Chapter 320: Meeting Chu Shan He

This novel is translated and hosted only on BCaTranslation

Lin Xian took a step back, staring intently at the locked safe in front of him. Beneath his nameplate were eight shiny dials. The numbers displayed were:

20240328

These eight digits formed a date: Chu An Qing’s 20th birthday, the same day she vanished into blue stardust.

Until today, Lin Xian hadn’t given much thought to what the password should be. He had considered using a random, complex password or keeping it simple, as safes were meant to deter honest people, not determined thieves. He reasoned that if his dreams were fake and the enemy had a setup to brute-force the password, they could crack it in 600 years, read the note inside, and copy it for him.

The password itself wasn’t important. What mattered was the note inside and the safe serving as a coordinate to ensure his future self, 600 years later, could find it.

As he was about to close the safe, thoughts of Chu An Qing flooded his mind. She was the girl who had jumped from a plane for him and disappeared into blue stardust. Her 20th birthday was also her death anniversary. He hadn’t even had the chance to wish her a happy birthday or give her a gift. She vanished before she could see the first light of her 20th year.

Through his recent investigation into the Millennium Stake, Lin Xian felt certain that Chu An Qing wasn’t dead. She had simply vanished, not died. In this magical world, many wondrous things and powers existed. If time and causality could be reversed, why couldn’t Chu An Qing return?

Lin Xian wasn’t one to give up easily. He was determined to find those who had planted the Millennium Stake and demand, “Give me Chu An Qing back!”

He wanted her back exactly as she was on March 28, 2024, the moment he grasped her hand in the sky, the moment he saw her serene smile after landing and removing her spacesuit. This impulsive decision felt natural as he set the eight dials to that date.

He had considered breaking the historical loop by setting a different password, but Brother Wang had told him the password couldn’t be changed once set. He wouldn’t waste the precious time-space particles and note Chu An Qing sacrificed everything to give him just to test a meaningless theory.

The historical loop didn’t matter to him. But at this moment, Lin Xian felt only this date as the password could honor Chu An Qing’s sacrifice and the tumultuous 600 years. No wonder his past self couldn’t guess the password, even knowing it was her birthday. It wasn’t her birth year or 18th year, but an ordinary 20th birthday. Who would value a 20th birthday so highly?

And yet, Lin Xian hadn’t known Chu An Qing before the MX celebration. He hadn’t paid much attention to this lively junior before.

“See you there,” he whispered, turning the eight dials to random positions one last time. Glancing at the safe filled with secrets and time, he vowed, “I will find you.”

Lin Xian turned and walked toward the alloy door.

Click.

Outside, Brother Wang opened the door for Lin Xian. “Wow, you’re quick! Most clients take ages to decide on a password. Since it can’t be changed, they want something meaningful for their time capsule.”

“Many even consider the possibility of future hibernation and the amnesia side effects. They want a password so important that even a memory-lost future self would recognize its significance.”

Brother Wang’s words echoed what Lin Xian had heard. Now that Xu Yi Yi had entered hibernation, and the first batch of volunteers were in as well, with promising results, it seemed the first generation of mass-produced hibernation pods would soon be released. The allure of hibernating and waking in the future was strong, but so were the concerns about memory loss and recovery.

Many naively thought, “Write a diary! Watch videos upon waking!” or “Hibernate in turns with a trusted person to share memories.”Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com

But human memory was complex and emotional, not easily captured in a diary or video. Sociologists said the biggest challenge in memory recovery was trust. A blank slate would instinctively distrust everything, rejecting even their own diary as uninteresting, lacking connection. Videos would face similar rejection.

Lin Xian, familiar with these issues, knew trust was a significant barrier to memory recovery. Without trust, external memories couldn’t reintegrate into the brain. And deeper concerns like memory fraud and manipulation loomed, with scenarios of waking to false memories implanted by malicious actors.

As hibernation technology edged closer to reality, public apprehension grew. People feared losing their identities more than their wealth. The thought of waking to strangers presenting fake memories was terrifying, dampening the curiosity about hibernation.

To prepare for this new era, many sought ways to safeguard their true memories, using safes like Lin Xian’s. Brother Wang had explained that most clients bought safes in preparation for future hibernation, wanting to secure their genuine memories for their future selves.

Chu Shan He’s voice was light, unlike the strong, confident man Lin Xian knew. It lacked the vigor and strength he was used to. After a pause, Chu Shan He continued.

“So, I didn’t contact you. Many times, I wanted to call, but I held back.”

“Lin Xian, I trusted you with my daughter, meaning I believed in you. I’ve always admired you, treated you like my own. So, I knew you would come and find the answers.”

Lin Xian raised his head, meeting Chu Shan He’s gaze.

“Lin Xian...” Chu Shan He went on, “When you jumped from the plane, you fulfilled your promise to me. You don’t need to feel guilty. You can face me with a clear conscience.”

“I’ve seen many things in my years in business, and I know the world has inexplicable phenomena. I’m more accepting of these things than your Auntie Xiu Ying.”

“I believe every word you say and see you as a responsible man. So, Lin Xian, I have just one question.”

Chu Shan He looked directly into Lin Xian’s eyes, his gaze piercing.

“Is my daughter dead or alive?”

Lin Xian’s eyes were steadfast as he answered, “She’s alive.”

“Then where is she?” Chu Shan He demanded.

Lin Xian stepped forward, standing before the grieving, strong father.

“Mr. Chu, I don’t know where An Qing is now.”

“But I promise you with my life, with everything I have.”

He placed his hand over his heart, looking up at Chu Shan He.

“No matter where she is, no matter who she is now, whether at the ends of the earth, across the river of time, even if I have to search every corner of space and time—”

Lin Xian’s determination blazed in his eyes.

“I will find Chu An Qing and bring her back to you!”

Chu Shan He stood rigid, fists clenched, then took a step forward. He placed a large hand heavily on Lin Xian’s shoulder.

“A man must keep his word and see it through.”

He locked eyes with Lin Xian.

“I’ll be waiting... for you to bring my daughter back!”

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation