Chapter 27: Fantasy Scripture (VIII) Zhang Xiaodeng's Dreamland. ...
"Zhang Deng's world can no longer tolerate further turmoil. It's becoming increasingly unstable and will face even more problems," the man said. "One thought can lead to immeasurable collapse. This is no joke. His world is already too close to the roots of the World Tree, and another collapse will not be tolerated."
Wei Yuanye said, "What should we do then?"
The man said, "The top management held a meeting and there are two solutions for you to choose from."
Being able to choose is a very rare humane behavior. Wei Yuanye was a little surprised and raised his eyebrows.
"For the recipient to choose," the man added, "his... identity might be unusual, someone who can travel freely. Perhaps he has details we don't know."
Although Wei Yuanye knew that Zhang Deng was just an ordinary writer, he still did not express any opinion.
The man said, "Or I can send you back, and your time traveling in this world will be extended indefinitely, so that you can accompany him until he no longer needs you."
Wei Yuanye said without thinking: "He won't agree."
The man disagreed and asked, "Why?"
"He's not in love with me," Wei Yuanye said, "He wants his life to get back on track more than me."
The man continued, "The second plan is for him to come to the World Tree and work here, and then go back whenever he wants."
"He also goes to work?" Wei Yuanye found it ridiculous.
But the man said confidently: "Of course, I will be your partner."
"Aren't you very good at making your recipients fall in love with you?" the man said sarcastically. "Take a follower who admires you with you and see who will be your mistress."
Wei Yuanye laughed, and the man frowned and said, "What are you laughing at?"
"681," Wei Yuanye said, "Isn't that giving you face?"
681 hadn't been offended like this in a long time. He said, "What do you mean?"
Wei Yuanye stood up, looked at him and said, "Such a big reaction, is your wife among the beneficiaries?"
“679!”
Wei Yuanye asked, "Do you remember why you were transferred to the Special Affairs Section?"
The man didn't respond, and his face suddenly looked a little ugly.
He placed his hands on the table, leaned closer to 681, and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Do you want to be the protagonist for once?"
681 kicked the table, moved his chair back, and said sternly, "Anyway, you'll handle the aftermath of this matter."
Wei Yuanye straightened up, curled the corners of his lips, looked at him as if he were garbage, and turned away.
681 sat at his desk, maintaining this position until a communication request interrupted his thoughts.
Jia Ming called and said, "What should I do? Leader."
681 said: "Did he remember something?"
"That's impossible," Jia Ming said. "The concentration used for him was the highest, and the dosage was also the largest."
681 said, "There's something wrong with him."
Jia Ming said, "Do you want to clean it out again?"
"Wait a minute," 681 said slowly, looking out the window. "Observe for a moment. Don't alert the enemy."
The winter sun was radiating its enthusiasm wantonly because it would not burn the skin. In the room, he sat at the low table in front of the bed with the lamp on, typing on the computer. This was a rare weekend off, and he had both the time and a relatively calm mind, which allowed him to sit in front of the computer, basking in the sunlight and writing something interesting.
Xiao Mi was lying at the end of the bed, waving his tail boredly. At this time, the doorbell rang and the lights were on, which seemed a little strange, as there were almost no visitors in his house.
He looked through the peephole and saw a familiar figure. He turned on the light and opened the door. Liu Yan was standing at the door with a cup of milk tea in his hand.
Since that night, Liu Yan had not contacted him for a long time. Zhang Deng thought that Liu Yan had given up the so-called "pursuit" plan.
Liu Yan was sitting on the sofa, and Xiao Mi just looked up at him, then hid far away. This is its usual attitude towards strangers.
"How are you these days?" Liu Yan said.
Zhang Deng said, "Not bad."
"Wei Yuanye left again?"
Zhang Deng poured him a glass of water and said, "Yes."
Liu Yan beggared the question for a long time, but Zhang Deng finally didn't want to listen anymore and said, "What do you want from me?"
Liu Yan then said, "I've always wanted to know who Wei Yuanye is."
"What does this have to do with you?" Zhang Deng asked without any hostility. He really didn't understand.
Liu Yan said: "After all, he is always by your side, and he appears and disappears mysteriously."
Zhang Deng said, "Haven't you investigated him? Maybe it's what you think."
"What do you mean?" Liu Yan said, "Do you know what I think?"
Zhang Deng said, "Superpowers or something like that."
Liu Yan: “…”
Although Liu Yan was mentally prepared, she still did less.
Zhang Deng's phone rang. He picked it up and took a look. His expression was slightly torn for a moment, then returned to normal. Liu Yan's phone also rang. When he saw the message, he knew why Zhang Deng reacted like that.
The message came from Zhang Deng's mother: "Let's go home and get together tonight."
Zhang Deng's fingers tapped back and forth, deleting and typing, typing and deleting, and finally he only replied: "OK."
Liu Yan said: "If you don't want to go back, then I will refuse it."
"I want to go back," Zhang Deng said, "After all, they are my parents. I haven't seen them for a long time."
Liu Yan was a little bit unbelievable: "You still miss home?"
"Yes," Zhang Deng said, "They have done something wrong to me, so of course they will miss home."
Zhang Deng just wants to stay away from home so that there will be fewer conflicts, but he still longs for family when he is lonely. This is his natural weakness. He just longs for love, so what?
Even though he is bound to be hurt to varying degrees, ignored, and harmed every time he goes back, Zhang Deng still thinks of his home whenever he receives text messages from his parents. It's a knee-jerk reflex ingrained in his bones.
Liu Yan said: "That's why you are always bullied."
"I can't stop doing this just because I'm going to be bullied," said Zhang Deng.
Liu Yan was so confused by his theory that he didn't know what to say, but it was true that lighting the lanterns should be so stubborn and inappropriate.
"Where is your Wei Yuanye now?"
"He's gone," Zhang Deng said. "He'll never come back."
Liu Yan said: "Then you..."
Zhang Deng still said the same thing: "We are just friends."
Zhang Deng kept saying this from beginning to end, and only Liu Yan really believed it. However, the absurdity of this matter caused Liu Yan to no longer be able to focus on whether they were friends or not. It was too fantastical and he didn't know where to start.
Zhang Deng, however, didn't have much to say to him, nor did he have much patience. He said, "Anyway, that's it. He's gone anyway, so there's no point in dwelling on this issue."
Liu Yan said, "He just left like that?"
"What else should be done?" Zhang Deng also felt strange. Why did everyone think that Wei Yuanye's departure was so hasty?
Actually, no. In Zhang Deng’s heart, it would be beautiful no matter where this relationship ended.
Zhang Deng said: "He has done what he should do."
Liu Yan asked, "What about you?"
"Me?" Zhang Deng said, "I should do whatever I'm supposed to do."
Liu Yan: "You haven't been in touch?"
"No."
Liu Yan didn't know what to say. He always felt that Wei Yuanye shouldn't be like this, but from his point of view, the more ruthless Wei Yuanye was, the better.
"What a piece of shit." Liu Yan cursed in a cheap way.
Zhang Deng said, "You don't know anything about us, so don't make any comments."
"So, what exactly is he trying to do?" Liu Yan said, "He's using your feelings, then throwing them away. Isn't that the truth?"
Zhang Deng said, "Taking advantage is a very good thing..."
"Don't use your theories against me," Liu Yan said. "What he did was irresponsible."
Zhang Deng felt annoyed. He didn't want to argue about this anymore, so he said, "Whatever you want."
Liu Yan said: "Do you dislike me so much now?"
"You're unwilling to explain your thoughts to me," Liu Yan said. "Even if I want to listen, you don't want to talk."
Zhang Deng was unable to defend himself. He really didn't want to communicate with Liu Yan. After experiencing online violence, Zhang Deng realized that communication is a very slow way to change prejudices. The cost of communication is very high and requires a lot of effort. Zhang Deng didn't want to waste his words on meaningless talk.
Changing Liu Yan's view of himself would have no meaning in his life, so he didn't want to do it.
Strictly speaking, this could be considered as indifference rather than disgust, but Zhang Deng did not refute it. He said, "Are you going to pick up He Xiaoqiu?"
This change of subject was so obvious that Liu Yan laughed at himself and said, "We have separated."
"Maybe you don't want to know," Liu Yan said, "but we had a big fight and haven't been in touch for a long time. I came to see you today just to talk to you about these recent events, even though you don't really want to tell me."
Zhang Deng said the same thing: "You've been together for a long time, don't give up easily."
Liu Yan: "But the relationship can no longer be repaired."
"You love him," Zhang Deng affirmed, "but you haven't realized it yet."
Liu Yan didn't quite understand why Zhang Deng was always so sure that he still loved He Xiaoqiu, even though he himself could not find any trace of love. His feelings for He Xiaoqiu were a balance of interests from beginning to end.
Zhang Deng added more food to his kitten and changed his clothes. Liu Yan suddenly noticed that Zhang Deng seemed to have gained some weight. He asked, and Zhang Deng said happily, "Did you notice?"
Zhang Deng said, "I'm building muscle."
Liu Yan: “…Why?”
As far as he knew, Zhang Deng always pursued thinness.
Zhang Deng said, "I just suddenly thought that having strength is the most important thing."
Liu Yan: "You can try rock climbing. I'll take you there."
Zhang Deng said, "No, I'm learning Muay Thai and don't have any extra time."
Zhang Deng was indeed a little fatter than before, his limbs were no longer frighteningly dry, and the gaps between his bones were slowly filled with flesh and blood. It seemed that his face was also rounder and not as gloomy as before.
Zhang Deng packed up and went downstairs with Liu Yan to go home for dinner. Liu Yan said that they could just drive a car. Zhang Deng refused at first, but Liu Yan told him that the evening rush hour was very congested at this time. Zhang Deng felt sick at the thought of having to brake and accelerate for more than an hour on the road, but he didn't want to have too much contact with Liu Yan.
Zhang Deng chose to take a taxi.
Liu Yan's car stopped next to his legs, the window rolled down, and Liu Yan said, "Are you sick? Zhang Deng?"
Zhang Deng said, "Yes."
Liu Yan was speechless again. He said, "Hurry up and get in the car."
Having such a high-profile car parked next to him only made him more eye-catching. Zhang Deng was indeed a little afraid that he would be featured on some marketing account tomorrow, so he finally sat in the back seat.
Liu Yan said: "That's where the leaders sit."
"Otherwise, put it down in front of me."
"Forget it," Liu Yan said, "I can't afford to offend just one or two of them."
Liu Yan looked through the rearview mirror and saw Zhang Deng didn't touch his phone. He looked at the sky outside which was gradually getting darker, as if he was thinking about something.
What are you thinking about? Liu Yan looked at the road ahead again, and for no reason he was also distracted.
It's at times like these that one truly feels the distance between two people growing. Even if you're sitting in the same space, you still can't tell what the other person is thinking.
When they arrived at the underground garage, Zhang Deng always felt that something unexpected might happen, and the result was just as expected.
When he got off the car, a car behind him honked and He Xiaoqiu got out of that car.
Zhang Deng, He Xiaoqiu and Liu Yan finally gathered together again, and in this underground garage again.
He Xiaoqiu glanced at Zhang Deng, then turned his gaze to Liu Yan. Liu Yan put his hands in his trouser pockets and touched his nose.
Zhang Deng said, "I don't accept being splashed with water."
He Xiaoqiu said, "Where can I get the water?"
"Maybe you have it in your pocket." Zhang Deng took a step back.
Liu Yan asked: "Did you come from home?"
"What else?" He Xiaoqiu turned and left without asking any more questions.
Seeing that the two had no intention of fighting, Zhang Deng also left. In the end, only Liu Yan and Zhang Deng were left. After watching the two leave, he had no choice but to follow them.
Zhang Deng and He Xiaoqiu went upstairs together. No one spoke in the elevator at first. He Xiaoqiu looked at Zhang Deng through the elevator door and suddenly said, "You've gained weight."
Zhang Deng said, "I'm building muscle."
"It doesn't look good." He Xiaoqiu said simply.
Zhang Deng simply said, "None of your business."
He Xiaoqiu: "Liu Yan came to you again? What a mean man."
"Why do you say that about your lover?" Zhang Deng said.
"We broke up a long time ago," He Xiaoqiu said again, "Stop changing the subject. Did he come to see you?"
Zhang Deng said, "Well, but I don't like him, so don't worry."
He Xiaoqiu said, "I know."
Zhang Deng glanced at He Xiaoqiu. The elevator was almost there. Before He Xiaoqiu walked out, he said, "Don't you like Wei Yuanye?"
Okay, okay, Zhang Deng thought, I must like someone today.
That’s still Wei Yuanye.
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