Chapter 410: The Dance Begins

“Idiot!”

Big Cat Face snarled, baring his teeth as he swung his large hand towards the back of Lin Xian’s head. His frustration boiled over.

“Don’t be disrespectful to the village chief!”

What was wrong with this kid? Was his emotional intelligence really that low? Did he think his thick skull could survive a punch from the village chief? Who just goes around declaring someone their parent like that? Didn’t he realize how much older the village chief was? And yet, he had the audacity to call her his father?

Thud.

The dull sound of flesh meeting resistance filled the air. Big Cat Face’s hand stopped mid-swing. Startled, he looked up to see the village chief’s hand gripping his wrist firmly. Her grip was like iron, unmoving. He felt the shock of it ripple up his arm, his hand throbbing as if he’d slammed it into a wall of steel.

“Let him continue,” the village chief said calmly, her piercing blue eyes fixed on Lin Xian. She didn’t flinch, didn’t waver.

Her voice was steady as she asked, “So, what you’re saying is... you’re not even sure if I’m your daughter?”

Lin Xian nodded, feeling a bit of the tension ease from his shoulders. There was no point in rushing this. The village chief wasn’t someone to be hurried.

“You know where the photograph came from, and you know the girl in the picture,” the Chief continued, her gaze sharp. “But you’re saying you’re not entirely sure that girl is me.”

Lin Xian stayed quiet, knowing she’d already grasped the heart of the matter.

“I understand what you’re implying,” she said, her voice lowering slightly. “You’re certain the girl in the picture is Yan Qiao Qiao. But you’re suggesting that I might not be her. That maybe... I’ve taken someone else’s place.”

Her words hit hard, echoing the doubt that had haunted her for years. The same thoughts Lin Xian had voiced earlier were thoughts she had wrestled with herself.

Countless nights had been spent staring at that photograph. Was that little girl really her? She didn’t look like her. Not even close. The shape of her face, body, and even her features were completely different. If it weren’t for waking up in a cryogenic pod with the name Yan Qiao Qiao and finding the family photo in storage, she might not have believed it herself.

“Ridiculous!”

Big Cat Face cut in, his patience finally snapping. He looked at the two of them, clearly exasperated.

“You two don’t even match in age! What’s there to analyze?”

He pointed at the photo, his voice rising in frustration.

“Look at this! There’s no way you could be father and daughter, given the age difference! Even I can figure that out, and I’m not the brightest! How are the two of you, supposedly the smart ones, missing something so obvious?”

The village chief, however, shook her head slowly, her expression thoughtful.

“Big Cat, you’re thinking too simply,” she said. “With technology like cryogenic pods, age doesn’t matter anymore. As long as the parents spent more time in the pod than the child, it’s possible for the child to be older than the parents.”

She turned her attention back to Lin Xian, her gaze as steady as ever.

“The issue isn’t our age difference. It’s that the little girl in the picture doesn’t look like me. So, there’s no way to be certain that I’m the same person.”

She paused, her blue eyes locking onto Lin Xian’s. “What should I call you?”

Lin Xian smiled slightly. “Just call me Lin Xian,” he said. “I’m not here to force a reunion. I know it’s a hard thing to accept, and with today’s technology, there’s no way to do a DNA test. There’s no solid proof.”

His tone softened as he asked, “I’m more curious—are you happy with your life? Are you content?”

The village chief nodded slowly.

“Since waking up from the cryogenic pod, I’ve found my life fulfilling,” she replied. “The former village chief taught me everything I needed to adapt to this era. Though I’ve always been a bit... unusual, my abilities are valuable here. The villagers respect me, and that’s why I’m their Chief.”

She gestured to the village around them, her eyes resting on the warmly lit houses.

“These past years, I’ve focused on leading the village—solving problems, building homes, developing industries. That’s been my purpose.”

Her lips curled into a small, satisfied smile as she continued, “It’s only because you resemble the man in the photo that I’ve grown curious today. My past memories... they don’t matter to me as much anymore. Like many others in this village—Smith, for example—they have few memories of their past, but they’re still happy.”

She turned back to Lin Xian. “I’m the same. Whether or not I’m the girl in the photo doesn’t change the life I’ve built here. It doesn’t change what I’ve done. I’m the village chief, and that’s all that matters.”

Seeing the peace in her expression made Lin Xian realize that maybe this wasn’t such a bad outcome after all.

In this strange dream world, where many had forgotten their pasts, people were still able to live new lives. Smith had become an expert in X Country’s culture, fully integrating into his new world.

If the village chief had been intent on discovering her past, Lin Xian wouldn’t have hesitated to help. After all, in this world, the consequences of such actions could always be reset. But the blue-eyed woman before him didn’t seem particularly interested in chasing after old memories.

Sensing the conversation winding down, Big Cat Face pushed his way between them. “Village Chief, I brought Lin Xian here today because I think he’s got potential. I was hoping he could stay in Big Cat’s Village and become an official resident.”

He shot a glance at Lin Xian, then continued, “I could use an extra pair of hands driving the delivery truck. I’ll even teach him how to drive.”

The village chief nodded.

“That sounds like a good idea,” she said. “Even if Lin Xian doesn’t have any particular skills, Big Cat’s Village welcomes all new residents.”

With a warm smile, she extended her hand toward Lin Xian.

“Welcome to Big Cat’s Village, Lin Xian. I hope you’ll feel at home here.”

Lin Xian took her hand, surprised by the strength in her grip. He smiled back.

“I’m honored to be part of the village,” he said. “I think I’m going to like it here.”

The village chief then turned to Big Cat Face. “It’s getting late,” she said. “You should get that bear delivered to Lord Li, along with the rest of the produce. The goods should be sold at market price, but the bear—let’s gift it to Lord Li as a celebration for the birth of his daughter.”

With that, she walked off, her bright blue eyes gleaming like fireflies in the darkness, disappearing into the night.

Big Cat Face let out a relieved sigh, then gave Lin Xian a friendly punch on the shoulder. “Phew... close call, huh?”

“You’ve got guts, saying something like that! Who just declares themselves someone’s father out of the blue? What’s wrong with you? Some kind of weird habit?” Big Cat Face’s voice was laced with irritation as he shook his head.

“You’re lucky the village chief was probably too tired from hunting to punch you. Trust me, if she had, your skull would’ve cracked like a watermelon!”

He shot Lin Xian a sideways glance, his eyes gleaming with mischievous energy.

“Do you even know what it feels like to have your head explode like a watermelon?”

Lin Xian chuckled softly as if recalling an inside joke. “Of course I do,” he replied.

“This,” Gao Wen said, holding the notebook out carefully, “is the journal I wrote before going into cryosleep.”

He paused, looking at Lin Xian with an amused expression. “I went into cryosleep in the year 2219—”

“Skip,” Lin Xian interrupted, waving his hand dismissively.

“At the time, technology hadn’t advanced enough to—”

“Skip,” Lin Xian repeated, his hand still motioning impatiently.

Gao Wen laughed and handed him the notebook. “Why don’t you just read it yourself?”

“Task accepted,” Lin Xian said, his tone serious as he took the notebook in his hands. It felt light, but he knew the weight of its contents would be heavy with information. He was just about to open it when Gao Wen glanced at the clock on the wall.

“Oh dear, look at the time!” Gao Wen suddenly rose from his chair, his voice light and cheerful. “I have to attend Lord Li’s banquet now. I really appreciate your enthusiasm for science, but I’ve copied the notebook’s contents elsewhere. Consider it a gift—you don’t have to return it.”

He moved to lock his office door, giving Lin Xian a friendly pat on the shoulder. “But I suggest you take a break tonight. It’s a rare celebration. Why not join us in the square and enjoy the festivities?”

With that, he gave Lin Xian a gentle nudge out of the office and closed the door behind him.

Outside, Big Cat Face was already waiting, bouncing on his feet like an impatient child. The moment Lin Xian stepped out, Big Cat grabbed him by the arm and started pulling him toward the square.

“Come on, we should’ve been at the banquet ages ago!” Big Cat Face grumbled. “Do you have any idea how grand Lord Li’s feast is? It’s for the birth of his daughter—there’s no telling how much food there’ll be! And here you are, wasting time!”

Lin Xian smirked, trying to keep up with Big Cat Face’s rapid pace. “It’s a feast. You can eat whenever you like. Besides, didn’t you just have a meal before we left?”

“That’s different!” Big Cat Face huffed, speeding ahead. “Food always tastes better when someone else cooks it! I saved room for a reason!”

Lin Xian chuckled. “I didn’t notice.”

“You will soon enough!” Big Cat Face shot back, determination clear in his voice.

...

They soon arrived at the heart of Donghai City’s central square, which was already packed with people. The celebration had begun, and the air buzzed with laughter and chatter. Tables overflowed with food, and villagers helped themselves to the generous feast.

A massive bonfire blazed in the middle of the square, its flames lighting up the night sky. Around it, people danced and sang, their movements joyful and full of life.

Lin Xian didn’t follow Big Cat Face to the food tables, still feeling full from the earlier meal. Instead, he found a spot near the bonfire, the warmth of the flames washing over him as he opened the Memory Notebook in his hands. He was eager to see what secrets lay hidden in Gao Wen’s words.

The notebook felt heavy and important, though its physical weight was light. As Lin Xian glanced up from the pages, watching the happy villagers dance and sing around the bonfire, he found himself smiling softly.

It was a good time to be alive.

Despite the catastrophic events of the year 2400... Despite knowing that the world would reset at 12:42 tonight, wiped clean by a burst of blinding white light... For now, in this moment, everything was as it should be.

Big Cat Face’s family was thriving. His daughter was happy and well-behaved. His younger brothers were dependable, not getting into trouble as they used to.

Once burdened by past mistakes, Smith had found peace and redemption in his new life.

The once vengeful, blue-eyed girl had put aside her hatred, becoming a caring and responsible village chief.

Lord Li had just welcomed a second daughter, securing his happiness as a proud father.

Li Ning Ning, once defiant against her fate, now lived as the true princess of Donghai City, embracing her new role as a loving sister.

And Emperor Gao Wen, ever the visionary, continued to change the world with his inventions, his brilliance undimmed by the passing years.

Everything was as it should be. There were no regrets.

At least for Lin Xian’s old friends, there were none.

Just as he was about to dive deeper into the notebook, a familiar voice called out to him.

“Lin Xian! I knew I’d find you here!”

Startled, Lin Xian looked up to see someone he hadn’t expected to see again. An old friend.

Her dark brown hair was pinned up, her bright eyes sparkling with mischief. A small dimple appeared on her cheek as she smiled, and a distinctive tear mole sat just beneath her left eye—like a signature mark.

It was CC.

“Long time no see,” CC greeted him, her smile warm. She gestured toward the bonfire. “I figured if I waited in the most noticeable spot in Donghai City on August 28th, 2624, I’d eventually run into you.”

“And here you are,” she added with a playful grin.

Lin Xian smiled back, remembering something he’d once said to Chu An Qing: If you ever get lost, just stay where you are. That way, I’ll always be able to find you.

No matter how much time passed, some things never changed.

“Long time no see,” Lin Xian said, standing up and closing the notebook. “For you... it’s been, what, twenty years since our last meeting?”

CC nodded, her smile never fading. “That’s right. In a way, I’ve known you for twenty years now, ever since I inherited the fragments of memory you left behind. Though I had to wait until today to finally meet you.”

Her eyes sparkled as she spoke. “I don’t have many memories of you—just three, in fact—but each one is vivid, unforgettable.”

Lin Xian closed the notebook with a soft thud and stood by the flickering flames. He met CC’s gaze, the firelight dancing in her eyes.

“Do you remember the last world?” Lin Xian asked.

“Of course,” CC replied. “We made a promise, didn’t we? That’s why I’m here.”

Her smile turned playful as she extended her hand toward him. “I told you, if we ever met again, I’d ask you for a dance.”

“And here we are, at the end of the world once more...”

She took a step closer, her hand still outstretched.

“Shall we dance?”