CH 128

(When you see)

The secretary was rather efficient, and he speedily booked tickets to Europe for the next morning. 

However, Zhou Wenyan received a transnational call from Dad Zhou late at night.

“I heard you booked a flight ticket to Europe from the secretary.” When you heard Dad Zhou’s voice on the phone, you knew he was a middle-aged man who lived like a prince, “What’s going on?”

“I happen to be traveling to Europe to take care of a minor matter, so I’ll drop in and see you,” Zhou Wenyan said casually, unconsciously rubbing the phone case with his fingers.

Dad Zhou laughed heartily: “That’s not necessary. We’re about to leave for China.” 

Zhou Wenyan’s eyes darkened, but his pleasant tone remained unchanged: “Didn’t you say you wanted to play for another two months?”

Dad Zhou stated: “Alas, there’s an unexpected situation here. Your mother is having problems acclimatizing, so we decided to return early. We’ll come back by plane the day after tomorrow. There’s no need for you to meet us at the airport.”

Dad Zhou was about to hang up the phone when Zhou Wenyan stopped him, saying, “There is something I want to ask you.”

“What is it?” asked Dad Zhou.

“Do you recall the great master who treated me back then?” Zhou Wenyan inquired.

“I remember,” Dad Zhou answered after a little pause. “What’s the problem?”

“What is that master’s background?” Zhou Wenyan asked.

“He was introduced by someone else,” said Dad Zhou. “At the time, I had the mindset of giving it a shot but didn’t expect you to be truly cured. Later, the great master went to wander, and I haven’t heard anything since.” 

Zhou Wenyan was inquisitive and questioned, “Who introduced him?”

“It’s been so long that I’ve forgotten…” Dad Zhou laughed. “Let’s speak about it when I get back.”

Dad Zhou seemed concerned about what Zhou Wenyan would question again. He hastily hung up the phone, and the screen went dark all of a sudden.

Zhou Wenyan set down the phone. 

Shen Dongqing was using a controller to play a game. When he heard Zhou Wenyan move, he paused the game and turned to face him.

Zhou Wenyan: “It’s nothing.”

He sat next to Shen Dongqing, cross-legged.

Shen Dongqing stuffed a video game controller into his hands. 

Zhou Wenyan was a little absent-minded, made two small mistakes in a row, and died in front of the boss. He lifted his hand to rub his forehead, adding quietly, “I’m not myself, I’m not playing well.”

“It’s fine,” Shen Dongqing responded. He resumed playing competently, without forgetting to pay attention to the man beside him, “What’s wrong?”

Zhou Wenyan: “I keep feeling it’s strange.”

Bang— 

After a few operations, the boss dropped to the ground, and the screen displayed the two words “Level cleared.”

Only then did Shen Dongqing take the time to respond: “What’s strange?”

Zhou Wenyan bent his head in thought, palms on his knees: “I can’t explain it, but I just feel…” He couldn’t put his finger on it. All kinds of words swirled around on his tongue before he finally said, “Let’s go back to the old house to have a look.”

He wanted to examine the game’s mainframe once again. 

Shen Dongqing was baffled: “Go back? Whatever for?”

Zhou Wenyan: “The basement.” He had already gotten up to drive, not wanting to waste any more time.

Shen Dongqing raised his hand and grabbed Zhou Wenyan’s shirt hem. He gazed up at him after pulling him back: “Do you want to examine the game’s mainframe? But I can’t get in,” he said, tilting his head.

“Can’t get in?” Zhou Wenyan was astonished. 

“That’s right. The controller can only be used once, and now no one can access the core of the game,” Shen Dongqing pouted hard, pointing to the jade gourd on his wrist.

Zhou Wenyan lowered his gaze to observe.

The jade gourd, which was originally transparent and glossy, had become dull and its surface was cracked with a dent, as if it would split open with a light touch.

Shen Dongqing: “Going there is pointless. There’s nothing there but the basement.” 

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Two days later.

Despite Dad Zhou’s assertion that there was no need to pick them up at the airport, Zhou Wenyan estimated the timing and arrived early. 

Shen Dongqing sat beside Zhou Wenyan, rubbing his eyes and wiping away tears from the corners of his eyes. He had nothing to do after resolving the game problem and had become an out-and-out Internet junkie. He stayed up late last night playing video games and was still drowsy.

“Why don’t you take a nap?” suggested Zhou Wenyan, placing his hand on his shoulder.

Shen Dongqing opened his bloodshot eyes and asked vaguely, “Are they almost here?”

“There is still some time,” Zhou Wenyan stated, looking at the electronic screen. 

Shen Dongqing let out an “mn”, leaned on Zhou Wenyan’s shoulder, and closed his eyes.

And Zhou Wenyan sat there, staring at the electronic screen directly across. The information on various scheduled flights was flowing across the screen, including Dad Zhou’s plane.

Perhaps because it was an international flight, the arrival time had been significantly delayed. Zhou Wenyan gazed at the time, which was growing later and later. Suddenly, a red light flashed, and the flight’s arrival time changed to “Weather changes forced an emergency landing. Flight arrival time has been infinitely delayed.”

The secretary called Zhou Wenyan right after he saw the update. 

“Young Master Zhou, Chairman Zhou’s plane couldn’t land, so it had to land somewhere else.” The secretary added, “Chairman Zhou asked you not to wait.”

Zhou Wenyan: “Where did it make the forced landing?”

He was given an address by the secretary.

Zhou Wenyan: “Got it.” 

This action woke up Shen Dongqing. He gazed at Zhou Wenyan, his eyes half-opened.

Zhou Wenyan: “I’m going to purchase two plane tickets. Have you brought your ID card?”

“…I don’t have one,” Shen Dongqing said. He was a person without an identification card. Even if he did have one, it would be related to this body. He had no notion how he came to occupy this body, and he didn’t even know what its original name or identity was.

He couldn’t fly without identification. 

“Can you be here alone?” Zhou Wenyan massaged his temples.

Shen Dongqing blinked, hesitated, and then answered, “…Yeah.” He hadn’t been apart from Zhou Wenyan for a long time.

Zhou Wenyan, too, was reluctant to leave Shen Dongqing, but he had no choice. He had to meet Dad Zhou and Mama Zhou for himself.

The two walked to the ticket window and inquired about the fastest flight to that city, but they were informed that owing to the weather, all flights during this time period might be delayed or even canceled. 

“How long will it be delayed?” Zhou Wenyan inquired.

“It’s unpredictable because of the weather,” the ticket seller smiled sheepishly.

To put it another way, I’m not sure when you’ll be able to fly.

Zhou Wenyan was eager to go to that city and figured that the drive would only take a few hours. Driving had to be faster than the delayed flight, so he instantly revised his plans and prepared to drive there. 

They hurried to the underground parking lot and drove the car out.

When they got outside, they found that the sky was gloomy with heavy rain accompanied by lightning and thunder.

Shen Dongqing hugged a pillow and leaned against the glass window, looking out at the rain-battered glass and saying quietly, “Why do I also sense something’s wrong?”

Zhou Wenyan came to a complete stop, leaned over to assist him in fastening his seat belt, and kissed him on the cheek, saying, “No matter what happens, I’m here.” 

Shen Dongqing remained silent for a moment before exclaiming, “I forgot to bring my power bank.”

The atmosphere seemed odd all of a sudden.

Zhou Wenyan burst out laughing and confiscated Shen Dongqing’s cell phone, saying, “You are not allowed to play on your cell phone in the car.”

Shen Dongqing felt extremely wronged. 

Zhou Wenyan pretended not to see and stared straight ahead.

Shen Dongqing requested it twice but was denied both times. He snorted, turned over, and shut his eyes. As a result, he fell asleep the moment he closed his eyes and slept until the car abruptly braked. He only awoke after that.

In a stupor, he opened his eyes to find that the car’s windscreen had been doused with water. He could vaguely make out a “Highway traffic ban” sign in the distance.

“We can’t use it?” He asked. 

Zhou Wenyan mn-ed in response, threw the car in reverse, turned around, and drove slowly back.

“It’s quite challenging,” yawned Shen Dongqing.

“I believe there is a power keeping us from leaving here,” Zhou Wenyan stated.

Shen Dongqing: “What power?” 

Zhou Wenyan gripped the steering wheel and slowly spit out a word, “Game.”

In an instant, Shen Dongqing woke up completely: “But—”

After speaking just one “but,” he discovered he couldn’t refute.

There happened to be a red light ahead at the intersection. Zhou Wenyan applied the brakes and came to a complete stop, turning his head to stare at Shen Dongqing. 

“Do you think it’s like a game instance?”

The same was true for the game instances, which trapped the players in a defined location and prevented them from leaving.

“But no ghosts have appeared,” Shen Dongqing mused.

Not only were there no ghosts, but there was also no mystery. 

No matter what instance it was, the first element was deciphering, which was mixed with ghosts and the like. But this city was…too quiet. There was no trace of ghosts.

Shen Dongqing moved closer to the window and pressed his nose against it: “Besides, we are not the only ones in this city.”

There were others; active folks who were unlike those in the game.

He liked it here. 

It’s possible that the expressway was too far away from the city, as theirs was the only car waiting at the red light. There appeared to be only two of them in this world, separated by the rain curtain.

Shen Dongqing was once again unsure.

“We’ll just wait until the rain stops and try again,” Zhou Wenyan said.

The countdown to the red light stopped, and the light changed to green. 

The vehicle moved slowly away.

Zhou Wenyan drove extremely slowly due to the heavy rain and his mind’s preoccupation, and it took twice as long as usual to go back to his flat in the city center.

The two took the elevator from the underground garage.

Ding— 

The elevator came to a stop on the first floor, and when the door opened, they spotted a familiar face.

“You completely forgot about me!” yelled the brat, putting his hands on his hips and glaring at the two men.

Shen Dongqing had an epiphany.

It’s no surprise he constantly felt like something was missing. So it was this wimpy kid. 

The brat took long strides inside the elevator.

Shen Dongqing examined him from head to toe.

The brat had been living on the streets for a few days with no one to rely on and appeared to have suffered somewhat. His little face was filthy and dusty, which made him look pitiful.

“Stay away from me,” Shen Dongqing said, clicking his tongue and stretching out his little finger to push him away. 

Brat: ???

“You’re too dirty,” Shen Dongqing spat heartlessly.

“Wah-” the brat began to sob. Tears welled up in his round eyes, and if anyone else saw them, they would feel awful for him.

It’s a shame the couple in front of him weren’t others. 

“Stop faking, you’re half my age,” Shen Dongqing remarked.

The brat was at least a century old, but he pretended to be young, so he was absolutely shameless.

After being told this, the brat could only contain the tears in his eyes and followed Shen Dongqing out of the elevator.

After entering the room, Shen Dongqing remembered something and lowered his head to ask, “It’s been so many days since you came in, have you noticed anything wrong?” 

The brat looked at him blankly: “I have no money.”

Shen Dongqing: “What’s wrong with that?”

The brat: “You can’t buy food if you don’t have money.”

Shen Dongqing: ? 

The brat hopped in rage: “Isn’t this wrong? Do you know I’ve been drooling while watching other people eat!”

Zhou Wenyan let out a muffled laugh to the side.

Shen Dongqing: “What are you laughing at?”

Zhou Wenyan: “He’s like you.” 

He had to admit that the brat was pretty cute at times, especially with that face that reminded him of Shen Dongqing, which made him wonder if Shen Dongqing was like this as a child.

The brat boasted, “He’s my father, of course I’m like him!”

Shen Dongqing: “Who cares if you’re like me.”

After a squabble, the brat stated, “However, there really is something wrong.” 

“Let’s hear it,” Shen Dongqing said, eager to get to the bottom of it.

“Not telling! Unless you beg me,” the brat slyly smirked, daring to court disaster.

Shen Dongqing rolled up his sleeves leisurely, a dimple on his cheek: “You’re asking for a beating.”

The brat shivered and promptly dashed to the sofa farthest away from Shen Dongqing, hiding behind it. After a while, he slowly popped out half of his head and began bargaining: “I’m hungry, I want to eat!” 

Fortunately, Shen Dongqing did not chase him and beat him up, but instead repeated what he said: “I’m hungry too.”

Two persons, one big and one small, looked at Zhou Wenyan at the same time, and their expressions were identical, giving Zhou Wenyan the subtle impression that he was rearing two sons.

“Wash up first,” Zhou Wenyan said, pointing to the brat. He then turned to face Shen Dongqing, “What do you want to eat? I’ll order takeout.”

Shen Dongqing ordered a variety of dishes fluently. 

The food had already arrived when the brat washed up and came out. He had long coveted these human meals, but he was poor and had been trained by Shen Dongqing not to steal or snatch food, so he could only watch and drool. He ran over in two or three steps, leapt on it, and ate feverishly now that he’d finally come upon a free meal.

Perhaps fighting over food made it taste better. Shen Dongqing competed with the brat, eating the most. Zhou Wenyan then placed another order for two takeaways to feed the two people.

After eating and drinking his fill, the brat wiped his oily mouth and collapsed on the sofa.

Shen Dongqing left it to Zhou Wenyan to help wipe the food residue from the corners of his mouth, and glanced at the brat: “If you can’t say anything, humph! humph!—” 

His unspoken words contained all the threats.

“I’ll say, I’ll say,” the brat said, quivering and turning over fast. He raised his hands in surrender, “The previous several days I’ve been outside, I realized that at some periods of time, the city will be still.”

“Still?” Shen Dongqing didn’t understand.

“I found you only because everyone else is motionless when you’re not around,” the brat said hurriedly. 

This sentence contained a lot of information, and Zhou Wenyan interrupted him, saying, “Speak slowly.”

The brat sipped his Coke and remarked, “That’s all. When you see it, the city moves; when you don’t, the city comes to a halt.”

Zhou Wenyan walked to the window.

Zhou Wenyan’s apartment was on the seventeenth floor. Looking down, he could see the flickering lights of the building across the street. Someone was standing in front of the window smoking, some housewives were doing housework, some youngsters were wailing like ghosts and howling like wolves…it was all so typical. 

“I told you it’s normal when you see it,” the brat said, belching.