How long have you lived alone?

Huo Chi leaned close to Jiang Ziyao and whispered to him: "The fireworks at night are beautiful."

The sun cast a golden veil over them, and even the ends of their hair seemed to be quenched with light.

"It is very beautiful. It is the first time that Guangqin's Kouba place has held some activities." Jiang Ziyao said, "It's a pity that you didn't see much."

In a corner with a good view near the bridge, there were two young men. The Spring Festival and the first day of the first lunar month belonged to Jiang Ziyao and Huo Chi alone. Jiang Ziyao didn't want to go out. He really didn't like places that were too crowded.

But Huo Chi was firm in his attitude. After dinner, he started to wipe the table and wash the dishes, and even cleaned the kitchen stove. After cleaning the house, he took out thick clothes from the closet and put them on the sofa, then picked up the garbage bag and turned off the indoor air conditioner.

Jiang Ziyao had no reason to refuse, but that night, Huo Chi's mind was not on watching the fireworks festival at all.

Huo Chi found a good spot with few people and a wide view, probably because he had chosen it in advance. It was a bit cold in the first month of this year, and the wind slapped people in the face. Huo Chi had sweat all over his forehead, and after the fireworks had been set off for a while, his mouth seemed to be frozen, and he just glanced over from time to time.

Jiang Ziyao was annoyed by his delay and said he wanted to leave. Huo Chi tried to stop him, but he stammered and said a lot of nonsense.

Jiang Ziyao laughed at him and said, "Are you planning to sign up for the crosstalk performance at next year's Spring Festival Gala?"

"Or have you broken the law?"

Huo Chi said timidly, "No."

"Then why are you nervous?"

"Huo Chi——!"

"Right away! Right away!"

Then Huo Chi started to take things out. He took out a cell phone from his pocket, but he didn't hold it firmly and dropped it.

Huo Chi laughed dryly twice, then hurriedly picked up the phone. Jiang Ziyao looked at the phone camera he checked first, then he turned on the camera. His nervous face briefly broke into a smile, and he was glad that the phone was not broken.

Huo Chi was very busy, but he didn't achieve anything after being busy for a long time.

Jiang Ziyao couldn't help but glare at him.

"I just want to record it." Huo Chi turned his phone horizontally. He first recorded the fireworks in the sky, and then turned the camera towards Jiang Ziyao.

He stared at Jiang Ziyao for a long while, then reached into his pocket with his right hand. Jiang Ziyao saw all his actions.

And then...

They fell into a deep sleep, and when they woke up, they had lost their normal lives.

Huo Chi touched his diamond ring, which was firmly worn on his hand. For many years, perhaps the memories softened his sharp eyes. He said, "I made a lot of mistakes, and you laughed at me for five minutes. You were laughing, which gave me more courage."

"Stop!" Jiang Ziyao was not very happy: "I don't need to know this now." His expression became serious and dry: "You should know that this is unfair to me and Huo Chi!"

"You deprived us of those years. When are you going to give it back to us?" Jiang Ziyao asked, "In other words, can you give it back to us?"

Huo Chi was silent for a moment: "Not now."

"That's fine." Jiang Ziyao continued, "What's the obstacle?"

"Because of me."

Huo Chi did not hesitate this time: "I want to keep you until the end, until time must take you back."

Then, Huo Chi looked at him with a complicated look.

Huo Chi was like a withered mountain when he was silent. The sadness in his eyes might be real, but his purpose was not pure. Jiang Ziyao felt that he was trying to win his heart, as if this way he could accept everything that had happened with peace of mind.

The Land of Lost Land was not as evil as people said. Even some dark corners seemed peaceful. The broken utopia and the university campus in front of him which was the same as before, made Jiang Ziyao feel like he was seeing a joke.

"So." Jiang Ziyao couldn't help but ask, "Do you feel as guilty now as you did back then when you do something behind my back?"

Huo Chi stopped, turned around, and went from standing side by side with Jiang Ziyao to facing each other.

Jiang Ziyao raised his head and looked into Huo Chi's eyes. Now, he could feel Huo Chi's height more clearly.

Jiang Ziyao thought he would say something, but Huo Chi just lowered his head, looked at him straight in the eye, and held his hand.

Huo Chi's hands are always as hot as a stove, but he is not. His hands are the temperature of a normal person.

Huo Chi held his hand and tried to put his hand on his chest. Jiang Ziyao's first reaction was not to refuse, but he quickly shook it off halfway.

Jiang Ziyao's anger had not subsided: "I have always had 100% trust in you, but not anymore."

Huo Chi seemed to know that he would have such an attitude. He did not even frown, and his habitual action was to turn the ring on his finger: "I will not lie to you."

Jiang Ziyao spread his hands: "Then tell me your current age first."

"34? Really?"

Huo Chi did not deny it, his eyes were enough to explain it all, it was recognition of his lover, because Jiang Ziyao guessed right, he knew Jiang Ziyao was smart enough.

"It's exactly the year 3913." Jiang Ziyao touched his chin, thinking, and then he found it funny: "According to what your men said, the whole world exploded this year. What? Are you planning to live on another planet?"

Huo Chi's mouth curled up.

Jiang Ziyao frowned: "You are not from this time and space either. You couldn't survive in that time and space, so you came here?"

Huo Chi didn't say anything.

Jiang Ziyao then asked: "Did you encounter a difficult character? Utopia? The Saints? Or some other person or monster that popped up from somewhere else?"

Huo Chi's eyes darkened: "No one can deal with me now, monsters or humans are not to be feared."

Given his abilities, his words wouldn't sound too arrogant. Jiang Ziyao said, "No one can threaten you. Why is that? Or is it..."

Huo Chi's gaze was always on him. Jiang Ziyao had some guesses in his mind, but he was still surprised.

Huo Chi's eyes told him that there was no threat, and his own existence was the biggest threat.

Explosion, it's hard not to associate it with that. Jiang Ziyao's expression became strange: "In fact, it was you who destroyed the world. What did you do?"

Huo Chi still did not deny it, but he did not give an accurate answer either. He said there would be no lies, so he chose to remain silent.

He was 34 years old, twelve years older than Jiang Ziyao. Jiang Ziyao had noticed early on that there were a few strands of silver mixed in his black hair. He was like a knife, a cracked knife.

Jiang Ziyao sighed: "How many years have you lived alone?"

Huo Chi paused for a long time, and then he chose to answer: "Two years."

Jiang Ziyao could clearly sense the suppressed emotions in Huo Chi's tone, and smiled faintly: "So it's the year 3911."

His words caused everyone around him to completely fall silent. Jiang Ziyao glanced at Huo Chi. The 34-year-old Huo Chi was always calm even when he was emotionally outburst.

He would no longer spit out foul language or point at people's heads in a violent fight, but Huo Chi would still get angry. He showed his edge for a moment, and his anger was hidden under his calm appearance. Jiang Ziyao would always see through his obvious emotions at the first moment.

Jiang Ziyao changed the subject: "Have you repaired every building here?"

"Yes." Huo Chi followed his emotions: "I promise, it will be the same as we remember."

"The public class teacher is a mean bald guy, and we always skip his class."

Jiang Ziyao asked, "Do you like nostalgia?"

“For me, it’s worth remembering.”

"That's right." Jiang Ziyao's tone relaxed a little, and he said mockingly, "You are almost 30 years old."

Huo Chi accepted his teasing silently.

Jiang Ziyao said: "Take advantage of this opportunity and go somewhere with me."

"The tallest building." Jiang Ziyao pointed in a direction, "Zhiyuan Building, where we filmed our homework before."

“That’s on the rooftop.”

Jiang Ziyao glanced at him and said, "Why are you wasting your time talking? Are you going to climb or not?"

Soon, Jiang Ziyao and Huo Chi climbed up to the rooftop together. There are seven floors in total, and the rooftop is the eighth floor. The school rooftop is generally not open to the public, but the lighting here is good, so Jiang Ziyao and Huo Chi climbed in to take photos for their photography homework.

Jiang Ziyao looked around casually. He was not here to reminisce with Huo Chi. He quickly climbed over the fence and stood on the edge of the roof. He leaned his back to the sky with his hind feet hanging in the air and his front against the fence.

Huo Chi frowned: "Dangerous."

Jiang Ziyao smiled faintly: "I remember that this building is 27 meters high. You know this is actually nothing for an alien like me, but the premise is that I will take the initiative to protect myself."

His vision was very wide at this time. He could see most of the environment of the Lost Land with just a glance, including the people walking below. The group of people had guns on their shoulders. They should be living here with Huo Chi's permission. When he looked down, he didn't feel dizzy. His body was no longer afraid of heights.

Jiang Ziyao laughed jokingly: "I plan to jump from here and do nothing. No matter which part of my body hits the ground first, I might get hurt, or I might get a lot of injuries. Which one do you think it will be?"

Huo Chi said in a deep voice: "You won't get hurt in front of me."

Jiang Ziyao said: "But you can't stop me." He stepped on the edge and walked back and forth easily.

"I promise you that, too."

When Jiang Ziyao used himself as a bargaining chip, Huo Chi had no solution, so Huo Chi chose to give in: "I will give you whatever you want."

"What do you think I want?" Jiang Ziyao said, and then he said angrily: "You are no different from Huo Chi, you are also hopelessly stupid. Those who want to use time will eventually be played by time! I don't know what you have done or what you are going to do, but the dead are already asleep, you should accept the regret, Huo Chi, you are an adult!"

"You should get everything back on track. I belong to 3901, and you belong to 3913. If you are the only one left, then go on alone."

"No!" Huo Chi refuted Jiang Ziyao's words, "Whether it is something I should do or not is for me to judge! It is for the one who is alive and suffering to decide!" His voice was torn out from his lungs: "And I have already done it!"

"You don't believe me?"

Huo Chi stared at him with red eyes, and said word by word: "I have thrown out all the chips! Even if there is death between us, I will pull you back! And you, stand on my side! Instead of trying to push me away!"

Jiang Ziyao's momentum was not lowered at all: "I'm worried about you, idiot!"

Huo Chi hated his concern: "I'm fine, I promise I will live a long time." He said: "I can wait for many more two years, but you can't let me spend my life just waiting."

His stubbornness left Jiang Ziyao speechless for a moment.

Finally, Huo Chi added: "I am no longer the Huo Chi you knew. You can't control me."

"It seems I have no choice. You are such a troublemaker." Jiang Ziyao was angry and amused. He slammed his palm heavily on the fence. "But this won't work. Let's take a gamble now."

"If you catch me, I'll consider agreeing to your request."

Huo Chi was always unable to refuse him, just as Jiang Ziyao was unable to blame him.

Jiang Ziyao opened his arms and leaned back to enjoy the feeling of weightlessness. He closed his eyes and let the falling wind blow past his ears...