Two Worlds (Bonus Chapter 2)

Why are you getting off work so late?

I finally couldn't help but ask.

Lin Qingying cast a questioning look at her, as if to say, "Aren't you the same?"

"Let's go upstairs."

"Um."

The two went upstairs together, and Lin Qingying opened her laptop to continue her work.

I washed up, and then an overwhelming sense of exhaustion washed over me, so I said, "I'm going to sleep now, don't stay up too late."

"Okay, go to sleep."

She finally smiled and said, "I'll go to sleep in a bit."

"Okay, sure."

I pushed open the bedroom door, crawled under the covers, and was instantly overcome with sleepiness, falling asleep in less than a minute.

I woke up to the sound of an alarm clock the next morning.

When I got up and washed up, I found that Lin Qingying had already gotten up and gone to work. There was a note on the table telling me to eat breakfast by myself.

I quickly bought breakfast and leisurely rode the bus to the company.

Lu Zifeng, dressed in Ding Han, Yang Wei, you two need to be a little more lenient. And if there's anything Xu Hao can't handle, remember to help him out. Thanks a lot!"

"Manager Lu, you're too kind."

The fat man took the milk tea and laughed, "Alright, you go ahead with your work. Just give the repair orders to the three of us."

"Okay, sure!"

Lu Zifeng came and went in a hurry.

So, Fatty and I threw ourselves into our work. Now his Repair Skill have reached Advanced Level 10. Although it's not as good as my Master Level Repair Level 10, it's enough for him to take on the maintenance of most of the appliances here. If he can't fix them, he just throws them to me, and if I can't fix them, he pushes them to the original manufacturer.

So, I was busy until 5 p. m.

"Ding Han, are you having dinner with me and Shen Yue tonight?" the fat man asked after clocking out.

"I won't disturb your time together."

I smiled and said, "I'll head back now; I still have some things to take care of."

"Okay, sure!"

So, Shen Yue at the company, while I took the bus home by myself.

Downstairs in the residential complex.

I was planning to play a few rounds of arcade games, then have some food before going home, but unexpectedly, I saw a familiar figure on the stairs next to the convenience store.

The man was wearing an old black down jacket, wrinkled trousers, and a pair of worn-out leather shoes. He carried a square black briefcase. His clothes looked simple, but they were also very clean.

It's Old Ding! He actually came...

Beside him was a heavy-looking nylon bag filled with things.

After so many years, when I confirmed it was him, my heart almost stopped.

Compared to the time I remember him when he was fifteen, he looks much older now, but the old-fashioned, bookish air of a traditional intellectual is still there.

In another world, Old Ding is an associate professor at a second-tier university, and perhaps he is in the Star Abyss World as well.

"Dad."

I slowly stepped forward and called out softly.

"You're back?"

Old Ding stood up and said, "I was originally planning to mail the things to you, but I happen to have an academic lecture to attend in Huaining City, so I brought them over for you. Have you eaten yet?"

Not yet.

"Go upstairs."

"Good!"

I immediately stepped forward, took the nylon bag in my hand, and walked ahead.

After opening the door and putting the nylon bag away, Old Ding looked around the layout of the house and asked, "You share this place with someone?"

"Yes, this is my room."

Is there a kitchen?

"Have."

"Then let's cook."

Old Ding immediately got to work, taking out some cured meat, smoked fish, and vegetables from the nylon bag, and soon he was busy in the kitchen.

I sat in the living room, my feelings extremely complicated.

Soon after, several simple home-style dishes were served.

Old Ding wiped his hands, sat down opposite me, and said, "I didn't learn all of your mother's cooking skills, so just make do with this."

"Um."

I picked up my rice bowl, placed a piece of smoked fish in it, and tasted it – a salty and savory aroma that was just like before.

"Dad, Mom, she..."

Old Ding suddenly put down his rice bowl, his expression turning somber. "Son," he said, "I know your temperament. Ten years have passed, and you still can't get over this, right?"

"Dad, that's not what I meant..."

"It was definitely Dad's fault back then, otherwise the car wouldn't have plunged off the bridge and into the water, and your mom would have been yelling from inside the car for me to save you first..."

His eyes suddenly reddened. "I'm sorry... your mother has been gone for so many years..."

"..."

I felt as if I had been struck by lightning. The chopsticks in my hand involuntarily fell onto the table, and then tears welled up in my eyes and streamed down my face uncontrollably.

In reality, when I was fifteen, my family went back to our hometown for the Chinese New Year. Our car was involved in a car accident and plunged into the water. He first pulled me ashore, then rushed back into the water, pushed my mother to my side, and then never came back up.

But in the replica world of <Star Abyss>, the outcome is different; he is there, but his mother is gone.

One can imagine how painful and agonizing those ten years must have been for him.

Unfortunately, the original owner of this body didn't understand and must have given him a lot of cold looks.

"Dad..."

I choked up, wanting to tell him that in another world, he really did it, and his mother survived.

"That's enough, eat your food," Old Ding said.

"Um."

I wiped my tears with my sleeve and continued eating.

Just then, the sound of a door opening came from outside, and Lin Qingying, dressed in work clothes with a name tag hanging on her chest, appeared in the doorway.

She was taken aback when she saw Old Ding and me eating.

"You're back?"

I stood up and said, "This is my dad. He just arrived in Huaining City and came to visit."

"Um."

Lin Qingying nodded. "Hello, Uncle, I'm Ding Han's roommate, Lin Qingying."

"Oh..."

Old Ding was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Miss Lin hasn't eaten yet, has she? Why don't you sit down and eat with us?"

No, thank you.

Lin Qingying smiled apologetically, "Xie Xie for your kindness, Uncle, but I have to leave soon to attend a very important dinner with a client, so I won't be able to eat with you."

"All right."

Old Ding didn't try to persuade him further.

Lin Qingying returned to her room and came out shortly after. She had changed out of her work clothes and into a more business-like women's outfit. She was still carrying her bag, smiled at Old Ding, and walked towards the door.

But just as she grabbed the doorknob, she suddenly turned around and said, "Ding Han, where is Uncle staying tonight? Should I book him a hotel nearby?"

"No need to trouble yourself."

Old Ding hurriedly said, "I'll leave as soon as I finish eating. Huaining University of Science and Technology has already booked a guesthouse for me; I can stay there."

"Okay!"

Lin Qingying didn't say anything more, turned around, closed the door, and left.

After finishing their meal, the father and son cleaned up the dishes together.

"You and Miss Lin..."

Old Ding finally cast a questioning glance his way.

I know this is a question I can't avoid.

"Dad, don't overthink it. She and I are just friends. There's nothing more to it than what you're thinking."

"Yeah?"

Old Ding looked thoughtful. "Would a man and a woman who are just friends live together?"

"..."

This time, I remained silent; silence is golden.

Old Ding didn't ask any further questions, picked up his bag, and left.

I walked him out of the residential compound and only returned after I saw him get into a taxi.

Emotions were building up, and they had to be released.

So I took out my phone and called Fatty.

"Hey, Ding Han?" The fat man answered the phone with a laugh and asked, "What's up? Yueyue and I just finished shopping at the supermarket and were about to go see a movie."

Let's watch the movie another time.

I said, "Tell your sister-in-law I'm sorry, and come back quickly. I'm not in a good mood. Will you have a couple of drinks with me?"

"OK!"

Without a word, the fat man saw a WeChat message from him a few minutes later. "I've already hailed a taxi and will be right back. Wait for me at the Couple's Kitchen and order the food first!"

So I went into the Couple's Kitchen, didn't order any big dishes, just a few small appetizers to go with the drinks, and then ordered a bottle of baijiu and a few bottles of beer.

The sad thing about being alcohol-intolerant is that you have to think twice before drinking when you're in a bad mood.

A short while later, the fat man walked in, looking travel-worn, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Drink first."

"OK!"

The two of them drank and ate, while the cold wind howled outside. There were very few customers in the restaurant today; it was just the two of us sitting in a corner drinking. The proprietress was scrolling through Douyin) behind the counter and didn't bother us.

"What's wrong? Tell me, bro?" the fat man finally couldn't help but ask.

"Fatty, I've seen my dad..."

"..."

Fatty knew my family's situation very well, so he naturally knew how impactful this matter would be for me.

"Here..."

I tapped the table with my index finger, tears welling in my eyes, and said, "A family of three fell into the water, and my dad only managed to save me, but he couldn't save my mom..."

"Huh? How could this happen? How could this happen...?"

The fat guy instantly burst into tears too. He patted my shoulder across the table and whispered, "Don't be too sad, brother..."

"Um."

I nodded, downed all three bottles of beer, my head spinning, on the verge of blacking out.

My alcohol tolerance seems to have improved; I didn't completely black out.

After dropping me off at my place, the fat guy sat for a while and then left, as Shen Yue wanted to have a long phone conversation with him.

Around ten o'clock, with a "click," the door opened.

Lin Qingying walked in carrying a bag, her gaze falling on me. "Have you been drinking?"

"Yeah, I wasn't in a good mood, so I had a drink."

"Oh..."

She didn't say much, opened her laptop, and sat down next to me to start working.

I don't know how much time passed, but then a "beep" sounded, and a message came from a friend I had added but hadn't contacted since— Liu Yan.

"Ding Han, I'm passing through on a business trip and will be staying in Huaining City tonight. Would you like to grab a bite to eat and talk about Cheng Shuang?"