Seeing Hawking's breathing improve as he exchanged questions and answers with Huang Ji, Irene stood silently to one side, not daring to interrupt, scarcely even daring to breathe.
She did not understand changing history or creating history.
Irene only knew that she was witnessing history.
After thinking for a moment, Hawking failed to understand what Huang Ji meant. History could not be changed, only created? He did not want to hear such a vague answer.
He pressed on. "Are you really a time traveler? Even now, I can hardly believe it. When I saw that invitation, I felt as though the world I had understood all my life was collapsing."
Huang Ji neither confirmed nor denied it, saying nothing.
Hawking said, "I would not send out an invitation. I can tell you with absolute certainty that I definitely would not send out an invitation!"
"Please do not say that you might send the invitation in my place. You should understand that I am asking a question equivalent to the Grandmother Paradox. Tell me, why were you able to attend my party?"
Huang Ji picked up another orange segment and ate it, smiling. "Professor Hawking, as a scientist, you should understand that paradoxes do not actually occur."
"When you believe something is a paradox, there must be some misunderstanding involved."
Hawking pressed further. "Tell me, what misunderstanding? Since you came to my party, you must be willing to satisfy my curiosity, right?"
"Of course," Huang Ji said. "Professor, I will also gain something from you."
"Fine." Hawking agreed without hesitation.
He did not care what Huang Ji wanted. Even if it was his life, it did not matter. The Doctor had long sentenced him to death. It was his curiosity about the universe that had driven him to live until now.