Chapter 240: I Am Willing

This novel is translated and hosted only on BcaTranslation

“See, I told you it responds to your voice,” Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, capturing a short video on her phone.

The small Pomeranian named VV had an unusual bond with Lin Xian. Whenever it heard his voice, it would immediately calm down and snuggle close to him, more like a cat than a dog. Initially, Lin Xian had been indifferent to the dog, but now he found himself growing fond of it.

After all, they shared the same nickname—VV. It seemed almost silly for them to remain strangers.

By now, Lin Xian had figured out most of the intricate time-space dynamics involving the various VVs. He understood almost everything, except one thing: what exactly was CC’s version of VV?

It was clear that Zhao Ying Jun had named not only the Pomeranian but also a trashcan robot model and the central brain of Rhine Sky City as VV. However, she never associated Lin Xian with the nickname VV. To her, whether now or 600 years in the future, he was always Lin Xian, never VV.

She had chosen VV as a voice-activated password carrier simply because she had recorded him calling out to VV. Her intention was to leave hints around Sky City, hoping that he would one day utter the password near the diligent trashcan robot.

Thus, fundamentally, CC’s interpretation of VV had no link to Zhao Ying Jun’s life. The only explanation was that in the future, as a mysterious bearded man, he had introduced himself as VV to CC.

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Why had he not used his real name? Now knowing that VV was a dog’s name, who would use such a name for themselves? It seemed somewhat demeaning.

According to CC, in her fragmented memory from an unspecified time-space, she had been just a girl when she met VV, who was already middle-aged. Could it be possible that he had survived up to 600 years in some futuristic world?

Perhaps each dream represented a possible future, much like Liu Feng had explained regarding various time-space curvatures and world lines.

In the third dream, he died before 2026, making it impossible for him to meet CC 600 years later. But what if he altered the future even further? What about the fourth dream? The fifth? The possibilities were endless.

Navigating time-space changes was unpredictable, and Lin Xian knew he had to rely on luck and focus on becoming stronger to survive past 2026.

...

Zhao Ying Jun replayed the video several times, then pocketed her phone and stood up.

“I don’t know what to say... I’ve had it for seven years, and it still treats me like an enemy every day. Yet with you two, it’s love at first sight. You might as well take it home,” she joked.

Lin Xian laughed, knowing she was teasing, and replied, “Actually, from a biological perspective, it might be because of the scent.”

“Scent?” Zhao Ying Jun raised an eyebrow, curious.

“Yes,” Lin Xian explained as he stroked the dog’s head. “Dogs have a much sharper sense of smell than humans. They pick up on scents we can’t detect, which carry a lot of information for them. There might be something about my scent that makes it so calm and affectionate around me.”

“It’s similar to how bats and dolphins perceive sounds that humans can’t. Sounds are divided into ultrasonic and infrasonic waves based on frequency; humans can’t hear frequencies that are too high or too low. Scent works on a similar principle.”

“Though, this is just a theory. I read about it somewhere, but it could just be a fabricated story. Maybe it really does just like the sound of my voice, as you suggested.”

Zhao Ying Jun blinked, amused by his knowledge. “You’re surprisingly well-informed. But either way, you’ve really helped me out. With this video, I can play your voice to calm it down when it barks at night.”

She glanced at her watch and smiled warmly. “It’s about dinner time. There’s a great Hunan restaurant nearby. Let me treat you. Can you handle spicy food?”

“Sure,” Lin Xian responded as VV whimpered sweetly, licking his hand.

Time travel sounds intriguing, but whether moving forward or backward, it invariably brings isolation.

“So...” Lin Xian looked at Zhao Ying Jun, “If one day, hibernation pods are perfected, would you use one?”

“I wouldn’t,” Zhao Ying Jun said decisively.

She set down her chopsticks and looked directly at Lin Xian. “That feeling is too lonely. I believe people belong to their own time. Leaving it makes you a ghost with no place to belong.”

“I wouldn’t use a hibernation pod. Even if the future is better and more advanced, there’s too much I cherish in this world. Chinese people have always believed in returning to one’s roots. Dying surrounded by loved ones isn’t so bad. Hibernating for centuries to a future world... you might not even have someone to see you off, and who knows where you’ll be buried.”

She smiled softly. “Isn’t that lonely? A world where only you know who you are. You might not even find a place to belong after death, your ashes scattered to the wind.”

...

Lin Xian remained silent.

He felt a bitterness in the piece of spicy chicken in his mouth. Despite its tenderness and flavor, it felt like chewing on a bone.

He chuckled dryly, lowering his head.

“What’s wrong?” Zhao Ying Jun asked, puzzled.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No, no,” Lin Xian quickly shook his head. “You’re right. Many people think that way.”

This novel is translated and hosted only on BcaTranslation

“And you, Lin Xian?” Zhao Ying Jun blinked at him. “Would you take a hibernation pod to the future?”

Lin Xian sipped his water, swallowing the chicken.

He took a napkin and wiped his mouth.

“If it was before... I wouldn’t.”

“Just as you said, the feeling of being alone isn’t good. I don’t think my current life is bad, nor do I believe the future would bring more joy.”

“So... call me short-sighted, but I’d rather die young in the present than linger alone in an unknown, lonely future.”

Zhao Ying Jun leaned back, smiling. “Sounds like you have more to say. What about now? Are you open to the idea?”

“Yes, my thoughts have changed,” Lin Xian said softly.

“For certain people, certain things...” He looked up at Zhao Ying Jun, arms crossed.

“I am willing.”

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation