Chapter 009 – Odd Neighbor 08

Chapter 009 - Odd Neighbor 08

Yu Bai was lost in disbelief, unable to react for a long while.

"Little Yu? What's wrong?"

The psychiatrist across from him noticed his unusual expression. Her casual smile faded, replaced by genuine concern. Recalling what Yu Bai had just shared, she asked tactfully, "You mentioned the sound of pipes knocking... Do you remember how long it lasted? Could you describe it in more detail?"

This question was unexpected, foreign to his memory.

Upon hearing this, Yu Bai snapped back to reality.

A week ago on this day, he didn't want to trouble Dr. Chen, who was about to retire, with his absurd and supernatural tale. So, he had accepted it as a mere fabrication he had spun on the spot.

Following that, he would bid Dr. Chen an emotional farewell, present him with a retirement gift, take the bus home, only to disembark mid-journey due to an unbearable lovers' spat, walk back to his neighborhood, and coincidentally catch an elevator stopping at the first floor...

There, he would encounter his otherworldly neighbor for the very first time.

The sensation of the icy skin still lingered on his fingertips.

What had he said when he grabbed his non-human neighbor by the collar?

Either restore everything to how it was before.

Or, get out.

...Wait, restore everything to how it was?

Unconsciously, Yu Bai asked, "Was I here the whole time?"

As he reached for his backpack beside him.

"Hmm?" Doctor Chen, who had finally waited for him to speak, froze in surprise. The concern in his eyes deepened, and his voice softened even more, "You were right here. We were having a chat."

The gift box lay obediently inside the backpack, yet to be given away, still tied with a bow he had personally tied.

At this moment, Yu Bai finally confirmed what was happening before his eyes.

He had genuinely returned to the past.

A complete restoration, as if nothing had ever happened.

...

While correcting mistakes promptly was commendable, wasn't this action a bit too hasty?

Couldn't they have informed him beforehand before reversing time?!!

He was utterly unprepared!

Yu Bai released a complicated sigh of relief, too preoccupied to dwell on the subtle sense of unease in his heart—the final gaze they shared seemed to suggest that even the lake's ashen-blue surface wasn't prepared for the upheaval.

But he didn't have the luxury of pondering over details just yet, for Doctor Chen before him had already adopted an expression Yu Bai knew all too well.

After his father's unexpected passing, it was this same Doctor Chen who had been assigned to provide psychological counseling, gazing at young primary schooler Yu Bai with such a look.

An affectionate and caring demeanor, full of cautious tenderness, ready to catch his mental breakdown at any moment.

"..." Yu Bai recollected his earlier behavior, attempting to make amends. "I'm sorry, Doctor Chen. I was just momentarily distracted."

"That's alright," Dr. Chen replied softly. "Do you need a break? Or should we continue our conversation? I'm quite curious about those peculiar phenomena you mentioned."

Don't be curious.

The underlying reasons were too overwhelming for an ordinary person.

Yu Bai composed himself and wore a relaxed smile. "Did I scare you, Doctor Chen?"

"Hmm? Why do you say that?"

"Because I was startled too." Yu Bai's eyes lit up with excitement. "I just thought of an incredibly interesting story, and I can't wait to write it down!"

Dr. Chen fell silent for a moment.

Then, with a probing gaze, he studied Yu Bai.

Forcing himself to proceed, Yu Bai said, "How about using our previous conversation as the opening? I find it intriguing... I'll definitely show it to you when I finish, or perhaps even send it to you."

Apologies, his acting skills weren't that great.

After all, he was just a third-rate magazine writer longing for a peaceful life, unsure why he was entangled in such bizarre twists and turns.

It took Yu Bai quite some time to convince Dr. Chen that his outburst was due to an overwhelming surge of inspiration, not insanity.

Following the ritual, he presented the gift - a heavy, intricately crafted ceramic angel nestled in a square box.

"Congratulations on your retirement," Yu Bai said, suppressing a myriad of emotions as he eagerly embraced Dr. Chen. "Thank you for everything over the years."

"And there's still a gift—oh?"

Dr. Chen, caught off guard by the embrace, hadn't managed to shed tears of gratitude before laughter escaped her.

She reached up to pat Yu Bai's head affectionately. "You, child, are acting so strangely today."

Sincerely, Yu Bai replied, "No, I'm just too happy."

"Is that so?" Dr. Chen chuckled even more, playfully teasing, "Happy that I'm finally retiring and won't bother you anymore?"

"Of course not!"

"Alright, alright, not at all." Amidst their farewell embrace, Dr. Chen chuckled and patted his back. "I think even after retirement, I'll miss you dearly."

"Little Yu, remember to call me when you have time. Don't feel like you're bothering me."

The young man leaning on her shoulder replied with a slightly subdued tone, "I will."

This time, it was Yu Bai who felt a hint of nasal congestion.

Perhaps it was because the return to normalcy was too touching.

After bidding Dr. Chen goodbye, Yu Bai left on his own.

He bypassed the elevators in the building and deliberately took the stairs instead.

At least for this exceptionally special day, he wouldn't be taking any elevators.

This was the true manifestation of post-elevator accident trauma.

Descending the stairs, Yu Bai dialed a number on his phone.

He waited for quite some time before the call connected.

"Hello?" The familiar voice came through, slightly breathless, "I was just doing deadlifts – what's up, Little Bai? Do you need something?"

"Mm-hmm, something came up," Yu Bai replied. "Do you want to eat watermelon?"

"Watermelon?" Yan Jing sounded surprised, then hesitated, "I guess I do… but they're high in sugar and carbs. Can't have too much, I'm preparing for a competition."

"I saw an enormous watermelon, as big as a yoga ball."

"Damn, seriously?!" Yan Jing exclaimed without hesitation, "I'll eat it! Where are you? I'll come right now!"

The recognizable straightforwardness, yet no recognition of the watermelon clue.

Seemed like he was the only one with memories from the past.

Well, that was for the best, considering his stronger resilience compared to most people.

As long as he forgets this memory, the world will return to normal.

Yu Bai let out a sigh of relief and adopted a detached tone. "Oh, I must have misread the situation. It was actually a yoga ball painted to look like a watermelon."

"What?" Yan Jing tried to grasp his meaning. "What strange object are you talking about?"

"Yes, a strange object. No idea who came up with it." Yu Bai changed the subject. "I was wondering if I could stay at your place for two days. Would that be okay?"

"Sure thing! Just the other day, Mom was saying how renting a place isn't ideal and that you should come back home. She misses you so much. Oh, did she call you?"

"No," replied Yu Bai, though he was already aware of these matters. "I just miss Auntie too."

"..." Yan Jing gasped. "I think Mom would be thrilled to hear that, but honestly, it's giving me the chills."

"Little Bai, are you alright? Are you sick? Or were you kidnapped? Could this be some kind of code?! Oh gosh, what should I do right now—"

Yu Bai coldly interrupted his panic. "I'm fine, but I need to go. Goodbye."

"Alright, as long as you're okay!" Yan Jing's relief was palpable. "Then hurry over, and we can play arcade games after I finish work. See you tonight!"

"See you tonight."

As Yu Bai hung up the call, he stepped out of the dimly lit stairwell and left the building, finally encountering the bustling and noisy street.

He also spotted the four crew-cut men in floral shirts, who were huddled together pretending to play cards under the eaves across the street.

At that moment, they halted their actions and looked up at him in unison.

It was a rather familiar sight.

Yu Bai calmly met their gaze.

Then, he slowly extended his hand and greeted them amiably.

"Good afternoon."

Qiang, with the scar on his face, led with an astonished expression.

Before the bodyguards could speak, Yu Bai took the initiative to approach them, "I have a favor to ask of you."

"Whatever you say, Young Master Yu!"

"Don't call me that."

"Alright, Young Master Yu! What can we assist you with?"

"I'm planning to move."

Yu Bai instructed his bodyguards to gather his belongings from home, temporarily relocating to Yan Jing's place. He specifically told them to avoid the elevator on the left.

If they encounter a middle-aged man in a POLO shirt with a beer belly rushing towards the elevator with a fragrant plastic bag, they were to stop him from entering.

Yu Bai was still grateful for Master Wang's soundproofing, even though they hadn't met yet.

Assuming nothing unexpected happened, the faulty elevator would stop its freefall before any real danger occurred. Nevertheless, it was better to avoid the scare altogether.

Not only would he not take any elevators today, but he also had no intention of ever returning to that neighborhood - not just today, but in the future as well.

Yu Bai aimed to sever all possibilities of ever encountering that enigmatic non-human again.

He couldn't squander the miraculous second chance at time.

Qiang didn't question Yu Bai's peculiar request; instead, he eagerly replied, "We'll take care of it right away!"

"Thank you for your trouble."

Looking at these familiar faces, Yu Bai suddenly added earnestly, "This shirt looks quite nice."

The corners of the colorful shirt danced in the persistent breeze.

Qiang was about to reflexively say 'you're welcome,' stating it was their duty. However, upon hearing Yu Bai's compliment, he instinctively exchanged glances with his companions before rubbing his head bashfully, "I'm glad you think it's not ugly."

Under the dim yellow streetlights, Yan Jing, sitting in front of an arcade game, scratched his head in confusion, "So, where do you plan on staying after this?"

The two muscular figures on the screen had frozen mid-action.

Yu Bai said, "I haven't decided whether to rent or buy another place yet."

"Oh, take your time then. You can keep staying with me if you want! But why did you suddenly decide to move out? Was there really a ghost haunting that neighborhood?"

"There were things worse than ghosts," Yu Bai hinted. "You'd better not enter that area in the future."

"Are you serious? I'll definitely avoid it next time." Yan Jing looked intrigued. "What happened to you while you were living there?"

"It's better if you don't know," Yu Bai mused. "But I guess I missed an opportunity to make you an overnight millionaire."

After revisiting the past, he couldn't help but regret one thing.

Nothing major had occurred in the world during this week, but numerous insignificant events kept happening consistently.

He never paid attention to lottery tickets before, fearing any extravagant dramas might happen to him.

If he could recall the winning numbers of any lottery ticket sold within this week, he would have given them to Yan Jing's family.

"What are you talking about?"

Yan Jing froze, noticing that Yu Bai had no intention of continuing. His gaze swept over and caught sight of the joystick not firmly gripped in Yu Bai's hand.

So his fingers moved swiftly.

The muscle-bound character belonging to Yu Bai suddenly collapsed, pounded relentlessly by a barrage of punches.

A vibrant "KO" instantly popped up on the old arcade screen.

"Hey, I won!" Yan Jing immediately forgot their unfinished conversation, poking him wildly with his elbow. "C'mon, little puppy, one more round!"

"..."

Well, it wasn't so bad forgetting the lottery numbers after all.

Yu Bai promptly clenched the joystick and dove back into the game, the arcade's cheerful music resuming once again.

Since Yan Jing had the next day off, the two of them played arcade games and then computer games all night, just like they used to when they were kids.

As the first light of dawn began to filter through the window, the sleep-deprived Yu Bai felt drowsiness wash over him. Both he and Yan Jing let out a simultaneous yawn before heading back to their respective rooms to catch some shut-eye.

What a lovely day it is today, he mused drowsily, content with his current existence. Gradually, the world before him descended into a tranquil darkness.

When Yu Bai awoke again, his head spun as if he had been tossed around in a washing machine countless times.

He opened his eyes, the bright sunlight enveloping his vision, and beneath him was a sinking sensation more tender than any mattress.

Familiar words reached his ears.

"It seems this move has really affected your work..."

Yu Bai shot up instantly, blurting out, "Damn it!"

Doctor Chen's words caught in her throat, and she looked at him in astonishment. "Eh?"

They locked eyes, each studying the other's reaction.

In the corner of his vision, the warm afternoon sunlight through the window still appeared as beautiful as ever.

Yet, he had seen this exact scene yesterday, even a week ago.

Yu Bai couldn't spare a moment to respond to Dr. Chen's concern; it took him several minutes to digest the absurd reality.

He had somehow returned to the fateful day, the source of all misfortune.

This was the day before he angrily confronted his inhuman neighbor by grabbing their collar.

Oh, no... :/

It seemed that he had not merely traveled back in time.

He might be trapped in the past.

... He should have known that the peculiar guy who copied his notes and flower cultivation couldn't possibly be that normal!

Five minutes later, the sound of a raucous motorcycle engine echoed abruptly in the street beside the building.

A man with a knife scar on his face, his buzz cut hair neatly combed, gripped the motorcycle handlebars with solemnity. He revved the engine to its maximum, carrying a pale-skinned young man in black-rimmed glasses on the backseat. Strands of shimmering brown hair escaped the edge of his helmet.

Amidst the high-speed rush, the corners of the floral-print shirt fluttered wildly in the wind.

Twenty minutes later, in the quiet apartment building, passing residents would glance curiously in a particular direction.

A stoic young man stood by the elevator, seemingly awaiting something.

Yu Bai rushed back to the neighborhood at top speed. After hammering on the door of room 1204 to no avail, he returned to the first floor.

He couldn't recall how long it had taken him to return home that fateful week prior, nor could he pinpoint the exact moment he first encountered his inhuman neighbor.

By staking out the area ahead of time, he was bound to catch sight of "the person."

After an indeterminate period, Yu Bai's vision was finally graced by the figure he would never forget, even in death.

In the distance, another middle-aged man, carrying a plastic bag, hurried toward them.

Wang Jianbin, who ran a hardware store, had spent a busy day at work. He treated himself to steaming fried chicken, kebabs, and spicy noodles, planning to indulge in a well-deserved feast at home.

The elevator had just stopped at the ground floor, and he was eager to get home.

But it seemed that an unexpected incident had occurred.

A tall man walking ahead of him was about to step into the lift when he was abruptly blocked by a fair-skinned young man with brown hair.

The young man was handsome but his face was contorted with suppressed anger, his voice tinged with gritted teeth. "From now on, where you live is none of my concern," he spat out. "Let me through!"

The dark-haired man, caught off guard, turned his head slightly, following the other's gaze as if to check if there was anyone else behind him.

As he turned, his gray-blue eyes, resembling winter lake water, came into view, revealing a hint of confusion.

"Why are you looking at them? Look at me!" the fair-skinned brunet exclaimed, more agitated. "I'm talking to you!"

Upon hearing this, the blue-eyed man actually turned his gaze back to him.

The elevator stood still, and the three of them stood rigidly outside its metal doors, an awkward tension hanging in the air.

Wang Jianbin had entirely forgotten about going home and couldn't help but pause to join the onlookers, secretly marveling inwardly, "Wow..."

There was even a foreigner among the main characters!