Sorry

A brief silence.

Cheng Mengxue moved away from Jiang Ran's shoulder and sat up.

"I guess... he would."

She softly voiced the answer Jiang Ran also considered obvious.

He knew Qin Feng very well.

If their positions were reversed, and Jiang Ran had to save his father, who had died ten years ago, Qin Feng would definitely agree.

Not only would he agree.

He would do so without hesitation.

Because that was the kind of person Qin Feng was: decisive and loyal. It was one of the things Jiang Ran admired most about him.

But...

Jiang Ran didn't think he was disloyal, either.

He was just always cautious.

Even though Qin Feng often said he was too cautious.

But Jiang Ran always had more concerns and worries than other people.

If Qin Feng's father hadn't died ten years ago... if he'd died a month ago, or even ten months ago, Jiang Ran might have agreed.

Ten years.

It was simply too long.

Who could guarantee that the tornado of the Butterfly Effect wouldn't reach him, Cheng Mengxue, or Qin Feng?

"Little Xue, there's something I've never told you."

Jiang Ran raised his head and looked at the blackboard.

The string of numbers, 289269426494642, was still written there, along with the code deciphered using the nine-key input method—

[Don't trust Ha]

"I've always thought that the last 'Ha'..."

he said gravely.

"was referring to Qin Feng."

?

!

"Huh?"

Cheng Mengxue exclaimed in shock. She had truly never considered it.

"Jiang Ran... wh-why would you think that?"

"I can't really say."

Jiang Ran shook his head.

"It's just a gut feeling. From the moment I first saw those numbers, I felt like they were trying to remind me of something, to warn me."

"Especially after I saw the words 'Don't trust.' The first person I thought of was Qin Feng... I thought that my future self had sent me a Spacetime Bulletin to warn me not to trust him."

"I know that's wrong. How could I suspect my own friend? But... that's been my concern all along, and it's why I opposed bringing Qin Feng's father back to life."

After speaking from the heart, Jiang Ran felt much lighter.

On the one hand, he trusted his friend; on the other, he suspected him. He had never been able to make up his mind.

After a long while,

Cheng Mengxue looked at him.

"Can I tell you what I think?"

"Of course."

"Jiang Ran."

Cheng Mengxue took his hand.

"Do you think Qin Feng is hiding something from you?"

"No."

Jiang Ran shook his head without hesitation.

Qin Feng had always said what was on his mind. He had never hidden anything from Jiang Ran.

That included his desire to use the Spacetime Bulletin to bring his father back to life. It couldn't really be called a secret; in fact, he'd told Jiang Ran plainly when asked what he wished for. That was a kind of honesty, too.

Besides, it was perfectly normal for Qin Feng to think that way.

If any boy had lost his father at a young age, suffered abuse, and now had the power to undo that tragedy and save him... who wouldn't think of that first?

"Then do you think Qin Feng is secretly doing anything behind your back?" Cheng Mengxue asked.

Jiang Ran shook his head.

"No."

Qin Feng had always been completely open about everything he did.

He'd explained every detail of the Positron Cannon's modifications without holding anything back, and as for secretly doing something...

To put it plainly,

if Qin Feng really wanted to do something in secret, it would be far too easy.

He was the one who'd repaired the Positron Cannon. Before the control panel was installed, only he could operate it.

The spare key to the club room was hidden under a flowerpot at the stairwell. It had been Film Club's tradition for years, and they had no plans to move it.

The club room's flimsy wooden door had never been meant to keep out anyone determined to get in... It was a piece of junk that could be kicked open in one go. The key was purely decorative.

So,

if Qin Feng really wanted to secretly fire the Positron Cannon and send a message to his younger self ten years ago, it would be far too easy.

He could have saved his father, who'd died ten years ago, without either of them knowing.

But he hadn't.

Instead, he'd given them the choice, essentially leaving it to Jiang Ran.

"Qin Feng really trusts us,"

Cheng Mengxue continued.

"He also treasures us. He could've sent a Spacetime Bulletin behind our backs, but he never did."

"I know."

Jiang Ran opened his eyes.

"But no matter how you put it, I have to keep the two of you safe."

He stood up and repeated what he'd said before.

"Neither of you has actually experienced a Spacetime Shift, or felt a Worldline Jump... You can't understand the helplessness, the powerlessness, the fear of facing the laws of spacetime."

"Every time the Worldline shifts, I'm afraid before I open my eyes. I'm afraid I'll never see you again. I'm afraid you'll be harmed by the Spacetime Butterfly Effect."

"I really don't dare gamble! Ten years is just too long!"

Cheng Mengxue stood up too and smiled faintly.

Then, with a pop, she pried open the rice cooker Rhine Cat's head and took out the glowing blue, round spacetime particle Rhine Cat. She held it out to him.

"What's this for?"

Jiang Ran looked bewildered.

"Here. I'm lending it to you for now."

Cheng Mengxue pressed the spacetime particle Rhine Cat into Jiang Ran's hand.

"According to the spacetime particle Rhine Cat's backstory... it's something that can bring miracles and power."

"You sound like you're talking about a magical girl."

"Oh, don't interrupt me!"

She stroked the spacetime particle Rhine Cat's fur, which felt like an electric current, her expression gentle.

"They say it represents courage and bonds, the truest friendship and the deepest trust."

"Boruto?"

"Are you going to let me finish or not?"

Cheng Mengxue punched him.

"Anyway!"

she said indignantly.

"Anyway, just like Qin Feng, I trust you, believe in you, and will follow whatever decision you make!"

"Haven't we been like this since we were kids? I've always followed you around. Wherever you went, I went."

"So whatever you choose... I'll always be right behind you."

Cheng Mengxue blinked, her eyes seeming to shimmer with starlight.

"I think Qin Feng feels the same way."

Two days later, on the rooftop of the club building.

Creeeak—

Jiang Ran pushed open the stairwell door and saw Qin Feng gazing into the distance beneath the setting sun.

The scene was just like it had been more than ten days ago.

One of them stood at the edge of the rooftop, while the other had just come out of the stairwell.

Only now, they had switched places.

The sunset cast Qin Feng's shadow over Jiang Ran as he slowly walked toward him.

"I've been thinking a lot these past few days."

Jiang Ran spoke as he walked.

"We can't predict the effects of a Butterfly Effect that lasts ten whole years."

"And there's that string of mysterious numbers... and the strange message it decoded into. We can't just ignore that kind of warning. We should—"

Qin Feng slowly turned around.

Facing that expectant yet anxious expression, Jiang Ran was suddenly choked up and unable to speak.

All his explanations caught in his throat.

He couldn't get them out, but he couldn't swallow them down, either.

That was right.

Qin Feng was so clever.

Didn't he understand all those reasons?

Wasn't he aware of all those possibilities?

What was the point of explaining them?

"Qin Feng."

Rattle, rattle, rattle.

A gust of wind set the cans on the rooftop rolling. A plane stretched a white trail across the clouds, slicing the sky in two.

Beneath the fiery clouds, Jiang Ran met Qin Feng's eyes as they slowly dimmed.

"[I'm sorry.]"

he whispered.

Qin Feng lowered his head.

With his hands in his pockets, he walked over.

When he was an arm's length away, he placed his right hand on Jiang Ran's shoulder.

"It's okay."

He smiled faintly.

"[I don't blame you.]"