Echoes of July

3

Forty minutes later, Chi XiaoChi arrived at his destination.

Upon getting out of the car and seeing the four large characters "Beimang Cemetery" and considering the dark and windy surroundings, the system felt a chill.

He cautiously asked, "What are you going to do?"

Chi XiaoChi pulled the handbrake, turned off the engine, looked at the sleeping Yang BaiHua in the rearview mirror, and gave a sinister grin, "Heh heh heh."

The system remained silent.

Chi XiaoChi asked, "Excuse me, how many Affection Points does it cost to exchange for a razor blade?"

The system replied emotionlessly, "Calling the police is free."

Chi XiaoChi said, "If there are no blades, wire will do."

The system was puzzled, "…?"

Chi XiaoChi glanced at the cemetery gate, "Never mind, won’t need it anyway."

Chi XiaoChi didn’t do anything harmful to Yang BaiHua. He got out of the car, stood facing the cemetery in the chilly wind for a moment, seemingly lost in thought.

This place was not the famous burial ground known as "Born in Suzhou and Hangzhou, buried in Beimang," but rather a pretentious imitation. The iron gate was locked with a large rusty copper lock, and weeds grew wildly around it. The large copper character "Mang" was missing half, leaving only a lonely ear.

Chi XiaoChi took off his down jacket, placed it on the hood, stepped back a few paces from the gate, and sprinted straight toward the iron gate. This fence-climbing maneuver seemed familiar to him. Three steps away from the gate, he jumped, landing accurately on the rusted iron flowers between the bars, grabbed the copper "Bei" character for balance, and swung his other foot up onto the top bar of the gate, nimbly vaulting himself over to the other side.

After landing, Chi XiaoChi flexed his ankle.

The system asked, "Are you alright?"

Chi XiaoChi frowned, "Feels a bit numb."

Without a word, the system connected to his neural network, silently restoring the numbed muscles. The tingling sensation vanished instantly.

Chi XiaoChi exclaimed softly, stomped his feet, and thought, recovering pretty fast.

He didn’t dwell on it, instead stepping into the tall grass that reached the height of the tombstones.

The system asked, "What are you doing here?"

He feared Chi XiaoChi might say, "Scouting."

Fortunately, Chi XiaoChi’s answer was normal, "Looking for someone."

The system became curious, "Who?"

Chi XiaoChi didn’t answer but crushed a patch of wild grass sprouting from the cracks.

Winter grass, lacking moisture, crunched loudly underfoot. Using his phone as a flashlight, he ignored the densely packed tombstones and walked directly to his target.

Soon, he stopped.

The phone’s light illuminated a cheap stone tombstone, engraved with the name Wang Jianguo, born in 1949, died in 1989, aged 40.

Chi XiaoChi brushed away the weeds and dust clinging to the tombstone, paid his respects for a moment, and then turned to leave along the same path.

The system tentatively asked, "Who was he to you?"

Chi XiaoChi replied, "Don’t know him."

The system was perplexed.

Chi XiaoChi added, "Good thing I don’t."

The system was even more confused, "??"

To climb the fence, Chi XiaoChi had taken off his down jacket, revealing a black fitted sweater that accentuated his lean physique.

He warmed his hands in his pockets, exhaling white vapor as he spoke, "…you mentioned that the first world’s timeline would closely resemble the one I came from, for easier mission completion."

The system seemed to understand something.

It recalled scanning Chi XiaoChi’s background, noting he hailed from the same city as this one.

Chi XiaoChi continued, "…both called Beimang Cemetery, with identical layouts. What a coincidence."

…But the person he sought was not buried here.

Chi XiaoChi took out a cigarette and lighter, analyzing, "In this timeline, Brother Lou might still be alive."

The system didn’t know who "he" was but refrained from asking, "Are you going to find him?"

The system worried Chi XiaoChi might prioritize personal matters over the main mission.

Only during the tutorial phase would the main system provide a world similar to the host’s original one for practice.

After the tutorial, any world could appear, and finding a specific person might become impossible.

"No," Chi XiaoChi responded sensibly, "He’s living well, doesn’t know me. Why bother him?"

Chi XiaoChi stopped talking, and the system didn’t press further.

Chi XiaoChi raised his hand to shield the flame but, as the lighter nearly touched the tobacco, he put it away.

The system asked, "Not smoking?"

Chi XiaoChi said, "Cheng Yuan has nurtured his voice for so long; I shouldn’t ruin it."

The system didn’t respond, slightly increasing the warmth mode.

When Chi XiaoChi returned to the car, his body was still warm, not chilled by the cold wind.

He thought, this young master has good circulation.

With that, Chi XiaoChi started the car, leaving the cemetery, driving slowly towards home.

Passing a soy milk shop, Chi XiaoChi stopped, hiding the unlit cigarette in his pocket.

Before picking up Yang BaiHua, Chi XiaoChi had checked Cheng Yuan’s schedule, which included buying soy milk from Sun’s Soy Milk Shop for Lao Yang.

This shop’s stone-ground soy milk was smooth and delicious, Yang BaiHua’s favorite.

Since dating Yang BaiHua, Cheng Yuan had tasted many breakfast places, determining his partner’s preference, forgetting he himself disliked soy milk.

Chi XiaoChi didn’t like soy milk either, so he bought red bean porridge for himself and two cups of soy milk for Yang BaiHua.

While waiting, Chi XiaoChi asked the system hopefully, "How many points will these two cups earn?"

The system was speechless.

This sounded like discussing scientific pig farming.

However, Chi XiaoChi seemed emotionally stable, unaffected by the cemetery visit.

Returning to the car, the hypnosis effect had worn off, and Yang BaiHua was awake, playing with his phone.

Cheng Yuan grinned, waving the soy milk, "Thought you might be hungry. Both cups are for you. I’ll get some buns later."

Yang BaiHua, initially indifferent after losing 13 points, warmed up upon smelling the soy milk and seeing Cheng Yuan’s bright smile, gaining three points, "Good boy."

Chi XiaoChi said to the system, "See, 62 points, passing grade."

The system sighed, "People should have higher goals."

Feeling like a father to a son content with passing grades, the system lectured.

Chi XiaoChi suggested, "Celebrate with fireworks."

The system retorted, "Stop joking."

Chi XiaoChi said, "Okay. Add sugar to my porridge, forgot earlier."

The system felt defeated, "Mr. Chi, what do you treat Affection Points as?"

Chi XiaoChi justified, "Points, of course. You said I could exchange them."

The system was speechless.

It regretted showing him the exchange system.

Using one point, the system added a pinch of sugar to the porridge, stirring it diligently.

In the backseat, Yang BaiHua observed Cheng Yuan through the rearview mirror, hesitating several times.

After a moment, Chi XiaoChi feigned concern, "Lao Yang, what’s wrong? Carsick?"

Yang BaiHua made a decision.

Leaning forward, he asked, "Busy lately?"

"Very busy," Cheng Yuan’s voice full of energy, sounding playful.

Yang BaiHua asked, "How’s the song?"

Cheng Yuan, eager to talk, remembered Yang BaiHua’s disinterest in music, swallowed his enthusiasm, "Writing lyrics."

Yang BaiHua said, "XiaoCheng, I want to discuss something."

"Go ahead."

Yang BaiHua said, "My parents and third sister are visiting next week. You’re busy writing, and she might bring kids, which could disturb you."

Chi XiaoChi analyzed, "See? He’s trying to kick me out."

The system remained silent.

Chi XiaoChi wasn’t jumping to conclusions. Yang BaiHua hadn’t come out to his family yet.

Technically, until marrying a beautiful mixed-race girl, only his parents and cousin XiaoYan knew Yang BaiHua was gay.

In the original timeline, even the carefree Cheng Yuan knew this excuse was weak.

They’d argued over the car gift, Cheng Yuan lamenting, "Am I so shameful?" The argument escalated, leading to Yang BaiHua sleeping on the couch.

Fortunately, Cheng Yuan, being forgiving, reconciled the next morning.

Cuddled in a blanket, he said, "I’ll stay at a friend’s next week. Don’t be mad, okay?"

Chi XiaoChi, reading this part of the timeline, thought, "Little comrade, you’re naive."

Expressing dissatisfaction is fine, but there’s a way to do it.

Cheng Yuan paused, not responding immediately.

Yang BaiHua, slightly anxious, observed Cheng Yuan’s expression through the mirror.

Soon, Cheng Yuan smiled, revealing white teeth, "Okay."

His pinky finger rubbed the steering wheel, "Parents won’t want hotels, too expensive. Nearby guesthouses are subpar. They travel far, using public toilets without 24-hour hot water, it’s not ideal."

He glanced at Yang BaiHua through the mirror, smiling reassuringly.

Lowering his lashes, the warm streetlights danced across his face.

"But we only have one bedroom. Parents in the bedroom, you on the sofa, should we prepare air mattresses for my sister and niece?"

He looked again for confirmation.

In a moment, Cheng Yuan’s eyes reddened, glistening in the light.

Realizing his slip, Cheng Yuan looked away, coughing to cover it.

Yang BaiHua felt a pang, "XiaoCheng…"

Caught, Cheng Yuan reassured him, smiling warmly, indicating he was fine.

Yang BaiHua melted.

He understood Cheng Yuan’s difficulty, knowing he wasn’t ready to come out, and despite his sadness, Cheng Yuan accommodated him.

Guilt crept into Yang BaiHua’s heart.

He said, "XiaoCheng, I’ll book a hotel for you."

Cheng Yuan didn’t refuse, whining playfully, "Okay, but make it five-star."

Yang BaiHua laughed, "Sure, five-star."

The system was surprised.

This performance was seamless.

Chi XiaoChi’s micro-expressions were perfectly synchronized, utilizing the changing streetlights to great effect.

If this were a film set, every angle would capture perfect expressions.

The system had briefly reviewed Chi XiaoChi’s profile, knowing he was a model-turned-actor with numerous fans and haters.

At 26, a model-turned-actor embroiled in controversy, data suggested he was a face-dependent star, not a serious actor.

But things seemed different.

The system decided to study Chi XiaoChi further, to end the adjustment period and improve mission efficiency.

Compared to other systems, 061 was always efficient.

And this performance was rewarding.

Chi XiaoChi happily noted, "System, system, gained 15 Affection Points, 6 Regret Points."

The system received notifications, "Good job."

Chi XiaoChi said, "Same routine, exchange a card."

The system was baffled, "What routine?"

Chi XiaoChi, "15 points, what can I exchange? Never mind, send me the catalog later, I’ll choose."

The system, "…okay."

Chi XiaoChi asked, "Can unused cards be carried over to the next world?"

The system, "…yes."

Chi XiaoChi was delighted, "Great. How many cards total? Any rewards for collecting all?"

The system reminded him, "Mr. Chi, we’re a serious system, not a collectible game."

Chi XiaoChi said, "I love collectible games. In my old phone, there was ‘Summoning Demigods,’ 513 heroes, I’m missing six."

Thinking of this, Chi XiaoChi lamented, "…with this incident, I don’t know when I’ll complete it."

For a collector, this was truly cruel.

The system ignored him, and Chi XiaoChi shrugged, unfazed.

Approaching the destination, their apartment complex lacked free parking, so Chi XiaoChi parked on the roadside.

Turning off the ignition, Chi XiaoChi saw Cheng Yuan’s reflection in the window.

Naturally, his lips curved upward, like a sapling nourished by love.

No one could imagine such a cheerful soul would, three years later, commit suicide by slitting his wrists in a foreign town by the water.