The Girl Who Restarted Time

His nose was awash with the smell of blood. His head had bumped into the chassis. He could sense pain as it swept across his entire body. Lu Jia’er, who was in Jin Xiangdong’s arms, looked toward where he was staring at slowly. She, too, saw that pair of eyes.

That pair of eyes with piercing-gleam, or even a trace of violence, belonged to a black man. Lu Jia’er looked into his eyes and blinked. After a few seconds, the black man reached his hand toward them slowly.

Looking at this hand, Jin Xiangdong could not help but hold Lu Jia’er tighter. This move filled Lu Jia’er’s heart with warmth. In the instant when the car crashed, nobody could anticipate this accident. Both of them were smashed into the front seat uncontrollably. Yet, at such a critical time, Jin Xiangdong was able to hold her in his arms subconsciously.

At this moment, Lu Jia’er was curled up in the car. She struggled to say, “He is trying to save us.”

Hearing this, Jin Xiangdong looked at that pair of hands again. Though he was not entirely sure if this black man was hypnotized by Lu Jia’er, he could tell that this man’s eyes appeared to be different than before.

Then, the man with this pair of eyes used his gun to smash the window and clear away the glass splinters.

In this way, Jin Xiangdong and Lu Jia’er could be saved.

“Quick!” That black man shouted to Jin Xiangdong.

Lu Jia’er was the first one to be dragged out, and then Jin Xiangdong and then the driver.

Jin Xiangdong knew that as soon as Lu Jia’er was saved, she began to hypnotize the people around. However, soon, a large crowd had gathered on site.

Blood was oozing out from Lu Jia’er forehead. Jin Xiangdong put his hands around her shoulders, worried to see how pale she was. In addition to worrying about Lu Jia’er, he was planning how to exit the accident site.

On the other hand, Lu Jia’er felt her eyelids were growing heavier. Then, her sight became blurry…

She heard Jin Xiangdong’s voice. He was calling her, “Jia’er, Jia’er!”

When Lu Jia’er came back to her senses, she found herself lying on a bed, a white bed. The first thing she saw was a Chinese-style chandelier hanging on the ceiling. The table lamp on the side was in the same style.

Lu Jia’er’s forehead was bandaged. She took a look around the room slowly. She quickly understood several things. This was not the hospital! She should still be in the States! The owner of this house was not a Chinese person, but a foreigner.

At this moment, the door was pushed open. Jin Xiangdong stepped in.

Noticing that she had woken up, Jin Xiangdong hurried over. “How are you feeling?”

Lu Jia’er stared at his face, as if examining his wounds. However, she did not find any wounds on his face.

“Were you hurt?” The first thing Lu Jia’er said was to express her concern for Jin Xiangdong’s state.

“No!” Jin Xiangdong sat by the bed and shook his head. “But you have been sleeping for several hours!”

“Where are we?” Lu Jia’er asked.

“A perfectly safe place.” Jin Xiangdong answered.

Lu Jia’er gazed at Jin Xiangdong. “You know the owner of this house?”

“No.” Jin Xiangdong admitted.

“No?” Confusion rose from the depth of Lu Jia’er’s eyes.

“The one that sent us here did not reveal his identity. But he dropped us here and told me that it was safe here. He got you doctors!” Jin Xiangdong stated.

Lu Jia’er was still filled with doubts. “Then how can you tell that it is safe here?”

Jin Xiangdong stroked her cheeks, knowing that she was worried. “After you fainted, the scene became quite messy. A few minutes later, two ambulances came. I thought we were going to the hospital. However, midway, they took a turn and dropped us here. That must be to protect you. At least, it was arranged by someone who didn’t want your secret revealed.”

“Where are we?” Lu Jia’er was still wondering.

“Near Hollywood.” Jin Xiangdong replied.

“Near Hollywood?” Lu Jia’er repeated his words.

Right when Jin Xiangdong was about to answer, a tall Caucasian man came in. He smiled at Lu Jia’er. “Professor Lu, you are awake!”

While he had a foreigner’s face, the Chinese he spoke was quite proper. Besides, this man knew her name.

Did Jin Xiangdong tell him? Or, did he know from the start?

Lu Jia’er looked at him with suspicion, “And you are?”

“I am Colin. Nice to meet you!” Colin introduced himself to Lu Jia’er.

“He is a doctor and the owner of this house.” Jin Xiangdong explained.

Colin checked Lu Jia’er’s state and added. “You will be fine.”

Lu Jia’er extended her appreciation. “Thank you.”

Colin smiled at her as a reply as Lu Jia’er continued, “Why did you help us?”

“To help you is helping myself, as a matter of fact.” Colin responded.

Jin Xiangdong had asked Colin the same question and the answer was exactly the same. However, Jin Xiangdong was still filled with doubts. That being said, Colin did not reveal much information.

Lu Jia’er stared at Colin. It seemed like she was trying to search for information about this white man using her “special ability”. The strange thing was, she could not hear his inner voice.

Was there anything wrong with her “special ability” due to the car accident?

Lu Jia’er was not sure. “It is perfectly safe here. Don’t worry.” Colin reiterated.

Hearing this, Lu Jia’er asked a direct question. “Why do you think we can believe you?”

“Because you know that I am special!” Colin smiled at Lu Jia’er.

“You are special?” Lu Jia’er had already had an answer but still pretended ignorance.

“Professor Lu, you know what I mean.” Colin stressed his point.

Lu Jia’er did not spell out the answer. “This is a downtown area with people coming and going. It shouldn’t be very safe here.” She commented.

“You cannot leave here at the moment.” Colin stressed.

“What do you mean?” Lu Jia’er asked.

“CIA and MSS are searching for you.” Colin explained.

CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) and MSS (Ministry of State Security)? Somehow, Lu Jia’er felt things were spinning out of control. It appeared that this Colin knew the unapparent details about her situation. As such, Lu Jia’er decided not to hide her thoughts. “Who are you? I want the truth.”

“A person as special as you are.” Colin said, pointing to Jin Xiangdong.

Lu Jia’er was still not entirely convinced. Colin went on, “You cannot leave here without my help.”

“How can you help us?” Lu Jia’er wondered.

“A disguise.” Colin used one word.

“Disguise?” Lu Jia’er stared at him, confused.

“I am also a special effects makeup artist, not only a doctor!” As he finished his words, he took out some objects from his pocket and handed them to Jin Xiangdong and Lu Jia’er.

“I will disguise you both as these two people!” said Colin.

Jin Xiangdong looked at Colin. “Are these two people real?”

“Yes!” Colin nodded.

Jin Xiangdong looked at the passport. He understood the method now. “You are saying that we can take on their identities.”

“Yes! That is the only way. Otherwise, CIA and MSS will find you soon enough!” Colin emphasized this point again.

Lu Jia’er was somehow convinced by Colin. If CIA and MSS were tracing them, they would be exposed if they had left just like this.

But, was Colin really after something that simple as he said? To help them was to help himself?

Lu Jia’er, the professional psychology, looked directly at Colin’s face and said, “There must be strings attached to helping us, right?”

Colin smiled at Lu Jia’er at this remark. “Lu Jia’er, you are a professor in psychology worthy of the name. Truth be told, there are strings attached to this help.”

“What is it?” Lu Jia’er and Jin Xiangdong asked at the same time.

“A set of coordinates.” Colin came straight to the point.

Jin Xiangdong and Lu Jia’er looked at each other when they heard the answer. The second before they were in the car accident was when they found out that the 11 digits on the note left by Ian was not a telephone number, but a coordinate.

That coordinate must be important since Colin had expressed his intention of acquiring it so bluntly. There must be a huge secret buried behind.

Jin Xiangdong pretended he did not understand. “What coordinate?”

“Don’t ask while knowing the answer.” Colin unmasked the lie.

For a moment, how honest Colin was made it difficult for Jin Xiangdong and Lu Jia’er to arrive at a decision.

“Don’t ask while knowing the answer. Where did you learn your Chinese? It is very good.” Lu Jia’er said.

“The important thing is not who taught me my Chinese, but the coordinates! If you want to pay me back, then tell me those coordinates!” Colin insisted.

“If we don’t know any coordinates, will you still help us?” Lu Jia’er tried to feel out his attitude.

“I will still help you. But if you don’t leave Los Angeles soon, there may be unpredictable things that occur.” Said Colin, “I am not crying wolf!”

“I do believe that you are not exaggerating. As for the coordinates, we…” Lu Jia’er stopped midway to look at Colin, “We can tell you. But you have to tell us how you knew about the coordinates. Who are you really?”

“I know that someone left the coordinates for you on purpose. As for my real identity, I am a doctor by day and a special effects makeup artist by night.” Colin replied.

“Someone? Who is that someone?” Lu Jia’er went on.