Chapter 26: Doomed 02

Chapter 26: Doomed 02

Yu Bai, lost in thought, remained silent for a long while, leaving the room shrouded in pure stillness.

The clock on the wall ticked incessantly, its seconds marking the inevitable passage of time that would lead to the eventual demise of all things.

Yet, he had received something that was absolutely inconceivable as eternal for a human being.

...If only it didn't contain his reckless escapades around the world and his meddling with non-human beings.

A precious gift that could only be used once, why did it have to be spent on this?!

Yu Bai's current state of mind was more chaotic than when he first broke free from the loop.

It was clear to anyone that the emotions on his face were far from simple joy.

After a long silence, Xie Wufang softly asked, "You don't like it?"

His question carried a tone of genuine curiosity, as if he was merely seeking understanding.

Yet, as Yu Bai gazed into Li Nanxiao's tranquil eyes, he instantly recalled that moonlit night in the quiet neighborhood, where Li Nanxiao had thanked their chance encounter with a neighbor on his behalf for the gift.

Li Nanxiao had said, "I heard you gave something to Little Bai. It's his first time receiving a gift from a neighbor. He really likes it. Thank you."

Upon hearing this polite greeting, the unknown neighbor's eyes had suddenly lit up. The hint of melancholy that had lingered by the lakeside seemed to have transformed into fireflies wandering into a forest, leaving behind only a subtle smile.

Yu Bai retrospectively realized something.

After receiving the gift himself, having just confirmed that his next-door neighbor was not human, his emotions had been a jumbled mess. As a result, he had simply picked up the small ball and shut the door without turning back, giving no response, let alone expressing gratitude.

Was the sudden melancholy that overtook him that night because he didn't like the gift?

Yu Bai took a deep breath.

Had this fellow possessed the mundane, jet-black eyes of a native human, he wouldn't have been able to recall those fleeting moments with such clarity.

This exquisite and distinctively clear shade of grayish blue is simply too, too, breathtakingly exquisite.

It's all because of the blue!

"I don't dislike it." Yu Bai struggled for a moment before speaking rather awkwardly, "It's a very precious gift... Thank you."

The thought of the countless memories swirling within it made it impossible for him to genuinely say that he liked it.

Yu Bai wasn't sure if Xie Wufang could sense his insincerity, but he could see that the man was looking at him.

—Staring at him, as if glued to the sofa, and at the gift buried beneath the cushion.

Yu Bai hesitated once more.

The night light diffused a quiet, yellowish glow over the blue fabric.

He began to slowly rise from the sofa, simultaneously observing the other person's reaction with caution.

The man in the white shirt didn't display any particular expression.

The small ball still nestled beneath the cushion didn't show any sign of flying towards him either.

Probably safe for now?

A tranquil, subdued voice sounded promptly.

"I don't sense any more memories. It seems to have gone into a closed-off state, as if it's digesting something."

Please don't describe it like an egg hatching!

Yu Bai heaved a sigh of relief undetected, slowly straightening up while maintaining a composed "oh."

Xie Wufang was clearly on the verge of speaking but held back.

...Alright, he knew his attempt at hiding his concern was clumsy.

Anticipating the other's response, Yu Bai interrupted, "Focus on controlling yourself right now. Don't lose concentration."

The man appeared slightly perplexed. "What?"

In the next moment, he saw a young man with brown hair approaching him hastily.

Immediately after, a scorching heat spread across his shoulder.

Yu Bai placed his hand on the non-human neighbor's shoulder, attempting to gently push him out of the house while speaking hastily, "You should head back home, I'm going to sleep!"

His palm immediately touched the other's icy cold temperature, even through the thin fabric of their clothing, it was distinctly palpable.

A human's warmth far exceeded that of his kind, making it all too easy to give away his secret.

Yu Bai wanted to convey this to Xie Wufang, but ultimately held his tongue.

As he nudged the man towards the door, he softly continued, "You don't have to wear a white shirt, you can actually wear anything you like. A white shirt is just a common suggestion, not the only option. You can opt for different styles or even shirts of different colors."

Miraculously, he managed to push the man, whose strength surpassed his, out of his home.

In the hallway where two elongated shadows intertwined, Yu Bai released his grip and lowered his gaze, murmuring, "...Anyway, you've always disliked white."

So, please, no more white shirts.

Until the door clicked shut, Yu Bai refrained from observing the man's reaction.

But then again, it was unlikely that a non-human could decipher the intricate, veiled implications in human words.

Yu Bai leaned against the door, the unseen hallway behind him unusually quiet. The night view reflected in the window before him was serene, no longer resembling a mirrored lake as before.

Before his eyes lay an utterly ordinary world.

Yet, leaning against the cold door, Yu Bai let out an inexplicable sigh.

After a moment of reverie, he walked to the sofa and finally retrieved the small ball that had been hidden beneath a cushion.

The once uniformly grayish-white, smooth sphere now shimmered with a deep blue hue. It still felt chilly to the touch, but not as light as before.

It was evident that something was contained within, though not heavy, like a gift box holding an enigmatic treasure.

Staring at the ball that served as a testament to his deeds, Yu Bai felt an urge to punch it in frustration.

He forcefully restrained himself.

What if he accidentally broke the shell and released the memories?

In the tranquil living room, Yu Bai sat on the sofa with a furrowed brow, still grappling with the lingering questions in his mind.

In this timeline, he had possessed the gift for a week without any anomalies occurring. It seemed to align more with Uncle Li's assumption, resembling a postmodern minimalist decoration.

Why did it change color tonight and preserve his memory?

Moreover, Yu Bai recalled that in the only loop where he received the orb, he thought he briefly saw it turn black. But he couldn't be sure if it was just an illusion, considering he hadn't slept all night then and might have mistaken what he saw due to fatigue.

What was he doing at that time?

While Yu Bai was deep in thought, his phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated.

It was Yan Jing calling.

As soon as Yu Bai answered, Yan Jing's excited voice came through: "Little Bai, I sent you so many messages, why haven't you replied? Are you alright? Did you get home safely?"

This was Yu Bai's first conversation with an ordinary human living in regular time since escaping that endless day.

For a moment, he felt slightly disoriented.

Hearing that familiar and comforting voice, Yu Bai couldn't help but feel...

Well, he didn't exactly feel the nostalgia of a long-awaited reunion.

After all, he often sought out Yan Jing in his loop, even dining together at a hotpot restaurant just an hour ago, witnessing the other's foolishness as he mistakenly believed he was poisoned by mushrooms.

"I'm home. I forgot to tell you," Yu Bai glanced at his phone screen filled with unread messages. "Why did you send me so many messages? What's going on?"

From the other end came a distant voice as Yan Jing turned to speak to someone nearby. "Mom, did you hear that? Little Bai is home. He's fine. With Brother Qiang and the others around, nothing bad could happen."

Mrs. Yan's relieved voice faded away. "Alright, alright, then I'll be at ease. You carry on your conversation. Oh, I need to call my friend too..."

"Go ahead, go ahead." Yan Jing turned back to Yu Bai, exaggerating his tone. "The world is about to end, and you're asking me what's wrong! Didn't you see it?"

Yu Bai hadn't seen the end of the world but a blue orb that might symbolize his personal doomsday.

Damn blue.

"..." He rubbed his forehead, forcing himself to look away, responding, "What world's end?"

"That blue sky just now, it reflected the ground below! The internet is buzzing with theories – some say it's a global mirage, a sign of the apocalypse, or that our sky is a glass dome because Earth is just a toy for higher-dimensional aliens... All sorts of conspiracy theories, chaos everywhere. People are even lining up at banks to withdraw their money!"

"I lean towards the doomsday theory, mainly because I don't want to go to work tomorrow, and neither do my parents. Working is such a bother." Yan Jing spoke, then asked, "Did you really not see it? Were you busy writing?"

Yu Bai had, of course, seen it.

Not only that, but he might have been the only human who knew the true reason.

It wasn't an optical illusion, nor was it the end of the world or a high-dimensional plaything.

It was simply because, when he grabbed Xie Wufang's collar, his fingertips accidentally brushed against the man's skin.

To be honest, the first three explanations sounded more convincing.

"I was occupied and didn't pay attention," Yu Bai attempted to change the subject. "Why did you need to withdraw cash from the bank?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe it's for an escape in case of an alien invasion?" Yan Jing pondered. "Should I also get some?"

Confused, Yu Bai replied, "If we're already toys in an alien's glass jar, would running away even make a difference? And nowadays, everything's done through mobile payments. They might not even have change for cash."

"True, there'll be long queues at the bank now. Forget it." Yan Jing agreed, then remembered something. "Oh, right, the guy who lives next to you…"

He lowered his voice mysteriously, "He's learning to write notes and tend flowers like you. He must quite enjoy having you as a neighbor, don't you think? Should you ask him if he can help humans if aliens really do invade?"

Don't even bother. This guy is the root of all problems.

"Relax, there won't be any alien invasions," Yu Bai reassured him casually, then asked, "My water pipe is leaking. Can I stay at your place for a couple of days?"

"Sure! Why didn't you say so earlier? You just had dinner at my place and now you're coming back. It's such a hassle."

"It just started leaking."

As they spoke, Yu Bai glanced at the blue orb in a pensive manner.

He was still sorting out his jumbled emotions, and he also feared that the thin wall wouldn't prevent memory transmission. So, he decided to run away for a couple of days.

"How did it leak? Should I get my dad to fix it for you?"

"No need, your dad won't be able to fix it. I'll find someone later."

"Oh, then remember to turn off the main valve before you leave." As Yan Jing spoke, he couldn't help but chuckle. "Even my mom is on the phone with her friend discussing tonight's reflection in the sky, yet here we are talking about pipes."

Yan Jing spoke with deep emotion, "I was actually a bit scared at first, but chatting with you made me forget. You're really calm, Little Bai."

Yu Bai had already started packing the small balls. "Because the reflection in the sky was my doing."

Yan Jing burst into laughter. "Hahaha, you're quite humorous."

Yu Bai couldn't bring himself to laugh. He replied indifferently, "Haha."

Noticing the unusual tone in his voice, Yan Jing suddenly felt a twinge of fear. "...You can't be serious, right?!"

An hour later, Yu Bai returned to his house.

He carried a large suitcase, but it only contained a couple of clothes and some daily essentials. The rest of the space was occupied by a large rectangular box.

Seeing Yu Bai carefully remove the big box and place it on the table, even declining Yan Jing's eager assistance, Yan Jing unexpectedly felt a hint of nervousness for some reason.

He instinctively held his breath as he watched Yu Bai open the box with extraordinary caution. Prepared mentally, he leaned in to take a look.

Then, he saw that the box was filled with...

Another square box.

Yan Jing was a bit perplexed. Soon after, he witnessed Yu Bai's solemn expression as he opened this box with care.

He held his breath again.

Inside was yet another square box.

...

A minute later, Yan Jing yawned as he looked at the scattering of empty boxes of various sizes on the floor. "I'm getting sleepy. Is this some new hypnotic technique?"

Yu Bai, who had reached the last small box, had been observing Yan Jing's reactions all along.

He picked up the tiny blue ball inside and slowly approached Yan Jing, asking, "Do you sense anything?"

"What kind of sensation?" Yan Jing was baffled, trying to guess, "Are you going to throw it for me to fetch? That wouldn't be appropriate, I am human, you know."

It seemed that ordinary people like Yan Jing couldn't perceive whatever was inside the boxes.

Yu Bai's mood improved slightly, preparing to return the ball to its box.

"Never mind, forget I asked."

Yan Jing's face betrayed his surprise.

Curiosity sparked in him as he studied his friend, who seemed strangely off tonight.

"I thought your box contained something incredible. Yet, after all these nested boxes, it turns out to be just a small ball. Why on earth would you bring a ball to my house in the middle of the night..."

At this point, Yan Jing had a sudden epiphany.

He blurted out, "Could this be what they mean by 'running with the ball'?"

In the next second, he witnessed Yu Bai's previously composed expression freeze, as if he had been triggered. Yu Bai retorted defensively, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

Yan Jing's eyes widened, wanting to speak but stopping, then starting again only to hesitate.

"Woah," he exclaimed, "You're quite worked up, aren't you?"