Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 970: Chapter 765: Birds of a Feather Flock Together

Liu DongLi has disappeared again and again.

After a whole day of calling, by past nine in the evening, Huai Shi finally confirmed this fact.

To be precise, it was from the Tobio Family that he learned: Miss Lihua had already gone out yesterday and hasn’t returned yet.

The phone calls go unanswered, WeChat messages remain unread, and there’s no trace of where to find him, just like a man who suddenly claims he’s on a business trip with a beautiful female boss but the budget is only enough for one room...

”What the hell is this bastard doing?”

Huai Shi clutched his phone, furious.

”Oh ho, ’What does a Time Jumper want to do?’ is indeed one of the world’s top ten unsolvable mysteries, probably right next to ’What is your girlfriend thinking?’ ”

Tong Ji sighed, ”He’s probably hiding from you.”

After all, for a Time Jumper, if he wants to find someone, there’s always a way. Conversely, if he doesn’t want to be found, no matter how much time you spend, it’s all in vain.

Once he’s been in that state for too long, his thoughts will slowly become unlike ordinary people’s, so you’d better not take too much for granted.”

Just like how artists perceive the world differently from others, and how musicians are more sensitive to sound.

This is the difference brought by a long period of immersion.

Ordinary people’s thinking relies on their senses, and senses are limited by human bodily structures and cognition, unable to break the usual framework to ponder what the world looks like through the eyes of a Time Jumper.

Nor can they get close to their way of thinking.

When the continuity of time is broken, the cause and effect on which ordinary people rely become apparent from an overlooking perspective. Amid countless complex changes, no one knows which point Liu DongLi focuses on or what results he seeks.

Perhaps, he has long been lost in this endless loop...

’Time Jumping’ and ’Changing the Future’ have always been two different things.

All along, the Time Jumpers of Rainbow Bridge have faced a paradox full of mockery— the more you want to change, the more you consume.

If something isn’t severe enough to necessitate a time jump, then there’s no need to do so, incurring even more costs.

But if something has become so severe that it’s irreversible, doing another time jump wouldn’t be useful.

It takes more than one cold day to freeze the three feet deep ice.

Even with another day of sun, the avalanche cannot be avoided.

Relying solely on the efforts of Liu DongLi, no matter how many times he retraces the past, he cannot change the tide...

”Reality isn’t a game, Huai Shi, even if cheating could solve problems, there’s never been a reason that cheating could bring about a HAPPY ENDING.”

Tong Ji said with pity, ”Even if it’s a miracle, there are things that can’t be changed.”

”So, after suddenly dumping the Alliance matters on me like a mess, did he just pat his ass and disappear?”

Huai Shi slapped the table, filled with rage, ”What the hell is this, is it like I have to call on everyone to pray that he’s okay?”

Tong Ji didn’t speak.

She just looked at him sympathetically.

Until he fell silent again.

In fact, if Liu DongLi could actually shirk responsibility and run away to obediently undergo treatment, Huai Shi would feel a bit more relieved.

But would he truly escape?

Or, would that guy turn back from the dead end?

As they say, birds of a feather flock together.

How could Huai Shi not know what’s inside that bald head?

Pretty sure he would play cool until the end.

Cheer up, brother, I’ll finish what I need to do.

As for the rest, it’s up to you—

In the silence, Huai Shi suddenly felt a wave of loneliness and unease.

When Liu DongLi entrusted great trust in his hands, Huai Shi finally deeply felt the fear and uncertainty he had once experienced...

”Tong Ji.”

Huai Shi, exhausted, leaned back in his chair, suddenly spoke softly, ”If I ultimately fail completely here and lose everything, would you be disappointed in me?”

”Perhaps, I dislike people who overestimate themselves.” Tong Ji gazed into his eyes, curiously asked, ”But Huai Shi, even if you fail finally, would you regret everything you are doing now?”

Huai Shi did not answer.

Thus, Tong Ji softly laughed, so joyfully.

”Very well, Huai Shi, you are indeed the best Contractor in the world.”

As the phantom of the Flying Bird dissipated, gentle hands caressed his cheeks, hugging him from behind, softly proclaiming.

”Go ahead, Huai Shi,”

she said, ”No matter the outcome, I will witness you, just as you have witnessed me.”

This was their original agreement.

.

The waypoint was activated once more.

——[31]

.

In the morning, before opening the door, clean up the whole main hall; at noon, responsible for serving dishes, after Miss Tomoko stayed to help, the task switched to delivering takeout, delivering lunch sets to the fierce-looking yakuza uncles; in the afternoon, the landlady would guide them in knife skills and culinary arts, one must learn earnestly; nearing evening, discovered the roof began to leak again, voluntarily carried planks and tools, climbing onto the house to fix it.

Efficiently replaced the worn planks, patched everything underneath, only then did Zhenxi satisfiedly put down the hammer, wiping away sweat.

Proudly putting her hands on her hips for a while.

Right on the rooftop of the three-story izakaya.

As the distant sunset gradually descended, the entire desolate city seemed bathed in a dim brilliance, the sound of children crying came from afar, and scattered lights began to glow in the rundown apartment building.

”It seems somewhat lonely, doesn’t it,” she softly remarked.

”Hey, Zhenxi, come down quickly, don’t zone out!”

Behind the house, Tomoko looked up at the girl above who was about her age and shouted loudly, ”It’s dangerous, come down first...”

”Don’t worry, don’t worry, it’s a small matter. Be careful, Tomoko.”

Zhenxi waved nonchalantly, picked up a toolbox, and carried a wooden plank towards the direction of the ladder.

Then, her foot slipped.

Why is there a pair of pliers here?

Oh, right, guess I dropped them...

In the dizzy whirl, Zhenxi hadn’t reacted before her whole body had already fallen into the backyard dirt.

Thud.

Tomoko was stunned, instinctively rushed forward to check. As she took a step closer, she saw the toolbox dropping from the rooftop, striking Zhenxi’s head, knocking the just-risen teenage girl flat again.

Then came the pile of wooden planks accumulating at the roof’s edge...

And the ladder.

It was just like a scene from an animation, a chain reaction ceaselessly unfolding, turning the backyard into a mess in an instant.

”Ah, so today’s misfortune is here, huh...”

Amid the dust, Zhenxi opened her eyes, coughed, and stood up. Beside her, Tomoko was already shocked.

Although she had realized over the past few days that Zhenxi often experienced extreme bad luck, to an outrageous degree like this could only be compared to the time when walking on the street she inopportunely encountered a gas pipe explosion.

”Zhenxi, are you... okay?”

”Cough, cough, I’m fine, I’m fine, no need to worry, I’ll tidy this place up right now.”

”Cleaning can wait, checking for wounds is more important for now, right?”

Tomoko removed the ladder and wooden planks, only to find despite looking chaotic, she had merely twisted an ankle without a scratch anywhere else.

Simply like having skin as tough as iron.

”How absurd...”

Tomoko was flabbergasted, ”I always feel you are the kind of person who can swim back to shore even if thrown into the Pacific Ocean!”

”That’s too absurd, can’t be done.”

Zhenxi waved awkwardly, ”Last time when the shipwreck happened, nearly struggled when swimming back from the Goto Islands to Kyushu... Oh, luckily encountered Uncle Takahashi at the port, otherwise wouldn’t have known what to do.”

Tomoko was already slack-jawed, feeling a genuine sense of absurdity.

Though both are hybrids, the gap wasn’t ordinarily vast...

Seeing Zhenxi already started picking up the items on the ground with dirt-covered clothes, she shook her head vigorously and pulled her: ”Anyway, go take a bath first, we’ll talk about cleaning the yard tomorrow!”

Half an hour later, Zhenxi finished tidying and changed into Tomoko’s clothes, having dried her hair, vitality returned to her.

”I really envy you, it seems like you never run out of energy.”

Tomoko squeezed the contours of her muscles, along with the firm flat stomach, helpless expression emerged: ”I can’t even handle a few steps of running now, pant when climbing stairs.”

”Thought I used to be in the track and field club, Tomoko, you’re a literary teenage girl, don’t mind it.”

Zhenxi grinned widely, walked towards the kitchen to get to work.

Passing by the front desk, her sight was drawn to the person at the door.

An elderly visitor with a smiling face was enthusiastically talking while holding the landlady’s hand. The landlady was dealing with her reluctantly, but no matter what she said, the lady wouldn’t listen.

”Who’s that person?” Zhenxi asked quietly.

”The old lady from the Wagashi shop across the street, recently seems to have joined some neighborhood mutual aid group, now acts like a salesperson, wasting others’ time visiting everyday and never listens.”

Tomoko shrugged helplessly.

But the old lady, seeing Tomoko coming down, her smile grew even warmer, trying to bypass the landlady to approach. Until the landlady intercepted her, said something seriously, making her pause before walking away sheepishly.

Before leaving, she insisted on leaving a bottle of medicine at the counter, encouraging Tomoko to study hard from afar before turning away.

Watching her departure, the landlady sighed helplessly, picked up the medicine bottle from the desk, shook it, it contained a few tablets inside but carried no label or ingredient information.

It looked highly suspicious.

”What is this?” Zhenxi curiously leaned closer.

”Supposed to be painkillers, said to alleviate complications for Beastified Characteristic Beings, but not even a label and manual...”

The landlady shook her head, sighed, then realized, turned to Zhenxi seriously: ”Zhenxi, be careful too, if you feel sick remember to tell me, don’t self-medicate with unknown sources. Such things should only follow prescriptions when kitchen doctors involve!”

”Ah, Auntie JinJiang, no worries, my health is always excellent.”

Zhenxi laughed, made a strong gesture. JinJiang gave her a skeptical look, reminded her repeatedly before finally feeling assured she won’t foolishly take unknown medicine.

Next, there’s wiping tables, cleaning counters, among many chores awaiting Zhenxi...

Recently, the store helpers and apprentices seem to have resigned, leaving many tasks upon her. But correspondingly, the wage increased significantly.

During the work break, Zhenxi glanced back once more at the medicine bottle the landlady tossed into the trash can, couldn’t help but sneeze.

Weird smell.

Like long-stored stew... Even if it suppresses hunger, eating it will surely upset the stomach, right?

”Zhenxi, come over and slice veggies.” Came a call from the kitchen.

”Okay, okay!”

Zhenxi turned back and scampered towards the kitchen.

Completely unaware of the gradually odd atmosphere in the street, for Zhenxi, it’s still a busy fulfilling day with plenty to eat.

As twilight gradually fades, clouds slowly gather in the sky, distant thunder rumbles in the background.

Before long, torrential rain drizzles down.

The dense rain curtain and thunderous sounds obscure the rising glow of fire in the distance.