Barry, We'll Be Best Friends for Life

The Central City Police Department felt extremely serious, solemn, and old-fashioned. Not old-fashioned in an Eastern sense, but in the Western sense of accumulated, vintage chivalric spirit—dignified and inviolable.

Across from the main entrance stood murals symbolizing truth, freedom, and justice.

Eddie Thawne—Iris's current boyfriend, Joe's partner, Eobard Thawne's ancestor, and one of the main forces behind destroying Reverse-Flash at the end of the first season. Of course, that method of fighting could only be used once.

Joe and Eddie had just walked out of the office, preparing to get to work. A bizarre bank robbery had occurred yesterday. Thick fog had suddenly poured through the bank, and more than a hundred thousand dollars in cash had been stolen. They needed to follow up on the clues they had obtained yesterday.

The moment they stepped out, they ran into Barry, who was leading Cisco and Lin Li into the station.

Joe frowned and asked Barry, "What are you doing?"

With Eddie present, Barry could not explain too much, so he briefly said, "I asked Cisco and Lin Li to help me study a new experiment."

Barry introduced them as well. "Eddie, this is Cisco and Lin Li."

Eddie shook Lin Li's hand with great curiosity. "Cool, Barry. You even know an amazing friend from the East. I'm Eddie, Eddie Thawne."

Lin Li smiled and nodded. "Lin Li. Nice to meet you."

I knew who you were without an introduction, Eddie.

Lin Li rather admired Eddie as a character. The fact that he could think of such a way to save everyone—such greatness and noble sentiment—made Lin Li respect him deeply.

Joe looked over the group and said to Lin Li, "Lin Li, come with me for a moment."

Not knowing why, Lin Li followed Joe to a corner.

Joe glanced outside. After confirming Barry could not hear them, he said, "Lin Li, I know Barry has been friendly with you lately. I hope you can persuade him not to run around in a red bodysuit fighting criminals anymore."

Lin Li also looked outside and saw Cisco taking a selfie with the mural on his phone. He was not surprised by Joe's words. In the TV series, Joe had opposed Barry doing this from the beginning. It was only after metahumans began committing crimes, when he realized ordinary police officers could not stand against them, that he approved of Barry's actions.

"Joe, why don't you persuade Barry yourself? You've known him for over ten years. You're much closer to him."

"Okay, I'll be honest with you. I have talked to Barry about this. From the moment he gained super speed and began fighting crime, I knew it was him. I've known Barry for more than ten years, and I know his personality very well. That's why I tried to stop him indirectly."

Lin Li disliked that behavior intensely. It was like parents treating you as a child for your entire life—protecting you, planning for you, controlling you, consciously steering you in what they believed was the right direction.

Lin Li said bluntly, "You know Barry well, but do you understand why he does this? You don't understand Barry. You haven't tried to understand his inner world. Besides, Barry is an adult. I think he can make his own decisions. Joe, I think you're trying to control Barry and push him in the direction you want. You need to understand Barry more deeply."

After saying that, Lin Li ignored Joe, patted his arm, and walked back to the others.

Cisco immediately dragged Lin Li over and raised his phone. "Lin Li, come on, smile..."

Seeing that Joe had not returned yet, Barry walked over to him and asked, "Joe, what's wrong?"

Joe snapped out of his thoughts. He had been considering what Lin Li had said.

"Nothing. How about we have a father-son talk tonight?"

"Okay, I'd love that."

With the conversation over, Joe and Eddie went out to work.

Barry led Lin Li and Cisco upstairs to the laboratory.

Standing at the entrance to the lab, Lin Li felt somewhat anxious. He hoped they could truly find Interdimensional Energy or some other clue that would let him return home, but his reason and knowledge told him that was impossible. Eight months was enough time for any energy to dissipate and vanish, especially something theoretical like this.

Cisco and Barry both patted Lin Li on the back in comfort.

Lin Li took a deep breath and accepted the "Interdimensional Energy Radiation Source Detector" that Cisco and he had built.

The moment he entered the laboratory, Lin Li activated the detector. Carefully, seriously, and meticulously, he examined the walls, floor tiles, tables, and even brought over an aluminum ladder to inspect the air, the skylight, and every other place.

The search took more than half an hour. Naturally, it yielded nothing.

Expressionless, Lin Li activated infrared detection, Y-ray detection, magnetic field detection, plasma overload detection, electron reaction detection, and more.

The "Interdimensional Energy Radiation Source Detector" possessed nearly eight different detection methods, yet apart from some expected readings, it detected nothing beyond the bounds of understanding.

Was that theoretical Interdimensional Energy really destined to remain only theoretical? When would he ever be able to go home?

Lin Li felt despondent and discouraged. Of course, he knew finding a way home would not be easy, but having no hope at all made it difficult not to lose heart.

Seeing the gloom on Lin Li's face, Cisco said, "Lin Li, it's okay. Technology advances every day. Maybe someday we'll figure out black holes, white holes, dimensions, and all that. We still have hope."

At Cisco's raised-brow signal, Barry, who stood nearby, also said, "Yeah... Maybe technology will make a leap soon. Maybe some metahuman who can control black holes will show up, and we can study them. Or maybe... someday, someone who can travel through time will appear. Don't lose heart. There's always hope."

It was all bullshit! They both knew that what they were talking about was practically impossible. Science would not suddenly advance far enough to understand things like black holes and dimensions. As for what Barry had said, that was even more ridiculous.

At least, that was what they thought.

In the future, Lin Li knew that Barry would be able to travel through timelines.

Lin Li, who had been gloomy moments ago, suddenly had light flare in his eyes after hearing Barry's words.

Waves crashed through his heart as he stared at Barry in shock.

Barry shivered uncomfortably under his gaze. "Why? Why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?"

A wild idea surfaced in Lin Li's mind.

In the future, Barry would be able to travel through timelines. If Barry could take him back to the moment the Particle Accelerator exploded, back to that police station laboratory, while that vortex had not yet disappeared, and throw him back through it...

Wouldn't that allow him to return home?

The gloom on Lin Li's face abruptly turned into wild joy.

He grabbed Barry in a hug and said excitedly, "Barry, I need your help in the future. Please help me."

Barry replied without hesitation, "Of course. I'd be very happy to help you."

Barry, we'll be best friends for life. Because you were willing to help me without hesitation, I swear I'll protect your present, your safety, your father, your wife—everything.

Lin Li silently swore the oath in his heart.

Just then, Barry's phone rang.

"Caitlin, what is it? A strange patch of heavy fog has appeared on Yodemai Street? Okay, I'll head over right away."

"Fog?"

Lin Li's heart stirred.