Chapter 124: Clearing in One Life (2) |
The man had wandered this land like a ghost for four whole years, searching for another ghost.
Life, in essence, is a process of giving yourself an answer.
The countdown had ten seconds remaining.
Zhang Shutong rose from the bed. Supporting himself against everything within reach, he made his way to the writing desk. Zhang Shutong opened that bottle of sports drink. He already had an answer in his heart.
It wasn't as simple as just protecting a girl's life, or rather, merely saving her life was far from enough. After eight years, he had finally determined the meaning of his regression to this point.
It wasn't about waiting like a fool for the killer to fall into a trap, but to intercept her beforehand.
To block her outside the villa.
To resolve this matter in silence.
And Zhang Shutong knew the location. Since the security camera had captured that woman in the early morning hours, he just needed to go to that camera location before dawn.
But he knew even better that he was no match for that woman. Dragging along his half-crippled body, going there would only hold everyone back—or rather, it wasn't as simple as just holding them back.
Zhang Shutong felt he must have gone crazy.
What did he have now? A feverish body, a motorcycle with no gas, all alone.
He looked at the wall covered in photographs and suddenly laughed.
"Fuck." Zhang Shutong rarely cursed, but in this moment he said softly, "I was clearly ready to turn over a new leaf. What happened to not being arrogant? What happened to there being no task that only I could handle?"
But who else could he tell about this?
The police? The bodyguards? Gu Qiumian or her father?
Sometimes a person needs to go a little crazy.
The countdown had ended. He set the can down heavily on the desk, murmuring to that man far away on the mainland:
"Since you can't handle this anymore, leave it to me."
"I can still move."
"I'll put an end to it."
……
Zhang Shutong turned and left the room. That sports drink seemed to have ignited the last bit of potential in his body. The night wind howled, but he didn't feel cold.
Zhang Shutong wasn't stupid enough to play the lone hero. He knew clearly that in this matter, the only person who could know and help was Lu Qinglian. But Lu Qinglian had no phone, and if she only walked, she probably hadn't reached the villa yet. Zhang Shutong had to notify her to change direction in time.
The mountain road had a thick layer of snow. The slightest carelessness could trigger an avalanche. That was definitely not a good place to intercept the killer.
So he first called Ruoping, praying the girl would answer quickly. But what Zhang Shutong didn't expect was that after just one second, her displeased voice came through:
"What now?"
He could also hear the whooshing of wind.
Zhang Shutong was stunned:
"Aren't you guys asleep?"
"Sleep? We called Du Kang, and he said you still wanted to keep going, insisting on waiting until dawn before giving up. Who could rest easy with you, you little troublemaker? Qingyi and I rode over. We'll be at the hospital soon. Whatever you need to say, say it quick."
He immediately explained his plan. Qingyi took the phone:
"Got it. I rode the motorcycle over. I'm switching with Ruoping now. I'll have Ruoping ride to meet you at the hospital while I go find Lu Qinglian. Hanging up."
This guy was cool as hell too. After speaking, he hung up without asking anything—a guy fast as the wind.
Zhang Shutong was stunned for a moment, then used all his strength to pedal the bike. From the dormitory to the hospital only took ten minutes by bike. He could shorten that time to eight minutes. He raised his head and could see from far away a certain room on the hospital's second floor, where a girl sat in a chair.
When Zhang Shutong arrived at the hospital, it was already 11:34. He took the stairs several steps at a time, reaching the observation room at the end of the corridor. Actually, he didn't need to come upstairs, but he still wanted to see how she was doing.
Gu Qiumian was still sleeping.
Perhaps in some future, the two of them would sleep in the observation room until dawn, then she would stretch and say he was such a troublesome person, and that nothing had happened after all.
Zhang Shutong didn't wake her. Instead, he turned off the TV.
He picked up Gu Qiumian and placed her on the single bed, covering her with his coat.
Looking downstairs, Ruoping hadn't arrived yet. He still had a little time to say something to the girl before him, but she was already asleep. Actually, she wouldn't hear anything he said, which also meant he could say anything.
"Sorry." Zhang Shutong said quietly. "Once again I couldn't stay to finish watching this movie with you. I'll make it up to you if I get the chance."
But he immediately felt he had broken his promises too many times already. This vow really had no meaning.
Although Zhang Shutong had been running around for her sake all this time, he had never said anything like "I'll protect you." Now that Gu Qiumian was asleep, he hesitated for a moment, then still said:
"Just leave it to me. When you wake up, everything will be fine. I promise."
Since you came out with me, I'll make sure you can go back with peace of mind.
There won't be pools of blood everywhere, won't be cruel truths, and I won't make you cry.
In her sleep, Gu Qiumian furrowed her brow, not knowing what she was thinking about. Zhang Shutong apologized to her again, but the girl's eyebrows showed no sign of relaxing.
He sighed, noticing the cup of hot water had been drunk completely. Zhang Shutong wasn't good at taking care of people. He just thought the air-conditioned room was dry, and she might be thirsty when she woke up. So he took the cup and went to the ward. The little nurse was cracking sunflower seeds while scrolling on her phone. Zhang Shutong found the sound strangely familiar, and after thinking realized it was A Chinese Odyssey.
The little nurse asked without looking up:
"When did you get back? Why didn't you say something?"
Zhang Shutong had to explain he had something to do and needed to go out again. He'd leave right away.
"What the hell are you up to? Count how many times you've run out today!" The little nurse was clearly startled. "And look at your face—you're about to pass out."
Zhang Shutong said that was because he'd just come in from outside and got windblown.
He thought for a moment and added:
"Besides, you're the one who taught me this."
"Hey hey, don't go slandering people. When did I teach you to run around everywhere with a fever?"
"Not that—the part about protecting a girl's feelings or whatever."
"That's for normal situations. This is a special situation. What kind of girl needs you to risk your life protecting her? Although I admit that little girl you brought is very pretty, but no matter how pretty, it's not worth..." The little nurse's eyes widened. "It's not worth running out in the middle of the night to please her, right? Is she a really demanding type?"
"No." Zhang Shutong explained while pouring water. "I have something really urgent. Don't judge her by how aloof she seemed earlier—actually she's soft and gentle, always glaring at you at the drop of a hat."
"Now you're talking nonsense. No logic at all."
"My head's a bit dizzy."
"So she's the fragile type?"
Zhang Shutong was silent for a while:
"It's not that she's fragile. She's very strong. It's just that some malice is too much for her."
"Call the police, find her parents."
"The results might be even worse."
"Then who could possibly have a solution?"
"There's no solution." Zhang Shutong picked up the water cup and hurried back, because he heard the sound of a motorcycle engine from downstairs. "I'll give it a try..."
From far away he could hear dialogue from A Chinese Odyssey:
"Look at that person. He looks just like a dog."
The little nurse also called from behind:
"Hey, don't make yourself so pathetic. Look in the mirror—right now you really do look like a stray dog!"
Being a stray dog didn't matter anymore. Zhang Shutong used to find that wild dog comparison embarrassingly awkward, but wild dogs had their own strengths. There were some things those purebred hunting dogs couldn't do.
Zhang Shutong could no longer hear what she was saying.
He returned to the observation room in a few steps, placing the hot water on the windowsill. But he saw Gu Qiumian was still frowning. Zhang Shutong didn't know what she was dreaming about, but he had no more time to stay.
The time was 11:39. Getting from here to the camera would take eight or nine minutes.
Zhang Shutong said goodbye to the girl, but noticed she was clutching something in her hand, gripping it so tightly that even the color had drained from her fingers.
Zhang Shutong gently pried open her hand.
It turned out to be his motorcycle key.
He placed the key on the table, and Gu Qiumian's beautiful eyebrows gradually relaxed.
A princess, after all, was a girl who could be coaxed into anything.
Zhang Shutong closed the door.
He kept running.
He ran through the corridor, down the stairs, out of the hospital. His lungs burned with pain, but all he could do now was run, race against time.
As soon as he exited the hospital entrance, he saw Ruoping. Ruoping had always been a heroine. Without a word, she tossed him the motorcycle helmet. Zhang Shutong caught it in a hurry. The girl asked:
"Hey, do we have time for a few words, busy man?"
Zhang Shutong put on the helmet while pulling on his gloves:
"Two sentences worth."
"I wanted to ask what the hell you're up to now, but Qingyi told me not to ask."
"After all, every man has a secret, right?"
Suddenly came a clear, bright laugh from a young man.
Normally Zhang Shutong would complain—dude, where did you even come from, can you put away that chunibyo nonsense? Please, I really can't take it... But right now his nose suddenly stung.
Honestly, Zhang Shutong didn't know how many years it had been since he'd experienced this feeling, because he saw Ruoping holding up her phone. In their small group of four, a group video call had been opened, with two familiar faces reflected on the screen.
On Qingyi's end was pitch darkness—he was still riding, on Ruoping's electric bike.
On Du Kang's end was bright light. He was leaning against a windowsill in a hospital corridor, wearing a carefree grin:
"Don't listen to Ruoping nagging on and on. Women are so long-winded. We're all brothers here, no need for formalities. Hurry up and ride."
"At times like this, being decisive is what makes you a man."
"Get lost, you guys! Do you have no conscience?" Ruoping laughed and scolded, then said, "This is the last time I'm indulging your nonsense, Zhang Shutong. Don't think there'll be a next time."
"You're not going to ask anything?" Zhang Shutong lowered his goggles.
"Do you want to tell us?"
"I'm sorry." He said quietly. "But I really can't tell you this time."
He couldn't even stand his own behavior anymore. Like a fucking lunatic, constantly making everyone run around for him.
But he truly couldn't say. Whether it was the resurrected dead, Gu Qiumian's mother, or Teacher Song's ex-girlfriend, all he could do was keep running with these secrets.
But Ruoping said:
"You're actually apologizing? Really? You never used to consider other people's feelings like this. But with those words, this lady is satisfied. I'll go upstairs and watch over Gu Qiumian. You go be crazy."
Du Kang said:
"Shutong, be careful. Don't forget Monday is my birthday."
"This time I'll definitely make it to your birthday."
Zhang Shutong twisted the throttle. He wasn't yet familiar with this bike and needed to figure out the gears first. Actually, there was time for one more sentence, but he really didn't know what to say.
He felt somewhat at a loss. In previous regressions, Zhang Shutong had always expended great effort getting people to trust him. He had even told others about his regression ability, only to be treated as mentally ill. Later he got used to being a lone wolf and became too lazy to explain so much. As long as he could achieve his goal, that was enough—who cared what people thought.
But at this moment he felt guilty about this trust. He didn't know how long it had been since anyone trusted him like this. Trust from his close friends, from Teacher Song, from his parents, from Gu Qiumian... Zhang Shutong suddenly realized there were already so many people around him.
Everyone has something most precious in their heart. For that thing, you're willing to risk your life.
He knew that for Teacher Song, it was that short-haired girl with dimples. So for himself, the priceless treasure was these trusts, one after another.
But people are often most unable to speak when faced with honest trust. The tires were already rolling on the ground. In the end, all he said was:
"I'm going."
Behind him came Ruoping's faint call:
"Hey, Shutong!"
Zhang Shutong looked back.
Du Kang said:
"After all this running around! You better come back with good news! Otherwise it'd be too embarrassing!"
Qingyi said last:
"Remember what I told you? You wouldn't admit it back then, but now aren't you racing down that path..."
He said that being a man meant fighting to the death to protect what you cherish.
Zhang Shutong smiled and waved his hand backward. Of course he remembered.
He always remembered clearly what they had said.
If possible, he really wanted to finish watching that movie. The movie was called Roman Holiday. He didn't hope to go to Rome—having a holiday would be luxurious enough.
Maybe he could leave this matter to Father Gu.
The other party might be able to do it, might not.
But if he left everything to others.
What would be the meaning of this regression ability?
Zhang Shutong had always wanted to reach that untouchable Sunday, to welcome a normal life. But now he finally understood—if he only indulged in the beauty of the past, tomorrow would never come.
He recalled a saying: only when you're covered in blood, sweat and mud, wounded all over, to the point where people think you've gone mad—only because of such a today will tomorrow arrive.
Once again he rode through this snowy night, but this time was different. This time he was heading to the final destination. He would put a complete end to this matter.
Regression meant being trapped in cycles again and again, exhausted from running for your life.
You're like a wild dog, racing madly toward tomorrow.