"The Capital Grand Theater..."
Wasn't that the theater where I used to work?
Chen Ling remembered that on the day he was struck by the chandelier and transmigrated, there had been what seemed like an earthquake... So, had he really returned?
At the same time, a group of pedestrians stopped and pointed at the screen.
"A crimson meteor?"
"Come to think of it, I think I saw it this morning... It zoomed past in an instant."
"Sigh, why didn't it hit Earth? Let the world end already. I really don't want to go to work anymore..."
"By the way, what's up with these minor regional earthquakes? I didn't feel anything this morning. Did they really only target those specific buildings?"
"The news said it was caused by some magnetic pole shift... Whatever, it didn't affect me."
As the news broadcast ended, the building's screen switched back to advertisements. The crowd lingered for a moment before dispersing.
Only Chen Ling remained standing there, lost in thought.
A crimson meteor...
Could his transmigration be related to that meteor?
A bus drove past Chen Ling, snapping him out of his chaotic thoughts. He saw the red "Route 33" sign on the bus and, as if remembering something, immediately rushed toward it.
A blur of motion swept across the sidewalk as he barely managed to board the bus before the doors closed.
"Young man, you're quite nimble," the elderly driver said, rubbing his eyes. "I didn't even see how you got here... You must be a sprinter, huh?"
Chen Ling finally realized something and looked down at his hands, his frown deepening.
[Dance of Slaughter]... Had he brought it back with him??
"Young man, scan the code."
The driver started the bus and gestured with his chin toward the payment scanner. "Two yuan."
"I..." Chen Ling rummaged through his pockets. "I don't have any money."
"Scan to pay. You don't need cash."
"...I don't have a phone either."
As he said this, Chen Ling felt like a primitive savage who had stumbled into modern society...
"Ah, don't give the kid a hard time. I just got change from buying groceries. I'll pay for him." A middle-aged woman with curly hair sitting in the front seat pulled two coins from her pocket and dropped them into the fare box with a clink.
"...Thank you, Auntie."
Chen Ling thanked her politely.
"Young man, are you an opera singer? I love watching opera. Which role do you play?"
Hearing the auntie's words, Chen Ling realized he was still wearing the grand red opera robe, which stood out even more on the bus.
"I... I just sing casually," Chen Ling replied awkwardly.
The bus seats were all taken, so he grabbed a handrail and swayed slightly as the bus moved, making small talk with the auntie.
As the bus passed one stop after another, Chen Ling's heart grew heavier. He glanced at the name of the next stop and slowly moved toward the rear door. As soon as the bus stopped, he rushed out.
Across from the bus stop was a residential complex.
Chen Ling took off the conspicuous opera robe and walked straight into the complex. He navigated the familiar paths and arrived at a mid-rise building.
Seeing the building intact, Chen Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief... This was his home.
His biggest worry had been that the earthquake's range might have reached here, and his parents might have suffered the same fate as him... Thankfully, everything was safe.
Chen Ling entered the building's entrance but noticed it was draped with white mourning banners. His heart sank, and he immediately took the elevator to the ninth floor.
As the elevator doors opened, the sound of crying reached his ears.
"Caiyun... stop crying. If you keep crying like this, what will happen to your health?"
"That's right. If A-Ling were still alive, he'd be heartbroken to see you like this."
"A-Ling was a good kid, but his fate was just... sigh."
Chen Ling stood frozen in the elevator, his gaze passing through the half-open door. He saw many figures gathered around a middle-aged woman, comforting her with words of sympathy.
Chen Ling recognized them—they were his relatives from the capital, aunts and uncles, all gathered here. The woman in the middle, being comforted, was his mother.
The middle-aged woman held a black-and-white photo in her arms, her face drenched in tears.
The person in the photo... was Chen Ling.
Two relatives stood in the corner, whispering to each other.
"Where's Chen Ling's father?"
"Still at the hospital, dealing with A-Ling's funeral arrangements... He told Caiyun to come back first to sort through his belongings."
"Did they see A-Ling's... body?"
"Yes." The relative nodded. "Poor child... His head was smashed open. They say it was from the chandelier falling."
"At the hospital, Caiyun held A-Ling's hand and cried for over an hour. In the end, his father had to pull her away..."
"Sigh... Heaven has no eyes."
"Let's go. We should comfort Caiyun. No matter what, we need to arrange A-Ling's funeral properly..."
"That's right..."
Chen Ling stood in the elevator, staring at the scene like a statue.
He wanted to step out of the elevator, but he didn't know how to explain himself to his relatives and mother... His mind was a mess.
Just then, the elevator doors began to close automatically.
As the metal doors slowly shut, the door to Chen Ling's home was pushed open. The relatives supported Caiyun as they walked out.
Thud—
The elevator doors closed. Perhaps someone downstairs had pressed the button, as the elevator began to descend...
"...Mom." Only then did Chen Ling, his lips pale, hoarsely utter that word.
He looked at his reflection in the metal elevator doors, his mind replaying the image of his mother kneeling and crying. His heart felt as if it were being torn apart...
He took a deep breath, as if making a decision, and frantically pressed the button for the ninth floor.
He wanted to see his mother.
However, the elevator continued to descend.
At the same time, familiar dark green text appeared in the void:
[Code 129439 time limit reached]
[Reading interrupted]
Boom—
The elevator car plummeted downward!
---
"Mom!!!"
In the midst of the heavy snow, Chen Ling suddenly sat up.
He gasped heavily, his pupils dilating uncontrollably. He looked around and realized he was still at the mass grave.
"Damn it... What the hell is going on??" Chen Ling snapped back to reality and couldn't help but curse.
Just moments ago, he had almost believed he had truly returned... Only to open his eyes and find himself still in this wretched place!
Chen Ling's gaze fell on the USB drive in the snow.
["Through it, you might understand us a little better..."]
What exactly was the organization Chu Muyun belonged to?
Why did they have a USB drive?
And how could they send him back to his previous life?
Chen Ling's hands, propping him up, clenched tightly.
He took a deep breath, grabbed the USB drive, and turned to run down the mountain...
---
Xiao Fang's Grocery Store.
By the counter, the woman lazily stretched and looked at the dimming twilight outside. "He might not come."
"No, he will." Chu Muyun sat in a chair, flipping through a book with certainty.
"Why are you so sure? Over the years, many people have turned down invitations from the Twilight Society."
"The Red King said he would come, so he will."
As soon as Chu Muyun finished speaking, the grocery store's door was forcefully pushed open!
Chen Ling stood outside in the heavy snow, his chest heaving as if he had run all the way here.
"We need to have a serious talk." He held up the USB drive and spoke word by word.