In the computer shop, the lights were off, and the interior was dimly lit.
Boss Fang handed an envelope to Lu Zhe. "Xiao Zhe, here's this month's salary. Thank you for always helping out here."
Boss Fang looked somber, with streaks of gray hair and an appearance that seemed to have aged over a decade.
Lu Zhe felt the thickness of the envelope and opened it. "Uncle Fang, you gave me too much."
"Tomorrow, this place will be transferred to someone else, and I'll be leaving D City. Take the money; it's what you deserve. There's nothing more I can do for you," Boss Fang said with a sorrowful expression. "You'll be starting university in half a month, and there will be many expenses. Consider the extra as a small token of my appreciation."
Lu Zhe held the envelope tightly, his eyelids lowering. "Thank you, Uncle Fang."
Boss Fang patted Lu Zhe's shoulder, sighed, and then turned to go upstairs.
Lu Zhe glanced around the shop, as if recalling the first time he had come to work here. He remembered Little Kuaile rolling up to him in her small wheelchair, smiling at him.
His eyes darkened, and his thin lips pressed together, their color faint.
Lu Zhe left the computer shop and closed the door behind him.
It was 6 p.m., and the sky hadn't yet darkened.
The night market street outside the computer shop was already bustling, with barbecue and snack stalls lining both sides of the road, their aromas filling the air.
Amid the lively street, the tall young man walked alone. His left leg, affected by ALS, often gave out, and several times, he nearly fell.
Just then, a chubby boy, like a runaway horse, darted through the crowd and crashed into Lu Zhe.
Lu Zhe's left leg, numb and weak from his condition, couldn't support him, and he fell to the ground.
The boy was startled. Seeing the person he had knocked down lying there, he was afraid of being scolded and quickly ran away.
"Where are you running off to, you brat?" a middle-aged woman scolded, grabbing her son by the collar. "There are so many people around. What if you knock someone over?"
The boy glanced back guiltily at the person he had knocked down. Lu Zhe was slowly pushing himself up from the ground, his expression cold and unreadable.
The boy quickly hid behind his mother.
Lu Zhe's palms were scraped, and his blue school uniform pants were stained with sauce from a nearby stall, the knees completely soiled.
He glanced at the mess but ignored the curious stares around him. Limping, he walked away.
The stairwell's light bulb, long overdue for repair, flickered weakly, casting a dim glow.
As Lu Zhe climbed the stairs, he noticed several people standing outside his apartment door.
They were dressed in a non-mainstream style. Among them, Zhao Youyou, with heavy makeup, curly hair, a tank top, and a miniskirt, called out as soon as she saw Lu Zhe. "Lu Zhe, I've been waiting for you."
Her friends turned to look at the approaching young man. His face was pale and gaunt, his cheeks sunken, and his eyes dark, exuding a sickly aura. His gait was slightly uneven.
Zhao Youyou approached but stopped short when she saw the stains on Lu Zhe's clothes. She didn't get too close, her expression one of disdain.
"Some of my friends have nowhere to stay tonight. They want to crash here," she said matter-of-factly.
"No," Lu Zhe replied bluntly.
Zhao Youyou chewed her gum and shot him a contemptuous look. "You're refusing? What's so great about this dump? My friends are only willing to come because of me."
Lu Zhe stared at her coldly.
Zhao Youyou's heavy eye shadow and bright red lipstick made her look nothing like a high school student. "Fine, if you won't let them stay, we'll find a hotel. But I need money. Lend me some."
"I don't have any," Lu Zhe said, his tone icy.
Zhao Youyou sneered. "You work part-time every day. Don't tell me you haven't earned anything."
"My money is none of your business," Lu Zhe said, turning to unlock his door.
"You think moving out means you can cut ties with our family?" Zhao Youyou said arrogantly. "You were raised by us. Even if you leave, you still owe us a debt of gratitude. You have to pay it back."
Lu Zhe didn't respond.
He opened the door, ignoring Zhao Youyou, and stepped inside. As her shouts echoed, he closed the door behind him.
"Wow, Youyou, your so-called brother is pretty heartless," a long-haired girl with heavy makeup mocked. "Weren't you so sure you'd get money from him?"
Zhao Youyou bit her lip, furious. She kicked the door several times. "Lu Zhe, you deserve to be poor and sick."
A buzz-cut boy nearby exhaled a puff of smoke and tossed his cigarette butt to the ground. "Let's go. We'll find money somewhere else."
The apartment was shabby and old, clearly the home of someone with no money. He didn't expect to get anything from a poor guy like Lu Zhe.
Zhao Youyou finally stopped kicking the door. She spat her gum onto the floor and left with the others.
Inside the apartment, Lu Zhe washed the scrapes on his palms. The wounds were superficial, so he didn't bother applying any ointment.
The room was cold and quiet.
That night, Lu Zhe cooked dinner, ate alone at the small coffee table, and then washed the dishes, took a shower, and went to bed.
His life was as plain and uneventful as a glass of water.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window.
Lu Zhe woke up to find his arms and legs twitching and cramping again.
He lay calmly in bed, waiting for the spasms to subside.
When he left the house, he noticed that the numbness and weakness in his arms had worsened.
A year into his illness, he had already prepared himself for the inevitable progression of his condition.
The summer heat was intense, and the sun was already high in the sky.
Lu Zhe was headed to a cybercafe to repair computers.
The cafe owner was a client of Boss Fang's. All the computers in the cafe had been purchased from Boss Fang, and whenever there was an issue, the owner would call Lu Zhe to fix them.
After all, young people like Lu Zhe—hardworking, capable, and diligent—were hard to come by.
The owner poured Lu Zhe a glass of water. "The problematic computers are labeled. Take a break first; there's no rush."
He had heard from Boss Fang about Lu Zhe's ALS, and this time, he noticed that even walking had become difficult for the young man.
"Thank you," Lu Zhe said, taking a sip of water before heading to the server room to fix the computers.
The owner sighed and shook his head. He had a son around Lu Zhe's age, but the kid only cared about gaming. He wouldn't study or even help with chores, always complaining about how hard it was.
Compared to Lu Zhe, who was both capable and academically gifted, his son was a complete disappointment.
Lu Zhe worked quickly, and the owner was satisfied. No matter how complex the computer problems were, Lu Zhe always found a solution.
The owner paid Lu Zhe and arranged for the next maintenance visit.
Meanwhile, at Lu Zhe's apartment, a girl in a light orange dress stood outside, looking around in confusion.
How had she ended up here after waking up?
Su Ci recognized this as the place Lu Zhe had rented in D City two years ago, but it had been demolished long ago.
Why was she here now?
She tried calling out for "Fu Gui," but there was no response.
She pressed the doorbell, but there was no answer.
Su Ci was at a loss. What was going on?
She wanted to call Lu Zhe, but she had nothing with her—no phone, no belongings.
She left the apartment complex and, relying on her memory, headed to the computer shop Boss Fang used to run.
The shop was still there.
Seeing Boss Fang walk out of the shop with a suitcase, Su Ci was stunned.
After Boss Fang and Lu Zhe had started their company, Boss Fang had become a successful CEO, full of vigor even in middle age. But the man before her now looked over a decade older, his expression sorrowful and vacant, with no sign of Little Kuaile by his side.
Su Ci stepped forward, intending to greet Boss Fang, but in the next moment, Boss Fang walked past her, pulling his suitcase, as if he didn’t see her.
Su Ci blinked, quickly calling out, “Uncle Fang.”
Boss Fang didn’t respond.
Su Ci stepped closer, “Uncle Fang.”
Only then did Boss Fang’s dazed gaze gradually focus. He looked at the unfamiliar young girl in front of him, “Are you calling me?”
Su Ci was startled by the unfamiliarity in his eyes, “You don’t recognize me?”
Boss Fang shook his head, “Young lady, you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I don’t know you.” He pulled his suitcase and left.
Su Ci blinked. Boss Fang didn’t recognize her, and Lu Zhe’s old residence hadn’t been demolished. She began to realize something was off. Had she traveled back in time?
After leaving the internet café, Lu Zhe had gone to a shop to help a customer fix their computer.
By the time he returned to the old neighborhood, it was already afternoon.
After running around all morning, Lu Zhe’s leg was worse, and he nearly fell when getting off the bus.
Lu Zhe slowly climbed the stairs. When he reached his apartment, he noticed someone crouching by the door.
He walked over.
Hearing footsteps, Su Ci looked up.
Seeing the person in front of her, she stood up in delight and hugged him tightly, “Why did you take so long to come back? I’ve been waiting for you forever.”
Su Ci had realized she had traveled back in time and decided to wait for Lu Zhe here.
Her legs had gone numb from standing, and with nowhere to sit, she had crouched down. Finally, Lu Zhe had returned.
The girl was overwhelmed with emotion. She clung to Lu Zhe, her voice soft and pleading, “Hold me tight. My legs are numb from crouching.”
After saying this, Su Ci nuzzled her face against Lu Zhe’s chest.
But the next second, Lu Zhe pushed her away.
Lu Zhe looked at the girl coldly, “I’m sorry, but I don’t know you.”
He stepped past her, opened the door, and was about to go inside.
Su Ci was stunned. Lu Zhe didn’t recognize her?
As Lu Zhe pushed the door open and was about to step inside, the hem of his shirt was suddenly tugged.
He turned to look and saw the girl’s slender, pale fingers gripping his shirt. She looked at him with a pitiful expression.
“I have nowhere to go. Can you let me stay?” The Lu Zhe before her looked at her with unfamiliarity, his expression cold and stiff. He truly didn’t know her.
Lu Zhe pulled his shirt out of the girl’s grasp, “No.”
Su Ci looked at him with pleading eyes, “Lu Zhe, are you really going to let me wander the streets?”
Lu Zhe frowned, “How do you know my name?”
“I not only know your name, but I also know everything about you. Let me in, and I’ll tell you.” Su Ci reached out to hook her fingers around his hand, which hung by his side, “I’ve been standing all morning, and I haven’t eaten. Lu Zhe, I’m hungry.”
Lu Zhe wanted to shake off her hand, but the girl, cunning as a little fox, slipped past him and into the apartment.
The girl was shameless. She turned back to look at him, “Come in already. Don’t just stand there at the door.” With that, she walked over to the worn-out sofa and sat down.
Lu Zhe’s brows furrowed slightly, his lips pressed into a thin line. He closed the door and walked in.
Su Ci was indeed hungry. She was about to ask Lu Zhe to cook for her when she noticed him limping as he walked in. She was shocked.
“Your leg...”
Lu Zhe’s left leg was noticeably unsteady, his expression indifferent, “I don’t know who you are, and I don’t recognize you. There’s nothing here for you. Please leave.”
Su Ci barely heard his words. Her gaze was fixed on Lu Zhe’s left leg, her heart aching.
Only now did she realize that the Lu Zhe of this time still suffered from ALS, and his condition was worse than when she had first met him.
She thought of Boss Fang, whom she had seen outside the computer shop. Little Kuaile wasn’t with him.
Su Ci had a sinking feeling.
She hadn’t traveled back in time. She had come to Lu Zhe’s previous life.
In his previous life, she didn’t exist.
Su Ci frowned, not understanding how this had happened. How could she return?
Lu Zhe glanced at the girl on the sofa, her expression troubled. He limped to the kitchen, poured a cup of hot water from the thermos, and brought it out.
He placed the cup in front of her, “Drink this, then leave. I don’t have room for you here.”
Su Ci pursed her lips, “I want to leave too, but I don’t know how.” She told Lu Zhe, “I don’t know how I ended up here. I was sleeping with you, and when I woke up, I was here.”
Lu Zhe looked at her calmly.
“My name is Su Ci. I’m your fiancée—no, I’m your fiancée in your next life. The you now doesn’t know me, but I’ve been with you.”
Su Ci felt like she was rambling, “Anyway, I’m your fiancée, so until I find a way to leave, you can’t kick me out.”
Lu Zhe’s expression remained calm, clearly not believing her.
“You don’t believe me?”
Her dark eyes narrowed as she glanced at Lu Zhe, “You have a small mole on your left waist and another near your thigh. I’ve seen every part of you.”
Lu Zhe: “...”
“Don’t worry, once I find a way to go back, I’ll leave.” Su Ci cut off Lu Zhe’s attempt to refuse, “You took me in before. Back then, I slept in your room, and you stayed in the storage room. This time, I can sleep in the storage room.”
The girl had appeared out of nowhere, which was strange, but she seemed to know everything about him, even the location of his moles.
She said she was his fiancée in his next life.
Lu Zhe turned away, “Do as you please.”
Su Ci’s lips curved into a smile. She knew Lu Zhe had agreed to let her stay.
