Tian Sangsang was utterly exhausted, yet a thorn lodged in her heart kept her from fully drifting into sleep. Her head felt muddled, trapped in a state neither awake nor asleep.
After a few hours, the haze began to lift. It was the time when classes ended at A University.
Sangsang sprang to her feet, and Lin Chong, who just happened to hear the commotion, looked over. Their gazes met briefly before they both turned their attention to the scene outside the university.
From the school poured groups of students, both male and female, all clad in identical uniforms. It was quite an odd sight. Yet for someone from the twenty-first century, it carried an unusual charm. Watching the students, Sangsang felt an inexplicable surge of excitement. In her eyes, everything about them—down to the background—seemed veiled in a layer of gray, old and dim, yet undeniably reflective of that era.
"Excuse me, fellow student. Sorry to bother you, but I’m looking for someone," Sangsang approached a male college student, holding up a photo, and asked cautiously, "Have you seen this person before?"
She hoped that this student might know Youmei.
Suddenly, an attractive girl popped into view, startling the boy. He had been focused on the photo but inexplicably found himself distracted by Sangsang’s clothes, his gaze lingering on her attire.
Lin Chong coughed lightly, seemingly without intention.
Sangsang glanced at him in confusion.
The boy, realizing he’d been caught, hastily averted his eyes and apologized, "Sorry, I haven’t seen her before. Judging by the school uniform, she might be from our university."
Sangsang had no choice but to shift her focus. Spotting a group of female students passing by, she tactfully stopped them and explained her situation. One of them suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, isn’t that Xu Zhenxing?"
"You know... Xu Zhenxing?" Sangsang was shocked—she had found someone who recognized her father!
"Yes! He’s in my class."
"Then do you know this girl standing next to him?"
"Hm..." The girl frowned at the photo. The others also examined it closely before shaking their heads. "No, I don’t recall seeing her."
"Could you think harder? Are you sure you haven’t seen her?"
The first girl nodded and emphasized, "Definitely not from our department, nor our class. I’m not sure if she’s even from our university. Xu Zhenxing is quiet and reserved—I’ve never seen him close to any girls. But since she’s in a photo with him, why not just ask him directly?"
Though the girl had said it nonchalantly, Sangsang felt a burst of joy. Yes, of course! Despite being late by two years, asking her father would be much faster. She could track him down!
"Thank you! I’ll go find... Xu Zhenxing." Saying her dad’s full name aloud felt strange.
Just the thought of meeting her younger father filled Sangsang with excitement. Maybe she’d even see Aunty Zhong and Xia Danhui during their youth.
"Xu Zhenxing took leave yesterday; he’s not at school today."
"When will he be back?"
"That, I’m not sure."
Sangsang thanked them and didn’t let herself feel discouraged. At least she had a lead—her father lived in the old district. She knew that area and could go inquire there later.
Later, Sangsang and Lin Chong asked others near the school gates, but none of them had seen Youmei.
Sangsang never would have imagined how difficult it could be to locate a single person. Her disappointment grew with each shake of the head. As dusk approached, she had found nothing, and moreover, she realized she had nowhere to stay tonight. Was she going to end up homeless?
She wanted to look for her father, but she wasn’t his daughter here; approaching him out of the blue wouldn’t mean she’d be welcomed into his home. Feeling Lin Chong’s presence beside her, warmth blossomed in her chest. This young man, the first person she met after time-traveling, gave her a sliver of courage in such a moment.
Lin Chong asked, "Do you absolutely have to find this person?"
Sangsang replied firmly, "I do."
"Is she very important to you?"
Lin Chong understood. With one hand in his pocket, he said casually, "It’s getting late. You should head home now and keep searching tomorrow. As for me, I’ll be off."
"Alright, thanks for your help today. Goodbye!"
Staring at his retreating back, head hung low, Sangsang suddenly felt her nose sting with the threat of tears. The dim sunlight drew her shadow out—long and lonesome.
She gazed at her forlorn reflection on the pavement, unsure where to go next. Her bag still held a few snacks to get her through the night, and though she had some money, it was useless here.
A sigh came from afar, drawing closer. The voice, clean and pleasing, carried an undertone of frustration. "Hungry?"
Sangsang nodded vigorously.
"Come on, let me treat you to dinner."
Sangsang raised her head quickly, her lips tugging into a grateful smile. She followed Lin Chong eagerly, her steps light yet hurried, terrified he might change his mind.
Up ahead, Lin Chong added, "Sigh. Kindness gets taken advantage of. Eat your fill, then hurry home. Understand?" Was he, too, a runaway from home? Could it be that one misfit had found another? Though Lin Chong didn’t seem inclined toward selfless charity.
Sangsang clenched her teeth but gave no reply.
Lin Chong suddenly stopped and turned to glance back.
Sangsang blinked her big round eyes at him.
With a resigned expression, Lin Chong rubbed his face. Was it possible for his own thick-skinned demeanor to be outdone? Her pitiful appearance practically tugged at his conscience! If rumors spread, people would think Lin Chong bullies little girls.
They ordered rice and a few small dishes.
Lin Chong gently placed some greens onto Sangsang’s plate. As he casually nibbled peanuts, he reminded her, "After this, just go home, alright? Stop following me. If this were before, I might have cared for someone else. But times have changed; I can barely fend for myself, let alone another person. Though you... you’ve got this peculiar air about you that intrigues me."
Peanuts! Peanuts from the eighties! The sight of them paired with Lin Chong’s words sent Sangsang’s gaze sparkly bright. Lifting her drooping head slowly, she stared at him intently without saying a word.
"Stop looking at me like that," Lin Chong muttered, nearly choking as he hardened his heart. "Eat up and go."
Sangsang didn’t want things to be this way, but she was new to this world and out of options. The first person she met was Lin Chong, who seemed kindhearted. And if he truly was kindhearted, then maybe—just maybe—she could wear him down...
"Actually, I’m from the future," Sangsang whispered, scanning the surroundings to ensure nobody overheard her before sharing her secret.
Lin Chong gave her an incredulous look, then resumed eating as if he hadn’t heard her.
Sangsang, noticing his disbelief, persisted, "It’s true! I really am a future person."
"I’m from twenty-eight years ahead, from the year 2012."
Lin Chong: What a wildly imaginative woman.
Sangsang rummaged through her bag, determined to find something from her time period to convince Lin Chong and prove she wasn’t lying, that she truly had nowhere else to go.
She pulled out her belongings one by one with a flurry of movement.
"Look! This bottle of water? The production date is January 25, 2012!"