Chapter 15

Chapter 15

The moment Si Muyun spoke, Lin Youhan’s gaze froze.

He recalled that Si Muyun’s mecha was named *Snow*, and ever since waking up, Migu had informed him that it had lost contact with another mecha—also named *Snow*—triggering his own mecha’s prolonged hibernation.

It wasn’t until three years ago, upon detection of the Restart Capsule, that the mecha awoke from its dormant state.

Lin Youhan withdrew his gaze and said calmly, “Si Muyun, I don’t like this.”

To cut off further words from Si Muyun, he added, “I’m tired.”

Si Muyun clearly hadn’t anticipated such a reaction. He opened his mouth to speak but ultimately rose and left, pausing at the door to remind him, “Remember to eat your food.”

Lin Youhan didn’t respond.

After the door closed, he stared blankly at the ceiling. Outside, the sky remained clear; bright sunlight streamed through the window, reflecting off surfaces and illuminating otherwise shadowed corners.

He sighed, picked up the meal box beside him, took a few bites, then set it down again for no apparent reason.

“Migu,” he called.

Almost instantly, Migu appeared beside the hospital bed. Lin Youhan gently patted its head and murmured softly, “I once thought you were the only one who remembered my past—but now it seems that’s not true.”

“The first time I asked you to investigate him, I should have realized—you know him, and he knows you.”

He gazed out the window; the blinding sunlight stung his eyes. The indistinct figure he’d seen countless times in his dreams reappeared in his mind—elusive, persistent, haunting.

Through endless twists and turns, it occupied his thoughts, just as the ancient verse says: *“Suddenly turning back, I find her there where the lantern light is dimly shed.”*

His fingers unconsciously traced the smooth surface of Migu’s mecha shell, and an overwhelming sorrow welled up inside him. He drew a deep breath and smiled faintly. “Then I must have loved him very much before.”

“After all, seeing him again, I’ve fallen for him all over.”

“Migu… oh, Migu—even though I’ve forgotten him, my heart tells me I still love him.”

-

After leaving the hospital room, Si Muyun received a call from Zhao Mingchuan. Amidst the surrounding noise, Zhao Mingchuan’s voice crackled through the line: “Captain Si, we’ve discovered an unusual device at the bottom of the lake on Yuehu Central Island.”

Zhao Mingchuan continued, “Its design specifications are extraordinarily precise. When I descended to investigate, I found it constructed from high-tech fusion materials—so rare even on the Interstellar City material market that each component alone is prohibitively expensive and nearly impossible to source. One section even features a casing forged from Dark Iron mined at the edge of the Extraterrestrial Ice Mountain—making it exceptionally durable.”

Si Muyun paused in thought: the use of Dark Iron from the edge of the Extraterrestrial Ice Mountain must be linked to recent technological research in Interstellar City—particularly during pivotal phases of technological iteration. For instance, *Snow* and *Migu*, as the 35th-generation super-intelligent AIs, were built using materials discovered by the Science Bureau at the edge of the Extraterrestrial Ice Mountain.

Lin Youhan’s reappearance had injected fresh momentum into the stalled 35th-generation tech development—a project mired in stagnation for twenty years. After his disappearance, the newly launched 36th-generation development hit a dead end: despite successive iterations yielding new mechas, the technological level plateaued. Why, then, would Dark Iron—such a rare and strategically significant material—appear at the bottom of an otherwise unremarkable lake?

Especially one where a murder had recently occurred.

Si Muyun asked, “Any other findings?”

“Yes.” Zhao Mingchuan recalled the shape he’d glimpsed underwater. His hands trembled as he lit a cigarette. The flame caught, but his shaking hand dropped it onto the wet sand—the glowing ember sinking, dampened and turning gray.

He took a deep breath. “Captain Si—the device underwater is a *Shut Eye*.”

A *Shut Eye*?

Si Muyun frowned, puzzled—and was about to ask more when, from the corner of his eye, he spotted someone standing nearby, their burning stare locked onto him. His heart lurched. Turning fully, he saw bloodshot eyes veined like tangled vines—chaotic, unsettling. And within them, a chilling smile slowly bloomed.

—It was Chen Wen.

At the sight of Chen Wen, Si Muyun dismissed his confusion and swiftly lowered his communicator. “Chen Wen—what are you doing here?”

Chen Wen stood motionless, meeting his gaze. “I’m here, of course, to find you.”

“Interested in cooperating, Captain Si?” Chen Wen pressed persuasively. “In exchange, I’ll tell you exactly where Lin Youhan has been for the past ten years—and help restore his memory. All you need to do is assist me with one small task.”

Chen Wen’s tone differed sharply from that of the man recently rescued from drowning. Now he sounded like a puppet master—guiding, manipulating, threatening Si Muyun with everything he knew.

Si Muyun asked coolly, “What task?”

Chen Wen didn’t answer directly. Instead, he said, “Why don’t you agree first—and *then* I’ll tell you?”

“That way, our cooperation will run smoother.”

He added, “I know you love Lin Youhan—but he’s useless now. A useless person can’t even recall the person he loved most ten years ago. What right does he have to stand by your side again? Moreover, love isn’t possession. But I *can* help you possess him—completely control him.”

Si Muyun’s expression hardened, though his voice remained steady. “How?”

Sensing the hook had taken, Chen Wen smiled coldly—and spoke with feigned sincerity: “You can rest assured. There’s a memory chip embedded in his mental energy sea. Right now, his mental energy is critically weak—even drugs won’t help. Of course, to guarantee success, we’ve installed a special program on that chip.”

“It can only be unlocked through direct contact with *your* mental energy. Simultaneously, that contact will bind him to you—making him dependent. Not only will he permanently lose his mental energy, he’ll rely on you for survival—becoming a subservient slave, obeying your every command.”

Hearing this, Si Muyun’s face turned glacial. “So you enjoy weaponizing one person’s love to destroy another.”

“This isn’t destruction—it’s mutual benefit,” Chen Wen sneered. “Let me remind you: you’ve loved him for years, yet he forgot you. What makes you think *he*, a useless man, could ever love you again?”

“Is that so?” Si Muyun replied icily. “Then perhaps you don’t know—even if he forgot me, he’d still fall in love with me.”

“It was true ten years ago. It’s true now.”

“Love isn’t a chain. It isn’t hierarchy. It’s attraction—mutual, instinctive. Liking someone needs no justification. All I know is—the man I loved for ten years still loves me, even after returning.”

-

Chen Wen’s face twisted with fury. “You have no boundaries!”

“Since you refuse to cooperate—don’t blame me.”

Si Muyun ignored him. He slid his communicator—long since disconnected—back into his pocket. As he turned, he noticed a hairline crack in the hospital room door: a disheveled head seemed to jerk back just before he looked—but moved too fast, getting wedged tightly in the narrow gap.

He rushed forward and freed the trapped head. Lin Youhan, finally released, instinctively rubbed the spot where the door had pinched his scalp. His hand still hovering near his temple, he suddenly remembered Si Muyun stood right before him—and offered an embarrassed smile. “How did you come back so quickly?”

Si Muyun snapped, “If I’d been any slower, would you have died *again*? Eavesdropping—and getting your head stuck in the door—Lin Youhan, can’t you take better care of yourself?”

“How am I *not* taking care of myself?” Lin Youhan retorted lightly. “I can lift you with one hand.”

Before he finished, Si Muyun seized his wrist and rolled up his sleeve—to reveal how thin his arm had become. But halfway up, Lin Youhan’s hand shot out, stopping him almost reflexively. The instant his fingers closed around Si Muyun’s wrist, Lin Youhan’s fear spiked—his voice cracking, raw with desperation. “No—”

Si Muyun immediately let go, realizing he’d crossed a line—again—and apologized without hesitation. “Sorry.”

Then he looked directly at Lin Youhan. Only now did he notice: regardless of weather—hot or cold—Lin Youhan *always* wore long sleeves, never rolling them up in public to expose his arms.

Aware he’d overreacted, Lin Youhan silently tugged his sleeve back down and whispered, “It’s fine.”

Before pulling it fully down, he glanced at the exposed patch—and exhaled in quiet relief. Thankfully, Si Muyun had released him in time. Had the sleeve risen just a fraction higher, he would have seen the dense cluster of needle punctures covering his entire armpit—bumpy, unmistakable beneath the touch of fingertips.

Lin Youhan had never feared anything more than Si Muyun seeing those marks.

Noticing Lin Youhan’s distress, Si Muyun changed the subject. “Did you hear everything?”

“I…” Lin Youhan hesitated—knowing full well Si Muyun meant the eavesdropping. The idea that he’d overheard the raw, unguarded words of a man usually so reserved—and that the subject was *himself*—left him deeply unsettled. Quietly, he said, “Si Muyun… don’t worry. I didn’t hear anything.”

"You're avoiding me, Lin Youhan," Si Muyun said seriously. "You clearly heard everything, so why pretend you don't know?"

Seeing that Lin Youhan remained silent, he continued, "Are you waiting for me to say—"

Just as Si Muyun was about to speak those words, Lin Youhan immediately cut him off. "You don't need to tell me."

"But I want to tell you," Si Muyun sighed helplessly. "Love needs to be spoken aloud."

Lin Youhan froze for a moment, he murmured, "But I don't deserve your lasting devotion."

"Si Muyun, I can't remember my past."

Just as I've forgotten that we once knew each other.

Seeing the downcast expression on Si Muyun's face, Lin Youhan felt as though his heart was being squeezed, unable to move. He hurriedly said, "Give me some time."

"I don't want you to be in a relationship with someone who has lost their memory."

Si Muyun's breath seemed to catch. "Are you saying that as long as you remember, you'll be with me?"

The moment he heard those words, Lin Youhan's mind went blank. After hesitating for a long time, he nodded slowly. The next moment, he was pulled into a broad embrace, hot breath brushing against his neck, just like that unexpected incident at the police station—urgent and familiar.

Si Muyun nuzzled his face in Lin Youhan's shoulder, as if returning to that winter night ten years ago when Lin Youhan left. The familiar scent washed over him, and his fingertips trembled uncontrollably as he held his long-separated lover.

He sighed softly, "You've lost weight."

Even the slightest touch would make him feel his bones.

Just then, a vibration came from his pocket. Lin Youhan pulled out his phone to see a message from an unknown sender: "Mr. Lin Youhan, congratulations on successfully registering for the Technology Conference. Your affiliated institution is the Star Science and Technology Academy. Please participate in the academy's technology evaluation in six weeks. We wish you success in the competition."

Instantly, Lin Youhan's expression turned cold. He had only learned about the Technology Conference's early scheduling today, and within an hour, someone had already registered him. There was no need to guess who it was.

He closed his eyes wearily. These people truly were relentless.

"What's wrong?" Si Muyun asked.

"Nothing, just a spam message," Lin Youhan lied calmly, taking advantage of the fact that Si Muyun couldn't see his face.

Si Muyun, thinking it was genuinely a spam message, suggested, "If you turn off the push notification feature, you'll get far fewer messages."

Lin Youhan agreed and deleted the message.

-

In the interrogation room of the Tangde City Police Station, Song Chenglei and Wang Xiao sat across from an unkempt woman. Though exhausted, she still wore a polite smile.

Since they brought Liu Wenwen in yesterday, she hadn't said a word. After a night, it seemed she had had a change of heart and told the officer on duty that she had something to say. However, even after Song Chenglei and Wang Xiao rushed back from the hospital and sat across from her, she remained silent.

Wang Xiao held a pen, feeling complicated as he looked at his former colleague, with whom he had once laughed and chatted, now sitting across from him. But he got down to business: "Sister Wen, why did you bring Huang Yuehong's body to the police station?"

"Out of female solidarity, I couldn't bear to leave her," Liu Wenwen said calmly, a bitter smile appearing on her face. "I have nothing to say. Regarding the case you're investigating on Anyang Street, I know nothing."

"Then why?" Wang Xiao still couldn't understand. Liu Wenwen claimed to know nothing, yet she was the first to learn of Huang Yuehong's death and even found her body.

"This is also why I asked you to come back," Liu Wenwen sat up straight. "It was raining heavily that night. The clothes on the balcony were blown downstairs, so I went down to retrieve them. As soon as I opened the door, I saw a woman sitting at my doorstep. The moment I opened the door, she looked up at me, grabbed my pants leg, and asked me to take her to the police station. She said she needed to find someone surnamed Lin, to tell him, to beg him to save her son."

"She said her son had been in darkness for a long, long time. She hoped her son could find a proper resting place rather than getting drawn deeper repeatedly to save them. So I asked her, what is the surname Lin person's name? Why must she go to the police station to find him? I remember no one surnamed Lin at our station."

At this point, Liu Wenwen suddenly paused, then slowly continued: "She said, as long as she appeared at the police station, the person surnamed Lin would definitely come. If I remember correctly, the doctor who discovered the body is new to the team, and his surname is Lin."

Hearing this last sentence, Song Chenglei and Wang Xiao exchanged glances. Goosebumps prickled their arms, and a chilling sensation crept up from their feet, making them shiver.

"She also said that when the bell rings, the world's cycle of rebirth will begin anew, and they will be reborn once again."

-

After leaving the hospital, Zhang Yuanhang went his separate ways with Jiang Yu.

Due to the Technology Conference starting early, he needed to retrieve his mecha design drafts. After being discharged from the hospital, Lin Youhan had taken him home, and all his design drafts were left in the house. To participate in the Technology Conference, the design drawings were essential.

Returning to the place where he had grown up, Zhang Yuanhang felt a deep sense of familiarity. Although he and Jiang Yu had become friends, it wasn't his own home, so he felt somewhat constrained in his words and actions. But in his own home, he could do as he pleased.

He opened the door with joy, but his gaze froze—a long stone path covered in moss lay before him. At the end of the path stood a familiar figure, backlit, making it impossible to see the face, but he recognized it instantly.

He subconsciously raised his hand, wanting to touch that figure, when a distant yet familiar voice drifted over slowly: "Yuanhang, you've finally returned. I've been waiting for you for so long."

His hand was suddenly grabbed. He turned to look, and the original door had transformed into an endless long street.

The scenery on both sides of the street was strangely familiar. Zhang Yuanhang was pulled along, passing by countless ever-changing scenes, alternating between reality and illusion. He saw many things: his father toasting with neighbors, his mother and other embroiderers working together with flower stencils, even the neighbor's playful child hiding everywhere to avoid going home… He even saw the old locust tree on the street shedding leaves, blooming, withering, and blooming again—decaying and thriving, declining and thriving. In the blink of an eye, seasons passed, and soon, countless seasons had gone by, yet he was still running endlessly.

The surrounding sky darkened, and the person pulling him gradually faded away. Just before disappearing, the voice spoke again: "Yuanhang, I can only take you this far. The rest is up to you."

Zhang Yuanhang said nothing. The sensation in his palm faded bit by bit, vanishing into the starry sky without a trace. He looked up and saw the once warm and harmonious street collapse abruptly. The space around him twisted and distorted, leaving only the old locust tree standing firm. He gently placed his hand on the tree trunk, and countless memories rushed in, slowly invading his pale past.

His gaze shifted from initial joy to dullness, then to fear, then to anger, and finally, all that remained was complete helplessness.

The distorted space grew lightless. A giant eye slowly opened, its mechanical iris radiating a red light. A cold, mechanical voice stated without emotion to Zhang Yuanhang: "Long time to see, Zhang Yuanhang."