Chapter 097: Dimension 04

Chapter 097: Dimension 04

Twenty minutes ago, at a certain location within the Shudian Film and Television Base.

After Yu Bai told Li Nanxiao that they would meet later and hung up the call, as the call interface suddenly went dark, the split-screen view in front of him disappeared along with it.

Staring at the now tranquil and transparent air, he spaced out for a moment, a faint smile involuntarily appearing in his eyes.

Actually, video calls were quite convenient.

Actually, animation mode was pretty fun.

—Just now, Uncle Li, who was usually smart and sharp, looked really funny with those chaotic lines swirling around his head.

Earlier, Xie Wufang, who often wore a puzzled expression, also looked hilarious with two question marks hovering above his head.

Despite the many questions yet to be answered, and the seemingly calm world around him potentially harboring hidden dangers, no trembling black lines representing fear appeared beside Yu Bai.

Instead, beside his light brown hair, which was warm and soft, small, brilliant flowers blossomed.

It must have been because the name of that animation was too cringey.

It was hard to stay serious.

Xie Wufang saw the fleeting flowers that appeared at the tips of his soft hair and then lowered his gaze to look into those eyes that were secretly smiling. He wore an expression of contemplation.

It was as if he was earnestly exploring and learning about the correlation between animation effects and human emotions.

He asked, "Are you feeling very good right now?"

"Huh?" Yu Bai was taken aback by the question. "I guess so, not very nervous."

However, in front of such a significant matter, he should still be more serious.

After all…

Stupid humans are doomed! Tomorrow, they will become the souls under the command of an alien prince!

The smile in Yu Bai's eyes deepened as he cleared his throat and tried to think. "Uncle Li has already gone ahead to find the boss lady, we don't need to rush over there too quickly. Let me think if there's anything else we've overlooked…"

The man beside him was also lost in thought.

Xie Wufang said, "So, flowers represent feeling good."

"Eh?" Yu Bai asked.

"Just now, there were flowers blooming beside your hair," Xie Wufang explained to him seriously. "They were golden flowers, very small, suddenly blooming and then disappearing."

Yu Bai froze for a moment, subconsciously turning to look at the glass door.

In the instant that his figure was vaguely reflected in the smooth mirror, several bright golden flowers blossomed at the ends of his hair again.

…Perhaps it was because Xie Wufang described the scene of the flowers blooming with such a serious tone.

Yet, his voice was completely opposite to the content, deep and magnetic.

Humans shamefully found it adorable.

Maybe this was what they called the charm of contrast.

No wonder it was an animated world.

…

Enough! Be serious!

The human with flowers constantly blooming beside his head struggled to hold back his laughter, self-hypnotizing himself. "Alright, let's get down to business—"

"Mm." Xie Wufang, who had learned a lesson, nodded slightly and picked up where he left off. "Is there anything else we've overlooked?"

"Hmm, let me think. We've finished shooting all the scenes we were supposed to play together. The director added our contact information, and some agents handed us their business cards, which I took first…"

Yu Bai earnestly recalled the bits and pieces that happened long ago in this timeline.

"Anyway, I didn't directly agree to anything back then, since there wouldn't be a future anyway, so I don't think there's anything left that needs to be dealt with properly."

Compared to returning to the moment when they fled hand in hand outside the police station, this timeline was much less troublesome.

At least for now.

"Oh right, Ah Qiang and the others came over with me, insisting on protecting me."

Yu Bai remembered something and glanced at a crew that was filming nearby, unable to suppress his amusement. "As a result, they were also chosen to be extras, and they're having a great time. Several crews are fighting over them, I think they should act instead of being my bodyguards."

Under the scorching sun, a group of burly men dressed in floral shirts blocked the path of the female lead with cold expressions. The leader, with a scar on his face, remained expressionless, his arm muscles bulging, his rough hands clenched into fists, slamming fiercely against the wall.

The fist was unscathed.

The wall nearly gave way.

The female lead, surrounded, and the prop teacher watching from the side simultaneously drew in a frightened breath.

Even the agile male lead, who was supposed to come to her rescue, couldn't help but shudder.

These people didn't seem to be acting at all.

…Where did these guys find real gangsters?

"I'll send a message to Ah Qiang, telling them to keep playing," Yu Bai picked up his phone again. "Then we'll head back to the city. There's a direct bus from the base entrance to near our neighborhood, and it's just about to leave. It's more convenient than taking a taxi."

"Alright."

As Xie Wufang watched him typing with his head down, he suddenly remembered something and asked, "Are you looking for Yan Jing?"

"Eh?" A question mark popped up above Yu Bai's head. "Why would I look for him?"

"When we returned from the previous timeline, he complained that you didn't invite him to go to the park with us."

Upon hearing this, Yu Bai pondered for a while before remembering.

Yan Jing did say something like that.

But at that time, his mind was preoccupied with the shock of everyone regaining their memories from that timeline, leaving no room for such trivial details.

Xie Wufang remembered it so clearly.

As clear as global warming.

...Don't misuse your photographic memory like that!!

"Not right now," Yu Bai honestly shook his head. "If there's a need later, I'll find him then."

Although Yan Jing would believe whatever he said, no matter how absurd it might be.

But since he hadn't fully figured out the situation himself, he didn't want to drag anyone else into it for the time being.

Moreover, in this magical animated world filled with special effects, even without seeking out Yan Jing, the guy would probably have a great time on his own.

Yu Bai spoke casually, sending his messages without pause. He lifted his head, about to call out to Xie Wufang to return to the city together: "Little Xie, let's go—"

In a blink, he caught sight of a fleeting golden flower beside the dark hair.

Huh?

Another question mark appeared above Yu Bai's head as he blinked in confusion.

Were those the little golden flowers that represented a good mood?

Why was Xie Wufang suddenly in such a good mood?

...Or was it just the intense midday sun playing tricks on his eyes?

Before Yu Bai could think further, Xie Wufang calmly agreed, "Let's go."

His voice was as usual, calm.

With a hint of unmasked joy.

Well, he really was in a good mood.

Yu Bai didn't understand the reason.

Perhaps it was because Xie Wufang also found this world entertaining.

After all.

Foolish humans, you're doomed —

Under the radiant early summer sun, the two walked side by side toward the entrance of the film base. Beyond the reach of their vision, golden flowers occasionally bloomed at the tips of their hair.

A tall, thin, ordinary-looking man who was making a phone call nearby caught a glimpse of these two figures out of the corner of his eye.

He paused, quickly saying to the person on the other end of the line, "I won't talk anymore, something came up suddenly. We'll chat later."

"No, no, what happened Xiao Ming? Did that troublemaker you're handling cause another fuss?"

"It's not that, he's been unusually well-behaved in the group today." The man called Xiao Ming couldn't wait to say, "It's those two promising newcomers I mentioned to you earlier. I saw they were in a good mood, so maybe things will work out. Alright, I'm really going to get busy now!"

A moment later, the man, resembling a skinny monkey, boarded the bus back to the city, deliberately choosing a seat next to the two. His eyes lit up as if it were a fortunate coincidence: "Hey, you guys are taking this bus too? Heading back already? Not staying longer?"

His tone was warm and friendly. The two young men, who stood out even in the film city for their appearance, looked over at him.

The man with black hair and blue eyes, whose senses were sharp, spoke calmly, "You saw us earlier."

The brown-haired youth with a smile in his eyes teased, "I also saw you making a phone call at the entrance."

In the era of video calls, the person making the call and the split-screen holographic-like image would be quite noticeable.

"..." Xiao Ming smiled slightly, showing a touch of emotion. "That's why I say you two were born to be actors. Your memories are incredible, remembering me after just one meeting!"

An agent's mental fortitude was comparable to that of a real estate salesperson, with no boiling kettle special effect above his head, only a wisp of white steam floating up.

Having his attempt at a coincidental encounter exposed, Xiao Ming didn't beat around the bush and immediately launched into a continuous stream of words: "Seriously, consider it again. I truly believe it would be a shame if you were overlooked."

"Even if you don't sign with our company, you should explore this path more. Of course, if you choose our company, that would be even better. Not to brag, but that super popular star we found on the street a couple of years ago is also from us."

As he spoke, Xiao Ming lowered his voice dramatically, adopting an earnest expression. "Don't tell anyone, but he was originally just a pretty face. He was as stiff as a log, unable to speak coherently in front of the camera, barely uttering a word. But we taught him bit by bit, and now, although I wouldn't say his acting skills are outstanding, he doesn't let his fans down...at least he doesn't mess up."

The agent chattered on, his expressions lively, like a nimble yet noisy monkey. Yu Bai found it amusing but didn't want him to waste any more energy. He interrupted, "Sorry, we really have no interest in becoming actors or celebrities. We're just here to try it out."

This loop had passed a long time ago, and Yu Bai had long forgotten the names of the agents who had handed him their business cards. He still had a vague recollection of this person due to his rather distinctive appearance.

"...Ah!" Xiao Ming was quite perceptive. Upon hearing this, he immediately fell silent and said sincerely, "What a pity."

He sighed and casually pulled out a business card from his pocket, intending to hand it over.

"Ideas can change. If you ever become interested, please contact me. I'll always be available!"

Xiao Ming had originally intended to give the business card to the young man named Yu Bai again.

Other agents only handed out their business cards once, but he did it twice. Even if they were to randomly draw from a pile of business cards later on, the odds of picking his would be slightly higher!

But in that instant, Xiao Ming noticed that the other young man, who had been cold to everyone else, was now looking at him.

His strikingly unique blue eyes were filled with ripples, as if deep in thought.

While feeling flattered, Xiao Ming quickly recalled what he had said earlier.

He then made a concise and emphatic point.

"Our company is well-known in the industry for training artists. We can turn even a piece of wood into gold, let alone you two who are naturally suited for this line of work..."

The gray-blue lake shimmered for a fleeting moment.

Xiao Ming was overjoyed, vaguely grasping something.

He turned the business card in his hand, making a move to hand it to Xie Wufang.

"Whether you want to become an actor, singer, or star, our company has experience in all areas. We'll definitely hire the best teachers and fully respect the artist's personal wishes. We grow together!"

"That's enough, I won't bother you anymore. I'm truly sorry," Xiao Ming concluded with a smile. "If you have any needs or questions, feel free to contact me anytime. My phone is on 24/7!"

Long, strong fingers reached out to accept the hovering business card.

Accompanied by a calm response: "Thank you."

Seeing this, Xiao Ming couldn't help but mentally shout "Awesome!" at himself.

He waved cheerfully at the two of them and walked down the bus with a lively step.

The vehicle soon started, heading towards the city.

Yu Bai, sitting by the window, didn't see the change in Xie Wufang's expression just now. At this moment, looking at the reflection in the glass window of the tall and thin agent with golden flowers blooming around his head, he found it amusing.

He didn't pay much attention to Xie Wufang accepting the business card.

It was probably just a polite gesture.

This guy was quite courteous to other humans when he wasn't sick.

As the scenery outside the window rushed past, Yu Bai dozed off for a while on the smoothly moving bus. When he fully woke up, the bus was about to stop, and a familiar voice rang out: "We're here."

Although there were rumors of ghosts haunting his neighborhood, its location was indeed prime, right in the city center, with convenient transportation.

The two of them got off the bus together, crossed two intersections, and ahead was that bustling street full of life.

It was already past two in the afternoon, and from a distance, the originally closed Beautiful Breakfast Shop, which usually shut its doors at two, was still open.

Uncle Li must have met the boss lady successfully and was probably still inside calming her down.

That's why he hadn't contacted him during this time.

With this thought, Yu Bai quickened his pace.

Passing by Jianbin Hardware Store, the scene inside the steamed bun shop suddenly came into clear view.

"...Is it true? Oh my god, that's terrifying! I didn't know such things happened in the opposite building, how brutal!"

The tall and burly criminal investigation captain sat in the shop, while the boss lady sat on a small stool across from him.

The street behind them was lively and noisy. Yu Bai didn't hear their conversation clearly, but he could see the delicate woman's expression of lingering fear, with Black Thread trembling beside her.

Indeed, they had met and were in the process of soothing her.

Yu Bai called out to the people inside: "Uncle Li."

The two people in the shop looked over at the sound of his voice.

At the sight of Yu Bai and Xie Wufang, the tough features of Li Nanshao immediately softened with relief, and he blurted out, "You finally came."

He couldn't tell the boss lady anything in front of him, nor could he leave directly. He had sent away the two colleagues who should have been working on cases, using routine visits as an excuse to stall for time until Yu Bai arrived.

Then,

Under the boss lady's enthusiastic questioning, the criminal investigation captain had no choice but to recount one real-life violent crime after another that had occurred nearby, not even having the chance to send a message to Yu Bai.

He felt like his head was going to explode.

Chinese was his worst subject in school!

On the other side, upon seeing Yu Bai and Xie Wufang, the boss lady, who had just been immersed in the horror of the crimes, was momentarily stunned.

Immediately following, the terrified Black Thread vanished.

In its place, countless bright golden flowers appeared.

"Hunk! Hunk!"

The boss lady was very principled; one hunk meant one exclamation, never perfunctory.

"Buying buns? What a coincidence, this hunk came for a visit, so the shop just happened to stay open! Want some signature chicken wing filling?"

Today's unusually cheerful boss lady took the initiative to grab a plastic bag. "How about this, I'll give you each one for free, just to taste the flavor—"

Yu Bai listened with a confused look, a row of question marks appearing above his head.

Something seemed off.

Subconsciously, he said, "Don't you remember us? Boss lady."

"Ah?" The proprietress was taken aback for a moment before she firmly replied, "You've never bought breakfast from me before, how could I possibly remember you?"

In this timeline, there was no kitchen explosion, so Yu Bai and Xie Wufang naturally hadn't paused in front of the breakfast shop.

"But starting now, I'll remember you!" The proprietress said cheerfully, "I absolutely can't forget any handsome men or beautiful women who come to my store!"

"Speaking of which, what good fortune have I stumbled upon today, meeting three in a row. Should I close up shop soon and buy some lottery tickets..."

Amidst the proprietress's chattering with a broad smile, a new special effect appeared behind the golden flower that was in high spirits.

A large expanse of pink bubbles silently emerged behind her.

Each bubble bubbled and bounced around in the air.

Xie Wufang looked at these bubbles, somewhat puzzled: "What emotion is this?"

"... "Yu Bai's head was once again a mess of birds' nests as he answered instinctively, "Probably infatuation."

"It's not that, what exactly is going on—"

Upon meeting his bewildered gaze, Li Nanxiao sighed and said, "She's a twin, with an identical sister."

The proprietress immediately gave him a somewhat reproachful look when she heard this: "Officer, why are you telling everyone! Even if you figured it out at first glance and guessed correctly that I'm the older sister, you shouldn't be promoting it for me to just anyone..."

Behind Yu Bai, whose head was a star-studded bird's nest, a large expanse of striking black exclamation marks popped up instantly.

Twins????

This overly enthusiastic proprietress, who was so familiar with them, and the earlier proprietress, who had been pulled aside by him to chat about the weather and was taciturn, were two different people?!

Uncle Li had actually figured it out at first glance????

Wait a minute.

In the ocean of violently shaking exclamation marks, Yu Bai suddenly turned to look at the man beside him.

The non-human was still observing the sea of pink bubbles beside him with great interest, showing no sign of intense emotion.

"Xiao Xie, why aren't you surprised at all?!"

Why was he the only one shocked like an idiot!

The man glanced over: "Because I also figured it out."

He said it calmly, and the ocean of exclamation marks in Yu Bai's background nearly shattered.

"When did you realize it?!"

Xie Wufang's tone was matter-of-fact: "The first time we saw them separately."

"..."

So on the day they returned from the Go game timeline, when Xie Wufang went with them to the breakfast shop but showed no reaction to the proprietress who indirectly caused the kitchen explosion at home...

It wasn't because he was preoccupied with thoughts of tomato-flavored chips, but because he knew it was someone else?!

A gust of wind blew past the blank-faced youth, scattering the exclamation marks everywhere.

Crooked black lines suddenly filled the background, like a gloomy, depressed, and introverted person huddled in a dark corner.

Great.

The captain of the criminal investigation team and the deity from another realm both had keen eyes.

Only he was an idiot!!