi looked down at his phone. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve found you.”
Yi Shi’s first instinct was to stand up and look around. Lin Heyu watched as the silhouette stood up and began searching around. His heart warmed. “Not there, look down.”
“…?” Yi Shi obediently lowered his head, his gaze moving from the ground to the water. Suddenly, his eyes widened.
He braced himself against the fountain’s edge, leaning down until he could clearly see Lin Heyu’s face in the water’s reflection. Lin Heyu was smiling at him, extending his right hand, slowly approaching the water’s surface.
Yi Shi put his phone in his pocket and extended his hand, the cold water gradually covering the back of his hand. As their reflections’ fingertips drew closer, Yi Shi’s hand began to tremble slightly.
He touched it. He touched Lin Heyu’s warm fingertips, proving that behind this layer of water was a real, tangible world.
In the next moment, his entire hand was grasped, and his body was pulled into the fountain. As he plunged into the water, Yi Shi choked on a mouthful of it. He squinted his eyes as the scene around him spun, as if an invisible hand had flipped over an hourglass, with him inside it, his insides twisting along with it.
In the following second, Yi Shi found himself crashing into Lin Heyu’s arms, coughing uncontrollably. The two of them were now sitting inside the fountain, both soaking wet and looking quite disheveled.
Lin Heyu was the one most surprised; he had only tried to grab Yi Shi’s hand, never expecting he would actually pull him over like this???
But… being able to find him, that was really something.
