Chapter 285 - 124: One-Life Clear (Middle)

Chapter 285: Chapter 124: One-Life Clear (Middle)

"When did you get back? Why didn’t you say anything?"

Zhang Shutong had to say he had something to do and was leaving right away.

"What the hell are you doing? Have you counted how many times you’ve run out today?" The young nurse was clearly startled. "And look at your face! You look like you’re about to pass out."

Zhang Shutong said, "That’s because I just got back from outside. It’s the wind."

He thought for a moment, then added:

"Besides, you’re the one who taught me this."

"Hey, hey, don’t go slandering people! When did I ever teach you to run all over the place with a fever?"

"Not that. I meant the part about protecting a girl’s feelings, or whatever."

"That’s for normal situations, this is a special case! What kind of girl needs you to risk your life to protect her? I admit the young lady you brought in is gorgeous, but no matter how pretty she is..." The young nurse’s eyes went wide. "It’s not worth running out in the middle of the night just to please her, is it? Is she the demanding, princessy type?"

"No," Zhang Shutong explained as he poured some water. "I have something really important to do. Don’t be fooled by how cold she seemed just now. She’s actually really soft. She’s the type to glare at you at the drop of a hat."

"You’re starting to talk nonsense. That makes no sense."

"My head’s a little fuzzy."

"So you’re saying she’s the fragile type?"

Zhang Shutong was silent for a moment.

"She’s not fragile. She’s very strong. It’s just that some of the malice directed at her is too much for her to bear."

"Call the police! Or her parents!"

"That might make things worse."

"Then who else can do anything?"

"No one." Zhang Shutong picked up the cup of water and hurried back, because he heard the sound of a motorcycle engine from downstairs. "But I’ll give it a try..."

In the distance, a line from *Journey to the West* could be heard:

"Look at that person. He looks like a dog."

The young nurse shouted from behind him:

"Hey, stop making yourself look so pathetic! Take a look in the mirror, you really look like a stray dog right now!"

’A stray dog... so be it.’ In the past, Zhang Shutong had found the stray dog analogy unbearably awkward, but strays had their own strengths. There were some things that purebred hunting dogs could never do.

Zhang Shutong could no longer hear what she was saying.

He rushed back to the observation room in a few strides and placed the hot water on the windowsill. But he saw that Gu Qiuyan was still frowning in her sleep. Zhang Shutong didn’t know what she was dreaming about, but he had no more time to linger.

The time was 11:39. It would take eight or nine minutes to get to the camera from here.

Zhang Shutong was about to say goodbye to the girl when he noticed she was clutching something in her hand. She was holding it so tightly that the blood had drained from her fingers.

Zhang Shutong gently pried her hand open.

It was his motorcycle key.

He placed the key back on the table, and Gu Qiuyan’s pretty eyebrows slowly relaxed.

’A princess, he mused, was a girl who could be completely won over by a little coaxing.’

Zhang Shutong closed the door.

He ran without stopping.

He ran out of the hallway, down the stairs, and out of the hospital. His lungs burned with a searing pain, but all he could do now was run, racing against time.

The moment he burst through the hospital’s main entrance, he saw Ruoping. Ruoping had always been a knight-errant; without a word, she tossed the motorcycle helmet to him. Zhang Shutong scrambled to catch it as the young woman asked:

"Hey, got time for a few words, Mr. Busy?"

Zhang Shutong put on his helmet and gloves.

"I have time for two sentences."

"I was going to ask what the hell you’re up to this time, but Qingyi told me not to."

"After all, every man has his secrets, right?"

Suddenly, a boy’s clear laughter rang out.

’Normally, Zhang Shutong would have retorted, *Bro, where did you even pop out from? Can you please put away your cringey chuuni lines? Seriously, I can’t take it...* But now, a pang of emotion suddenly hit him.’

To be honest, Zhang Shutong couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this way. He saw Ruoping holding up her phone, a group video call open in their four-person chat. Two familiar faces were on the screen.

Qingyi’s side was pitch black; he was still on the road, riding Ruoping’s electric scooter.

Du Kang’s end, however, was brightly lit. He was leaning against a windowsill in a hospital corridor, a wide, carefree grin on his face.

"Don’t listen to Ruoping rambling on. Women, always dawdling. We’re all bros here, no need for formalities. Just get going."

"Being decisive is what makes a man, you know."

"Get lost, all of you! Have you no shame?" Ruoping cursed with a laugh, then added, "This is the last time I’m going through this crazy stuff with you, Zhang Shutong. Don’t even think about a next time."

"You’re not going to ask anything?" Zhang Shutong asked, lowering his visor.

"Do you want to tell us?"

"I’m sorry," he said in a low voice. "But I really can’t tell you this time."

’He couldn’t stand his own behavior anymore. He felt like a fucking lunatic, constantly making everyone run around for his sake.’

’But he really couldn’t say anything. Whether it was about the resurrected dead, Gu Qiuyan’s mother, or even Song’s ex-girlfriend, all he could do was keep running with these secrets.’

But Ruoping said:

"You’re actually apologizing? For real? You never used to be this considerate of other people’s feelings. But hearing you say that is enough for this princess. I’ll go up and watch Gu Qiuyan for you. Now go on, get your crazy on."

Du Kang said:

"Shutong, be careful out there. And don’t forget, Monday is my birthday."

"I’ll definitely make it back for your birthday this time."

Zhang Shutong twisted the throttle. He wasn’t familiar with this bike yet and needed a moment to feel out the gears. He still had time for one more sentence, but he really didn’t know what else to say.

’He felt a bit lost. In his previous time loops, Zhang Shutong always had to expend enormous effort to get people to trust him. He’d even told them he could rewind time, only to be treated like he was crazy. Eventually, he got used to being a lone wolf and couldn’t be bothered to explain so much. As long as he achieved his goal, who cared what others thought.’

’But now, he felt guilty about receiving all this trust. He didn’t know how long it had been since he’d been trusted like this. The trust of his best friends, of Song, of his parents, of Gu Qiuyan... Zhang Shutong suddenly realized just how many people had gathered around him.’

’Everyone has something they hold most precious, something they’d willingly give their life for.’

’He knew that for Song, it was the girl with short hair and dimples. For him, the priceless treasure was all this trust.’

But it’s often hardest to speak when faced with such open trust. The tires were already rolling on the pavement. In the end, he just said:

"I’m going."

From behind him came Ruoping’s faint call:

"Hey, Shutong!"

Zhang Shutong looked back.

Du Kang said:

"You’ve been at this for so long! You’d better come back with good news! It’d be too embarrassing otherwise!"

Finally, Qingyi said:

"Remember what I told you? You wouldn’t admit it back then, but aren’t you tearing down that exact road right now..."

’A man, he had said, is someone who will protect what he cherishes, even if it costs him his life.’

Zhang Shutong smiled and waved back. Of course he remembered.

’He had always remembered their words clearly.’

’If possible, he really wanted to finish watching that movie. It was called *Roman Holiday*. He wasn’t expecting to go to Rome; just having a holiday would be a luxury.’

’Maybe he could leave this matter to Father Gu.’

’He might be able to handle it, or he might not.’

’But if he left everything to others...’

’...what would be the point of this power to rewind time?’

’Zhang Shutong had always wanted to reach that untouchable Sunday, to welcome a normal life. But now he understood that if he just indulged in the beauty of the past, tomorrow would never come.’

’He remembered a saying: only by being covered in blood, sweat, and mud, becoming scarred and battered to the point that people think you’ve gone mad—only because of a today like that will a tomorrow ever arrive.’

He rode again through the snowy night. The difference was, this time he was heading for the final destination. He was going to put a definitive end to this whole affair.

’This was the nature of rewinding time: being trapped in a cycle, again and again, exhausted from running for your life.’

’You’re like a stray dog, able to do nothing but run wild for the sake of tomorrow.’