Chapter 136: Dimension 43

Chapter 136: Dimension 43

"Oh..."

"So it's..."

"Quite the imagination..."

The people in the room uttered sparse, distracted murmurs.

In contrast, their eyes shone abnormally bright.

Under the astonished gazes, the boiling kettle grew more vigorous, and its owner tried to salvage the situation with rapid speech. "So! I plan to start from this point, working separately from the prince. He'll find other aliens' weaknesses while we prepare on Earth, luring them here as best we can. Then, we can seize the opportunity to board the spaceship and leave Earth! What do you think?"

Qiao Jinmei stared blankly, responding dully, "I think it's great."

The bodyguards, acting on instinctive loyalty, chimed in, "Good idea! What do you need us to do?"

Li Nanxiao hadn't fully recovered, replying reflexively, "Alright, let's figure out how to implement it."

...What 'alright'? He openly said he wanted to deceive others!

Wake up, Uncle Li!!

Yu Bai felt inexplicably anxious, raising his voice to plunge into the fray. "So, we're going to plan a scam targeting the aliens!"

"Oh, a scam," the police officer nodded absentmindedly. "Got it, we'll talk about it later."

Then, Captain Li, who had been contemplative since earlier, after pondering over the shocking statement, finally wore an expression of realization.

He looked at the only non-human present, who remained calm, with a complex paternal feeling, muttering, "So that's what you meant."

Thus, as an alien with little knowledge of humanity, he would actively want to understand those distant details about a certain human's past.

Xie Wufang, under such scrutiny, either didn't hear or didn't care, remaining composed as he looked at the human eagerly awaiting a reaction.

He asked Yu Bai, "How do we trick the aliens to come here?"

Finally, someone was concerned about the matter at hand.

...Even if this guy was the culprit behind everyone else's daze.

The moment their eyes met, the equally dazed Yu Bai subconsciously turned away, avoiding the intersecting gaze.

He shouldn't have asked that leading question for the sake of setting things up!

He completely overlooked the presence of an unpredictable entity that always made astonishing remarks.

..."It's you".

What in the world—

[What does it mean?!]

Behind the sofa, Qiao Jinmei, deeply shocked, squatted down again, shaking her sister's arm wildly, her mouth agape in astonishment.

[Ali, Ali, you've read so many novels and comics, help me analyze this! My god, it can't really be that meaning, right?!]

[But he's not human, can interspecies...]

Dizzied by her sister's shaking, Qiao Jinli hurriedly responded to the barrage of whispered questions.

[I don't know, I usually skip these parts.]

At the critical juncture when the plot was about to reach its climax, suddenly inserting a boring love story...

Was the most annoying thing!

The black lines behind her became even more twisted, ominously filling the air.

Seeing this, Qiao Jinmei immediately wore an understanding expression, so excited she didn't know where to put her hands and feet, and simply punched the sofa.

[I knew we were thinking the same thing!]

[Wah wah wah, that line was indeed a confession, right—]

"—No."

In the quiet alley behind the building, wisps of smoke drifted between slender, pale fingers.

"It's not a confession." She glanced sideways at the person beside her, speaking calmly, "I'm just stating a fact that's actually obvious. You don't need to feel too pressured, nor is there any need to force yourself to respond to me."

After her words, Yu Siming, who had been stunned on the spot, took a long time to stammer back his voice.

"Ob-obvious?" The usually energetic and optimistic Xiao Ming genuinely doubted life for the first time, "But I really didn't notice, I'm sorry, I always thought you only saw me as a regular friend..."

"Does a regular friend repeatedly rush to your aid whenever you need help?"

"And what kind of regular friend would go out of their way to help you achieve your wishes upon learning them, just so you could be a little happier?"

Yu Siming was momentarily speechless, with countless intertwining characters swirling behind him, visibly chaotic and disordered thoughts.

After a while, he spoke again, sincerely apologetic, "Sorry, I'm too stupid, I should have noticed earlier, I shouldn't have let you... for so many years..."

"No need to apologize, I don't blame you." His self-reproach was interrupted by the woman's laughter. "Actually, I've always known that if I didn't make it clear, you would never have realized it on your own."

"W-Why?"

"Because your heart is filled with other more important things, so you've never considered love."

She stubbed out the nearly spent cigarette with a subtle raise of her eyebrow: "—regardless of who it is."

[This kid seems pretty decent. Although he's not human, he's honest enough, much better than that one from last time who took four years to open his mouth.]

In the makeup room, the flower-shirted men sitting on small square stools were whispering quietly to each other.

[Definitely. I suspected that last one had been through rehab; he could really hold back. Anyway, I can't understand him. Why wouldn't he say anything when they were together every day, only to speak up after graduation? What a waste of time!]

[You can't say that. Xiao Bai clearly saw him as a brother. It would have been pointless to say anything, and they might not even be able to remain friends.]

[That's true. Brother Qiang, do you think this one has a chance?]

[I think?]

Qiang, the leader, stroked his chin in deep thought, and his underlings immediately looked at him with curious and gossipy eyes.

Then, each of them received a thump on the forehead, filled with speechless frustration.

[I think it matters for crap!]

Qiang rolled his eyes irritably.

[Why are you looking at me? Look at Xiao Bai!!]

So they held their foreheads and turned to look at Yu Bai in unison—

"Then, I'll leave the advertisement to you. Thank you, Director Zheng."

Yu Bai sincerely thanked the bald director, who was still sitting on the ground and had just woken up.

Thank goodness, when his mind was in turmoil and he didn't know how to face Xie Wufang, Director Zheng, who had been unconscious for several episodes, woke up just in time, temporarily alleviating his awkwardness.

Before the director fainted, he had only witnessed a person disappearing into thin air. When he woke up, there was already a clear countdown to the end of the world.

The world was changing too quickly.

"Eh, no problem!" The stupefied Director Zheng said, flattered, "This is also my first time saving... saving humanity by shooting an ad!"

Although this dimension-merged world was destined to perish.

But the ending of the story seemed to be more than just destruction.

With eight days left until Earth exploded—

Whispers of darkness crossed stars and galaxies, exchanging secrets in the vast universe.

The giant starship had arrived in the solar system, hanging in space, waiting for the most crucial moment to arrive.

On the icy throne, a dense crimson gaze fixed on the tiny blue planet, with mist swirling around.

Another pure white mist, devoid of superpowers, roamed around the starship, swaying back and forth.

Humans on the ground were also busy with their own affairs.

After being closed for a few days, the Beautiful Breakfast Shop finally opened its doors, but today's business wasn't about selling buns.

Production assistants carried equipment inside, the photographer was adjusting the camera position, amidst the clamor, Li Nanxiao, dressed in a uniform, was seated on a stool, looking somewhat uneasy.

Qiao Jinmei, on the other side, was in her element, allowing the makeup artist to powder her while warmly greeting everyone who came to the bun shop.

"You guys can do whatever you want, make yourselves at home—hey hey hey! Stop moving so much, Captain Li! It's just an eyebrow trim, you won't die! Look how cooperative your colleague is, and she's so good-looking. If I knew earlier, I would've only invited that beautiful woman to help and not you!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaoyun, who had already finished her on-camera light makeup, couldn't stop laughing: "Captain Li, you should humbly accept the criticism of the people!"

No wonder Captain Li would specially take a day off to come to this shop to buy food.

The proprietress not only spoke well but also spoke well.

From now on, she would also buy buns at this shop.

Oh right, and...

For the Nth time, Lin Xiaoyun, who had been itching to move, couldn't resist speaking up as she observed the shadow in the corner.

She asked curiously, "Aren't you really going to come over and sit?"

It took the other party a long time to reluctantly respond: "...I'll come over when it starts."

"Okay." The heroic policewoman thought for a moment and decided to take the initiative, "Can I go over and sit then?"

"...," the shrinking shadow muttered, "You're already here."

"Oh, sorry, don't be angry, okay? I'm just really curious about this background of yours! I've been secretly observing you for half the day—"

Before she could finish, the woman who had been stubbornly huddled in the corner stiffened, wishing she could burrow into the wall.

But then, the smiling policewoman beside her said, "—it's really super cool! And I feel like I've seen it somewhere before. I thought about it for a long time before remembering, it was a comic from a long time ago, serialized in a magazine when I was in elementary school, called, called..."

"It's called 'I Absolutely Don't Want to Become a Magical Girl Hmph'!" Qiao Jinli suddenly lifted her head, "You've read it?!"

"Yes, yes, that's it!" Lin Xiaoyun's eyes lit up, "I remember that the villain's entrance in that comic had the same background as yours. That was the first comic I ever read!"

Aili, shrouded in black aura, also had bright eyes: "It was the first comic I ever read too!"

"Really?! Then what are you reading recently? I haven't had time to follow any new series this month. The bureau has been so busy, I feel like a walking corpse every day when I get home... cough, I absolutely don't mean to complain about the workload, Captain Li!"

"Hmm." Captain Li, who was still being held down for an eyebrow trim, nodded, "Complaining won't help anyway."

The makeup artist almost faltered: "I told you not to move around!!"

"…My apologies."

Qiao Jinmei beside him couldn’t help but chuckle.

She thought that this Earth on the brink of destruction seemed more beautiful than when it was peaceful and tranquil.

Seven days until the Earth’s explosion—

In the editing room, staring at the final effect displayed on the screen, Yu Bai praised solemnly, "I think it’s particularly good."

His hands behind his back were waving around, trying hard to swat away the pink bubbles closely following him.

…He didn’t want this either.

But humans’ pure affection for beautiful things would bubble up from behind even if they kept their mouths shut.

Fortunately, Xie Wufang wasn’t here.

Just as he thought this, a familiar voice came from behind him: "Sorry, I’m late."

Director Zheng, who had been accompanying him, immediately got up to greet him. "No problem, no problem. You’ve arrived just in time. We’ve just finished playing it once. Take a look and see if you’re satisfied. Any suggestions you have can be revised!"

As Xie Wufang walked in, Yu Bai immediately stepped out. "Then you guys watch first. I still have something to do…"

The instant they passed each other, a serious question sounded by his ear.

"Do you not like the effect of this version?"

"No, no, not at all."

"But you’re leaving after only watching it once," said Xie Wufang. "Back at the film studio, you watched the playback footage many times while huddled in front of the monitor."

"Eh, that day was my first time being on set, so it was rather novel. And I really do have something to do…"

Yu Bai tried to explain, his voice growing softer and softer until suddenly, he realized something.

"Hold on! How did you know that I watched the playback many times that day?"

This was something that happened in the looping timeline. Xie Wufang clearly wouldn’t have those memories until after this trip ended!

"…" Clearly, Xie Wufang also stiffened upon hearing this.

Yu Bai stared at him in shock.

And in the silence, he suddenly averted his gaze, muttering, "Sorry."

Immediately after, he continued in an awkward tone, "Are you going to be busy now?"

Yu Bai: "…"

He was even more shocked.

Was he changing the subject? Was he changing the subject! He definitely was!

…

Forget it, it didn’t matter. He could pretend he hadn’t heard anything.

Because he still wasn’t very daring to talk to Xie Wufang now.

After the other party gave that concise and powerful answer that was akin to a confession.

His head had remained in a muddled state, all the way until today.

…Important matters were important!

Six days until the Earth’s explosion—

Under the animation mode where emotions were laid bare and easily triggered disputes, the funeral parlor owned by the Yan family was always full to bursting. As a result, the fitness coach who should have been enjoying a happy vacation was forced to work for free.

Fortunately, humans were about to collectively perish.

Whether it burned early or late, it was the same. Yu Bai managed to convince Father and Mother Yan to stop operations after burning through their inventory, which allowed him to borrow the extremely busy Yan Jing to help.

"I still prefer this job of yours. Although it doesn’t pay either, it’s fun."

The muscular man with a fit physique shed tears as wide as noodles, willing to work hard for him.

"Thanks to you saving me! I love you, Xiao Bai!"

"…" Yu Bai’s pupils trembled at these words. "Shut up."

He couldn’t bear to hear that word right now.

"Oh, okay." Yan Jing scratched his head blankly. "Then let’s talk about something else?"

"What?"

"How are you and your elevator doing? Have you cured that whatever parental anxiety you had yet?"

"…Don’t mention that either!!"

Could they talk about something he liked to hear!

Why did he have to poke at the sore spot!

In any case, under Yan Jing’s bewildered gaze, the teapot hanging over the brown hair started boiling again.

The soundless steam of boiling water flowed into the tranquil air, dispersing the haze that had once clouded his heart.

For someone who had never given romance a thought, it always took an external force of considerable weight to push them out of the fog they were in without realizing it.

Like a straightforward declaration that could no longer be explained away as something from "just friends."

Or the sudden, astonished, and insightful gazes from those who understood love better than he did.

In that instant, he hastily averted his eyes, but some fragments scattered in his memory, once carelessly overlooked, suddenly converged into a river, taking on a clearer shape.

—"You don't like love." "Can people change?"

—"Yes, everyone changes."

—"Including you?"

—"Of course, including me."

—"Alright."

The answer was already imprinted in the past.

So even self-deception became unconvincing.

So, from an unknown point in time, had Xie Wufang been looking at him with the feelings humans called love?

Yu Bai found it almost impossible to describe his feelings.

It wasn't about wanting to escape.

Nor was it the strange, startled feeling when Xiao Ming unintentionally linked the word 'romance' with Xie Wufang.

He was just...

simply at a loss.

Three days remained until Earth's explosion—

In the silent night, moonlight filled the dark room.

On the table lay two large bags of convenience store-branded snacks that hadn't been delivered yet.

And a pack of equally undelivered, intensely sweet candy.

In the dim night sky, two lines of neatly written white text suddenly appeared.

[Are you there? Are you there?]

[Reply if received! Reply if received! Over!]

Yu Bai, who happened to be daydreaming by the window, was startled.

To say the least, this cartoon had its logic down pat.

It actually adjusted to white subtitles against a dark background...

[Here.]

[Did something happen?]

It wasn't the agreed-upon time for their air-to-air communication with Prince, so receiving a private message made Yu Bai instinctively worried.

Fortunately, Prince's reply came swiftly, conveying a palpable sense of urgency.

[Nothing happened, don't worry, everything is going smoothly!]

[I just suddenly remembered something.]

[What is it?]

[We haven't introduced ourselves properly.]

[Hey, what's your name?]

Seeing these lines, Yu Bai was momentarily stunned again.

[Yu Bai.]

After a moment's thought, he quickly added another line.

[And you?]

Although they hadn't formally exchanged names, Prince knew his surname was Yu and had heard others call him Xiao Bai, so he likely wasn't asking just for his name.

Indeed.

The response from the other side came incredibly fast.

[I'm Godot~!]

The snowy tilde marks rippled happily across the night sky.

Even the troubled Yu Bai couldn't help but curve his lips upward.

[Is that a name you gave yourself?]

It sounded somewhat familiar.

[Yeah, isn't it cool?]

[Oh right, it has nothing to do with the Godot created by your human literature!]

That would make them related.

[Is it the same Godot from Waiting for Godot?]

[...I've already said it has nothing to do with humans!!!]

The amusement in Yu Bai's eyes deepened.

The alien prince was truly well-versed in human culture.

He must have pondered long and hard before settling on this name, rich with symbolism, and then rushed to show off his choice to the humans.

It was a name from an absurdist play, where every character awaited Godot's arrival, but he never came. No one knew who Godot was, not even the author.

[The name is good.]

Yu Bai said sincerely.

[Right, right! You have good taste.]

[Everyone waits for Godot, but he never comes. How cool is that!]

Yu Bai agreed earnestly.

[Yes, it sounds like a name fit for a prince.]

Prince Godot.

Everyone waited for Godot, perhaps Godot was also waiting.

Waiting for some miraculous hope to descend.

Suddenly, the night sky fell silent. After an unknown amount of time, the alien prince, unable to utter his true name and born from fiction, called out across the vast expanse of stars once more.

"Hey, Yu Bai."

"Hmm?"

Prince Godot, who had bestowed a name upon himself, asked quietly, harboring envy unseen by anyone,

"Could you tell me about your story with the aliens?"

-[The real aliens.]