The fragrant and soft rice fell on Chao Jian's legs, but he didn't react.
Chen Yang was confused for a moment, and quickly took a wet rag to scoop up the rice: "Is it burned?"
Chao Jian answered the question irrelevantly: "Living together?"
"Yeah," Chen Yang shook the rice grains on the rag towards the trash can, "I told you the reason."
Looking at the dark spot on Jian's leg, the heat from the rice had gone and it was cold. He frowned and asked, "You want me to live here?"
Chen Yang said, "I can go to your place."
Chao Jian: “…”
Chen Yang swept away the broken bowls on the ground, cleaned up, and pondered for a moment: "This matter mainly depends on you. No matter what you think, I have no objection."
Chao Jian said nothing.
Chen Yang made a friendly statement: "We have completed a task together once before, and our cooperation was pretty good."
Chao Jian raised his eyebrows slightly: "Are you sure?"
There were three home-cooked dishes on the table, and a loofah and egg soup, all of which were delicious.
Chen Yang looked at him through the fragrance: "I admit that I am a bit timid when it comes to ghosts."
"But we all have our own fears, things that are difficult to overcome, right?"
Chao Jian said: "No."
Chen Yang: “…”
The atmosphere became awkward.
Chao Jian looked as if he couldn't continue the conversation.
Chen Yang silently took away the boy's crutches, put them where he couldn't reach, and quietly went to get him another bowl of rice.
"Let's have a good talk. Tell me what your conditions are. I'm a very easy person to talk to, and I also hope to have another chance to be your ally."
"ally?"
Chao Jian smiled and said, "Honestly?"
Chen Yang's face twitched, and he thought, you haven't given much yourself, so you have no right to ask me for it.
We are the same.
He couldn't say this. If he did, everything would be ruined and they would go their separate ways. He wouldn't be so willful as to argue and delay his own goal.
Chen Yang mentioned some information he obtained from Wu Yu.
Chao Jian lowered his head and mixed the rice with chopsticks: "They can enter the same mission multiple times at the same time. It should not be because of where they live. It's because their ID number is small enough that they have the privilege to choose their companions. Didn't you say that your ID number is seven digits? Can you have that privilege?"
Chen Yang didn't have much doubt about the boy's statement. He also felt that it was unreasonable to do that just by living together.
"What if?"
Chen Yang sat down opposite the young man. His ID number was a three-digit number, smaller than those of Wu Yu and her boyfriend.
Besides, there is a bug that causes black accounts.
Always try.
Chao Jian ignored Chen Yang and ate his meal slowly.
Chen Yang was not discouraged. If he didn't refuse immediately, it meant he was considering it. He changed the topic and asked, "Have you checked your background?"
Without waiting for the boy to respond, Chen Yang continued, "I know you are from Sanlianqiao, but where are your ancestors?"
"The blood of people in the real world can activate the altar of the Yi people in the mission world. Aren't you curious about the reason behind this?"
Chao Jian was unmoved: "Curiosity kills the cat."
Chen Yang said he was tired, and he supported his head with his hand and looked at the boy. He really liked eating Chinese cabbage moss. He tasted it when it was fried and it was tender and okay.
He soon found out that he was wrong, as this person liked all kinds of dishes.
And eat a lot.
Like a starving ghost who hasn't eaten enough for 800 years.
Chen Yang realized that if he didn't eat, the soup would be gone, so he didn't delay and picked up the bowl and chopsticks to get busy.
Suddenly, someone on the other side said in a serious tone while discussing work: "There's not enough food."
"puff-"
Chen Yang choked and turned his head in time, spraying a mouthful of food onto the ground.
Chao Jian's furrowed brows were full of disgust.
He didn't stop picking up food, and his appetite didn't seem to be affected.
Chen Yang was so skilled in cleaning the floor tiles that the young man surnamed Chao hopped on one foot to the crutch, and went to the kitchen with the crutch to get the second bowl of rice. It was a big bowl full of rice, and it seemed that it had been pressed with a spatula.
The boy has a big appetite and eats quickly with an elegant posture.
Chen Yang watched him clear a plate of shredded pork with green peppers and felt that the atmosphere was quite mild, so he said tactfully: "Actually, I suspect you were involved..."
"It's because of you."
Chen Yang stared at the boy who interrupted him and his mind went blank.
Chao Jian picked up a piece of bean sprouts with chopsticks and put it into his mouth, saying indifferently: "You guessed it right. I don't have an ID number. I'm an illegal resident."
Chen Yang cleared his throat and asked tentatively: "Then you have already guessed that you were harmed by me, and you have helped me through difficulties many times and cooperated with me. You don't blame me?"
Chao Jian chewed the food in her mouth and swallowed it, then put down her chopsticks and looked at him.
The boy's eyes were deep and still. If you stare into his eyes for too long, you'll feel like you're being entangled by a cold-blooded animal. Chen Yang avoided his gaze and listened to him ask a question abruptly.
"Which section of the rehabilitation center are you in?"
Chen Yang was puzzled, but he still told him the truth: "Area A."
"Come to think of it, I've never been to other areas of the rehabilitation center. The management is pretty strict."
The young man opposite suddenly stood up with crutches, walked around half of the dining table towards Chen Yang, took one of his chopsticks, and poked the other end of the chopstick behind his left ear.
"How did you get this scar?"
The words stopped at Chen Yang's lips. He sat there in a daze. "By the way, where did I get that scar?"
I can't remember.
It seems like I forgot something.
It shouldn’t be important, otherwise I wouldn’t have forgotten it.
Chen Yang comforted himself in this way, but the more he tried to remember, the more frustrated he became.
When Chen Yang's thoughts returned to reality, he was the only one left at the table, and the plates were all empty.
The soup is gone.
Chen Yang was stunned for a long time, thinking that the boy had left, but then he found that the white paper bag he brought was still there.
"Chao Jian? Chao Jian? Chao..."
There was a faint blue light from the balcony reflected on the glass window. Chen Yang stopped shouting and walked closer, and saw the young man holding up his mobile phone to take pictures of the night view.
It was taken through a glass window.
Chen Yang asked in confusion: "What's so interesting on the second floor?"
Chao Jian was always silent.
"I can see the bungalows from here." Chen Yang opened the glass window and lay on the guardrail to enjoy the fresh air.
This area is about the same age as him and his sister. He remembers that in the past there was no Internet or electronic equipment, and the black and white TV could not receive many channels, so they came out to have fun.
As the leader of the kids, with a lot of followers, Chen Yang was the kid from other families in Sanlianqiao at that time. Everyone knew that he could play and study.
This person must have seldom gone out when he was a child and even changed his last name.
Chen Yang didn't believe that his memory was too bad.
This person went abroad after his childhood and returned last month. If we calculate based on this, it is very likely that he injured his leg after returning.
I don’t know what happened, it’s just bad luck.
Chen Yang rested his head on his arm and turned his head to look at the boy: "Did you really live here when you were a child? I have no impression."
Chao Jian lowered her eyes and flipped through the photos she had taken. She didn't respond to his words and only said, "There's a cell phone in the white paper bag. It's for you."
Chen Yang asked strangely, "Why did you give me this for no reason?"
Chao Jian glanced at him: "Didn't you want it?"
Chen Yang was stunned: "Did we have any misunderstanding?"
Chao Jian became much colder: "Not worth the money."
Chen Yang showed him his cell phone: "I just bought a new one yesterday."
Chao Jian didn't even raise his eyelids: "Oh."
Chen Yang: “…”
After a while, Chao Jian asked Chen Yang if he was sure he wanted his broken thing and not the one he brought.
Chen Yang nodded.
Then Chao Jian was about to throw the phone into the trash can downstairs.
Chen Yang stopped him subconsciously.
The mobile phone was left here and became the property of its owner, Mr. Chen.
It’s the same brand as the teenager, with a white shell and the same durable battery.
Chen Yang remembered the boy saying that this kind of phone had to be customized and it would not be available so quickly.
Now I don’t know how he got it in one day.
Chen Yang sighed. This gift was expensive and he felt uncomfortable accepting it. Since they were not related to him, if he did not accept it, the boy might blame him for being ungrateful.
The chances of continuing to be allies are slim.
After Chen Yang finished his housework, Chao Jianren was still in his house, curled up in the old bamboo chair he had picked up from outside.
"It's almost eight o'clock."
Chen Yang turned on the TV and changed the channel: "If you are not in a hurry to go back, we can talk again."
No response.
Chen Yang looked over and saw that the boy had fallen asleep again.
The blue color under the eyes is still very heavy.
Chen Yang turned off the TV and had just made a cup of honey tea when a glance came over from the bamboo chair.
"Awake."
Chen Yang saw that the young man was staring at his water cup, which was very hot. Suddenly, he had an idea and handed him the tea that he had not touched yet.
Chao Jian took it with one hand, put his other hand on it, held the cup, and took a sip slowly.
Chen Yang felt that the boy's every move was out of place with Sanlian Bridge. He could even wear an ordinary black baseball uniform in a classy way. He decided to give up trying to find out his information.
There are too many things to think about, you need to cut down on them, prioritize them, and then let this matter take its course without worrying about it.
Chen Yang looked out at the night outside the balcony: "I have a hunch that the second mission will be in a few days..."
“It has already begun.”
Chen Yang slowly turned his head to the boy: "Start, start?"
He raised his head toward Jian and said, "Feel in your pocket."
Chen Yang did as he was told and touched his coat pocket: "Nothing..."
The words stopped abruptly, and a ticket appeared in his trouser pocket, right between his fingers.
A regular red ticket.
Qingcheng to Penang.
The departure time is 9:55 this evening.
Chen Yang's expression changed again and again. The mission world could actually be connected with the real world!
He took a breath and asked, "Which train are you on?"
Chao Jian: "k1856."
"Me too."
Chen Yang was delighted: "I'm in carriage 2, seat 11."
Chao Jian tasted the sweetness of honey and the aroma of green tea: "Car 7, No. 3."
Chen Yang frowned. So they were on the same train, but in different carriages.
"The bus will leave in about two hours. There may be traffic jams on the road at this time. Let's go now. It's better to go early than late."
Chen Yang put the ticket in his pocket: "Do you want to go home and get something?"
"No need." Chao Jian stood up and said, "Let's go."
Chen Yang's plan to take advantage of the opportunity to go to this man's house failed. He scratched the back of his neck and glanced at the honey tea, wanting to see how much was left so that he could drink it all himself and not waste it.
I looked and found there was not a drop left.
More than half an hour later, Chen Yang and Chao Jian arrived at Qingcheng Terminal.
Both of them wore masks and hats.
When Chen Yang was waiting for a taxi downstairs in the community, he saw a stall selling masks on the roadside. Thinking that Chao Jian's face was too conspicuous, he suggested that he buy one and wear it.
As a result, the other party bought two and gave him one as a gift.
I also bought a hat and gave one to him as a gift.
Chen Yang used to like wearing a baseball cap very much. He used it to look cool and pretentious. When he played basketball at school, he would take it off and throw it into the audience seats. Any girl who picked it up would hold it for him, and when he came back to ask for it, she would give her a piece of candy.
I'm wearing it again after four years, and my hair feels uncomfortable.
Chen Yang tugged at the brim of his hat, reached into his coat pocket to grab the ticket, and followed the boy towards the station.
"Dear passengers, in order to ensure the safety of you and others, it is strictly forbidden to… "
At the ticket gate of the train station, crowds of people were queuing up for security checks.
The large screen on the top flashed, updating the train information.
Chen Yang passed the security gate, picked up his backpack from the security machine, weighed it on his back twice, and looked up at the screen.
Found it.
k1856 The departure time for the fourth waiting room is 21:55.
The radio was shouting: "Dear passengers, the Gao 58 train from Donghu to Xinzhou is delayed for some reason..."
"Get out of the way!"
Chen Yang was looking up at the big screen when his arm was bumped. A young man was holding a train ticket in his mouth and rushing to the escalator on the second floor, causing a burst of verbal abuse.
"My bag, ouch, don't squeeze it!"
"Can you slow down a bit?"
"Why are you pushing so hard? Are you in a hurry to be reincarnated? Be more civilized!"
"… "
The waiting rooms are all on the second floor.
Chen Yang said to the boy, "We still have time. I want to go to the supermarket to buy some things. Can you find a place to sit for a while?"
Chao Jian swiped his phone: "No need."
Chen Yang ignored him and walked to the newsstand, pointing at a magazine: "Boss."
"Give me a copy of the Yangtze Evening News." A middle-aged man in a suit cut in line.
"One dollar and fifty cents, scan the code next to it."
The middle-aged man in a suit hurried away with the newspaper. Chen Yang picked up a magazine and a storybook, then turned and walked into the snack shop next door.
The prices in the supermarket are much higher than outside.
Chen Yang took a box of biscuits and walked around the shelf to see if there was a thermos cup. He forgot to bring one with him when he left, and he didn't know how long he would have to stay on the train, so it would be nice to have a cup to drink water from.
"Are you mentally ill?"
A woman's voice sounded: "You didn't buy it when you came here, but you had to buy it here."
"I forgot. How could I remember so many things to bring?" the man argued.
"Then why can't you be patient? It's only two hours away, do you have to buy it? Don't you know how expensive things are at the station?" The woman was still angry, "Will you die if you are patient?"
The man stopped talking, but his hands did not stop selecting the goods.
Chen Yang found the thermos, picked out two items to eat and walked out. He casually glanced at the two people who looked like a couple. They were both young and looked like they had just graduated. They were still arguing with each other.
It's just a trivial matter.
When Chen Yang went up, he stood on the escalator and looked back down. The hall was full of people, bustling about, carrying and pushing large and small luggage, looking dazed or hurried.
This railway station is much bigger than before.
However, there was still a sense of familiarity in his memory, which made Chen Yang feel relaxed.
The second floor is not as crowded as the first floor. Most of the passengers stay in the waiting rooms. If they come out, there are either no seats or they cannot sit still.
When passing by the water room, Chen Yang took out the thermos cup from his bag and went over. There were quite a few people getting hot water and they had to queue up.
"Excuse me, sir."
An auntie next to him looked at Chen Yang and said, "Can you help me take out the cup from the bag next to my bag?"
The aunt turned her back and, as expected, found a cup in the side pocket of her backpack.
Chen Yang exerted a little force and took out the cup. It was a light-colored thermos cup for children.
"Thank you." Auntie took the cup.
Chen Yang filled the water bottle and returned to the boy. Amid the noise, he asked him, "Have you found other teammates?"
Chao Jian was still checking his phone.
Except when walking with crutches, I brush the brush all the time.
Chen Yang leaned forward and asked, "What's on the phone?"
Chao Jian: "News."
Chen Yang looked at him as if he was looking at an internet-addicted teenager, "Do you have an idea about this mission?"
Chao Jian: "What is the bottom?"
"… "
Before I knew it, a strong wind started blowing outside, and thick dark clouds moved down, blocking the full moon.
It was clearly the first half of the night, but it was as dark and quiet as after midnight.
There were a lot of people in the waiting hall, and Chen Yang waited for a long time before finding a seat. He asked the boy to sit down, as it was difficult for him to stand with crutches.
Chao Jian sat down without any hesitation, and then...
Continue to browse your phone.
Chen Yang casually glanced at the massage chair area. When he was in college, he would lie down here every time he went to school from home.
I don’t have that idea anymore, the knife of the mission is hanging around my neck.
"This massage chair is paid for, please do not sit idle, it will disturb... whirring..."
A middle-aged fat man was sleeping soundly in a massage chair. The language of the chair had no effect on him at all.
Chen Yang withdrew his gaze and wanted to find another seat, but someone opposite him started arguing.
"I just went to the bathroom, and a woman agreed to look after the box for me."
The old man was anxious: "Now she's gone!"
"You were sitting in her seat. You must be in cahoots with the thief!"
The old man pointed at the young man sitting in the seat and shouted hysterically: "Come here! Come and take a look! Come and take a look at this young man! With hands and feet, there is nothing he can't do. How could he steal from an old man like me..."
"Oh my god, what is this!"
The young man was being stared at by many onlookers, and his face suddenly turned red: "Old man, I sat down because no one was sitting here."
"Think about it, if I was an accomplice of that thief, would I be sitting here waiting for you to catch me instead of running away?"
This made a lot of sense, and everyone thought there might be some misunderstanding, but the old man refused to give in and kept slapping his thigh and shouting, refusing to let the young man go.
Noisy.
Someone suggested: "Whatever happens, let's call the railway police."
"I'll go." Someone offered.
As the crowd waited, they gradually quieted down. Normally, there were railway police patrolling everywhere in the train station.
But they waited for a long time and the people who went to find the police did not come back.
Just when everyone was getting impatient, someone shouted, "They're back!"
The two men rushed into the waiting room panting with panic on their faces.
"What's going on with you? Where are the railway police?" people asked.
"No, no railway police."
"ah?"
Someone asked: "Did you go to the railway police's office?"
"I'm gone," the man said, trying to suppress his fear, "No... no one."
"impossible!"
The old man who lost the box shouted angrily: "You guys want to team up to cheat an old man like me, right?!"
"No..." Faced with the doubt, the person who went out explained hesitantly, "Not just the railway police, but also... and..."
"You'll find out if you go out and take a look for yourself." The other person who went out frowned and added hesitantly.
Everyone had a bad feeling in their hearts and walked out of the waiting room. They bumped into passengers coming out of other waiting rooms. The outside was full of people, and those inside were still pushing their way out.
"Have you seen my wife? My wife is gone."
"Why is there no signal on my phone?"
"Mine is gone too!"
"Does anyone have a cell phone signal? Can you lend it to me so I can make a call? My daughter is missing—"
"What the hell, the signal was full just now, and my games didn't lag at all. Let me try restarting the computer... Damn! Still no signal!"
"Everyone, go find the police! The signal at the train station has been blocked!"
"Mom! Mom, where have you been? Come back to me!"
… …
There were people missing in every waiting room, and there was no signal on mobile phones to contact them. Amid all the anxious shouts, the entire train station was in chaos.
"Oh my god, what happened to this world?"
"So many people are missing, even the railway police are missing!" A woman next to Chen Yang choked up.
Chen Yang subconsciously turned his head to look at the massage chair area.
Not a single person.
But he clearly saw that several massage chairs were still vibrating, but the people sitting on them were gone.
Thinking of something, Chen Yang suddenly took out the ticket from his pocket.
It was originally scheduled to open at 21:55 on March 15, 2020, but now it will open at 21:55 on March 18, 2020.
It became three days later.
Three days, so this time the mission is not on the train, but on...
TRAIN STATION.
The author has something to say: See you tomorrow.