Chapter 122
Xie Xubai: "...?"
The meeting had just ended, and the solemn and tidy conference room was bustling with people. The hospital management did not leave immediately, but gathered to discuss and deliberate on potential material losses, departmental zoning, staff allocation, and other issues that might arise during the expansion process.
On either side of the square table were industry bigwigs hired at high salaries and proud experts with rich experience and outstanding abilities, some standing and some sitting.
Surrounded by these powerful figures, the young Xie Xubai spoke eloquently and calmly. These powerful figures did not subdue him; on the contrary, they subtly presented themselves as leaders.
The sunlight streaming through the window slanted across Xie Xubai's profile, illuminating his calm and composed features.
Yan Shuo, whose consciousness merged with the gold-rimmed glasses, was initially focused on the small black octopus that suddenly appeared on the windowsill, but gradually, he was also drawn to the young man's unusual demeanor.
The captivating essence of that aura remains unchanged; it simply transforms over time, like a fine wine buried underground, exuding a rich and unique aroma with a lingering aftertaste.
The others noticed Xie Xubai's pause and asked in confusion, "Vice Dean, what's wrong?"
Xie Xubai snapped out of his daze: "It's alright. I roughly understand your needs. Have someone organize these meeting minutes and put them in my office. I'll discuss the details with the dean later."
He bid farewell to everyone, left the meeting room, and met the little black octopus in a secluded garden.
In that short time, Yan Shuo also took the opportunity to learn about the experiences of the man with the gold-rimmed glasses.
In addition, he also learned the ultimate reason why the clone had deliberately brought Xie Xubai to this timeline.
—It wasn't just to help Xie Xubai change Pei Yuheng's fate, but also because the glasses revealed his own destiny.
To outsiders, this inevitable process of fate may seem unbearable and thankless, but Glasses finds it sweet.
This feeling was reflected back to Yan Shuo himself, and a strange taste spread all the way to the back of his tongue, a bittersweet flavor.
The little black octopus also noticed that Xie Xubai's gold-rimmed glasses had changed, gaining a familiar power.
But like Yan Shuo, although it was aware of "its" existence, it did not feel close to it. Instead, it frowned and felt that "it" was a bit of a nuisance.
Since Xie Xubai was still there, it indifferently dismissed any scrutiny of Yan Shuo.
The little black octopus stared at him with a cold, indifferent expression, its bright red, beady eyes appearing exceptionally sincere due to its focused attention.
Xie Xubai found it difficult to speak.
The one who went to kiss him was Xiao Xubai. Because of the gold-rimmed glasses' messy description, he thought that he had punched the little black octopus when he was a child.
It wasn't until the little black octopus reappeared, showing no hostility or anger, and wholeheartedly helped him absorb the players' faith, that Xie Xubai suddenly began to suspect that he might have misunderstood something.
But to his surprise, the actual situation was completely different from what he had misunderstood.
It wasn't a fight, it was a kiss.
So why did he kiss the little black octopus?
The little black octopus is different from the little tentacles. The little tentacles simply see kisses as a way of showing affection, like the kisses between friends and family.
The little black octopus inherits primal animalistic instincts and monstrous thinking, much like Yan Shuo himself. A hasty kiss might be misinterpreted as a courtship signal. If it turns its back on you, how is that any different from starting something and then abandoning it?
Under the little black octopus's unwavering gaze, he felt a chill run down his spine, but calmly explained, "It must be a misunderstanding. I was quite mischievous and clingy when I was little."
The little black octopus immediately denied it: "No, I've seen human babies being mischievous."
As it spoke, a tentacle extended, pointing to a certain part of its body: "You not only kissed this spot, but you also called out my name."
Did you call out their names?
Yan Shuo slowly straightened his back in his office chair, his brows furrowed.
"Yan Shuo" is not an alias, but ordinary people cannot recognize the names of gods. When they pronounce "Yan Shuo," they are merely making the sound. Only when a god specifically allows a person to recognize their true name can the power contained within that name be activated.
What truly disturbed and shocked Yan Shuo was that a true name could, in turn, control the gods, and would never be easily revealed unless one trusted them to the point of entrusting their life to them.
— Xie Xubai even knows his real name?
The key question is whether Xie Xubai knew that kissing the evil god's heart and calling out his real name was a marriage proposal.
This is a very serious question, and President Yan fell into deep thought.
Xie Xubai, the person involved, was naturally unaware of these intricacies. Seeing the little black octopus's serious demeanor, he even considered having the gold-rimmed glasses call out Xie Xubai to clean up the mess he had created.
Perhaps sensing that Xie Xubai had no recollection of shrinking, the little black octopus paused, then suddenly pointed at the gold-rimmed glasses: "Then would you kiss it? If so, why?"
Xie Xubai: "..."
Instead of denying it directly as usual, he unusually reached out to touch the gold-rimmed glasses, then froze in mid-air.
Xie Xubai pursed his lips and fell into a long silence.
Sensing the young man's struggling and heavy heart, the little black octopus tilted its head and did not ask any further questions.
Its emotions were as indifferent as water, observing all the people and things in the world with a detached indifference, several times more indifferent than Yan Shuo, unable to stir up the slightest ripple.
At this moment, only Xiao Xubai's kiss, devoid of any ulterior motives and filled with a clean and bright smile, puzzled it.
Although it couldn't get an answer from Xie Xubai, it didn't get angry. It planned to return to the deep sea and continue its slumber.
God's time is long enough that it can grant infinite patience, and one day when Little Xubai is born, it will personally go and ask for the answer.
The little black octopus left indifferently, but Yan Shuo was aroused by a strong sense of curiosity and thirst for knowledge.
He even considered telling Xie Xubai directly that his consciousness was projected onto the gold-rimmed glasses, and that he could turn Xie Xubai into Little Xubai in a matter of minutes to answer their questions.
But after Xie Xubai unconsciously touched the frame of the glasses, Yan Shuo suddenly gave up the idea of being honest.
In the past, Xie Xubai was always on edge in front of him, constantly on guard.
Gold-rimmed glasses, however, receive a different treatment.
Xie Xubai would bring warm water, dampen a tissue, and carefully clean the frame. When the glasses were extended from the temples, he would lower his eyes and smile gently, a glimmer of light in his eyes.
Even if it suddenly had a mischievous idea and used the temple of its glasses to tease Xie Xubai's soft earlobe, the young man could only sigh helplessly, pinch its tentacle and move it aside, and scold it lightly: "Stop messing around."
If it continues to cause trouble, Xie Xubai will simply hold it in his hand until the two-hour meeting ends.
As for whether Xie Xubai had taken a liking to gold-rimmed glasses, Yan Shuo thought it was not necessarily true.
The YMCA's kindness towards his alter ego likely stemmed from the goodwill they developed after sharing hardships. The gold-rimmed glasses' selfless help also earned him many points in Xie Xubai's heart.
In addition, a heavy sense of guilt always weighed on Xie Xubai's heart.
In order to help Pei Yuheng gain a foothold in the hospital, Xie Xubai stayed on this timeline for a long time.
During this time, he and Pei Yuheng worked together to take Zhou Chaosheng out of the Fu Group and used biochemical materials to create a body that could move freely for the ghost-like mentor.
The dormant law enforcement officers were placed by Xie Xubai in a regular, remote sanatorium equipped with an independent security system and under strict 24-hour surveillance.
Pei Yuheng, assuming the identity of Fu Zong, inherited the Fu Group and began a major overhaul of the group. Numerous dirty and sordid secrets were gradually exposed, shocking the media and the public!
The public was outraged and denounced the Fu Group. The group's business suffered a severe blow, and countless of its gray industries were forced to shut down and undergo rectification. Its cash flow economy plummeted, and it gradually became no match for the Jiang Group, which was at its peak. It withdrew from the public eye and disappeared completely, just like Xie Xubai's era.
Then a year passed, then two years...
The two worlds merged completely. The bloodstains faded from the floor tiles, the severed limbs and corpses disappeared, monsters mingled with the crowds, and the earth was tinged with new green.
The streets of the city are no longer littered with the devastation of the great disaster. Only towering buildings stand tall, and people, oblivious to the devastation, walk along the streets, some rushing about to make a living, others chatting and laughing, stopping and starting as they go.
Suddenly one day, Xie Xubai, who was dealing with hospital affairs, suddenly felt the repulsive force of time and space for the first time in a long time. His hand holding the pen was suspended in mid-air, and after a pause, he put it on the table.
Xie Xubai glanced at the calendar on his computer screen. In about half an hour, he would be born into this world. But he had to leave this time and space before that.
Xie Xubai went straight to the dean's office without saying goodbye to anyone.
Almost as soon as Pei Yuheng saw him, he subconsciously smiled, raised his eyebrows happily, and joked, "Oh, our vice dean has finally got some free time? It's not easy to see a busy person like you."
Compared to a few years ago, Pei Yuheng's face no longer shows any trace of his former naivety and aloofness. He speaks with elegance and composure, and his eyes are sharp and mature. When he stands there, he becomes the focus of attention that others cannot ignore.
"By the way, that sweet milk you've been craving, I've found the manufacturer through connections. They're just starting out and desperately need funds, so I simply invested in them. No need to wait for their products to hit the market; once they pass food safety inspections, I'll have a whole truckload delivered. You can drink as much as you want from now on."
Seeing Xie Xubai standing there silently without making any move, Pei Yuheng coughed heavily, picked up his teacup, and said casually, "Speaking of this brand that's going to be a huge hit, it actually started in an inconspicuous downtown area. The big boss is a fishmonger with no experience in developing beverages. And other businesses in the same industry have never even heard of him. It's really hard to find..."
"Hmm." Xie Xubai looked at him quietly and smiled calmly. "So many years later, some media still criticize it for being unhygienic, unsafe, and having a fishy smell, based on its origins. All sorts of unreasonable criticisms have emerged one after another, but it still doesn't affect its sales leading the way. It has become a well-known old brand and is loved by many people."
Pei Yuheng's lips twitched. This wasn't what he wanted to hear, but what else could he do but spoil his child? He shook his head and turned around: "Alright, regarding the medical security issue for impoverished patients, I've consulted with professionals again. If all goes well, it should be implemented within two months at most, with all the details..."
"Thank you," Xie Xubai said softly from behind. "Dad."
Pei Yuheng casually replied, "Hmm...hmm??"
He turned his head abruptly, his heart pounding with excitement, staring at Xie Xubai in disbelief, overwhelmed with joy, his voice trembling slightly: "What did you just call me?"
Xie Xubai shut his mouth, remaining quiet and looking at him with red eyes.
Seeing his expression, Pei Yuheng suddenly realized something, and the corners of his mouth, which had been turned up high, gradually turned down.
A brief silence fell over the office, the atmosphere heavy with tension. After a long pause, Pei Yuheng broke the silence, gazing intently at Xie Xubai, and asked softly, "You're leaving, aren't you?"
"Yes," Xie Xubai said, "a few more minutes."
"How many minutes are left..." Pei Yuheng glanced at the clock on the wall. He had countless instructions and worries in his mind. A few minutes was too short to say everything.
Finally, he walked up to Xie Xubai, ruffled the young man's hair, and earnestly instructed him: "Over the years, I have been a useless father, making you travel such a long and arduous journey to protect me. I... am very happy and touched. Even if your father is not by your side to remind you in the future, you must remember to rest more and combine work and rest to achieve twice the results with half the effort."
Xie Xubai nodded slightly.
Pei Yuheng looked at him earnestly and made a promise: "Don't be sad, Dad will come find you. No matter how long it takes, no matter how difficult it is, I will definitely find you."
"Okay." Xie Xubai smiled and said, "I'll wait for you to come pick me up."
Pei Yuheng adjusted quickly, his seemingly cold and serious expression vanishing, and he gestured with his eyes: "Say farewell a couple more times before parting?"
Xie Xubai: "..."
He pretended not to see Pei Yuheng's expectant gaze and took off his gold-rimmed glasses.
Judging from the scene where Pei Yuheng transforms into a ghoul in public and painfully spits out chunks of Fu Zong's flesh, it seems that his tragedy was already a predetermined dead end.
But Xie Xu racked his brains day and night, considering all available conditions, including himself, and suddenly discovered in his desperate situation that there was still a glimmer of hope.
That turning point was right in front of him.
The evil god who is in charge of bewitching and disrupting the natural order, even his clones are powerful enough to interfere with the operation of the instance and confuse other people's perceptions.
Xie Xubai took a deep breath to calm his turbulent emotions and looked at the gold-rimmed glasses in his hand.
“You once said that you would do anything for me if I just kissed you,” Xie Xubai said slowly. “This time, I want you to stay by Pei Yuheng’s side, create illusions, and interfere with his perception. Deceive him, deceive everyone around him, including me, and deceive this history.”
"Until now, I have traveled back to the future, more than twenty years in the future, to meet you."
Author's Note:
Thank you all for your love and patience! Love you all! This story will end when one more player travels to the future (over 20 years) and sees Xie Xubai in the hospital! I'm giving away 100 small red envelopes in this chapter, first come, first served!
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