After saying goodbye to Zhang Shi and leaving his house, Lin Xian and Gao Yang hurried towards the elevator. They pressed the button for the first floor, their minds buzzing with the recent revtions.
As the elevator doors closed, Gao Yang broke the silence. “So, you see, Chu An Qing’s disappearance has nothing to do with the time-space particles! There’s no connection at all! These arepletely separate events. Now we can understand, Lin Xian. A few days ago, when Chu An Qing was trying to capture the time-space particles, it didn’t matter whether she touched them or not. She would have disappeared at exactly 00:42!”
Lin Xian nodded thoughtfully. “If that had happened, she would have turned into blue star dust in her dorm, scaring her roommates. In other words—”
“Chu An Qing is a Millennium Stake,” Gao Yang interjected, “and it has nothing to do with the time-space particles. No matter where she is or what she does, nothing can prevent her from turning into blue star dust and disappearing at 00:42 on her twentieth birthday, March 28, 2024. Nothing can change this predetermined fact!”
“Exactly,” Lin Xian agreed. “Zhang Shi didn’t lie. ording to Chu An Qing’s situation, her reaction to touching the time-space particles was very intense. You saw it too; she just touched a time-space particle and immediately screamed, had a nosebleed, and held her head in pain, crying and shouting.”
“If Zhang Yu Qian had touched the time-space particles, with such a severe reaction, they couldn’t have missed it. From Zhang Shi’s description, their family wasughing and chatting in the car with no unusual behavior from Zhang Yu Qian. Since there was no extreme reaction, we can be sure she didn’t touch the time-space particles.”
“So, we can rule out the possibility that Zhang Yu Qian disappeared because of contact with the time-space particles. As you said, whether Zhang Yu Qian or Chu An Qing touched the time-space particles or not, it wouldn’t affect their fate of disappearing at 00:42 on their twentieth birthday.”
“That makes sense,” Gao Yang said as they walked out of the elevator and headed toward themunity exit. “Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a time-space particle appearing on Earth every twenty-something years, causing such a scramble likest time.”“Moreover, we’ve already verified that time-space particles don’t actively seek out Millennium Stakes. They ignore everyone. So why would they seek out Zhang Yu Qian?”
The elevator doors opened on the first floor.
Lin Xian and Gao Yang walked out and headed towards themunity exit. This trip was really worth it. They had gathered many crucial clues, and byparing the Chu An Qing incident with Zhang Yu Qian’s, they could derive many urate conclusions.
Firstly, the first rule: The formation and disappearance of Millennium Stakes have nothing to do with time-space particles. These are entirely separate phenomena. Lin Xian had initially been misled by Chu An Qing’s disappearance, as everything unusual happened after she touched the time-space particles. But thanks to Zhang Yu Qian’s case and Zhang Shi’s truth-telling, Lin Xian could deduce the above absolutely urate conclusion.
On January 21, 2000, Zhang Yu Qian disappeared into blue star dust without touching the time-space particles and without any warning signs. This is likely the correct way Millennium Stakes work—silently and stealthily,pleting their task independently and locking history.
Of course, this idea of locking history is still just Lin Xian’s guess. It’s likely correct, but he still can’t understand how a disappearing Millennium Stake, a 20-year-old girl, could lock history. And what happens after history is locked? These are questions to exploreter.
For now, considering the Millennium Stake, Zhang Yu Qian is a true, qualified, and timely Millennium Stake. But what about Chu An Qing? Because she identally touched the time-space particles, unexpected things happened. She must have awakened some memories or realized some truths and answers at that moment. She not only knew she would disappear at 00:42, but she also knew many other things, incredible things, that made her confidently write herself a note… telling herself that opening this note in the dream world 600 yearster would reveal the reality of the world.
“Chu An Qing must have gained some memories after touching the time-space particles. That’s why her reaction was so intense. Although I don’t know what kind of memories she gained, it must have been caused by the time-space particles. Yellow Finch probably didn’t know that time-space particles would affect a Millennium Stake.”
As they walked past themunity square, where an olddy was peeling pomegranates, they continued toward themunity gate.
After hearing Lin Xian’s words, Gao Yang added, “Yellow Finch probably didn’t know that Chu An Qing gained memories after touching the time-space particles. Look, Yellow Finch was also panicked at that time. It was obviously her first time seeing a Millennium Stake interact with time-space particles.”
“I remember, Chu An Qing kept crying and asking Yellow Finch, and Yellow Finch finally asked, ‘You know everything?’ This shows that the situation was beyond Yellow Finch’s understanding! I feel like many things during the time-space particle capture n that day were unexpected for Yellow Finch.”
Lin Xian nodded. “But one thing is certain, Yellow Finch must have known that Millennium Stakes can see time-space particles. That’s why she brought Chu An Qing on the ne but didn’t give her a specific task.”
“This further proves that on January 21, 2000, there were no time-space particles around when Zhang Yu Qian disappeared. If there were, even if others couldn’t see them, Zhang Yu Qian would have seen them. This confirms it.”
“Moreover, Yellow Finch also knew that Millennium Stakes would disappear at 00:42 on their twentieth birthday. That’s evident. She knew that no matter what, Chu An Qing would disappear at 00:42. That’s why she shouted not to save her… because she was destined to disappear.”
Suddenly, Lin Xian remembered Yellow Finch’s words. She said that if they lost this time-space particle, the future, the world, and everything would be terrible. That’s why she nned such a desperate and dangerous capture operation.
Yellow Finch might have only seen or known about time-space particles but never caught one, at least not this one. Simrly, she knew about Millennium Stakes, their ability to see time-space particles, and their fate of disappearing at 00:42 on their twentieth birthday, but she didn’t know what would happen if a Millennium Stake touched a time-space particle. This was beyond her knowledge.
“No wonder…” Gao Yang snorted. “No wonder Yellow Finch agreed so easily to let Chu An Qing catch the time-space particles. It was her original n. She knew Chu An Qing would disappear anyway, so she didn’t care about her life, just wanted to use her to catch the time-space particles!”
“Hey, it’s hard to say.” Lin Xian patted Gao Yang’s shoulder, urging him not to dwell on past events. No one knew what Yellow Finch’s initial n was.
Thinking positively, Yellow Finch might have brought Chu An Qing just in case. If Gao Yang had captured the time-space particles directly, Chu An Qing wouldn’t have been needed. Thinking negatively, Yellow Finch might have known Gao Yang couldn’t catch the particles, and they would be invisible, so the only way was for Chu An Qing to catch them.
“It’s all in the past, Gao Yang. Yellow Finch might have been wrong in some areas, but she did it for me. Let’s not dwell on it and look forward.”
They left themunity, hailed a taxi, and headed back to their hotel to rest.
“What do you think…” Gao Yang said, sitting in the back seat of the taxi, turning to Lin Xian. “What memories did Chu An Qing awaken after touching the time-space particles? It couldn’t be Zhang Yu Qian’s memories, right?”
Lin Xian shook his head. “I’m not sure, and I can’t guess. But I think she awakened a lot of crucial memories. Zhang Yu Qian’s 20-year life was too simple and couldn’t have given Chu An Qing the confidence to write me that note.”
“But that question isn’t important. When I see the contents of the noteter, I’ll understand. As Chu An Qing said… I’ll definitely understand. I believe her.”
“So, let’s not overthink and focus on summarizing our theories about the Millennium Stake.”
Lin Xian continued to piece together the information in his mind, leading to the second theory about the Millennium Stake: If the disappearance time of the Millennium Stake is fixed and unchangeable, it means the interval between the Millennium Stakes is a stable 24 years.
So, if a Millennium Stake is nted every 24 years… when does it end? Does it really take a thousand years? Is a thousand years that long? In the grand scale of the universe, even on Earth, a thousand years isn’t a very long time.
If it’s a thousand years… nted every 24 years… How many times?
“1000 divided by 24…” Lin Xian was doing mental math.
“42,” Gao Yang blurted out. “It’s not an exact number, but it’s roughly 42. If it’s 1008, it divides perfectly into 42.”
Lin Xian looked at Gao Yang in amazement. “You calcted that quickly.”
“I’m always calcting loans when buying cars…” Gao Yang chuckled. “I calcte these multiples of 12, 24, and 36 daily for interest and rates… I’ve memorized them.”
42 Lin Xian didn’t expect this mysterious number to appear again.
If Millennium Stakes are indeed nted for a thousand years, it doesn’t have to be exactly 1000 years; 1008 years can also be called a millennium. In regr grammar, that’s eptable.
Moreover… The name Millennium Stake is a term Yellow Finch created, but it’s not just made up randomly. There must be a special significance to choosing “Millennium” instead of “Century” or “Decade.”
Considering this… A Millennium Stake might be something nted every 24 years,sting 1008 years, locking 1008 years of history!
But this is just a guess, without evidence, just a yful calction.
…
Lin Xian’s thoughts returned to the urate theories about the Millennium Stake. Besides the first two theories, there’s a third, obvious theory: In reality, the Millennium Stake exists as a human girl who grows up like any other girl, born at 00:42, disappearing at 00:42 on her twentieth birthday,pleting the post. Every Millennium Stake looks exactly the same.
This is the third theory, based on facts, absolutely correct. But who was the first Millennium Stake, the first girl with this appearance… Lin Xian doesn’t know, but it’s not Chu An Qing. It’s also clear that CC must be a Millennium Stake too.
“I wonder when CC was born and how old she is,” Lin Xian thought. If… If CC’s birth date was August 29, 2604, at 00:42…
Then everything fits. His dream always ends at 00:42 on August 29, 2624, destroyed by white light.
So… What is the white light? If CC is a Millennium Stake, she should turn into blue star dust, not destroy the world with white light. This is something Lin Xian doesn’t understand. The main reason is he still doesn’t know what the white light in his dream means. Depending on different theories, the exnation varies. Lin Xian isn’t sure which one is correct.
Maybe the white light doesn’t mean the world is destroyed, but he is killed, or the dream simply ends. This is another situation where he can’t see the big picture because he’s inside it. Because he’s destroyed by the white light… He’ll never know what the world is like after the white light, what the world outside the white light is, or what caused the white light and its purpose.
Being inside the light cone, Lin Xian is destined never to find the answer.
“One step at a time,” Lin Xian felt he was thinking too far ahead and stopped himself. His fourth dream was still stuck.
Once he handled everything in Donghai, he would try to revive VV and start the battle with Kevin Walker, beginning a new round of cat and mouse. If he sessfully eliminated Kevin Walker… The Lin Xian in his fourth dream might be able to move freely and be liberated.
At that time, he had two things to do. First, go to Time Bank 600 yearster, open his safe deposit box, and read Chu An Qing’s note to understand the truth of the dream. Second, find CC, confirm her birth date and age, and understand her rtionship with Chu An Qing if she is indeed a Millennium Stake.
“These are long-term ns,” Lin Xian murmured softly. If his dream could extend by just one second… He could see if CC turned into blue star dust.
Suddenly, Lin Xian froze. He slowly opened his eyes wide. Could it be… His dream ended at that coincidental time… To prevent him from seeing CC turn into blue star dust?
This was too difficult to think about. It’s hard to believe why so many events, so many coincidental times, all converged at 00:42. The more he thought, the less real it felt, and the more terrifying it became.
Screech— The taxi braked.
“Let’s go, Lin Xian. We’re at the hotel. Rest and catch the flight back to Donghai,” Gao Yang said.
Lin Xian nodded. He and Gao Yang got out, entered the hotel, and went to their room.
…
Gao Yang ordered a bunch of takeout and ate heartily. Lin Xian took a hamburger and c, sat on the balcony, and ate. Then, as usual, he halfy in the chair, holding the password diary, turning the password wheel, trying eachbination.
After much effort… The password was almost in sight. He regretted not starting from 0000, instead of 9999. It was too annoying.
The password wheel showed 1979. Lin Xian pressed the lock.
Click.
It didn’t open.
Reflexively, he pushed the wheel up and changed the password to 1978.
Click.
Again, it didn’t open.
“Suddenly, I remembered, Lin Xian!” Gao Yang said, mouth full of food. “If a Millennium Stake is nted every 24 years, there must have been a girl before Zhang Yu Qian! A girl who looks just like Chu An Qing.”
Click.
The password diary didn’t open.
“That’s obvious. The previous Millennium Stake should be from 1976.”
Lin Xian looked down and realized the password wheel showed 1976.
He pressed the lock.
Click.
Still didn’t open.
“Hmph, let’s see how long you can hide,” Lin Xianughed. Only about 2000binations left. It couldn’t hide for long. Even if the code was 0000, it could only hide for 2000 more tries. He endured the long process of trying everybination. Thest thousand or so wouldn’t be a problem.
Lin Xian continued turning the wheel, trying each password.
Click. Click. Click.
Eventually, Gao Yang finished eating and wiped his mouth. “Do you think we can find the girl who disappeared in 1976, who looks like Chu An Qing?”
“Absolutely not, don’t even think about it.”
Click. Click.
Lin Xian kept tryingbinations. The numbers continued to decrease. 1961, 1960, 1959…
“1976 is too long ago. X Country didn’t have a national ID system until 1984. Though it’s inappropriate to say, back then, the only proof of existence was a crude household registration, without photos. So you definitely can’t find the 1976 Chu An Qing.”
“Besides, consider the possibility of being born abroad. This time it was a coincidence, two Millennium Stakes in the country. With so few samples, a Millennium Stake could easily be born abroad.”
Lin Xian thought of CC. She said she was born abroad, in Brooklyn, USA.
Click. Click.
He continued to turn the password wheel.
Gao Yang sighed, wiped his mouth with a napkin. “When does this Millennium Stake thing end? Even if it takes a thousand years, there has to be a start, the first post, right?”
“1976… 24 years back… 1952!”
1952? Lin Xian blinked. This was a familiar year.
Isn’t this… The year realist painter Henry Dawson painted “Sorrowful Einstein” in Brooklyn?
He looked down. The password wheels on Zhang Yu Qian’s diary showed 1952.
Lin Xian hesitated before pressing down his thumb—
Click.
A crisp sound, and the password lock, closed for 24 years…
Opened!
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