Voting

"I'm in favor."

Cheng Mengxue raised her hand without hesitation.

"I don't think there's anything to hesitate over. Wasn't the whole purpose of researching Spacetime Bulletins to make up for regrets and avert tragedies?"

"If it were a stranger, that would be one thing. I'm not so overflowing with saintly compassion that I want to save everyone."

"But Older Sister Xu Yan is different! She's not only my older sister, but also your friend. And it was with her help that we were able to retrieve the Positron Cannon."

"Now that we've used the Positron Cannon to gain the ability to send messages to the past, Older Sister Xu Yan deserves some of the credit too, doesn't she? How can we just stand by and watch her die?"

She turned to Jiang Ran.

"I'm against it," Jiang Ran said.

"You!"

Cheng Mengxue's eyes widened.

"I feel the same way you do. I want to save Xu Yan too."

Jiang Ran raised his head and met Cheng Mengxue's gaze.

"If it weren't for that mysterious message, and that string of meaningless numbers... I would definitely activate the Positron Cannon without hesitation, send a Spacetime Bulletin, and save her."

"Just as you said, there shouldn't be anything to struggle over. She's our friend, your older sister, and my childhood companion. If it wouldn't cause any losses or consequences, then of course we should save her."

"But in this situation, who can say for certain that the message and that string of numbers aren't a [Danger Warning]? That they aren't a [Danger Signal]?"

After a pause, he let out a long breath through his nose.

"I'm afraid that if we act rashly, we won't make things better. Instead... things might get worse."

"Is it possible that if we send another Spacetime Bulletin, Xu Yan will live, but you'll die? Or me? Or Qin Feng?"

"Besides, I never said we should stand by and watch her die. I'm only suggesting that we first figure out what that message and string of numbers mean, what they represent. Once we confirm there's no risk, then we can save Xu Yan."

Cheng Mengxue snorted.

"But we can only send messages three days into the past. We can only change history within those three days."

She pointed at the calendar as a reminder.

"Today is March 26. If we still can't crack those numbers by March 29, then we'll lose the chance to save her forever!"

"We should be able to improve it later."

Jiang Ran clenched his fists.

"We should be able to find... a way to send messages further into the past."

"You're just placating a child!" Cheng Mengxue slammed the table and sprang to her feet in anger.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't argue, don't argue."

Qin Feng hurried between them to calm them down.

"I think Jiang Ran has a point. Being a little safer, a little more cautious, is better than anything else."

"There are still two days left. How about we hold off on making a decision and focus all our efforts on cracking this code first?"

Three days later, March 29.

Morning, the rooftop.

Qin Feng pushed open the stairwell door and looked at Jiang Ran, who was sitting on the edge of the building.

"Why aren't you in the activity room?"

Jiang Ran sighed.

"You already know why."

Over the past three days, the three of them had tried many methods to decipher that string of mysterious numbers.

The result was deeply discouraging. They still had no idea what it actually meant.

Jiang Ran lowered his head.

"You probably think I'm being overly cautious, overly sensitive too."

"A little."

Qin Feng answered honestly.

"But I understand you."

"Because you're different from us. For some unknown reason, you can retain memories from before the Spacetime Shift and personally experience the process of it happening. So you have a deeper understanding of the nature of spacetime, and naturally, more concerns."

Jiang Ran stood and looked at the fiery rising sun.

"I'm conflicted too. It's not like I'm made of stone."

He turned back.

"But the whole Spacetime Bulletin matter started because of me, and I was the one who dragged you two into it. I have to take responsibility for your safety and your lives."

"Don't say that."

Qin Feng stepped forward.

"You didn't drag us into this. We chose to follow you, listen to your commands, like you, and believe in you."

"You're my best friend. I'm willing to share any pain with you, and I'm willing to face any danger alongside you."

"Ever since we met in high school, you've always been the king of ideas, with endless schemes in your head. Even though your grades weren't much to speak of, you really did have plenty of interesting ideas. That's what I admire about you."

"Come on..."

Jiang Ran looked helpless.

"My grades are already good enough, okay? Does scoring 680 on the college entrance exam count as being bad at studying? Can everyone score 740 like you?"

"If you're bad, practice more."

"Oh, listen to you showing off. Then why don't you practice gaming more and finally beat me?"

"Everyone's constitution is different."

Jiang Ran stared at Qin Feng speechlessly.

"Heh heh."

He couldn't stop himself from laughing.

He knew Qin Feng had to be secretly delighted right now.

Those were the exact words Jiang Ran had used to tease Qin Feng a few days ago while they were moving the Positron Cannon in the warehouse.

Back then, Qin Feng had been left red-faced and speechless. Now he had returned the words unchanged for a perfect counterattack.

"You think you're so great. You scored 740, so why didn't you go to Tsinghua University? Why squeeze in here with the two of us?"

"If I went to Tsinghua University, wouldn't I be unable to stay with you two?"

Qin Feng looked at Jiang Ran.

"To me, you two are more important than Tsinghua University... much more important. You're my only two friends. I hope we can always stay this close."

"Don't get so mushy."

Jiang Ran glanced at his watch.

9:37

Xu Yan had drowned at noon three days ago, and the Spacetime Bulletin could only be sent three days into the past.

So if they didn't make a decision now... it really would be too late.

"Let's vote."

"What?" Qin Feng asked, confused.

"You haven't voted yet, have you?"

Jiang Ran turned around.

"Little Xue and I already voted on whether to use the Spacetime Bulletin to save Xu Yan. One in favor, one against. But you haven't voted yet."

"Since we're a group, we'll follow the rules we agreed on before. The minority obeys the majority. Your deciding vote is all that's left."

The sun climbed higher, and their shadows shortened until they overlapped.

"Just as you said, the three of us are best friends. Whatever we do, we should decide it together."

"So tell me your choice, Qin Feng."

Jiang Ran placed a hand on Qin Feng's shoulder.

"I trust you."

Qin Feng was silent for several seconds before speaking in a low voice.

"I've thought a lot over the past two days too. But I think we can't find a way out of this mess just by making baseless guesses based on that string of numbers."

"This may be somewhat risky, but what scientific experiment isn't? Besides, we have no idea what those numbers represent. To be honest, your guess about some kind of danger warning... may not be right."

"Besides, we're only changing history from three days ago. It won't create any drastic butterfly effect."

"If something unexpected really happens... can't we just send another message to the past? We can find a way to make up for it again."

Jiang Ran looked at him.

"So what are you saying?"

"I'm in favor."

Qin Feng spoke firmly.

"I'm in favor of using the time machine we built to send a message to ourselves three days ago..."

"[Save Xu Yan.]"

Sparrows leaped from the power lines and flew away in flocks.

Just like the day they had filmed that movie.

Rooftop, slanting shadows, two people, facing each other.

At last.

The silent Jiang Ran nodded.

"...All right."