Ch 21: Text Messages Across Time

“Xiao Wu, are you there?” Seeing no reply for a long while, Hao Shuqin asked again.

“I’m here.” Lin Wu steadied himself before replying, “I’ll be going back to Shenhai tomorrow.”

“There’s a fireworks show in the city this Sunday. Your Uncle Wang just got back from the northwest, so in a few days we’ll all go watch it together,” Hao Shuqin said happily from the other end.

“Okay.” Three minutes later, the two hung up.

Lin Wu sat quietly for a moment, then got up to pack his suitcase. Aside from the necessities, there was also a pair of gray gloves inside, knitted for him by Luo Xiaorong last month.

After finishing, he went to the bathroom mirror. The person reflected there felt unfamiliar. In the mirror, he wore a light beige set of pajamas, his cheeks slightly fuller, his skin very fair. He looked about five pounds heavier than in the previous three endings.

Lin Wu pinched his cheek. Just as he was about to wash his hands, he noticed a line of unfamiliar text appear on the mirror—

【Time is a river that cannot flow backward. Yet on this day, the river of time begins to reverse and move forward. The reversed river will eventually reach its end, and beyond that end, everything will be set in stone.】

Like the phrase ‘it is a new path,’ it appeared briefly, then slowly faded away.

After washing his hands, Lin Wu returned to bed. Early the next morning, he bought a direct flight to Shenhai. After three hours in the air, he finally arrived at Shenhai Airport at three in the afternoon.

“Brother Lin Wu!” As soon as he stepped out of the airport exit, he saw a girl in shorts and a short-sleeved top waving enthusiastically. She was lively and pretty, with a bright, handsome young man standing beside her.

A smile spread across Lin Wu’s face as he pulled his suitcase toward them.

“Brother Lin Wu, my mom and Aunt Luo are making baozi at home. We can eat as soon as we get back!” Wang Jiahui wrapped her arm around his enthusiastically. She was already in her thirties, but their relationship still felt the same as when they were young.

“Brother Lin Wu, I’ll carry your luggage.” The young man was Li Hang. He and Wang Jiahui attended the same dance academy and had gotten together in their junior year. Their relationship was steady, and they now ran a dance studio together, planning to marry by the end of the year.

“Thanks.” Lin Wu didn’t refuse. He handed over a lighter laptop bag and asked, “What time did you get here?”

“Two-thirty. We just arrived too.” The three of them chatted and laughed as they walked to the parking lot.

Li Hang drove a large SUV. After getting in, he took the driver’s seat while Lin Wu and Wang Jiahui sat in the back.

“Brother Lin Wu, how long are you staying this time? You’re not going to leave again after just a few days, right?” Wang Jiahui chattered nonstop once they got in. Everyone else was in Shenhai, yet Lin Wu insisted on working in Jianghe, making it hard for them to even meet.

Lin Wu smiled. “I don’t have any projects right now. I can rest for two months.”

“That’s great! We can go on some trips nearby together!” Wang Jiahui said happily.

Lin Wu listened with a smile, then looked out the window. They had come to Shenhai in 2004. Translated on Hololo novels. Because they arrived early and made quite a bit of money after opening their shop, after buying and selling properties several times, they now each lived in spacious 200-square-meter apartments. The neighborhood environment and facilities were excellent.

At 4:20, the SUV drove into the residential complex.

The Lin family and the Wang family lived in the same building, the Lins on the fifteenth floor and the Wangs on the sixteenth. After getting in the elevator, Lin Wu first put his luggage at home, changed clothes, then went upstairs to the Wang residence.

The Wang family’s door was open. As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, he saw Hao Shuqin.

Wearing an apron and with freshly curled pear-blossom waves, Hao Shuqin beamed when she saw him. “The baozi just went into the steamer. They’ll be ready soon!”

At that moment, Luo Xiaorong came out of the kitchen after hearing the commotion. “Wuwu!” she exclaimed, her excitement making her gestures a bit exaggerated.

“Mom!” Lin Wu stepped forward and hugged her.

Luo Xiaorong was sixty this year. Two years ago, he had hired a live-in caregiver to take care of her daily needs. The caregiver was responsible, and with Hao Shuqin’s help keeping an eye on things, Luo Xiaorong, though not very sharp mentally, had been living quite well these past years.

“Uncle Wang.” After the hug, Lin Wu greeted Wang Manshan in the living room.

“Xiao Wu, I just brewed a pot of pu’er. These tea leaves are something I specially brought back from Pancheng. Come and try it,” Wang Manshan said. Life had treated him well in recent years. His once sloppy appearance had been replaced with a shirt and vest, a pair of glasses resting on his nose, giving him a rather scholarly air.

“What Pancheng or whatever, as if you can even tell the difference,” Hao Shuqin teased from the side.

“That’s where you’re wrong. Pu’er from Pancheng is one of the top ten famous teas in our country. Its flavor is mellow and rich, and after long aging, it carries a faint sweetness…” Wang Manshan began explaining with great seriousness.

“Look at him, he’s turned into a tea expert!” Hao Shuqin said helplessly.

Lin Wu, Wang Jiahui, and Li Hang all burst into laughter.

Even though his memories had been refreshed, Lin Wu felt as though he hadn’t seen Luo Xiaorong for twenty years. After tea that afternoon, he stayed close to her the whole time.

At 6:50, everyone gathered for dinner.

“How’s the housing situation in Xuhu being handled?” Wang Manshan asked, concerned about the demolition.

“There’s still one supplementary contract left. It should be settled before the end of the year,” Lin Wu replied.

“No rush. Ours took half a year from start to finish. Back then we had to choose between compensation money or a replacement apartment. We chose the money. Thinking about it now, we haven’t lived there for twenty years…” Wang Manshan said, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

“Our life now is so good. What would we go back for?” Hao Shuqin tapped his chopsticks lightly with hers.

“That’s true!” Wang Manshan was very satisfied with his current life.

Lin Wu ate quietly beside them. At exactly seven o’clock, Wang Jiahui turned on News Broadcast.

“Good evening, dear viewers. Today is Thursday, September twentieth. I am your host Zhao Feng, and I am Yang Ting…”

From the television came the rhythmic voices of the anchors; outside it, the room was filled with laughter. Moonlight shone gently beyond the window. It was an ordinary yet warm family dinner.

………

While everyone was gathered for dinner, during the evening study break in 2004, Lin Wu dialed Qin Weidong’s number again.

“Ding, the number you have dialed is powered off. Please try again later…” The familiar automated voice came through the phone.

After learning that Qin Weidong wasn’t at school, Lin Wu had been calling him whenever he had time that day. But whether it was morning or noon, no one had answered.

“Still no answer…” Lin Wu frowned slightly. He wanted to reach him partly to find out the new ending, and partly because he felt Qin Weidong’s illness might be connected to himself, which left him feeling quite guilty.

After getting no response, Lin Wu unwillingly tried again. If it still didn’t go through, he planned to go to the Lide dorms after school to ask around. Just as he was thinking this, a strange voice came from the other end: “Hello?”

“Hello!” Lin Wu froze for a moment, then quickly said, “This is Lin Wu. I’m looking for Qin Weidong.”

…

“Brother Qin, someone’s looking for you.” In a high-end ward at the Central Hospital, Hu Wei covered the receiver and spoke to the person on the bed. Translated on Hololo novels. Qin Weidong was lying there in a blue-and-white hospital gown, his face pale, an IV line inserted into his hand, looking extremely weak.

The night before last, after returning from the family compound, Qin Weidong had developed a fever. Normally, he was as sturdy as a young ox. Even if he caught a cold or had a fever, a couple of pills would usually take care of it. Who would have thought this time the medicine didn’t work? His fever became severe, and in the latter half of the night, he alternated between chills and burning heat. Acting on pure survival instinct, he shakily called the family driver.

At five in the morning, someone from home arrived, and he was admitted to the hospital again. When he was brought in, his temperature had reached 39.7°C. Qin Jianzhang had been in the south discussing a project, but immediately flew back after hearing the news. Over the past two days, Qin Weidong had been receiving injections and IV fluids, and only now was he feeling slightly better.

He had been so ill these past two days that he didn’t even realize his phone had run out of battery and shut off. Only just now had he asked Hu Wei to help charge it, and as soon as it powered on, a call came in.

“Who is it?” Qin Weidong’s head still felt a bit foggy, and he asked half a beat slower than usual.

“Lin Wu. He says you know him.”

“Lin Wu…” Qin Weidong paused for three seconds, then suddenly seemed to remember something. He took the phone and opened their message history.

Yesterday, September 19, he hadn’t sent any messages to the unknown number, and the unknown number hadn’t sent him any either. Their message history still ended on the 17th—

【‘As soon as possible’—how long is that?】

【At most five days.】

………

The messages from the 18th had been sent by Lin Wu, but they had been deleted.

Qin Weidong’s expression twisted. In 2004, the term didn’t exist yet, but if it were twenty years later, he would clearly realize that his role right now was nothing more than a tool.

“Qin Weidong?” On the other end, Lin Wu could hear his breathing.

“Central Hospital, room 609.” Qin Weidong knew why Lin Wu was calling and directly gave his room number.

“Who was that?” After the call ended, Hu Wei looked curious. He was practically inseparable from Qin Weidong and had never heard of anyone named Lin Wu.

“You don’t know him.” Qin Weidong didn’t want to explain.

“…Oh.” Hu Wei said that, but his mind was already racing, trying to figure it out, though he couldn’t.

Qin Weidong had just finished an IV drip and felt a little better. Unable to sleep, he leaned against the headboard and started playing Sokoban.

At nine o’clock, the ward door opened.

Hu Wei was sitting on the sofa playing a game. When he looked up, he saw a high school boy. The boy looked about seventeen, wearing the uniform of No. 1 High School, thin, with quite handsome features. He was carrying a fruit basket, his face flushed and chest heaving slightly, as if he had just climbed the stairs.

“Lin Wu?” Hu Wei looked him over curiously.

“Hello.” Seeing a stranger in the room, Lin Wu adjusted his breathing and walked over to Qin Weidong’s bedside.

“Feeling any better?” he asked, placing the fruit basket on the bedside table.

“Not bad.” Qin Weidong had just finished a round of his game. Not wanting to continue, he put down his phone and looked at Lin Wu.

Lin Wu’s cheeks were still rosy, like the red apples in the fruit basket.

“You didn’t take the elevator?” Qin Weidong frowned.

“There’s an elevator here?” Lin Wu was startled.

“It’s just behind the corridor entrance.”

“I didn’t notice…” He had only ever been to the steel factory hospital before and had never been to the Central Hospital. This place was as big as a maze. When he saw the stairwell, he had just climbed up directly.

“This building’s so tall. You should’ve asked,” Qin Weidong said, thinking Lin Wu was a bit foolish, then decided not to dwell on it. “Where’s the milk tea?” He knew why Lin Wu had come, and this question was essentially his agreement. As long as there was milk tea, Lin Wu could use his phone.

“You’re sick right now. Milk tea is all powdered stuff, it doesn’t feel good for your body. I found a porridge shop near the school and bought some milk oatmeal porridge instead.” Lin Wu spoke, then glanced apologetically at Hu Wei. If he had known someone else was here, he would have bought two portions.

“It’s fine, I don’t need any.” Hu Wei instantly understood and his impression of Lin Wu improved dramatically.

“Porridge is fine.” Hearing that it wasn’t intentional, Qin Weidong felt better. At the same time, he noticed the sealed cup behind the fruit basket.

“Do you want it now?” Lin Wu asked. It was still quite hot.

“Yeah.” Qin Weidong started to reach for it, but seeing his limited mobility, Lin Wu inserted a straw and handed it to him. “It’s still a bit hot.”

“Thanks…”

This was a thirty-square-meter room. Translated on Hololo novels. To the right of the entrance was the bathroom, followed by the hospital bed, sofa, television, desk, and desk chair. The room was quite spacious, so even with all these items arranged together, it didn’t feel crowded.

Before coming, Lin Wu had called Hao Shuqin. There was still some time before 10:12, so after thinking for a moment, he put his backpack on the desk and prepared to work on some practice problems.

The desk was next to the sofa. Seeing him pull out a stack of exercise books, Hu Wei leaned over curiously. “You’re from No. 1 High School?”

“Mm.”

“How do you know Brother Qin? I’ve never seen you before.” Hu Wei immediately slipped into gossip mode.

“Focus on your studies. You don’t need to answer everything he asks.” Qin Weidong shot Lin Wu a look, signaling that he didn’t have to respond to everything.

Lin Wu smiled. “Qin Weidong helped me with something before, so that’s how we met.”

“I see. Don’t be fooled by how fierce Brother Qin looks, he actually likes helping people…” Hu Wei began, clearly about to list Qin Weidong’s good deeds.

“Are you done yet?” Qin Weidong threw a pillow at him.

“I’m done, I’m done!” Hu Wei immediately shut up.

Lin Wu smiled and started working on his problems. Hu Wei watched for a while but couldn’t understand anything, so he followed Qin Weidong’s lead and started playing Sokoban.

Both of them set their phones to silent. The only sound left in the room was the steady scratch of Lin Wu’s pen.

“You don’t have to mind me,” Lin Wu said, a little embarrassed.

“It’s fine. We always mute our phones and play games during class anyway.” Hu Wei waved his hand dismissively, telling him not to worry.

Lin Wu felt that he could do his work whether there was noise or not, but he could sense their kindness. Saying anything more would feel overly self-conscious, so he simply said, “Thanks.”

At 10:10, Qin Weidong tossed his phone to Lin Wu and said to Hu Wei, “Come sit over here.”

“What for?” Hu Wei was in the middle of a good game.

“I want to watch you play.”

Hu Wei: ???

Qin Weidong was better than him at games, so what was there to watch?

Even so, Hu Wei still obediently scooted over.

Lin Wu opened the messaging interface.

The message history ended on the 17th. The conversation from the 18th had been deleted, and there were no records for the 19th.

At exactly 10:12, Lin Wu sent: 【Soy milk, tea egg.】 This was his breakfast today.

The other side replied: 【Tomato scrambled eggs, steamed bun.】 This was his lunch.

Their code matched. Lin Wu got straight to the point. “How did the ending turn out?”

He was asking about the outcome that extended from the 19th.

In 2024, inside a minimalist study in a Shenhai residential complex, thirty-seven-year-old Lin Wu sat in a light gray set of pajamas, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, calmly looking at the message in front of him.

【How did the ending turn out?】

The current ending was very good. Wang Jiahui was safe, Wang Manshan and Hao Shuqin had not committed suicide, Luo Xiaorong had not died. Everyone’s lives were happy and fulfilled.

Lin Wu was about to reply directly, but his gaze shifted to the newspaper on the desk—

Sun Yali, Zhao Rou, Chang Xiaojuan… these were newspapers he had collected since 2005. They were all about the Xuhu murder case, and among them were five victims who should not have appeared.

Lin Wu stared at the message interface, then finally replied: 【Sorry, I’m not feeling well. Let’s talk tomorrow.】

Time is a river that cannot flow backward. The reversed river will eventually reach its end, and beyond that end, everything will be set in stone.

He didn’t know when “this river” would reach its end, nor was he sure whether to mark the current ending as that end.

…

【???】In 2004, at the Central Hospital, Lin Wu frowned at the message.

There was a twenty-year gap between him and the future, but he understood his own personality. If something had changed, it had changed. If not, it hadn’t. For the other side to suddenly end the conversation with “not feeling well” clearly meant something unexpected had happened.

After sending the question marks, there was no reply.

He tapped the desk unconsciously, not knowing what had gone wrong over there.

Three minutes later, Lin Wu deleted the chat history and returned the phone to Qin Weidong. “Thanks.”

“Mm.” Qin Weidong took the phone without even looking at it. He already knew the messages would be gone.

“Will you still be in the hospital tomorrow?” Lin Wu asked.

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll come see you after school tomorrow?”

“Alright.”

“It’s 10:35 now.” Lin Wu glanced at the time. “I’ll head back first.”

It was ten kilometers from here to the steel factory residential compound. He would probably get home after eleven.

Qin Weidong nudged Hu Wei with his knee. Hu Wei was playing Sokoban and looked over in confusion, then quickly understood and said to Lin Wu, “I’ll walk you out.”

“No need.”

“It’s fine, I was just going downstairs for a walk anyway.” Hu Wei spoke as he put on his jacket.

“There’s a 24-hour pan-fried bun shop on Gangchang Road. It’s pretty good, grab some on the way back,” Qin Weidong added.

“Master Li’s place? Yeah, that one’s really good, smells great.” The shop Qin Weidong mentioned was indeed excellent, just a bit toward the outskirts. Hearing it, Hu Wei suddenly felt a craving. Then, as if remembering something, he turned to Lin Wu. “Where do you live?”

“The steel factory residential compound.”

“Oh, that’s not far. I’ll drop you off first, then go buy the buns.”

“That’s not necessary, is it?” Lin Wu was a bit surprised and glanced at Qin Weidong.

“It’s fine, it’s on the way anyway. I also feel like chatting a bit on the road.” As he spoke, Hu Wei pulled Lin Wu downstairs.

Lin Wu didn’t refuse again.

When they reached the entrance of the residential compound, Lin Wu prepared to pay. Hu Wei immediately stopped him. “I haven’t arrived yet. We’ll settle it all together when I get there.”

“No need. The meter’s already running.” The taxi fare showed 28 yuan. Lin Wu took out thirty from his wallet and was about to hand it over. After a moment, he pulled back one of the ten-yuan bills, replaced it with a five and three ones, and pressed the money into Hu Wei’s hand. “Just having someone to talk to on the way already made me happy. Whether you were here or not, I’d still have to pay this.”

He didn’t know whether Qin Weidong genuinely wanted the buns or had intentionally asked Hu Wei to see him home. It wasn’t about the two yuan, it just felt better to keep things clear.

“Hey!” Hu Wei tried to return the money, but Lin Wu had already shut the car door and left.

At 10:50, Hu Wei returned to the hospital after buying the buns.

“You’re back?” Qin Weidong asked after picking one up with his chopsticks.

“Yeah. His place is pretty far out.” As he spoke, Hu Wei took out the 28 yuan from his pocket. “He insisted on paying as soon as we got there. Didn’t even give me a chance to say anything before leaving.”

“He paid?” Qin Weidong paused, looking at the money.

“Yeah. From the hospital to his place, he paid the full meter fare. Twenty-eight, not a cent less.”

“Oh.” Qin Weidong didn’t have much appetite because of his cold. After eating two, he couldn’t continue. “You eat the rest.”

“There are sixteen left!” Hu Wei was shocked. The buns from that shop were both tasty and affordable, so he had bought twenty this time.

“You’re so skinny you look like a stick. Hurry up and eat more,” Qin Weidong said with clear disdain.

Hu Wei: …

No matter how much he liked to eat, there was no way he could finish sixteen. He ended up eating half and planned to reheat the rest the next morning.

That night, Qin Weidong lay in bed thinking. The reason he had Hu Wei walk Lin Wu home was simple. Just like last time, Lin Wu’s place was dark and poorly lit, and he was worried that if something happened, it would cause him trouble. What he hadn’t expected was how strong Lin Wu’s sense of boundaries was. He couldn’t tell whether it was politeness or coldness.

…

2024.

“Xiao Wu, have you and your mom finished getting ready?” Early the next morning, Hao Shuqin called Lin Wu after she had finished preparing. Translated on Hololo novels. Everyone had been chatting happily the day before, and at some point Hao Shuqin mentioned it was time to buy seasonal clothes, wanting everyone to go shopping with her today.

“Mom, I’ve got something at the dance studio. I have to go there tomorrow,” Wang Jiahui said immediately.

“I’ve got a meeting at the factory, I need to go in…” Wang Manshan followed.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to accompany Hao Shuqin. She was sharp and capable in business, but when it came to shopping, she was slow and meticulous. As she put it, that was the joy of shopping. They simply didn’t want to spend the whole day going from morning to night with her.

In the end, the responsibility of accompanying her shopping fell to Lin Wu.

“We’re ready. We’ll meet directly in the underground parking lot,” Lin Wu said after helping Luo Xiaorong pick out a light, comfortable outfit.

“Alright!” Hao Shuqin went downstairs happily.

Three minutes later, the three of them met in the parking lot.

Lin Wu’s car was a domestic model worth around one hundred thousand yuan. After his last long drive, he hadn’t refueled and only had two liters left. Hao Shuqin’s car was a black MINI, which had just been filled up the day before. In the end, they decided to take her car, with Lin Wu driving.

“The moment I mention shopping, no one pays attention to me. Xiao Wu, you’re still the most thoughtful…” Once in the car, Hao Shuqin complained about her unreliable husband and daughter.

“They’re just busy with work. Once things settle down, it’ll be better,” Lin Wu said with a smile.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the shopping plaza. Lin Wu bought Luo Xiaorong a khaki trench coat and a white fuzzy hat. He bought himself a shirt and a tie. Hao Shuqin bought a set of clothes, two coats each for Wang Jiahui and Wang Manshan, and also a gold bracelet for Wang Jiahui, planning to have her wear it during the ceremony.

The three of them spent the entire day shopping and had a great time. Only after dinner did they return to the residential complex.

After getting home, Lin Wu suddenly felt like a deflated balloon. He didn’t know why, but there was an unshakable restlessness lingering in his chest.

He had been in the study for half an hour when the phone suddenly rang.

It was an unfamiliar landline number. Lin Wu tapped to answer.

“Mr. Lin? We’re very sorry, but we need to do maintenance on the electrical meter box in the residential complex. Your parking space happens to be right in front of it. Could you please move your car? We’re very sorry for the inconvenience!”

“Sure.” Lin Wu’s car hadn’t been moved for half a year. After hearing this, he took his keys and went downstairs.

…

“I bought you a bottle of cologne and remember putting it in, but why can’t I find it…” In the bedroom on the sixteenth floor, Hao Shuqin emptied everything she had bought onto the bed. She had purchased quite a lot that day. Besides clothes and a gold bracelet, there were also hair clips, perfume, body lotion…

The perfume she mentioned was a men’s cologne, meant for Wang Manshan to use during meetings.

Wang Manshan was outside reading the newspaper. Hearing this, he muttered unhappily, “At my age, why would I need cologne?”

Hao Shuqin rolled her eyes at him. “Men’s cologne is trendy now. You should use more, otherwise you’ll smell and annoy people.”

“It’s probably in Xiaorong’s bag. I’ll go downstairs and check.” After saying that, Hao Shuqin headed down.

Wang Manshan sniffed himself. “I don’t smell… talking nonsense.”

Humming a tune, Hao Shuqin arrived at Lin Wu’s home.

“Sister Hao!” The live-in caregiver was mopping the floor. Seeing her, she set her work aside.

“Where’s Xiaorong?” Hao Shuqin asked.

“In her room.”

Hao Shuqin went to Luo Xiaorong’s room. Luo Xiaorong was listening to Huangmei opera. She couldn’t understand it, but liked the soft, lilting sounds.

“I bought a bottle of perfume this afternoon and can’t find it. Did I accidentally leave it here?”

“Bag… look in the bag.”

Luo Xiaorong had some level of understanding, but didn’t fully grasp what was said. She gestured for Hao Shuqin to search herself.

Hao Shuqin rummaged through but didn’t find it. She thought carefully. They had bought the perfume after buying the tie, so it might have been placed in Lin Wu’s bag with the tie.

She called out, “Xiaofang, where’s Mr. Lin?”

“The property management just called. He went downstairs to move his car.”

“When he came back, he was carrying a blue bag. Did you see where he put it?”

“Maybe in the study.”

Hao Shuqin often visited Lin Wu’s home and had been in his study before. Without thinking much, she went in and soon found the blue bag on the small sofa.

“So it’s really here.” She opened the bag and immediately saw the perfume.

Lin Wu’s study was just like the impression he gave people, clean and orderly. After taking the perfume, she was about to leave, but after two steps, she stopped.

On Lin Wu’s desk lay a thick stack of newspapers. The bookshelf beside it was open, and it was clear these papers had just been taken out from inside.

She looked at the headlines:

《Shocking! Xuhu Serial Killer!》
《March 12, 2005—Fourth Victim Discovered in Xuhu…》
《Analysis of the Xuhu Serial Murder Case》…

There were thirty newspapers about the Xuhu case, along with two stacks of printed A4 documents. Both the newspapers and the documents were all related to the Xuhu murder case.

Hao Shuqin moved the newspapers aside and saw a sheet of A4 paper beneath them. Written on it were dates like 2004.9.5, 2004.9.9.

The ink hadn’t fully dried yet. It looked like it had only just been written.

✧˖°.──⋆⭒˚.⋆💌⋆⭒˚.⋆──✧˖°.

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